Hamlet is arguable the most well know piece of theatre in
the modern era. Given my natural theatrical proclivities I was most interested
when our dear Pincushion announced that our next subject would be our dear
Danish Prince. I wasn’t quite sure at first what direction to travel in as the
obvious was so deeply enticing. There is a prevalence of death and undeath in
that play that with just a little redirection could be a most profound gaming
experience.
However my thoughts are forever on the strange and absurd
and that was just too obvious for me. Nevermind the fine job others would do
with that theme.
No, no. I would walk on paths less travelled and instead
play with the “Play within the Play”.
For those unfamiliar with the play. There is a point when
Hamlet hires a troupe of actors to perform a piece that is filled with the same
details of his Uncle’s crimes. It is in his Uncle’s reactions that he finds
guilt and eventually vengeance.
So how will one put this forth into the context of our
favorite hobby?
A haunt.
Obviously.
The Play (CR 6)
XP 2,400
Alignment and Aura:
LE (30’ by 30’ stage in the round)
Notice: DC 18
Linguistics or Knowledge (History) check to recognize the lines from the play
being whispered in their ears.
Weakness: tricked
by invisibility
Trigger:
Proximity, Advanced Version triggered by Character with a secret.
HP: 12 Reset: 24 hours
Effect: All caught within the haunt who fail a DC 19) will
save begin to act out a scene from an ancient play about a savage murder. After
being attacked a new will save is allowed to break the effect. One effected
character (selected at random) will attack each other effected creature until
they are all dead or make their will saves. If however there is a character
with a secret the haunt will always choose that character. The play itself will
become a playing out of the details of their secret and they will feel
compelled to silence the others caught in the haunt violently.
This is brilliant! As an actor who games with a few actors, I really want to use this now!
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