[New Encounter] Ghoul-Philosophers in the Vault

Ghoul-Philosophers in the Vault

Dhiv looked at the others in his party as the ghouls waited. Bad time to choose brawn over brains he thought as he edged a little closer towards the way they had entered the vault as he saw the gleam in the eyes of the ghouls slowly begin to turn from curious to ravenous.

As the party is traversing a dungeon or other underground situation, they take a few steps down into a dimly lit vault. A group of six ghouls, dressed in elegant finery that is aged and falling apart are nibbling on an ancient, unmoving mummy while discussing the aesthetics of decay in Common. Across the vault the path continues deeper into the underworld. The ghouls turn towards the party, yet don’t jump up for combat.

In the game: The ghouls are satisfied with their current meal, yet will only allow the party to pass unhindered if they produce a structurally sound poem that is sufficiently morbid. The party are allowed to talk amongst themselves and are allowed a generous amount of time. If the ghouls are happy with the offered poem they allow safe passage and may even give a hint about a hidden danger that lies ahead; if they are not happy, they will attack, using their power of Paralysis and blood-stained claws to dine on fresher meat.

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[New Magic Item] Girdle of the Serpent

Girdle of the Serpent


‘I’ll be right back,’ Thoz told the others as he patted his midsection and squirmed through the small opening in the stone wall.
Screams and a shout or two could be heard on the other side, the clashing of metal rang out. A few minutes later an exasperated Thoz reappeared.
‘Or, we can find another route as there seems to be no end of troglodytes on the other side of this wall,’ he told the others.

This belt of large, interlocking scales feels a bit warm when worn and the wearer can feel muscles moving slightly just under the serpentine skin. No guarantee that things are better on the other side.

Benefit: If worn this enchanted belt allows the wearer to squeeze through any opening through which an average housecat could comfortably fit. In addition, there is a +2 to AC against crushing or bludgeoning damage as the body yields to the blow.

Usable by: Anyone.

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[New Spell] Those Woven Bones

Those Woven Bones



Wrilk bit his lip, struggling not to yelp in pain. Bakra-do did the same as they climbed the eerie (and biting) wall of teeth and bones.
‘Why is this thing not biting you?’ Bakra-do finally asked through gritted teeth.
‘I’m the one that cast the spell from the scroll,’ replied Skorbi coolly.
Dwarf and mercenary grumbled as they climbed. Almost to the top of the wall. Almost there.




Those Woven Bones (Magic-user)

Level 3

Range: 30′.

Duration: One year and one day or until dispelled or destroyed.


A huge pile of bones is necessary for this spell to work. As the caster recites the spell the bones knit and weave together, creating either a bone wall upt to 30’x30′ in size or a bridge up to 30′ long and 5′ wide. Both options are incredibly strong (25 points of damage to destroy) and while the bridge has rails of bone on either side for stability, the wall also has jaws and teeth woven into it that will bite anyone for 1d4 damage with a 2-in-6 chance if anyone leans against or tries to climb the wall that is not the caster and/or undead.

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[New Magic Item] Urn of Funereal Sighs

Urn of Funereal Sighs


‘That’s it, that’s it, be curious,’ whispered Skorbi as he spied on the bugbears as they approached the altar and one of them picked up the clay jar. They monstrous humanoids looked at each other, one shrugged and the one holding it opened the jar, releasing a sooty cloud that engulfed the creatures, who suddenly looked glum and disheartened. Wrilk the dwarf looked at Skorbi.
‘Now!’ the wizard hissed as the dwarf revealed himself with a wicked looking crossbow and Bakra-do dropped a net down on the bugbears.
‘Flawless!’ Skorbi exclaimed.
‘So far,’ Wrilk growled as he approached the humanoids.

An ancient clay jar with curious writing on the outside of it. If shaken a moaning sound of despair can barely be heard.

Benefit: When opened a wave of supernatural despair is released, causing all within 20′ to make a Save vs. Spells or suffer a -3 to ALL rolls for 1d4 rounds as they are overcome with waves of futility and deep despair. This only affects creatures of Intelligence above Animal. Each round after the effects are over the penalty is removed a -1 each around until the affected are back to normal.

Usable by: Anyone.

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[New Magic Item] Gong Most Warriors Hate

Gong Most Warriors Hate


Arakam eyeballed the distance and gave Thoz, Krogi and Nuli the thumbs up when he thought that they were the correct distance away. Just in case, Thoz sheathed his short sword, he had heard rumors about the large gong that the wizard stood next to.
With a variety of hisses and clanging of shields and swords the lizardmen appeared, running into the room of the dungeon ready for battle.
Arakam shouted something in the arcane tongue and sounded the gong.
Suddenly the reptilians began shrieking and screaming, some stood rigid, mouths open, and dropped their weapons. Then the wizard completed his spell, and a handful of the foe dropped to the ground in slumber.
‘Do you need us, or do you have this?’ Thoz asked.
Arakam scowled at the thief and motioned with an arm for his companions to move forward.

A massive bronze tarnished gong embossed with the face of a mysterious leering infernal creature, probably a prominent one. Dress appropriately around this gong.

Benefit: If this gong is struck all metal nearby will vibrate and ‘scream’. All within 30′ of the gong holding metal weapons and/or wearing metal armor (studded leather does not qualify) and take 1d8 points of damage and must make a Save vs Paralysis or drop carried items in agony.

Usable by: Anyone.

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[New Spell] Lure of the Spectral Orchid

Lure of the Spectral Orchid



Uzeb motioned for Jaundo to stand a ways behind him before he read the spell from the scroll. A humongous orchid bloomed in the air before the wizard, Each petal radiating scintillating colours. The orcs raced into the room, weapons drawn and snarling, and then the entire warband stop dead in their tracks, staring blankly at the slowly revolving orchid, taking in the thick musky aroma of the flower as they gazed at it stupidly.
‘How much time do we have?’ Jaundo asked.
‘Not a lot, let’s get out of here before that orchid deteriorates.’


Lure of the Spectral Orchid (Magic-user)

Level 4

Range: 30′.

Duration: 10 rounds.


A gigantic orchid with spectral petals blooms in the air before the caster. The scent is so intoxicating that all except for the caster within range must Save vs Spells or walk towards the slowly revolving flower, ignoring all other threats. As they reach it, those affected stand motionless, staring at the vortex of everchanging colours (or the overwhelming scent, if sightless) until the spell ends or they are attacked, losing initiative for the first round as they gather their wits and shake off the orchid’s effects.

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[New Magic Item] Wand of Summoning

Wand of Summoning


Arakam’s eyes bulged as he heard Thoz say an obscure word. The wizard whipped around to see the thief using the magic wand that he had found in the hoard of the old dragon. Moments later a horrific being was straining to go beyond the circle that holding it at bay.
‘What have you done?’ Arakam asked. ‘Have you gone mad?’
‘This doesn’t look good,’ Nuli and Krogi said in unison as they looked on.
‘I am looking for the thief king’s crown, this seemed like a shortcut,’ Thoz confessed.
‘If I get out of here I will shred you all, tearing you to ribbons!’ the fiend shrieked in a grating metallic voice as it raked wicked claws against the magical barrier of the circle.
‘Now about that crown…’ Thoz said, trying to remain cool as the thing snarled.

A very intricately detailed willow wand, very powerful. Often leads to further complications for the owner.

Benefit: This very rare wand can be used to summon one outsider (non-deity or equivalent creature from the outer planes or the realm of fairy). A circle will emanate from the wand onto the ground in the required pattern and substance (i.e. salt for infernal creatures, cold iron shavings for fey, etc) and the summoned entity will appear within three rounds and stay for up to one hour unless the circle is broken, freeing the being to run amok or return to where it came from. The wand holds three charges and can be recharged with three maximum level spell of any type. More powerful beings may require a true name being uttered at the time of summoning. The summoned entity may be asked a question, cast a spell or perform a task for its summoner if they bargain well.

Usable by: Anyone level 4+.

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[New Magic Item] Necromantic Incense

Necromantic Incense


Uzeb the Wise stepped out of the barrow into the sunlight.
‘Any wiser?’ Jaundo asked.
The wizard, who smelled of funeral flowers, shook his head vigorously, as if to remove tenacious bees or strange thoughts.
‘I believe I know where we should go next, if I figured out those ridiculous riddles correctly,’ he replied.

Thick, black and dark blue cones that smell like a combination of lilies and dried roses. Very rare, not often found in magic shops.

Benefit: When this incense is burned within five feet of a corpse the smoke curls and cajoles the spirit to return and answer three questions, similar to a Speak with Dead spell. The corpse(s) will only speak in flowery prose and riddles which require an Int check to decipher.

Usable by: Anyone.

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[New Magic Item] Flute of Stealing a Town’s Luck

Flute of Stealing a Town’s Luck


”I’d throw that flute out,’ said Skorbi as he cast a dubious eye upon the thing.
‘It sounds beautiful. Well, except for that one song,’ countered Wrilk the dwarf.
‘That one song that we cannot hear, yet every time you play it when we go to the next town prices always seem to go up just for us, that song, you mean?’ the wizard retorted.
Wrilk looked at the flute, then looked at Bakra-do.
‘Leave me out of this one, everything else seems to turn out fine for us, that thing has some magic about it,’ the mercenary said.

This strange silver flute has odd, eerie carving on it that seems a little unsettling. And those that hear the beautiful music are never the ones that want to.

Benefit: This enchanted flute can play any tune, yet will ‘guide’ its owner to play a particular song, Lamenting City’ at least once a week, yet no more than three times in a week. When this tune is played the entire party receives a +1 bonus to all saves for a 24 hour period, although they cannot hear that one song as it is played. However, while this happens the nearest settlement has something go wrong- an important building develops a crack, a particular vintage of popular wine turns to vinegar, a local crop mutates and looks bizarre, bees leave their hives, etc, and they do hear the song, in a haunting tone that drifts about the town or city. And if the party sets foot on that town they will be treated with suspicion by the inhabitants.

Usable by: Anyone.

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[New Encounter] Bird of the Difficult Rhyme

Bird of the Difficult Rhyme

The bird sat on the limb, it appeared to frown, yet that wasn’t really possible, it had a beak, like all birds.
‘What could it be, gnolls?’ asked Nuli.
The bird with the ornate plumage shook its head.
‘Ogres?’ was Krogi’s guess.
The bird looked towards the sky and let out a frustrated squawking.
Thoz patted the wizard on the back.
‘Your guess.’
‘Bugbears?’ was Arakam’s inquiry.
The bird jumped and bobbed its head enthusiastically.
‘Okay, so we prepare for bugbears,’ Krogi said knowing that these monsters were sneaky and would probably still get the better of the party.

When traveling outside a bird with beautiful, semi-metallic plumage appears in a nearby tree. The bird watches the party and then swoops down harmlessly and lands on the shoulder of one of the party members.

In the game: This bird can communicate and will obey simple commands, it excels at scouting and will happily fly around to see what is out there. Then it will return to the person it has attached to and report what it has seen, in an odd and mysterious rhyming. For example, ‘Ahead is the lair of those half silent and half that roar.’ – a nest of owlbears. This may require an Int attribute test to figure out, or, the frustrated bird might try another rhyme, although after three or four it gets frustrated and flies away. The bird isn’t made to foil the referee’s adventure because eventually it will get frustrated and fly away.

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