Trap: Goblin Chef’s Delight

Upon entering the Goblin Chef’s Delight, adventurers find themselves in a whimsical yet unsettling culinary space. The air is thick with a blend of tantalizing scents, masking the acrid tinge of danger beneath. A low wooden table stands, adorned with an illusory platter of steaming delicacies that invites discovery. However, this charming facade belies the trap lurking nearby. As adventurers take their chances, cauldrons strategically positioned above them erupt with scalding liquid, turning the serene scene into an explosion of chaos. In this disarray, whimsical goblin figurines leap into action, brandishing kitchen tools and beckoning the unfortunate party into an uproar of comedic yet lethal havoc.

Gameplay Notes for the Goblin Chef’s Delight Trap

Trap Activation

The Goblin Chef’s Delight activates when an adventurer either touches the illusory food platter or disturbs the surrounding environment. This is triggered through a hidden pressure plate under the tablecloth that releases a latch to begin the trap’s sequence. Any character that approaches within 5 feet of the platter or interacts with the table or kitchen can trigger this trap.

Detection and Disarm Notes

Detection:

• Perception (DC 16): Characters can hear faint bubbling sounds and detect an acrid undertone to the food aroma upon approaching the cooking area.
• Investigation (DC 18): A successful check reveals the hidden pressure plate beneath the tablecloth or the suspicious cleanliness around the countertop.

Disarm Mechanism:

• Once activated, a character can attempt to disable the trap by making a Dexterity check (DC 18) to handle the mechanics without triggering it or use Thieves’ Tools for an easier DC 16 check.

Suggested Tactics and Variations

• Target Selection: Goblin minions may focus on the character who triggered the trap if they are visible, providing an engaging encounter where players may need to protect each other.
• Terrain Hazards: Increase the difficulty by having the surface become slippery earlier if characters fail their saving throws by large margins, creating a more chaotic environment.
• Goblin Chef Variant: Instead of animated goblin figurines, consider including a frenzied goblin chef armed with a frying pan as a mini-boss that emerges after the initial geysers, which adds to the whimsy and danger.

Initiative and Round Actions

• Trap Initiative Bonus: +3
• Initiative Roll: The trap rolls for initiative like a creature (1d20 + 3).
• Actions Each Round:
  • Round 1: Scalding Geysers
    • Effect: Instantaneous area attack; all characters in a 15-foot radius must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 16) against 8d10 fire damage.
  • Round 2: Goblin Minions Appear
    • Summon: 2d4 goblin minions burst forth and join the fray, acting on the trap’s initiative.
  • Round 3: Slippery Surface Triggers
    • Characters in the area must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 15) or fall prone.
  • Round 4: Health Hazard: Characters caught in the scalding and slippery food substances repeat the DC 13 Strength check to regain footing as the area remains hazardous.

Round-by-Round Effects

Phase 1: Initial Effect (Round 1)

• Scalding Geysers: Trigger upon activation; affect all creatures within 15 feet of the pressure plate.
• Attack: DC 16 Dexterity saving throw.
• Damage: 8d10 fire damage (fail), half on success.

Phase 2: Active Chaos (Rounds 2-3)

• Goblin Minions Summon: 2d4 goblins emerge, attacking the party using improvised kitchen utensils. They act in the initiative order, targeting party members.
• Slippery Surface: Characters moving in the area during these rounds must continue rolling Dexterity saves each time they take action or try to escape, sustaining hazardous conditions.

Phase 3: Ongoing Effects (Round 4+)

• Environmental Hazard: The cooking area remains dangerous; any characters who remain in the area at the start of their turn must continue making checks for footing.
• Sensory Overload: Any character who suffered damage from the geyser (or that fails their saving throw) suffers disadvantage on Wisdom saving throws until the end of their next turn.

Additional Running Tips

• Keep track of each player’s position relative to the gathered cauldrons to maintain the sense of chaos as some players might attempt to flee.
• Use dramatic descriptions to heighten tension, emphasizing the “goblin magic” around the chaotic kitchen as scents and stench converge on the players.
• Encourage creativity in how players disarm the trap, allowing for improvised solutions like covering the cauldrons or throwing objects to trip the pressure plate from afar.
• If players seem overwhelmed, lessen the number of goblins or reduce subsequent area effects to maintain the engagement level without leading to a frustration point.

By following these organized steps, the Dungeon Master can efficiently manage the complexities of the Goblin Chef’s Delight trap and create a memorable encounter that blends whimsy with danger, perfectly embodying the goblin spirit.