Showing posts with label Isles of Avalon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Isles of Avalon. Show all posts

Sunday, March 5, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 3, Room 5

This room looks much like the last, save there is no mistake about what is here.

Cell 5

This room houses a creature similar to the one before it. A human-bugbear hybrid, but this one has other features. It is a wight, and its arms have been removed and large crab-like arms end in claws.

It uses the same stats as a wight but adds +1 to all damage rolls.

Like the wraith before it, this creature has been imprisoned for so long that it gives no thought to freedom but only the chance to kill. 

Saturday, March 4, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 3, Room 4

Moving on down the hallway, you see a light in the cell to your left.

Cell 4

This cell seems empty but there is a light on the inside.  

The light is a wraith that has been trapped here since imprisoned by the Necromancers long ago. It was a human-bugbear hybrid but it was too stupid to be of use to the Necromancers, it was however violent and ill-tempered.  It died and now only its wraith remains. 

It is so consumed with anger that it will attack first before any thoughts of leaving its prison.

Its stats are the same as a wight, but it is ghost-like. It still drains like a wraith and needs magic to hit.


Friday, March 3, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 3, Room 3

Moving down the hall there is another cell on the left.

Level 3, Room 3

This is a false cell, used to confuse those here to set the monsters free. The guards and many of the monsters are long gone, but the trap remains.

The cell bars are electrified. Anyone touching it must make a saving throw vs. Paralysis/ Petrify or take 2d6 hp worth of damage. A thief can find this trap and disable it. Failure to do either will also result in a shock, no save.

The cell opens up but there is no cell beyond. A trick of the stonework makes it look larger than it really is.

Thursday, March 2, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 3, Room 2

 The bars to this cell are long gone, and it is easy to see why.  Inside is a large armadillo-like creature. Once the PCs come close to the opening, it rushes out in a frenzy of hunger.






Inside is a Magiphagous Rust Monster. It is the last offspring of one of many failed magical experiments. Many generations of these creatures have lived over the years and this is the last one. The bars to it's cell are gone, but due to a special magic placed on the other bars to the other cells it has not tried to eat those.
  
Rust Monster, Magiphagous  (Old-School Essentials)
Magical, armadillo-like creatures with long tails and two long, antennae-like feelers. Feed on the remains of magical metals.
AC 2 [17], HD 7 (31hp), Att 1 × feeler (rusting), THAC0 13 [+6], MV 120’ (40’), SV D11 W12 P13 B14 S15 (5), ML 9, AL Neutral, XP 175, NA 1d4 (1d4), TT None
  • Rusting: Magical metal that touches a rust monster (e.g. weapons that hit it, or armour struck by a feeler) crumbles instantly to rust.  Each time a magic item is affected, it loses one “plus”.  Each item gets a base saving throw of 13, plus any "pluses" the magical item has.
  • Mundane damage immunity: Can only be harmed by magical attacks.
  • Smell metal: Attracted by the scent of magical metals such as weapons, armors and artifacts.
Appearing as a paler and larger version of the rust monster, these creatures are otherwise exactly the same as rust monsters, save for one detail.   These creatures only eat magical metals.


Wednesday, March 1, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 3, Room 1

 The stairs from the back of Room 28 on level 2 lead a long way down.  They end at a large iron gate.  The gate is 20' wide and at least 15' tall. It opens in the middle, and it is locked.  The rusty nature of this lock imposes a -5% penalty on opening. The gate, though, is also weak enough that combined strength of 24 can pull it open.

Level 3, Room 1

There are claw marks visible on the stone after the gate, but none before it. There are alcoves to either side for guards on both sides of the gate (four total).  There is an ambient eldritch glow throughout the place. 

The hallway continues on.

--

Notes about this level. This is where the Citadel of Conjurers kept their magical experiments. It has long been rumored that this is the birthplace of the Owlbear and other magical monstrosities.  When the Vampire Queen took control here, she raised many of these dead creatures as various types of undead so she could keep them as "guard dogs."

My goal this month will be to populate this level with all sorts of new monsters.

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 2, Room 28

Down this short passageway from the torture chamber is another large room. The door is standard to unlock. 

Room 28

This large room used to be the barracks for this dungeon level. It was also where all the weapons were kept.  There are plenty of weapons here and a few are still usable. Allow players to restock what they need.

As the characters search the room they will begin to uncover a nest of Ghost Spiders.  These look like large undead spiders but they are really demonic necromantic projections.  They were summoned here from all the fear and death and have never left.

They will attack the party as soon as they are found.

In the back is hidden door that is easily discovered it leads to a flight of stairs going down.

Monday, February 27, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 2, Room 27

The hall turns to the right and opens up into a large area. 

torture chamber

This room was obviously a torture chamber. There are still racks, stocks, and other implements of torture still to be found here.

There are still two victims here who have been unable to leave, Two Wraiths.

These wraiths are not allied and will attack the party without regard for other.

There is some treasure here the wraiths have collected from previous victims. Both have Treasure Type E.




Sunday, February 26, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 2, Room 26

Turning to your right the hallway continues on a bit.  On the corner to your right, there is, if the proper rolls are made, a secret door.  This is very similar to Room #7 and Room #Room 19.

Room 7

This room is found behind a secret door in the corner of the hallway, not on the flat walls. 

This room appears to have been a guard room. There are chairs for three with a small table and weapons on the walls.  There are slots in the wall where guards can watch both hallways.

This room has been untouched by the waves of denizens here. There is a dagger +1, two-handed sword +1, and 2 +1 sling bullet stored here for the guard's use in addition to some normal items. There had been food, but it has since rotted away. Additionally, there is a bag of gold pieces, 14 GP.

Finding these treasures is worth 2,714xp.

Saturday, February 25, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 2, Room 25

Opening this door is much easier, it feels like it had been opened already and not properly locked.

Ghouls

 Inside this room is a pack (3) of Ghouls.

They are currently eating the remains of two goblins. They will stop and attack the party, but the party will get +1 to their initiative rolls.

They have standard treasure for ghouls and what ever the two goblins had.

Friday, February 24, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 2, Room 24

 Moving down the passageway the next cell is on your right.

Room 24

The doors to this room are wide open. 

It appears there had been a fight here, and not that long ago. There are three dead goblins and one dead human. The bodies have been looted, but there is a 1 in 6 chance for all characters (or a 3 in 6 for thieves) that someone will find a Potion of Healing on the human.

Otherwise, this room is empty.

--

The part of adventurers that is ahead of this party started about three to four days before this group. They are others, but they are all slowing being picked off.

Thursday, February 23, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 2, Room 23

 This cell looks like it is the same size as the others, but it begins to shift and change.

Will-o-the-wisp

This effect is an illusion and a very powerful one. This illusion makes the room look larger on the inside than it is. Additionally, there is an effect that will confuse anyone inside.  The room's illusion is not related to the creature inside and a save vs. Magic will reveal the room for what it is. 

The inhabitant of this room takes advantage of this illusion.  Inside this room is a Will-o-the-wisp.

AC 3 [17], HD 5+1 (22 hp), Att 1, life drain, THAC0 15 [+4], MV 90’ (30’), SV D11 W11 P12 B13 S15, ML 12, AL Chaotic, XP 575, NA 1 (1d4), TT see below.

This is not the Will-o-the-Wisp normally encountered. This is an undead creature. While it has high HD it is a single creature and has low hp. It can be turned by a cleric as a 5HD creature.  The creature can only be hit by magic.  Its low AC is due to its size, its erratic movement, and its magical protection.

The wisp leads characters into this room and uses the illusion to keep victims confused and scared. It then feeds on the life energies of those trapped. It can't drain the victims directly and has to wait till they start to die of other causes.

The Wisp does not collect treasure, but there is a lot material left from former victims. The only way to find it though is make the save vs. spells to stop the illusions.

--

I am reworking Will-O-the-Wisps for my Basic Bestiary. This is a rough draft.

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 2, Room 22

 This cell is locked and the door feels stuck.  A combined strength of 28 is needed to force it open.

Room 22

This room has a large blue portal that leads to a different dungeon. Someone has been using this as a storage room. There is a treasure chest with 5,000 gp inside! There are two large Bags of Holding. Many mundane swords, daggers, longbows, arrows, and shields.  There is also food that seems to be fine (it is) but none of it is recognizable. It tastes weird but is perfectly healthy to eat.

If DMs wish they could have the inhabitants of this realm making a deposit. They are closely related to lizardmen.  They are not expecting to fight and have a morale of 6.

Monday, February 20, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 2, Room 20

This door looks like it leads to another guard room (like 19 before it).

Room 20

 The floor of this room is trapped. If a pressure plate is stepped on the floor gives way and all occupants slid down (away from the door) to the next level below.

A thief can find this trap, but not disable it. They can however avoid it.

Sunday, February 19, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 2, Room 19

Turning to your right the hallway continues on.  On the corner to your right there is, if the proper rolls are made, a secret door.  This is very similar to Room #7.

Room 7

This room is found behind a secret door in the corner of the hallway, not on the flat walls. 

This room appears to have been a guar room. There are chairs for three with a small table and weapons on the walls.  There are slots in the wall where guards can watch both hallways.

This room has been untouched by the waves of denizens here. There is a axe +1, short sword +1, and 2 +1 crossbow arrows stored here for the guard's use in addition to some normal items. There had been food but it has since rotted away. 

Finding these treasures is worth 2,300xp.

Saturday, February 18, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 2, Room 18

The cell opens easier than the others on this level.  Thieves get a +5% bonus to any pick locks roll.

Opening this door will reveal that this cell is also very different on the inside.

Bas-relief of teh Vampire Queen

Inside is a bas-relief of the Vampire Queen. It is newer than the surrounding rock.  

As the party approaches and gets within 5' of the 7' tall relief its mouth will open a spout of red acid will spill out. Everyone within 5' must make a save versus Breath Weapon or take 2d8 points of damage.  The acid used to be much stronger.

There is no treasure in this room.


Friday, February 17, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 2, Room 17

Continuing down this hallway is the next cell.

Green Slime

This room is filled with Green Slime.  There are two on the floor, and one dripping from the ceiling. They are packed in so tightly there is no chance of surprise. One on the floor gets an "attack" as it rolls out.

Destroying the slimes will reveal 2 Swords +1. These are all that are left from the last group of adventurers. 

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 2, Room 15

Continuing down this hallway, there is another door on your left. Like all the cells on this level, this one is locked.

Room 15

This room is empty though there is an eerie, eldritch glow to everything. Lying on the ground is a large shield.

The shield is heavy and requires a Strength of 16 to use properly. It is magic. It provides +2 to AC and even a +1 to magical attacks that are directed (fireballs, magic missiles, curses) but not non-combat-based magic (area of effect spells where the bearer can walk in or illusions).

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 2, Room 14

After turning the corner to get to Room 13, you continue on. All doors are on the right-hand side of this hallway.

warlock

Inside room 14 is a human male looking over another portal. On the other side of the portal is a dungeon room that looks very similar to the one they are currently in.  

The man, a Warlock, will speak to the characters in a language they do not understand.  After a few tries of failing to communicate, he will blast what he believes to be the wizard with an Eldritch Blast. He has to roll to hit (THAC0: 19), and it causes 1d6+2 points of damage. He can do this every round.  He has AC 9 and 11 hp.

There is a 30% chance he has a magic item suitable for a wizard/magic-user.

The portal leads to another world that looks exactly like the one they have left, and they might not even realize they have gone anywhere. The world is the same, but the rules here use the Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition rules.  Tell the players to give you back their sheets and hand them the same characters for the 4th Edition version of the game.

--

This monster for this room was inspired by the old Monster & Treasure assortment for the Second level.

M&T Level 2

I figure if he was a warlock, then he might as well be a 4th Edition one!

Monster & Treasure Assortment


Monday, February 13, 2023

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 2, Room 13

This room has another open portal. Coming through is a sight terrible to behold.

Madhatter goblin

Coming through is a group (6) of Madhatter Goblins. These goblins do not appear to be similar at all to the other goblins encountered so far.

These goblins wear the skulls of their kills on their own heads. The leader is the one with the most heads.

The portal closes when the last goblin comes through. Any character on the other side when it closes is lost forever.