Skip to content

Slippery Steep Spiral Stone Stairs

Environments Designed by Hack Shack Gaming • Art by Warmtail
Tier
1
Type
Traversal
Difficulty
10
Impulses
Lure the Curious, echo forgotten footsteps, test balance and nerve, calm before the storm, waiting for the fall

Environment overview

These slippery steep spiral stone stairs descend deep into the dank damp darkness. Say that ten times fast.

Potential adversaries

Rats, Oozes, Insects, Drunks

Features

Passives

passive
  • The Descent

    Climbing down these steep slick stairs uses a Progress Countdown, equal to 2 times the number of players (2x PC Count). It ticks down according to the following criteria, when the PCs make an Action Roll to descend:

    • Critical Success: Tick down 3

    • Success with Hope: Tick down 2

    • Success with Fear: Tick down 1

    • Failure with Hope: No advancement

    • Failure with Fear: Tick up 1

    When the countdown ends, the party is at the bottom of the stairs.

  • Slick Stones

    The stairs are slick and steep. Any movement requiring Agility rolls are made with Disadvantage.

Actions

action
  • Sudden Draft
    Fear 1

    Spend a Fear as a strong gust blows through the area surrounding the party, extinguishing any torches or flames, plunging them into darkness.

  • Tumble
    Fear 1

    Spend a Fear to have a PC’s feet slip out underneath them, causing them to start tumbling down the stairs. If they aren’t saved on the next action from the party, they take 1d6+1 physical damage.

  • Narrowing Walls
    Fear 2

    Spend 2 Fear as the walls narrow, pushing in on the party ominously. Each traveller makes a separate Presence Reaction Roll, marking a Stress if they fail.

Reactions

reaction
—

About this environment

The slick stairway descends over 100 feet into the earth below. The stairs are steeper and slicker than most the characters would be familiar with, formed by either some ancient inhuman artisan or a twisted magic of their own.
The characters will need to descend slowly and carefully to avoid problems.

Slippery Steep Spiral Stone Stairs

Tier 1 Traversal

These slippery steep spiral stone stairs descend deep into the dank damp darkness. Say that ten times fast.

Impulses: Lure the Curious, echo forgotten footsteps, test balance and nerve, calm before the storm, waiting for the fall

Difficulty: 10

Potential Adversaries: Rats, Oozes, Insects, Drunks

Features

The Descent - Passive: Climbing down these steep slick stairs uses a Progress Countdown, equal to 2 times the number of players (2x PC Count). It ticks down according to the following criteria, when the PCs make an Action Roll to descend:

  • Critical Success: Tick down 3

  • Success with Hope: Tick down 2

  • Success with Fear: Tick down 1

  • Failure with Hope: No advancement

  • Failure with Fear: Tick up 1

When the countdown ends, the party is at the bottom of the stairs.

Slick Stones - Passive: The stairs are slick and steep. Any movement requiring Agility rolls are made with Disadvantage.
Sudden Draft - Action: Spend a Fear as a strong gust blows through the area surrounding the party, extinguishing any torches or flames, plunging them into darkness.
Tumble - Action: Spend a Fear to have a PC’s feet slip out underneath them, causing them to start tumbling down the stairs. If they aren’t saved on the next action from the party, they take 1d6+1 physical damage.
Narrowing Walls - Action: Spend 2 Fear as the walls narrow, pushing in on the party ominously. Each traveller makes a separate Presence Reaction Roll, marking a Stress if they fail.

Discussion

Be thoughtful and kind.

Remember to be respectful. Comments are moderated and should add to the discussion.

Sign in to comment