Blog Archive

Tuesday 30 January 2018

Flesh Ghoul (Living Humanoid with Transparent Skin)

Flesh Ghouls are a scourge in the Spirelands, feared for both their transparent skin and their cannibalistic tendencies. Many believe they are true undead ghouls, but this is untrue - they have twisted ghoulish tendencies but are very much alive with many bad habits and traits.

They are raiders and have little need of trading or adventurous allies. They prefer to attack trading caravans or stealing from smaller Spireland communities. When they attack, they kill what they can and then take anything they need to fill up their larder. Most prisoners are locked up in cages, and half the time they are feasted upon within weeks, the other half they die from ignorance.

Most Flesh Ghouls believe in whoever is the strongest (or smartest or fastest) can lead, but they do so only until their cupboard is bare. While there are sometimes outright revolt, that is not their typical style, most that are unhappy, just leave.

Flesh Ghouls have much the same relationship with their kin, the strongest male usually leads their household, yet some of their matings are equal and more balanced between the partners. Their children are born with some colour in their flesh, but gradually lose it before they reach ten years.

While the overwhelming majority of Flesh Ghouls have twisted habits but like most species, there are variants, but these non-evil versions have few options except to escape.


Flesh Ghoul  

CR 3
NE Humanoid Init +2
Senses detect life, low-light vision; Perception +5

DEFENSE
AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 11 (+2 Dex, +1 from Dodge)
hp 13 (3d8)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +1
Opponents gain -2 to hit them in melee, -4 to hit if using missile weapons

OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee short sword +3 (1d6+2)
Ranged short bow +4 (1d6)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

STATISTICS Str 13, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 8
Base Atk +2; CMB +3; CMD 15
Feats: Dodge & Mobility
Skills Escape Artist +5, Perception +5, Stealth +7
Languages Common, Goblin

ECOLOGY
Environment Remote Locations
Organization Gangs (3-12)
Treasure Half
Advancement: By HD or class

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Transparent Skin provides significant advantage, as long as they do not wear armor, opponents gain a -2 if they attack them using melee weapons. If they are using missile weapons within 30 ft, they take a similar -2 disadvantage. If more than 30 ft away this increases to -4 disadvantage. If their opponent is more than 30 feet away, they take -6.

High Level Abilities
4 HD Gain + 2 to any 2 Ability Scores; +1 to AC; +5 skill points
5 HD Rage (1/day); +5 skill points; Gain new feat, Dmg Reduction 2 /Silver
6 HD +1 to AC; +5 skill points; Poisonous Touch
7 HD Gain + 2 to any 2 Ability Scores; +5 skill points; Gain new feat
8 HD Rage (2/day); +1 to AC; +5 skill points; Dmg Reduction 5 /+1
9 HD +5 skill points; Immunity to Poison; Poisonous Touch (DC 18)
10 HD Gain + 2 to any 3 Ability Scores; Rage (3/day); +1 to AC; +10 skill points; Dmg Red 10 /+1

Flesh Ghouls rarely deviate from this HD schedule before 11th Level. If they do take non-core HD then they cannot take further levels from this schedule. Their most often choices are: Rouge, Fighter, Ranger, Cleric & Sorcerer.

Poisonous Touch: By touching an opponent, they inflict a weakening effect, causing a -1 to physical attacks for up to one hour. The opponent must beat a DC 15 to avoid this poison. If their opponent makes this save, they are immune to further attacks for the next 24 hours. If they roll a natural one on the saving throw, the effect is doubled and lasts for six hours. They can do this three times a day.


Inspired by the Nehwonian Ghoul from Fritz Lieber's Fahrd and the Grey Mouser Series.

Monday 22 January 2018

Low Level Swamp Encounter Table


Jungle Encounter Table (2d12) 

02 Trap (Pit, Falling Logs, Falling Net)
03 Wood Statue (25% Wood Golem, CR4)
04 Spider, Giant (#1d6, CR 1)
05 Dryad                                          (#1d2, CR 3)
06 Cultist                                         (1d4 HD, 1d4)
07 Crocodile                                   (CR 2, 1d3)
08 Lepers or Outcast                         (# 1d4, 1d2 HD)
09 Merchants                                     (# 2d4 ~ 1d4 HD)
10 Undead, Carcass                         (# 1d6, CR 1)
11 Shocker Lizard                           (# 1d4, CR 2)
12 Snake, Anaconda                       (# 1d4, CR 2)
13 Plant (assassin vine)                    (# 1d4, CR 2)
14 Ooze, Garden                             (# 1d4, CR 2)
15 Patrol                                           (# 2d4 ~ 1d4 HD)
16 Gargoyle, (covered with vines)   (# 1d3 ~ CR 4)  **
17 Boggard                                     (1d4 ~ 2 HD)
18 Fey giant toad                             (#1d3, CR 3)
19 Harpy                                        (#1d2, CR 4)
20 Flytrap                                        (#1d3, CR 3)
21 Iron Cobra                                  (#1d4, CR 2)
22 Poison Frog                                 (#1d3, CR 2)
23 Barghest                                     (#1d2, CR 4)
24 Stirge Swarm                              (#1d12, CR 2)

Start with a 5 out of 20 chance encounter. If no encounter is found, reroll and increase the likelihood by +1 every three hours or when the party makes noise / affects the environment.


Typical Jungle Humanoid
2 Leshy (# 2-4,  2-4 HD, Any G or N)
3           Boggard                       (# 3-6,  1-4 HD, Any E)
4 Horn (Minotaur-kin)   (# 1-2,  4-7 HD, Any)
6-10 Lizardith                      (# 1-2,  2-4 HD, Any)
11-13 Human (# 1-20,  1-3 HD, Any)
14-15 Elf (Green Elf)            (# 3-6,  1-3 HD, Any G)
16 Changeling                   (# 1-2,  2-4 HD, Any)
17 Ghoran (# 2-4,  2-5 HD, Any)
18 Goblin                          (#5-8, 1-2 HD, LE)
19 Suli                              (# 1-2,  2-4 HD, Any) 
20 Clockwork                   (# 1-2,  2-4 HD, Any Non-C)

Alternates - when you want to switch out a roll
Bog Lights
Large Hanging Web-Coccoon
Green-skinned Swamp Beavers
Sinkhole
True Dead hammered to tree or chained down
Abandoned home (or one belonging to a farmer, recluse, witch, seer, artist)
Derelict Cart

Friday 19 January 2018

Swamp Swimmer (Dianoga)

Every now and then I am hit by a sudden blast of nostalgia and think of an old toy or game or song that I want to use in my game inspired write-ups. This was definitely one of them. I was looking for the trash monster (Dianoga) from the original Star Wars movie, didn't see it quickly online, and decided to write it up.


Swamp Swimmer (Dianoga)

CN Large aberration
Init +6; Senses blindsight 60 ft.; Perception +5

AC 21, touch 12, flat-footed 17 (-1 Size, +3 Dex, +8 natural)
hp 60hp (8d8+24 con)
Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +6
Defensive Abilities freedom of movement

Speed 20 ft., Swim 40 ft.
Melee bite +11 (1d8+5), 3 tentacles +8 (1d4+3)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Str 21, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 5, Wis 11, Cha 7
Base Atk +11; CMB +11; CMD 24
Feats Blind-Fight, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack
Skills Swim +15, Perception +5, Stealth +17 (Bonus +10 Stealth and Swim in water or swampy environments)
Languages None spoken (some may understand lizardith or common)
SQ Change colour (add +10 to stealth checks for up to 10 minutes)

Environment Swamp or forest (prefers a wet environment)
Organization solitary
Treasure Incidental
Advancement Large (9 - 15 HD), Huge (16-24 HD)

This creature appears to be a large green-grey slug with at least five ten foot long tentacles and a single eye on a stalk that it can subtly raise out of the water to view everything around it.  It hunts in watery or swampy areas, using it's camouflage abilities to sneak up to their prey. While it can survive on oozes and small creatures that reside in swampy areas, it prefers to hunt larger more intelligent things. Some Swamp Swimmers learn to drown their opponents then store the carcases underwater to feed on them later.

They are equally as active during the day or night. They are solitary creatures, budding one or two tadpole offspring every four to five years, that swim off to survive on their own without need of nurturing.

Many lizardith bards, druids & rangers prefer a Swamp Swimmer to accompany them in their tasks. Unless compelled to, Swamp Swimmers prefer to stick to watery areas, but it can survive for weeks away from its natural habitat. 


Tuesday 16 January 2018

Finding Unlost Items - Third Game Session

Sent by their team to accompany a caravan wagon in their standard routine both unpacking the goods and handling town security in a long, monotonous route, spending days in the wagon travelling between the barren towns. The communities in the far north are mostly on high island spires, more than a mile above the frozen tundra.  After three weeks of travel the group is taken aside, asked if they want to take on a mission, to help a Master-Smith locate a missing tool. They agree and the caravan turns off their course to go to a spire out of their way.

Once reaching the spire the team departs, told they have ten days to complete their mission. Before they even reach the path going up, a group of soldiers greets them and informs the team they are going to accompany them to the town above. The team hesitates, unsure if they want this to happen but they relent. The trip up is long but free from distractions.

At the top, they see a small city in pristine condition, the roads & gates into the city heavily covered by soldiers, but what they find odd is that they are all in very different uniforms and designs. They realize there is not one army but multiple units from various cities. They learn the city of Fonnashi, has been hit repeatedly by a plague, that causes sickness, rapid aging and death. They have received help from its various neighbours in trying to defeat whatever has been infecting the town. While it has been put down, the plague always returns.

The team wants to learn about this plague so they seek out the nearest obelisk (church) to find a cleric and find the largest nearby one is dedicated to Casna, Lord of Laws. They inquire about the city, its history and the plague and find out the plague is not continuous, but something that has hit the city repeatedly. Nobody is sure why or how it spreads. Magic can detect it, but only after it has infected a carrier, most often rats or other vermin. While it hasn't killed a huge number the fear has driven most inhabitants away.

Not sure how to help the city, the group refocuses on their primary mission - and head towards the large, impressive Forge Tower. They enter to find a busy workplace, inside are a dozen dwarves in the midst of their duties slowly building devices and shaping the furnace fires. The Dwarven workers slow as they watch the group come in and look around. All but one of the dwarves look very old and frail, far more feeble than they would have expected. The team asks questions about the ongoing curse but also about their jobs at the forge and why the difference between the dwarves. One of them speaks up and says that the others are near obsessed with production, very rarely leaving the furnaces. When asked about the city, the same younger dwarf says that people get in a fit when a new case is found, but the population had long left in patches over the last 20 years.

They ask about Kossail, the Master-Smith who they were asked to assist, and the dwarves point to a large double door, quite elegant as opposed to the bare and simple decorations and furnishings in the rest of the area. They tell the party that he is an ally but a distant one, mostly concerned with his own efforts. Those who hire him, do so if they have the coin and the materials, many are people from away, not just from the spirelands but many coming to this place just to speak with him. He is distant but dutiful, every month he pays his shares to the Furnace.

Going through the doors they are impressed with decor of a higher substance, intricate detailing showing craftsman of different regions and processors. They immediate see a substantial supply of weapons laid out on racks, various styles and makes. In the center of the room is an intense covered furnace of a completely different style than the dwarves. Solauder, the Drow Sorcerer feels a connection to the warmth here, one unlike he's found anywhere else in the world. Upon concentration, his hands once again covered in holy flame, as it once was. He feels the power, and energy and connection with his magic unlike anywhere else. Near the heat, there are two small grotesque figures, one with angelic wings and markings of peace, the other with cloven hooves, demonic horns and pitchfork. Their eyes seem to turn to watch any who approach too closely.

Kossail, the older man in his full furnace apron and gloves greets them, he is human but something about him looks off. He is quite formal and asks if they need his abilities as a builder. They explain that they have been hired to help him, and ask what it is he needs. The artisan tells them he has misplaced a hammering tool, one that is quite important as he is unable to get proper replacements here. His friends have been looking for it, but even with their spells, they are unable to find it. The only thing he is certain is that it's not far away...it has to be somewhere in the city, as he would know if it was taken farther away.

The drow believes that something is not exactly right, he goes toward the furnace, it is more than what he initially thought, is this an actual connection to the plane of flames? Here in this world, this world. Approaching the flames he feels the burning warmth, then his eyes open and realizes the room as being separate from the realm, the statues are in fact living figures, and Kossail is not a man, but a figure of light, something not of this mortal world, nothing here in this room is.

When asked what he is, where they are, Kossail tells him he is exactly what he appears to be - a builder, just not one from this world. He finds it highly useful for him to be here, on a mortal world. He needs the missing tool, someone has taken it, and he believes it is someone that knows what he is and is trying to hurt him.

The team asks if he can assist them in their task, and he believes so. He gives them a charged arrow amulet, and tells them they can seek out what they need. Stepping back, the drow concentrates on the carving horn. He gets no images. Something is missing, something isn't right. They are not sure what it is. Concentrating again about the plague, he is given directions in his mind, a path heading away.

They leave right away, going towards a much poorer section of the city. They head through an unholy area, supported by a small obelisk to Keran, the dark Lord. No worshipers or other dark features, just menacing. Going into low society housing, where many of the poorer folk reside, they go to a tenement building. Mostly abandoned, just like the rest of the city.

Some of the locals see them, and come out to assist. The tenets open the door and give directions to things in the area that might be helpful. Like the dwarves, they all seem older than they should be.  Making their way through the house, the go through the near abandoned house reaching
stairs heading down...as they do they enter the dark basement, and in a few minutes face three large translucent rats, with a dark greenish smudge on them. Taking defensive stances they move forward, but the rats, jump towards them. Using their spells, they take one out right away as the dwarven fighter blasts forward, smashing another one down. The last rat scratches but misses his aim, as the spells and blade of the dwarf  take it out. They gather up some of the droppings into a glass vial, then doing as they always do use Holy Sand to eradicate the scrappings of the dead rats. They head back to Kossail with a few more questions.


Tuesday 2 January 2018

Rhinto - Hunting Hound with a prominent forehead horn

A hunter's hound long feared when they hunt in packs. Long associated with goblins and other evil hunters, but it is more how they are raised than the animal itself. Some are trained to excel in running and have running speeds far beyond what is listed below.

Rhinto (sometimes called Rhint Dog)
CN Medium Sized magical beast
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +7

DEFENSE

AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 13; (+3 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 13 (2d8+4)
Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +1
+4 on saves vs cold

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft.
Melee gore +5 (1d6+4), bite +3 (1d4+2)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks powerful charge (gore, X3 dmg)

STATISTICS

Str 17, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 6
Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD 17 (21 vs. trip)
Feats Weapon Focus (horn)
Skills Perception +4, Survival +3 (+7 in forests)
Languages Understand bits of their master's language

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate forests
Organization solitary or hunt (3–6)
Treasure none
Advancement: Medium (3 - 6 HD), Large (7-12 HD)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Powerful Charge: If a Rhinto is able to do a full charge on it's first attack, it's gore can do triple damage on a confirmed critical hit.

A Rhinto is thought by many to be a breed of hound breed by goblins to help in their night raids. It appears to be a medium-sized, black skinned hound with a hand sized horn in the middle of it's forehead. It is an aggressive animal that hunts in small packs, what it devours is always the nearest creature in their path. Violent and seemingly always hungry, they are greatly feared by many people. They are taught to rarely bark, they wait until they are in the midst of their attacks.

Yet as harsh as these creatures are assumed are, many rangers have seen a playful, loving side to them. If they are raised properly, around their pack, and given enough food and time to play and learn camaraderie -  another less savage side appears.