Every option?
Suddenly a twisted creature hops onto the desk; the homunculi is grotesque, a vile leathery thing of insect and rat and slime topped with a dollโs face. It hops onto your shoulder and whispers in your ear โbut masterโฆ what happens ifโฆโ
Welcome to the โYour Whispering Homunculus,โ a series designed to spice up your game, to help you pass a moment of writerโs block, or just to entertain you for a moment. The homunculus is a vile thing, but useful: it whispers ideas, it considers the unthinkable, it helps its master. With it, youโll discover lists and suggestions, rule variations, one-off ideas and flotsamโa small bit of crunch and fluff to use as you wish in your day-to-day adventures…
20 Daft Bets & Dares
The journey has been long, and at last, the adventurers find a cozy fireside to park their battle-wearied limbs by, to enjoy a quiet night of fine ale and polite conversation.
Well, no.
The appearance of strangers is likely to bring out the worst in people, and the sight of all that well-honed muscle is likely to cause a few jealous looks from locals anxious to keep their admiring partners to themselves. Here are 20 ludicrous bets and dares that the locals make with the PCs to try to get one over them, including how to resolve them. PCs beating the villagers may either be regaled by the villagers or resented, depending upon how they play the encounter (at GMโs option).
Using magic, of course, is cheatingโฆ
1ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Tam Wadly says he can eat a bucket of raw potatoes quicker than any of you: Best of 5 opposed Con rolls versus Fat Tamโs Con of +5 wins. Make a Fortitude save (DC 12) at the conclusion or be sickened for a day.
2ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Lub Squirmly reckons he can drink a bucket of milk faster than any of you strangers: Best of 3 opposed Con checks, Lubโs is +5, again end the bet with a Fortitude save (DC 12) or be sickened for a day.
3ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Zort over there says youโre all sissies, and heโs got a game to prove itโcoal swallowingโhot coals of courseโฆ: Coal swallowing is dangerous and Zort can only manage 3 pieces before he gives in; the first lump causes 1d6 damage, the second causes the eater to be unable to speak for 1d3 days, and a further 1d6 damage. Subsequent coals deliver 1d6 damage and add 1d6 days to the time before the character can talk again.
4ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Poxly says he can juggle four flaming torches at onceโand bets you canโt: Best of 3 opposed Perform checks against Poxlyโs +8, checks of 15 or lower may result in injury from the flaming torches; jugglers must make a Reflex save (DC 15) or take 1d6 damage.
5ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Bedpan Hambly can pluck a pheasant fasterโn any of you strangers can: Plucking a pheasant is based on opposed Dex. Bedpan Hambly, as an expert, gets a +5 modifier in total. Anyone that has Profession (pheasant plucker) can substitute that roll for the check.
6ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย So you think youโre tough ehโwell how about a boar wrestling contest?: Use the standard boar statistics (Pathfinder Bestiary), but since the boar is oiled before the fight takes place, increase its CMD by +4. Weapons and armor are not allowed. The boar fight takes place in a small corral outside of town.
7ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Only girls fight with swords in this village. Nape over there wants a proper duel with youโusing greased pigsโฆ: Again use the boar statistics, but the 5 pigs in the farmyard donโt fight back, they are harder to hit, add 4 to their AC due to the grease. The idea is to manhandle the pigs from a central muddy pen and into a sty 10 ft. away (which is harder than it looks). The PC must win 3 consecutive opposed grapples to do so, the first one to get 3 pigs out wins. Consider an opponent has a base attack of +3, a CMB of +6, and a CMD of 18.
8ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Tough are ye? You strangers are all the same, pansies! Now, how about a game of Blind Manโs Reap?: Blind Manโs Reap is played between two people in the old Ricketโs dark Barn. The opponents are blindfolded and use blunted scythes to beat each other with. Use the standard fighting in the dark rules for blindfolded combatants. The scythes deliver subdual damage only but can critical. Consider an opponent has a base attack of +3, a CMB of +6, a CMD of 18, AC 12, and 25 hp.
9ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Round these parts, we play a game called Hotfoot: Hotfoot involves a large roaring fire and bare feet. The opponents lie side by side and are moved 6 inches closer to the fire each round with feet outstretched, until their feet are actually in the fire. The first round causes 1 fire damage, the second 1d3, third and subsequent rounds cause 1d6. Any normal villager can last only 4 rounds, so if PCs manage more, they win.
10ย ย ย ย ย We never respect any stranger unless he kisses Old Maud on the lips three times: Old Maud is the village cow, but she suffers from an appalling skin complaint manifesting itself in boils around her mouth that may, or may not, be catching (itโs up to you).
11ย ย ย ย ย A manโs not a man in this village unless he climbs Old Slippery: Old Slippery is a 60 ft. high greasy limestone cliff face with virtually no hand-holds. The climb DC is 25.
12ย ย ย ย ย Any stranger who swims Old Flebโs Muddy Mire earns our respect: The 100 ft. wide pond is nauseating as all the local slurry pits drain directly into it, anyone swimming across must make a Fortitude save (DC 10) or be nauseated for a day, the swim DC is 10.
13ย ย ย ย ย Well now, we have some strangers! So do we have anyone brave enough to play Tenbberโs Folly?: Tenbberโs Folly involves crossing over a huge slurry pond by balancing along a slender tied rope. The PCs face a race against Tenbber himself, who has an Acrobatics of +6, the rope is 25 ft. long, and a fall involves a very unwelcome odor and a chance to be nauseated for a day (see #12). The balance DC is 25.
14ย ย ย ย ย Any of you strangers man enough to mount Cip Pickleโs Bull and stay on him to a count of thirty?: The bull is a fearsome beast, and the ride DC each round is 30, those who fall may be trampled for 1d6 damage unless they make a Reflex save (DC 12) to leap from the corral.
15ย ย ย ย ย Sheep shearingโthatโs a manโs job. Reckon you can beat wizard Tobber in a contest?: Tobber is a wizard at shearing, each contestant has six sheep, and sheering each requires the dexterous use of shears: roll 6 opposed Dexโs (count Tobber as +5) to see who wins. If your campaign has profession (sheep-sheerer), substitute that skill roll instead.
16ย ย ย ย ย You see them troughs outside? Well, Lungy Lubwell can go underwater and hold his breath longer than any of you lot can: Use the holding your breath rules (Pathfinder Roleplaying Game). Lungy has a CON of 17.
17ย ย ย ย ย Juggling live chickensโnow thereโs something Batham Jup excels at. I guess you strangers wouldnโt be up to that?: 3 opposed Perform checks here against Jup, who has a Perform of +8; however, the PCs are given three especially lively chickens and their skill checks are at -4.
18ย ย ย ย ย We play a little game called โTen Sacks and a Dozen Yards of Ropeโ round here, I says you strangers would be too sissy to take part: The game involves two contestants being trussed up with sacks and ropes, which require 3 escape artist checks (DC 25) to escape from. Slippery Dabe usually goes for the locals as he has a +9 escape artist check. If you like make it more fun by throwing the contestants in the duck pond at the start. Slippery has 10 Con.
19ย ย ย ย ย Keppumโs Bog is a little over 22 ft. wideโhow about a little jump off between you and Legโs Ocker?: The 22 ft. wide bog, requires an Acrobatics check (DC 22); failure indicates the character has fallen into the mire, which has the consistency of quicksand (Pathfinder Core Rulebook). Ocker has an Acrobatics of +10 and a base speed of 30 ft. If both contestants succeed, jump again.
20ย ย ย ย ย We play a fun game round these partsโWood Axe Chin: Wood Axe Chin involves balancing a wood axeโhandle downโon your chin and holding it there for the maximum amount of time. Each round requires an Acrobatics check (DC 15) or the axe falls, making a +3 great axe attack on you. The PCs may be disturbed to see the number of huge gashes in the chin of Tallow, their opponent, who has +5 Acrobatics.
:-)
“I dare you.” Three words, so much pain!
Wood Axe Chin – coming to a tavern near you! (and shortly afterwards to a healer)
Very nice, Richard! My players will soon come to dread asking “so, what’s going on in the tavern tonight?”
Can I play Wood Axe Chin with a Vorpal Axe?
I have a couple of players who, regardless of the character they play, will take on all these dares. Thanks–I see some fun gaming nights ahead. :)
Rich, this list is like a wet kiss from Old Maud. Awesome! I’m putting this in my DMs folder to whip out at the right time. ;)
Hahaha! Very good – will need to try some of these out…
I’m indecently amused by these. Can’t wait for the next appearance of the Homunculus!
This…is…AWESOME!
Thanks fellows, as ever it’s an honour to be working on the great KQ website, and thanks to Scott for the encouragement and for coming up with a cool title.
Hopefully these articles will be like a pinch of salt you may wish to add to the heady stews of your adventures.
Huzzah!
And yes, I think playing with a vorpal axe would add a certain unmissable spice to proceedings:)
Rich has style – love the dares.
We have a saying in my homeland when such challenges are given; “Hold my beer, and watch this!”