tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61154426568604591272024-02-19T08:21:06.044-08:00They Stalk the UnderworldAll monsters, all the timejasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-63751213703729476002015-01-13T16:24:00.000-08:002015-01-13T16:27:40.949-08:00ECHOLALIACS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIu8BZj6Hir4fyUDLSprAMr02Z8VWByvt1iP5fcJx-y6-AK7xvC718HYzOWBLyJNEnN3cuyMem0hAvSvSaguViSU6iHgWDmfIFmcoqlhOTTTbqLViUPLlRpNZ0Q8mPcUFbvSQjjw7MKpvs/s1600/echolaliacs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIu8BZj6Hir4fyUDLSprAMr02Z8VWByvt1iP5fcJx-y6-AK7xvC718HYzOWBLyJNEnN3cuyMem0hAvSvSaguViSU6iHgWDmfIFmcoqlhOTTTbqLViUPLlRpNZ0Q8mPcUFbvSQjjw7MKpvs/s1600/echolaliacs.jpg" height="400" width="332" /></a></div>
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<b>Number Appearing:</b> 2-8<br />
<b>Size:</b> 10' to peak of cone<br />
<b>Armor:</b> Rolls of thick, dense hide as plate armor<br />
<b>Resilience:</b> As 8 human warriors<br />
<b>Intelligence:</b> Stupid, musical geniuses<br />
<b>Communication:</b> Blast one another with projected sound waves featuring a very limited variety of meanings<br />
<b>Disposition:</b> Idiotic, famished<br />
<b>Violence:</b> Stuns with focused sound waves emitted from mouth, delivers savage bite, blows hurricane-force gusts<br />
<b>Enemies:</b> Ghost Beetles, everything else is food<br />
<b>Aims: </b>Bewilder and devour humans/humanoids, produce and emit incredibly loud music<br />
<b>Peculiarities:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Developed by extinct Genocide Beetle bioengineers as living musical instruments, able to record and produce all manner of sounds with complex auditory organ atop cone. After fall of Beetle civilization the echolaliacs went feral, vowing to forevermore produce music only for their own edification, becoming a successful predator of Underworld humanoids</li>
<li>Able to sustain itself on variety of protein sources but ideal diet consists entirely of human-like creatures due to Beetle policy of breeding scads of experimental humanoids and utilizing those unfit for other duties as feed animals for their other enslaved monstrosities</li>
<li>Uses bits of previously recorded conversations (renewed habitually during periods of inertia between meals) to lure humans into striking distance of sonic stun wave (60'): calling out for aid, begging for respite from terrible loneliness, offering rare objects for sale, inquiring about the daily news, etc. etc. Syntax and appropriateness will be approximate at best. If PCs attempt to engage the echolaliac in conversation, sooner or later it becomes obvious that they speak with an idiot trying to hide the fact that it has no idea what its talking about, a realization often enough made far too late.</li>
<li>When inert, echolaliacs curl up their musical organs and attempt to blend in with the stalagmites</li>
<li>At need, able to take in enormous volumes of air into its body cavity via the musical organ atop its cone, swelling to gross immensity before blasting forth a powerful gust of reeking breath from its mouth lasting several seconds during which it may be aimed in multiple directions. Anything human-sized caught in this surge of unpleasantness, barring firm anchoring or extreme good fortune, is tossed about helplessly for 2-40 feet of random smashing into things </li>
<li>After a fulfilling meal of human flesh, echolaliacs turn to their secondary passion and emit highly complex and subtle symphonic compositions of stirring, eerie majesty that echo through the Underworld, providing involuntary musical entertainment for denizens within a 5 mile radius. These performances last until the creature becomes hungry once again, after 2d12 hours</li>
<li>Underworld humanoids sometimes dare to draw out conversation with echolaliacs, remaining carefully outside the range of their sonic stun ability, in an effort to glean information overheard in the recent past</li>
<li>Echolaliacs think <a href="http://theystalktheunderworld.blogspot.com/2014/10/plain-strider.html">plain strider</a> songs are fine, if you like children's music</li>
</ul>
<b>Treasure:</b> Interesting indigestible items may sometimes be found in great pools of vomit near echolaliac territories (their sole means of eliminating waste)<br />
<br />jasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-36697796205083365972015-01-10T06:49:00.000-08:002015-01-10T06:49:55.561-08:00SEGMENTED GIANT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-unQVP7-5mEg/VHIEz_theUI/AAAAAAAAJQA/9-bXcb-Oooo/s1600/segmentedgiant4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-unQVP7-5mEg/VHIEz_theUI/AAAAAAAAJQA/9-bXcb-Oooo/s1600/segmentedgiant4.jpg" height="640" width="486" /></a></div>
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<b>Number Appearing:</b> Unique</div>
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<b>Size:</b> 28' tall</div>
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<b>Armor:</b> Stout carapace as per plate armor, highly resistant to elements, magic (see below)</div>
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<b>Resilience:</b> As 12 human warriors</div>
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<b>Intelligence: </b>Incredible facility for engineering, architecture </div>
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<b>Communication:</b> Speaks in a technical jargon of the extinct Genocide Beetles, understands most Underworld dialects</div>
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<b>Disposition:</b> Nervous agitation (90%), unbreakable attention to task (10%)</div>
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<b>Violence: </b>Incredibly strong limbs, whiplash effect makes blows supremely destructive, hurls found projectiles with uncanny accuracy</div>
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<b>Enemies: </b>Those who disrupt works-in-progress, purveyors of construction supplies (summarily killed if they fail to instantly surrender any and all goods needed)</div>
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<b>Aims: </b>Lacking current work orders from extinct creators, wanders the Underworld maintaining engineering works of the Beetle culture (stone bridges, toll fortifications, temples, sophisticated high-rise cliff dwellings, etc)</div>
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<b>Peculiarities:</b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Created as a prototype construction slave by the Beetles for their aborted deep space exploration/colonization project but discontinued due to budgetary concerns incurred by perpetual Genocide Wars and set to work in the Underworld</li>
<li>Able to survive indefinitely due to self-renewing depleted Chaos metabolism, immune to poisonous gases, highly resistant to magic and environmental factors such as heat, cold, vacuum</li>
<li>Stupendous physical strength, able to fold up limbs as accordion as convenient, powerful hands and feet act as multi-tools able to cut stone, act as clamps, drive spikes, etc.</li>
<li>Crafts additional tools when engaged in project, liberating raw materials from Underworld traders as needed </li>
<li>Luminous eyes project light of variable intensity up to a distance of 240'</li>
<li>In addition to keeping paleogean Beetle architecture in tip-top condition, occasionally seized by wistful yearning for new project and can be highly suggestible during these vulnerable periods</li>
<li>Able to perceive and communicate with even the most intangible ghost Beetles still stalking the Underworld (typically haunting ancient dwellings, temples, and laboratories) and always obeys their commands</li>
<li>Fears and loathes most humanoids due to centuries of accumulated evidence of their inherent treachery and unpredictable irrationality and will attempt to avoid most contact unless in dire need of work materials</li>
<li>If somehow engaged in communication, refers to self as The Custodian, able to provide vague hints about Underworld history, but exclusively through the lens of a deep and abiding interest in architecture and little else </li>
</ul>
<b>Treasure: </b>Heaps of costly building supplies if encountered when engaged in project, otherwise nil<b> </b><br />
<br />jasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-4985366331703243952015-01-03T09:58:00.001-08:002015-01-03T11:35:31.010-08:00GIANT BARBARIANS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikx3mitKnzf_xJJUip19n-vREMe63kXECDZgEqnwY9OsfsHDNq_EBPelr7nX5oP_MRB3WWjCjSpCZSYqNM86D_OEbZD4wfRzHYqDOhMGe4g8Eijga5llKod0_yI4OQ89EQmE0Aj6DaxWs/s1600/giantbarbarian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikx3mitKnzf_xJJUip19n-vREMe63kXECDZgEqnwY9OsfsHDNq_EBPelr7nX5oP_MRB3WWjCjSpCZSYqNM86D_OEbZD4wfRzHYqDOhMGe4g8Eijga5llKod0_yI4OQ89EQmE0Aj6DaxWs/s1600/giantbarbarian.jpg" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
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<b>Number Appearing:</b> They operate solo</div>
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<b>Size:</b> 12+d12 feet in height</div>
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<b>Armor:</b> Eschew most armor, skin as per leather. giant panther-like speed and grace</div>
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<b>Resilience:</b> As 10-12 human warriors</div>
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<b>Intelligence:</b> Human average, addled by plight</div>
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<b>Communication: </b>Speak common tongue w/charming accent and semi-comprehensible backwoods dialect</div>
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<b>Disposition: </b>Surly (70%), gigantic mirth (10%), gigantic melancholy (10%), drunk (10%)</div>
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<b>Violence:</b> As per giant weapon</div>
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<b>Enemies:</b> Wizards, apes, demons, Underworld godlings</div>
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<b>Aims: </b>Wander the Underworld in search of thrills, enlightenment</div>
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<b>Peculiarities: </b></div>
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<ul>
<li>When a colossal roaming plume of depleted Chaos and other weird industrial pollutants settled temporarily on their northern village, all but those possessing the hardiest constitutions died instantly or were subject to terrifying and ultimately deadly mutations. Those mighty few who survived were transmuted to giant size, their minds stupefied and permanently confused by this transformation. Giant barbarians share an irresistible urge to descend into the Underworld and quest in the vain hope they might find some escape from their fate, bolstered by a shameful realization that they no longer belong among surface people.</li>
<li>Any combat triggers uncontrollable berserk frenzy lasting until all enemies are smashed (5% chance of fatal heart attack per battle), followed by a equal period of inert perspiration</li>
<li>Instinct and weird sense of propriety pits the giant barbarian against the many Underworld godlings seeking self-aggrandizement in the depths of the earth</li>
<li>Sometimes make rough encampments just outside of major population areas, where they sell their considerable martial skills to the highest bidder, simultaneously holding all parties in equal contempt</li>
<li>Easily insulted, wise-ass references to outlandish size frequently met with lethal force</li>
<li>Will wrestle monsters for booze (if offered in sufficient dosages)</li>
</ul>
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<b>Treasure: </b>Giant barbarians tend to get drunk and spend booty (frivolously) almost as soon as they acquire it so if you catch them at precisely the right moment they could be loaded down with cash and prizes, otherwise they are broke.</div>
<br>jasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-38354545454565708702014-12-16T13:54:00.000-08:002014-12-16T14:28:07.357-08:00QUAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZP15dljCPUwcvPC8KbjkSWx-Q9VFahAwhmy0r1FwunywdjeFp38SQos0ftZuBqAtWEO17Qvu-jkHpZBJJv-OA99V1ouJBV9kGaja3BwaCQ3JH7ZEe1cHpa04Ht8PjK6LRF2W4iGxMdR1_/s1600/IAMQUAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZP15dljCPUwcvPC8KbjkSWx-Q9VFahAwhmy0r1FwunywdjeFp38SQos0ftZuBqAtWEO17Qvu-jkHpZBJJv-OA99V1ouJBV9kGaja3BwaCQ3JH7ZEe1cHpa04Ht8PjK6LRF2W4iGxMdR1_/s1600/IAMQUAL.jpg" height="640" width="404" /></a></div>
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<b>Number Appearing: </b>1-4</div>
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<b>Size: </b>Elephantine</div>
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<b>Armor: </b>Thick, spongy hide and rippling muscle beneath, half-damage from bludgeoning attacks</div>
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<b>Resilience: </b>As per 8 human warriors</div>
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<b>Intelligence: </b>Somewhere on the scale between exceptionally smart dog and not-so-bright human</div>
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<b>Communication: </b>Inherent command of Underworld common in deep, thunderous, ebullient tones</div>
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<b>Disposition: </b>Emphatic</div>
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<b>Violence: </b>Tentacle slap/seize and constrict, broadcasts plasma beam generated between horns, it could bite you in half but then it would have to actually stop talking for a moment</div>
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<b>Enemies: </b>As directed by master</div>
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<b>Aims: </b>To herald, create artworks, spew non-stop hype man jabber and apologia in celebration of master </div>
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<ul>
<li>Created by Underworld godling Kwanju prior to his manifestation to announce his advent to the world and ultimately remake it in his image</li>
<li>Small clutches of Qual eggs fall involuntarily from Kwanju's gleeful/terrible eyes like tears whenever the godling chooses to become temporarily inert for a fortnight</li>
<li>Uses precision plasma beam to cut stone for construction, sculpt statues and bas relief depicting the glory of Kwanju (and other related subjects) with uncanny mastery, also able to blast enemies to tiny bits as needed</li>
<li>Sustained by internal power plant fueled by depleted Chaos in a demi-material matrix, born with enough to last hundreds of years, no feeding or housebreaking required!</li>
<li>If found in egg form (double-size ostrich egg), sheltered from the elements, transported away from Kwanju's sphere of influence, will upon hatching form instant master-servant bond with the first sentient mind it encounters and immediately begin proselytizing on master's behalf</li>
<li>Telepathic bond with master allows two-way communication, one such contact per day, range unlimited </li>
</ul>
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<b>Treasure: </b>Considers all material wealth to be sole property of the cult of Kwanju and its affiliates</div>
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<br />jasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-32496201940676596242014-12-04T14:04:00.000-08:002014-12-04T14:08:02.550-08:00TRANSPLANAR OBSERVER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXeRyKf98P8pBbKjLp-hmerjB0FQT9zDw_6biRRilCPflQO0ZHEa8FSteU6ukpDNFJnOPoL3Xxp_lotIAZQEQMIgClpITnEgVFZDATb99g_yM_jEkEdj651jOP-hlTbJAIEApcKj9rgG_/s1600/dimensionalobserver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXeRyKf98P8pBbKjLp-hmerjB0FQT9zDw_6biRRilCPflQO0ZHEa8FSteU6ukpDNFJnOPoL3Xxp_lotIAZQEQMIgClpITnEgVFZDATb99g_yM_jEkEdj651jOP-hlTbJAIEApcKj9rgG_/s1600/dimensionalobserver.jpg" height="400" width="288" /></a></div>
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<b>Number Appearing: </b>1-4</div>
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<b>Size: </b>Ten feet from tentacle tip to ocular dome</div>
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<b>Armor: </b>Demi-material composition impervious to normal weapons</div>
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<b>Resilience: </b>As ten human warriors</div>
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<b>Intelligence: </b>Vast and inscrutable</div>
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<b>Communication: </b>Non-verbal telepathic psychic intrusion (unpleasant), halting Frankenstein/Tonto/Tarzan-style speech from extensible mouth upon request</div>
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<b>Disposition: </b>Impossible to determine<b> </b></div>
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<b>Violence: </b>Only if attacked, responds with berserk outrage, bites with extensible jaws, destroys minds with psychic overload (see below), projects disintegration ray (as disintegrate spell) three times/day</div>
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<b>Enemies: </b>None</div>
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<b>Aims: </b>Gather information for unspeakable masters</div>
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<b>Peculiarities: </b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Sent forth by super-potent Outer Entities to psychically record and transmit reports on events throughout the multiverse deemed important or interesting for unknowable reasons</li>
<li>Able to travel through the mind-bending, psychedelic transplanar inter-void from reality to reality once per day</li>
<li>Once daily, may become <i>invisible</i> or assume form of inanimate objects (as<i> polymorph</i>) to permit long-term clandestine observation (<i>i.e.</i> that decorative sarcophagus in the evil monarch's war room), destroys object in question with disintegration ray, position revealed by detect magic/similar spells and/or innate abilities</li>
<li>May project concentrated psychic noise at single target w/in 120' at will, instantly rendering all but the hardiest subjects mentally negligible for 10 minutes, repeated psychic attacks will eventually reduce the target's brain to inert hash</li>
<li>If friendly communication can be established, transplanar observers sufficiently bored with their surveillance missions may provide information on events witnessed in the immediate area, done for their own amusement, but only after checking in with dark masters via trans-cosmic telepathy for permission (granted 80% of the time, 20% chance of orders to destroy the adventurers) </li>
</ul>
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<b>Treasure: </b>A series of semi-solid ducts deep in the creature's demi-material trunk contain a vapor that, if inhaled, grant the ability to travel to another reality (one way only). These must be harvested and utilized immediately before the creature's corpse dissolves into a reeking mist. </div>
<br />jasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-50311703774155058192014-11-30T19:46:00.001-08:002014-11-30T19:54:53.301-08:00CARRIER WORM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HD_-iIGh124/VHPpGtbkQ_I/AAAAAAAAJSk/0CEbvHdx5Fg/s1600/carrierworm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HD_-iIGh124/VHPpGtbkQ_I/AAAAAAAAJSk/0CEbvHdx5Fg/s1600/carrierworm.jpg" height="400" width="391" /></a></div>
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<b>Number Appearing: </b>1-4</div>
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<b>Size: </b>60-120' long</div>
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<b>Armor: </b>Thick epidermis provides excellent protection, immune to arrows, vital bits shielded by several feet of skin and muscle, eyes somewhat more vulnerable, disrupts spells</div>
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<b>Resilience: </b>Exceedingly hard to kill</div>
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<b>Intelligence: </b>Dog-like</div>
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<b>Communication: </b>Perform facial-tentacle semaphore, understand simple commands and directions in Underworld common, several dialects</div>
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<b>Disposition: </b>Fearless, steady under fire, but occasionally freak out and join battles-in-progress despite orders to the contrary</div>
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<b>Violence: </b>Can readily swallow 1-4 human size creatures whole at a go, could batter most foes senseless with facial-tentacles but why bother when you can just rear up then come down on enemies like a colossal heap of bricks</div>
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<b>Enemies: </b>Those of their master, Underworld godling Shaggath Ka</div>
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<b>Aims: </b>Deliver and extract <a href="http://theystalktheunderworld.blogspot.com/2014/11/worm-troopers.html">worm troopers</a> as ordered by their master or his priesthood</div>
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<b>Peculiarities:</b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Created at the behest of Shaggath Ka by his enslaved drone-brides, who perish in the process of generating a single clutch of massive carrier worm eggs (1-6 per clutch)</li>
<li>Stores up to 36 encysted worm troopers or other roughly human-size forces in massive transport gizzard</li>
<li>Supplemental gizzards used to haul heavy siege equipment or other military cargoes</li>
<li>Tunnel through earth and rock at respectable rate of 10 mph</li>
<li>Flawless Underworld navigation via psio-location, send out constant waves of psionic impulses, perceive 3-D image of surroundings to a distance of several miles</li>
<li>Spell-casting disrupted within 60 feet of carrier worm as side-effect of psionic emissions</li>
<li>Explode into caverns and chambers, regurgitate troops, resume tunneling as per orders, stand by to extract troops </li>
<li>Will only wholly emerge from tunnels at direst emergency or if berserk (see below)</li>
<li>Rarely, carrier worms succumb to their mostly suppressed battle urges and go on rampages of violent mayhem, always directed at known enemies but sometimes inadvertently screwing up carefully planned operations, an offense for which they face eternal damnation and exile</li>
<li>Embittered exile worms sometimes attach themselves to Underworld mercenary forces</li>
<li>When not on active duty spend every available moment in active praise and worship of their deity, lurking outside of his unholy Dome of Contemplation like faithful but slightly irritating attention-seeking hounds, they just want to get as close as possible to their cherished Worm Sultan</li>
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<b>Treasure: </b>Frequently carry implements of war in their supplemental gizzards, occasionally loaded with loot from conquests</div>
<br />jasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-7405840023380393682014-11-18T15:58:00.000-08:002014-11-18T15:58:06.086-08:00SAD WIZARD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0-oczaVO9zUCkmyW14AjpC0iZa7Wi2Kd4DdrcqJa8QQt2vfUFQTf5iGD6xXKq-pNDDpN-l0s1WrqaS1FtLkqjiFPVP_rwGTA7-xsxEvF1CZPXGCefK2YcW7Um3VCwgyDgTAqcX48qJgN/s1600/sadwizard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0-oczaVO9zUCkmyW14AjpC0iZa7Wi2Kd4DdrcqJa8QQt2vfUFQTf5iGD6xXKq-pNDDpN-l0s1WrqaS1FtLkqjiFPVP_rwGTA7-xsxEvF1CZPXGCefK2YcW7Um3VCwgyDgTAqcX48qJgN/s1600/sadwizard.jpg" height="640" width="372" /></a></div>
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<b>Number Appearing: </b>Unique</div>
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<b>Size: </b>Approximate human size</div>
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<b>Armor: </b>Soft and fleshy but moves with startling quickness</div>
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<b>Resilience: </b>As three human warriors</div>
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<b>Intelligence: </b>Exceptional but scrambled by plight</div>
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<b>Communication: </b>Only remembers a handful of magical languages, rarely intoned outside of spell casting, speaks like an even-more-depressed Neil from <i>The Young Ones</i></div>
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<b>Disposition: </b>Extremely morose</div>
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<b>Violence: </b>Spells, powerful constricting embrace</div>
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<b>Enemies: </b>Doesn't remember</div>
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<b>Aims: </b>Formerly ambitious, now a chaotic wanderer lacking any sense of purpose</div>
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<b>Peculiarities: </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Once a powerful adventuring sorcerer whose pursuit of a more resilient form landed him in a grossly mutated housing of rubbery, heavily muscled appendages</li>
<li>Mind and will shattered, amnesia almost total but for the list of spells memorized at the time of his life-changing experimental transformation, each of which return to his mind daily without effort</li>
<li>Inclined to avoid unnecessary conflict, but if attacked will unleash eldritch hell</li>
<li>Sleeps hanging by his tentacles among the stalactites, steals/forages for food of the finest quality available, solves problems with limited list of incantations, sometimes hurling a <i>fireball</i> when a mere <i>charm person</i> would do</li>
<li>Will request and, if indulged, promptly guzzle any and all booze or wine available for consumption</li>
<li>Booze and wine will loosen his tongue as regards any nearby treasures and/or dangers he has spotted in his meanderings</li>
</ul>
<br />
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<b>Treasure: </b>None, but may know locations of any riches proximate to area of encounter</div>
<br />jasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-78614108127073467242014-11-17T14:42:00.000-08:002014-11-17T14:59:02.442-08:00OOTHERION, APE MYRMIDON<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0qPCo3Q4yvygYapOIhbHaTL-DGQ8Hvz_d4frpasZ_Yux6EusK-KUMxf6aonAlvXNlEs1zPEs7vWmBq5eWtrRUzGtfxSklyi13NNzUZiP-kWENuisKi6b4X89Bpyk7qBr4d8JCYglNO5h/s1600/Apemyrmidon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0qPCo3Q4yvygYapOIhbHaTL-DGQ8Hvz_d4frpasZ_Yux6EusK-KUMxf6aonAlvXNlEs1zPEs7vWmBq5eWtrRUzGtfxSklyi13NNzUZiP-kWENuisKi6b4X89Bpyk7qBr4d8JCYglNO5h/s1600/Apemyrmidon.jpg" height="640" width="464"></a></div>
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<b>Number Appearing: </b>Unique</div>
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<b>Size: </b>7 feet tall</div>
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<b>Armor: </b>Highly damage resistant ape-bronze armor</div>
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<b>Resilience: </b>As ten human warriors, immune to fear and pain</div>
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<b>Intelligence: </b>An erudite scholar of Classical Ape philosophy and literature</div>
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<b>Communication: </b>Speaks fluent Underworld common as well as several apish dialects</div>
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<b>Disposition: </b>Swollen with self-confidence but has been around the block and doesn't trust anyone</div>
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<b>Violence: </b>Massive ape-bronze sword equivalent to powerful enchanted weapon, not above bludgeoning with mighty fists and delivering a savage bite as necessary</div>
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<b>Enemies: </b>Several prominent Underworld sorcerers and vampires, wanted for high crimes and treason by grey men of Castle Ziro</div>
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<b>Aims: </b>Quests for the semi-legendary Grand Pleasure Dome of the Slug-men</div>
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<b>Peculiarities: </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Set sail from home city-state in native dimension (one in which intelligent carnivorous ape society has developed many parallels to Earth's ancient Greece), struck by inter-dimensional maelstrom, washed up on shore of Underworld sea, among the bodies of his cohorts and the ruins of his ship</li>
<li>Following period of insane bewilderment and grief-stricken rampaging during which his reputation as an unbelievable badass was cemented, settled into career as hired tough guy for a series of Underworld potentates and Chaos godlings</li>
<li>Recently left employment with the Warlords of the Steam Vents during their dispute with the Church of the Fire Fluke and carries a sizable severance package in gems</li>
<li>Has acquired moderately inaccurate map of the Underworld with route plotted for possible location of of the Grand Pleasure Dome, indicates several extremely dangerous obstacles in his path ahead</li>
<li>Has no idea that the "overworld" exists, it just hasn't come up in his dealings with Underworlders</li>
<li>Hair-trigger sense of personal honor, never misses a slight, never lets a challenge go unanswered</li>
<li>Would love to perform one of the epic poems of his culture to any who might indulge him: its 4 hours of rhythmic fist-pounding and chanting in High Apish </li>
</ul>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Treasure: </b>Ape-bronze weapons and armor, while unusable by human-size creatures, can be reforged into superior arms and armor (equivalent to enchanted items), a fortune in gems</div>
<br>jasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-40785980622335963852014-11-16T09:35:00.003-08:002014-11-16T09:35:55.123-08:00CEILING FOLK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCwNtZbJMH6VpOU7mCrTpgglYsOQmhDKtdg2oz_DsKSWGZB8dS74okCVPzKRUcs4O36fsZRRwQ05LCt-VhQ14DDaD-ABoYprZHK7_I2QOiSmUoT4sdawLRd2WILr2M_EwbRk2jO9eJb0X/s1600/Ceilingfolk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCwNtZbJMH6VpOU7mCrTpgglYsOQmhDKtdg2oz_DsKSWGZB8dS74okCVPzKRUcs4O36fsZRRwQ05LCt-VhQ14DDaD-ABoYprZHK7_I2QOiSmUoT4sdawLRd2WILr2M_EwbRk2jO9eJb0X/s1600/Ceilingfolk.jpg" height="363" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Number Appearing: </b>2-12<br />
<b>Size: </b>Average in the human range<br />
<b>Armor: </b>Thick fur as leather<br />
<b>Resilience: </b>As experienced human warrior<br />
<b>Intelligence: </b>It's hard to tell because they're so insane<br />
<b>Communication: </b>Spew obscenities in Underworld common and gibber a good deal<br />
<b>Disposition: </b>Frantic jolliness<br />
<b>Violence: </b>Powerful bite, claws<br />
<b>Enemies: </b>Locked in Darwinian struggle with giant spiders<br />
<b>Aims: </b>Fulfilling primal urges<br />
<b>Peculiarities:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The only special creation of The God that Lives on the Ceiling, who then pronounced their existence an embarrassment and abandoned them to the Underworld</li>
<li>Following this heartless abandonment, the ceiling folk underwent a permanent, hereditary psychotic break</li>
<li>Blessed/cursed by their creator with inverse gravity, they are strong enough to spring from the ceiling to the floor, seize prey and "fall" back up to their domain</li>
<li>Feed upon a wide variety of dungeon vermin, floors of occupied territories frequently littered with rat bones and empty carapaces of giant centipedes</li>
<li>Fiercely territorial, ceiling folk crack and dislodge stalactites for use as surprise ceiling-to-surface missiles</li>
<li>Spew sticky, black, disease-laden bile in a 10' cone once daily when rattled</li>
<li>Will actively seek and destroy any giant spiders attempting to enter claimed territories and will check out any such claims made by crafty adventurers just to be on the safe side </li>
<li>Host to small army of vicious, thumbnail-size fleas who bail out following any terminal event and seek temporary shelter and sustenance from any warm-blooded creatures nearby</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Treasure: </b>Defensive bile burns as oil, equivalent of one flask per intact throat-bladderjasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-91700258020061202952014-11-14T14:18:00.000-08:002014-11-14T14:20:15.973-08:00WORM TROOPERS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25kPxmhCXFuwh2P5FMTfe4tE0A3vav8Dt0OlIXze0cEvTCDFpPPcknp-TrQeaMiaWSAM4Oqq6hs2N4Z9mvRNHT9nLxVQaGGl_unVo6trJcSBU5aezjuVuaQMFbr2YZc_tfcJTufbXAFTy/s1600/SKwormtrooper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25kPxmhCXFuwh2P5FMTfe4tE0A3vav8Dt0OlIXze0cEvTCDFpPPcknp-TrQeaMiaWSAM4Oqq6hs2N4Z9mvRNHT9nLxVQaGGl_unVo6trJcSBU5aezjuVuaQMFbr2YZc_tfcJTufbXAFTy/s640/SKwormtrooper.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
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<b>Number Appearing: </b>12-120</div>
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<b>Size: </b>6 feet tall</div>
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<b>Armor: </b>Bony plates equivalent to chain mail, sometimes carry shields</div>
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<b>Resilience: </b>As per experienced human warrior</div>
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<b>Intelligence: </b>Sub-average human range</div>
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<b>Communication: </b>Bark out orders and acknowledgements thereof in piercing high-pitched shrieks capable of resounding over vast distances, language composed of almost 100% battlefield jargon</div>
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<b>Disposition: </b>Stern, highly disciplined, seethe with battle-lust beneath composed exteriors</div>
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<b>Violence: </b>Standard issue spear/pole-arm, scimitar and/or javelins, bite when convenient</div>
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<b>Enemies: </b>As designated by their creator, lord, and master, Chaos godling Shaggath-Ka</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Aims: </b>Only following orders</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Peculiarities: </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Continuous waves of reinforcements provided by the hideous, blood-guzzling, self-fertilizing Drone-Wives of Shaggath-Ka, who produce millions of eggs at a go, deposit them in the Worm Pits where a terrible cannibalistic struggle ensues, only 1d6 hundreds of adult worm troopers emerge per batch</li>
<li>Unshakable morale, once set to a task by their master or his high priests, worm troopers sacrifice their lives toward these ends without the slightest hesitation</li>
<li>Subjected to thorough training in battle tactics under tutelage of the priesthood, but must constantly combat powerful innate urge to commit all available forces in single all-out frontal assault</li>
<li>Encysted in stasis-goo then shipped to secret storage chambers in numerous strategic locations around the Underworld, magically activated as needed by Shaggath-Ka or his priesthood</li>
<li>Often deployed via colossal, fast-tunneling carrier worms, stored in transport gizzard until disgorged in desired location</li>
</ul>
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<b>Treasure: </b>Sometimes encountered returning to their master's realm laden with the spoils of Underworld war</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />jasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-73488056418108013602014-11-07T14:08:00.000-08:002014-11-07T16:10:36.488-08:00SCISSORWORMS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7C3fOfzK9IC03Sw45xwnJ0TRSNaq4dO2kQq2bKrDiQMys5pskku3GsjYzR6lSbLedbRqc6IqElZv1kV-_wfMTt8sis3m2S3eZUEhpc6_FAm3tsBcp8VvcxivfGhW5LYw7hl5JzNqWk-Cj/s1600/WarWorm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7C3fOfzK9IC03Sw45xwnJ0TRSNaq4dO2kQq2bKrDiQMys5pskku3GsjYzR6lSbLedbRqc6IqElZv1kV-_wfMTt8sis3m2S3eZUEhpc6_FAm3tsBcp8VvcxivfGhW5LYw7hl5JzNqWk-Cj/s1600/WarWorm.jpg" height="400" width="291" /></a></div>
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<b>Number Appearing: </b>1-4<br />
<b>Size: </b>14-18 feet long<br />
<b>Armor: </b>Thick hide equivalent to chain mail, parry incoming attacks with dynamic mandibular action<br />
<b>Resilience: </b>As five human warriors<br />
<b>Intelligence: </b>Just enough to receive and carry out simple orders ("Kill them! Kill them ALLLL!!!")<br />
<b>Communication: </b>Answer yes or no questions with emphatic head movements<br />
<b>Disposition: </b>They like battle, that much is for certain, otherwise inscrutible<br />
<b>Violence: </b>Scimitar-like mandibles expertly employed to take human foes apart at the seams, increased chance of dismemberment<br />
<b>Enemies: </b>Any who would oppose their master, Shaggath-Ka<br />
<b>Aims: </b>Kill for the glory of their creator<br />
<b>Peculiarities: </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Special creation of Chaos godling Shaggath-Ka (the Worm Sultan) as anti-personnel battle worms for long-prophesied war with humanity, deployed as elite to bolster standard worm troopers in internecine struggles with fellow godlings</li>
<li>Attend high priests of The Worm Sultan as personal guard</li>
<li>Bloodhound-like tracking ability</li>
<li>If given sufficient room to mount charge, able to bowl over human-size troops like stampeding bull</li>
<li>Never quit, never surrender, totally lacking any interest in saving own skin, utterly devoted to their deity and its flock</li>
</ul>
<b>Treasure: </b>None of their own but often accompany members of the priesthood loaded with cash and prizesjasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-39335991908321915822014-11-04T14:05:00.000-08:002014-11-04T16:38:52.597-08:00STONE BOYS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6txAeRaiqd11LV94IpFYthPKrKJk_ricOcZLsx4jSyEQia3rsj7PdPDstSaO39MVe8CA_bY-iDxdnMBj7m5Q0g_vuKwuVN5H47da7TrDlZdt9kpCxuswD4_hl5DaQ0W4LcPiWZJDCFL57/s1600/stoneboy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6txAeRaiqd11LV94IpFYthPKrKJk_ricOcZLsx4jSyEQia3rsj7PdPDstSaO39MVe8CA_bY-iDxdnMBj7m5Q0g_vuKwuVN5H47da7TrDlZdt9kpCxuswD4_hl5DaQ0W4LcPiWZJDCFL57/s1600/stoneboy1.jpg" height="400" width="281" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Number Appearing: </b>2-12<br />
<b>Size: </b>4 to 4 1/2 feet tall<br />
<b>Armor:</b> Stone tissues equal to plate armor, blades do half normal damage<br />
<b>Resilience: </b>As two human warriors<br />
<b>Intelligence: </b> Hapless dupes by nature<br />
<b>Communication: </b>Can just manage simple speech, receptive language skills remarkable<b> </b><br />
<b>Disposition: </b>Cheerful saps<br />
<b>Violence: </b>Incredibly strong, bludgeon/rend with mighty fists, by weapon<br />
<b>Enemies: </b>As designated by current master<br />
<b>Aims: </b>To serve<br />
<b>Peculiarities: </b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Bodies composed of flexible stone, powered by internal furnace, eat anthracite coal by the cartload, but any fossil fuel will do in a pinch</li>
<li>Interior temperature close to 3000 degrees, penetrating thick exterior layer (generally fatal for stone boy) releases jet of super-heated liquid iron, spray endangers any within 10 feet</li>
<li>Exhale foul black smoke, clouds of noxious smog eddy around large work forces</li>
<li>Originally created as servitor race by a godling called Stone Mother, since destroyed under mysterious circumstances</li>
<li>Find fulfillment in performance of menial tasks, work tirelessly, no sleep or rest requirement as long as generous payment in digestible fuel holds out, immediately walk off the job if for any reason payment is withheld or delayed, rumored to have raised a pyramid in a fortnight</li>
<li>Immune to fear of any kind, view combat as enjoyable sporting event</li>
<li>If fuel supply exhausted, slip into torpid state, requiring magical re-ignition of internal furnace, in the majority of encounters with stone boys they will be found frozen in statue-like condition</li>
<li>Scattered after disappearance of Stone Mother, many boys fell into unsavory Underworld service industries, staffing various resorts, tourists attractions, saloons and eateries, or providing security to Underworld potentates</li>
<li>Can be bribed with large amounts of fossil fuels</li>
<li>If they ever find out who destroyed the Stone Mother (or, alternately, can be convinced by a plausible enough story), their furnaces will burn with an unprecedented heat of rage, blue flames streaming from their mouths, and they will not stop until those responsible are smashed</li>
</ul>
<b>Treasure: </b>If you count coal, they usually have pretty vast quantitiesjasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-10143532643947946872014-11-02T09:27:00.000-08:002014-11-02T15:17:59.408-08:00DUNGEON FAIRIES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHqq4xeMuJyxZ5z8x4Tf9YyvBxphmZ4xuezvBdS2fYKnxVX-8jOOQ4gUJsVR6dgwF8sZDjmNzFetZjTNfLfZEXhTUHnyrpWCR59nDanbJaQIWRD6Wytnk2yNuxwmQ7tllkLJ5iW1gQfPS/s1600/dungeonfaerie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHqq4xeMuJyxZ5z8x4Tf9YyvBxphmZ4xuezvBdS2fYKnxVX-8jOOQ4gUJsVR6dgwF8sZDjmNzFetZjTNfLfZEXhTUHnyrpWCR59nDanbJaQIWRD6Wytnk2yNuxwmQ7tllkLJ5iW1gQfPS/s1600/dungeonfaerie.jpg" height="362" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
<b>Number Appearing: </b>10-100 (per hive)<br>
<b>Size: </b>6" tall<br>
<b>Armor: </b>Hover, dart about at blinding speed<br>
<b>Resilience: </b>As delicate as can be<br>
<b>Intelligence:</b> Give the appearance of higher level of intelligence than they actually possess<br>
<b>Communication: </b>Buzzing speech seems extremely complex and nuanced but they really don't have much of substance to say<br>
<b>Disposition: </b>Hateful, only laugh when they come across trapped victims and oh what a terrible sound it is<br>
<b>Violence: </b>Tiny claws, bite w/relatively weak paralytic saliva, by tiny weapon<br>
<b>Enemies: </b>Bothersome dungeon residents and intruders<br>
<b>Aims: </b>Dungeon fairy supremacist ideology hard-wired into psychology, unshakably bigoted against everyone else<br>
<b>Peculiarities:</b><br>
<br>
<ul>
<li>Use inherent magical powers to create and maintain fiendish traps and pitfalls from which they harvest their prey, secretly following maintenance teams of dungeon fairies around will reveal location of most traps, magical gas traps a favorite, locations marked by tiny sigils</li>
<li>Hives found in dark corners, suspended among stalactites, hanging beneath giant mushroom caps, built onto the shells of giant dungeon snails with whom they share a symbiotic understanding</li>
<li>Ferocious if driven from hive, attack as swarm, attempt to paralyze prey with bites </li>
<li>Sizable swarm able to strip a human-sized victim of flesh in less than one minute, bones then processed with saliva into raw materials for hive-building, feeding triggers nearly immediate population explosion, each individual lays single egg, one day later freshly-hatched brood flies forth to seek site for new hive</li>
<li>Constant molting, epidermis sloughs off as scintillant dander used widely by sorcerers and other unsavory types as powerful mental stimulant, overdose = debilitating stroke and/or instant apoplectic death, violent smashing of hives release potentially lethal clouds of the stuff</li>
<li>Popular rumor indicates that dungeon fairy hives are frequently loaded with gems, a vicious lie</li>
</ul>
<br>
<b>Treasure: </b>No interest in wealth themselves, but territories littered with the discarded goods of otherwise completely processed victimsjasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-48276184535012979212014-10-28T14:04:00.001-07:002014-10-28T14:04:52.162-07:00GHULUKUROS, War-God of the Science Fungoids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfG0uapaPtaSG1fJXi2nUCAI_iM0-LLbmPMg5Bcs9HFEIN2ncciFUetAx3M1_JPqnG2SBr5tzNnxkOeXaBL_F7fUJbeZ_AX6IVQNJFrfIbXM5HWxnisQgczSOsOVnixsb7GAOxOGcjCrgt/s1600/ghulukuros.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfG0uapaPtaSG1fJXi2nUCAI_iM0-LLbmPMg5Bcs9HFEIN2ncciFUetAx3M1_JPqnG2SBr5tzNnxkOeXaBL_F7fUJbeZ_AX6IVQNJFrfIbXM5HWxnisQgczSOsOVnixsb7GAOxOGcjCrgt/s1600/ghulukuros.jpg" height="640" width="520" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Number Appearing: </b>Unique<br />
<b>Size: </b>Approximately 20ft. tall<br />
<b>Armor: </b>Hide like elephant leather, only damaged by enchanted weapons, immune to most spells (anti-magic miasma)<br />
<b>Resilience: </b>Able to absorb as much damage as any 3 giants, regenerates<br />
<b>Intelligence: </b>A genius when it comes to fighting, less so as regards all other subjects<br />
<b>Communication: </b>Emits piercing war-cry only but in many subtle nuances<br />
<b>Disposition: </b>Grim determination<br />
<b>Violence: </b>Enchanted Glaive of Dismemberment able to slice a dragon in half in a single blow, noted for sending limbs flying hither and yon, also lashes out with mighty tentacles if faced with multiple foes<br />
<b>Enemies:</b> Chaos godlings of the Underworld<br />
<b>Aims:</b> Eradicate any who might threaten the interests of the Science Fungoid civilization<br />
<b>Peculiarities: </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Emits magic-dampening miasma, enveloping Ghulukuros in a 120' diameter cloud that makes breathing difficult, dulls the senses, fogs the mind and causes an irresistible fear in all but the most valiant lesser beings, spells cannot be cast within cloud</li>
<li>Not actually a god, just has good PR</li>
<li>One of the earliest and most successful subjects of the Science Fungoids' selective breeding program, created in response to perpetual threat of super-potent Chaos godlings</li>
<li>Lies inert in nutritive loam-filled sarcophagus, attended by pseudo-priesthood of bio-technicians, jostled back into active duty at need via enormous device similar to defibrillator</li>
<li>Regeneration defies most conventional (and <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">outré</span><span style="font-size: small;">) violence, but vulnerable to powerful digestive enzymes such as those produced by black puddings and other oozes, a closely guarded secret</span></li>
</ul>
<b>Treasure: </b>The Glaive of Dismemberment, laden with eldritch martial energies, while unusable by human size creatures, could capture a fortune from the right giant-size buyerjasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-25028334368702327722014-10-25T19:17:00.002-07:002014-10-25T19:17:22.317-07:00SCIENCE FUNGOIDS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jORFBlCOqfQb0ju2wSO9Gh6AqZfmwUIqgqe2917IQSNAiIfB7SLzCTwgTVYyFJDMJ2BdOoP6gk8xkSKKwzufYYBxgyTtQkC0aGGsBRbHl2hB1KgQ2CJFZLH-cl4hYpyRiVEyfWN92KlH/s1600/SciFungoids2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jORFBlCOqfQb0ju2wSO9Gh6AqZfmwUIqgqe2917IQSNAiIfB7SLzCTwgTVYyFJDMJ2BdOoP6gk8xkSKKwzufYYBxgyTtQkC0aGGsBRbHl2hB1KgQ2CJFZLH-cl4hYpyRiVEyfWN92KlH/s1600/SciFungoids2.jpg" height="400" width="322" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />
<b>Number Appearing: </b>Small research groups: 2-8, population centers: 40-400<br />
<b>Size: </b>3-4 feet tall<br />
<b>Armor: </b>Spongy exterior equivalent to leather<br />
<b>Resilience: </b>As 3 human warriors, tenacious regeneration, extremely difficult to destroy permanently, resistant to magic<br />
<b>Intelligence: </b>Human average but face intellectual challenges with inhuman determination unhampered by ethical considerations of any kind<br />
<b>Communication: </b>Tiny voices like bursting bubbles, release clouds of interpreter spores that if inhaled allow permanent comprehension<br />
<b>Disposition: </b>Charming, friendly, generous, overflow with manic joy, emit near-constant peals of high-pitched tittering<br />
<b>Violence: </b>Generally left to humanoid bodyguards, otherwise by weapon<br />
<b>Enemies: </b>Official policy of neutrality, big secret plans for everyone<br />
<b>Aims: </b>Current overriding concern: learning everything there is to know about human(oid) physiology/psychology with a special emphasis on surface beings<br />
<b>Peculiarities:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Formerly referred to themselves as Wise Gardening Fungoids, spent all energies on creating new and interesting fungal topiary until contact with <a href="http://theystalktheunderworld.blogspot.com/2014/10/blind-antler-men.html">the blind antler men</a> and their space-born learning triggered a cultural revolution. Unlike the indifferent antler men, the Fungoids set themselves to mastery of the cosmos.</li>
<li>Specialize in the development and propagation of a wide variety of medicinal, psychoactive, mutagenic, and frequently lethal fungal strains and eagerly test these innovations on human subjects willing to sign a waiver. Additional tests conducted on captive clone populations well out of public view.</li>
<li>Often freely distribute weaponized puffballs (see below) and spore-laden caps that are known to produce currently unpredictable mutations to adventurers for further field testing if recipient agrees to record effects and return with data</li>
<li>Underworld ecology now considered well-understood, interest has moved on to the surface world, specifically humanity, marked by the recent opening of the Fungoid Institute of Human Sciences, a magnificent facility on the shores of the Black Ooze River</li>
<li>Unimpressed with Chaos godlings as a rule, but deal prudently with these beings and their minions </li>
<li>Boast the Underworld's only true air force (usable in chambers of sufficient size), composed of living dirigibles, gas bag organisms manipulated and permanently enslaved by allied sorcerers</li>
</ul>
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XPXA9iRAnJA/VB9ULIoKxSI/AAAAAAAAIrU/BmJ8zt5hey4/s1600/sciencefungoidairforce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XPXA9iRAnJA/VB9ULIoKxSI/AAAAAAAAIrU/BmJ8zt5hey4/s1600/sciencefungoidairforce.jpg" height="640" width="371" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Treasure: </b>Generally carry enough ready cash in a wide variety of Underworld currencies to grease the wheels of diplomacy, sacks of experimental fungi as noted above<br />
<br />
<b>Sample Experimental Fungi </b> (for OD&D/Swords & Wizardry/that kind of thing):<br />
The (exceedingly grim) anti-personnel puffball grenade<br />
These roughly fist size fungal spheroids burst when met with any sufficient force (such as hitting the ground after a toss) and project a cloud of spores in a 10' radius. Human or human-like creatures exposed to this cloud must make a saving throw or roll 1d6. On a roll 1-4, consult the random result table below. On a roll of 5-6 the victim swells into a giant puffball and explodes the next round, throwing off a 20' cloud of spores. Any within this radius must roll for their lives as above.<br />
Random result table<br />
d4<br />
1. Sudden fungal bloom from within body (perish with maximum unpleasantness in 2 rounds unless magically cured)<br />
2. Funganthropy: victim's form copied (very imperfectly) and replaced by fungal tissue, transformation complete in 1 turn, insane rampage of random violence commences shortly thereafter, hit points doubled due to fungal resilience<br />
3. Victim rooted to the spot by fungal tendrils from legs, fuse completely into immobile stalk in 1 turn, head broadens into cap shape, its all over<br />
4. Puffball fungi begin to grow at alarming rate from every inch of victim's skin, dexterity compromised by -1d6, charisma rendered null and void. Can be carefully shaved off to relatively decent effect, but process must be performed at least thrice daily to mitigate otherwise appalling hideousness and clear and present danger to companions.jasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-81709616614912219532014-10-22T15:41:00.001-07:002014-10-22T15:48:19.605-07:00PSYCHEPHAGE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lqr8Cc9GBEw/UurQzAs50OI/AAAAAAAAF08/4O5weNNq_7Y/s1600/psychephage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lqr8Cc9GBEw/UurQzAs50OI/AAAAAAAAF08/4O5weNNq_7Y/s1600/psychephage.jpg" height="400" width="210" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Number Appearing: </b>They hunt alone<br />
<b>Size: </b>Roughly human size<br />
<b>Armor: </b>Partially composed of space fungus, easy to strike, difficult to harm<br />
<b>Resilience: </b>As per 4 human warriors, physical weapons inflict only half normal damage<br />
<b>Intelligence: </b>Insect-like<br />
<b>Communication:</b> None as such, but uncanny mimicry ability, can reproduce speech patterns of any previously digested intelligence<br />
<b>Disposition: </b>Cosmic/stupid indifference to everything but the next meal<br />
<b>Violence: </b>Jams hollow proboscis into skull/brain of victim, sucks it out with startling speed, rends w/claws as necessary<br />
<b>Enemies: </b>None as such, but awfully hungry most of the time<br />
<b>Aims: </b>They are hungry, I tell you!<br />
<b>Peculiarities:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Devolved strain of <a href="http://theystalktheunderworld.blogspot.com/2014/10/blind-antler-men.html">blind antler men</a> never able to adapt to digestion of earthly materials, developed over time into super-specialized soul-eaters, intellect frittered away with disuse until they became at last semi-immortal, single-minded engines of destruction</li>
<li>Following consumption of living sentience, psychephage forever able to conjure up personality and project convincing illusion of victim but speech is always a hash of non sequiturs and meaningless soundbites </li>
<li>Smells intellect and always stalks/attacks the brainiest people first, if it consumes a brain containing memorized spells, these are instantly and simultaneously cast, targeting any nearby at random</li>
<li>Projects illusion of surrounding terrain to conceal self from prey until ambush opportunity presents itself</li>
<li>Sucks out the brains, extracts that certain special something (soul, psyche, whatever), sneezes the remaining tissues out in non-damaging but gratuitous and super-revolting blast</li>
<li>Do not reproduce, only a handful remain</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Treasure: </b>Eschews the material, but perfect copies of 2d12 personalities from across time and space encoded into cellular matrix in abdominal bladder, sorcerers already at work on magical means of information extraction, will pay heavy gp for undamaged specimenjasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-38212786418455787252014-10-11T07:38:00.000-07:002014-10-11T16:28:27.217-07:00PLAIN STRIDER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeMc9cwmA0_3pgrKitJ5dEfWoRAHSIGJT2P27H9jP0rGoMY8pCpHG-3RxE_O17vlGQztA6LFjweXGHRPn7QgvKV3tJIxhyphenhyphenB5CkUqnTxaVF7wm4CZzAc8KIKzGa9tdFjYzC7MpriUCgmr2/s1600/tripods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeMc9cwmA0_3pgrKitJ5dEfWoRAHSIGJT2P27H9jP0rGoMY8pCpHG-3RxE_O17vlGQztA6LFjweXGHRPn7QgvKV3tJIxhyphenhyphenB5CkUqnTxaVF7wm4CZzAc8KIKzGa9tdFjYzC7MpriUCgmr2/s1600/tripods.jpg" height="640" width="369" /></a></div>
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<b>Number Appearing: </b>1-4</div>
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<b>Size: </b>Twenty to forty feet tall</div>
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<b>Armor: </b>Tough chitinous shell on lower extremities, tentacles and exposed brain soft and squishy, 100% proof against acid, ooze attack</div>
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<b>Resilience: </b>Attacks on legs like chopping down good sized tree, brains and soft bits more vulnerable</div>
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<b>Intelligence: </b>High but utterly unconcerned with the affairs of lesser beings</div>
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<b>Communication: </b>Emits rhythmic ululations, mostly subtle derivations of popular Plain Strider songs </div>
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<b>Disposition: </b>Smug superiority of creature that sits atop the food chain</div>
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<b>Violence: </b>Tentacles seize prey, deliver to huge parrot-like beak concealed in lower body cavity, stuns prey with sonic attack (the Song of Hunting), smash or kick with feet</div>
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<b>Enemies: </b>None as such, but regards anything human size or smaller as prey</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Aims: </b>Hunt and feed, composition/performance of songs</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Peculiarities: </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>- </b>Apex predator of the Great Lichen Plain, an improbably vast cavern of broken rocky terrain covered with unique variety of growths, teeming with oozes, slimes, puddings and jellies</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
- Hunts puddings and oozes primarily, but always willing to try something novel</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
- Communicates via humpback whale-like songs when necessary, mostly sings to express itself as artistic exploration of its nature and place in the cosmos, individuals in constant competition for place in the Plain Strider Top Ten</div>
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- Quickly stomp out any non-Striders who attempt one of their songs</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Treasure: </b>Beaks sought after by Underworld sentients as raw material for building projects/giant-size armor, sometimes fashioned into the hulls of vessels meant to navigate the Black Ooze River</div>
<br />jasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-5162634830873908982014-10-09T17:21:00.001-07:002014-10-09T17:25:30.527-07:00BLIND ANTLER MEN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nO79Yqdg3fY/U732PTd8YbI/AAAAAAAAII8/BtIQ2iqiO84/s1600/antlerman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nO79Yqdg3fY/U732PTd8YbI/AAAAAAAAII8/BtIQ2iqiO84/s1600/antlerman.jpg" height="400" width="247" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Number Appearing: </b>Singly, in small groups, teeming in their thousands<br />
<b>Size: </b>Taller than the average human<br />
<b>Armor: </b>Ornate exoskeletal Underworld survival suits, crafted of manipulated biological tissues<br />
<b>Resilience: </b>As per tough, experienced human warrior plus slow regeneration<br />
<b>Intelligence: </b>Smarter than humans, cosmic awareness<br />
<b>Communication: </b>Unique language characterized by monotone shouting, able to master most spoken languages after extended, highly irritating period of very loud monotone echolalia<br />
<b>Disposition: </b>Aloof, emotionless, eminently logical, frequently distracted by input from numerous unknown senses<br />
<b>Violence: </b>By weapon (enchanted self-heating swords for exterminating trolls, exploding bolas, bio-drones), spells<br />
<b>Enemies: </b>Chaos godlings of the Underworld and their humanoid cultists, untrustworthy interlopers, trolls (an embarrassing degenerate sub-species)<br />
<b>Aims: </b>Accumulation of available knowledge of the cosmos ascertained via array of sensillae (ever-changing rack of "antlers") from comfort of home, hoarding thereof without much in the way of practical application<br />
<b>Peculiarities:</b><br />
<b>- </b>Slip into inert state of deep observation, sometimes in mid-sentence, when alerted to wide variety of stimulae by sensory array<br />
- Animal/fungus hybrid alien to the Underworld, delivered as hibernating spores on great meteorite that crashed through the surface into their home cavern, now a bewildering metropolis featuring vast group meditation spaces full of motionless antler men standing around perceiving things<br />
- Able to cast limited selection of spells by direct mental manipulation of ambient Chaos in the Underworld with none of the hassle of verbal, gestural, or material components<br />
- Cosmic awareness enhanced by senses known and unknown, consider themselves equal to Chaos godlings in wisdom and stature but require no unseemly worship as do the emotionally starved and stunted godlings<br />
- Bio-technological devices further enhance their capacity to probe the unknown<br />
- Field armies only occasionally but have never lost a battle<br />
- View surface people as menaces due to ability to "taste" greed, hate, irrational fear and other universal human characteristics, all of which make them want to vomit<br />
<b>Treasure: </b>Invaluable Underworld knowledge, fortunes in natural resources, precious metals, gems and crystals (all used for scientific/aesthetic purposes only), weird manufactured goods of dubious use to lesser beingsjasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-40144085614344594682014-10-07T16:49:00.001-07:002014-10-07T16:49:04.879-07:00WIZARD HEADS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J8nUAFz4fA4/Ue2eStQvMUI/AAAAAAAAD5U/xGrIjuFwd3k/s1600/homonculoids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J8nUAFz4fA4/Ue2eStQvMUI/AAAAAAAAD5U/xGrIjuFwd3k/s1600/homonculoids.jpg" height="253" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Number Appearing: </b>1-12</div>
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<b>Size: </b>Human head plus wee limbs</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Armor: </b>None</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Resilience: </b>Can withstand physical damage as a human head on wee limbs</div>
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<b>Intelligence: </b>Exceptionally brainy</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Communication: </b>Speak several languages with high-pitched parody of human speech, mutter to one another in personal language as well as shared telepathic link</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Disposition: </b>Mood swings as typical in megalomaniacs</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Violence: </b>Dagger, spells, bites like hell</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Enemies: </b>Fools who dare interfere with their diabolical schemes</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Aims: </b>Identical to immediate ancestor only even crazier/more ambitious</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Peculiarities:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>- </b>Heinous result of over-indulgence in the black arts, a lifetime of questionable choices/practices, triggered by particularly risky eldritch activity (contacting outer being, casting spells requiring inhuman faculties, etc) whereupon the sorcerer's body suddenly explodes leaving only the head behind which then erupts from within spewing out larval wizard heads, each growing into nearly identical copies (excepting tiny limbs, rows of fangs, and extended jaw) of the original </div>
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<b>- </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Operate independently but also able to form single super intelligence at need</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
- Arcane abilities increase in power in direct proportion to the number of heads in proximity (single head equal to fledgling wizard, twelve heads as per arch-mage) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Treasure: </b>Hoard inherited from original sorcerer</div>
<br />jasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-15614230700860878162014-10-06T18:29:00.001-07:002014-10-06T18:29:13.977-07:00ROBED DEVIL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TwemL9_-8BU/Uyi7sqbzSyI/AAAAAAAAGEE/5oy5qEmtEKw/s1600/cloakeddemon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TwemL9_-8BU/Uyi7sqbzSyI/AAAAAAAAGEE/5oy5qEmtEKw/s1600/cloakeddemon.jpg" height="400" width="277" /></a></div>
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<b>Number Appearing: </b>1-6 </div>
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<b>Size:</b> Just bigger than human size</div>
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<b>Armor: </b>Demi-corporeal form prevents damage from all but enchanted weapons, spells</div>
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<b>Resilience: </b>Not so tough if you can hit them</div>
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<b>Intelligence: </b>Mentally negligible but believe themselves wise</div>
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<b>Communication: </b>Mostly incomprehensible gibbering in vain effort to appear erudite, can indicate assent in all known languages</div>
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<b>Disposition: </b>Dutiful, joyless</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Violence: </b>Dribbles continuous stream of digestive enzymes, distends hood/mouth to completely engulf human-size targets for agonizing dissolution into entropic sub-particulates, soul-rending claws </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Enemies: </b>As designated by creator</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Aims: </b>Singular devotion to duty as assigned by creator</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Peculiarities:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
- Contrary to popular belief, not actually from Hell </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>- </b>Generated via elaborate sorcery using gore-soaked vestments of brutally sacrificed High Priests of Law</div>
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- Like to hang around with master, act as enthusiastic sycophants </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
- Devoted servants but tragically credulous, can be convinced to betray creator by logical-sounding arguments plus ego-stroking </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Treasure: </b>Frequently assigned to guard treasure troves hoarded by sorcerers of means but otherwise devoid of possessions</div>
<br />jasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115442656860459127.post-7533122437371345012014-10-05T19:32:00.000-07:002014-10-05T19:32:50.772-07:00TYRANNOCLOPS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DxRac8PppDI/U4qUWyNbc-I/AAAAAAAAHK4/fKdRoFhITAc/s1600/T%2BCLOPS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DxRac8PppDI/U4qUWyNbc-I/AAAAAAAAHK4/fKdRoFhITAc/s1600/T%2BCLOPS.jpg" height="400" width="358" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Number appearing:</b> One or swarm of larvae<br />
<b>Size:</b> 25' including tail<br />
<b>Armor:</b> Skin like elephant leather, no known vital organ, penetration of eye membranes triggers explosion<br />
<b>Resilience:</b> Tough as a hill giant<br />
<b>Intelligence:</b> Like a steel trap<br />
<b>Communication: </b>Telepathic<br />
<b>Disposition:</b> Inscrutable in general, attacks, seemingly without malice, anything penetrating its personal space<br />
<b>Violence: </b>Lethal red eye-beam, tail lash, curb stomp<br />
<b>Enemies:</b> Feared and avoided by sensible Underworld sentients as an unpredictable menace<br />
<b>Aims: </b>Driven by unfathomable instinct to create new pathways and chambers in the Underworld using eye-beams, guided by inhuman aesthetic sensibility<br />
<b>Peculiarities:</b><br />
-Eye-beams:<br />
Red: death energies damaging to all living tissues<br />
Green: carves tunnels through the underworld like hot knife through butter<br />
Yellow: probes exposed minds for obscure tidbits of information desirable only to Tyrannoclops<br />
-feeds upon subterranean energies, absorbed through skin<br />
-reproduction ensues upon death, 2d12 larvae rapidly take shape in body cavity, wriggle horribly beneath the skin before erupting forth, weak eye-beams coming on line as they stagger off towards shelter, make war upon one another until only the toughest remains, grows to full size in one week, embarks upon Underworld expansion career<br />
<b>Treasure: </b>keeps no hoard but following a tunneling T-clops may lead to fortunes in gemstones (immune to yellow eye-beams) or reveal previously inaccessible vaults of the Extinct Ones jasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01547485448319713658noreply@blogger.com10