[Game Thread] Round 3 -- Room 1 (Games 1-4)

[bananabadger]

Round 3

The great plane spins as you now have probably learned to expect it to. The Invigilator stands above, watching your reaction and nodding in your direction as both of you wait for the plane to settle into a new position.

High above, the spectators remain. You see them holding conversations among themselves and munching on snacks. Who would have thought to bring snacks to a battle? Whoever did is a genius.

There is a faint sound of wind. The last echo of The Chairman? A seagull? Or memory?

The Invigilator who seems to be waiting for a voice, remains frozen in position or a good 10 seconds, before speaking.

"Well, then. We are halfway through our four games. You have played admirably, rising to each challenge and showing your skills. There is, yes, a progression to this contest--but the essence of it is here and now. It is what we make of it with each shift of the plane and with each new fellow player who sits in the room with us."

The Invigilator directs you and your opponent to your table. There is a glass pitcher of water and some freshly sliced carrots beside each game table.

The Invigilator gives an almost apologetic shrug. "I asked for game-snacks, but ... the kitchen is staffed by harengons, so perhaps I should have been a bit more precise in my request. Next round, I promise."

He picks up one of the carrots, a purple one, and begins biting into it. Whether he is feigning pleasure or not is hard to tell, but the Invigilator is certainly giving the impression that this is a carrot worthy of champion GMs.

"Del ..." crunch, crunch "... icious!" he remarks. His mouth full, he points to a signboard which has magically appeared behind him.

 

Pairs
Rhaiber vs. Jbear
Humble Athena vs. Qiksilv
Thaco vs. Ghostwalking
Gaijin vs. Strangemund

Judges
AdminRonars
BananaBadger
Leviticus
Plaid Peregrine

Reserve Judge
Savoylen

Gesturing to the tables with his staff as each pair of challengers faces off, one against the other according to the Great Pairings Wall set by the Chairman, The Invigilator is finally able to proclaim: "You know the routine by now ... as it has happened many times before, and must happen again, you will now face off against each other! I set before you these four ingredients to mix into your creation ... let's see what you do with these," he says, handing you a box containing four scrolls.

"Oh dear," says the Invigilator, as he studies the scrolls. "The words seem to be jumbled up."

Looking at the scrolls, you see that the writing has nouns and adjectives all smeared, crossed out, written and rewritten or otherwise simply mixed up.

Adjectives
cursed / leporine / disturbing / unseen

Nouns
behavior / frequency / inheritance / palace

"Never mind. You can bring your own order to them. Just do it properly ... one adjective and one noun for each ingredient. Use each word only once. Of course, those are only words ... once you read them and give your breath to their life, they can appear as you imagine them to be ... if your meaning is clear."

He then steps back, fading from sight as he does ...

"Oh wait!" he remarks, the words causing him to fully materialize again. "I almost forgot!"

A harengon approaches, replenishes the tray of carrots, and hands over two more scrolls.

"The bonus elements!" The Invigilator explains. "Adroit use of these can give you an edge in your match, though awkwardly including them into your creation might only harm your efforts. The decision is yours to use them or not."

a bellow in a dark room
OR
a fellow for a stark tomb

He looks down at the tray of carrots, eyebrows raised, as he takes one and begins to fade: "A blue one? Well fancy that ..."


There is no voice calling out over the skies, just a silence broken by the faint sound of crunching.

The harengon looks around and then whispers timidly, since somerabbit has got to do it: "Ok, so is everyone clear on everything? Blue carrots are the bomb, and y'all got to write a 1,000 word submission of a scene that takes place in a hostile environment, using the four ingredients. You are going to have to make up ingredients on your own, using each adjective and each noun only once. And if that wasn't a headache in your noggin already, you also have the option of including one of the bonus ingredients."

The harengon checks your expression, and realizes that at least some of you are hearing this for the first time. Geez, you telling me nobody told you that before they went off with my carrot? Well, now I'm telling you. So ... umm, now you know. So ... you get to your writing thing, and I'll get back to chopping carrots. OK? What? Why are you all just sitting around? Oh, right ... how's it go? Like this, right? ... Let the Game Mastering ... BEGIN!!"

Rules You are to write a key adventure scene that takes place in a hostile environment; you must use all 4 items (constructing them by creating adjective-noun pairs from the given options, using each word only once); you have the option to include 1 of the additional bonus items--including a bonus item could tilt the judgment in your favor if the judges feel the bonus item contributes significantly or interestingly to the story. But if the judges decide that the bonus item adds little or detracts from the story, then including the item could harm your prospects of winning. All rules found here are to be followed. The guidelines for the Judges' scoring can be found here. A "key adventure scene" can be one or a few encounters, but the concept of "a hostile environment" should be at the center or throughout all aspects of the submission. The entry is to be no longer than 1,000 words, which includes *everything* you put into the post. Judges are instructed to stop reading at that time, or to deduct points if you go over. The use of a spell check and word counter is highly recommended. Please make a simple post in this thread when you first read it, to let the judges know have seen it, and that you are on board. It doesn't have to be anything more than "read!" or something like that, though roleplaying it is also perfectly acceptable! Do not edit this post after making it; when it comes time to post your entry, do that in a second, separate post. You have a limited time from the time this post is made to complete and submit your entry (in a new post; so don't edit your first post!). It is not expected that you use all this time - the extra time has been given to ensure that, no matter what your timezone, your schedule, your sleep habits, your work or student life, or emergencies that could crop up, you should have ample time to complete your entry. Posting when you are done, and not waiting until the end, is also recommended. You should post your entry into this thread within the generous time frame, and ensure it is secreted (to the above judges) and spoilerbuttoned. If your post is not made within the time limit, you will be automatically disqualified for this round. If you have issues, be sure to PM Savoylen *before* your round is closed. Editing is allowed after posting; but all posts will be closed at deadline and edits are not allowed at that point.

[Humble Athena]

Present

[Gaijin]

 

Just Kidding.

[ghostwalking]

<raises hand> Here!

[jbear]

*signs in*

[Qiksilv]

yo

[Gaijin]

 

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓗𝓾𝓽𝓬𝓱'𝓼 𝓗𝓮𝓲𝓻		5e Adventure 4~6 5th level characters
Premise Reginald Harewood, former heirloom carrot farmer, has inherited his family's palatial estate, which has fallen into disrepair ever since premium tuber bubble burst. (Read: "Accidentally" set on fire for insurance fraud.) In the years following its abandonment, nearby villagers have claimed to hear strange sounds emanating from the structure, and witnessed countless eyes staring back at them through the night. Now that the market is favorable again, the party has been hired to investigate, and ensure that it is safe for renovation.
Narrative		Mechanics
The Grounds Read "Overgrown and potmarked, the grounds of the Harewood Estate have turned feral after decades of neglect. Gargantuan orange, white, and purple carrots rise feet above the ground, like so many candy-coated boulders, while schools of small fluffy bunnies are sent scurrying with each step through the towering, sweetly-scented greens. Beyond broken, rusted gates stands most of a palatial stone manor, blacked by thick layers of soot." Secrets Searching the grounds unveils innumerable tiny burrows. Investigation(DC 14) reveals a handful of fresh pits large enough to trap a horse. Perception(DC 12) reveals many sets of rabbits watching from the broken manor windows with more than a passing curiosity. The Manor Read "The interior of this once gilded residence now rests in ruins. Four floors of wooden supports have scorched and collapsed, leaving ashen debris and gaping holes throughout. A series of stone stairways ascend the forsaken structure, and though scalable, each level is more precarious than the last. Several oversized hares hiss at your arrival and make a mad dash down a hall to your left, disappearing from view." Risks Each room contains 1d4-2 Jacked Rabbits. On the 1st floor, they will attempt to escape through windows or open doors. On the 2nd & 3rd floor, they will attack when cornered. Each floor above the first is unstable and riddled with holes of varying size. (A player who fails to jump a gap in the flooring falls 10ft and has a 50% chance to break through the floor below.) The 4th floor is too damaged to support any additional weight. Secrets Investigation(DC 15) yields the Holy Haleite of St. Augustine in a steel cabinet beneath a charred shrine on the third floor. (A small consecrated ceramic pot filled with Alchemists Fire. 10ft Radius. Can not be extinguished for 1d4 rounds.) The Dining Hall contains a 15ft pit where a great table once stood. (Leads to The Warren.) The Warren (As Kobold Lair; Volos's Guide to Monsters.) Read "At the bottom of the Dining Room pit connects a single winding tunnel no more than 3ft across. Extending deep beneath the manor, it twists its way beyond the great walls and toward the untamed carrot fields. The sound of growling, and claws skittering across pebbled dirt, recedes into the depths." Risks Narrow tunnels require squeezing. Some tunnels are studded with jagged petrified carrots. Connecting chambers contain 1d3-1 Jacked Rabbits and 1d6-4 Bun-nados. Fighting within the tunnels has a 20% chance of triggering a cave in. Secrets Investigate(DC 12) Some chambers contain faded scratch marks from a large unnatural source. Some chambers contain partially buried shiny items. Investigate(DC 14) to find valuable jewelry and coins. One remote chamber contains 6 purring Jacked Rabbits that are drunk on fermented fruit and mushrooms. (Too Friendly, if approached.) Rabid't Read "Squeezing through a particularly long tunnel, you find yourself at the edge of a large cavernous space. At the edge of your vision, a pair of fist-sized orbs flash, and a deep, guttural bellow bleeds into the screams of dozens upon dozens of enraged leporine voices. You have stumbled upon the beast beneath the manor, and it is not amused." Combat Rabid't begins by summoning 3 Bun-nados. Rabid't will not move more than 10 feet away from the bread loaf sized blue carrot embedded in the wall behind him. This is enough for his tentacles to reach anywhere in the cavern, but not into the connecting tunnels. The chamber is a semi-circle (30ft radius, 20ft high) Three connecting tunnels lead to storerooms containing food, waste, and collected trinkets from the nearby village. Numerous smaller tunnels allow for more rabbits to arrive in response to Bellowing. Key Reward Cobolt Carrot As Orb of Dragonkind(Rabbits only) Aftermath Read "As the Rabid't bellows with its final gasping breath, its hold over the local bunny population yields to a tsunami of hoping rodents franticly abandoning their gargantuan den. The stomping of thousands of tiny feet send reverberations through the soil, and pieces of loose dirt and stones begin to shake loose from the cavern ceiling and walls." Escape The players have 3 minutes to escape The Warren before it collapses. Every other round has a 20% chance to trigger a cave-in above a player.		Monsters Rabid't Rabbit Overlord¹ Large Abberation Reginald's childhood pet, Hopscotch, has become monstrous after being left behind when the Harewood estate was abandoned. Hopscotch operates like a Queen ant to telepathically defend its lair and collect food. Bellow (Recharge 5-6) Sends nearby rabbits into a frenzy. 1d4 Bun-nados appear within 30 feet and attack the nearest enemy. Pyrophobia Loses control of rabbits when burning. 1. Basic Rules, pg. 339; As Otyugh ⠀ ^ ⠀ Bun-nado Rabbit Swarm¹ Medium Beast 1. Basic Rules, pg. 155; As Swarm of Rats ⠀ ^ ⠀ Jacked Rabbit Hare¹ Small Beast 1. Basic Rules, pg. 133; As Giant Hyena ⠀ ⠀ 🙚────────────܀────────────🙘 ⠀ ⠀ Environmental Hazards Floor Holes Hop(8ft), Skip(12ft), Jump(15ft) Petrified Carrot Spikes Reduce speed by half, or...(DEX 12, 1d4, Piercing) every 15ft Cave-in 15ft of tunnel collapses. If trapped, begin suffocating. DC 12 strength check to burrow through 5ft of loose dirt. ⠀ ⠀ 🙚────────────܀────────────🙘 ⠀ ⠀ Ingredient List Leporine Inheritance: Hutch's Heir Cursed Palace: Harewood Estate Unseen Frequency: Rabid't Telepathy Disturbing Behavior: Rabbit Behavior Bellow in a dark room (Bonus): Rabid't Bellow

[Strangemund]

Present! A King and a Jester. Truly a match-made in hell for the cryptid and the boss to be paired together. Who would've suspected that they were both courtly minded? Inspired by royal madness to create a recipe so twisted it was hard to tell where one began and the other ended. But the new round is here. The cryptid victor but at what cost? It now faced its newest friend, Gaijin, in battle. Oh they witnessed his creativity elsewhere-- how he weaves words together to empower like a wizard brings his spells to life! There'd be no breathing easy for Strangemund. But not that they wanted it to be easy, anyways! What was the fun in that? "Let's give the Judges something to really toil over, Gaijin!" laughed the cryptid, picking its things up before it returned to its lair for another round of horrors.

[Strangemund]

 

Click! 【⛧】 The Leporine Frequency A Cypher System Encounter Premise ⛧ The Leporine Frequency is an old urban legend. About a figure who lives in the white crackling static of defunct tv channels. Few have ever witnessed it. But those who have say this figure sits in a stark, barren room, with no doors or windows. A tomb of white. Of blinding, terrible white. It sits perfectly, eerily still. Hands folded across a desk that faces the viewer. Dressed neatly in a suit that ripples with colors that… don't exist in our world. It is the black beady eyes they remember next. Was it a mask? Or was it its head? That hare that stared back at them from the shoulders of what should’ve been a man but was not. Black unblinking eyes, burrowing into them. It saw them, from the other side. Just like how it sees you. No one knows what happens next. They all turned the television off. But how long before their curiosity gets the best of them. How long before their idle channel flipping leads them right back here. Encounter ⛧ The default set-up is as followed: The PCs have heard about the urban legend of The Leporine Frequency through occult specialist, Satou Usagi. Consider her a friendly NPC who serves as an informant and supplier. Usagi’s been studying how the recent rise of the urban legend connects directly to the mysterious disappearances that have been occurring around her hometown. She’s too afraid to investigate by herself, so she requests the aid of the party to help her find this mysterious channel. The party is invited to her home and lead into the attic where a rabbit-ear antenna television set sits by itself, covered in dust. Following Usagi’s directions on Finding the Right Frequency (Level 5), the television will flicker to a distorted channel that shows the infamous hare-headed man. Read-Aloud An unshakable dread overwhelms you. You know it notices you. You want to turn the television off. But you can’t. You are trapped in your own body. You can do nothing when it finally speaks. The hare-headed man will brokenly repeat the premise to the PCs. Afterwards, the televsion's volume will emit an ear-piercing screech and everything goes white. Disturbing Palace ⛧ The PCs and Usagi awake in a 1950’s American-styled kitchen. Their clothes and gear have been replaced with outfits befitting rascally children. Everything is in black-and-white. They sit at a dinner table. A dead body dressed similarly to them is on their right and fancy dinner plates covered in maggot-infested rabbit roadkill buzzes in front of them. What’s Here? (Level 3) Use appropriate skills for the PCs to glean the following: The room they are in is fake. It is a stage set like at a film studio. There are three prop walls beyond which can be seen an array of televisions new and old bearing the visage of the hare-headed man. Past the open wall awaits The Audience. The Audience (Level 5) is composed of woodcut rabbit puppets. The PCs can hear them cheer despite their stilted movements. A caption on the tv screens read: “Herr Hare, presenting live from his Picture Palace, an unaired episode of Mother Knows Best!” Cue Mother stage left. Mother (Level 4) appears as a human woman in a poodle skirt, wearing a wooden hare half-mask, splattered with a muddy dark stain. She talks through her teeth. She welcomes the PCs home, referring to them as her ‘kids.’ She expects them to finish their dinner before they’re allowed to leave the table. Inspecting the Body (Level 3) reveals the man’s been dead for a long time, fried by electricity. PCs will discover the clue “play your role” carved into the table. Playing Your Role: The PCs must act as though they are Mother’s children. Encourage the players to think outside the box for this encounter. The key detail is that Playing Your Role keeps Mother and The Audience happy and the PCs avoid Punishment. Punishment: The floor is covered in live wires. If the PCs continue to break the illusion or are caught away from the dinner table, it is a Might Defense Roll (Level 4) to endure the shock; failure results in 2 points of Might Damage. Dinner can be dealt with in two ways. Eating (Level 6) or Hiding (Mother’s Level). Note that there's only three places the PCs can hide the food before Mother grows wise. The PCs’ gear can be Spotted (Level 4) in a cabinet nearby. They must move unseen by Mother to grab it or come up with a story reason for The Audience to accept their rule-breaking. GM Intrusions: Panicked Usagi: Usagi freaks out and attempts to flee the table. The PCs will need to calm her down (Level 3) before she upsets Mother. Second-Helping: Mother puts a second-helping on the PC’s plate but it is still squirming! The PC takes two points of Intellect Damage from shock. Ending the Encounter ⛧ Dinner ends after four turns or once the table is cleared. Mother kisses her children's cheeks (including the corpse) and exits stage right. The lights go out and the PCs (and Usagi) will find themselves back in the attic, unchanged. By the tv is an artifact gifted by Herr Hare, with a note thanking them for the wonderful show they put on. He can’t wait to see them again. Cursed Inheritance Hare Mask Level 7 Form: A woodcut hare mask that envelopes the head entirely. It feels warm to the touch. Use: Once per day, the wearer becomes the perfect doppelganger to anyone they have seen. Ease all tasks with positive and negative social interactions by three steps. Wearing the mask once causes the wearer to inherit Herr Hare’s accursed reflection. Come Due: On each use, roll a d100. On a 1, the PC is compelled to find the defunct channel again. Failure to commune with Herr Hare causes the artifact to go inert.

[jbear]

 

ʕ·͡ᴥ·ʔ Hare 5th Level Feywild Scene (D&D 5e) SAVES/CHECKS DC15 (unless stated)

Hook

PCs encounter Hairtrix Hopper observing an ornate timepiece beside a tree stump set like a picnic table, muttering "She's late!" She invites PCs to "Tea and tarts for a moment of your time?"

- Hairtrix Hopper haregon, tailored coattails Nervous, impatient, impeccably polite Self-refers in 3rd Person CLUES: INSIGHT/MEDICINE: Hairtrix's nervousness resembles drug-addiction PERCEPTION/INVESTIGATION: Tart crumbs on lapel ARCANA: Hairtrix is juicing transmutation magic SECRET: Hairtrix is addicted to Heart Tarts and Hastea which causes premature aging. She drinks Hastea to steal Queen's tarts unnoticed. Using her Hole-of-Horrible-Hopping, she finds a scapegoat who accepts the time-exchange for the last tart. Hairtrix binds her victim to her Cursed Timepiece and disappears into the Hole-of-Horrible-Hopping hidden below the stump. Cursed Timepiece Reverses aging by stealing others' time Sideeffect: intense regret and insomnia CURSE: PCs agree: (CONSTITUTION DC18) Age +1year (MAX HP-1d4). Each TIMEPOINT requires another save. PCs ARE SUSPICIOUS: Hairtrix claims she was sent on a suicide mission to defeat the Hopperwocky. She offers Hastea to any who help. If PCs agree, see above. PCs REFUSE: Hairtrix uses the timepiece and escapes, taking the last tart > (CONSTITUTION) Aging effects and HP reduction are halved. Effect ends when Hairtrix's timepiece is destroyed (any significant damage) or REMOVE CURSE GREATER RESTORATION restores lost HP Maximum Hastea Grants HASTE (10min) Sideeffect: Age 5 years (MAX HP-5) 1 cup/PC Heart Tart Profound euphoria erases negative emotions Grants HEROISM (1hr) Shareable: divide duration accordingly

Hole-of-Horrible-Hopping

The portal to Hairtrix's pocket-realm is left open in her haste to return before her absence is noted. An eclectic variety of giant objects float within the seemingly bottomless hole (something should specifically interest each PC). Upon entering they fall (TIMEPOINT); a terrifying roar is heard. Harmless objects become sinister and hostile, attacking the portal-hopper's minds.

- Terrifying Roar WISDOM vs FEAR. FAIL: Worst fear manifests: 3 Phantasmal Fears Phantasmal Fears Objects transform into PC-specific fears. Each round responsible PC must save: INTELLIGENCE Success: -1 Fear Failure: 1d6/Fear psychic damage COUNTERMEASURES: (ACTION) Resist: Make save Comfort: Grant save Fear-removing effects succeed Hopping Glass If one Portal-Hopper enters the Hopping Glass, all Portal-Hoppers teleport with them to Hutch. If Fears remain when this happens, they reappear when the manifester leaves Hutch. SECRET:The Glass manifests when Portal-Hopper: shuts eyes Resists Roar Resists Fears

Hutch

PCs startle Hairtrix feeding the Queen's Hoppers in the stables (TIMEPOINT). Terrified, Hairtrix pulls the Tourney-Mode lever, instantly saddling, hitching and positioning Hoppers at Start-Gate. She flees on Hopperback, crying "Tart Thieves!" Castle's invisibility defense activates.

- Hoppers Hoppers are Dire-Hares (Dire-Wolf stats+JUMP) with name-engraved saddles hitched to Chariots. Special features activate if fed Carrot-Cake. Bugs: (shrewd) Special: Double-Crossbows: attacks shoot 2 bolts Peter: (mischievous) Special: Curiosity: spot object's hidden features Jessica: (brave) Special: Fearless: mental attack immunity Carrot-Cake Four slices found beneath a silver clouche engraved 'Raceday Only' Feeding Hoppers: +1d6x10ft movement/round +special feature (ACTION) Feeding Yourself: polymorphed: Hopper. DM determines special feature. Grants ADVANTAGE to rider's Animal Handling. Sharing: partially polymorphed: Harengon (gain Harengon racial features). Psychically linked to Hopper: ADVANTAGE Animal Handling Start-Gate Hoppers impatiently await team. Choose Rider or Charioteer. When all PCs are positioned, Gate opens (TIMEPOINT). Hoppers bolt onto Race Course (always maximum movement forwards) RIDER: use Animal Handling (BONUS): Hopper Action Position Chariot Avoid Hazard CHARIOTEER: operates mounted crossbow. Quiver holds ONE musical bolt (returning) SECRET: Musical bolt required for Cursed Frequency (BELOW) Attacks suffer DISADVANTAGE unless Rider 'Positions Chariot'

Race Course

150ft course encircles a humongous tortoise shell upon which the currently invisible castle stands. Three titanic harengon Statues at equidistant points overlook the course.

- Starting Line Each lap past the oak growing from tortoise's shell is a TIMEPOINT. Cake eaters save WISDOM or nap here. Napping: Suffer lethargy (see HASTE) Statues Word inscibed on each statue relates to its hazard and its activation key. Statue 1: Inscription 'EYES' When passed, sings "When the moon..." (tune: Aquarius) > unleashes ICE-EYE. Activation: Eyes (AC18) Rhyme: 'moon' Statue 2: Inscription 'AIRS' Sings "Hello Carbondioxide..." (tune: Air) > unleashes Earpellers. Activation: Ears (AC15) Rhyme: 'Carbondioxide' Statue 1: Inscription 'TALE' Sings "Glibby-glub-gloopy..." (tune: Good Morning Starshine) > unleashes Fairytales. Activation: Tail (AC17) Rhyme: 'gloopy' Ice-Eye Indiana Jones-esque ice boulder pursues racers (70ft/round) Crush: 6d6 damage (DEXTERITY 1/2 damage) Freeze: 1/round targets nearest Hopper: WISDOM or SLOW Earpellers Rabbit-ear-shaped blades create HAZARD on the track Slice: 6d6 slashing damage (DEXTERITY 1/2 damage) Tornado: 1/round targets nearest Hopper: CONSTITUTION or dismounted, prone Fairytales Phantoms from popular folktales terrify racers Terrify: Leading racing team: WISDOM or suffer (d4) 1:FEAR 2:BLINDNESS/DEAFNESS 3:SUGGESTION 4:CONFUSION Cursed Frequency Unless activated, racers circle the course endlessly. Activation requires: Singing rhyming word in tune with corresponding statue (Performance) OR striking statue's activation point twice, creating perfectly pitched note (Statues' AC) CLUE: RHYME enscribed on walls between statues Activation occurs sequentially: Eyes, Ears, Tail > incorrect order resets process. When activated correctly: tortoise stands up revealing Finish-Line

Conclusion

The castle, Queen and her playing-card harengon army become visible. The Frequency ends tarts' euphoric effects. Believing Hairtrix's accusations of tart-theft, she orders "Attack!".

- Finish-Line Neck of tortoise shell becomes visible. Entering allows teleportion to any location in the Feywild including the castle. Queen When off her tarts, beheadings are constant! Tartless: becomes sensitive about inflated head suffering 2d6 psychic damage/insult (1/turn) Reflavour Bheur Hag (CR7) If PCs return stolen tart: honoured guests, treated by castle's healer: GREATER RESTORATION If PCs reveal Hairtrix's tart-theivery: Queen shouts "Thief like your father, inherit his fate!" transforming her into Hopperwocky! Killing Hopperwocky earns Queen's favour Playing-card Harengon 40 Harengon soldiers with playing-card bodies. Never hunger, never steal tarts AC14 1hp +4atk 5dmg NO damage on a save Hopperwocky Hairtrix's mind becomes deeply distrubed, murdering anyone within range Monty Python's Killer Rabbit of Caerbennog Use dmdave.com's statblock (CR8) Attacks targets randomly Killing Queen frees Hairtrix from Hopperwocky curse

 

Ingredient	Usage
Leporine Behavior	Hare-theme
Cursed Frequency	Racecourse
Unseen Castle	Castle Defenses
Disturbing Inheritance	Hopperwocky Transformation

[rhaiber]

Present The lavender-haired figure gabbed the edge of the table as the room began spinning once more. You would think they’d be used to it, but knowing something is coming and being physically prepared for the disorienting sensation were apparently two entirely different things. When the room finally came to rest once more, they maintained their grip on the table a little longer this time, giving their own uneasy swaying ample time to subside. The awkward challenger glanced suspiciously at the tray of carrots that had appeared on the edge of the table. The gesture was appreciated, but they couldn’t really imagine how anyone could think about eating after being spun around like that, and so it was a welcome distraction when they were handed the box of scrolls. But the words were jumbled … oh, was this a puzzle? They liked puzzles! They spread the papers out on the table in front of them and drew a brightly colored pencil from the satchel on their hip, ready to begin scribbling as their brain madly searched for patterns in the seemingly random arrangement of words. So engrossed were they that they nearly missed the Invigilator’s parting words until his abrupt exit caught their attention. The perplexed storysmith looked up from their half-finished word puzzle just in time to hear the harried harengon’s hushed explanation. They blinked twice and then locked eyes with the competitor across the table. ”When he says ‘Blue carrots are the bomb,’ he just means that they’re really good, right?” they asked with no small measure of trepidation in their voice, ”Because with all the wordplay around here, I can never really be certain. Of course, if one of them blueblew up in our faces, that would seem like cruel and unusual punishment, right?” They grinned sheepishly, uncertain if their own feeble attempt at wordplay was something to be proud of, or rather ashamed of. ”Y’know what, I think I’ll just stick to the orange ones to be on the safe side.” They lifted one of the vegetables and began absent-mindedly chewing as they turned their attention back to the scraps of paper, making a few brief notes for stopping abruptly once more. ”Oh, before I forget, this is for you.” They drew a small figurine and slid it gently across the table toward their counterpart. ”It reminded me of you because … well, I guess for obvious reasons. Anyway, I’m really excited to see what you pull together with all these ingredients. Good luck!” They flashed a guileless smile as they held both thumbs up, the concept of cutthroat competition apparently unknown to the cheerful tale-spinner.

[rhaiber]

 

Waiting Room of the Forgotten: Part 4
Previously… In this system-agnostic setting, PCs navigate the afterlife (a Kafka-esque bureaucracy) for clues about past lives (see previous rounds). After solving puzzles in previous rooms, NPC guide Riff Raven leads the PCs to the Lady of the Dead. Unfortunately, his direction sense is off…
Player Text You find yourselves squeezed into a cramped chamber. The air stifles with the scent of noxious chemicals and the hiss of steam. Walls close around you. Dim lighting casts eerie shadows on the exposed gears, their rhythmic spinning accompanied by metallic clanking. Pipes snake across the room, emitting sudden unpredictable bursts of steam. The atmosphere is charged with tension, and the red safelights flicker uncertainly, casting flashes of darkness. At the center of the chaos stands an imposing apparatus of brass and wood, steam hissing violently from pressure valves, and the occasional spark adding an electric crackle to the mix. A massive bellows wheezes and groans, giving the feeling that this workshop is on the verge of unpredictable calamity. A familiar caw breaks through the clatter. Riff Raven, Netherworld Postal Carrier, hops forward. "Aw jeez, fellas! Canya believe this mixup? There’s supposed t'be a palace here, but I don’t see one!" Riff caws in his friendly, verbose manner, "I had you set for a royal entrance into the throneroom a'the Netherworld Queen, y’know? But, lo-n-behold, somehow you ended up in this tight spot. I'll have to double-check the celestial maps or maybe get the cosmic compass recalibrated. I’ll be back in a jiff. In the meantime, why dontchya see if that bunny-man has anything to offer?" With a final caw, Riff takes off, navigating the hazardous environment with surprising agility. In his absence, you notice the photo-alchemist, a skittish-looking rabbit-folk in a leather apron who maneuvers with practiced urgency amidst the precarious machinery. ”Hang on!” the harengon objects, rubbing his nose with his paws in that adorable way rabbits do, ”I know ya gotta whole existentialist post-modern thing going, but you're breaking boundaries of reality. I’m not supposed to be in this story; I’m supposed to be serving food to the storytellers.” ”Pay no attention to the rabbit behind the apron!” a disembodied voice bellows ”Well, do pay some attention. He serves a vital role. Just ignore anything he says about not belonging here. And you!” though disembodied, you feel the voice would be pointing sternly at the rabbitfolk, ”Behave yourself and stick to the script!”	Hazardous Environment Tight quarters: Room design is based off an old Fotomat kiosk. Cramming an entire adventuring party in with steampunk machinery makes it very cramped. Actions requiring movement are penalized. Dark room: In this photography darkroom, light is limited. Actions requiring vision are penalized. Noxious fumes: Each turn PCs roll to resist the fumes from the developing chemicals or face escalating levels of nausea. Characters with keen smell are extra susceptible. High-pitched whine: Machinery emits a disturbing frequency. Actions requiring hearing are penalized. Each turn PCs roll to resist or take mental damage. Characters with keen hearing are extra susceptible. Steam jets: Machinery spits steam-bursts at random intervals. PCs roll to evade or be burned. Electrical jolts: Equipment sparks at random intervals. PCs roll to evade or be stunned. What Makes This a Key Scene This is a level-up moment, but a unique one: The photo-alchemist offers each PC one photograph, but they must each decide which type by choosing one of the walls: past, present, or future. For each wall, the PCs must complete a task, engaging with the hostile environment (for the 4th wall, he says, ”Don’t worry about that wall. We usually ignore it.” Future Present Past PCs use Constitution/Fortitude to hold together sparking cables to complete a circuit. PCs use Dexterity/Speed to fish their photograph from a vat of chemicals PCs use Strength to operate the massive bellows. The most straight-forward reward: PCs advance a level as normal. Also receive a random clue to help solve a puzzle in one of the remaining rooms. Instead of leveling up, PCs receive a gift: a powerful Wondrous Item. PCs receive a photo that triggers memories of their forgotten past. Instead of leveling up as normal, they receive an ability from a high-level character, but different from the current path the character is on. Additionally gain memory of their reason for seeking the Lady of the Dead (see “the Twist*” below).
How Do We Get Out of This Room? Break the 4th Wall: Physical attacks shatter the wall; break into the next room. Ignore the 4th Wall: Disbelieve in the illusion of the 4th Wall; walk through it to the next room. Wait for Riff: If players don’t pick up on 4th wall reference, Riff will eventually return to lead them to the next room, though they may suffer a fair amount of damage and/or negative conditions before he shows up again. Ingredients Leporine behavior Harengon photo-alchemist has rabbit-like mannerisms and was told by the voice to “BehaviorBehave yourself." Disturbing frequency High-pitched whine from the machinery. Also steam and electrical sparks occur and alarmingly close intervals. Cursed inheritance Memories of past lives returned, but with unfortunate complications Unseen Palace PCs were to be taken to the Lady of the Dead’s palace, but their guide can't see it *a bellow in a dark room harengon operates bellows to run the steamworks in photography darkroom; when he complains, a bellowing voice chastises him	*The Twist* PCs had no reason to suspect, but their past-life motivations are in conflict with one another: Rescue the soul of a slain lover Prevent a dangerous soul from escaping the underworld Redemption by confronting souls whose deaths they're responsible for Revenge for the deaths of loved ones, by asking their souls who's responsible Alliance with legions of dead warriors to assist in a coming war Seal the gates of the underworld to prevent invasion by an undead horde Retrieve a powerful artifact Destroy a powerful artifact before it falls into the wrong hands

[Qiksilv]

 

Oh, Carrots!

Prologue This module uses OUTPLAY mechanics. While walking there is an unusual droning sound. (2) successes will lead the players to the source, a hole resembling the entrance to a rabbit's warren. Vibrations in the air make the ground shake and the players are ‘swallowed’ by the hole. After falling they land, unharmed, in a dark place surrounded by tall trees. The droning is louder here; it makes the ears itch in a strange way. A figure nearby stands unsteadily to his feet, “Welcome travelers!” The figure is an old Leonin. He sits, resting his bones, and begins speaking like a person who has not had a conversation partner in a long time. “It was an age ago. My kingdom invaded this one. The Harengons fell before us. We made it into their palace and all the way into its inner places. A tomb was where our journey ended, the king, or grand mage (I can’t recall) was just finishing a spell. It made them stronger and fight with intensity to protect their homes. Moments after the spell was cast our troops began to lose. I fled, like a coward." "Soon even our own troops were fighting against us to protect this kingdom. They even started to look like the Harengons. This frequency that hums in the air seems to disturb anyone who stays in it. I can barely stay myself by living out here on the edge of the kingdom. There is no escape for the spell has isolated the kingdom. Maybe destroying the spell chamber would work, but none who have tried ever come back from that place. It would be safest for you all to stay here with me. Have some soup! It helps drive away the droning.” He offers to share his carrot soup. He will look sad if the players insist on leaving the safety of his camp but will not argue either. “My former captain might have a map in his pockets. He has a purple sash, I saw him not long ago when I was searching for food. Oh! It’s an UNSEEN PALACE underground so you’ll never find it looking up. Search for the fancy hole. This DISTURBING FREQUENCY will buzz and burrow in your mind, altering your thoughts till you only desire to protect this place. It's a HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT here. If the frequency doesn't get you then the others it has corrupted will. Most of the corrupted have Harengon ears from their LEPORINE INHERITANCE, and they are all protecting this place. Spend too long here and you will join them. Sure you don’t want to stay here with me? The droning is tolerable here.” This adventure assumes the party does not agree to live the rest of their lives in a dirty hole with this sad, old Leonin. Mechanics The sound here is constant. It will burrow into the mind and cause physical changes. Each Player begins with (4) counters. Removing a counter will cause them to develop a Leporine Feature. Upon reaching (0) counters they will also begin to fight anyone who has more counters remaining than they do (including party members). After each combat phase the players should roll to see if they can stave off the madness. Eating the soup will grant (1) extra counter and (1) extra die to resist the DISTURBING FREQUENCY. Roll Results Full Success No Penalty Partial Success Lose (1) counter Failure Lose (1) counter and (1)d6 against future saves

The Search Have the players choose a navigator to search for the Entrance to the UNSEEN PALACE. (5) cumulative Successes will have them find it. Finish each round they spend searching with combat. Humanoids/Leonin/Harengons with rabbit features (A LEPORINE INHERITANCE from the curse they succumbed to) will stumble upon them and attack viciously. (Have the players choose the features from the LEPORINE INHERITANCE of the creature they face!) Have them face the Captain the second time they fight a mob (or the first time if they were looking for him.) Searching him body will reveal a rough map of the land around them, the approx. entrance location, and a sketch of the interior of the palace. The palace interior will show branches and paths that the squad would have taken so not every branch is filled in but it will also suddenly become blank when they reached the end of their journey. Mechanics Summon a number of Leporine warriors equal to the party minus one. Each warrior has (2) counters remaining and will not attack anyone with fewer than that. They will also not attack full-blooded Harengon characters. Warriors have "HP" and attack die equal to (4) minus their remaining counters. The captain can be a normal warrior or give him an extra HP and Attack die for an added challenge. The Map grants an extra die to navigate

UNSEEN PALACE (5) Successes will get them to the Tomb. More Leporine creatures will attack between rounds as before, these are more rabbit-featured than those outside. Mechanics As before except each warrior has (1) counter remaining

The Tomb Magic symbols glow faintly, pulsing palely in time to the breathing of a horse-sized rabbit. Its white fur is also etched with runes that shine in stark contrast to the darkness of the tomb. Two other large rabbits stand protectively around the marked one. Defeating the large rabbit will allow the magic to fade. The droning will stop and those who were affected by it will return to normal. The warren will rejoin the rest of the world and upon exiting the UNSEEN PALACE the group will find themselves where the hole had swallowed them to begin with. Mechanics As before except each warrior has (0) counter remaining

[Thaco]

 

Cummerford House
A D&D 5e adventure for Level 5 players

Setup Cummerford House has lain empty for over a decade, since the untimely demise of Lord and Lady Cummerford and their three small children. Just recently, word has come downs that an heir has been located; a cousin from a far-flung branch of the family, and that he would be taking up residence. But although carriages have been seen going to and from the house over the past weeks, there has yet been no sign of new occupancy. You received a request to attend a meeting at the offices of Hudson & Hudson, one of the premier legal firms in the city. As you are shown into the meeting room, a young man looks up at you nervously from the table. He is introduced as 'Lord Cummerford' - the long-lost cousin that town gossip has been expecting for some time now. "Thank you for coming...I don't know if anyone can help me, but the solicitors here said that you folks were my best chance. I sold off everything back home to make the journey here to take up residence in the Manor, but..." he looks down at the table for a moment, shudders, then goes on, "I just can't stay in that place. I don't know what it is, but...there's something evil there..." The new Lord Cummerford goes on to explain what he found when he first tried to take up residence. The building itself seemed to be in much better condition than expected, given the years since anyone had lived in it. The first oddity was that house seemed overrun by rabbits - but this might be explained by the fact that the previous owners had raised rabbits, and perhaps some had gone feral. But almost immediately, he could tell that something was wrong. "There was this strange droning sound. I don't know what it was but it scared me half to death. It scared the rabbits too...they mostly ran off...but the ones that remained...I almost felt like they were stalking me... I tried to investigate the sound, but I just couldn't make myself do it. Each step seemed harder than the last; finally I had to run out of the house altogether or else I'm sure I would have passed out - or gone mad. Will you please help me?" You agree to meet Lord Cummerford at his estate later that day. It is nearing sunset when he arrives and provides you with keys, but will not enter the grounds.

Cummerford House Cummerford House consists of the following rooms Downstairs: The Great Hall The Dining Room The Conservatory The Billiard Room Upstairs: The Master Bedroom Two smaller Bedrooms The Study The Library The Servant's Wing: The Kitchen The Stables

The Adventure Upon entering the house, it would appear to be filled with rabbits, with 4-10 present in any room. Most of these are ordinary rabbits, descendants of those that were raised by the family. But 10 of them are actually former members of the household staff, who have been transformed into rabbits: The Butler The Cook The Housekeeper The Nanny Lord Cummerford's Valet Lady Cummerford's Lady's Maid The Estate Manager The Gardener The Gamekeeper The Stablemaster Any player who attempts an Investigation or Animal Handling Check on the rabbits will have a 20% chance to find a transformed staff member: passing a DC 15 Check will then inform then that it is not an actual rabbit. Other than the presence of the rabbits nothing seems overtly out of place initially. 10 minutes after the players enter the house, they begin to hear a low thrumming sound from somewhere beneath them, causing the hair on the backs of their necks to stand on end (Level 1). At this point they will notice that most of the rabbits flee to somewhere out of sight; only a few remain visible (these are the 10 transformed staff). After another minute, the sound raises in pitch (Level 2). At this point, any rabbit in the same room as a party member (50% chance) will start acting aggressively, but will not attack. Other rabbits from elsewhere in the house will begin to converge on the party members. All party members must make a DC 10 Constitution Save or take a level of Exhaustion for 3d4 rounds. One minute later, the sound will rise in pitch again (level 3). All party members must make a DC 15 Wisdom Check or become Frightened of the rabbits for 2d4 rounds. At this point, the rabbits will attack the players (use stats for Giant Boar, MM p323) After one more minute the sound will rise in pitch again, becoming almost ear-splitting (Level 4). Any remaining rabbits will transform into strange rabbit-human hybrids )use stats for Mummy, MM p228). All party members must make another DC 15 Constitution Save or become Paralyzed for 1 round. If they make their way to the kitchen, in an adjoining pantry there is a trapdoor; the sound comes from below. If they begin to descend before the sound has begin reached Level 2, that action occurs immediately. Once they reach the bottom of the stairs, the sound raises again to Level 3. In the basement are two coffins. When the sound reaches Level 4, the coffins will open, and Lord and Lady Cummerford will arise, as vampires (use stats for Vampire Spawn, MM p298). If the party can defeat them, any remaining rabbit-creatures will revert to being true rabbits, the spirits of the former staff being released to pass on to the afterlife. The new Lord Cummerford will then be able to take up residence.

[Humble Athena]

 

A FATE Folly The Setup: Arnold Rivermane is a young, down-on-his-luck aristocrat, who has just come of age. Unfortunately, his eccentric uncle Harold had absconded years ago with the fortune that was meant to be his. The party tracked Harold's last known whereabouts to a declining industrial town. Specifically, he moved into his late great grandfather's neglected palace and began to fix it up, though repairs stopped a few months later, because workers could not be retained. A [+3(Good) Rapport or +5(Superb) Investigate] nets the palace's background: Before he was a mogul, Hugh Tauroman was an ordinary miner, with a loving wife. One day, he found a great treasure down in the mines that fueled his rise to wealth and power. A few years later he was an industry mogul, but his increasingly unacceptable behavior drove his wife away. After she was gone, he commissioned the palace- a testament to his now unrestrained self-indulgence and depravity. New rooms were constantly being built as his roster of female companions grew. But his fortune soon soured, the mines dried up, and he and his companions stopped making appearances. Investigating the town, mines, or palace grounds, the party should have several opportunities to [+2(Fair) Notice] a copper-furred, three-pawed rabbit watching them. It will vanish a few minutes after being noticed, or sooner if approached. Secret: This being is a spirit, and Hugh's treasure was its paw, taken from a hidden shrine deep in the mines. She is responsible for both Hugh's initial fortune, and his downfall after he refused to return her paw. It is hidden in Hugh's vault, and she cannot retrieve it because her ears are too sensitive to the deterrent sound. This sound registers too high pitched for most humans to be consciously aware of it, [+5(Superb) Notice] though it may be more obvious to elves, etc. Outside of the palace, it is merely annoying. Inside, the the party will begin taking [Mental Stress] unless they succeed at a [+2(Fair) Physique or Will] roll, to be made every ten minutes. This stress cannot [Take Out] a PC, but [Temporary Consequences] will accrue until they are out of the frequency range (the palace grounds), and have rested. The Mental Stress Track] clears after each consequence earned. Deaf persons are immune to this. The rabbit's paw is an artifact with the [Aspect- Three Wishes for the Needy, Ill Luck for the Greedy] Upon changing hands to a new user, this artifact will benevolently grant three wishes. But if, after the third wish, it is not returned to the shrine from which it was taken, the wishes corrupt and turn against the wisher. If the paw is returned, the spirit will show herself one more time, with her paw intact, and will grant the party a permanent campaign [Aspect - Spirit Luck] The Scene: The palace has the following [Aspects- Dimly Lit Disrepair, Disturbing Audio Frequency] and [Hidden Aspects- Danger in the Shadows, Cursed] Each room of the palace is an individual [Zone], as are any sections of hallway (corner to corner). The burrows beneath the palace are a single [Zone] with the [Aspect - Claustrophobic Maze] The decor inside is in ruins, the carpets are shredded. Part of the floor of the first room is collapsed, leaving a glimpse into the burrows beneath. Any party member alone in any [Zone] with dim lighting has a 25% chance of being attacked by a lone Twisted (see below) patrolling the grounds. Every ground floor [Zone] in the palace has a chance to collapse into the burrow beneath it. (There are 8 core rooms, and then 15 additional added on.) The first party member to step into a room makes a +1(Average) Athletics to avoid this. If the roll passes, the room is safe from collapse for the rest of the adventure. On failure, any party members in that room must make a [+3(Good) Athletics or Physique] to avoid falling into the burrow and being attacked by 2-4 Twisted. Climbing out is a [+3(Good) Physique] or [+1(Average) Physique] with any kind of climbing aid or help. Twisted: Mental [1 Stress] Physical [4 Stress] +5(Superb) Athletics, +3(Good) Fight, +2(Fair) Physique, +0(Mediocre) Will The twisted are the animalistic descendants of Hugh and his companions, driven into a feral madness by the frequency and the curse. They are cowardly and opportunistic scavengers who will flee from bright lights or multiple party members, except in the burrows. These small, emaciated humanoids display some leporine behaviors: they crawl on all fours, leap surprisingly high, and attack with fingernails that have adapted for digging. The burrows are littered with bones of vermin and the bones of their ancestors. The vault is at the heart of the palace, and where the frequency is most intense. The room is shrouded by darkness. A [+2(Fair) Lore] will determine that this darkness is magical and cannot be dispelled except by a Sacred Flame, or a [+5(Superb) Arcana FX] Within the vault, the frequency is almost unbearable, and a new roll with a -2 penalty must be made regardless of when the last save was rolled. However, the whump-whump of a great machine is audible to everyone- a bellows attached to a fine whistle system. It is operated by the ghost of Hugh, who cannot be fought with physical weapons. A +5(Superb) Faith FX will set him to rest (-1 for every 5 Twisted defeated). Otherwise, Hugh lets out a loud bellow that echoes through the palace and summons all remaining Twisted (30 less however many have already been defeated) With each Twisted defeated, Hugh fades more, until he is gone with the last Twisted to fall. The machine falls silent, and the party feels immediate relief. Within the room, they find the Rabbit's Paw, a piece of copper statue with the bones of a fae bunny inside. They also find Harold's body, still clutching the bag containing Arnold's formerly unseen inheritance in gemstone form, and Hugh's chests of coin.