“A Friend in Need”- Out of The Box D&D Encounters #2

May 13, 2016

Out of The Box D&D Encounters #2 – “A Friend in Need“

Environment: Variable**

Suggested Level: 5-7

** The environment for this encounter was originally intended as a Wilderness encounter, but there’s no reason why such a location might be found in an urban environment. It could even occur withing a dungeon setting, as outhouses/toilets occur wherever “civilization” may occur.

“As the party traverses a lonely country road, they happen upon the ruins of what must have been an old cottage . A large tree has fallen from natural causes and has destroyed the building by falling through the roof. The only structure that remains intact is the former residents’ outhouse, which escaped the fate of the main building by only a few feet. Though a crack in the wall of the outhouse, a glimmer of light can be seen.”

Investigation of the main farmhouse will reveal harmless vermin, weathered and tattered wreckage of

furniture, and collapsed walls. Shrubs now sprout through the floorboards and moss has begun to grow on the inner walls. There is barely enough roof left for any sort of shelter, as the massive tree that fell upon the roof of this structure crushed at least 75% of it inward.

Should the party investigate the outhouse, what they will discover is that the glimmer seen before is the remnants of a mirror hung on the back wall of the outhouse. The open seat of the outhouse remains intact, and it is the usual single-hole sort of layout. The smell of dung hangs heavy in the air.

What will intrigue the party is that something else is reflecting light from below. Spaces between the planks in the roof allow some sunlight through, which shines into the toilet hole, and is reflecting light. That light is being caught in the mirror.

The entire bench seat of the outhouse is a Mimic. It is working in tandem with it’s best friend, the Oytugh in a large pit below, to snare prey and feast on unsuspecting travellers. The shine is produced from treasure below that has fallen from several travellers who have been taken in by this ruse and their own curiosity.

If the Mimic drops below 50% hit points the Oytugh will engage from below via it’s tentacles.

Monsters:

Mimic (1) – p. 220 of Monster Manual

Oytugh (1) – p. 248 of Monster Manual

Treasure:

Level: 6 hoard – (Default): 2000sp, 500gp…all scattered below and likely poop and carcass-covered.

Complications:

There is a decent chance that one or more players will be infected with a Disease as per the Oytugh entry. If you so desire, add wild berries and other healing flora to the area or inside the ruined cottage to assist in Constitution saves to cure the infection.

If the players try to shift or move around the structure or tree inside the cottage, there might be a complete collapse. An Investigation (DC:10) roll will reveal this. If they ignore this fact and proceed anyway, this will result in a Dex (DC :15) Save to escape the structure or take 2d10 Bludgeoning damage.

Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy!

– Mike Gould