Dining with Class: The Butcher (Part 1)
Overview:
This encounter is meant for a great way for player characters to meet each other for the first time, but does requires some particular setting concessions. In this city the ruling class are all undead, and debtors and criminals (accused fairly or falsely) are eaten by the upper class. Your PCs have been accused of crimes (rightly or wrongly, players can decide) and are waiting in the butcher’s room to be softened up for dinner. You can also allow PCs to choose one small item they may have smuggled in with them, but they have none of their other starting gear.
Before the Initial Description, PCs should describe their character, what item they snuck in, what they were accused of, and if they actually committed the act.
Initial Description:
Thump, thump, thump. You hear the sound of the butcher’s knife hitting the table. He continues to chop up the poor soul he dragged away moments ago. You are locked in a cage awaiting the same fate. There is man in one of the cages looking down at his feet. A woman in another cages mumbles the same prayer over and over again. What do you do?
Enemies:
The Butcher - The butcher is one of the undead ruling class in the city. He, like most of the nobles, considers it beneath his station to use the weapons that are a part of his body. He uses the Ghoul stat block, with the exception that he instead uses a butcher knife for a weapon (+ 4 to hit, 1d4 + Strength slashing damage) until he is at 1/4 of his max HP. at that point he drops the knife and gets out the claws and fangs.
He is so engrossed in his work that it is an easy stealth check to sneak away from the room if he is currently chopping away at a victim.
NPCs:
Harold - He sits in a cage wallowing in the tragedy of his situation. He has simply given up hope of escaping.
Lilith - She is devoutly religious and is praying in the corner. She believes that her god will find a way to get her out of this dire situation.
Objectives:
Escape the Room
Map:
Overview: At the beginning of the encounter the butcher is
at the table to the far left. Every 1d6 turns he comes to
collect another prisoner. After the two NPCs he starts
coming for the PCs.
Special Mechanics:
Tension Die - Every 1d6 turns the Butcher comes for another victim. He first takes the two NPCs and then starts opening the cage for the PCs.
Extras:
Inspirations, Shoutouts, and Thanks - Thanks to @udeadnightmare on twitter for a cool encounter builder prompt, a section of the city filled with undead has been walled off.
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