Tag: Maddening May

As the PCs are exploring the swamp, they come across a strange looking tree. It is larger than all the rest and twisted, with much of the bark ravaged. The whole of it appears to ever so slightly slip in and out of focus.

Adventure Location: The Sunken Asylum
Dangers: madness, mosaic, orderlies, teleport trap, fainting couch trap, coven of witches
Lighting: none
Environment: underground stone passageways and natural cave with flooded areas and extra-planar areas

One side of the tree opens up, creating an entrance large enough to ride a horse through one moment, and then small enough so that a Medium-sized humanoid would find it a tight squeeze the next.

A DC 20 Knowledge (planes) check reveals that this is likely the entrance to an extraplanar portal, while a DC 20 Knowledge (history) or Knowledge (local) check suggests that the PCs may have found an entrance to The Sunken Asylum.

Once inside the tree, a stone staircase leads down about 60 feet into the Atrium. The Atrium has dirt floors, with patches of stone floor that is broken and worn. The far wall is convex and covered with an aged mosaic depicting a Rod of Asclepius, a serpent-entwined rod. However, a large corner of the mosaic has been defaced and appears to be covered in an amber slime. The amber slime is residue from a karz slug. Touching it poisons the PC for 4 rounds. For the first 2 rounds, the slime causes Amnesia (Will DC 20) and for the last two rounds the slime causes Paranoia (Will DC 17).

For each hour spent in The Asylum or before each encounter, the GM rolls on the following table and apply the specific madness effect.

d100    Madness Effect
0-15       —
16-30    auditory patch of madness
31-45    visual patch of madness
46-65    echoes of the asylum
66-75    both auditory and visual patches of madness
76-85    auditory patch of madness, and echoes of the asylum
86-95    visual patch of madness, and echoes of the asylum
96-99    visual and auditory patches of madness, and echoes of the asylum
100        The asylum writhes as a wave of raw madness energy rolls through the hallways. All characters must make a DC 25 Will save or immediately gain a random insanity (see the “Sanity and Madness” section in Chapter 8 of Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Gamemastery Guide).

Each side of the Atrium has three passageways leading away. The first passageway on each side, closest to the stairs, spirals downwards. The western one leads down a long way, and eventually leads to the Plane of Madness. Characters that continue down that path must make a DC 20 Will Save each round or gain the confused condition for 1d6 rounds.

The eastern passageway spirals downwards for many miles, but it is flooded after about 100 yards.

The middle passageways both lead to The Cells, while the last passageways lead to The Examining Rooms.

The Cells were used as holding blocks for the insane inmates of the Asylum. Inmates would be locked in each individual cell, only to be taken out to visit the Examining Rooms for treatment. The already maddened inmates scribbled on the walls at times, channeling madness. In their pathological scrawls, they wrote down the key words to the ritual that opens up travel to a special place in the Plane of Madness where creatures from this plane could journey and be protected from most of the adverse effects.

For The Cells, each hallway contains 22 individual cells, each closed off by a locked (DC 25 Disable Device check) stout wooden door. (DC 25 Break, Hardness 5, 20 HP). Whenever a door is opened, there is a 10% chance that an orderly materializes right outside the cell and attacks the party.

Orderly CR 5

Orderly     CR 5
XP 1,600
LE Medium undead (incorporeal)
Init +7;  Senses darkvision 60 ft., lifesense; Perception +10
Aura unnatural aura (30 ft.)
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 18, flat-footed 14 (+5 deflection, +3 Dex)
hp 47 (5d8+25)
Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +6
Defensive Abilities channel resistance +2, incorporeal; Immune undead traits
Weaknesses sunlight powerlessness
OFFENSE
Speed fly 60 ft. (good)
Melee incorporeal touch +6 (1d6 negative energy plus 1d6 Con drain)
Special Attack create spawn
TACTICS
During Combat The orderly attacks the biggest and most powerful looking enemy.
Morale The ghost attacks until the enemy dies or it is destroyed; it does not think in terms of survivability.
STATISTICS
Str —, Dex 16, Con —, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 21
Base Atk +3; CMB +6; CMD 21
Feats Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative
Skills Diplomacy +10, Fly +7, Intimidate +13, Knowledge (planes) +7, Perception +10, Sense Motive +10, Stealth +11
Languages Common, Infernal
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Create Spawn (Su) A humanoid slain by a wraith becomes a wraith in 1d4 rounds. These spawn are less powerful than typical wraiths, and suffer a –2 penalty on all d20 rolls and checks, receive –2 hp per HD, and only drain 1d2 points of Constitution on a touch. Spawn are under the command of the wraith that created them until its death, at which point they lose their spawn penalties and become free-willed wraiths. They do not possess any of the abilities they had in life.

Constitution Drain (Su) Creatures hit by a wraith’s touch attack must succeed on a DC 17 Fortitude save or take 1d6 points of Constitution drain. On each successful attack, the wraith gains 5 temporary hit points. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Lifesense (Su) A wraith notices and locates living creatures within 60 feet, just as if it possessed the blindsight ability.

Sunlight Powerlessness (Ex) A wraith caught in sunlight cannot attack and is staggered.

Unnatural Aura (Su) Animals, whether wild or domesticated, can sense the unnatural presence of the wraith at a distance of 30 feet. They do not willingly approach nearer than that and panic if forced to do so unless a master succeeds at a DC 25 Handle Animal, Ride, or wild empathy check. A panicked animal remains so as long as it is within 30 feet of the wraith.

The walls of each cell are covered in writings. Some are painted and some are etched into the stone itself. The writings are in the native language of the Plane of Madness, and are unintelligible even with spells. If they are inspected for more than 2 rounds, a random result from the Madness Effect table materializes.

However, if a DC 22 Perception check is made the PCs find that a single phrase has been hidden in the scrawl, scribbled in Draconic—a DC 30 Spellcraft check shows these to be pieces of a spell. Each phrase is different.

There are twelve examining rooms labeled A through L. Each contains a small desk, a chair and a fainting couch. The fainting couch is trapped and the small desk contains a journal in one of the drawers.

Fainting Couch Trap     CR 7
Type magical; Perception DC 31; Disable Device 31
Trigger touch; Reset none
Effect Anyone that touches the couch is compelled to lay down on it (DC 24 Will Save to resist). Once the PC is resting, they must make a DC 24 Fortitude save or take a -4 penalty on saves for 11 hours.

Journals of Madness CR 10

There are twelve journals. Once all twelve are acquired, a DC 25 Spellcraft check reveals that there are 4 spells contained within the books, and that the words in The Cells are needed to activate them.

Each spell has a code by it that corresponds to a room in The Cells. Starting from the bottom (south) and working up, each room is numbered, 1-22. The west rooms are labeled “L” while the east rooms are labeled “R”. The words on the walls of the cells listed must be collected with the journals. As they are collected, they write themselves in the back of the journal from Examination Room A.

Collecting a word requires a DC 25 Spellcraft check. If it fails, it is still written and appears to have succeeded. Once the words are collected, the spell may be cast without any check. However, there is a chance that instead of the spell intended, one of the other spells is cast at random (depending on how many successful entries are written for that spell):

0 entries     A random spell is cast
1 entry          10% chance the correct spell is cast
2 entries     40% chance the correct spell is cast
3 entries     60% chance the correct spell is cast
4 entries     80% chance the correct spell is cast
5 entries     The correct spell is cast

The spells are as follows:

Activate Teleporter to Plane of Madness: (18L, 4R, 13R, 21R, 22L) This spell is required to activate the teleporter to the Plane of Madness. Doing so exposes the teleporter. In game terms, when this spell is cast, the secret doors on either side of the teleporter open up. There is no way to otherwise open or even find these doors.

Touch of the Eldritch: (1R, 8R, 4L, 11L, 19L) Target PC (or random if not targeted) gains the Eldritch Template. However, each day, they lose 1 point of Wisdom. When their Wisdom score reaches zero, they give up their soul and travel to the Plane of Madness. A restoration spell of any strength removes this condition.

Madness Link: (2L, 6L, 13L, 5R, 17R) Target PC (or random if not targeted) must make a DC 18 Will save or gain one of the Touching of Minds conditions. The telepathic link is with a random creature from the Plane of Madness.

Comatose: (3R, 16R, 7L, 15L, 22L) Target PC (or random if not targeted) must make a DC 18 Fortitude save or fall comatose for 1d6 days. A restoration spell is required to wake the PC any earlier than that.

Once the proper spell is cast from the journals of madness, secret doors to the teleporter open up and the teleporter is active. Stepping into the teleporter activates the teleport trap.

Teleport Trap     CR 5
Type magical; Perception DC 29; Disable Device DC 29
Trigger touch; Reset auto
Effect The teleport into the Witch’s Coven travels through an energy tunnel that splits through the Plane of Madness. It is not an instantaneous trip (it takes 1d4 rounds to complete), and the sights and sounds are enough to drive one mad. Unless a DC 20 Will Save is made, each PC becomes confused (as the condition) for 1d2+1 rounds. Note that actions can be taken to prepare while teleporting, and it may be that confused adventurers are no longer confused on arrival.

The Witch’s Coven is a small, protected area on the Plane of Madness. PCs in this area are protected somewhat from the madness effects that would normally assault them. There are no rolls for madness effects while in the Witch’s Coven.

On the far side, the PCs arrive in the Witch’s Coven. Arranged along the north wall near the eastern light source are 5 very strange looking drow.

Five female drow, wearing flowing robes covered in what seems to be moving embroidery, stand near the wall as if each of their locations is set. The light from three glowing wall sconces cast dark shadows, hiding their faces.

The witch in the middle is Nogth Ma’klurl’uth in drow form, flanked by 4 other drow witches. Nogth initially casts black tentacles on the party as they exit the teleporter (as a readied action). Once combat begins, one or more of the witches tries to use the misfortune hex on a spellcaster, and if one of the hexes succeeds, Nogth casts hold person. After that tactic, the witches concentrate their abilities to disable or kill the rest of the party, saving the hold person victim to feed the madness. The quasits run interference and also attempt to disrupt spellcasting.

Should the PC who is held be left alone (either by party death or retreat) and Nogth survives, they gain the eldritch template and fall under the control of the madness slug. Every day, the PC must make a DC 25 Will Save or lose 1 point of Wisdom. If their Wisdom score reaches zero, the PC dies and their soul feeds Nogth’s madness.

If Nogth is killed in the battle, the remaining witches attempt to kill the held character.

Nogth Ma’klurl’uth (drow witch 7); CR 11 (XP 12,800)
HP 80 (12d6+36); AC 23 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +8 natural)
Init +8; Speed 30 ft.; Atk dagger +7 (1d4+1)Base Atk +6; CMB +7; CMD 21; SA hexes (cackle, coven, evil eye, misfortune); SQ cantrips, darkvision 120 ft., DR 15/magic; Immune acid, cold, mind affecting effects, paralysis, sleep; SR 18; AL Chaotic Evil; SV Fort +7, Ref +10, Will +11; Str 12, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 18, Wis 12, Cha 18
Skills Knowledge (arcana) +19, Knowledge (planes) +19, Perception +16, Sense Motive +16, Spellcraft +19, Stealth +19, Swim +16; Feats Combat Casting, Dodge, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 12th, concentration +16)
at will—glibness
Witch Spells Prepared (CL 7th; concentration +11)
4th—black tentacles, fear
3rd—deep slumber, dispel magic, seek thoughts
2nd—blindness/deafness, detect thoughts, hold person, touch of idiocy
1st—burning hands, chill touch, command, mage armor, ray of enfeeblement,
0th—bleed, detect magic, spark, touch of fatigue
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(4) Eldritch Drow Witch CR 7

ELDRITCH DROW WITCH     CR 7
XP 3,200
Female or Male drow witch 7 (eldritch template)
CE Medium humanoid (drow, elf)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 120 ft.; Perception +8
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 14, flat-footed 15 (+4 armor, +1 deflection, +3 Dex)
hp 38 (7d6+14)
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +4; +2 vs enchantment spells
DR 5/magic; Immune magic sleep effects; Resist acid 10, cold 10; SR 13
Weaknesses light blindness
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee mwk shortsword +4 (1d6, Crit 19-20/x2)
Ranged mwk hand crossbow +7 (1d4 plus quasit poison, Crit 19-20/x2, Range 30 ft.)
Special Attacks hex (standard action, DC 16 Will save; see special abilities)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 7th; concentration +9)
at will—feather fall
1/day—dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire
Witch Spells Prepared (CL 7th; concentration +10)
4th—black tentacles
3rd—bestow curse, cup of dust, silent blindness/deafness; distracting cacophony
2nd—blindness/deafness, cure moderate wounds, silent charm person, touch of idiocy; hideous laughter, levitate
1st—burning hands, command x2, mage armor (already cast), ray of enfeeblement; memory lapse
0th—bleed, detect magic, detect poison, touch of fatigue
Patron insanity
STATISTICS
Str 10, Dex 16, Con 11, Int 16, Wis 8, Cha 14
Base Atk +3; CMB +3; CMD 16
Feats Combat Casting, Improved Familiar (quasit), Silent Spell, Toughness
Skills Bluff +7, Fly +8, Knowledge (planes) +8, Perception +8, Sense Motive +2, Spellcraft +10, Stealth +10, Survival +2, Swim +4, Use Magic Device +7; Racial Modifiers +2 Perception, +4 Swim
Languages Aklo, Elven, Undercommon
SQ Cantrips, ferocity, horrific death, keen senses, poison use, weapon familiarity (hand crossbow, rapier, shortsword), witch’s familiar, voidborn
Gear masterwork hand crossbow (8 poisoned bolts), masterwork shortsword, ring of protection +1, potions of cure moderate wounds (2), potions of invisibility (2)
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Cackle Hex (Su) An eldritch drow witch can cackle madly as a move action. Any creature that is within 30 feet that is under the effects of an agony hex, charm hex, evil eye hex, fortune hex, or misfortune hex caused by the witch has the duration of that hex extended by 1 round.

Evil Eye Hex (Su) The eldritch drow witch can cause doubt to creep into the mind of a foe within 30 feet that she can see. The target takes a –2 penalty on one of the following (witch’s choice): AC, ability checks, attack rolls, saving throws, or skill checks. This hex lasts for 6 rounds. A DC 16 Will save reduces this to just 1 round. This is a mind-affecting effect.

Flight Hex (Su) The eldritch drow witch gains a +4 racial bonus on Swim checks. She can fly, as per the spell, for 7 minutes per day. These minutes do not need to be consecutive, but they must be spent in 1-minute increments. This hex only affects the witch.

Misfortune Hex (Su) The eldritch drow witch can cause a creature within 30 feet to suffer grave misfortune for 1 round. Anytime the creature makes an ability check, attack roll, saving throw, or skill check, it must roll twice and take the worse result. A DC 16 Will save negates this hex. This hex affects all rolls the target must make while it lasts. Whether or not the save is successful, a creature cannot be the target of this hex again for 1 day.

Horrific Death (Ex) When an eldritch drow witch is first reduced to negative hit points, creatures within its reach take 1d6+7 acid damage. While at negative hit points, the eldritch drow witch gains a +2 insight bonus on attack rolls and adds a +7 insight bonus to all damage. When it finally dies, the eldritch creature dissolves into a pool of unidentifiable goo.

Eldritch Quasit Familiar CR —

ELDRITCH QUASIT FAMILIAR     CR —
CE Tiny outsider (chaotic, demon, evil, extraplanar)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +7
DEFENSE
AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 18 (+2 Dex, +6 natural, +2 size)
hp 17 (7 HD); fast healing 2
Fort +1, Ref +5, Will +9
DR 5/magic cold iron or good; Immune electricity, poison; Resist acid 10, cold 10, fire 10; SR 12
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., fly 50 ft. (perfect)
Melee 2 claws +7 (1d3–1 plus poison), bite +7 (1d4–1)
Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th)
At will—detect good, detect magic, invisibility (self only)
1/day—cause fear (30-foot radius, DC 11)
1/week—commune (six questions)
STATISTICS
Str 8, Dex 14, Con 11, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 11
Base Atk +3; CMB +0; CMD 12
Feats Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse
Skills Bluff +8, Fly +20, Intimidate +6, Knowledge (planes) +6, Perception +7, Sense Motive +4, Stealth +16
Languages Abyssal, Common; telepathy (touch)
SQ Alertness, change shape (bat, Small centipede; polymorph), deliver touch spells, empathic link, ferocity, horrific death, improved evasion, voidborn
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Horrific Death (Ex) When an eldritch drow witch’s familiar is first reduced to negative hit points, creatures within 5 feet take 1d6+7 acid damage. While at negative hit points, the eldritch drow witch’s familiar gains a +2 insight bonus on attack rolls and adds a +7 insight bonus to all damage. When it finally dies, the eldritch creature dissolves into a pool of unidentifiable goo.

Poison (Ex) Claw—injury; save Fortitude DC 15; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Dexterity; cure 2 consecutive saves. The DC includes a +2 racial bonus.

SCALING THE ENCOUNTER
To modify this encounter, apply the following changes:
CR 12 (19,200)    Remove two witches.
CR 11 (12,800)    Remove all witches.
CR 10 (9,600)     Remove Norgth and two witches. Designate one of the witches as Nogth. If Nogth is not killed, any unconscious PC are given the eldritch template as above.

If Nogth is defeated, the teleporter in the Witch’s Coven begins to flicker—the PCs have 1d10+4 rounds to leave or be trapped in the Plane of Madness! Once they are back to their own plane, the madness effects and encounters in the Atrium, The Cells, and the Examining Rooms are no longer active and the routes that connect to the Plane of Madness no longer exist. 1d4 rounds after the party exits the tree, the entrance to the Sunken Asylum closes up for good.

If Nogth is not defeated, the entrance still closes as above but it reappears in 1d6 days. All madness effects and encounters still take place as the PCs exit the Sunken Asylum.