Voices from the Chasm | Free Encounter for D&D 5e and Pathfinder 2e

February 15, 2025
Posted by Luke Hart

Rumors of missing miners and eerie voices whispering from the depths have led the party to an abandoned crystal mine, where something sinister lurks within the chasm below. A hidden befuddler weaves its enchantments, luring unsuspecting victims into the abyss, while earth elementals, disguised among the crystal-laden walls, stand ready to strike at its command. Will the adventurers uncover the truth behind the mine’s eerie reputation, or will they become the latest souls drawn into the Harlequin’s grasp?

By the way, if you're looking for even more monsters like this one and other GM resources, check out Lair Magazine #47, Panic & Pandemonium. It includes ten hazards and traps, ten new monsters, five encounters, and three full-length adventures designed for levels 10 and 11! Or check out the bundles and yearly subs to learn how you can get more resources and save big.

Voices from the Chasm - 5e

Level. This encounter is designed for a group of four to six level-11 characters.

Creatures. This encounter features the following creatures: befuddler*, earth elemental.

*These creatures can be found in Within the Crystals in this issue of Lair Magazine.

Location. The encounter takes place within a crystal mine. At its heart is a large chasm leading to unknown depths.

Loot. Gemstones can be pried from the wall with a pick. The gems are worth about 10 gp each, and it takes 10 in-game minutes to mine one gem.

Encounter Description

The characters investigate an abandoned crystal mine either by chance, rumor, or direction from the NPCs. Rumor says that people have been drawn into this mine as if in a trance, never to return. The miners have abandoned this site months ago because of an infestation of earth elementals, so it is unclear what exactly is drawing people back.

The characters can face one befuddler and two earth elementals during this encounter.

Roleplaying Notes.

· A befuddler hides in the chasm, enthralling people to jump into it. Characters and creatures incapable of being charmed are immune to this effect.

· The befuddler will not reveal itself unless a fellow agent of the Harlequin, or someone pretending to be, appears and calls to it.

· Two earth elementals lurk, camouflaged, among the crystals on the ceiling and walls. They will not reveal themselves unless commanded by the befuddler.

· The befuddler will not reveal anything about the Harlequin or the mine below. It would sooner destroy itself than betray its master.

Encounter Notes.

· The befuddler will hide in the chasm and attack the characters from afar. The characters may attack from the wooden platform or, if equipped with climbing gear or the power of flight, may descend into the chasm and search for the creature.

· If the characters succeed in resisting the befuddler’s initial telepathic attacks, it will command the earth elementals to attack the characters.

· The wooden walkway has an AC of 15, and each 5-foot square of the platform has 20 hit points. The support beams have 15 hit points each.

Secret. The befuddler is drawing denizens into the chasm to enthrall them and set them to work mining for rare gemstones. Once the thralls jump into the chasm, they stick safely to the webbing and wait to be wrapped up and transported by the earth elementals. The spiders take them into a cavern network deeper in the chasm, where they mine elemental gems.

Voices from the Chasm - Pathfinder 2e

Severe 11

Level. This encounter is designed for a group of four level-11 characters.

Creatures. This encounter features the following creatures: befuddler*, elemental avalanche.

*This creature can be found in Within the Crystals in this issue of Lair Magazine.

Location. The encounter takes place within a crystal mine. At its heart is a large chasm leading to unknown depths.

Loot. Gemstones can be pried from the wall with a pick. The gems are worth about 10 gp each, and it takes 10 minutes to mine one gem.

Encounter Description

The characters can face two befuddlers and two elemental avalanches during this encounter.

Roleplaying Notes.

· Two befuddlers hide in the chasm, enthralling people to jump into it. Characters and creatures incapable of being charmed are immune to this effect.

· The befuddlers will not reveal themselves unless a fellow agent of the Harlequin, or someone pretending to be, appears and calls to it.

· Two elemental avalanches lurk, camouflaged, among the crystals on the ceiling and walls. They will not reveal themselves unless commanded by the befuddlers.

· The befuddlers will not reveal anything about the Harlequin or the mine below. They would sooner destroy themselves than betray its master.

Encounter Notes.

· The befuddlers will hide in the chasm and attack the characters from afar. The characters may attack from the wooden platform or, if equipped with climbing gear or the power of flight, may descend into the chasm and search for the creature.

· If the characters succeed in resisting the befuddlers’ initial telepathic attacks, they will command the elemental avalanches to attack the characters.

· The wooden walkway has an AC of 15, and each 5-foot square of the platform has 20 hit points. The support beams have 15 hit points each.

Secret. The befuddlers are drawing denizens into the chasm to enthrall them and set them to work mining for rare gemstones. Once the thralls jump into the chasm, they stick safely to the webbing and wait to be wrapped up and transported by the earth elementals. The spiders take them into a cavern network deeper in the chasm, where they mine elemental gems.

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