69. Carnivorous Marigolds
The PC's approach a large, open field of lavender marigolds, and several hundreds of yards into the marigolds is a horse that is apparently sleeping, and the nearby marigolds seem to be gently nudging it. Perception check: DC: 30 to notice that the horse is dead and just beginning to decay, Perc DC: 35 to notice other decaying animals and humanoids even further in the distance. Any smell of decaying flesh is easily masked by the fragrant odor the marigolds exude.
When the PC's reach 10ft from the initial line of the marigolds, in echoing unison, and with a child-like voice, they beckon "hi... come play with us..." "hey, you should smell us," "hey, aren't we pretty flowers?". The plants attempt to entice the party (Suggestion, Will Save negates DC: 19), to come out and play and partake in frivolous frolicking. Anyone who enters the field begins to smell an alluring, overpowering, perfume-like oderant coming from the flowers (Fortitude Save negates DC: 19) and fall asleep for 1d4 days (victims make fortitude saves vs. new 1d4 day sleep effects every 8 hours, if a creature resists, they are immune to the effect for 8 hours). The flowers don't kill the victims outright, but rather the victims starve to death because they cannot wake up due to constantly failing Fortitude saves.
68. Dilapidated Time Well
You enter a town that is noticeably several centuries behind in terms of technological advancement compared to any other township you've visited, and the townsfolk speak about this area's known history (DC: 15 Knowledge History) as if they were current events. Upon investigation, the PC's find that this town's tavern is the secret headquarters of the Resistance, and the tavern's cellar has a secret door that leads to an underground lair of smithys, engineers, and alchemists working around the clock preparing for war. The townsfolk incessantly gripe about the Great Oppression: impossible taxes, unfair edicts and decrees, and overly-brutal guards, from Evil Magistrate Fenrix and the nearby kingdom, as well as the most recent attack that has plunged them into Open War. PC's figure out that this "oppressive kingdom" is outside this Time Well and know for a fact that it is in ruins. Further investigation reveals that Magistrate Fenrix, in a desperate attempt to "win the war before it started", and attempted to use Time Manipulation magic to effectively Time Stop the townsfolk, allowing his forces to win the day against a host of helpless/frozen targets. Except, he greatly miscalculated the spell, and instead of stopping time upon the townsfolk themselves, he plunged the entire area to be "frozen in time". Believing that his spell had worked, he sent his army in, but the Resistance was ready and waiting, and ultimately won; they were not frozen and helpless as he had planned. The townsfolk are now stuck in a seemingly forever "Groundhog's day", and are preparing to strike back.
PC's eventually hear about a strange sundial north of town, which unbeknownst to the townsfolk, was the material reagent for the spell, and the key to their release from this spell. The PC's must figure out how to destroy it and end the spell.
One clue is that several of the buildings bear a strong resemblance to ruins they have already visited.
Great, the 3 grinning goats gruff. I recommend carrying treats to feed them to keep them from lowering their heads.
If you transplant the stinkroot so you can develop this area, the goats will easily find the new area.
70. Stinkroot Patch
In a culvert, ditch or other swail in the land with poor drainage, tall shoots of a brightly colored flower sway in the breeze. The petals are a brilliant yellow with a dark, emerald hem along their edge. There is a rank stench rising from the patch that causes the eyes to water. The flowers are locally known as Stinkroot and their bulbous root are a valuable commodity to alchemists or others who brew draughts of Brewed Reek, Scentcloak or other hunter's aids.
GM's notes: harvesting one bulb of Stinkroot is challenging, requiring some kind of digging tool, even a sharp stick. PCs attempting this extraction need to succeed in either a Survival or Profession: Herbalist, Farmer or another relevant skill with a DC of 12. Failure by 4 or less simply means that the bulb was ruined during removal; failing by 5 or more results in the PC needing to make a DC 11 Fort save or become Nauseated for 1 round, then Sickened for 1d4 rounds.
Patches of Stinkroot usually only feature 2d4 bulbs that are harvestable at any given time. Also they are the favored food of Grinning Goats. Use the stats for normal goats. These animals are known as Grinning Goats because they have markings on the top of their head, between the horns, that generally resembles a smiling skull.
Grinning Goats are far less skittish and more aggressively territorial than their standard kin. When they lower their heads in challenge, the grinning skull can be seen by their opponent. Local myth holds that if a Grinning Goat "smiles" on you (lowers it's head to you) that it is a sign of ill omen.
Several of the patches of Stinkroot have recently been harvested, and in both alarming quantity and methodical care so that the bulb regrows in 3d4 weeks. Survival or Knowledge Nature check DC: 15 reveals that no bulbs were destroyed or mishandled during the harvesting process, while also providing the Stinkroot with the ability to re-flower the bulbs, so whomever harvested these bulbs was undoubtedly a professional. If the PC's decide to figure out why this mass harvesting of Stinkroot has occured, they find out that a local warlord has hired alchemists, botanists, and herbalists to harvest Stinkroot and weaponize it to be used as "Powder-packed Spore Catapults ammunition" for siege warfare. Alchemist/Botanist/Herbalists have been harvesting the Stinkroot and then bringing it back to their laboratory for a complex Refining process to turn it into a powder-like poison, and then encapsulating it in large globules that can be fired with a catapult or trebuchet, that then break upon impact. When this poison is either ingested or inhaled, it causes an effect called "Feast of Putrefaction", causing an effect similar to the spell Feast of Ashes, where any food immediately becomes putrefied and unsuitable for consumption or nourishment.
Feast of AshesSchool transmutation [curse]; Level druid 2, psychic 2, witch 2
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (a pinch of ash)EFFECT
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft/2 levels)
Targets one creature
Duration 2 days/level (D)
Saving Throw Fortitude negates; Spell Resistance yesDESCRIPTION
You curse the target with a hunger no food can assuage. On a failed Saving Throw, the target begins to starve. The effects of this spell cannot inflict more nonlethal damage than the target has hit points. No amount of eating can counter the effect and, further, even attempting to eat causes the target to become nauseated for 1 round unless they make a DC 12 Fortitude save. The target still experiences the other normal effects of anything consumed (such as poisons or potions).
Feast of ashes can be removed with a break enchantment, limited wish, miracle, remove curse, or wish spell, but effects suffered as a result of starvation must be healed by normal means.
The Warlord is currently besieging the Fortress-City of RichAsCrap, but his laboratory where the refining process operates is in his hometown of JealousOfRichAsCrap. The Warlord has already unleashed his first volley of the poisonous globules, and the 2nd wave of this ammunition will be arriving by caravan in 1 week. Many of the people of RichAsCrap have already succumbed to the poison and have begun starving due to this horrific weapon, and RichAsCrap's Council of Stewards have sent messenger-riders to call for aid from their allies.
If the PC's don't bite at the mass-harvested Stinkroots, the GM can cast the legendary spell 2nd Attempt for Story Hook: While traveling absolutely anywhere, the PC's find one of these messenger-riders dead on the road and his belongings have been rifled though, but if they perform a Heal Check DC: 15, they can see the "Call for Aid" note has been cleverly hidden under a "magical skin-graft" on his left forearm.
71. The Coin, the Marble, and the Abraxas
The PC's happen upon the skeletal remains of a gargantuan-sized demonic figure that has been dead for quite some time. The buzzards picked these bones clean over 100 years ago at a minimum, by anyone's best guess. The skeletal remains have the body, pincers, and tail of a scorpion, but there is a humanoid-like torso that emerges equidistant between it's pincers (similar to Scorpion King from The Mummy) but its head is an over-sized skull with two horns. The right horn is the spiraled-shape of a ram, while the left horn looks like that of a long-horned bull. Perc check DC: 35 reveals a lone scorched coin, blackened by intense fire, has been covered up by sand (or dirt, w/e type of earth where you are). Detect Magic reveals this coin instantly, and has a strong aura of both Abjuration and Necromancy schools. All attempts to identify it fail (hopefully the PC rolls high on Spellcraft and still fails for extra "woah" and "oooo" -factor from the party).
Several sessions later.... <---- this is on purpose for dramatic effect
The PC's come across any NPC of high-born status, whether it be a King, Noble, or anyone. In this NPC's possession is a marble with a strange pattern (the pattern appears like a deformed human skull with a red left eye), seemingly insignificant to it's owner, until the PC who is holding the aforementioned scorched coin comes within 60 feet of them. The coin and the marble cannot be within 60ft of each other, and attempting to bring these two items within 60ft of each other causes them to become "magnetically unattracted", and will violently shove each other away (emphasis on violent). There is no possible way to get the Coin and Marble within 59ft of each other, not with planeshifting, teleportation, or even two trained attack chihuahuas holding the coin and marble in their mouths that charge towards one another. It's impossible. Any attempt will violently shove the items away from one another After the PC and the NPC noble/king are thrown to the floor by the violent reaction of coming within 60ft of each other, and then eventually realize what exactly is happening (possibly after several violent shoves), the NPC puts the marble away somewhere safe, then returns to address the PC. He explains that the marble was given to him by his brother 11 years ago, and his brother is an Archeologist who found the marble near the skeletal remains of a large demon-like being (^---- this is ostensibly the same place where the party found the scorched coin). He has no clue where his Archeologist brother is, probably on another dig, perhaps. The noble NPC is in a bit of a money problem, and will part with the marble for 10,000gp, or, the NPC will send the PC's to deal with the loan shark who is charging unfair interest payments on a debt that started at 4,000gp. Either way, he gives the coin to the PC's, and now the two PC's carrying the Coin and the Marble must stay 60ft from each other. <---- this makes combat a little interesting for a few sessions
Several sessions later.... <---- this is ALSO on purpose for dramatic effect
The PC's hear about Gredhur the Harbinger, a Dwarven Necromancer deep in the mountain near McSleepyVillageTown who is in possession of an artifact called The Abraxas, a powerful key of "solidified light" that can harnass and extract magical energy from a ley line, and this necromancer seems keen on using it for nefarious purposes. When the PC's arrive in McSleepyVillageTown, the townsfolk are in a bit of an uproar. Undead have been seen roaming the mountainside, villagers have been disappearing in the forest near the mountains, and just last night, 3 teenagers didn't return from the forest-- they were last seen going to the McSleepyVillageTown graveyard that is 1 hour into the forest. The villagers are forming a search party of able-bodied men and women to 1) find the teenagers, and 2) find the others who have disappeared, and 3) figure out the source of these disappearances. The PC's are invited to accompany the team of able-bodied men and women and will be paid 1,000gp each in advance, and 2,000gp each if they return successful.
The PC's eventually find the Necromancer has taken up refuge in ancient dwarven fortress deep in the mountain, except when they arrive, Gredhur the Harvester is nailed to the wall with pitons, and the party is met by a Rakshasa Necromancer named Navra'Ga. She summons the coin and marble to her hand (within 3 inches of each other... not 60ft! /le gasp!) and places the Coin, Marble, and Abraxas into the Ley Line stream, which releases a Lich from the marble, and the Scorpion Demon with the Ram/Bull's head from the scorched coin, and then she uses the Abraxas to summon 80HD of her undead minions to attack the party! "You've fallen into my trap! This was most fortuitous indeed! The Archdemon has foreseen all... and now to dispose of you wretched PC's MUAHAHAHA!"
Here's where the Rakshasa's plans all fall to crap.... Immediately after being summoned from their coin and marble prisons, The Lich and the Demon immediately begin fighting each other with centuries of hatred fueling their attacks! The Rakshasa pleads with them, "These PC's are vile and seek to destroy you!" and they pay no attention to her. Queue the boss fight music!
71: The effect can be suspended by putting only one item in a magical space and closing it. Merely taking a small peek will make the other object take off like a shot. Trying to use this as a gun will have a -4 to hit, but if it does hit, otherwise conforms to gun damage rules.
There are some terrific ideas in this thread. But sometimes "real world" places can seem tailor-made for adventuring.
The Valley of Headless Men, Canada - Contains a range of mountains called Funeral Range and the Hell's Gate Rapids.
The Valley of Headless Men
Aokigahara Forest, Japan - For some inexplicable many people come here to commit suicide.
Aokigahara
The Valley of Peace, Iraq - Over five million people are buried here.
Wadi-us-Salaam
The Valley of Whales, Egypt - During the Eocene Epoch a shallow ocean covered this area and some of the world's most important discoveries regarding ancestral whales have been made here. Not exactly spooky, but just the name of the place evokes wonder.
Wadi-al-Hitan
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There are some terrific ideas in this thread. But sometimes "real world" places can seem tailor-made for adventuring.
The Valley of Headless Men, Canada - Contains a range of mountains called Funeral Range and the Hell's Gate Rapids.
The Valley of Headless MenAokigahara Forest, Japan - For some inexplicable many people come here to commit suicide.
AokigaharaThe Valley of Peace, Iraq - Over five million people are buried here.
Wadi-us-SalaamThe Valley of Whales, Egypt - During the Eocene Epoch a shallow ocean covered this area and some of the world's most important discoveries regarding ancestral whales have been made here. Not exactly spooky, but just the name of the place evokes wonder.
Wadi-al-Hitan
These are all valid and big.
Random Terrain.for great big things in one mile hex features.
Staircases to nowhere, exist. Portal to limbo not guaranteed.
74. Strange stone
The area is typical. a fey trees, grass, weeds, the occasional rock, and one big rock, shaped like a skull, smack dab in the middle of it. Note that there is a wadded up piece of paper in the right eye hole that seems to be a treasure map to the hole in 73. Did they dig up the treasure and ditch the map they no longer needed? Did the adventurers find themselves in the past and dig up the treasure at some point in their future? Maybe they should hold on to the paper. There is that time loop in 68.
75. Zombie gardeners on ropes
Beside the ancient ruins there still exists a section of garden enclosed by a crumbling stone and iron wall. The paths and flora within are expertly maintained and manicured by a number of rotting, undead corpses. Each of these creatures reside inside a roofed shrine or shed during any daylight hours, but by night they take a set of tools and shuffle to and fro on long, flexible tethers. Each has assigned duties to rake the paths, clean the pond, prune the hedges and so forth. Villages still settled in the shadows of these ruins have an annual tradition, when their young people come of age. As part of a coming of age ritual, these young people make their way to the garden wall and try to get as close as they can to the animated carcasses without provoking an attack. It is well known to the locals - these zombies will not assault any who do not trespass over the wall or otherwise hinder their duties as caretakers.
The ruins would be very small, and the presence of villagers depend on development.
76: If used as an outdoor dungeon as originally intended, and they are not actually searching for lost npcs, they may not be aware of any traditions. It still makes a great trap as they try to lay the zombies to rest, only to find they wasted ammo on puppets.
77:Weird Bus Platform
It's only raised up 2 feet above ground level. It's a street that goes through a a high gate arch at either end. There is a bus stop on either side of the road. The North most bus stop has a shelter built around a long bench, a sign, a clear cabinet containing handbills(news and advertisements), a bus schedule, and a single token.
Shelter: The bench is made of hard stone and seats eight M sized humans sitting shoulder to shoulder. The shelter it'self seems to be made of thick, clear, quartz and edged by some metal. It has 3 sides and a roof, but is open towards the road.
Northern sign: It says Bus 42, all major towns and cities hourly.
The cabinet: will open only if you put a silver piece in the coin slot. The bus schedule lists all the cities in the game world, a moonbase, and the capitals of all the other planets in the current solar system. When you close the cabinet, everything taken will somehow be replaced. If you broke the cabinet open, it cannot be reclosed. Picking the lock is DC30.
The bus looks to be armored and the door is actually an airlock operated from inside. The driver is a gruff Dwarf the first time but can vary as the GM sees fit. The bus comes by every hour. Trying to walk the bus route can be lethal. Beyond the gates the roads split. If you get off the road to avoid the next bus running you over, you find yourself floating in the ethereal plane. All the off ramps here lead to really weird demiplanes.
The south most bus stop differs in that the sign says Bus 86, All known planes, and the schedules are in ten different languages. The handbills include many from different planes like the aquan mall. A glassed in shopping mall floating in the plane of water.
80.Vernal pond. Only filled with shallow water during spring or after a heavy storm. When full will contain fairy shrimp and amphibian young(eggs, that hatch into tadpoles, that grow into adults).
Seen from above it looks like an enormous boot print.
81:Portal Network Gate. This massive metal ring allows passage to the one in the Portal network ring of rings in the random terrain list. It conforms to the description on page 267 of Occult Adventures.
21. Cliff Above the stream a cliff rises, grey rock striped with white lichen and pocked by a few hardy plants. Something rises from a nest at the base of one of those plants and flies at you screaming...
GM Notes: The creature won't actually attack if the party retreats. The nest contains eggs or hatchlings which may be valuable in their own right.
22. Baby A thin wail rises from a meadow next to the trail. The sound is seemingly impossible to ignore.
GM Notes: The baby is abandoned. It has been left where faeries will find it tonight, and likely take care of it for as long as they take an interest. Returning the baby to the parents will not lead to a reward. A rapacious bandit lord is setting himself up for a PC-kicking if the players take an interest
23. Waterfall A waterfall leads to a deep, clear pond below. It's strikingly beautiful.
GM Notes: It's safe to swim and wash here, but at night a vampire spawn comes out from behind the waterfall and seeks for blood. Or it attacks immediately if someone checks the small cave behind the waterfall.
24. Loose Slope Coming down this slope the path cracks under your weight and turns into rubble which starts to slide!
GM Notes: a survival DC 15 or perception DC 20 check will see this before it becomes a problem. Anyone caught will be gleefully pounced on by some goblins waiting out of sight. If no one is then there are signs at the bottom that they've been there and of their previous victims.
The baby is repeatable as this is a popular place to abandon babies. It could be an illegitimate heir, a kidnap victim whose parents either could not come up with the money or talked to the authorities, a child an oracle said was fated to kill their father, or an unwanted half breed such as the child of an elf and an orc.
The goblins in 24 could be replaced by other monsters if slain.