Place: Broken City, Massachusetts state.
When: Christmas Eve
What:
The Strange Story Of Darkangnon Estates is a RAVENLOFT adventure designed for four to five PCs, levels 5-6 each. It's set in the Old South version of Arkandale (now Verbrek), but can fit wherever you envision a classic Gothic story transpiring. Though all the information needed to play this adventure is included in my transcript, DMs may find the RL Players Handbook 3.5, the Monstrous Compendium Appendix III: Creatures Of Darkness (2E), Denizens of Dread (3.0), the Book of Vile Darkness and maybe even Children of the Night: Ghosts (2E) to be valuable additions.
This tale takes place on the grounds of Darkangnon Estates, where the Lord and Proprietor of the manor has requested the players aid in unraveling a mystery. A mystery that precedes even his own arrival. The Lord of Darkangnon Estates promises to pay very handsomely.
EDITED TO READ: This adventure can know be found at www.FraternityofShadows.com in the Smoking Room.
Lady Violet Anne Membrose-Darkangnon: Young wife to the Lord, Violet Anne is a simple beauty who wears a veil of tainted innocence. She is quiet and polite, but may sometimes come off as self-centered and aloof. The players should grow to find her spacy, icy demeanor rather unsettling as it should seem that something is just not right with the poor girl. Bear in mind, her symptoms are designed as a side-bar quest within the main adventure, to serve as a potential red herring or another bizarre angle for the players to pursue.
Gurtchen and Ismedla: Two young servant girls employed by the Lord. Both are approximately the same age (17-19) but even they couldn't give you specifics. Their education and knowledge is limited, hence they cannot read or write. But they serve to keep the manor house immaculate and in pristine condition. They also work closely with Mamma Carnitine in the kitchen. It is not uncommon for Gurtchen to burst out into uproarious laughter, even at the most inopportune moments. Her outbursts have led to thrashings from the Lord and harsh reprimanding from Mamma Carnitine, but they continue to persist.
Mamma Carnitine: The abrasive, heavy-set cook who also serves as surrogate guardian over the servant girls, Gurtchen and Ismedla. She will help the players as much as she can, but refuses to believe all that "mystic mumbo-jumbo".
Thomas Landry: Older groundskeeper who also maintains the gardens and stable. His a tall, gaunt man with graying wisps in his hair and creases of worry embedded in his forehead. Thomas Landry is in his mid-50s (as is the cook Mamma Carnitine) but the two are not involved. He is a simple man, who can easily be misled by a sharp tongue or quick wit. The players will find Thomas is a very kind, albeit simple-minded man who is prone to believe far-fetched stories of ghosts or curses.
Vanderbilt and Duke: The two big Gundarakian wild dogs the Lord keeps as his personal pets. They are tended to by Thomas Landry, and serve their role as stoic and sinister watchdogs. They play a big part in the tale.
Chatruse: The big, fluffy white Persian housecat. She belongs to Violet Anne, but even the lady of the house has begun neglecting her lately. Caring for the kitty has fallen by default to the two servant girls, Gurtchen and Ismedla. Chatruse too plays a big part in the story...
It could also be assumed the party are strangers to one another, each responding separately to the Lord's request. In this case, ghost-hunting or investigative prestige classes might be most appropriate. Remember, the goal is to use a PC's class abilities against them in this twisted psychological drama.
However you choose to begin the adventure, it must be noted that a dark and dangerous storm is brewing. This can be foreshadowed by the ominous black clouds creeping in as the players pass over the plains. Or that unnatural stillness in the air, when the whole world seems to be holding its breath. As a last resort to the DM (assuming the PCs don't pick any of alternate beginnings, and you really want to play this adventure) you can force the PCs to take shelter from the storm in the "warm and inviting" manor house of Lord Darkangnon. Light rainfall will begin as soon as the manor house is in view of the players.
The players will find the huge (immaculately kept) iron gates open and awaiting their arrival. The manor house and surrounding estates are spacious and elegant, with high vaunted arches, well-maintained shutters and a tediously layered red tile roof. A fountain filled with floating red roses rests in the center of the courtyard. Stables can also be seen on the grounds, with a place for the coach wagons to the west. As they proceed towards the front doors of Darkangnon Estates, they can see the house overlooks a large, still body of pond water. A thin layer of mist constantly rests on the waters surface.
Whatever hour of the day the players arrive, they will find the Lord has prepared for their arrival. They will be greeted at the door by the slightly disheveled Thomas Landry, who will introduce himself and thank the players profusely for accepting Master Darkangnons request for help.
He will lead them from the porch area (labeled as "Main Floor") into the main entrance way. As they walk down the long corridor, describe to them the various stone statues as well as the portrait of the Lady and the Lord (looking almost unearthly regal). Make sure at least one of the players sees the fluffy white ball that is Chatruse watching them from her spot atop a sitting chair.
Perhaps you can slip a ranger or a character with animal knowledge a note that hints at the cat’s eerie cognizance, like there is a fleck of intelligence in her eyes.
If a player chooses to pet the cat, or pick her up she will quickly throw a hissing fit before leaping away from the players (if a player pets the cat assign them a 15% chance of contracting the illness, and expand it to 25% if they try to pick her up). Either way, the adventure hasn't even started yet, so keep the effects (whether it be success or failure) a secret. The scene with Chatruse is designed to look like a throw-away segment, but in fact it is one of the stories most important. Obviously there is nothing arcane or magical at work here.
He will thank the players for traveling all this way, and insists they join him for dinner (being served as he speaks). The players will see the two servant girls Gurtchen and Ismedla setting up the dining room, with places set for each of the players. An elaborate banquet of pheasant and roasted duck awaits them, tickling their noses and watering their mouths with desire. Perhaps Gurtchen will burst into one of her trademarked laughing fits just as the PCs are in the midst of discussing something of grave importance.
Before they sit down to dine, the Lord will apologize for his wife’s absence, citing her as being "under the weather" (cue ominous rolling thunder).
The players will dine with the Lord while Gurtchen, Ismedla and occasionally big Momma scuttle in and out of the room clearing and replacing the various side dishes. The Lord of Darkagnon Estates will make pleasant small-talk, enquiring about the players journeys (prime opportunity to introduce the Player Characters if they don't already know each other) as well as discussing the brewing storm clouds gathering outside. They dine hearty and drink bountifully as the Lord regales them with a tale from his Revolution days (any Civil War type-cliché you can think of). By the time Gurtchen and Ismedla are bringing on the cups of Mohagany coffee and pastry cakes, Lord Alexus Darkangnon should seem like a decent, respectable gentleman. When the last dessert cart is wheeled out, the Lord stands to address his audience.
"It is only under times of great duress and personal tragedy that I seek you for your worth" begins the practiced gentleman charm. Lord Alexus Darkangnon moves from the head of his table to stand beside you. "I fear I may have inherited a little bad luck along with my 80 acres". "Come, I implore you to join me in my lounge for a cigar and glass of Bleeding Voices" (if anybody asks what that is, it's "like a brandy, only much, much sweeter").
He will then take them to the spot labeled the Great Room. This is where he entertains his guests and will get the Player Characters settled in for a night of ghost stories.
Lord Darkagnon will saunter over to the personal bar in the southwest corner, while explaining the significance behind his prized wolves head trophy (he single-handedly slew this beast that once stalked his village). He will mix up a few glasses of Bleeding Voices (which just consists of a tumbler, ice and that sky-blue tinted bottle) for anybody who wants one.
Bleeding Voices is a brand liquor created by the Lord and his business associate. It is one of the many enterprises he uses to support himself, his family and his habits. It is indeed a thick, sweetish liquor that leaves the palate with a honey aftertaste. But make no mistake, the drink can be potent. That's why the Lord doesn't personally offer more than one, but is happy to oblige any other requests. For every drink a player takes (one full glass, prepared by the Lord) they temporarily gain one point of charisma. If your PC is a big stocky fighter or any other heavyset character, it may take two drinks to get this effect. The Charisma bonus lasts a total of 30 minutes minus your constitution score (score, not modifier). You can consume as many drinks as you want, as the charisma bonuses do stack, but only to a maximum of +4.
If you drink three or more (double that if your bigger) within a single hour you risk getting nauseous (fortitude vs. 12 + drinks consumed). Of course for some, the sweet suckling of the Lords Bleeding Voices will have him them coming back for more. Every drink consumed leads to a will power check at base DC 12 + drinks consumed. If a player fails this save, he or she really likes the liquor and will automatically consume another drink (which incurs all the same saves again but with -1 penalty, which accumulates). The next day (approximately 24 hours later) the player(s) with the failed checks will actively seek out Bleeding Voices to sip on. If that can't be accomplished, they will go into minor withdrawal, with a temporary minus to their charisma equal to the amount of drinks consumed (the night prior) and a temporary loss to their wisdom of half their drinks consumed (rounded down). Bleeding Voices withdrawal lasts for 20 hours minus the players Constitution score (score, not modifier). Lord Darkangnon could surely arrange a way for the players to become permanent customers.
A thin cloud of cigar smoke hangs lazily in the air, while the shutters outside the window threaten to pull loose from the winds. The Lord takes a deep pull as he stands before the roaring (or dormant) fireplace, and blows a circle towards the wolf’s head. "I curse the day I didn't dice the body and bury the pieces". He throws a condescending smirk towards the mounted trophy, and gestures with his glass. "For if I had, surely this misfortune would not have befallen my beloved grounds".
The Lord goes on to speak in length about the legend of the Joson family. A family that lived in this house and was murdered, their bodies hidden in the pond out back. Lord Alexus Darkangnon explains how he put the shattered souls to rest and so confident was he of his success, he moved his new wife into the home shortly thereafter (and rechristened it "Darkangnon Estates").
For a much more thoro-look at the Joson family and their history, consult the Children of the Night: Ghosts adventure entitled And Wilt Thou Leave Me Thus?.
Sadly, it appears to the Lord that taint of the Joson tragedies has yet to fade completely from his premises. He explains how after returning home from a business trip abroad, he was bombarded with stories and tales of strange sounds, lights and sights from his workers. Some who even quit their jobs in protest. That's why his staff seems so short-handed. He fears that the malevolent spirits may have returned and seeks a final solution to their destruction.
Meanwhile, as the players are engaged in their fluffy conversations with the Lord, the truly devious crunch mechanics are taking place behind the DM Screen. Make sure in passing, that you mention the blue velvet cat bed that rests before the western wall (right near the houseplants). Although Chatruse is not in it, the players should gather that this is where she sleeps.
The Great Room is infested by "the illness" (keep in mind, due to his Unwholesome Ichor, Lord Alexus Darkangnon is immune to the effects). For each hour (or portion thereof) spent in an infested area (or in the company of an infested creature) there is a 75% chance of suffering 1d4 flea bites. Each bite has a 25% chance of immediately causing the victim to experience effects similar to either the 2nd level wizard spell Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter or the 8th level wizard spell Otto's Irresistible Dance. The effects of these "spells" will only last long enough to paint the victim as a fool, or someone who shouldn't be taken seriously. No magic can be detected. But once the effects have taken hold of the player, they can reappear at any time.
IMPORTANT NOTE: When the players begin to gradually lose Hit Points at the hands of the “illness”, secretly subtract them from the total on their character sheets. That way, when you ask for their sheets and set about doing some “revision” work behind the Screen, they will find their HP totals are deceptively lower than they’ve originally been tracking.
In addition, the victim must make a Fortitude Save (DC 16) for each bite suffered. Failure of any saving throw means the victim slips into madness over a period of 1-2 hours. When these effects have been bestowed upon the players, the REAL fun begins for the DM...
From here we begin Operation: MindF**k. The goal of the adventure from this point on is to royally screw with the player’s heads. Some of them must be infused with the illness at this point to make the mood work, but keep those lil' red bite marks unnoticeable for now. These players have a "ghost" to catch. Mwah-ha-ha-ha! After socializing in the Great Room with the Lord, the players are free to begin their own investigations of the grounds. Meaning we let the children loose to run the aisles while we (as DMs) dangle the pieces of candy in front of them to entice them further.
Your job as DM is to listen very closely to the Players thoughts and theories. When they have an idea, or a thought worth pondering, PLAY IT UP (assuming of course, your victim is one that failed at least one Fortitude save). We want them to chase phantoms and specters of their own paranoia.
First things first, we want to make the players believe the problems at the Estates are related to ghosts. While it's true that the house once held a Rank Two Resonance, Lord Darkangnon was correct when he told the players he put the spirits to rest. Thus, if a player with Ethereal Empathy attempts to use their feat, they will find it fluctuating between Rank one and Rank two. This should hopefully "prove" to the players the place is haunted. Which it is NOT.
Be prepared to counter the player actions with a suitable reaction. If the PCs believe an effect is needed, desired or even feared, make it so. Slowly build to a crescendo, or pseudo-climax while the night ages. If the players are chasing ghosts on the first night, build to that first sighting. If the players think the grounds are cursed, slowly lead to the revelation that they must focus the spell upon a specific part of the house. Examples include:
Casting a Remove Curse spell or something similar. The players will need to know the exact wording used by the vistani Master Of Curses, and only then will they know they "need" to cast the spell in the “dungeon area” below the house (read Mama Carnitine’s Interview About Ghosts for further detail). Keeping in mind the storm is horrendous. Perhaps the caster (assuming they've been affected by the illness) will begin to hear bits and pieces of the vistani curse. Maybe while alone in a room, or investigating with a companion, the hollow echo of the woman’s words come clearly to the afflicted character. Slip them notes, whisper in their ear or even describe the apt terror of the character as they feel the words affecting them.
If a character has the Portents or Ghostsight feats, now is the time to build their scene. Assuming again this character has been afflicted by the illness (keeping in mind other afflicted characters count as infested creatures for the sake of transmition), begin to encourage their imaginations with the subtle and quirky effects of their powers. They will see the curtains moving, while others may see nothing. Maybe they can hear the poor wife crying out in agony, or see visions of their companions after death. Don't actually let them see a "ghost" quite yet, or know the true reason of their plight. But the more they believe it might be ghosts, the more it will appear that way.
Sanity feat still allows the +2 bonus to Madness saves, even though the roll is made with a fortitude check and not a willpower check.
If the visions and hallucinations have the desired effects on the players, you can apply otherwise false mechanics to further mislead them. For example, an Aura of Despair (RL3.5) can permeate the building, giving all those who fail their will save (DC 16) a -2 moral penalty on all attack rolls, skill checks and saves. This power only works on the players who would believe it, and lasts for as long as they think about it. Ghostly Writing (RL3.5) can appear to the players, warning them to stay away or die. Other characters might not be able to see the writing.
Anything the players believe will be beneficial in the search and destruction of a ghost (or the unraveling of a curse) will appear to begin "working" for the players. Continue to make "infestation checks" for all the unaffected players, until all but one or two of them have been bitten.
Gurtchen and Ismedla: The girls can be found in the Kitchen Area with Mamma Carnitine for an hour or so after dinner. Then, they can be found in the servant’s quarters (labeled Master Bedroom on floor 1).
When questioned, Ismedla will be stone-faced and frightened, while Gurtchen will periodically burst into hysterics upon questioning. Gurtchen will swear she has seen the ghostly form of a man stalking the Living Room area of Floor One. But the constant smile on her face should make the players weary of her story. Also, Ismedla will add that strange sounds at night come from the Guest Bedrooms on the 2nd floor.
Collectively, the two girls are not sure if they believe in the ghost stories, or that there are spirits haunting the grounds. But of course, the more the "professionals" (the players) harp on the possibility, the more they will come to believe it. So if the players continue their hunt for a ghost throughout the night, Gurtchen and Ismedla will become more paranoid themselves. Thus, even the flapping of a loose shutter from the wind will be attributed to a "ghostly spirit".
Thomas Landry: Hopefully the players are wise enough to split up for their research, as the opportunity to speak with Thomas would be perfect for one or two players alone. You see, there was a part of the Joson family story that Lord Darkangnon neglected to tell the players. But Thomas Landry won't hesitate to share it.
When the players begin their search for Thomas, make him hard to find. The other servants haven't seen him, and he's not anywhere nearby. If they look hard enough, they can find him outside during the storm, tending to the dogs in the stable. In the meantime, keep the players thinking they're looking for ghosts.
Later in the night, he can be found changing his muddy, soggy clothing in the Servants Quarters area (labeled Master Bedroom on the first floor). He will jump when the players approach, then explain he was just taking the Lords dogs (Duke and Vanderbilt) for their constitutionals. When asked about ghosts, his eyes will widen and he will begin to stutter. He will admit he is familiar with the ghost stories of the area, but personally he feels there is a deeper meaning behind the goings-on here. When pressed further, he will nervously ask the players to shut the door, effectively closing them in the dank servants quarters.
From there, he will proceed to tell them a story about a Curse on the house's former owner, Isaac Joson.
"Well, sir. Yah see master, there used to be somebody owning this place before Lord Darkangnon. A rich guy, Master Isaac Joson, who had a bee-yoo-tiful wife, two strong sons and a fair young lass-of-a-daughter. But one day, while Master Joson was right in the towns square, a vistani wench appeared from the Mistz and spit a curse upon Master Joson. His name and his family too. The vistani Master of Curses disappeared juss' as fast as she came. But her words stayed behind forever. Later that night, Master Isaac Joson was gone. Never to be seen before. His wife, and his two sons disappeared too. Even his youngest daughter and her new husband vanished at the hands of that wicked gypsy Curse. Some say, the stain remains on the Joson grounds even to this day..."
If questioned further about the tale, Thomas Landry will refuse to elaborate, citing his own discomfort. Apparently, he spooked himself out with the story. He will say, however, it was Lord Darkangnon who says he rid the house of the spirits. But (and Thomas' voice will lower to a whisper as he says it) "not even the great Lord Alexus Darkangnon has the power to cleanse a gypsy curse".
The purpose of the dialogue with Thomas is to get some of the players thinking the problems might NOT be linked to ghosts, rather the results of a wicked Vistani curse.
Big Mamma Carnitine: She can be found in the kitchen almost all night long. She will humor the players and their questions, but always appear too busy to deal with their petty requests. She will admit to being familiar with the Joson ghosts, but won't believe the stories are true. She will shoo off the players if they continue with their questioning for too long. She will hurriedly explain she has work to do and they are distracting her.
If by chance the players have already spoken to Thomas Landry (and now believe the effect to be related to a curse and NOT to ghosts) and if the players are adamant enough, she might even tell this tale:
"Well they say one of the boys in the family had a lil gambling problem, and he made a bet he couldn't keep with a wild gypsy trader. They be sayin the Joson boy was cursed to lose his family one-by-one until his debt with the vistani was paid off. And 'da family started disappearing too! One-by-one they vanished, just like the gypsy said 'dey would. But that Joson boy just kept on gambling 'derre lives away, until the curse finally swallowed him where he sat..."
According to the rest of Mamma Carnatine's tall-tale, the gambling Joson boy was sitting in his basement lounge when the vistani's curse finally devoured him whole. She doesn't actually believe the story, but will chuckle at the reaction it gets from the players. She says that the Joson's boy "basement lounge" was long ago converted into a dungeon by Lord Alexus Darkangnon. Not even the servants go down there.
Lady Membrose-Darkangnon is the young bride to the Lord of Darkangnon estates, his first. If the players pry Mamma Carnitine or Thomas Landry enough, they can tell you the Lady's father is a very rich, powerful tobacco and cotton baron in the area.
After Lord Alexus Darkagnon strode forth from the Mistz and banished the spirits haunting her town, he took the young lady's hand in marriage. Shortly thereafter, he bought the old Joson grounds and re-christened them "Darkangnon Estates". They have been married for six months.
Conversation that may be overhead or gleamed from the two servant girls, Gurtchen and Ismedla will allow the players to learn that the Lord is a very busy man, who takes long-business trips abroad. His poor, fragile wife enters a great state of depression in his absence. Still, they have heard rumblings the young lass is finding comfort in the arms of another suitor...
Actual sightings of Violet Anne should be rare, and only occur to those who have succumbed to the "illness". Keep her vague, and indiscreet with a slightly haunted look about her. She is stunningly beautiful, especially from afar. With soft white robes that flow about her and mists that seem to halo her head, she will appear to some as the ghost they seek.
After the players have been convinced to charge out into the storm brandishing their roses, describe her face as she peers down upon them from a second floor window. Rain beating down on the windowpane will make her face almost indistinguishable: just a faint angelic visual. Other times, she may be spotted standing blissfully at the top of the stairs as the PCs peer up from the first floor. Before she can be approached or solicited, something distracts the players, and when they return their stares to the stairs Lady Violet Anne Membrose-Darkangnon is gone again.
If and when a player ever confronts the Lady, their interaction will be brief. Her demeanor is icy and far-out. Quiet and unsettling. She will not answer many inquiries, but will bristle at the thought of her being disloyal. She will angrily denounce those rumors before demanding privacy. Gurtchen or Ismedla will quickly usher the Lady back to bed if she calls out. The idea is to get the players thinking the young lady is haunted or cursed herself.
At about the same time some players are chasing ghosts and others are dungeon delving for curses, still other players can find Violet Anne in area #2: The Living Room (cozy old library). She will be seated in one of the chairs, while her housecat Chatruse rests in the other. On the table before Violet Anne will be a children's fairy-tale book, which she explains is her way of "keeping sane in this horrible storm" (cue ominous thunderclap). She will resume her peaceful reading whether the players stay or leave.
It is entirely possible for the players to notice that the Lady’s lips (as well as her dainty fingertips) are a light blue in color. It gives her an unearthly quality, and the players should assume she is a cold one or marked from beyond the grave. Of course the truth is a bit stranger than fiction, and the players can learn her secrets if they choose to investigate the Lord’s secret dungeons below the house. She will NOT answer any inquiries about the strange stains, as if she never even hears the question.
2: Living Room- This is the old Joson family library. Lord Darkangnon himself is practically illiterate, so he cares little about the portents of the room. Even Lady Violet Anne Membrose-Darkangnon has done little to keep the room current, other than ordering the servants to dust it once a day. The bookshelves along the walls are filled with dusty books and manuscripts, all of which seem to be at least a decade old. Two large stuffed chairs rest to the eastern wall, with a wooden table in between them.
Upon closer observation, the players will find the housecat Chatruse balled up asleep in one of the chairs. This is another opportunity to infect a character that has thus far escaped the illness. If a player peacefully disturbs the cat, or tries to pet it, they will find her extremely receptive to their affection. She will purr, and curl up to sleep either at their feet or in their lap.
If the players investigate the room further, they will find that most of the books are fiction in nature. They deal with a wide variety of stories and tales, but nothing that would interest a PC (except perhaps a bard). A bard who dedicates an hour or more to analyzing the room, and then passes a successful Gather Information check (DC 12) can add a permanent +2 to any Bardic Knowledge or Perform check while in the area (Old South, in my game).
If the players believe they are hunting ghosts, perhaps they may see floating books out of the corner of their eye, or smell the sweet aroma of Isaac Joson's cigar smoke, even though there is no one present. Sooner or later, the housecat Chatruse will get in on the act. She will stare, hiss or spit at imaginary things in the room. Perhaps she stares at the doorway, before lashing out at the air with her claws. Her hair will bristle along her back, and soon she will dart out of the room and top speed and disappear down the hall. This scene should serve as further "proof" of the houses ghostly presence.
3: The Kitchen: Mamma Carnitine can be found here, cleaning up from dinner (see her entry above under Interviews about Ghosts... to get her reaction). The kitchen is well-used, but very clean. A closed wooden door to the northeast leads to the pantry and Laundry area. Inside the pantry, they will find all kinds of cans and sacks of goods. The place is fully stocked. Make sure the players notice the collection of large carving knives kept in the pantry area.
4: Breakfast: This is a smaller, cozy room with large windows along both walls. These windows overlook the side yard where the family gazebo sits. A round table rests in the center of the room, surrounded by matching chairs and decorated with a warm-colored tablecloth. The door to the east (leading to the Great Room) and the door to the south (leading to The Kitchen) are kept closed at all times, even when breakfast is served in the morning.
If the players investigate this room further, use the inherent claustrophobia to cause the players to suffer the effects of a Blindness spell (fort vs. DC 13). If they suffer the effects of this spell, and try to flee (or open the doors) they will find they cannot. The doors will be "locked". Of course, anyone who is unaffected by this "spell" will find they can easily open the doors. For every character affected by this "spell", the next player to enter this room suffers a -2 effect to their save. This penalty is cumulative, so if two players suffer the effects of this "spell", the next person to make a save suffers a -4 penalty. Players who pass their check can investigate the room freely. The Blinded ones find that the effect lasts only as long as they are in the room. Any kind of Remove spell will NOT nullify the effects.
If the players look out the windows, they might see ghostly visions through the pounding rain. Visions that might draw them out into the relentless storm, where they risk catching a cold or other sickness.
5: The Great Room- This is the room the players shared an after-dinner drink and smoke with Lord Alexus Darkangnon. This room is also infested, so continue to use the same rules on any unaffected Player Characters. The most chilling aspect of the room is of course the mounted wolves head on the wall, with its large gaping maw and dagger-length teeth. Save this effect for just the right time, for optimum efficiency. Ideally, it should be late at night and while there are only a few players in the room. They will be attacked by a vision of the "ghostly wolf". Use the stats for a Winter Wolf, as found in the core Monster Manual.
Ghost Wolf
Large "magical beast".
Hit Dice: 6d10+18 (51 hp)
Iniative: +5 (+1 dex, +4 improved init)
Speed: 50 ft
AC: 15
Attacks: Bite +9 melee
Damage: Bite 1d8+6
Face/Reach: 5 ft by 10 ft / 5 ft
Special Attacks: Breath weapon, trip
Special Qualities: Scent, cold subtype
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +3
The "ghostly wolf" will continue to attack the players while they are in the Great Room, and may even chase them throughout the house. If the players are dangerously low in hitpoints, or another character comes to their rescue, the wolf will mysteriously "vanish", and all that will remain is that same, unchanged wolves head mounted on the wall in the Great Room. Only characters affected by or who "saw" the ghostly wolf can see the gruesome wounds on their bodies. Any other character will see nothing.
6: Servants Quarters (labeled "Master Bedroom"): This is the place where the servants keep to themselves. The room itself is separated by drywall into three different chambers. One for Mamma Carnitine, one for Thomas Landry and the third for the servant girls, Gurtchen and Ismedla.
If anybody investigates this room after all the servants are sleeping, they can hear Big Mamma Carnitine and Thomas Landry snoring soundly in their respective beds. But a successful Listen check (DC 12) will allow the players to discern a conversation between the servant girls, Gurtchen and Ismedla.
Gurtchen is telling Ismedla of a "mysterious dark-skinned" gentleman she has seen prowling the estates lately. This "dark-faced handsome devil" tells Gurtchen how beautiful she is, and caresses her body with his hands. If the players burst in, or interrupt the story, both girls will howl in fear. They won't even get a chance to ask them any further questions, as both girls will become hysterical and cannot be calmed down. Thomas Landry will awaken, and so too will Big Mamma Carnitine who will threaten the girls with a whipping if they don't hush up. Gurtchen will NOT speak further about this "mysterious darkskinned gentleman".
Encounters with Vanderbilt and Duke:
The two huge Gundarakian wild dogs that the Lord keeps as his personal pets will not be seen in the house. Ideally, one or two infected players should spot them as the dogs stand at attention in the yard out back. Despite the storm raging around them, the two trained watch dogs are staring straight ahead with their ears folded back. Perched upon their haunches, they should appear as if ready to attack at any moment. Of course, the players won’t be able to see through the storm well enough to know what the dogs are staring at. If the players move towards the dogs in the storm, the dogs won’t even notice the approaching players. They will continue to growl and stare at an “unseen menace”.
Truth is, like the housecat Chatruse these dogs are carriers of the “illness”. They are indeed staring and growling at “nothing” but don’t let the players know that. They may believe the dogs can sense ghosts or spirits, and that’s why they are acting strangely. Whenever a player touches or pets the dogs, the “infestation rules” go into effect (see Area 5: The Great Room for further information).
If the dogs are allowed to come into the house, they will be well behaved but still have a rough, sinister edge to them. Their ears will spontaneously fold back, and they will growl at walls or empty spaces.
Perhaps the players will find the two dogs curled into a ball and whimpering in one of the darkened rooms. What could possibly be tough enough to scare two huge guard dogs?
They can be found growling at walls and snapping at thin air. Maybe the players will be alerted by the barking dogs, only to find them fighting each other or wrestling around with imaginary foes. These two dogs (as well as Chatruse) are mad, mad, mad.
Just as easily, the two huge dogs can snap on the players and spontaneously attack them. In that case, use the stats for war dogs or dire animals. If the dogs get too wild and frisky inside the house, Lord Darkangnon will demand that Thomas Landry take them back outside.
7 & 8: Guest Bedrooms (labeled "BR 2 and BR 3" on second floor map)- This is where the players will stay overnight. If there are too many players for two guest bedrooms, some of them may bunk in #5: The Great Room on floor one. Both of the guest bedrooms on the second floor are clean and well-prepared. They will find one or two beds in each room (depending on how many players need guest accommodations). There is a bureau and closet included in each room. Remember, an infested character that beds here for the night can turn an entire room into an infested zone.
#8 (BR3) has a window on the southern wall that overlooks the front courtyard (including the fountain). Sometime during the heat of their madness, they may see ghostly figures moving in and out of the blankets of rain. By staring out this window, the world will appear stark-ravingly grey but the roses in the turbulent fountain will appear in full vivid color. They will resemble bright floating droplets of blood.
#7 (BR2) has windows on the northern and western walls that overlook the darkened Joson pond. In the pouring rain, PCs may see images of their companions locked in struggle with ghostly apparitions. Of course, if they call out for their friend, or investigate the soggy grounds further, they will find no evidence of battle. The characters that the afflicted person "saw" in those visions will recall no such encounter (but the convinced player may see "wounds" on his lying friends body, leading him to believe his friend is purposely misleading him). Tricks like this can be orchestrated by passing notes or telling the afflicted player separately.
9: Master Bedroom (MBR)- These are the private chambers of Lord Darkangnon and his wife Violet Anne. A large, queen-sized canopy bed rest in the center of the eastern wall. A portrait of the house, and of its owners (Alexus and Violet) hang from the walls, and a crystal chandelier dangles from the ceiling. Comfortable chairs, bureau’s, and small bookshelves complete the setting. To the north, double doors open to a private bath for the Lord and his lady. Along the western wall, they have their own fireplace. In the southwest corner, two swinging doors open into a private study chamber, where they can dine alone on tea and biscuits. This sitting room overlooks the front courtyard.
The Master Bedroom has a permanent Guards and Wards spell cast upon the heavy wooden door. When it is disturbed (by a charging shoulder just as much as a lock picking), a silent alarm goes off for the Lord of Darkangnon Estates. While he is on the way, thick fog quickly begins filling the hallway, limiting all vision to 5 feet. The Lord is immune to this effect, so while engulfed in the obscuring mists he can choose to strike. He can eliminate a foe with one of his myriad assassin skills.
The players should not be allowed easy access to this room, as the Lord can be quickly summoned if there is any ruckus. If the players are looking to speak further with the Lord they should ask a servant or knock at the door of his Master Bedroom. The Lord will dramatically push the huge double doors outward and stride forward to meet them.
"My friends, listen" begins the Lord solemnly. "Time is a very pressing issue for me, and I trust you understand that I am a very busy man. I had my suspicions the place may be haunted, which is why I sent for you. So do as I asked of you and rid us of this menace!" Lord Alexus Darkangnon implores. "But I don't wish you good luck, I wish you good skill. I good friend of mine who was once very skilled in the art of ghost-hunting told me that "allergens are repulsive to spirits. In some cases however, they can create a sense of fascination in the ghost. This effect can only be likened to the effect a flame has on a moth". I believe the spirits that haunt this home respond in that fashion to the brandishing of a red rose. Perhaps using a red rose in conjunction with your attack will destroy the presence forever. Now go. Once the spirits have been disturbed they will not rest until we join them."
Eventually, some of the players should be convinced that they must wield their red roses while confronting the malevolent spirits that will appear out by the Joson pond. How the DM goes about convincing the PCs of this is entirely up to him/her and the PC’s individual class features. To those with a shred of sanity left, it will appear as if these would-be ghost hunters tore out the house into the vicious storm, ripping their clothes, smearing mud upon their bodies and screaming to the heavens. If any other Player Characters, or any of the four servants didn't know these would-be hunters were going out into the storm, they do now. Their yells reverberate through the house.
It is important to note, that any encounter the players may have outside cannot outright "kill" them. All damage dealt is illusionary in nature. When the players return to the house soggy and beat, those who weren't there to bear witness to the "battle" may believe the characters lost their minds.
Regardless, Mamma Carnitine and Thomas Landry (who will most likely have been awoken by the disturbance) will usher the wet players back into room #5 the Great Room. Here, they can remove their soaking clothing and dry off before the fireplace with a warm cup of tea or mahogany coffee (if they're in the mood for liquor). Mamma Carnitine will see to it that the players are properly settled in before retiring back to bed. The Lord, his wife and the two servant girls do not enter this scene.
Those players that "battled" the evil spirit outside in the pouring rain should be convinced the threat is over. Any temporary "magic" effects or other "wounds" they suffered can begin to heal at an unnatural rate (seeing as how they aren't really "injured" and will quickly forget about their "wounds").
To Those Who Search for Stains of Corruption…
Those who decide to search the Lord’s secret basement will indeed find the stench of corruption. But it won’t be in the form of dark curses or arcane rituals; it will be of a more fiendish nature.
The map pictured below indicates the Lord’s cellar as the PCs (now assumed to be half-mad) will view it. The accompanying text will contain two vastly different vantage points, as it is assumed some players will have succumbed to the illness while some others might have resisted.
1: Stairway to Doom- The players enter the “dungeon” from the stairway marked “UP” on the first floor map. They will descend a stone staircase roughly one bends length. To the afflicted characters, describe the descent as being exceptionally precarious, with stairs that seem to bend inward. The “steep decline” is enough to activate any PCs fear of heights or motion.
2: Witch’s Lair- This slightly cramped alcove bends to the west where it abruptly ends at the threshold of a large, sturdy wooden door. Afflicted characters will hear their breaths echoing from the stone walls in this area, causing them to react as if voices are calling out for help. If the players have been led to strongly believe in the presence of a curse or any other vile taint, they may hear the cackling laughter of witches who taunt and tease the PCs. The large, sturdy wooden door has 20 HP and an Open Locks DC of 20.
3: Radioactive Room- The “Witch’s Lair” spills out into the “Radioactive Room” from the eastern door. The players can glance to the north or the south and see the large room unfolding before them. The “Radioactive Room” is labeled as such, because the faint flickering flames of the torches along the wall give the room an ethereally bluish tinge.
Immediately to the southwest rests a personal bar with two accompanying stools and a bench to the western wall. Characters under the influence will easily mistake the private stash of multi-colored liquor bottles to be poisons, potions or other types of toxins. To some, the meticulous way the Lord arranges his collection may remind them of a “madd professor and his science lab”.
Darkness calls out to them from the eastern corridor, as all torchlight has been extinguished here. The diagram on the map indicates a loveseat for two next to an antique sofa along the southern wall. A few tables occupy these tight quarters, but allow enough space to comfortably breathe in. Of course the afflicted characters will find that their torches don’t light and that the shadows take forms. Any afflicted player journeying into this small sitting room may find himself battling shadows or specters. Others may only hear his struggle, and rush to find him on the floor panting quickly with terror in his eyes. No sane or “uninflected” character will ever see these visions but other afflicted characters can all share the same sight.
Following the “Radioactive Room” furthest to the north, the players will find that two doors block the way. One door leads to the area marked “Butcher”, while the other leads to the “Closet”. Both doors are locked, but only contain 10 HP and an Open Locks DC of 12.
4: Butcher/Closet- The “Butcher” area is actually the storage room for Thomas Landry, where all the tools are kept. Everything from gardening implements to bales of hay and sacks of flour can be found in the Butcher/Closet area. But the “Butcher’s” area is named as such for the thick red paint stains that cover the walls and floors (a by-product of a clumsy bumble by Thomas Landry a few months back). Cans of paint (both red, white and green) can still be found in storage, although the red paint is considerably low. Obviously, afflicted characters will view this place as a horrible house of slaughter. The sounds of their own screams will make them think prisoners are being tortured and crying out for mercy. To them, the paint splotches are actually bloodstains.
In the closet area, stuffed mannequins and scarecrows of varying decay can be found. To the sane mind, these will only be unsettling images. But to players who have succumbed to the illness, these “monsters” are very-much alive and highly capable of staging a ferocious attack.
Dread Scarecrow
Medium Size Construct
Hit Dice: 3d10 (20 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 30 ft
AC: 12 (+2 natural)
Attacks: 2 slams +3 melee; or scythe +3 melee
Damage: Slam 1d4+1 and stinging curse; scythe 2d4+1 (x4 critical) and stinging curse
Face/Reach: 5 ft. b 5 ft. / 5 ft.
Special Attacks: Stinging Curse
Special Qualities: Construct, cold immunity, electricity resistance 20, damage reduction 10/+1, fire vulnerability
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +3
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 10, Con -, Int -, Wis 14, Cha 14
Stinging Curse: A foe hit by a scarecrow's melee attacks must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 13) or be cursed with an odor that causes swarms of insects to attack the character. The first round of insect stings automatically deals 1d4 points of damage. The damage increases by a cumulative 1d4 per round. Also, the character suffers an effective, cumulative -1 circumstance penalty to attack and damage rolls each round the insects attack. The insects attack until the victim receives a remove curse spell of until the victim dies.
In this case, the recently "bitten" character will describe his wounds as tiny, festering little boils that pop spontaneously and leak puss. Of course, any unaffected or "sane" character will notice nothing. Characters examined for Stinging Curse wounds will only bear the small, pimple-like marks of “the illness” (seeing as how only infected characters can see these maddening images). So even though the insane character can complain of his gruesome bite marks all he wants, the sane characters will only see them as the small, nearly insignificant red dots they are.
6: Bones Alley- The “entrance” to Bones Alley is right at the mouth of the Hall of Horrors, but it can be easily overlooked by players not actively searching for it. Truth it, “Bones Alley” is hidden by a trap door in the stonewall that only players who look for it can find. Elvin or Dwarfish characters may receive a note from the DM indicating that something odd is afoot, alluding to the presence of the trap door. If the players do not search for the trap door, or have other reasons to believe it may exist, they breeze right on by it and proceed to the end of the Hall of Horrors (where “the Gallery” awaits them).
Bones Alley is even longer, darker, danker and dustier than the Hall Of Horrors. They must walk the entire length to the east, before they see that it continues on to the north. Any mind tricks you as DM played with the PCs during their trek down the “Hall of Horrors” should be augmented at this time. Make the encounters more intense, more surreal and far scarier. The insane eye will view this old corridor as being straight out of a torture chamber. The braziers along the walls will now resemble manacles, and the dust-caked floors should choke them with “the stench of death”.
It is most important to the Dungeon Master to know that Violet Anne Membrose-Darkangnon is at the far end of Bones Alley (in the area labeled “Dungeon”). A clever DM can begin to foreshadow this eventual discovery by describing the (very) faint glow of light at the end of the hall, as well as the sweet aroma of a ladies perfume that hangs lightly in the air. An infected character may find that he is exceptionally sensitive to the faint light source, and is driven towards it like a moth to the flame. The perfume may affect an infected character so adversely they could be prone to nausea and vomiting. I know that’s a bit extreme, but really try to mess with their heads at this point. No holds barred, you must accomplish this task by any means necessary. Does the character have a phobia of bats? Snakes? Spiders? Well they’ll be crawling all over the floor and walls. Want a skeleton to suddenly spring forth and frighten the players?
Skeleton
Medium-sized Undead
Hit Dice: 1d12 (6 HP)
Initiative: +5 (+1 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative)
Speed: 30 feet
AC: 13 (+1 Dex, +2 Natural)
Attacks: 2 claws +0 Melee
Damage: Claw 1d4
Face/Reach: 5ft. by 5ft. / 5 ft.
Special Qualities: Undead, immunities
Saves: Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +2
The “Spider Den” is named as such for the huge, thick spider webs that cover the ceiling and drape from the alcoves. Any infected character may begin battle with the throngs of giant spiders that descend from the ceiling, but to the sane PCs they will simply appear to be wildly flailing around in the webs. This entire dungeon area of Lord Darkangnon is so dusty and disheveled (as opposed to the immaculate appearance of the rest of the house) because none of the servants (with the occasional exception of Thomas Landry) are ever allowed down here. Hence, it has never been dusted or cleaned.
The winding, twisty “Bat Cave” carries on with the spider web motif. But here, the players will find the stone floor as well as the walls caked with some kind of brown, sticky residue. Astute players will know it’s bat guano, but they won’t know why it’s here. Once (and only when) the mad players have been alerted to “bat crap” on the floor, will they think to have bat visuals. Unleash the fluttering of a thousand leather wings and let the mob of bats surge through the air and attack the mad players (to sane characters, it will appear their companions are wildly flailing around at nothing).
Journeying down the “Hall Of Spirits”, flood the player’s brains with thoughts of ghosts, haunts and other supernatural phenomenon. Slip them notes hinting at strange, cryptic riddles or voices they hear in their head. Ghosts can be seen just outside the eyes peripheral, and disembodied sounds seem to egg the PCs on further.
REMEMBER, only infected characters are prone to these types of visuals and sounds. Sane characters will find NOTHING out of the ordinary (except the strange actions of their companions).
7: The Dungeon- Finally, the players will stumble upon a door to the north as they reach the “dungeon” area. This door is securely locked and protected with various magicks. Only sorcerers, wizards or characters with arcane knowledge can dispel the wards on the door. Beneath this door the soft glow of a dozen torches leak. Characters with an acute sense of smell (or even those that find their senses enhanced by madness) will note this is where the aroma of woman’s perfume emanates from. This is the final room you as DM have been building to ever since the players first entered the basement. All signs should point here.
When the players finally burst into the room, they will find they are not alone. Seated at a large wooden table, and surrounded by a dozen or so torches will by Lady Violet Ann Membrose-Darkangnon. The players have unwittingly stumbled into the Lord’s secret drug lab!
You see, the Lady of Darkangnon Estates is NOT haunted. She’s NOT cursed or embattled. She’s NOT an adulteress. She’s a fire-truckin DRUG FIEND. Unbeknownst to the Lord her husband, Lady Violet Ann discovered the Lord’s secret chambers and has been holed up here ever since! In his long absences from home (“away on business trips” he says) his wife Violet Ann locks herself in these chambers and gets higher than a rocket ship!
When the players barge in, they can’t even disturb her from her stupor. They will find her seated at the table, face down in a pile of chalky, white powder. If her blue lips and blue fingertips weren’t apparent before, they sure are now.
The Lady is unconscious where she lay.
BACCARAN
The pasty substance is dried and kept as a powder or sometimes left as a paste. The ingredients are numerous and difficult to attain.
Initial effect- 1d4 strength damage.
Secondary effect- 1d4+1 enhancement bonus to wisdom for 1d10 +15 minutes.
Side effect- Those under the effect of baccaran take a –4 circumstance penalty on saves involving illusion for 2d4 hours after consuming this mild hallucination.
Overdose- If more than one dose is taken in a 24-hour period, the user immediately takes 2d6 hit points of damage and the side effect doubles.
This is the mound of chalky, white powder the players will find the Lady’s face buried in. Her nostrils are ringed with the stuff.
SANNISH
A bluish liquid distilled form wolves milk and powdered desert plants, this concoction is very popular. Addicts are easily found by the permanent blue stains on their lips.
Initial effect- 1point of Wisdom damage
Secondary effect- The user becomes numb to pain for 1d4 hours, and immune to pain induced penalties (such as a symbol of pain)
Side effects- Sannish causes euphoria. While the drug is in effect the user takes –2 penalty to all initiative checks.
Overdose- A second dose take while the first does is still in effect, causes a numbing stupor for 2d4 hours. The user can only take partial actions till the stupor wears off. A few vials of this bluish liquid can be found scattered amongst the drug paraphernalia on the table.
(Both drugs can be found in The Book of Vile Darkness).
The Lady is not dead, just barely coherent. She drifts in and out of a euphoric unconsciousness, and will be dead-weight if the players try to move her. In her mumbled, spaced-out speech she will beg the players not to tell her husband. Please, don’t tell her husband. More than anything, she just wants to go to bed. The players can either help her back to her room, or leave her where she lays.
If anything gets too out of hand, the Lord himself can quickly arrive on the scene (sneaking up on even the most hyper-aware PC). He will be mock-mortified at his wife’s plight, and order the PCs to leave them be. He insists they tell NOBODY about what they saw.
8: The Gallery- The last and largest of all the basement rooms, the Gallery can be reached by following the Hall of Horrors all the way to the east (and ignoring the secret door that leads to Bones Alley). This huge room is similar to the Great Room on Floor one. This is the private lounge and den of the Lord where he entertains his guests. Only those who receive a personal invitation from the Lord himself are ever allowed down here.
Also, this is the “gambling den” that once belonged to the Joson boy (see [i]Interviews About Ghosts: Mamma Carnitine[/i] for more info). Of course, the warm comfortable environment will seem sinister and evil to an infected PC. Whatever they may have suspected or expected to find in the basement, they can find it here. Remember, only an infected character will encounter this “demon” or “monster”. Sane characters will see nothing.
Some players may have retired to bed, while others may remain in Area #5 (The Great Room). The storm outside continues to rage, but inside the manor house things are pretty quiet. The Lord (and the Lady) are asleep, as are the servants. Even the players should be asleep. Regardless of their position in the house, this next scene takes place in Area #3 (The Kitchen) when no other PC is around.
"Suddenly, a shrill screech cuts through the stale night air like a knife. It is shocking in its suddenness and horrifying in its longevity. The scream carries long through the house and echoes off the walls." (assuming the players pursue the sound) "You begin to pursue the wail, it's origins apparently emanating from the kitchen area. Before you can reach the kitchen, the cry is joined in unison by a second, both of them melting into a symphony of terror. Outside, the storm continues to rage".
Rushing into Area #3 (The Kitchen) the players will be startled by the gruesome scene that awaits them. The servant girl Gurtchen lies dead on the floor, a single kitchen knife plunged handle-deep into her abdomen. But there’s more blood in the kitchen than from a single wound.
They will also see the second servant girl Ismedla curled into a ball in a corner of the room, softly sobbing to herself and rocking back and forth. Alerted by the screams (as the players were) Thomas Landry and Mamma Carnitine will quickly rush into the scene, and nearly retch from the horror. What will everyone do? The storm outside is so bad there is no way to get a doctor or a constable to the location tonight.
Truth of the Matter…
The two servant girls Gurtchen and Ismedla have been suffering from “the illness” for quite a while now. They were the first to acquire the disease, and amongst the first to start spreading stories about strange lights and sights. It all came to a head tonight.
With the players out “hunting ghosts” and “chasing curses” the inherent paranoia of the two servant girls overcame them. Like ALL victims of “the illness” their bodies are dotted with the tiny, red bites. Little red bites that can itch like hell. In this case, the servant girl Gurtchen took the scratching a bit too far.
Using a kitchen knife to scratch the bite marks, Gurtchen quickly sliced her arms and legs to ribbons. Hence, all the extra blood that can be found at the scene. She doesn’t even have to be examined closely to see evidence of these cuts. They’re all over her body. Once her momentary flash of madness subsided, and she actually saw what she did to herself she cried out in horror (the first scream the players heard). This brought the second servant girl Ismedla to the scene first, and she quickly joined in the chorus of screams (the second cry the players heard). When Gurtchen saw her friend staring at her and screaming in horror, she quickly plunged the kitchen knife into herself and bled to death as everybody else rushed to the scene. This caused Ismedla to collapse on the floor into a sobbing, shaking mess. Ismedla is now officially a Lost One (rendered dumb and mute by the horrors she witnessed).
A Murderer Amongst Us…
The purpose of this plot twist is to add another layer of madness to the already unstable players. Feast upon their paranoia and dine upon their panic. It should NOT be clearly evident that the girl killed herself. It should look like she was the victim of a brutal murder, and only Ismedla was witness to the crime. Of course, with Ismedla’s mind shattered she turned into a Lost One and can no longer communicate with any of the players. She will only shake, sob, cry and stare dead ahead.
The Lord of Darkangnon Estates, Alexus Darkangnon will quickly rush to the scene after everybody has had a chance to digest it. His wife will NOT be with him. He will be aghast by the site, and order Thomas Landry to comfort the hysterical Mama Carnitine. This leaves just the players and Alexus on the scene.
Lord Darkangnon will solemnly explain to the players that due to the raging storm, no help can be summoned to the grounds tonight. This leaves the players alone for the night with a BODY and a potential MURDERER in the house! Hopefully, this is enough to activate the player’s madness and paranoia. We want them to fly into a frenzy of finger pointing and accusations, looking for a murderer where none exist (remember, Gurtchen’s wounds and eventual death was self-inflicted). The Lord will explain to the players that his wife must be tended to, for she has become dreadfully ill. He will ask that the players solve this mystery on their own (for which they will ALL be generously rewarded).
For this next scene, the DM should have specially-prepared Player Handouts custom-designed for each of his players. These one-page sheets should contain a collection of bullet-points each uniquely tailored to that character, his specific class abilities and any symptoms of madness they may have exhibited. Examples include:
· The witnessing of a rogue player character sulking and creeping through the dark halls of Darkangnon Estates when he thought “nobody was watching”.
· Perhaps a warrior or fighter was seen “hungrily eyeing” the servant girls as they prepared the nightly meal. This might not have meant much at the time, but in light of recent events…
· One of the players heard a wizard or sorcerer character talking about “odems” and “infestations”. Maybe he took his exorcisms a bit too far…
· Maybe two clerical characters were overhead discussing the proper way of “ridding the cursed stain”. An act that involves demon-trafficking and human sacrifice…
· Player X was last seen conversing with the servant girls, and now one of them is dead and the other’s mind has been shattered. What could they have possibly been talking about?
· Remember the “dark skinned gentleman” Gurtchen may have been overheard discussing? (see Area #6: Servants Quarters for more info on this discussion). Maybe the description of that “dark-skinned gentleman” matches the description of one of the players…
· Any character that is known to be evil or prone to violence can easily by fingered as the killer.
Those are just a few examples to get the gray-matter moving. It is assumed the DM will be familiar enough with his players and their characters to create a unique clue sheet for each of them. The goal is to make it look like one of the players is responsible for the murder, and not the Lord, his wife or the other servants. Keep it within the circle. Allow bluff and sense motive checks to run haywire. A sane character is really the only hope the party has of discerning the truth behind Gurtchen’s death. But if only one or two “sane” characters remain, they will have a hard time convincing the others what they speak is true. Matter of fact, they can just as easily find the tables turned and they are the ones accused of murder.
Sane and careful investigation of the murder scene will uncover the “killers” last steps. Gurtchen withdrew into the pantry area, where she grabbed the biggest knife available (these knives were previously foreshadowed in Area 3: The Kitchen). Her first swipes with the knife occurred in the pantry area, so astute players may find a few drops of blood. Following the trail, it will lead to the kitchen where she committed most of the cuts to her arms and legs (trying to eliminate that itch). This is where most of the blood will be pooled, and the spot where she finally plunged the knife into her own gut. She collapsed on the floor and bled to death with open eyes. Only after careful study (by a SANE character only) will the players learn that the wounds were self-inflicted and the death was a suicide. Of course, even after they learn this information they must ask themselves WHY she killed herself.
WHERE are the bite marks coming from? WHAT is the “illness” I speak of? WHY have the players been chasing ghosts, fiends, monsters and curses? What is going on here????
Fleas of Madness (Monstrous Compendium Volume III: 2E)
While the normal flea is a parasitic pest that has plagued mankind since the dawn of time, its Ravenloft cousin is a terrible curse. By comparison, the mundane flea is a blessing.
Fleas of Madness resemble any other flea: tiny (smaller than a grain of rice), black, and difficult to get rid of once an infestation has occurred. Like normal fleas, they feed on blood and usually reside within the fur or hair of mammals. They transfer themselves from one creature to the next by leaping to any new host who touches the fur or hair of the original. They also lurk in carpets and bedding, where they can go without food for several days while waiting for a new host to infest.
Combat: The bite of a Flea of Madness is almost insignificant. The victim may feel a slight sting and afterward develop a small red welt, but otherwise takes no real damage. But for this sake of this adventure, and for the sake of the Black Box, consider the Fleas as taking 1d4 hit points worth of damage each time there is a successful infestation. Therefore, when you ask for their sheets and set about doing some “revision” work behind the Screen, they will find their HP totals are deceptively lower than they’ve originally been tracking.
For each hour (or portion of) spent in an infested area (or in the company of an infested creature), there is a 75% chance of suffering 1d4 flea bites. Each bite has a 25% chance of immediately causing the victim to experience effects similar to either Tasha’s Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter or Otto’s Irresistible Dance.
In addition, the victim must make a Fortitude check for each bite suffered (DC 16). Failure of any saving throw means the victim slips into madness over a period of 1d4 days. For the sake of this adventure, consider the period of gestation as 1d4 hours.
If the victim is an animal, the madness takes the form of simple delusions. If the victim is a human, hallucinations result. A victim might see a setting different from the one that actually exists (for example, a jungle as opposed to a stone corridor), might see fellow humans as monsters, or might see creatures or items that do not actually exist. Erratic, inexplicable behavior results.
Note: Once madness has set in, the victim no longer needs to make additional Fortitude checks as no intensification of the madness takes place. But for this adventure, I encourage you to play with multiple variations of failed madness rolls. It adds a great deal of variety.
The Madness caused by the fleas can be cured by such spells as wish, cure disease, heal and restoration. The psionic science psychic surgery can also be used. Once the victim is cured, however, there is a good chance that the madness will recur with further flea bites. The only way to act as exterminators, using such spells as stinking cloud, cloudkill, or deathfog to fumigate a building. Spells like anti-vermin barrier or repel insects to cleanse an individual.
For a discussion on the Habitat/Society of the fleas, as well as a complete ecology and history, check RAVENLOFT Monstrous Compendium Appendix III: Creatures of Darkness.
While Lord Alexus Darkangnon was abroad on business, he left his business and affairs to his wife back home. During his time away, his two dogs Duke and Vanderbilt as well as the housecat Chatruse were infested with Fleas of Madness (a by-product of their old country home). The animals quickly spread the “illness” to the various house servants, who served to further contaminate the manor house further. Soon, almost the entire house was crawling with the creepies.
Servants and workers of the estates slowly begin to feel the effects of madness, thus resulting in wild visuals and hallucinations. These strange sights were attributed to the House itself, and the legends it gave birth to. Soon people were saying the house was haunted, and those who stayed there were doomed to die. Many left or escaped the grounds, resulting in a shorter staff to maintain it. To top it all off, something was wrong with the Lady of the Estates, Violet Anne Membrose-Darkangnon. She seemed to enter a great depression during her husbands absence. She moped silently about the grounds, and slept most of her days away. A few steady and loyal helpers stayed behind to tend the grounds. Meanwhile, the Fleas of Madness continued to feast.
When the Lord returned from his voyage, he learned of the mass panic outbreak. He set about finding the cause of this alarm. He knew he had acquired the grounds through less than proper enterprise, and anything was possible in the grand scheme of things. Enter the Player Characters.
The Lord is due to leave on another business venture very soon, and he wants this mess at home cleaned up quietly and efficiently. He hires the players to find the cause of these strange sights and sounds and eliminate it.
When the players come to the Estates, right off the bat there are multiple ways of getting them infected. Their first encounter with the housecat Chatruse. Any physical contact with the servants, as well as the time spent in any infested area. The players have NO idea the house is contaminated. They come here thinking their going to find ghosts.
So as the madness effects slowly creep in on them, their wildest thoughts and darkest fears become reality. The accompanying visuals and hallucinations are for all accounts real to the infected character. Thus, whether they are “hunting ghosts” or chasing curses, they will find what they are looking for. Just as quickly as they are to create a threat, so too can they end that threat. Characters in this state can be easily fooled or misled.
The DM is encouraged to create any actual “threat” they may face by listening to the characters expectations. You must build from them. After the players think they’ve vanquished the original threat, something else wicked occurs.
The “murder” of the servant girl Gurtchen. This allows the DM to throw in a little whodunit for the players, just as their paranoia is peaking. Who knows, maybe they’ll destroy each other. But you can’t force any actions upon the players. You must suggest it in such a way they believe it is their own decision.
Epilogue
After the realization of a possible infestation has occurred, any druid, ranger or other character with knowledge of this nature can attempt to identify the bites. They might not even catch the connection yet, and not realize the bites are related to the strange visions. This depends upon keeping at least one or two players “sane” through the adventure. Preferably the stronger role-players who can handle playing the r ole of an oppressed underdog awash in a sea of madness. And when the final truth is observed (that fleas of madness are the root cause), these players should be strong enough to convince the others players of its validity.
If worse comes to worse, and everybody is reduced to a quivering, drooling mess, read them the following outro:
The room around you spins uncontrollably, yet you feel the solid safety of the floor behind you. Sounds rush through your ears, and you feel the sonic swirls through your arms and legs. You can’t call out because your voice is gone. But if you remain real still, the wind will bring it back.
Suddenly, two figures loom over you. The darkly-attired Lord of Darkangnon Estates, Alexus Darkangnon, along with another gentleman. A taller man with a thick head of hair and a beard to match. In his eye he wears a monocle, over his tailored suit he wears a dark overcoat. His accessories identify him as a doctor.
“This one too, I presume” he begins, staring down upon YOU.
“Yes Doctor Heinfroth,” the Lord begins. “I’m afraid he has it too”.
“Very well then,” the one called Doctor Heinfroth returns. “I’ll see to it he is properly confined”.
“Yes, Doctor. See to it that this matter is handled quickly and efficiently. There is no reason anyone must ever hear of what has transpired here.”
“Yes, milord”. The good doctor replies. “I know of a place where they can be properly cared for”.
Originally posted by Bob the Efreet
Great work. I've never seen an adventure that seems to be designed to mess with the players. I like it.
Well, I've seen some, but noone this good. For real MSD, this is very good. The feel of it is like the best of Second Edition, and I like how you play of the CotN:G adventure.
That does present me with an obstacle, however, as IMC it was my PCs who laid the Josons to rest, and the estate was all but ruined when they got there. So, I guess I'll have to readapt it. I'll either use it when they get to Verbrek/Arkandale, or place it in Mordent, I think.
But I'd love to have this in word format, so hurry up, will ya! I'm sure the Fraternity can host if for you, if not, there's always yahoo or something.
Very much so.
Meddling with the PCs' minds always tickles my fancy.
Thanks MSD for sharing this with us.
**Starrie
But is there anything I can do to make the next adventure better? Any comments, critiques or constructive criticisms?
Holla at yo boy, y'all!
peace,
MSD