Castle Death

🏰︎

Questions

What brings you here, to Castle Death?
Have you been in this adventuring business for long?
What stories have you heard about the cruel tyrant said to have once ruled this place?
What do the locals say they see or hear at night when the battlements are observed from a safe distance?
What rumors of wealth are associated with the keep?
Do you believe in the prophecy of the return of a rightful lord?

Impressions

A stark silhouette against a stormy sky
Ancient stonework, vine-cloaked walls
A flash of lightning, deafening thunder
Rain and wind across the crumbling battlements
The gaping maw of the front gate
A raised portcullis, like a line of iron teeth
The stench of goblin
The flickering light of torches, here and there
A high-ceiling passage, dense with thick webs
Rich and soiled furnishings, looted from elsewhere
The distant sound of guttural laughter

Creeping Doom

If the denizens of Castle Death have reason to be suspicious ...

After a short rest, the GM chooses one.

Bongaz prepares a Potion of Healing from his treasure trove.
Mordrivaug dons the Ring of Shadows and slips out of his chambers to investigate.
The torches in one room burn low, threatening to plunge it into darkness mid-encounter.
Night approaches. Skeletal wretches gain +2 Speed.
The goblins light bonfires for their next meal. Smoke spreads.

After a long rest, the GM chooses one.

Weak-hearted goblins are rooted out. No option for goblin recruits.
Hobgoblin soldiers arrive.
Mordrivaug breaks the Lightblade in two. It will need repairs.
Some treasure is sent away as tribute.
The Book of Wonders is cleverly hidden.

Places

Hidden Sanctuary The first time you take a short rest in the Hidden Sanctuary, one hero makes a Dungeoneering check (DC 15). On a success, choose three. On a failure, choose one.

You recover as if you had taken a long rest
You each collect an additional 1d6 days’ worth of rations
You experience a vision (ask the GM what you see)
You do not collapse into mystical sleep

Throne Room When you enter the Throne Room for the first time, each make Stealth and Perception checks (DC 14).

If most succeed on Perception, they notice the Pit Traps.

If most succeed on Stealth, Bongaz is asleep.

Discoveries

☐ Goblin Recruit A goblin lackey joins the party. Later heroes can start with the goblin ancestry.

☐ Grave Goods Salamander Amulet, Old Map, gold cartouche (250 gold)

Salamander Amulet An arrowhead-shaped amulet of polished black onyx on a square-linked chain.

Old Map A 3’x3’ piece of vellum, soft as silk from a lifetime of folding and unfolding. Fingerprints, scratch marks, and unidentifiable stains (blood? tea?) obscure a detailed architectural schematic in faded brown ink. A floorplan of Castle Death. You may discern the location of the Hidden Sanctuary, and one or more of the Architect’s Pit Traps.

☐ Goblin Bank Codex of Wonders, 60 gold, 300 silver

Codex of Wonders A thick tome with a latching cover, bound in canvas that appears gray, but upon close examination swirls with living color.

☐ Bongaz's Stash Potion of Healing, 70 gold, 100 silver, ruby earring (100 gold)

☐ Mordrivaug's Horde The Lightblade, Ring of Shadows, Deed to Castle Death, 2 Potions of Healing, 260 gold, ruby earring (100 gold)

The Lightblade A short sword glowing white, as easy to wield as a willow switch.

Ring of Shadows A simple band of smoky quartz.

Deed to Castle Death A sheaf of yellowed pages, tied up with string. When you decipher the ridiculous legal language of the Deed, you learn that a member of your party is the true and rightful heir to Castle Death! Ask the GM who it is.

Terrain

🙾︎ Chequerboard

Level 1, 50 XP

Each square is either black or white. On odd rounds, spikes attack creatures standing on black squares. On even rounds, spikes attack creatures standing on white squares. +4 vs Reflex; 1d10+3 damage.

♕︎ Marble Queen ● Cover

Medium. AC/Ref 5, Fort 10, HP 20

DC 12 Athletics to rotate. While the queen faces the chequerboard, pattern swaps: on odd rounds, spikes attack white. On even, spikes attack black.

△︎ Rubble ● Difficult Terrain

☠️︎ Pile of Bones ● Difficult Terrain

After moving through this space, remove this terrain. The bones are scattered.

☁︎ Smoke ● Lightly Obscuring

✪︎ Statue ● Cover

Medium. AC/Ref 5, Fort 10, HP 20

☒︎ Architect’s pit trap

Level 1, 50 XP

Appears as cobblestone (notice DC 12 reveals hinge)

+4 vs Reflex (all creatures standing in the area). On a hit, the target falls 10 feet into the pit (1d10 falling damage).

☒︎ Goblin Dart Trap

Level 1, 25 XP

Appears as chequerboard (notice DC 12 reveals hole)

+4 vs Fortitude. On a hit, the target takes 5 persistent poison damage (save ends). Aftereffect: The target is restrained (save ends).

Monsters

Goblin Lackey

Level 1, 100 XP

Yellow-eyed, snaggle-toothed, underfed; oppressed.

HP 29. AC 15. Fort 12, Ref 14, Will 13. Spd 6.

Assault En Masse Once per turn, if an adjacent goblin ally charges, you may charge.

Standard Actions

⚔︎Crude Weapon +6 vs AC: 1d10+3 damage.

🏹︎Pelt Ranged 10, +4 vs Ref: target is off-guard until the end of their next turn.

Move Action

Disorganized Panic Shift up to your Speed. You must move as far away from enemies as possible.

Skeletal Wretch

Level 1 Mook, 25 XP

HP 1. AC 17. Fort 14, Ref 13, Will 13. Spd 6. Immune poison, Resist necrotic 5, Weak radiant 5.

Mook Missed attacks never damage you.

Increase Ranks ● Summoning If the skeletal wretch begins its turn adjacent to a corpse or pile of bones, they create one skeletal wretch ally in that space, then remove the corpse/pile of bones.

Standard Actions

⚔︎Rusted Weapon +6 vs AC: 5 damage, and the target is marked.

⚔︎Drag Them Down +4 vs Fort: target falls prone.

Giant Spider

Level 2 Elite, 250 XP

HP 68. AC 16. Fort 14, Ref 13, Will 15. Spd 6, climb 4. Saves +2. Action Points ☐

Tremorsense 5. Web Stride.

Skitter If an attack causes you to become bloodied, you may move up to your Speed.

Standard Actions

⚔︎Fangs +7 vs AC: 1d12+3 damage, +1d8 against slowed, restrained or immobilized targets.

🏹︎Clot of Webbing Ranged 10, +5 vs Ref: the target is slowed (save ends).

Swift Action

⚔︎Inject 1 slowed enemy, +5 vs Fort: the target is stunned until the end of their next turn.

Bongaz, Bugbear Overlord

Level 3 Elite, 300 XP

Hulking, gray-skinned, goblin-blooded, with a head, neck, and back covered with thinning black hair. Self-proclaimed master of Castle Death and bullying ruler of its goblin inhabitants. Surprisingly sneaky, always hungry, not above eating his subjects.

HP 90. AC 15. Fort 16, Ref 14, Will 15. Spd 6. Saves +2. Action Points ☐

Eat The Weak Each time an adjacent enemy becomes bloodied, you can make a morningstar attack against them as a free action.

Standard Action

⚔︎Morningstar ● Weapon +8 vs AC: 1d12+7 damage, and push 2 squares. +1d12 damage against rattled, surprised or flanked targets.

Swift Actions

⚔︎Disarm +6 vs Fort: target loses a weapon or their shield.

∢︎Bully The Weak (encounter) Near burst 5, +6 vs Will: bloodied creatures become rattled until the end of their next turn.

⋇︎Command Lesser Goblins ● Charm (refresh ⚃⚄⚅︎) Far burst 1 within 10, goblin allies. the target can make a basic attack or move their speed.

Mordrivaug, Dragon of Death

Level 3 Boss, 750 XP

The true master of Castle Death.

HP 156. AC 17. Fort 15, Ref 14, Will 16. Spd 5, fly 8. Saves +5. Resist fire 5, Weak radiant 5. Action Points ☐☐

Standard Actions

⚔︎Tail Swipe Reach 2, +8 vs AC: 1d12+4 damage, and push 2.

⚔︎Bite +8 vs Ref: 1d12+4 damage, and the target is rattled until the end of their next turn.

Multiattack You make a tail swipe and a bite attack, against different targets.

∢︎Black Fire ● Fire (refresh ⚄⚅︎) Near spray 5, +6 vs Ref: 1d12+4 damage. Does double damage to objects and terrain.

Swift Actions

🏹︎Demand Tribute ● Charm (refresh ⚄⚅︎) Ranged 10, +6 vs Will: the target must drop its most valuable item and cannot pick it up again until the end of the encounter.

Disdain (encounter) At the start of your turn, make a saving throw against each condition affecting you. You can take this action even if you are stunned.

Counter

🏹︎Word of Command An enemy moves towards you or targets you with an attack: Ranged 10, +6 vs Will: they stop moving/cannot target you with that attack.

Codex of Wonders

A thick tome with a latching cover, bound in canvas that appears gray, but upon close examination swirls with living color.

When you use the Codex to research an artifact or magic item, you may ask three questions about the object of your study. Make an Arcana check (DC 12 + the item's level). On a success, the GM will answer two of the questions correctly. On a failure, the GM will answer two of the questions incorrectly.

Ring of Shadows

A simple band of smoky quartz.

Power●Daily (Swift Action)

You become invisible (save maintains). While you are invisible, you are weakened. You can end both effects by taking off the ring as a swift action.

Each time you activate the ring, the GM chooses one side effect:

All light sources in your vicinity flicker and go out
You draw the attention of nearby creatures of shadow
You’ll have to make a Will save (DC 15) to take the ring off

Evasive Maneuvers

At-Will

Reaction Action

Trigger An enemy misses you with an attack

Effect You shift 1 square.

Goblin

Ancestry

Small fey humanoid

Speed 6 squares

Languages ☑ Common, ☑ Goblin

Lightning Reflexes You gain the Lightning Reflexes feat.

Evasive Maneuvers Add the Evasive maneuvers talent.

Lightning Reflexes +2 Reflex. Level 11, +3 instead. Level 21, +4 instead.

Evasive Maneuvers Puck Add Evasive maneuvers to your powers.

Mordrivaug

Salamander Amulet

An arrowhead-shaped amulet of polished black onyx on a square-linked chain.

You resist 5 fire.
Level 11 Resist 10 fire, Level 21 Resist 15 fire.

The Lightblade

A short sword glowing white, as easy to wield as a willow switch.

Basic and at-will attacks do radiant damage in addition to any other damage type.
While unsheathed, the Lightblade casts light like a torch.

Bongaz

Spider

Skeleton

Goblin

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Castle Death