Curse of the Chicken-Foot Witch
Adventures in the Mucklands · p.5
Open source p.5adventure tone: hijinks
A fun, goofy, and lighthearted Level 1+ adventure
(The Muppets / Labyrinth / Adventure Time).
Maps (1)
Sections (9)
background p.6
As if there wasn't enough trouble and turmoil in the Mucklands realm, rumor has it that an infamous witch is wreaking havoc in the Used T'Be Forest. Making matters worse, the local folk hero dedicated to ending the witch's reign of terror has gone missing. With no one left to stop her, Chara the Chicken-Foot Witch has petrified the locals with fear. As for the hero, a gnome named L. Dorothy Sandwich, she was last seen at the local watering hole, Wally's Waffles and Weorgs.
notable npcs p.6
Wally's Waffles and Weorgs is full of characters, all with something to say about Chara the Chicken-Foot Witch.
L. DOROTHY SANDWICH
Transformed into a muskrat, Dorothy is eating a stack of pancakes with a knife and fork when the PCs arrive at Wally's. Despite her predicament, she maintains an upbeat attitude, although she's worried that she's becoming more muskrat than gnome as time goes on. She has a strong, disconcerting urge to go to River Country and build herself a lodge made of sticks.
- Traits: Bubbly, optimistic, whistles through her teeth when talking.
- Motivation: Get her lost wand and reverse Chara's curses. “I'm L. Dorothy Sandwich, the gnome—or, at least, I was a gnome. Chara cursed me! Changed me into a muskrat! And, worse yet, stole my Wand of Decursification!” “If you really want to help, you'll get it back and we can sort out all this cursing business.” “Chara is jealous and cruel but I'm sure there's still good in her, deep down. She's just lost her way.” "A word of warning... not everything or everyone in her lair are as they seem. Beware her curses!”
WALLY DUNKWHIFFLE
Owner and operator, Wally is a burly, scruffy little guy and former Though standing just 4 foot 1 inch, his mirth and melancholy are gigantic. A beloved local figure, Wally is friends with everyone. Well, almost everyone. He's made more than his fair share of enemies too.
- Traits: Friendly, boisterous, deceptively tough.
- Motivation: Enjoy a long, uneventful retirement, passing on his restaurant to someone like himself. “That old hag? Yeesh. Just the thought of her gives me the willies. You're in for a heap of trouble if you expect to waltz out of her house in one piece.”
HAPPY DUNSTON
The quintessential barfly, Happy generally only leaves his stool at the bar to hit the can. He's a generous spirit, and well-liked by just about everybody, being the only patron to ever finish Wally's Howling Hot Challenge without whistling beef.
- Traits: Cheerful, welcoming, competitive.
- Motivation: Make friends and knock back some rascal cider.
- “Trust me, you don't want to get mixed up with witches,” Happy says, as if experienced in the matter. “Not that I would know, or anything. But I hear a witch's curse is a heck of a thing.”
KARL THE GOBLIN MINER
A gruff, bearded goblin with a perpetual squint. Karl has been delving into tunnels and caves for years and knows a thing or two about the Underlands. Traits: Curt, covered in soot, things were always better “back when.” Motivation: Work hard and earn an honest living.
- “I seen her with my own eyes! I tell ya, I almost thought she was a harpy with those fat chicken feet! She gave ol' Guster Winselm the stink eye and he's had bad luck ever since.”
RONNY THE PROP COMIC
A spindly boggart standing at the bar with a pair of clown shoes, a flower on his lapel, and pipe with bubbles coming out of it. Ronny is a local comedian shooting for the stars. Traits: Gregarious, self-deprecating, sheepish around corporate types. Motivation: Become a comedic star and one day make it to Harp's Edge. “Hey, why couldn't the witch read her spell book? It was written in curse-ive! Sheesh! Tough crowd. Maybe I'm cursed myself. I haven't gotten a laugh all week. How's about you use that wand on me and cure my bad case of the unfunnies?" PIRATE.
TABITHA THE RASCAL
A cunning, silver-haired lady of River Country. Tabitha is a rascal of Rascalton, and well-versed in the whispering hearsay and rumors of the Mucklands underworld.
- Traits: Streetwise, talks under her breath, shares rumors.
- Motivation: Pull off an impressive corporate heist. “Sure, I've heard of Chara. They say she accidentally cursed herself while makin' up a potion of beauty. Never was the same after that. Turned sour inside, so now she curses everyone else for laughs. “
ROGRAM THE TROLL
A hulking bridge troll from the Drippy Downs with shaggy, yellow hair and tusks the size of trumpets. Rogram is on his way to a bridge tolling seminar in the town of Thurf. Traits: Inquisitive, gentle giant, big burper. Motivation: Improve himself through education to expand his burgeoning bridge tolling business. “I don't know about no witch, but I do know Dorothy. Just last spring I had a serious leech infestation under my bridge and she helped me out. They don't call her Leechbane Dorothy Sandwich for nothin'!”
the hook p.6
L. Dorothy Sandwich (the L. is for Leechbane) is a gnome of considerable power who Chara the Chicken-Foot Witch has cursed. She's been turned into an oily muskrat and needs help lifting the curse. Dorothy asks the PCs to travel to Chara's hovel in The Crack and steal back her Wand of Decursification, so she can turn back into a gnome.
where the pcs come in... p.6
Stepping into Wally's Waffles and Weorgs is an odd experience. Though it promises good old-fashioned family fun, the tavern looks more like a den of rascals, ruffians and scallywags. But hey, the waffles are great! Except you are not here for waffles. You are here to find L. Dorothy Sandwich, having gotten word that the gnome folk hero is missing. However, scanning the room, there doesn't appear to be any gnomes here.
lair of the chicken-foot witch p.8
Getting to the Dungeon
- The Lair of the Chicken-Foot Witch is located 5 hexes away from Wally's Waffles and Weorgs (24.9) in The Crack (23.4).
- Traveling there requires the Random Encounters Table.
Outside the Dungeon
- Located inside The Crack, a huge fissure in the earth, the Lair of the Chicken-Foot Witch is reached via a long winding staircase shoddily hewn from the rock.
the chicken-foot witch p.8
Chara the Chicken-Foot Witch was once a beautiful dancer but always jealous of others. In time, her passion for dance was overshadowed by a desire for the misfortune of her contemporaries. She dedicated herself to sabotaging, undoing, and denigrating her rivals for years, until one fateful day when looking in the mirror she did not recognize herself. She was wrinkled and haggard with frown lines and hadn't even danced in years. Compelled to return to the stage, Chara delved into the darkest, most unseemly witchcraft, to create a potion that would grant her beauty again. But, after months of toiling over bubbles and cauldrons, the potion was an utter disaster. Now hideously transmogrified with gnarled and knobby chicken feet, and too clumsy to be a dancer, Chara the Chicken-Foot Witch is out to make the rest of the Mucklands as miserable as herself.
The Villain's Plan
Already a cruel and dastardly person, Chara's plight made her even crueler. Instead of using her considerable powers for good, she's chosen to curse as many people as she can, because if she can't be happy, why should anyone else? When it comes to L. Dorothy Sandwich, Chara could think of no one who makes her skin crawl more. So, she turned the gnome into a pitiful muskrat. Truthfully, however, Chara is filled with jealous rage because Sandwich is the embodiment of everything good and happy in the world, not to mention those infuriatingly nimble, magic feet.
parleying with chara p.9
When confronted by intruding PCs, Chara is likely surprised and defensive. However, she is not inherently evil. Chara is actually just jealous and unhappy, believing she'll feel better if she brings down everyone around her by cursing them. Deep down, Chara wishes she was still a beautiful dancer and feels guilty for cursing other dancers so she could be the best. Sadly, she believes the damage is done, her redemption is too late, and she has no choice but to play the part of a dastardly, mischievous witch.
- If the PCs try to fight Chara or steal the wand, she tries to curse them for ruining her fun.
- If the PCs appeal to Chara's vanity, convincing her that she is, in fact, beautiful, Chara softens and acquiesces to their desires. She may even develop a new crush!
- If the PCs appeal to Chara's desire to be a dancer, reminding her of her old life and her love of dancing, Chara lightens up and regrets her actions, handing over the wand and agreeing to stop cursing folks.
- If the PCs somehow convince Chara that it's never too late to turn your life around and make good decisions, Chara reluctantly makes things right and uses the wand to decursify the folks she's cursed.
adventure conclusion p.15
Whether or not the PCs manage to leave the Lair of the Chicken-Foot Witch with the Wand of Decursification, L. Dorothy Sandwich awaits their return at Wally's.
RETURNING TO WALLY'S
L. Dorothy Sandwich
With a spark of magic from L. Dorothy Sandwich, the Wand of Decursification hums with energy. She proceeds to turn herself back into a gnome and decurses any cursed PCs. She then commits herself to traveling the Used T'Be Forest to dispel all of Chara's curses.
- “Remarkable! You've done the Used T'Be Forest a great service! With the Wand of Decursification, I'll finally have the power to undo Chara's cruelty.” L. Dorothy Sandwich rewards the PCs with a Magic whistle. The Gnome Whistle: If blown, summon a swarm of squirrels to aid in a task. After a single use, it becomes a Mundane whistle. If the PCs fail to retrieve the wand, L. Dorothy Sandwich thanks them for their efforts and uses any intel to attempt the task herself.
Wally Dunkwhiffle
Wally rejoices at the return of the heroes and orders up a stack of waffles for everybody—on the house!
- “We've got a band of heroes in our midst! Can you believe that? This calls for celebration!”
the adventure continues... p.15
The PCs will have surely made a name for themselves locally after braving into the Lair of the Chicken-Foot Witch. They'll be viewed as folks of courage and gusto who get things done. If you have The Mucklands Sandbox Campaign Setting, use the Rumors and Quests for Wally's Waffles and Weorgs, as well as the town of Firedamp, to send the PCs on more adventures in the Land of Eem!
Rooms (7)
Area 1: The Burping Bog p.8
Fetid, bubbling, burping.
- The only places to step are on slippery stones leading to three different areas beyond the bog. To the left, warm colorful lights glow from Area 2. Straight ahead lies a dark cave entrance to Area 3. The path to the right leading to Area 4 is obscured by mist.
- Five (L3-G) babble and burp in the MERGA TOADS water and on tangles of roots. They attack those disturbing the water.
Area 2: The Kaleidoscorpion Den p.8
Cracked stone, swirling hypnotic colors, skittering scorpions.
- Countless kaleidoscorpions skitter across the floor. Their constantly changing colors are disorienting, potentially causing PCs to stumble into their midst.
- A haggard, one-toothed boggle named Biv, with prismatic skin, laughs hysterically from the other end of the den. He lets PCs pass if they answer a riddle: “If you drop a yellow hat into the Sapphire Sea, what does it become?” Answer: wet.
- If answered incorrectly, the boggle cackles and sics the kaleidoscorpions on the PCs.
Area 3: The Haunted Hole p.8
Stalagmites, cold wind, dust-covered floor.
- Maura, a ghost and former ballerina, is trapped in the Haunted Hole. She is profoundly sad, cursed to remain in unrest because her prized tutu was stolen (which Chara is wearing). Chara considered Maura her greatest rival and made her life miserable. In the end, Maura died depressed that she never reached her true potential.
- If her tutu is returned, she teaches the PCs Proficiency in Dancing, then finally lays to rest.
- A headless SKELETON (L2-B) charges through the area, swiping randomly with its sword at nothing in particular. It often bumps into things, but is still a threat.
- The SKELETON is Maura's former suitor, Sir Galladee, who came for revenge years ago because he knew Chara caused his love's profound sadness. Unfortunately, Sir Galladee was stung by one too many KALEIDOSCORPIONS and was cursed to live on in undeath. Crunch brought his skull to Area 6.
Area 4: The Rotten Bridge p.8
Misty, pitch black, missing planks.
- Crossing the misty bridge requires caution, balance, and must be done single file. Some planks are missing, others are deteriorating. Passing another person is nearly impossible.
- Below, a foul mist rises from a long drop into the dark Underlands.
- As they cross the bridge, the PCs hear a jingling sound up ahead. In the middle, they are met by a surly named Snagwise (L4-G) who has YOWLJACK just been cursed (whenever he moves he makes jingling sounds). He refuses to move out of the way, demanding the PCs move backwards so he may pass.
Area 5: Leech Lake p.9
Murky water, rancid odor, sticky mud.
- Three hostile (L1-B) swim in the lake. LEECHLINGS
- At the bottom of the lake is an Old Hoard ().
- Another roams the shore, feeding on LEECHLING snails. Just beyond it lies a locked wooden door into Area 6.
- The exit to Area 3 wafts cold, stale air.
Area 6: The Skullery p.9
Hot air, the scent of cookies, walls lined with skulls of every kind.
- The door facing Area 4 is locked, while the door facing Area 3 is unlocked.
- A burly wug cook named Crunch (L3-B), with the head of a googly-eyed pug (he's cursed) is baking guttersnail cookies.
- Crunch attacks the PCs on sight but can be pacified like a dog.
- One skull is wearing a feather plumed helmet— belonging to the headless skeleton in Area 3. If reunited, the skeleton accompanies the party until it crumbles, at last, outside of Chara's lair.
Area 7: The Chamber of Curses p.9
Musty, moldy, cluttered shelves.
- Chara the Chicken-Foot Witch, a wrinkly, vain, boggart (L5-B) with tri-toed, scaly feet, is WITCH hunched over her cauldron. She is wearing a tutu.
- To the side is a table full of apothecary tools and alchemical reagents. Handling them uncarefully causes a small chemical explosion.
- On the top shelf behind Chara, gathering dust, is a sparkling, glittery Wand of Decursification. Unfortunately, it is sapped of charges and needs the magic touch of L. Dorothy Sandwich to work again.