Thursday, May 14, 2020

Candy Factory; or, a Taste of Madness

Every so often, the candy witch gets it in her mind that she needs an heir to replace her -- to take over. But the madness that rested in her mind from the Undermountain lingered, and an heir would never be found... not that she wouldn't try. The group of would-be heirs entered the factory with their golden tickets. "The suspense is terrible. I hope it'll last," the little halfling giggled to herself as she watched the tour begin for these doomed souls. 

  • Theme: 
  • Location: 
    • Babylon 
  • Goal: 
    • Locate and Recover Fizzlepops' Fragment
  • Threats:
    • Fizzlepop
      • Once a bubbly candy maker filled with joy, covered in various candies and with wild pink hair, the halfling found herself tainted by the madness of the Undermountain after the failure of the Blackcloak to tame the tarrasque. Knowing that her mind was slipping, she fled to the surface and used her acquired wealth from adventuring to start her own candy company and factory. 
      • It is rumored that that Fizzlepop's was the apprentice of Trobriand and the partner of Zox. 
  • Summary: 
    • Rarely open to public eyes, the Fizzlepops' Candy Factory has been the subject of much speculation by the public who has come to enjoy the inventive delights of the halfling candymancer. However, what the public doesn't realize, is that this factory is a labyrinth of magical traps, monsters, and more -- Fizzlepop's strange addiction taken to higher and higher moments of madness over the years. 
  • Achievements: 
    • She Was a Bad Egg
      • Find all the previous 'winners' of the Golden Tickets. 
    • Fuck You, Dentists
      • Try every one of Fizzlepop's candies. 
    • Oompa Loompa Doompety Doo, We've Got a Surprise For You
      • Discover the truth about the Cocoa Tree.
    • Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice
      • Find Fizzlepop's fragment.
    • I'm Melting
      • Defeat Fizzlepop.

Dweomercore; or, the Pain of Education

Descending into an arched room with mosaics of wizards engaged in dazzling spell duels, the adventurers stare down the three foot tall anthropomorphic fox-like creature; dressed in a fine white silk kimono with red patterning. Her closed, but all seeing eyes appraise each of them before a small smile spreads across her face; squeezing the small rubber ball in her left hand. Breaking in the newbies always delighted her. "Welcome...who's ready to learn?" They say she's sweet but a little bit psycho... 



  • Theme: 
  • Location: 
    • The Dungeon of the Mad Mage (Level 9)
  • Goal: 
    • Locate and Recover Letti's Fragment
  • Threats:
    • Letti
      • Tutored under the transmutation expert Arcturia, Letti became increasingly despondent after everything that she had sacrificed for and worked towards failed under the Blackcloak's madness. She unfortunately could not escape the influence of the Undermountain, and developed her own strange tastes over the years. She now spends the majority of her time trying to find a pupil strong enough to complete the spell that will let her return home. 
      • It was rumored that her partner was Geb. 
    • Nester
      • Once the premiere expert necromancer and member of Halaster's fabled organization of apprentices called 'The Seven', he now bides his time here teaching and studying worthy successors for the Blackcloak. 
    • Spite 
      • The most apt pupil, a simple twelve year old human boy, Spite Harrowdale along with his bodyguard, female half-ogre Dumara, seek to take their skills even further by acquiring a hidden spellbook in Halaster's private sanctuary. 
    • Cephalossk 
      • A solitary mind flayer arcanist, it is a pariah among its own kind and has no allies to speak of. It loathes Halaster's favored pupil, Spite, and seeks to eat his brain at the earliest opportunity. 
  • Summary: 
    • Hundreds upon thousands of would-be apprentices came seeking the Blackcloak's secrets and knowledge, but not all are worth his attention. Some must improve and prove themselves at this magical academy designed to test, trap, and confound its students at every turn. Teachers and students lurk these halls of learning -- each seeking the favor of the fox-like headmistress: Letti. 
  • Achievements: 
    • Spiteful
      • Assist one of the students (Spite or Cephalossk) as the victor of their rivalry. 
    • Halaster's Not Home Right Now. 
      • Find Halaster's Secretary. 
    • He Just Kept Talking In One Long Incredibly Unbroken Sentence
      • Sit through all of Nester's lecture.
    • Followed the Bouncing Ball
      • Find Letti's Fragment.
    • Goodbye Little Psycho 
      • Defeat Letti.

Friday, May 1, 2020

Sidekicks

At the beginning of an adventure, you can choose a side kick to take with you to help you.

Sidekicks fall into three simple roles: warrior, expert, or spellcaster.

Each sidekick also has a unique passive bonus you get while they're in your party. 

========================================================================

Warrior Sidekick [Level 9, Proficiency Bonus: +4]
HP: 65/65 (10d8+18) | AC: 18 ("Plate Armor")
Speed 30 ft. | +1 Init (adv) | Passive Perc 16

Saving Throws: +5 Str, +1 Dex, +6 Con, +0 Int, +2 Wis, +0 Cha
Stat Array: Str: 20, Dex: 12, Con: 14, Int: 10, Wis: 14, Cha: 10
Skills: Athletics +9, Acrobatics +5, Perception +6

Action:
-Extra Attack: The warrior can attack twice.
Melee Attack: +9 vs AC for 2d6+5 damage
Range Attack: +9 vs AC for 1d6+5 damage (20/60 ft range)

Passive:
-Danger Sense:The warrior has advantage on Dexterity saving throws against effects that it can see. This feature doesn't work if the sidekick is incapacitated.
-Improved Critical: The warrior attack rolls score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20.
-Ability Score Improvement: The expert increased their ability score by +2 at level 4, 6, 8. [Str +4, Str/Wis +1]
-Battle Readiness: The warrior has advantage on initiative rolls. 
-Indomitable (1/rest): The warrior can reroll a saving throw it failed.

========================================================================

Expert Sidekick [Level 9, Proficiency Bonus: +4]
HP: 65/65 (10d8+18) | AC: 16 ("Studded Leather")
Speed 30 ft. | +4 Init | Passive Perc 20

Saving Throws: +0 Str, +8 Dex, +2 Con, +1 Int, +2 Wis, +0 Cha
Stat Array: Str: 10, Dex: 18, Con: 14, Int: 12, Wis: 14, Cha: 10
Skills: Investigation +9, Perception +10, Nature +5, Stealth +12, Survival +10
Tools: Artisan Tools (+9), Thieves Tools (+9)

Action:
-Extra Attack: The expert can attack twice.
Melee Attack: +9 vs AC for 1d4+4 damage
Range Attack: +9 vs AC for 1d6+4 damage (Range 80/320, two-handed)

Bonus Action:
-(Inspiring) Helpful: The expert can take the Help action and the creature also gains a 1d6 bonus to the d20 roll. If the roll is an attack, it can instead add this bonus to the damage roll. 
-Cunning Action: The expert can take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.

Passive:
-Expertise: The expert can add double their proficiency bonus to the following skills: 4 skills
-Jack of All Trades: The expert can add half its proficiency bonus to any ability check it makes that uses a skill but doesn't already include its proficiency bonus.
-Ability Score Improvement: The expert increased their ability score by +2 at level 4 and +2 at level 8. (+2 Dex, +1 Dex/Wis)
-Evasion: When the expert is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it failed. The expert doesn't benefit from this feature while incapacitated.

========================================================================

Spellcaster Sidekick [Level 9, Proficiency Bonus: +4]
HP: 65/65 (10d8+18) | AC: 14 ("Studded Leather")
Speed 30 ft. | +2 Init | Passive Perc 11
Saving Throws: +0 Str, +2 Dex, +2 Con, +4 Int, +5 Wis, +0 Cha
Stat Array: Str: 10, Dex: 14, Con: 14, Int: 18, Wis: 12, Cha: 10
Skills: +9 Arcana, +9 History, +9 Religion

Action:
Melee Attack: +6 vs AC for 1d4+2 damage.
Fire Bolt: +9 vs AC for 2d10+4 fire damage.

Passive:
-Magical Recovery: The spellcaster after a short rest can recover expended slots that have a combined level that is equal to or less than half its levels in this class, and none of the spell slots can be 6th level or higher. 
-Potent Cantrips: The spellcaster adds their spellcasting modifier to the damage of their cantrips.
-Ability Score Improvement: The spellcaster increased their ability score by +2 at level 4 and +2 at level 8. (+2 Int, +1 Dex/Int)

Spells: Spell Attack +8, Spell DC 16
Cantrips: Fire Bolt, Mage Hand, Mending, Prestidigation
1st [4/4]: Detect Magic, Magic Missile, Shield
2nd [3/3]: Knock, Shatter
3rd [3/3]: Haste, Fireball
4th [3/3]: Dimension Door, Vitriolic Sphere
5th [1/1]: Cone of Cold

========================================================================

WARRIORS

Crissann
-Shtick: A time-misplaced fighter from adventure's past that seeks to train a new generation of warriors.
-Role: Warrior
-Ally: Calubris
-Passive Bonus: You have a +2 bonus to damage rolls and a +1 to athletics checks.

Dante the Inferno 
-Shtick: A light-hearted dragonborn street fighter that follows the prophetic dreams of the Dragon.
-Role: Warrior
-Ally: Calubris
-Passive Bonus: You have a +1 bonus to attack rolls and a +1 to acrobatics checks.

NPC (Nathan Peters Carlson)
-Shtick: A human Battle Bot Streamer, this hotheaded "frenemy" is always up for more publicity. 
-Role: Warrior
-Ally: Gremlin
-Passive Bonus: You have a +1 bonus to saving throws and a +1 to Intimidation checks.

Rashida
-Shtick: The head assistant and longest withstanding ally of the Dungeon Divers, this augmented elf was once a member of the spellguards that served elven royalty. 
-Role: Warrior
-Ally: All PCs
-Passive Bonus: You have a +1 bonus to AC and a +1 to investigation checks.

SPELLCASTERS

Erky Timbers
-Shtick: A wandering gnome and member of the Reaper clergy, he owes you one for bailing him out of a jam with those kobolds.
-Role: Spellcaster (Cleric)
-Ally: Selks
-Passive Bonus: All healing spells and effects heal an additional 2 hit points and you have a +1 to religion checks.

Haidra Crowley 
-Shtick: This apprentice and tortured artist seeks to overcome her personal demons and make something great of herself.
-Role: Spellcaster (Warlock)
-Ally: Aurora
-Passive Bonus: Your spell saving throw DCs increase by +1 and you have a +1 to history checks.

Mia Gomez
-Shtick: This gnome necromancer works for the cartels in a variety of capacities. 
-Role: Spellcaster (Wizard)
-Ally: Selks
-Passive Bonus: You have advantage on death saving throws, resistance to necrotic damage, and a +1 to arcana checks.

Preeta Kreepa
-Shtick: Cursed to have eye stalks similiar to a beholder, this wretch has lived on the outskirts of the hobgoblin kingdom for years.
-Role: Spellcaster (Wizard)
-Ally: Aurora
-Passive Bonus: You have advantage on saving throws vs transmutation effects and a +1 to perception checks.

Wyllow 
-Shtick: This elven druid lived in the makeshift prison of the Blackcloak until freed from her madness by the party.
-Role: Spellcaster (Druid)
-Ally: All PCs
-Passive Bonus: You can speak with Beasts and Plants and you have a +1 to nature checks. 

EXPERTS

Holden
-Shtick: The Executive Producer of Dungeon Diver and close friend to the Storyteller, this shapeshifter prefers to blend in and avoid conflict.
-Role: Expert
-Ally: All PCs
-Passive Bonus: You each can cast Alter Self once per short rest and you have a +1 to deception checks.

Rebecca von Sankt
-Shtick: Descendent from a long line of adventurers, the Storyteller's personal chef has ran into strange fortunes and misfortunes with the party.
-Role: Expert
-Ally: All PCs
-Passive Bonus: You receive the benefits of a Heroes' Feast once per an adventure.

Trader (Uplifted Gutterkin Otter)
-Shtick: A lost and wandering merchant from the Wylds, Trader seems to fall in and out of trouble easily. 
-Role: Expert
-Ally: Aurora
-Passive Bonus: You can roll twice when rolling for loot rolls (choosing one of the options) and find 10% more wealth. 

Triss
-Shtick: A drow once cursed to be a drider and saved by the party's mercy, this monk excels in moving fast and quiet.
-Role: Expert
-Ally: All PCs
-Passive Bonus: You have a +10 bonus to movement speeds and a +1 to stealth checks.

Maddgoth's Castle; or, the Art of Suffering

On the foggy streets, a charming roguish man approached the victim with a disarming smile. The dim light of street lamps struggled to illuminate his offered hand; to which the enthralled mage took with a racing heart. She had dreams about how tonight would end -- but her fantasies would only take a dark turn as Maddgoth whisked the two of them away. He would show her the Art of Suffering.


  • Theme: 
  • Location: 
    • The Dungeon of the Mad Mage (Level 7)
  • Goal: 
    • Locate and Recover Maddgoth's Fragment
  • Threats:
    • Maddgoth (Human[?] Wizard)
      • Under the tutelage of the Nester, one of the Blackcloak's Seven, Maddgoth became one of the most prolific serial killers in the history of Terra Nullius. He specialized in bringing home spellcasters and killing them; collecting their arcane focus, spell books, and components as trophies.
      • It is rumored that Maddgoth's trained alongside Lilliput Span’ila.
  • Summary: 
    • Once constructed to serve as a temporary residence for guests, Halaster abandoned this miniaturized fortress when he realized he didn't really want company. After the fallout of the Twelve, Maddgoth claimed this castle as a base of operations for his unbridled passions. It is unclear if Maddgoth has visited this castle in some time; given that his use of one of the Horned Rings allows him to come and go from Undermountain with teleportation spells.
  • Achievements: 
    • All About That Octobass
      • Resolve the Curse of the Octobass. 
    • ... is this a Sex thing?
      • Find Maddgoth's strange costume.
    • The Princess is in THIS Castle
      • Rescue 'The Princess' before she expires.
    • The Art of Suffering 
      • Find Maddgoth's Fragment.
    • I Hope You Suffer
      • Defeat Maddgoth.

The Impending Upheaveal; or, How to Save the World

Adventures:

Monday, August 5, 2019

Out of Character Roles

Treasurer:

  • Role: 
    • Keep a running tab/catalog of loot/treasure the party finds and help divide it evenly among the group after encounters.  
    • As needed, help facilitate players with found equipment/item claims. 
    • As needed, provide "party" items to the group.
    • As needed, sell loot/treasure.

  • Filled by: Max (Setis)

Initiative Tracker:
  • Role: 
    • As needed, after everyone has rolled ten sets of initiative, organize those initiative sets and give them to the DM.

  • Filled by: Chris (Aurora)

Caller:
  • Role:
    • The Caller allows for faster and smoother game play--resulting in less confusion. They are the "union representative" of the party. 
    • The Caller should conduct their role in a quick manner to keep the game moving. 
    • The Caller should solicit feedback and opinions from the group on how to proceed with exploration while in dungeons. 
    • The Caller relays the group's decision on how to proceed to the DM.
    • Example: "We'll take the right hallway." "The rogue will check for traps."

  • Filled by: TBD

Chronicler:
  • Role:
    • The Chronicler should take detailed notes of NPC names, quest lines, plot hooks, lore, and other information. The Chronicler should share this information with the group OOC/IC as needed.
    • The Chronicler should provide a 'last session recap' at the beginning of the session. 

  • Filled by: TBD