Nice! A solo horror one-shot sounds amazing! Let’s set the tone.
🎭 Premise: The Haunting of Black Hollow Manor
A storm rages as you find yourself stranded near the abandoned Black Hollow Manor—a long-forgotten mansion with a dark reputation. Whispers tell of a family cursed by a malevolent force, and of those who entered never returning. Seeking shelter, you step inside… but the door locks behind you.
🎲 Before We Begin…
- Who are you? (A wandering adventurer? A scholar investigating the supernatural? A lost traveler?)
- What is your background & skills? (Do you rely on wit, magic, or sheer willpower to survive?)
- How do you feel about horror? (Do you want slow-burning dread or immediate terror?)
Tell me a bit about your character, and we’ll begin the nightmare. 😈
You said:
What level should my character be?
ChatGPT said:
For a solo horror one-shot, I’d recommend Level 3 to Level 5 depending on how tough you want it to be:
- Level 3: You’re capable but still vulnerable—perfect for a “survival horror” feel where every encounter is dangerous.
- Level 4: A balance of power and fear, letting you face supernatural threats but still making you feel mortal.
- Level 5: You have stronger abilities (extra attacks, 3rd-level spells), which could make this more of a “dark action-horror” than survival.
If you like tension and close calls, Level 3 or 4 is best. If you want to fight back harder, go for Level 5.
Which level do you want to go with? Also, what class/race are you thinking? 😈
You said:
I will be playing a level 5 rogue trickster kobold
ChatGPT said:
A Level 5 Arcane Trickster Kobold? Oh, I love this already. A sneaky, magic-wielding, trap-dodging little survivor—perfect for a horror scenario where wit and cunning are your best weapons.
Your Setup
- Name: (You got one, or should I make something up?)
- Background: Are you a thief, a scholar of the occult, or just an unlucky traveler?
- Why Are You Here? Did you come to Black Hollow Manor on purpose (seeking treasure or knowledge), or are you just unlucky enough to be caught in this nightmare?
House Rules for a Solo Horror One-Shot
- Limited Short Rests – You can only short rest in truly safe places (if you find any).
- Fear & Panic – You may need to make Wisdom (Fear) saves if something terrifying happens.
- Limited Resources – You don’t start with all your gear. Maybe you were robbed or lost supplies on the way.
- Stealth & Strategy Matter – You’re alone, so avoiding danger is as important as fighting it.
Once you give me your character’s name, background, and reason for being here, we’ll step inside Black Hollow Manor… 😈
You said:
Name: Kzzar Basura. Backgrouind: Bounty Hunter. Whay am I here? I came looking for a missing bail jumper.
ChatGPT said:
Welcome to the Nightmare, Kzzar Basura…
You’re a bounty hunter—a skilled tracker of those who think they can escape justice. This time, your quarry was Fallow Mires, a petty noble who vanished before his trial for dark dealings and human sacrifice. Your search led you here, to the abandoned Black Hollow Manor, where locals claim he sought refuge.
A storm rages outside. The villagers refused to come near this place, crossing themselves and muttering prayers when you asked for directions. “No one who goes inside comes out,” one had whispered. But you’re not so easily scared.
You stepped through the rotting front doors…
And then, the doors slammed shut behind you.
🕯️ The Beginning
You find yourself in a dark entry hall, your darkvision piercing the gloom. Dust clings to the air, stirred by a draft that seems to breathe through the house itself. The walls are lined with faded portraits, eyes glinting eerily in the dim light. A single, flickering candelabra rests on a table ahead.
You hear it first: a slow, deliberate creak from the staircase leading up. Then… a whisper, distant but distinct:
“Why did you come here…?”
Your bounty was last seen in this house. But you are not alone.
What do you do? 🎲
You said:
I announce “I am here for Fallow, if he comes peacefully I have no beef with whoever lives here.”
ChatGPT said:
Your voice echoes through the dust-laden hall, swallowed by the heavy silence that follows. The house seems to breathe, the wood creaking as if adjusting to your presence.
Then, from the second floor, a soft chuckle.
“Fallow…?” the whisper mocks. “He was such a disappointment.”
The candle on the table flickers violently, as if caught in a sudden gust—except there is no wind. From somewhere deeper in the manor, you hear a slow, deliberate tapping… like fingernails drumming on wood.
Then… footsteps. Not from the stairs, but from the door to your left—a side room you hadn’t checked yet. Heavy. Slow. Coming closer.
You still see no one.
What do you do? 🎲
You said:
I stand my ground but pull my +2 dagger.
ChatGPT said:
The weight of the +2 dagger feels reassuring in your clawed grip, its enchanted edge glinting in the dim candlelight. The room remains deathly still, but the footsteps continue—deliberate, methodical, stopping just beyond the door to your left.
Silence.
Then… a soft, raspy exhale.
“You shouldn’t have come.”
The door handle twists. The wood groans as the door creaks open… but nothing steps through.
Your darkvision pierces the shadows beyond. The room is a dusty parlor, with decayed furniture and torn curtains swaying slightly, though there is no breeze. A mirror on the far wall is cracked, reflecting the candlelight in strange, fractured ways.
Then, out of the corner of your eye—a shift.
A reflection in the mirror moves… but there is no one standing in front of it.
A gaunt figure in noble robes, its head tilted at an unnatural angle, stares at you from inside the mirror. Sunken, blackened eyes meet yours. Its mouth opens wider… and wider… and wider, an inhuman grin stretching beyond what flesh should allow.
“Run.”
A surge of cold rushes through the room. The mirror shudders violently, spiderweb cracks spreading outward. The candlelight dims—and then the reflection steps forward.
ROLL INITIATIVE. 🎲
You said:
I roll a 9.
ChatGPT said:
Initiative Order:
- ??? (15)
- Kzzar Basura (9)
As soon as you lock eyes with the thing in the mirror, your breath catches—the air turns ice-cold, and a sharp ringing sound fills your ears. The figure lunges forward, but instead of breaking through the mirror, it steps out of it, as if reality itself was a doorway.
Now fully visible, you see its form flickering, half-solid, like a candle flame about to go out. It still wears the tattered noble’s robes, but its flesh is gray, stretched too tight, and its eyes are pure void.
It raises one clawed hand toward you, and whispers:
“Your soul is heavy… let me carry it for you.”
The Specter Strikes!
💀 The Wretched Reflection moves with unnatural speed, its twisted claws lashing toward you!
Attack: +6 vs AC
(Rolling…) 🎲 16
That’s a 22 to hit! It rakes across your chest, its touch burning like frozen fire!
🔮 Damage: 🎲 12 necrotic damage!
(Your maximum HP is reduced by this amount until a long rest!)
The ghostly claws sap your strength, and the room warps slightly as if reality itself is growing unstable. The mirror behind it rattles violently, reflecting movements that haven’t happened yet.
Your Turn, Kzzar!
The specter looms before you, flickering and twisting as if half-anchored in reality. You feel the cold grip of death clawing at you—but you’re a rogue, fast and clever.
What do you do? 🎲
You said:
I use my uncanny dodge to halve the damage.
ChatGPT said:
🔥 Good call! As the specter’s claws rake toward you, your rogue instincts kick in. You twist just in time, letting the spectral strike glance off instead of sinking fully into your essence.
🔻 Damage reduced to 6 necrotic! (But your max HP is still reduced by 6 until a long rest.)
Your Turn, Kzzar!
You’ve just dodged the worst of the attack, but the Wretched Reflection still looms before you, its form flickering. The mirror behind it continues to rattle violently, distorting your own image in unnatural ways.
Options to consider:
- Attack! You’ve got your +2 dagger—if you hit, you might land Sneak Attack if you use a bonus action to Disengage & reposition for advantage.
- Use Magic! As an Arcane Trickster, you have access to spells—maybe an illusion or utility spell could help.
- Investigate! Something is wrong with that mirror. Maybe interacting with it in some way could weaken this thing.
- Run! You’re a Kobold rogue, and speed is your strength. You could try to escape deeper into the manor, using Cunning Action to get away fast.
What’s your move, bounty hunter? 🎲
You said:
I caste magic missle on the mirror.
ChatGPT said:
💥 Magic Missile on the Mirror!
Your Kobold claws flash with arcane energy, summoning three glowing darts of force. You snarl an incantation, and the bolts streak forward—not at the ghost, but at the mirror behind it!
🎲 Magic Missile Damage Roll (3d4+3)
(Rolling…) [4] + [2] + [3] + 3 = 12 damage!
The arcane missiles slam into the cracked mirror, sending shards of glass flying. A shrill, unearthly scream erupts from the ghost as its reflection distorts violently, twisting and convulsing. The room trembles.
The mirror explodes.
🔻 The Wretched Reflection shrieks as its form begins to tear apart, unraveling like smoke in the wind. Its eyes widen in horror, and for the first time, it looks afraid.
It reaches for you, but its fingers flicker and distort—its entire body is being sucked backward, as if reality itself is rejecting it.
With a final, shattered whisper, it vanishes.
The mirror is gone. Only shattered glass and a faint, lingering whisper on the wind remain.
Silence.
Victory?
You breathe heavily, your fur bristling. The room feels lighter, as if a weight has been lifted. Whatever cursed thing you just fought was tied to that mirror.
But as the dust settles, you see something half-buried in the broken glass.
A leather journal, its edges charred, its pages old but intact. Stamped into the cover in gold lettering:
“Property of Lord Fallow Mires.”
Do you pick it up? 🎲
You said:
I do.
ChatGPT said:
You Pick Up the Journal…
The leather cover is cold to the touch, as if it hasn’t felt warmth in centuries. The gold lettering is faded, but the name is unmistakable—Lord Fallow Mires.
You flip it open. The pages smell of old ink and something else… something faintly rotten. Most of the text is cramped and frantic, written in a noble’s hand, but it quickly deteriorates into erratic scrawling.
You turn to a bookmark—an old, brittle ribbon—and read the last legible entry.
📖 The Final Words of Lord Fallow Mires
“I sought sanctuary in this house. The villagers whispered of its curse, but I cared little—I have dealt in curses before. But I did not know…”
“The mirrors. Gods, the mirrors! It watches me through them, speaks in my voice, steals my face. I smashed them all, but it is not enough. It crawls through the cracks, through the reflections in my eyes. I cannot—”
(There is a violent scratch of ink, like the writer was suddenly interrupted.)
The final words are hastily scrawled, uneven, and barely legible:
“If you read this, do not look into the glass. It knows. It sees. It WILL become you.”
A Sudden Realization…
You feel the weight of the words settle over you. The manor is silent once more, but the thought creeps into your mind:
How many mirrors are still left in this house?
A cold draft whispers through the broken room, and in the slivers of glass at your feet, you see your own reflection—but something is wrong.
One of the shards still shows the specter’s twisted grin.
Then…
It moves.
WHAT DO YOU DO? 🎲
You said:
I remove my cloak covering the mirror shards.
ChatGPT said:
You Cover the Mirror Shards
Your instincts scream at you to act fast. You whip your cloak off and throw it over the shards, blocking your reflection before it can fully emerge.
For a brief, terrifying moment, you hear a frustrated hiss—like a thing denied its prey. Then… silence.
The cloak settles over the broken glass, cutting off the reflections. Whatever was lurking inside those shards is trapped—for now.
The House is Still Watching…
The journal in your hand feels heavier now. Fallow Mires wasn’t running from the law. He was running from this.
Your bounty is either long dead… or something far worse.
And now, you’re inside the manor. You’ve destroyed one mirror—but you have no idea how many more remain.
A cold gust of air blows through the room, and for a moment, you swear you hear footsteps upstairs.
Soft. Slow. Waiting.
You still have options:
- Do you search for Fallow’s remains? If he’s dead, you can take proof and leave.
- Do you hunt for more mirrors? If you break them all, maybe you can banish whatever is haunting this place.
- Do you just get out now? If you can find another way out, maybe you don’t have to play this game.
You’re a rogue, fast and clever. But you’re also alone.
What’s your move, Kzzar? 🎲
You said:
What do I see in the room around me? Curtains? Torches/Lanterns?
ChatGPT said:
You take a quick, practiced scan of the room, your bounty hunter instincts kicking in. You might be trapped in a haunted house, but you’re still a survivor.
🕯️ The Room’s Details
- Curtains: Heavy velvet curtains—deep red, now faded and moth-eaten—hang over two tall windows. They’re shut, but a cold wind seeps through the cracks.
- Lighting: A single iron candle sconce juts from the wall, holding a nearly melted candle that flickers weakly.
- Furniture:
- A dusty, tattered armchair near the fireplace.
- A small, wooden writing desk—its drawers slightly open.
- A rotting bookshelf, its contents mostly ruined.
- The Fireplace: The hearth is long-cold, but there’s wood inside. A rusted poker leans against it.
- A Lantern: On the desk, you spot a small oil lantern, its glass cracked but usable. There’s half a tank of oil left.
Other Notable Features
- A Closed Door leads deeper into the manor.
- The Open Door (you came from) leads back to the entry hall where you first arrived.
Your cloak still covers the mirror shards, but you’re aware that it won’t hold forever. You don’t know how this entity moves, but you do know it’s watching.
What do you do? 🎲
- Check the Desk? (Might find useful information or supplies.)
- Take the Lantern? (You don’t need it for darkvision, but it might be useful for… other things.)
- Burn the Mirror Shards? (The fireplace is right there.)
- Go Deeper into the Manor? (Find Fallow, or the source of this horror.)
- Try the Windows? (Are they sealed? Can you escape?)
You said:
I grab the oil from the lamp and head for the porch.
ChatGPT said:
You Take the Oil and Head for the Porch
With quick, nimble hands, you unscrew the lantern cap and carefully pour the remaining oil into a small cloth wrap (or onto a piece of paper if available). It’s not a lot, but it might come in handy—for fire, distraction, or something else.
You turn toward the door, stepping back through the entry hall where this nightmare began. The air feels thicker now, heavier, like the house knows you’re trying to leave.
Your claws tap lightly on the warped wooden floorboards as you make your way toward the front doors, the ones that slammed shut behind you.
The Porch – Your Escape?
You push against the rotting wooden doors.
They don’t budge.
Not locked. Sealed. As if something on the other side is holding them shut.
A low, whispering wind curls through the cracks, carrying the sound of a woman’s voice, barely audible:
“No exit. No escape. No mercy.”
The whisper brushes against your ear like an invisible breath. Then…
🎭 A SHADOW MOVES.
Out of the corner of your eye, in the dust-covered mirror that hangs in the entryway, you see something standing behind you.
A figure. Twisted. Watching. Waiting.
Your reflection looks normal. But there’s something else in the glass.
What do you do? 🎲
- Try to break down the door? (Might work, but it’ll be LOUD.)
- Turn and face the mirror? (Risk seeing what’s inside?)
- Use the oil? (Fire? Smearing the glass?)
- Dodge and run? (Deeper into the house—find another exit?)
- Something else? (Get creative!)
Your rogue instincts scream danger. The manor won’t let you leave that easily…
You said:
I pull out my pan flute and play Tamron Sorcel’s “Song of Soothing for the Damned” to sooth the house. I roll a 22 performance check.
ChatGPT said:
🎶 You Play “Song of Soothing for the Damned”
As the shadow looms in the mirror, you don’t run. You don’t fight. You play.
Your clawed fingers dance across the pan flute, weaving the melancholy, ancient melody of Tamron Sorcel’s legendary piece. A song whispered in the halls of forgotten crypts, a song meant to calm the restless dead.
The first notes pierce the heavy silence, drifting through the decayed manor. The air shifts—the oppressive weight of unseen eyes pulls back, just slightly.
You rolled a 22—far beyond expectation.
The Manor Listens.
The whispering voices in the walls fall silent.
The wind through the cracks stills.
And then… the figure in the mirror stops moving.
You watch, heart pounding, as the reflection shifts—the twisted, shadowy thing tilts its head, as if listening. Then, something impossible happens:
🎭 It bows.
A slow, deliberate motion. Respectful. Almost… grateful.
Then it fades, like smoke dissolving in the wind.
You Have Soothed the House… For Now.
The atmosphere lightens, the sense of dread loosening its grip. You can still feel the unnatural presence, but it is less hostile now.
Even the front doors, once sealed tight, now groan slightly—as if the force keeping them shut has… reconsidered.
You have a moment. A choice.
What Do You Do? 🎲
- Try the door again? (Maybe the house will let you leave now.)
- Ask the house a question? (If it’s listening, maybe it will answer.)
- Press deeper into the manor? (You’ve earned a reprieve. Time to find Fallow.)
- Something else? (The song was powerful. How else could you use this moment?)
Your rogue heart beats fast. The song may not hold forever. What’s next, Kzzar?
You said:
Are there chairs on the porch?
ChatGPT said:
You glance through the dusty windows flanking the front doors, peering onto the porch outside. The storm still rages, rain hammering against the wooden overhang, but you make out the vague shapes of furniture beneath the gloom.
Yes, there are chairs on the porch.
- Two old wooden rocking chairs, their forms barely visible in the dim light.
- A small round table between them, its surface slick with rain.
- The chairs sway slightly, not from the wind—but as if something unseen had just been sitting there.
Something about the way they rock out of sync sends a shiver through your scales. Were they empty a moment ago?
The house is still silent after your song. The doors feel… less hostile.
What Do You Do? 🎲
- Try to open the door again? (Test if the house will let you leave.)
- Step outside and inspect the chairs? (Maybe they hold a clue.)
- Knock on the door from the inside? (See if the house responds.)
- Sit in one? (Brave move, but maybe the house wants you to.)
- Something else? (You’re clever. What’s your plan, Kzzar?)
The porch awaits. But is it empty?
You said:
Reaching into my pack I will pull out cookies I bought in Waterdeep. I will then pull out my magical bottomless cup of coffee (a gift from a noble who’s daughter I had returned) and I pour a cup into another mug and then sit down. I offter the house the other cup of coffee and some cookies. I nodge for the house to “enjoy” leaving the expectation in the air that I will tender an offer when the house is ready to parley.
ChatGPT said:
You Offer Coffee & Cookies to the House ☕🍪
The storm rages beyond the porch, but you move with confidence. You step onto the old wooden boards, ignoring the eerie way the rocking chairs shift—as if some unseen presence had just settled in.
With practiced hands, you set the scene:
☕ You pour rich, steaming coffee from your bottomless mug into a second cup, setting it gently on the small round table between the chairs.
🍪 You place the Waterdhavian cookies beside it, letting the sweet scent mix with the cool, damp air.
👀 Then… you sit. Calm. Patient. Waiting.
For a long, unnatural moment, nothing happens.
Then—the porch groans.
One of the rocking chairs creaks forward.
It stops.
Then… rocks backward.
🎭 Something is sitting with you.
The second cup of coffee shifts ever so slightly, and though you see nothing, the scent of burnt wood and old dust suddenly fills the air—as if the house itself had sighed.
A quiet moment passes. The rain drums softly on the roof above, and then…
A voice. Not cruel. Not mocking. Just… old.
“You are… different.”
The second rocking chair creaks again.
“Speak, traveler. What do you offer…?”
The house is listening.
You Have Gained the House’s Attention.
What is your offer, Kzzar? 🎲
- Ask for Safe Passage? (Will the house let you leave now?)
- Ask for Fallow’s Fate? (Does it know where he is?)
- Offer a Trade? (Your bounty-hunting skills, something from your pack…?)
- Something else? (This is your chance—what do you say?)
The unseen presence waits. The coffee still steams. The house is listening. ☕👁️
You said:
I look to where I thnk the house’s eyes are, the spot that feels like it is watching me. I take a long, thoughtful sip of coffee. I begni to speak. “The way I see it we can both do a lot of damage to each other. That would be lost opportunity for both of us. My job, when not looking for nobles in haunted houses, is to create opportunites for myself and those I meet. I have met you. You have the body of the person I came for and I am guessing you need more in this world than my death could bring you. What I see unbridled violence and destructinon, i feel the pain of someone (or a group of someone’s) who were wroonged). While I can’t promise unending happiness. No one can. I can promise I can help you find reselution for your pain. At least the pain that keeps you from resting in peace. Tell me ablout your pain.”
ChatGPT said:
🎭 The House Listens…
The moment stretches, thick with unseen weight. The storm rumbles low in the distance, but here on the porch, everything is still.
You keep your gaze steady, focusing on that unseen point—the place where you feel its eyes. You sip the coffee slowly, deliberately, your words carefully measured, your tone that of a negotiator, not a victim.
For a long, excruciating moment, nothing happens.
Then…
☕ The second cup of coffee lifts slightly from the table.
Not much—just an inch. Held by unseen hands.
Then it lowers again.
A sound like crackling embers fills the air—a sigh.
Then the house speaks.
🎭 The House’s Pain
The voice that emerges is fractured, like many voices layered upon each other—some weeping, some angry, some whispering in hollow resignation.
“This was our home…”
The air shudders.
“We were a family once. Happy. Whole.”
A gust of wind rattles the windows. The rocking chair creaks back… then forward.
“Then… he came.”
Your rogue instincts sharpen. You don’t need to ask who. Fallow Mires.
“A man of wealth. A man of magic. He offered us gold… but took our lives.”
The whisper becomes a harsh rasp.
“He built his rituals into our bones, into our walls. He stole our faces. He fed upon our reflections. He drowned us in his horrors.”
The porch shudders slightly, the presence growing heavier, more raw.
“And when his work was done… he left us here. A prison of mirrors. A hunger we never asked for. And now… he has returned.”
🕯️ A Revelation
Your grip tightens on your cup. Fallow isn’t just your bounty.
He’s the reason this place is cursed.
And he’s still here.
Your bounty wasn’t hiding in Black Hollow Manor.
He was coming back to finish what he started.
🎲 What Do You Do?
The house is no longer your enemy. It is a victim, a survivor, a prison.
And now, it is asking for something more.
🔹 Do you offer to hunt Fallow? (Turn the bounty into justice—end what he started.)
🔹 Do you ask for more details? (Where is he? What is he planning?)
🔹 Do you try to leave? (Maybe the house will let you go now… but will you?)
🔹 Something else? (Your move, bounty hunter. The house is listening.)
The second cup of coffee remains untouched. The rocking chair moves no more.
The storm swells.
Black Hollow Manor is waiting.
You said:
I loosen my grip on the cup and sigh knowingly back to the house. “Fallow appears to be the source of a lot of pain. He is wanted for similar crimes back in the city and I have come to make him pay for those crimes and those against you. Once he is detained, I have friends who would be glad to help cleanse this place of his taint and of the dark magic tiruals he performed, They can ease your pain. We could also help you find a more permanent and honorable final resting place that he cannot touch.”
ChatGPT said:
🎭 The House Decides
The wind swirls gently through the porch, carrying the faint scent of old wood and ash. You release the tension in your grip, allowing the weight of the moment to settle—a rogue who deals in debts and opportunities, now offering justice to the dead.
For a long, silent moment, the house does not answer.
Then, the second cup of coffee moves again.
Not lifted, not tipped over. Pushed.
It slides a few inches toward you.
An offering. A gesture. A sign.
Then, in a voice that no longer feels distant, no longer layered in the screams of many, but instead singular and steady, the house speaks with purpose.
“Then it shall be done.”
🕯️ The Pact Is Made
The pressure in the air shifts. The storm still rages outside, but inside, the weight of anger and sorrow seems… more focused now. Directed.
The house has accepted your offer.
🎭 New Boon: “The House’s Favor”
- The house will not attempt to harm you.
- You will sense when you are being watched by Fallow’s magic.
- Whispers will guide you through the manor when needed.
🎭 New Objective: Hunt Fallow Mires
- Fallow is here, somewhere in the manor.
- His rituals are still active. His work is not finished.
- The house wants justice. So does Waterdeep.
As the wind dies down, the unseen presence shifts away, and the front doors creak slightly. Not open—but they no longer feel sealed. You could leave now… but should you?
🎲 What Do You Do Next?
🔹 Investigate the Manor? (Search for Fallow, find his ritual site.)
🔹 Ask the House Where He Is? (It may not know, but it may sense his presence.)
🔹 Try to Leave & Get Backup? (Return with allies, or set a trap for Fallow.)
🔹 Take the Second Cup & Drink? (The house made an offer. Do you accept?)
🔹 Something Else? (Your move, bounty hunter. The house is watching.)
The rain hammers down.
The coffee steams between you and something unseen.
Somewhere deep in the manor, Fallow Mires stirs.
You said:
I ask the house “Is it safe to take a long rest here and let myself heal before I go in after my quarry ?”
ChatGPT said:
🎭 The House Considers…
The air stirs once more, carrying the scent of old wood, damp fabric, and something faintly metallic—like rusted iron. Your question hangs in the space between you and the unseen presence.
For a moment, there is no reply. Then, the rocking chair moves again.
“No.”
The voice is steady, regretful—but firm.
“Fallow works even now. His ritual is unfinished. If you rest, he will finish it. He will leave. We will be trapped.”
A gust of cold wind blows through the porch, rattling the windows of the manor, as if emphasizing the urgency.
Then, another whisper—softer, more… personal.
“You are welcome here, bounty hunter. But you must act soon. If you delay, he will become… unstoppable.”
⚠️ Long Rest Denied – Time is Against You!
You cannot take a long rest without giving Fallow time to complete his work. If he finishes the ritual, he could:
- Escape into the city.
- Summon something worse.
- Seal the manor permanently.
- Become something far more powerful.
You may still take a SHORT REST (1 hour) if you need a quick recovery before diving deeper, but every moment lost is an advantage for Fallow.
🎲 What Do You Do Next?
🔹 Take a Short Rest? (Recover some HP & abilities, but still move quickly.)
🔹 Ask the House Where to Go? (It may guide you to Fallow’s last known location.)
🔹 Enter the Manor Now? (Strike before he finishes his work.)
🔹 Try Something Clever? (Set a trap, sabotage the ritual, or gather more intel.)
The rain hammers down.
Somewhere in the manor, Fallow Mires is running out of time.
So are you.
You said:
“Can I ask you heal the maximum health that you sapped from me?”
ChatGPT said:
🎭 The House Responds…
The wind stills. For a moment, you feel as if the entire manor itself is considering your request—weighing the debt, the pain, and the unspoken rules of this bargain.
Then, the rocking chair creaks forward, then back.
“We cannot return what was taken.”
A pause. A sigh that carries dust and regret.
“But we can offer… something else.”
The air grows warmer, just slightly—a shift from the cold, lifeless presence that filled the house before. You feel a faint pulse of energy seep into your body, not restoring what was lost, but reinforcing what remains.
🎭 The House Offers a Boon
You regain 6 HP (equal to the life it drained) but your max HP is still reduced. However…
🎭 New Boon: “The House’s Endurance”
For the duration of your hunt for Fallow:
- You have advantage on Constitution saving throws against exhaustion, poisons, or necrotic effects.
- If your HP is reduced to 0, you may remain standing for one additional round before falling unconscious.
- You feel a stronger resistance to the oppressive energy of the manor.
🎲 What Do You Do Next?
🔹 Short Rest? (Recover more HP, use Hit Dice.)
🔹 Ask the House for Guidance? (Where is Fallow now?)
🔹 Enter the Manor Now? (Strike before he finishes his work.)
🔹 Something Else? (Set a trap? Request another favor?)
You feel a little stronger. The house has given what it can.
But time is still against you.
Fallow is waiting.
You said:
I use a scroll of aid on myself.
ChatGPT said:
📜 You Use a Scroll of Aid
You pull the aged parchment from your pack, the arcane symbols glowing faintly in the dim candlelight. Whispering the incantation, you feel divine energy surge through your body, reinforcing your resolve.
✨ Spell Effect: Aid
🎭 You gain 5 temporary HP (in addition to your current HP).
🎭 Your max HP increases by 5 (this lasts for 8 hours).
The cold weight of Black Hollow Manor still lingers around you, but now, you feel stronger. More prepared.
The rocking chair shifts slightly, as if observing you. Approving.
🎲 What’s Next?
🔹 Short Rest? (Use Hit Dice for extra healing before entering.)
🔹 Ask the House for Guidance? (It may know where Fallow is now.)
🔹 Enter the Manor Now? (Strike while he is vulnerable.)
🔹 Something Else? (Set a trap? Prepare more magic? Try another trick?)
The storm rages beyond the porch.
The house is waiting.
Somewhere deep inside, Fallow Mires continues his work.
What’s your move, bounty hunter? 🎲
You said:
I eat a cookie, take a last sip, put the cup away and enter the house with my +2 reapier drawn.
ChatGPT said:
🍪☕ Final Preparations
You take a bite of the Waterdhavian cookie, savoring the buttery, spiced sweetness—a taste of civilization in a place of darkness and decay. You wash it down with a final sip of coffee, letting the warmth steady your nerves.
Then, you stand.
☕ You set the empty cup aside, packing the bottomless one away.
⚔️ You draw your +2 rapier, its keen edge catching the flickering candlelight.
🚪 You step back inside the house.
As you cross the threshold, the front door swings shut behind you… but this time, it does not slam.
The house is watching. Waiting.
🏚️ Back in Black Hollow Manor
The entry hall greets you once more—dark, dusty, and silent. The portraits lining the walls seem… different now. Before, they had been faded and dull, their subjects lifeless.
Now, their eyes gleam faintly in the dim candlelight. Not moving… but somehow more aware.
Ahead, the house stretches into long, shadowed hallways.
You Hear…
🔹 Faint, rhythmic chanting. Somewhere deep inside, Fallow is working his ritual.
🔹 A slow, dragging sound—like something heavy being pulled across wood. It’s coming from a side corridor.
🔹 The whisper of shifting fabric from the top of the grand staircase. Someone—or **something—is up there.
Your rogue instincts sharpen. You are not alone in this house.
🎲 What’s Your Next Move?
🔹 Follow the Chanting? (Head straight for Fallow, stop the ritual.)
🔹 Investigate the Dragging Sound? (Something—or someone—is moving nearby.)
🔹 Check Upstairs? (There may be threats or clues above.)
🔹 Look for an Advantage? (A hidden path, a vantage point, something useful.)
Your breath is steady. Your blade is ready.
Black Hollow Manor is waiting.
What do you do, Kzzar? 🎲
You said:
I listen carefully to see if there is a hidden or non-obvious path forward.
ChatGPT said:
🎭 Rogue’s Instinct – Listening for a Hidden Path
You still yourself, ears twitching, tail low, as you tune out the obvious sounds—the shifting whispers, the dragging, the flickering candlelight.
Instead, you listen deeper.
🎲 Rolling Perception… (You’re a rogue—keen senses are your weapon!)
(Rolling…) 🎲 23 (Natural 19 + Modifiers!)
Your ears pick up something faint… something behind the walls.
🔹 A hollow echo. The way the air moves near the far left wall of the entry hall is off. There’s a gap behind it.
🔹 Faint, muffled movement. Something shifts—subtly. A whisper of airflow where there should be none. A secret passage?
🔹 A metallic click. Somewhere low to the ground, beneath a rotting side table, you hear a mechanism.
Your eyes dart to the left wall. Beneath an ancient, moth-eaten tapestry, something feels wrong.
You kneel, brushing your claws over the baseboards, and there—a faint seam in the wood. A hidden door.
🕯️ You Have Found a Secret Passage!
It’s well-hidden, but it’s here. The air beyond feels cooler, undisturbed. A way through the walls, perhaps?
🎲 What Do You Do Next?
🔹 Try to Open It? (Check for traps first?)
🔹 Follow the Main Hall Instead? (Stick to the obvious path.)
🔹 Mark It & Investigate Later? (You may want to deal with Fallow first.)
🔹 Something Clever? (Set a trap? Use magic? Make noise to lure something out?)
The house creaks softly.
You have discovered something it didn’t mean for you to find.
Your move, bounty hunter. 🎲
You said:
I check for traps.
ChatGPT said:
🎭 Checking for Traps – Rogue’s Caution
Before touching anything, you narrow your eyes and run your claws carefully along the seam of the hidden passage. You examine the floor, the edges of the tapestry, and listen for anything… waiting.
🎲 Rolling Investigation… (You’re a rogue—this is your specialty!)
(Rolling…) 🎲 25 (Natural 17 + Expertise!)
Your instincts were right.
🔹 There is a trap. A thin, nearly invisible tripwire runs along the bottom of the hidden doorframe. If someone opens the passage carelessly, the wire would snap—and that would trigger…
🔹 A Poisoned Dart Mechanism. Behind a loose panel in the wall, you spot tiny holes—designed to fire darts laced with something nasty. The smell of old venom and rusted metal lingers faintly in the air.
🎲 What Do You Do Next?
🔹 Disarm the Trap? (You can try to disable it with Thieves’ Tools.)
🔹 Trigger It Safely? (Use an object or clever trick to set it off without harm.)
🔹 Leave It & Take Another Route? (Could use it later against enemies.)
🔹 Something Else? (Your rogue brain is clever—what’s your plan?)
The hidden path is here. But so is the danger.
Your move, Kzzar. 🎲
You said:
I disarm the trap. I roll 26 on slight of hand.
ChatGPT said:
🎭 Disarming the Trap – Rogue Precision
You kneel low, your tail flicking slightly as you pull out your Thieves’ Tools. With deft, practiced movements, you slide a thin wirehook under the tripwire, following the tension back to its source—a small, spring-loaded dart launcher buried in the wooden wall paneling.
🎲 26 Sleight of Hand – Masterwork Precision!
Your claws move like clockwork, carefully twisting a thin screw, disengaging the tension spring before it can snap.
🔹 The wire loosens. The dart mechanism deactivates.
🔹 You quietly extract a single poisoned dart, now harmless. (🔺 Loot: 1 Venom-coated Dart!)
With a soft click, the trap is disarmed.
The hidden passage is now safe to enter.
🎲 What Do You Do Next?
🔹 Enter the Hidden Passage? (See where it leads—might be a shortcut.)
🔹 Loot the Trap? (Examine the mechanism—maybe more darts?)
🔹 Listen First? (Make sure nothing is lurking inside.)
🔹 Mark It & Continue Another Way? (Come back later after more recon.)
The house is silent. But for how long?
Your move, bounty hunter. 🎲
You said:
I listen again at the trap door of the hidden passage.
ChatGPT said:
🎭 Listening at the Hidden Passage
You press your ear against the hidden door, your breath slow and controlled. Your sharp kobold senses tune in, filtering out the distant storm and the creaks of the manor itself.
🎲 Rolling Perception… (Kzzar’s rogue instincts never fail.)
(Rolling…) 🎲 24 (Natural 18 + Modifiers!)
You hear beyond the door.
🔹 Airflow. The passage is not completely sealed—there’s a way through leading somewhere else in the manor.
🔹 Stone Steps. Faint but distinct, leading downward. A basement? A hidden chamber?
🔹 Chains… shifting. Somewhere deep inside, metal links scrape against stone. Something is bound. Or waiting.
🔹 A faint voice. Whispered words, rhythmic and unnatural—arcane in nature. It’s not Fallow… but it’s something tied to him.
Whatever is beyond this passage isn’t empty.
🎲 What Do You Do Next?
🔹 Enter the Passage? (Move in slowly and stealthily.)
🔹 Wait & Observe? (See if the voice or movement gets clearer.)
🔹 Try to Identify the Chanting? (Arcana check—what magic is this?)
🔹 Take Another Route? (Avoid the unknown… for now.)
The whispering continues. The chains shift.
Something is waiting.
Your move, Kzzar. 🎲
You said:
I stealth down the passage rolling a 17. I am keeping aware for traps and ambushes. My passive perception is 10.
ChatGPT said:
🎭 Stealthing into the Hidden Passage
With your rapier in hand, you press your small kobold frame low, moving like a shadow slipping through cracks in reality. The hidden door opens soundlessly, revealing a narrow stone corridor behind the walls—old, cold, and untouched by time.
🎲 Stealth Check: 17 (Respectable, but not perfect—let’s see what awaits!)
The passage descends downward, stone steps leading into dim, heavy darkness. The air thickens, the scent of damp stone and old iron filling your nostrils. You keep your ears sharp and your tail low, listening for movement.
🔹 Trap Detection: Your passive Perception is 10, but you’re actively watching for danger. Rolling Investigation…
(Rolling…) 🎲 16
As you descend, your sharp kobold eyes catch a disturbance in the dust.
🔺 Trap Found: A Pressure Plate.
🔹 Trigger: A loose stone near the bottom of the stairs.
🔹 Effect: You spot small holes in the wall—dart launchers? Or worse?
Stopping just in time, you halt your step before triggering it.
🔗 Something Else…
Beyond the trapped stairwell, the whispering voice grows clearer. It is low and guttural, unnatural, like someone speaking through stone and water.
🎭 Do you want to disarm the trap… or go around it?
🎲 What’s Your Move?
🔹 Disarm the Trap? (Carefully disable it—Thieves’ Tools check.)
🔹 Leap Over It? (Risk a Dexterity Check to bypass quickly.)
🔹 Trigger It Safely? (Use an object to set it off from a safe distance.)
🔹 Turn Back? (Reconsider your approach—too risky?)
The chains shift again in the distance.
The chanting deepens.
Something knows you’re here.
What’s your move, Kzzar? 🎲
You said:
I disarm it
ChatGPT said:
🎭 Disarming the Trap – Rogue’s Precision
You crouch low, claws working with practiced ease as you pull out your Thieves’ Tools once more. The pressure plate is old, but functional, its trigger mechanism buried beneath the loose stone.
🎲 Rolling Thieves’ Tools Check… (Dexterity + Proficiency)
(Rolling…) 🎲 27 (Natural 18 + Expertise!)
You move like clockwork, delicately wedging your tools beneath the stone, finding the trigger wire, and…
💡 Click. The mechanism disengages.
You remove the tension pin, rendering the trap useless. A faint dusty hiss follows—a set of hidden darts, now jammed, locked in their firing tubes.
🔺 Trap Disarmed! You are free to move forward safely.
🔗 Deeper into the Passage…
As you step past the disarmed trap, the whispering chanting grows clearer. The stone passage opens into a low-ceilinged chamber, dimly lit by flickering blue-green light.
🔹 A Magic Circle. At the center of the room, arcane symbols pulse faintly, drawn in chalk and blood.
🔹 A Bound Figure. A humanoid shape, shackled and kneeling inside the circle, face obscured by a black cloth hood. The chains rattle weakly.
🔹 The Whispering Voice. The chanting comes from the air itself, as if embedded into the walls of the room. It is not coming from the figure.
Then you realize—
🎭 The magic is reacting to your presence.
The glowing symbols shift, as if turning toward you.
What do you do, Kzzar? 🎲
🔹 Investigate the Magic Circle? (Arcana Check—what kind of spell is this?)
🔹 Check the Bound Figure? (Who—or what—is shackled inside?)
🔹 Disrupt the Circle? (Scratch out the runes, break the ritual.)
🔹 Wait & Observe? (See if something happens next.)
🔹 Something Else? (A rogue always has options.)
The air hums. The chains rattle.
The magic is aware of you.
What’s your next move, bounty hunter? 🎲
You said:
Do I recognize the bound figure?
ChatGPT said:
🎭 Recognizing the Bound Figure
Your eyes narrow as you study the hooded, shackled figure in the center of the magic circle. The chains rattle softly, but they don’t seem to be pulling against you. The figure is still, either unconscious or too weak to move.
🎲 Rolling Perception… (Can Kzzar recognize them?)
(Rolling…) 🎲 19 (Strong roll!)
🔹 Clothing: The figure wears fine but torn noble’s robes, dark green with gold embroidery.
🔹 Build: Thin, frail, but human.
🔹 Hands: You spot rings on the bound figure’s fingers—one of them matches the noble seal of House Mires.
🔹 Breathing: Shallow. The figure is alive, but barely.
💡 This is Fallow Mires.
🎭 What Does This Mean?
Fallow is alive but bound within the magic circle. This raises big questions:
- Who put him here? If he was performing the ritual, why would he be inside the binding instead of outside controlling it?
- What is this magic doing to him?
- If he is the prisoner… who is the jailer?
🎭 A chilling thought creeps into your mind.
🔹 The chanting hasn’t stopped.
🔹 It isn’t coming from Fallow.
🔹 The magic in the room is reacting to you, like a living thing.
Somewhere in the flickering shadows of the passageway, you hear something shift.
Something besides Fallow.
🎲 What Do You Do Next?
🔹 Investigate the Magic Circle? (Arcana check—what kind of magic is this?)
🔹 Try to Wake Fallow? (See if he can answer questions.)
🔹 Disrupt the Circle? (Break the ritual—but is that wise?)
🔹 Turn & Check the Room? (Something else is here—what is it?)
🔹 Something Else? (Think outside the box, rogue.)
Fallow is bound. The ritual is still active. And you are not alone.
What’s your next move, Kzzar? 🎲
You said:
I ask the house “Who else is here?”.
ChatGPT said:
🎭 “Who Else Is Here?” – The House Responds
The air in the chamber shifts, heavy and slow, like the deep exhale of something unseen. Your voice echoes off the stone walls, the words absorbed into the darkness.
For a long moment, there is no answer.
Then…
A whisper.
Soft. Regretful. But warning.
“The one who made us…”
A faint gust of wind brushes past you, carrying the smell of burnt incense and decayed flesh.
Then—
The chanting stops.
🎭 Something in the darkness breathes.
🎭 The Realization – You Are Not Alone
Your scales prickle. The magic in the room no longer feels like a distant force.
It feels like a presence.
And then—
From the shadows of the far corner, something moves.
A figure steps forward.
Not Fallow.
Not bound.
Not human.
🕯️ You See… Him.
A tall, emaciated man, his form half-faded, wrapped in dark ceremonial robes that drift like shadows bleeding into the air. His face is gaunt, skeletal, his mouth curled in an inhuman grin. His eyes are pits of swirling darkness, and his fingers end in long, blackened claws.
He does not walk—he glides.
And when he speaks, his voice carries the weight of centuries.
“I was waiting for you.”
🔹 His presence warps the air.
🔹 The magic circle flares brighter, as if responding to him.
🔹 Fallow remains motionless—helpless.
🎭 This is the true enemy.
🎲 What Do You Do Next?
🔹 Stand Your Ground & Speak? (“Who… or what are you?”)
🔹 Attack Immediately? (Rapier strike, no hesitation.)
🔹 Disrupt the Circle? (Could break the ritual—but at what cost?)
🔹 Flee & Regroup? (You are a rogue—you know when to reposition.)
🔹 Something Else? (You are clever. You are fast. What’s your play, Kzzar?)
The dark-robed figure smiles.
And then—
He raises one hand.
What’s your next move, bounty hunter? 🎲
You said:
What are the walls of this room made of?
ChatGPT said:
🎭 Examining the Room’s Walls
Your keen kobold eyes flicker to the walls, analyzing every detail in an instant. You don’t just see the room itself—you see a way out, a way to use it, a way to turn this place into a weapon.
🎲 Rolling Investigation… (You’re a rogue—your survival depends on knowing your surroundings!)
(Rolling…) 🎲 21 (Success!)
🔹 Wall Material:
- The walls are ancient stone, dark and damp, carved by hands long dead.
- Some sections show cracks—the foundation is not perfect.
- The stones are held together with old mortar, weakened in some places.
🔹 Possible Weak Points:
- To the left, a deep vertical crack runs from floor to ceiling—a weak point in the stonework.
- To the right, you see a section of bricks that look slightly different—a sealed-off passage, maybe?
- Near the magic circle, the stone seems reinforced, likely due to the ritual’s influence.
🔹 Potential Uses for the Environment:
- Break the Weak Point: A **strong enough strike (or explosion?) could damage the left wall, maybe even cause a partial collapse.
- Use the Shadows: The cracks and uneven stone create deep shadows—perfect for stealth if you need to reposition.
- Check the Sealed Passage: The bricked-over section might lead somewhere else. If you could break through or find the mechanism that seals it, you might have an escape or tactical advantage.
🎭 The Dark Figure Watches You
The cloaked, skeletal figure tilts his head, as if sensing your assessment of the room.
“Looking for a way out?” His voice is like cold iron scraping against stone.
He raises his hand slightly. The air tightens. The circle’s glow pulses.
Something is about to happen.
🎲 What’s Your Next Move?
🔹 Attack First? (A preemptive strike before he acts.)
🔹 Dodge & Take Cover? (Use the stonework’s shadows to disappear.)
🔹 Break the Weak Wall? (Try to cause a distraction or create an opening.)
🔹 Examine the Bricked Passage? (Find another route?)
🔹 Something Else? (Kzzar is clever—what’s your play?)
The room trembles. The ritual is still active.
And the figure is about to make his move.
What do you do, bounty hunter? 🎲
You said:
“Enough” I shout. “I didn’t come here for this. I came for him,” Pointing to Fallow. “He is a bad dude. I am sure you are worse, but I am not here for you. Killing me will only bring more attention to this location. My Associate, Mr. Niss knows exactly where I am. He knows when I am due back. You eventually will attract enough attention to bring about the end of this place. Or you could just let me take Fallow to justice and I forget this place exists. Option 1 we both die. Option 2 we both live and Fallow pays for his crimes. Do you really want to be the cause of your own demise?”
ChatGPT said:
🎭 The Negotiation – A Rogue’s Gambit
Your voice cuts through the chamber, firm and unyielding. You point to Fallow, the weight of your words crashing against the darkness.
The robed figure pauses.
The ritual light flickers.
For a long, agonizing moment, the thing does not speak. Then…
A low, chilling chuckle.
“You think me afraid of mortals?”
The shadowed figure steps closer, his form shifting unnaturally, like a flame bending in the wind.
But…
He hasn’t attacked.
He is listening.
🎭 The Dark Figure’s Response
He glances toward Fallow Mires, his void-like eyes narrowing.
“You mistake me, bounty hunter. I do not protect him.”
A thin, clawed hand gestures toward the bound noble.
“I keep him. He is mine.”
A low hum pulses through the chamber—the magic in the walls responding to his presence.
Then, for the first time, his expression changes.
Not mockery.
Not cruelty.
But calculation.
🎭 The Stakes Have Changed
The dark figure folds his hands behind his back, tilting his head slightly.
“You are clever. But you are wrong about one thing.”
The air presses in around you. The shadows seem to twist.
“You think this place is a secret.”
A faint whisper rises from the walls, as if a hundred unseen mouths were speaking at once.
“I want them to come.”
The words slither down your spine like ice.
Then, a flicker of amusement crosses his skeletal face.
“But your logic is… amusing. A trade, then. Convince me, bounty hunter.”
His blackened fingers gesture toward Fallow.
“What is his suffering worth to you?”
🎭 Negotiation Has Begun!
🎲 You must convince the entity to let you take Fallow Mires.
You can offer something, bargain, or find a way to twist this deal to your favor.
🎲 Your Options
🔹 Offer Information? (Does this entity want knowledge, secrets, or something only you know?)
🔹 Offer Something Physical? (An item, a contract, a trade?)
🔹 Try to Outsmart It? (Find a loophole in its words—how does it benefit from Fallow being taken?)
🔹 Threaten or Bluff? (Make it seem like taking Fallow is in its best interest.)
🔹 Something Else? (You’re a rogue—creativity is your best weapon.)
The figure waits.
The ritual circle pulses softly.
Fallow remains silent and bound.
What do you do, Kzzar? 🎲
You said:
Do I think this entity is part of the house or separate from the entity I negotiated with on the porch.
ChatGPT said:
🎭 Is This Entity Part of the House? Or Something Else?
You steady your breath, analyzing every word, every movement, every shift in the unnatural air. Your instincts scream at you to read between the lines.
🎲 Rolling Insight… (How much can Kzzar piece together?)
(Rolling…) 🎲 23 (Excellent!)
🔹 This entity is separate from the house. The presence you negotiated with on the porch felt different—a lingering spirit of pain, loss, and regret tied to Black Hollow Manor. It wanted justice. It wanted peace.
🔹 This creature is something older. Something powerful, calculated, and amused by suffering. It is not bound to the house—it is bound to Fallow.
🔹 It doesn’t care about the manor’s fate. While the house’s entity saw Fallow as a corrupter, this thing sees him as a possession. A tool. A meal.
🔹 This was never about keeping Fallow safe. It’s about keeping Fallow trapped.
🎭 You realize the truth.
You are not bargaining with the house.
You are bargaining with Fallow’s jailer.
🎭 What This Means
The entity has no reason to fight you—unless you try to take what it considers its own.
But now, you have an advantage:
The house itself does not want this thing here.
If you can pit the two entities against each other, you might turn this into a three-way conflict instead of a one-on-one fight.
Or… you find a way to convince this thing that taking Fallow benefits it.
🎲 What Do You Do With This Information?
🔹 Tell the House What’s Happening? (See if your first ally will act.)
🔹 Bargain With the Entity? (Convince it that letting you take Fallow benefits it.)
🔹 Disrupt the Magic Circle? (Break the connection between Fallow and the entity?)
🔹 Bluff or Trick It? (You’re a rogue—what’s its weakness?)
🔹 Something Else? (Your mind is sharp—what’s your play, Kzzar?)
The dark-robed entity watches.
It is waiting to see what you offer.
The game has changed. What’s your next move, bounty hunter? 🎲
You said:
Two questions. First question. “What is Fallow to you?”
ChatGPT said:
🎭 Question One: “What is Fallow to You?”
The entity’s grin widens, the shadowed edges of its gaunt face twisting slightly, as if it found the question amusing.
“A vessel. A conduit. A fool.”
The words are spoken like a verdict, not a statement.
Then, after a brief pause, it tilts its head slightly, considering.
“He is my door.”
The magic circle pulses faintly, as if responding to that truth.
🎭 What This Reveals:
🔹 This thing is using Fallow, not protecting him. It sees him as a means to an end.
🔹 “A door” implies that the ritual isn’t finished. If it completes, something worse might come through.
🔹 Fallow might not be in control at all. He could be possessed, manipulated, or worse—partially consumed.
🔹 If the entity loses Fallow, it loses its anchor to this plane.
You’ve learned something valuable.
🎲 What’s Your Second Question?
Now that you know Fallow is just a pawn, what do you want to ask next?
🔹 What does the ritual do? (Find out what happens if it completes.)
🔹 What does it want? (If it has a goal, maybe you can disrupt it.)
🔹 How did Fallow summon it? (The source of its power might be vulnerable.)
🔹 What happens if I take him? (Force it to reveal its limits.)
🔹 Something else? (You are a cunning rogue—what do you really want to know?)
The entity waits, its expression unreadable.
But you see something shift in its stance.
It is watching you very closely now.
Your next question might decide everything. 🎲
You said:
To gain advantage on my attack I use my Grovel Action to give myself advantage. I my best acting, I grovel “please don’t kill me or make me a part this. I will leave.” When I feel I have him distracted I use my +2 Short bow to attack rolling a 17. On a hit I will do 19 damage to Fallow (12 points of piercing damage and 7 sneak attack.
ChatGPT said:
🎭 The Rogue’s Deception – A Deadly Feint
The moment stretches, thick with tension and unnatural stillness. The entity watches you, its expression unreadable, its body flickering at the edges like a candle about to go out.
Then—
You drop to your knees, lowering your head, forcing your voice into trembling submission.
“Please… don’t kill me! I don’t want any part of this. I’ll leave!”
Your clawed hands tremble. Your voice quivers.
🎲 Rolling Deception… (To sell the act and make the entity drop its guard!)
(Rolling…) 🎲 25 (Masterful Performance!)
The entity stops moving.
For the first time, its head tilts in curiosity.
It believes you.
💀 The Moment of the Kill
As soon as you feel its attention shift, you move.
Faster than thought.
Your small kobold hands flicker with trained precision, drawing your +2 shortbow in a single motion. Not at the entity.
At Fallow.
🎯 Attack Roll: 17 – Hit! (Fallow is bound, helpless, and unaware—he cannot dodge!)
🗡️ Damage: 19 (12 piercing + 7 sneak attack!)
The arrow whistles through the air.
It strikes Fallow’s chest, sinking deep—straight into the noble’s heart.
His body convulses, a strangled gasp escaping his lips, his fingers clawing weakly at the wound.
Then—
The magic circle flickers violently, the runes spasming as if in protest.
The entity’s face twists.
Not in anger.
Not in rage.
In surprise.
🎭 The Ritual Breaks
The robed figure steps forward sharply, reaching out with a clawed hand— but it is too late.
The magic circle fractures, the runes shattering like glass. The air in the chamber twists violently, a terrible howling sound ripping through reality itself.
Fallow gurgles one last breath, his body twitching violently as the arcane energy unravels from him.
And then—
The dark-robed figure is yanked backward, violently, as if by an unseen force.
Its eyes widen. Its form flickers.
And for the first time, it speaks not in arrogance… but in panic.
“No. No! The gate—!”
The entity screams.
A rushing void swallows the chamber, tendrils of black mist ripping through the air.
And then—
The robed figure is gone.
The circle is gone.
And Fallow Mires is dead.
🎭 The Silence After
The storm rages outside.
The house is silent.
You are breathing hard, heart hammering in your chest, the taste of old incense and blood thick in the air.
Then—
A whisper.
Not from a demon. Not from an enemy.
From the house.
“…It is done.”
The air shifts, the weight lifting.
The house is free.
And so are you.
🎲 What Do You Do Next?
🔹 Search Fallow’s Body? (See if he carried anything valuable or incriminating.)
🔹 Leave the Manor? (The house no longer holds you here.)
🔹 Contact Your Allies? (Your associate, Mr. Niss, is expecting your return.)
🔹 Burn the Body? (Just to be safe…)
🔹 Something Else? (You are a rogue—what’s your final move?)
The job is done.
But what you do next will define the story they tell about you.
What’s your final move, Kzzar? 🎲
You said:
I ask the house if I can take the body (proof of death) and if there things that don’t belong here, but the house wants to go with me/Fallow.
ChatGPT said:
🎭 The House Responds…
The air around you feels different now—lighter, no longer weighed down by unseen sorrow and malice. You speak into the silence, making your final bargain:
“Can I take the body? I need proof of his death.”
For a moment, the house does not answer.
Then, the whisper returns, no longer layered with pain and anger.
“He is yours to take. He was never truly ours.”
The body of Fallow Mires is released. The unseen grip of the ritual magic is gone, and now he is just a corpse, just another dead noble who thought himself untouchable.
Then, you ask one last question—a rogue’s final test of fate.
“Is there anything else here that doesn’t belong? Something you want me to take…?”
The whisper is silent for longer this time.
Then—
A soft creak.
Behind you, a drawer slides open in the old wooden desk near the room’s entrance.
You turn, stepping carefully, and find a single item inside.
🎁 The House’s Final Gift
Inside the drawer, lying in a bed of dust, is:
🔹 A Small, Blackened Mirror Shard.
At first, it looks like nothing—just a broken sliver of an old mirror.
But as you hold it up to the dim light…
🔹 Your reflection does not move.
🔹 It watches. It waits.
🔹 Something inside it still lingers.
Then the house whispers one last thing.
“It is not of this place. But it is still… bound. Be wary.”
The shard is yours now. But what will you do with it?
🎲 Final Choices
🔹 Take Fallow’s Body & Leave? (The job is done. Return to the city.)
🔹 Keep the Mirror Shard? (You may need to learn more about it.)
🔹 Destroy the Mirror Shard? (Is it worth the risk keeping it?)
🔹 Investigate the Manor One Last Time? (Are you truly done here?)
🔹 Something Else? (A rogue always has a final move.)
The storm outside is calming.
The house is still watching.
Your story is nearly complete.
What is Kzzar Basura’s final act in Black Hollow Manor? 🎲
You said:
I wrap the shard in cloth, being careful not to touch the reflect surface.
ChatGPT said:
🎭 Securing the Mirror Shard
You kneel carefully, pulling a soft cloth from your pack. With practiced precision, you lift the mirror shard without letting your skin touch the reflective surface.
🔹 It is cold. Unnaturally so.
🔹 The reflection remains still. Watching. Waiting.
🔹 You feel… nothing. But some deep part of you knows it is not just glass.
With deliberate movements, you wrap the shard tightly, securing it in your pack.
It is no longer in sight.
But you know it is still there.
🎲 What Do You Do Next?
🔹 Take Fallow’s Body & Leave? (Return to the city—your job is done.)
🔹 Burn the Body First? (Just in case. Dead things don’t always stay dead.)
🔹 Leave the Shard Here? (Maybe it’s best left behind.)
🔹 Something Else? (A rogue always has options.)
The house is quiet now.
It has let you take what you asked for.
The only question left is… what do you do next? 🎲
You said:
I load Fallow’s body onto my cart. I then head out for Waterdeep.
ChatGPT said:
🎭 Leaving Black Hollow Manor
With the storm finally breaking, you drag Fallow’s lifeless body out of the cursed manor, your small kobold frame moving with practiced efficiency. The house no longer fights you—it has released its claim on this place.
🔹 The air feels lighter. The unseen oppression that weighed on you when you entered is gone.
🔹 The rocking chairs on the porch are still now. No movement. No whispers. Just abandoned furniture, swaying in the breeze.
🔹 The doors do not slam shut behind you. They remain open, as if the manor itself is exhaling a final breath.
The cart creaks as you heave Fallow’s corpse onto it. His once-pristine noble robes are stained with blood, his hand still curled slightly as if grasping at life.
You glance once more at the manor.
It is silent. Watching.
Then, without another word, you snap the reins and begin the long road back to Waterdeep.
🎭 The Road Back
🌙 The moon is high, casting long shadows on the road. The storm is behind you now, leaving the night cool and quiet.
🎭 You carry two things with you:
🔹 Proof of Fallow’s death—your bounty, your payment.
🔹 A mystery wrapped in cloth—the mirror shard.
The question is which one will bring you more trouble?
As you ride through the darkened countryside, you can’t help but check your pack.
🎭 The mirror shard remains silent. Wrapped. Untouched.
But for the briefest moment…
You swear you hear a whisper from inside.
“Soon.”
🎲 The End… For Now.
🎭 You have completed the solo horror one-shot: The Haunting of Black Hollow Manor! 🎭
🏆 Final Outcome:
- Fallow Mires is dead, and you have his body as proof of the bounty.
- The house is free, but something darker lingers.
- You possess a cursed mirror shard. Its purpose… remains unknown.