The Widow's Step | Fantasy Hazard Generated by CharGen

The hazard

The pass narrows to a shelf above a dizzying drop. Crossing the pale scree causes the mountain to groan, then the slope above breaks loose in a roaring sheet of rock. The slide is brief, brutal, and loud enough to drown out shouted warnings.

Natural
Terrain
Avalanche
Bludgeoning

Stealth: The hazard is visible but disguised as ordinary scree. Its danger is not obvious without close inspection.
Trigger: A creature weighing at least 50 pounds enters the marked scree zone, or a creature disturbs the shelf with a loud impact.
Disable: A creature can disable the hazard before it triggers by clearing the unstable scree with care, as described under Countermeasures. The hazard can also be bypassed by climbing the exposed wall or by crossing while secured to a rope.
Initiative: The hazard acts immediately when triggered.
Routine: On its turn, the hazard releases one wave of scree across the marked 30-foot stretch, then becomes inactive until it resets.
Reset: The hazard resets after 1 hour as loose stones settle back into the slide path. Clearing or destroying the unstable shelf prevents it from resetting.

Damage

Immunities

Poison, Psychic

Weaknesses

Thunder damage dealt to the shelf causes it to collapse immediately, but triggers the slide if it has not already been disabled.
A creature flying above the trail is unaffected by the slide.

Effects

1

Scree Avalanche
DC 17
When the slide begins, each creature in the marked 30-foot stretch of trail must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes bludgeoning damage, falls prone, and is pushed 10 feet toward the outer edge of the trail. On a successful save, it takes half as much damage and is not pushed or knocked prone. A creature pushed over the edge falls from the pass.

Special rules

Slide Zone.The slide zone is a 30-foot stretch of trail, usually 10 feet wide. Creatures outside this area are unaffected unless they are struck by falling stones at the DM's discretion.

The Drop.A creature that falls from the pass takes falling damage as normal for the distance, landing on the rocks below or on a lower ledge determined by the DM.

Spotting it

Discovery

The trail's gravel fans are suspiciously even, and the iron rings are polished on their downhill-facing sides.

Perception

Wisdom (Perception) to notice the unstable shelf and the deliberately placed iron rings before entering the slide zone.

Stop it

Signs of dangerFresh stone dust hangs in the air despite the wind. · Small stones occasionally skitter uphill before tumbling down. · A low grinding sound comes from the cliff above the trail. · Old boot prints stop abruptly near the iron rings.

Countermeasures

DC 17A character who studies the trail and succeeds on a Wisdom (Perception) or Intelligence (Investigation) check identifies the loose scree and likely slide path.
A character can use an action to secure a rope to one of the iron rings and call out a warning. Creatures using the rope have advantage on the saving throw against the slide and cannot be pushed off the ledge by it.
DC 18A creature that succeeds on a Strength (Athletics) check can climb along the exposed rock wall, bypassing the scree zone.
DC 17Carefully clearing the loose stones from the trail takes 10 minutes and a successful Dexterity check using thieves' tools or suitable tools. Failure triggers the slide.
Destroying or wedging the exposed stone shelf prevents the hazard from resetting, but makes the pass impassable until cleared.

In short

Spot the unstable scree, cross the slide zone cautiously, or anchor and traverse the rock wall.

Its story

What it looks like

A narrow shelf winds across a sheer mountainside.

Why it is here

To deter pursuit and make a narrow mountain route dangerous to cross at speed.

Who made it

An unknown mountain engineer, later adapted by smugglers who wanted a pass that punished pursuit.

Lore

Locals call the pass the Widow's Step.

Where it is found

High mountain passes, cliffside trails, and wind-cut ravines

Variants

In a winter pass, replace the scree with compacted snow and ice. Creatures that fail the save also have their speed reduced to 0 until the end of their next turn.

A smuggler version uses a concealed tripline to trigger the shelf remotely.

A dwarven version is a controlled rockfall with warning bells and a narrow safe alcove marked by painted stones.

Plot hooks

A caravan carrying medicine is stranded beyond the slide zone, while a storm closes in.

The iron rings bear the crest of a supposedly disbanded border guard.

A survivor claims the avalanche began before anyone stepped onto the scree.

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