Ettercaps Traps
Ettercaps (the spindly evil woodfolk) are always good for traps: their pine woods are so dense it's difficult to see what's a trap, what's a branch and what's an ettercap...
Needlefall: The unfortunate character trips over a hidden wire and sends reams of pine needles cascading down over himself and the party. Well, pine needles interspersed with real, sharp ones dipped with spider-venom. Such traps take a long time to set up, and are not very useful: it takes ages to pull the needles out of a carcass for eating. It's mainly a sadistic streak in the Ettercaps which makes them use device like this.
Groinpiercer: This unpleasant ettercap trap is a simple long, sharpened branch tied to string which runs over another branch and then down onto a concealed trigger (a snare under some leaves or something similar). The character steps on the snare which then lifts the branch swiftly into place, with the horrifying eponymous results...
Pool of Fetor: A combination which at first appears harmless, but after a little while you realise the appalling cunning of the Fetor trap. A small boggy area is concealed under leaves, like a clagged-up pool. When a player puts her foot in it it releases an awful stench which clings to her clothes and feet. All very amusing no doubt. But the Ettercaps have spiked this natural pool with Fetor, their fear-induced secretion (like sweat), which naturally attracts Hazurgi, the vicious wolf-like inhabitants of that part of the forest. They will come looking for terrified Ettercaps, but finding puny humans will be just as appetising...
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? Responses (8)
Good solid Ephe! post. Again two paws up.
Now can you write up the species as a lifeform?
Three nice trap ideas. And they're for outdoors! bravo.
This may need to be a scroll, and it could certainly use an expansion. A change of title may be nice as well, considering Ettercaps aren't that well known, especially since we don't all play D&D. Well that, or you could put them up in the life forms, preferably with a twist.
Yeah, I wouldn't mind see a writeup of the Ettercap. Just as long as it isn't straight outta the MM. If I remember they didn't go into to much depth on them.
I agree with Roack that it would be nice to have more of them, but it is still a good idea.
A good triplet of pain...
yep, I always liked this one too. So simple, yet useful and quirky.
The Pool of Fetor one is clever. The Groinpiercer is basically just a standard spear trap, no? And I don't really get the Needlefall. The general theme, however - nature-based traps - has a good flavor. I'd like to see this expanded.