Upon entering the empty chamber, the adventurers are engulfed in an atmosphere that both captivates and disturbs. The walls, covered in vibrant carvings, depict spiraling shapes and ominous figures that seem to dance at the edges of vision, drawing the eye irresistibly towards the illusory pedestal at the center. An enticing glow emanates from the stone, enchanting yet filled with a malevolent allure. As one adventurer steps closer, the ground beneath seems to ripple like soft earth, allowing the soothing yet sinister hum to crescendo into a disorienting din. Instantly, a wave of psychic energy erupts, resonating throughout the room, ensnaring all nearby in confusion and evident distress, leaving them to question their perceptions of reality.

Gameplay Notes for the Piedra Menta Trap

Trap Activation

• Trigger Conditions:
  • The trap activates when any creature steps onto the section of the floor engraved with shimmering patterns. The inner-most ring glows faintly and emits a soft humming sound as the creature approaches.
• Environmental Context:
  • Set in a dimly lit chamber within the ruins of an ancient temple. The stone walls are decorated with swirling patterns and symbols, and vines cover the area, adding to the ethereal beauty. The atmosphere is somber and disconcerting, which may lure characters closer.

Detection and Disarm Notes

• Detection:

  • Investigation Check (DC 15): To reveal that stepping on the engravings feels unnatural, akin to soft earth.
  • Perception Check (DC 14): To notice the faint glowing patterns and syntonic vibrations as they approach the trap.
  • Arcana Check (DC 16): To understand that the trap is magically charged and to determine its psychic nature.

• Disarm Mechanism:

  • Once triggered, to disarm the trap, characters must make an Arcana Check (DC 18) to identify the resonating magic.
  • Alternatively, they can calm the psychic energy using a musical instrument or the Calm Emotions spell for one round, nullifying the trap’s effects. If successful, they will sense the dimming glow and feel the hum fade, rendering the trap inert until the magical energies rebuild.

Suggested Tactics and Variations

• Tactical Adaptations:

  • Targeted Attacks: If certain characters shine more prominent (weaker Wisdom saves or critical roles—like casters), the trap can visually amplify their confusion, increasing the difficulty of their saves or making them the primary targets for any psychic backlash.
  • Dynamic Adjustments: Scale the damage and difficulty based on character levels (e.g., increasing damage to 5d10 for Tier 3 parties or delaying the Cooldown).

• Thematic Enhancements:

  • Introduce illusory NPCs or echoes of past worshippers whispering in characters’ ears to create unease during the encounter.
  • Incorporate environmental hazards, like sudden bursts of psychic energy prompting dangerous terrain (i.e., rough stone or collapsing portions of ceiling chipping into the party).

Initiative and Round Actions

• Initiative:

  • The trap acts on an initiative count of 12, rolling for initiative as a normal creature (+2 bonus). Roll as part of the turn order alongside characters.

• Round Actions:

  • Each round, the trap conducts the following actions, affecting all creatures within a 15-foot radius:
    • Psychic Wave: At a trigger of one round after activation, all creatures must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 15):
      • On a failed save, they take 4d10 psychic damage and become Confused for one minute.
      • On a successful save, they take half damage and avoid confusion.
    • Confusion Mechanism: Each confused creature flips a coin at the start of their turn to determine its action. If the trap senses multiple creatures remaining confused, amplify the mental resonance with additional whispers, effectively prompting higher chance of return actions.

Round-by-Round Effects

• Phase 1: (Round 1) – Initial Activation:
  • The trap awakens. The psychic energy wave affects all within range, triggering Wisdom saves right after the first creature’s step. Damage and status are applied.
• Phase 2: (Rounds 2-4):
  • Affected players may repeat their saves at the end of their turns, each round relying on coin flips to determine potential randomness. If players collectively succeed, the vivid imagery from the trap reinforces psychological pressure.
• Phase 3: (Ending After 4 Rounds):
  • After four full rounds, those still confused may become panic-stricken, suffering an additional 1d10 psychic damage if they remain confused.
  • Players must altogether strategize effectively to mitigate damaging surprises, keeping track of save successes to regain harmony in the shifting atmosphere.

Tips for Running the Trap Smoothly

1. Engagement: Create an evocative atmosphere descriptive enough to pull players in. Use rich language to depict the effects of confusion and psychic distress—their verbal cues will enhance your narrative.

2. Tracking: Keep a checklist for the rounds and characters impacted for each round of play. Use markers or tokens to denote confused characters, their damage taken, and the number of rounds remaining—increasing visual clarity amid the chaos.

3. Feedback: Allow players an opportunity to make creative interpretations of their characters’ confusion during their turns. Foster storytelling by letting them describe how they interpret the mental disruption, making the encounter both mechanical and narrative-driven.

This structure ensures the Pedra Menta trap remains engaging and appropriately challenging, creating a memorable and immersive experience for all players involved.