As you probably already know, the YMIAT crew just announced that I won their first contest ever, entitled Can You Scare Us? I can say almost without hubris or sarcasm that my contest entry, A Lord's Dying Wish, is probably the scariest thing you'll ever read. Download this wholly-original (giant typo included) PDF document, If you dare!

Well, maybe it's not that scary. And okay, sure, you found me out--I had only one other entry to compete with in this contest (and there were two prizes, so we both won).

Despite the lack of entries, I'm thrilled to have won, and I think the adventure I outlined has serious horror potential with the right DM. These are the reasons why.

Contrasting Highs and Lows

While no players really believe that their DM isn't coiled to spring a horrible monster into their faces at all times, I tried hard to make the opening situation very different from the usual adventure kick-off, hoping to make the adventure that much scarier and surprising when it got rolling. I tried to contrast the peace talks and a night of merry-making with the sudden onset of an ultimate enemy, but things are much worse than they seem...

When I designed Lord Rondin (the villain), I also wanted to contrast the gentle wisdom of the elves with unspeakable acts of cannibalistic murder. If I had had more space I would have statted out his wife, Lady Elsabeth, as an unsatiable, bestial flesh-devourer, still in her evening finery.

Atmosphere

I wanted to create an environment of fear, anxiety, and unnatural horror with A Lord's Dying Wish.

The Grand Hall of Kintorin is a labyrinth of stone halls, wooden tunnels, a hundred doors, and open-air skylights--the perfect place for a dozen or so mostly-unarmed peace-talk delegates to be stuck with the mutated spawn of evil for a full day. The stone airways from chamber to chamber would allow faint screams, scratchings and shufflings, and rhythmic, unceasing thumping and tearing sounds to be heard. Scrawlings in ink and blood could cover the walls. Doors could be slammed.

Behind every door could be other delegates that need help, infected delegates that may turn on the PCs, or Lord Rondin and his 'children.'

Familiar, but Twisted

Nothing I offered in A Lord's Dying Wish is new, but everything familiar has been twisted at least a little. For example, the common "tavern" scene of merrymaking at the beginning would have a shadow of mistrust and pomp surrounding it that few adventurers would have experienced before (and may mislead the players into believing that the real adventure will come the following day when the peace talks begin). The PCs are armed, but the peace talks forbid them anything larger than daggers in the Grand Hall (they'll have to find better weapons if they're to battle the dark spore).

Most importantly, though, I really wanted the villains to be twisted and horrific, but undenidably familiar and human (or Elven, in this case); I wanted to hit the very bottom curve of the uncanny valley. 

Despite Lord Rondin's mutations he is still calm, reassuring, and fatherly--he's still the old friend that the other delegates have known well for years--and even as he drills his terrible new tongue into an exposed neck or cheek or stomach he explains his quiet desire for everyone to join his family in peace.

But that's just me...

I've only played in one horror game, and while elements of horror have been in every game I've run, I've never DMed a full-fledged horror-themed adventure, or even a session. I'm sure many of you reading this have a great RPG horror story to share, or some tips to throw out, and I'd be happy to hear them (along with everyone else reading this).

Happy gaming, and happy Halloween.