Trap: The Cursed Harvest

Encompassing the characters is a sprawling field of tantalizing orange pumpkins, each vibrant and inviting on the surface. But beneath this picturesque façade lies a treacherous underbelly of vines and roots that pulse with dark magic. The ground subtly shifts as if alive, beckoning unwary adventurers towards certain doom. Those who disturb a rotten pumpkin will feel the land react; thick, twisted roots will emerge, encircling the intruders while the air becomes rank with acrid spores that burst forth with a sickening release. The laughter of unseen sprites echoes, taunting the players as chilling whispers seem to come from the very soil below.

Gameplay Notes for the Pumpkin Patch Trap (“The Cursed Harvest”)

Trap Activation

• How and When It Activates:
  • The trap activates when a character steps onto a rotten pumpkin. These cracked or decayed pumpkins must be identified via a DC 12 Investigation check; otherwise, any character that steps on a standard pumpkin (non-rotten) does not trigger the trap.
  • Each time a character steps on a rotten pumpkin, there’s a cumulative 25% chance that the trap activates, rolling at the start of the player’s turn if they move onto one of these defined threats.

Detection and Disarm Notes

• Detecting the Trap:
  • Perception (DC 15): To notice the subtle movement of the earth and see the roots shifting under the surface.
  • Arcana (DC 16): To sense an aura of dark magic surrounding the pumpkins.
  • Investigation (DC 14): To closely examine the pumpkins to identify which ones are rotten and poised to trigger the trap.
• Disarming the Trap:
  • Characters can attempt to sever the roots via:
    • Nature or Arcana (DC 15): Identify the roots connecting the trap.
    • Dexterity (DC 15): Using tools or skills like Thieves’ Tools to cut the roots.
    • Magical Options: Spells like Dispel Magic and Druidcraft can calm the magic. Roll DC 13 on an Arcana check to properly pinpoint the leyline.

Suggested Tactics and Variations

• Tactics for Different Levels of Challenge:
  • Lower-Level Groups: Reduce poison damage to 2d10 or make the DCs for saving throws lower—DC 12 for Dexterity and DC 13 for Constitution.
  • Higher-Level Groups: Add an environmental effect where creatures must also contend with vine snare attacks that attempt to restrain characters (melee attack +7 to hit and grapple DC 14).
• Targeting Specific Characters:
  • If certain characters seem less cautious, you can up the flavor of the trap by making it react more intensely to them—perhaps the vines aim at characters with lower Wisdom scores or those in large armor.

Initiative and Round Actions

• Trap’s Initiative Bonus:
  • The trap has an initiative modifier of +1 and rolls for initiative just like a character. This usually means it will operate on the same tier as lower-level or support characters.

Actions of the Trap on Its Turn Each Round

1. Poison Spore Blast: On activation and every subsequent round if the trap still remains active, all characters in a 15-foot radius must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 14) or take 4d10 poison damage.
2. Evolving Effects:
   • After the first round of activation, the trap begins to entangle anyone in the area; each creature must succeed on a Strength (Athletics) check (DC 13) to regain their footing, failing means being considered restrained by the vines.
3. Noxious Gas Expansion: The poisonous spores continue to fill the air; thus, rounds two and three will see the radius of difficult terrain expanding by an additional 10 feet, making escape increasingly problematic.

Round-by-Round Effects

• Phase 1: Round 1
  • Initial trigger upon stepping on a rotten pumpkin: poison spores burst, affecting anyone in a 15-foot radius (Dexterity save DC 14).
  • Characters take poison damage (4d10) if they fail or half on a success.
• Phase 2: Rounds 2-4
  • All affected character(s) must repeat failed saves against nausea (Constitution save DC 15); failure results in poisoned condition (1d4 rounds).
  • The ground turns into difficult terrain with an additional 10-foot radius every round—navigational challenges increase as more pumpkins become activated and roots writhe.
• Phase 3: Rounds 5+ On-Going
  • If not disabled by this point, all creatures experience cumulative effects of being poisoned and having to make Strength checks to escape the terrain.
  • After five rounds, the trap culminates with a massive eruption of spores (30-foot radius explosion). Every creature must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 16) or take an additional 8d10 poison damage, or half on success.

Additional DM Tips

• Managing Escalating Effects: Track which players have failed their saving throws carefully; noting how long they are poisoned adds tension. Keep a visual representation of the expanding terrain (using a grid) to highlight the trap’s escalating chaos.
• Vine Animation: Flavor the trap with the whimsical yet sinister effect of animated vines. Use voice or pantomime to dramatize “laughing” and swaying vines attempting to mock player characters as they struggle.

With these extensive notes, the Dungeon Master should be well-equipped to run “The Cursed Harvest” trap smoothly, immersing players in a beautifully sinister encounter that tests not only their physical skills but their wit.