GAME MASTERS GUIDE

Design and Writing: Jeff Scifert, Tom Ryan, Josh Calimar Fuller
Editing: Tom Ryan, Jeff Scifert
Playtest Coordinator: Tim Hayward
Typesetting: Tom Ryan and Charles Ryan
Proofreading: Mark Avery, Josh Fuller, Jeff Scifert
Cover Illustration: Robert Lopatto
Interior Illustrations:
Noted Playtesters: Mark Avery, Elizabeth Avery, Isaac Cordova, Bill Furlong, Randall Hall, Andrew Grange, Tim
Hayward, Andrew King, Thomas Long, Justin Xavier, Samantha Xavier, Rob Wood

Forewords
Welcome to the Game Masters Starter Guide of the Myth & Magic Fantasy Role Playing Game!
This was an incredibly challenging book to write - probably more so than the Players Guide - because there are so many varied
opinions as to what constitutes a well-run campaign that it seemed impossible to create the right way to run Myth & Magic.
Sure, crafting the monsters, magic items, afflictions and traps was a blast, but putting it all together and boxing it up with a
healthy dose of this-is-how-you-do-it proved daunting. Hence the delay.
But, fear not. After many years of toil, we struck a fine medium between mandate and nudging suggestion. If you are masterfully skilled in the art of Game Mastering, you should still find a few pearls of wisdom here. If you are as green as a druids
glade, we lay it all out in chewable bits to make your first adventure a success. Every GM will benefit in some way from this
books contents. It invariably introduces the true theme of running a Myth & Magic campaign, as well, which is controlled
freedom. Follow the guidelines presented herein, stay true to theme, and magic will happen.
The real credit here belongs to a few friends of mine. You have all undoubtedly met Jeff Scifert online. He has worked incredibly hard, through some very murky waters, to keep me on track. I fear that I owe him more than I can possibly repay him. I
can say the same thing for Josh Fuller, whose help in writing many sections of this book was invaluable. When I honestly felt
as if Id give up, it was the reminder of Joshs selfless help and Jeffs unwavering dedication that picked me up and dropped me
back in the seat. For them, and for all the backers who had every right to doubt this book would ever see the light of day, I
cant express how happy I am to see this book complete. We worked very hard and well together on this project and I have no
doubt the game is better with their stamp. So without further ado, I happily redirect the spotlight.

Tom Ryan
I remember buying the the Moldvay Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set published by TSR in 1981 from my local bookstore,
intrigued by the Erol Otus artwork. I was about 11 years old when I first started playing D&D with my friends in 1981, starting with B2 The Keep on the Borderlands by Gary Gygax. I have very fond memories of looking at the blue grid dungeon
maps, searching through the Caves of Chaos, imagining the goblin and orc attacks, and watching with excitement - and some
trepidation! - the monochrome blue plastic dice (I never colored the numbers in with the included white crayon to highlight
the numbers) roll on the table as I imagined my fighter or wizard blasting into the enemy with sword and spell. The game really
sparked my imagination and I began a life-long interest in the fantasy genre, both reading novels (from Tolkien to Dragonlance
and Forgotten Realms) and playing a variety of games, including all iterations of D&D.
Working on the Game Masters Guide for Myth& Magic sparked the creative and imaginative side in me again as I took the
classic D&D monsters and converted them to the BASE20 system. The system is elegant and to me captures the feel of the
older basic, Advanced, and 2nd Edition D&D heyday, with inclusion of some of the newer elements of game design to streamline and improve certain aspects. Yet the system is flexible enough to allow GM fiat to have its place as well, which is terrific!
So I hope you enjoy the campaign advice and monsters and magical items within this tome as you let Myth & Magic take you
away to lands of legend and adventure as your player characters fight dragons, attack evil humanoids, and defend the innocent
from the depredations of creatures both foul and fair.

Game on!
Jeff Scifert

Chapter 1

Contents

CHAPTER 1: GAME MASTERING

7

The Player and The Character
7

Understanding the Players
7

Components of a Player Character 8

Crafting an Adventure
8

Create an Outline of Events and

Challenges
9

Set Up Encounters
10

Judging BASE20
11
CHAPTER 2: RULES
13

The Rules
13

Chapter 1: Attributes
13

Chapter 2: Races
14

Chapter 3: Classes
14

Chapter 4: Weapon Proficiencies
14

Chapter 5: Nonweapon Proficiencies 14

Chapter 6: Class Talents
14

Chapter 7: Equipment
14

Chapter 8: Playing Your Character 14

Chapter 9: Travel & Exploration
14

Chapter 10: Rewards
14

Chapter 11: Combat
15

Chapter 12: Spells
15

Final Note
15
CHAPTER 3: NPCs
17

Creating NPCs
17

Classed NPCs
17

Special Classed NPCs
18

Unclassed NPCs
18

Commoners
18

Specialists
19

Hiring NPCs
22

Classed NPCs

Specialist NPCs

Commoner NPCs

NPC Characteristics

Name

Description

Personality
CHAPTER 4: MONSTERS

Mastering Monsters

Memorable Monsters

Advancing Monsters

Monster Entries

Stat Blocks

Monsters A-Z

Ankheg

Basilisk

Balor

Bear, Black

Behir

Bugbear

Bulette

Centaur

Centipede, Giant

Chimera

Cloaker

Death Knight

Dragon

Dragon, Black

Dragon, Blue

Dragon, Green

Dragon, Red

Dragon, White

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Elemental, Air
Elemental, Earth
Elemental, Fire
Elemental, Water
Elf, Dark
Ettercap
Ettin
Gargoyle
Gelatinous Cube
Ghost
Ghoul
Giant, Fire
Giant, Frost
Giant, Hill
Giant, Stone
Gnoll
Goblin
Golem, Flesh
Golem, Iron
Gorgon
Griffon
Hag
Harpy
Hellhound
Hippogriff
Hobgoblin
Homunculus
Hydra
Imp
Kobold
Lizardfolk
Manticore
Medusa
Mimic
Minotaur
Mummy
Naga, Dark
Naga, Spirit
Nightmare
Octopus, Giant
Ogre
Orc
Otyugh
Owlbear
Pegasus
Pit Fiend
Purple Worm
Rat, Giant
Rust Monster
Sahuagin
Shadow

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Shambling Mound

Skeleton

Spectre

Spider

Stirge

Tiger

Treant

Troglodyte

Troll

Unicorn

Vampire

Werewolf

Wight

Wolf

Wyvern

Zombie
CHAPTER 5: TREASURE

Awarding Treasure

The Right Amount

Where it Lies

The Open Market

Treasure Tables

Random or Planned Treasure
CHAPTER 6: MAGICAL ITEMS

Magical Item Creation and Destruction

Recharging Magical Items

Magical Weapons

Specific Magical Weapons

Magical Armor & Shields

Specific Magical Armor & Shields

Magical Scrolls

Activating Scrolls

Casting Time and Duration

Specific Scrolls

Trigger Scrolls

Spell Scrolls

Spell Enhancement Scrolls

Potions & Oils

Specific Potions & Oils

Rings

Specific Rings

Wands

Specific Wands

Magical Staves

Types of Magical Staves

Specific Magical Staves

Rods

Specific Rods

Wondrous Items

Specific Wondrous Items

Cursed Items

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Types of Curses

Removing a Curse

Specific Cursed Items

Cursed Weapons

Cursed Armors

Cursed Scrolls

Cursed Potions & Oils

Cursed Rings

Cursed Wands, Staves,

and Rods

Cursed Wondrous Items
CHAPTER 7: GMS MISCELLANY

Poisons

Poison Entries

Samples Poison Descriptions

Diseases

Disease Entries

Samples Disease Descriptions

Curses

Curse Entries

Samples Curse Descriptions

Traps

Interacting with Traps

Building Traps

Type

Trigger

Action

Duration

Bypass

Trap Complexity

Experience Points

Calculating a Traps XP

Sample Mechanical Traps

Sample Magical Traps
CHAPTER 8: Introductory Adventure

The Shattered Academy
LEGAL

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Index of Charts
(Not Including Charts in Specific
Monster or Magical Item Entries)
Encounter Levels
XP Budge for Encounters
Secondary Effects of Natural 20
Common NPC Professions
Specialist NPC Bonsues Per Rank
Specialist NPC Professions
Random Sage Proficiency
Sage Research Time
Random NPC Personality
Random NPC Description Generator
XP Budget for Encounters
Random Treasure in Lair
Gems Chart
Random Treasure Out of Lair
Objects of Art Chart
Magical Item Princing Guidelines
Random Magical Weapons Chart
Random Magical Armor & Shields Chart
Random Magical Scrolls Chart
Combining Potions Result
Random Magical Potions & Oils Chart

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Random Rings Chart

Random Wands Chart
Random Staves Chart
Random Rods Chart
Random Wondrous Item Category
Random Books, Librams, Manuals & Tomes
Random Jewels & Jewelry (Chart A)
Random Jewels & Jewelry (Chart B)
Random Capes, Cloaks & Robes Chart
Random Boots, Bracers & Gloves Chart
Rnadom Girdles & Helms Chart
Random Bags, Bottles & Scabbards Chart
Random Dusts, Powders & Stones Chart
Random Household Items & Tools Chart
Random Weird Stuff
Rnadom Cursed Item Charts
Sample Poisons
Sample Diseases
Sample Curses
Trap/XP Generator

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Chapter 1

Game Mastering

You are the true master of this game. You control what rules are played,
how each rule is interpreted, the flow of combat, the power level of
the world and the villainy within it. You control everything that takes
place in the game world. The position of GM grants tremendous
power that, unless properly wielded, can be the undoing thread in an
otherwise sturdy campaign.
You should know that there are certain qualities that make a good GM.
You need an imagination fraught with the good and villainous. You
need solid communication skills. You need an intuition to read people.
You need dramatic flair. You need the intelligence to understand each
rule and its intent and the aptitude to construct the adventures. Seems
overwhelming? Luckily, almost all of these qualities can be honed over
time with experience and some decent advice.
Unless youre skilled in the art of Game Mastering, in which case you
might as well skip ahead, youll run your first few games with little
practice. So, you need some guidance on how to approach the job of
GM. This is exactly what the following few chapters provide.
A large part of your job is to understand how to create and run effective games - a deceptively simple idea in theory and decidedly different
in practice. This chapter speaks on this function by providing advice
on understanding the needs and desires of your players and how to
actually create your first adventure. Another large part of your job is
mastering the rules as written and creating house rules that emulate
the type of fantasy campaign you and your gamers wish to play. This
function is discussed in the next chapter.

The Player
and The
Character
An important function of being the Game Master is providing the
players with situations that invoke the characters strengths and goals.
It is important to present them with challenges and obstacles that both
invoke and defy their strengths, making them heroes one day and requiring them to either seek help or taste utter defeat the other. Game
Masters must place their PCs at the center of their stories and at the
center of each adventure along the way. This keeps each player happily
involved and creates a better game.

The secret is knowing that each player feels a sense of entitlement. This
not only comes from controlling uber-strong warriors or mages that
throw spiraling fireballs, but it also comes from the idea that, as a social
game, the characters are the main spokes in the wheel. So, what happens when a player never draws from his characters heroic repertoire
or when he sits for session after session watching the personal history
of another player become the focal point of an entire campaign? The
player loses interest, and rightfully so. Suddenly, what could have been
a great and epic campaign turns into a chore for one or more players
at your table.
This is a game and, similar to all games, each player must have a part
in the game, and the rules must facilitate player involvement. Just for a
second imagine a baseball game with two people. Although one could
serve as the pitcher and the other as the batter, only the very basic
component of the game could be played. The rest of what makes a
baseball game fun is missing.
You should create and run adventures with the players sense of entitlement in mind. In essence, you write and run adventures for the players.
This is accomplished by understanding the composition of a player
character and understanding that a player creates his character in a way
that facilitates how he wants to play.

Understanding the Players

How do you know what type of adventures to run for your players?
Its simple - ask questions. Each playing group is distinct and there are
no maps to follow that help you to deliver the perfect game for every
player. You simply must ask questions to ensure you understand your
gamers desires.
The first request from your players is to provide a few examples of
their perfect adventure. You may hear, non-stop action or political intrigue. You may hear, riches beyond any imaginable horde.
Regardless, youll get a sense of each players wish list. Put the answers
together, trash the insanity, look for common patterns, and keep this
information at-hand when actually writing the scenarios.
Another question that you need answered from your players is whether
they can appreciate a level of disbelief. Fantasy adventures are fun when
they reach for plausibility and not logic. For example, you need to
know early on whether any of your players will debate the physics
of magic. If you should be so unlucky, have a frank conversation with
the players and ensure them that good fantasy adventures stretch logic

Game Mastering: The Player and the Character

to the outer limits of believability and much more fun is to be had if

everyone agrees that strict logic is lackluster.

tween law and chaos and between good and evil, and character motivations vary widely based on their moral compass.

How fast would you like to progress in levels? This is an important

question that too few Game Masters ask. The reason is understandable.
Game Masters wish to control progression to tailor to the planned sequence of published or written adventures power level. However noble
this rationale may be, the players are ultimately the arbiters of fun. You
must discern how fast your players wish to advance because exciting
adventure only distracts the players for some time before they realize
progression is too slow. And, slow progression is not always good for
a campaign. While some gamers wish to play the same characters for
years, others wish to dabble and to experience play with as many cool
class abilities as possible. If worth nothing else, a healthy progression
allows the players to realize character goals. Hence, its wise to ask this
question and tailor to the general consensus if possible.
There are many other questions you could ask and here are just a few
of the more popular ones:

Putting It All Together: On a minor level, the merger of these three

basic building blocks can serve as fuel for situations in game. On a
grander scale, they can help shape an entire campaign. When looking
at a characters race, class and alignment, we can create a few scenarios
that help to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of a PC:

Do you prefer to play out travel time between areas of interest?

Do you prefer low-magic campaigns or campaigns that award
magical items frequently?
How do you feel about NPCs filling integral class roles?
You may have other secondary questions not listed above. but that is
not important. Asking the integral questions noted in the beginning
of this section, and entering into a healthy discussion of what the gamers expect and desire, is what is important. Just remember to deliver.
Remember to tailor the adventures and campaign as much as possible
to your players.

Components of a Player Character

Once you have determined what your players want on a grander scale
for the campaign, you then look at each gamers character to get a
sense of the sort of challenges he or she wishes to overcome. On a basic
level, a PC is composed of only three things: race, class, and alignment.
Her equipment may provide other benefits and may speak to the PCs
personality, but this is secondary to the three basic building blocks.
You can learn a tremendous amount about the character and can plan
accordingly by simply understanding how ones race, class, and alignment interact.
Races provide certain benefits. Dwarves discern properties of stone
and have a slight resistance to magic. Elves can quickly spot hidden
objects and doors, and are immune to sleep. Half-elves have enhanced
senses and a strong resistance to sleep and mind-affecting spells. Humans have no special genetic traits, but they do start out ambitiously
with extra starting proficiencies and their choice of a strong attribute.
Classes provide abilities. Fighters are the weapon specialists and experts in martial combat. Clerics are the religious patriots that heal and
spread the dogma of their god. Wizards are the wielders of arcane magic and the researchers of its secrets. Thieves infiltrate, thieves survive.
Alignments are moral compasses. They answer the most difficult question, What would my character do? There is a drastic difference be-

If a player chooses to create a dwarven fighter of lawful neutral alignment, there could be a time in the campaign where he notices an illusory block of stone that actually houses a weapon of fine quality
and history. This plays off the PCs strengths. Perhaps the weapon was
even forged on a Plane of Law and sent to the Prime Material Plane to
destroy a Chaos Dragon. This plays off the PCs alignment and beliefs.
Perhaps the weapon houses the soul of the Chaos Dragon it destroyed,
thereby warping the properties of the weapon and the mind of the lawful soul that wields it. This opposes the PCs strengths and forces him
to action. This dwarven fighter must ensure the majesty of this divine
weapon is restored.
If a player chooses to play an elven wizard of the lawful evil alignment,
there could be a point in an adventure where the elf notices a secret
wooden door. This door is magically sealed and marked by an invisible
arcane sigil. Through the use of magic, the elven wizard discerns the
sigil to be a warning, so he casts detect magic through the thin wooden
door and discovers a very powerful source of magic behind the door.
A third spell removes the magical lock. Thus far, the elven wizards
strengths have helped to create this opportunity of exploration and adventure. The wizard dares not tell the band of the warning; perhaps the
warning and the room beyond peak his curiosity and thirst for power.
The wizard slyly informs the bands thief that no magic remains, but a
search of the door before entering would perhaps be good form. The
thief searches the door, finds no traps, and opens the door with confidence. The elven wizard smiles inwardly.
By forging situations from the convergence of race, class, and alignment, a GM tailors the encounters to the players. This draws players
more intently into the game.

Crafting an
Adventure
Detailed rules for crafting your first adventure are beyond the scope of
this books intended introduction. Notwithstanding, well touch on a
few topics discussed at length in the GMG that will help you design
adventures. While Myth & Magic unabashedly uses many streamlined
mechanics from the OGL rules set, the tone of a Myth & Magic adventure should be very different and the preparation for such an adventure
should also be different. This game is not a units and measurements
tabletop game where movement is critical to tactics and combatants
rely almost entirely on the many different pluses and minuses that
accompany their build. Myth & Magic provides a lot of leeway for
imagination and thus the challenges that you present to your players
should be vulnerable in many different ways. Knowing this early will
help you when you begin to craft an adventure. The process requires
much less mechanical work than an OGL adventure but perhaps more
creativity.

Game Mastering: Crafting an Adventure

Create an Outline of
Events and Challenges

This section will help you to create a fairly brief yet informative outline of
the major events and challenges you envision for your adventure.

Start with a Hook

You need a short summary of the hook of your idea, which will be the
over-arching motivation for the adventurers call-to-arms. More often than
not, your hook will be unknown to the players at the start of the adventure
but it will be the driving force behind their continued struggle.
The workers digging the deep foundation for Duke Irrigors new tower
struck a strange force field. The Duke commissioned the dispelling of
the barrier, an act that has disrupted a protective seal placed by a druidic circle to encase a strange necromantic energy. All the workers have
been turned undead and are ravaging the nearby village. Duke Irrigors
wife, the Duchess, actually knew of the energys existence and has been
planning this for quite some time. She is actually the wife of a cast-away
wizard that plans to enact a sinister revenge on the Duke; she has been
living with the Duke, as his wife, for 8 years.
Your hook should have enough meat to create challenges for the adventurers to overcome and it must have at least one villain.

List the Goals

To gauge success, the adventurers must have goals, both on the scale of a
single adventure and at the campaign level. If you wish your players to save
the village and encounter the cast-away wizard in one session, the goals
may look like this:
Goal 1: Save the village
Goal 2: Learn about the druids and the energy from the
village annals
Goal 3: Claim reward from the Duke
Goal 4: Defeat the mercenaries hired by the Duchess
Goal 5: Learn from the mercenaries that the Duchess hired them
Goal 6: Face the Duchess and Duke, and learn of the location
of the cast-away
Goal 7: Defeat the cast-away wizard

List the Challenges

An adventure is a series of challenges strung together by story elements. A

challenge is any obstacle the adventurers must overcome to achieve a goal.
Most often, challenges are either social or combative, though traps, diseases, curses and other hazards can also oppose the characters on the way.
As GM, you must create the challenges the adventurers will face during the
adventure and you must link each challenge to a goal you have previously
listed. Its a good practice to also jot down the easiest method of overcoming a challenge. Example:
Challenge 1 - Goal 1: A series of combat encounters in the village versus
the undead workers. This is an outright brawl, but the use of turn
undead is the most effective.

Challenge 2 - Goal 2: Discover the old village records that contain minutes of the town boards meetings. The old minutes lie in the study
of the town hall and it will take a half-day to locate them - no rolls
required.
Challenge 3 - Goal 4: Survive the battle. The mercenaries will try to attack the band at night or when the band is farthest from assistance.
Challenge 4 - Goal 5: Let one live and either intimidate or persuade
the mercenary to tell his story. Its best to use Charisma checks to
persuade the mercenary (intimidation wont work) but money will
also prove to be a great fallback plan.
Challenge 5 - Goal 6: Force the Duchess to talk. This is best handled
by bringing the mercenary back, but the story is enough to shock the
Duchess into appearing unsteady. The Duke will seem a bit shocked
and the Duchess will break.
Challenge 6 - Goal 7: A series of combat encounters and hazards in the
mountain hole of the cast-away wizard.

List the Encounters & Rewards

Look at each goal and challenge and begin to conceptualize the story elements and crafted encounters that will help to create a flow between each
segment of the adventure. At this point, it is wise to consult the information you mined from your players beforehand about their gaming preferences and desires. Also look at each PC to determine how best to evoke
each characters strengths (and weaknesses).
Story Elements: It is best to envision goals and challenges as loose ropes.
You must tie each loose rope to the next to create a fluid adventure. Story
elements are the knots. Using our examples above, ask yourself, How do
I tie together the undead battles in the village with the discovery of the old
town minutes? You may have the vision of a dying elder confessing an old
village secret of sacrifices on the hill that created a living evil we couldnt
stop alone and her outstretched finger pointing to the town hall. You may
instead envision the current village selectman imploring the band to search
through the old books because he remembers reading something about
villagers turning undead in the past. In either case, the PCs will be ushered
to the annals of the town hall.
Encounters: Story elements are not encounters. Story elements guide the
PCs along the campaign without the necessity to roll one die. Encounters
are different; they require the use of proficiency, have a real consequence
and require dice rolls to highlight the importance of chance. Encounters
need not be combat-oriented. A roleplaying encounter that requires a
Charisma or Wisdom check to gather important information or sniff out
a bluff is also an encounter.
Similar to story elements, encounters can also be the knots that tie together your challenges and goals. Successfully defeating the mercenaries could
be the only way to enter the social challenge of extracting information
from a mercenary on the identification of his employer. Encounters can
also comprise a challenge itself. A floor of a dungeon crawl is an example
and so too is the string of encounters you will create in the mountain hole
of the cast-away wizard.
There is no methodology to create social encounters, but the next section
includes a system for creating balanced combat-oriented encounters.

Game Mastering: Crafting an Adventure

Rewards: Money, magical items, political allies and land are only four
examples of the many types of rewards you may grant. Rewarding is
a very important function of the Game Master since all players desire
advancement in experience points and in character rewards.
There is a Treasure chapter that contains information on currencies,
magical items and random treasure. That chapter will help you sufficiently reward your players, but keep in mind that other, less tangible
rewards, such as land, title, and fame, also help to motivate players.

Set Up the Encounters

An encounter is any exchange between the players and the non-player

characters that has an inherent challenge involved. It could be a fight
with a monster, or it could be a bartering exchange with a centaur
smith. When setting up non-combat encounters, you have full discretion to craft whatever type of encounter you want. In this aspect, your
imagination is the only limiting factor.
When designing combat encounters, exercise more caution. Poorly
planned combat could destroy a party and, unless a TPK is intended,
the encounters level or challenge should be understood.
In a perfect world, there would be a mathematical system that helps
you create combat encounters that are perfectly suited for your PCs
power level. One such system does not exist. Nonetheless, we present a
system that helps gauge an encounters difficulty. If you have been game
mastering for many years and are familiar with this system, feel free to
craft encounters that suit your story.
At this preliminary stage, you need to know two things: the Average
Party Level and the desired challenge of the encounter youre creating
(Encounter Level). The Average Party Level (APL) is simply the average of the PCs levels at your gaming table. Include any NPCs that are
no weaker than 2 levels below that of the APL. The APL assumes four
to six PCs. Remove one level from the APL for groups with two to three
PCs. Increase the APL one level for every two PCs above six.

Step One: Set the Challenge

Calculate the APL. Then, decide how difficult you would like the encounter to be and consult the following chart, which will tell you the
Encounter Level of the appropriate challenge:

Encounter Levels

Gauging Difficulty: What follows is an approximation of how deadly

and/or taxing certain challenges are to the players, assuming the members
of the party have a fair amount of hit points and daily spells:
Basic: These encounters are easy and rarely result in the expenditure of
many daily resources, such as hit points or spells;
Average: These encounters will not be very challenging alone but have
the potential to tax in the aggregate;
Superior: These encounters can pack a punch, especially if the dice
roll against the PCs. They can be taxing on hit points and daily spells;
Exceptional: These encounters are downright tough and highly taxing
on hit points and daily spells. A PC death is possible;
Legendary: These encounters are extremely difficult, often reserved to
a climactic battle. A PC death is probable.
Use the foregoing as a guideline. Please remember that Myth & Magic is a
game that embraces chance and player creativity, so there will be encounters that fly in the face of the parameters set forth above and end in a way
that surprises you.

Step Two - Determine Your XP Budget

Once you know the Encounter Level of the challenge you wish to create,
you then consult the following chart to determine how many experience
points you have in your budget. The XP budget tells you the maximum
amount of XPs you can tally to an encounter. Monsters, NPCs, traps and
other hazards have an associated value of XP. The sum total of XPs from all
sources of an encounter is what you use.

XP Budget for Encounters

Encounter
Level

Experience
Point Budget

15 - 35 XP

36 - 65 XP

66 - 120 XP

Desired Challenge

Encounter Level

121 - 270 XP

Basic

Average Party Level -1

271 - 550 XP

Average

Average Party Level

551 - 1,000 XP

Superior

Average Party Level +1

1,001 - 1,500 XP

Exceptional

Average Party Level +2

1,501 - 2,500 XP

Legendary

Average Party Level +3

2,501 - 3,500 XP

3,501 - 5,000 XP

10

5,001 - 6,500 XP

11

6,501 - 8,500 XP

12

8,501 - 10,500 XP

13

10,501 - 13,000 XP

For example, if you want to create an Average challenge, youll be looking to create an EL equal to the APL. If you want a Basic challenge, the
EL will be one less than the APL.
Around half of the encounters planned for an adventure should be Average. The rest can be lesser, greater or almost impossible challenges.

10

Player characters should feel heroic most of the time, but be reminded on
occasion that the world is full of dangers that surpass their competency. In
other words, they should learn to run.

Game Mastering: Judging BASE20

Example: If you were creating a Superior encounter for an Average Party

Level of 5, you would have between 1,500 and 2,500 XP in your budget. If the encounter consisted entirely of monsters, you would consult
Chapter 4 and choose monsters with XP values that, when added together, total between 1,500 and 2,500.
Monsters: All monsters have an amount of experience points in their entry in Chapter 4. Simply sum up the individual XP values for each monster included in the encounter. The sum should remain in the range listed
in the table above for your designed Encounter Level.
NPCs: NPCs with class levels have an XP value equal to the minimum
amount needed for that Encounter Level. A 8th-level fighter, for instance,
would be an EL 8 and worth 2,501 XP. NPCs without class levels are all
considered Encounter Level 0 and worth 15 XP. These NPCs are often
considered commoners, e.g., the shopkeepers, farmers and young adult
teens that comprise a village militia.
For staggered multi-classed NPCs, the EL equals the highest level attained. For straight multi-classed NPCs, the EL equals one higher than
the NPCs level. For example, a 6th-level fighter/2nd-level thief is an EL 6,
while a 6th-level fighter/6th-level thief is an EL 7.
Traps: Traps work similarly to monsters. As you will learn in the GMs
Miscellany Chapter, each trap has an amount of XP listed. This amount
of XP is granted to members of the party that overcome and survive its
challenges.
Mixing It Up: Mixing NPCs with levels, NPCs without levels, traps and
monsters into one fight is incredibly easy. Simply tally up the amount of
XP for each combatant and trap and ensure the sum falls within the range
of XPs listed for your intended Encounter Level.

A Note on Special Powers and Items

You must factor in any special powers or items that will provide a boon
to either side in combat. For example, suppose the groups wizard finds
a tome of magic that is possessed by the soul of an evil, yet powerful,
magic user. Further suppose that this tome imparts upon the wizard a
considerable amount of additional power. This skews the partys power
level, so it must be factored in when trying to assess the Average Party
Level. The opposite holds true for opponent parties - the Encounter
Level of the opponents should be elevated as well.

The lesson here is that although there exists a mathematical starting

point, it may not make sense in every situation where the PCs or their
opponents have at their disposal items or powers that increase (or decrease) their power level.

Judging
BASE20
The rules help to lighten the burden tremendously. Monster entries tell
you the defenses and offenses of a monster. Spells literally spell out what
effects come into play. Magical items have entries that detail their powers. Players also know their capabilities (or they should) and will step in
to remind you of a certain racial or class trait. As a starting GM in Myth

& Magic, however, what you may find troubling is that you are called to
judge the difficulty of all attribute and skill checks. Unlike 3rd Edition,
5th Edition or the many other fantasy RPGs existing today, the Myth &
Magic Players Guide does not have a list for each skill that itemizes what
can be done and how difficult each task is to perform. For example, the
OGL SRD has DCs for each skills applications. When a player wishes
to stop his companions bleeding, the player in the OGL game consults a
chart and rolls.
In Myth & Magic, you must tell the player what he must roll to stabilize
his friend. All difficulties in the game fall under the BASE20 system. The
BASE20 system categorizes each level of difficulty as an adjective:
Basic:
Average:
Superior:
Exceptional:

Modified roll of 5 or higher on d20

Modified roll of 10 or higher on d20
Modified roll of 15 or higher on d20
Modified roll of 20 or higher on d20

The BASE20 system is a wonderful key that unlocks tremendous roleplaying potential. (Each wound is different, after all.) But the system can seem
daunting at first, with so much power and discretion in the hands of one
person. To help put the BASE20 system into context, and to help you
wield the power responsibly, first assume that players choose proficiencies
and talents based on their higher attribute score(s). Assume further that 15
is the average high score, which provides a +5 attribute check modifier. If
so, such a player character will have ...
virtually no chance to fail Basic skill checks;
an 80% chance of succeeding on Average checks;
a 55% chance of succeeding on Superior checks; and
a 30% chance of succeeding on Exceptional skill checks.
A PC with such a high score and some training in a proficiency should
succeed at almost all Basic and Average skills.
To make it easy, most of what a character wishes to do with a trained skill
will naturally fall into the Average target complexity. Sometimes, it is very
challenging or so simple as to not require a roll. If you feel that its roughly
a 50/50 for someone trained, call for a Superior roll. If the player wishes to
use a skill to produce an effect that would be considered rare in the world,
fall on Exceptional.
As unlikely as this may sound, players do often wish to use a skill to pull
off something that transcends awesome and touches on the impossible.
Feel free to either allow the heroic antic by requiring a Legendary (TC 25)
check or simply disallow the attempt.
The Power of Trust: Here is a little game mastering secret: Air on the
side of success. If youre undecided between Exceptional and Superior, go
with Superior. If youre undecided between Average and Basic, go with
Basic. While the challenges will be easier for the players to succeed against,
success has two effects. First, the players will be happier. They want to
succeed; they dont want to fail. Second, the players will trust you more.
Game Masters that habitually require high TCs run the risk of losing their
audience when its most important. The occasional Exceptional trap goes a
long way of invoking a sense of dread in campaigns where the players often
find and remove Basic to Superior ones.

11

Chapter 1

Rules

Myth & Magic is a malleable game system in which the Game Master and players springboard off their collective creative genius. Players
have a wide latitude to incorporate into their actions any number of
imaginative feats and stunts. Game Masters can inject as much discretion as possible to amp up an encounter to excitable heights. It should
then come as no surprise that the rules presented in the Myth & Magic
Players Guide can be twisted and formed into a set of rules perfect for
your vision of fantasy gaming.

The Rules
You should start with a thorough understanding of the rules and their
intent. Myth & Magic is not a rules-heavy game, so getting a strong
handle on the rules is simple. Read over the Myth & Magic Players
Guide once and youll retain some major chunks. Read it twice and
youll practically remember the rules. The intent of the Myth & Magic
Players Guide is to provide a minimal amount of workable rules to
serve as a structure for play. Combat is intended to be descriptive,
so the rules tend to allow room for a lot of narration. The action and
rounds system portrays a rapid and chaotic nature to combat, but the
actual thrusts, movements and damaging effects are meant to be filled
in by players and the GM. The rules for roleplaying and non-combat
tasks are equally liberal. As a result, you should find that few rules
need drastic alteration to fit your plans; however, we understand that
many gaming groups interested in playing Myth & Magic have legacy
customs they wish to attend. We also understand that some of the additions and revisions made in Myth & Magic require some discussion.
With this in mind, lets take a tour of the Myth & Magic Players Guide,
chapter by chapter, and discuss some things from a GMs perspective.
We have included a few recommendations for alternate rules in some
of these chapters and feel free to replace the rules in the Myth & Magic
Players Guide as needed.

Chapter 1: Attributes

Most of what concerns a GM here is in the use of attribute checks, the

most predominant mechanic in the game. Attribute checks are fairly
easy to adjudicate. If a character wishes to use some form of physical power to affect something in the game world, call for a Strength
check. Feats of agility or physical coordination (such as aim) fall under
Dexterity. Constitution checks govern long-term physical activity and
the bodys unseen defensive mechanisms (such as immune system).
Analyzing information and memorizing script are functions derived
from Intelligence. Wisdom checks cover insight and awareness (or

perceptiveness), so require them when characters wish to discern lies

or discover something hidden. Social interactions of all kinds rely on
Charisma.
Roleplaying: Players should be encouraged to describe their characters actions before an attribute check is allowed. Some gamers tend to
rely heavily on the roll, stating something brief such as, My character
interacts with the bartender to learn information, before flinging the
dice down.
Dissuade such behavior by pulling out some dialogue for social interactions. Request some description of how a character manipulates his
environment for Strength and Dexterity checks or Wisdom checks to
find something hidden. Require some roleplaying.
Proficiency Checks: The proficiency system is built to allow for auto
successes in some cases. Players are not required to roll checks that are
below their level of proficiency. For example, a PC wizard who spends
three NWP slots on Astronomy has a Superior level of proficiency and
neednt roll a die for any Basic or Average Astronomy checks.
GMs can fall into a bad habit of simply allowing for auto successes
with no description or dialogue. In a way similar to any attribute
check, proficiency checks should be described. If a check is related to a
social exchange, play it out. If a check is related to some physical feat,
ask the player to describe the action.
There is another, slightly unrelated issue with proficiency checks that
needs discussing. As a game commences, the vast majority of noncombat tasks that you present to your players will be pitched as an attribute
check. For example, dealing with animals is a Wisdom-based task, so
if a player wishes to calm an animal you will likely require a Wisdom
check. If a player in your game has the Animal Handling proficiency,
it is his or her responsibility to speak up and invoke the proficiency.
Sometimes, the player has a high enough level of proficiency to remove
the necessity to roll. Thats just fine; however, it is not your duty to
remember what proficiencies, and to which level of skill, each player
has chosen to learn.
Attribute Generation: There are six methods from which a player
may choose when generating attribute scores. You must review each
method carefully. Some methods help to generate above-average scores,
while others tend to yield scores suboptimal to a high-powered campaign. Ensure that your players have access to the methods you deem
appropriate. If a balanced approach is desired across the table, with

13

Rules: Player's Guide Chapter-by-Chapter

each player having access to all classes and each having a good score or
two, the point-buy method is recommended. For a truly unique experience, use the roleplaying method; it almost always helps to create a
memorable cast of characters.

concept. As a novel idea, talents can be controversial and at times imperfect. The cost in class talent slots for some talents are not perfect
either. As GM, you have our blessing to edit the cost of any class talent
and may remove any talents and create entirely new ones if desired.

Chapter 2: Races

Chapter 7: Equi pment

The races included in Chapter Two of the Myth & Magic Players Guide
are considered canon and should be familiar to all players. No significant changes to the mechanics should need to be made to conform
the races to your campaign, but feel free to tweak where necessary. One
particularly vulnerable area is class/race restrictions. A dwarf, for example, cannot be a wizard in a standard realm of Myth & Magic. This
is due to an innate resistance to magic that disturbs its manipulation.
As a GM, you can make singular exceptions for players that present an
outstanding character concept. For example, if a player at your table
wishes to be the first dwarf in the realm that is able to cast arcane
magic and this player wishes to blame a tainted bloodline for this ability, you may wish to allow such a player character to be born.

Chapter 3: Classes

Similar to the chapter on races, the classes presented in the Myth &
Magic Players Guide are basic to almost every fantasy campaign. They
are considered the iconic four. You should have no issues here, though
you will notice that each class has optional prerequisites. Classic-driven campaigns make proper use of these restrictions, especially attribute prerequisites, to minimize the number of members of speciality
classes, like paladins and rangers.

Chapter 4: Weapon Proficiencies

Players can choose to train in simple weapon training, fighting styles

or even combat maneuvers with their weapon proficiency slots. Everything in this chapter is fairly balanced, but you may wish to consider
disallowing maneuvers training to some or all of your players. The
concept of maneuvers training works for some character backgrounds
but can be abused by power gamers, so beware.

Chapter 5: Nonweapon Proficiencies

To be honest, the nonweapon proficiency system is entirely optional.

The attribute check reigns supreme in the realm of noncombat so the
entire game system is retained with the removal of nonweapon proficiencies. While optional to the system, they are integral to the feel of a
Myth & Magic campaign. Characters should exhibit specialties in both
combat and noncombat pursuits, so nonweapon proficiencies are core.
That being said, and in light of my admission of the optional nature
of things, if you or your players struggle with any concept of the nonweapon proficiency system, scrap the whole thing and move on.

Variable Damage: Many groups favor one set of damage. If you run
games for such a group, abandon the Damage vs. Large+ category
for weapons. Its simple enough to ignore. If you have a few gamers at
the table that get excited when fighting larger creatures because their
weapons deal more damage, take pause before eliminating this category. Enthusiasm is good for the game.
Item Saving Throws: The Myth & Magic Players Guide leads one to
believe that a held item is threatened only when its owner fails a saving
throw against an incredibly damaging spell. This is not true. Opponents often target weapons for melee attacks, especially if the weapon
is susceptible to damage from the attackers weapon. For example, a
fighter may wish to charge an archer holding a bow, targeting the bow
with a melee attack with his longsword. Bows are, in most cases, taut
wood and very susceptible to a powerful slashing strike. This is a called
shot (-4 attack penalty) and requires a Superior (TC 15) item save to
avoid being split. Weapons and other important items can be threatened outside of an owner failing a save versus a massive fireball spell.

Chapter 8: Playing Your Character

In an attempt to provide some guidance on how to roleplay a character, this chapter touches on the basics of alignment and character motivations. If you find that your gaming group tends to roleplay less than
youd like, try this: Grab a blank index card for each player and write
the characters alignment on one side and the character motivations
on the other. Put a mark of sorts (a check, dot, x, or whatever) during play on each side when that character plays his or her alignment
or motivations. Reward the players 5 - 10 experience points per two
levels for each mark after the end of each session or adventure. Even
players focussed entirely on game mechanics will start roleplaying their
characters more. Use 5 XP per mark if you are using the default progression; 10 XP per mark works better with the slower, alternative
chart listed.

BASE20 Judgment Calls: You determine the complexity on the

BASE20 chart when a player wants to perform a proficiency checkor
a simple attribute check. The acronym and adjectives of the system
make it quite easy. To help get you started, there is a section of advice
in the last chapter, but practice really makes perfect here.

Chapter 9: Travel and Exploration

Chapter 6: Class Talents

Chapter 10: Rewards

Class talents did not exist in previous editions. OGL feats come close,
but the idea of a class talent is to individualize members of the same
class and to inspire a concept as much as to mechanically create that

14

Most of this chapter can be house-ruled with ease. Supply markets

and costs can (and should) change to reflect the supply and demand
of goods and gear in your campaign. Players will rarely take issue with
modifications made to enhance the experience and will likely revere
them. The weapons section, though, contains some mechanical applications that warrant some discussion regardless of the setting.

Exploring is dangerous business. Hazards such as traps, poisons and

diseases creep up in play and can take an otherwise benign phase of
exploration into tense waters. Such hazards are fleshed out more thoroughly in the GMs Miscellany chapter.

We have presented two experience point tracks for each class. The faster progression represents about 70% of the slower progression track.
The slower track mirrors the original rules.

Rules: Player's Guide Chapter-by-Chapter

If you play frequently, enjoy a slower progression, or tend to reward

your players with substantial story points, use the slower track. Combat-oriented groups that tend to toss roleplaying to the wind may find
more satisfaction with the faster progression.

Chapter 11: Combat

This is the place where house rules are born. Combat is very important
to just about every type of campaign. Fantasy-based roleplaying games
are practically defined by heroic struggles again nigh-unbeatable odds.
Sure, this can sometimes mean a set of skill challenges to avoid the city
prison, but it most often means a straight-up brawl. Being so important, combat takes center stage in many campaigns.
Declaration of Actions: The first determination you will need to
make is whether your players will declare their actions before or after
initiative is rolled. The two options are vastly different in their execution and impact, so you should experiment with both. Declaring actions before initiative is faster for gameplay purposes and often leads
to unintended results. It can be terribly fun stuff. The downside is that
your players cannot react well to ongoing developments, such as the
casting of a spell, and some actions will seem utterly wasted. Declaring
actions after initiative leads to slower play, a lot of metagame strategy
and the full use of everyones actions. Surprises happen less frequently,
strategy becomes the ideal and fight scenes make more sense.
Initiative Rolls: You can roll initiative for the NPCs and monsters
however you want. Rolling one initiative for all opponents is easy, but
sometimes feels bland. So feel free to roll individual initiatives for a
manageable number of opponents. When controlling a large band
of bad guys, though, we recommend using individual initiative rolls
only when the opponents separate into two or more squads. And, even
then, we would recommend one initiative for each squad.
Another issue with initiative is managing the actual rolls at the table.
We recommend you write down the initiative rolls. This is especially
helpful when playing with larger groups. An alternative to rolling initiative is pulling out all four suits of Ace through 10 from a deck of
normal playing cards. Consider Aces to be 1s and rank the suits from
Clubs to Spades (alphabetically) to help break ties. Shuffle the cards
before each initiative and each player pulls a card, which represents
a d10 initiative result. Everyone should keep the card readily visible
until his or her actions have been completed and the cards are then
collected.
Natural 20s and 1s: We recommend that you specially treat d20 results of 1 or 20 on attack rolls. Players feel a terrible sense of dread
when they roll a natural 1 and the feel incredibly elated when they roll
a natural 20. Why not then allow the rolls to live up to their hype?
Natural 1s can simply be automatic misses or they can be critical fumbles. A few favorite tactics of mine are to snap the bow string, jam the
winch of a crossbow or open up the melee attacker for a free attack.
You could also cause the attacker to fall prone or drop his weapon.
Natural 20s are exciting. They should either cause double the rolled
damage or maximum damage to the target. Conversely, such a great
roll against opponents that are substantially weakened or considered

fodder could result in decapitation, lose of a limb, or other fatal and

dramatic consequence. Natural 20s could also be critical successes,
dealing additional damage (maximum or double) and imposing a secondary penalty on the target. The easiest way to determine secondary
effects is to consult the following chart. All secondary effects last for
the duration of the encounter or until the subject receives appropriate
healing.

Secondary Effect of Natural 20

d6

Location

Secondary Effect

Right arm or shoulder*

-1 to attack rolls

Left arm or shoulder*

-1 to attack rolls

Right leg

-1 to AC and +1 initiative

Left leg

-1 to AC and +1 initiative

Stomach or chest

+4 initiative

Head

-1 to attacks, -1 AC, +1 initiative

* If the target is holding a shield in this arm, impose both the attack

roll penalty and a -1 to AC for improper use of this shield.

Situational Rules: Many times over the course of a game, GMs are
called upon to adjudicate how a rule should be handled in a given
situation. This is a function of the Game Master. Those with a clear
understanding of both the rules and their intent will find it easier to
make judgment calls. The truth is that while players have no standing
at the table to question a GMs adjudication, a proper and fair ruling
builds up the GMs credibility, which, in turn, provides a longer rope
for the GM to experiment and play off the cuff.
While this is a difficult area to lend support and advice, GMs should
take note that whatever ruling is considered fair in light of the situation is the ruling that stands without question. The game must then
move on without delay.

Chapter 12: Spells

Everything in this chapter is fairly self-explanatory. Few spells require

a GMs discretion, though you may still wish to inject a governing rule
to reflect the campaign world. For instance, fireballs may deal much
less damage in an arctic world or may simply fizzle out.
Your real work is in responding to a wizard character that begins to
craft his own spells or modifications of existing spells. Too much ink
would be spent tutoring you on how to handle spell research when the
real iron word here is discretion. Go with the flow and air the side of
player entitlement. Spell research is an important part of a well-played
wizard, and spells can (and should) be toned down or empowered with
playtesting, so feel free to stay creative and cavalier in this regard.

Final Note

Add rules. Remove rules. Turn them upside down. Myth & Magic is
a GMs rule system, so make it your own by creating house rules that
emulate the style of fantasy gaming you and your gamers want to play.
Share your house rules online. Were always excited to see them.

15

Chapter 1

NPCs

Game Masters create and control the contents and flow of the game.
Among just a few of the Game Masters responsibilities are allowing or
disallowing character generation ideas, adjudicating creative and exciting combat, setting the Target Complexities for all skills, and constructing the many challenges and encounters that oppose the PCs.
The list goes on, of course. One of the largest aspects of Game Mastering is world-building and with it comes the responsibility to literally
fill the world with monsters and members of the peaceable races. The
players need to - and want to - interact with other nonplayer characters, or NPCs. Without NPCs, the world in which you play becomes
a veritable wasteland with nothing more than the occasional dungeon
sprinkling in an otherwise vacant landscape. This is unacceptable
Game Mastering. Give life to your game world.
Some NPCs simply fill space. They neednt be fleshed out with skills,
hit points or motivations. They are simply background characters that
may need names at most. Such NPCs are similar to dungeon walls
and fixtures descriptive additions that add realism and help you to
provide a visual of the environment. Backdrop NPCs, if colorfully created, can really amp up a mundane setting. The Memorable Trait chart
in the Random NPC Generator charts found later in this chapter can
be used to great ends here.
Other NPCs have a direct support role in the game. This batch provides the key monsters, masterminds, henchmen and benefactors that
are essential to a well-woven campaign. This chapter is dedicated almost entirely to the creation of such characters.

Creating
NPCs
Key NPCs have names, motivations, memorable descriptions and a
real purpose for existing in the game world. Some key NPCs have
levels in a playable character class (called classed NPCs), such as wizards or fighters. Other NPCs have no class levels. They are the experts
and specialists that are nonetheless important to the story. While all
classed NPCs have mechanical statistics for combat and gear, nonclassed NPCs have basic statistics to help flesh out the NPCs skills.
Regardless, if you feel an NPC is integral to the campaign, he, she or
it should be sufficiently fleshed out.

Classed NPCs

Classed NPC comprise the non-playable fighters, rangers, thieves and

wizards of the world. In most situations, a classed NPC will either
travel with the players or will oppose the players at some point in the
adventure. Creating a classed NPC is no different than creating a PC.

Attribute Generation

The Point-Buy Method and Class Method are the two preferred methods for creating classed NPCs, but you can roll for attributes randomly, if you wish. You may also assign a value to each attribute in a
way that is appropriate to your concept of the NPC. The goal here in
attribute generation is ensuring the NPC is adequate to perform to a
level that you find necessary for the importance of the character. For
example, you may find it appropriate to assign the masterminds attributes, while instead using the Point-Buy Method to generate scores
for his three cohorts.

Race and Class Combinations

You are not bound to abide by the rules presented in the Myth & Magic
Players Guide . If a Dwarven wizard makes sense for your campaign,
then create one. Be prepared to explain yourself if a player at your table
wants to follow suit. Racial anomalies do exist and, if the existence of
your Dwarven wizard is purposefully rare, dont be afraid to declare
this.

Equipment

There is no wealth per level progression. You control how much gear
and magical items are present in your campaign. Thus, how much gear
and how valuable this gear is are two questions that you must decide
for each NPC. It is generally more agreeable to players when allied
NPCs possess gear and items that complement the party and assist in
the adventure.
Equipment is a much more serious consideration when making enemy
NPCs. You still enjoy total creative freedom, but we advise you not
to over-equip enemies. The challenge of an encounter can drastically
elevate when a key NPC has a powerful magical item not suited for
his level. A +3 sword in the hands of a 1st-level fighter NPC is unbalanced.
+1/5 Rule: A good guideline to follow is the +1 per 5 Rule: Try to
ensure that you provide, on average, no more than a +1 bonus to a
weapon to be used in combat per 5 levels of the NPC. This is a loose
standard that applies to most NPCs, once they achieve Level 3 or 4.

17

NPCs: Creating NPCs

You may wish to break this rule for certain major villains but we recommend not adding more than additional +1 to the rule.
Treasure: The final consideration is treasure. Gear is a wonderfully rich
and traditional spoil of war. A good mantra to follow - Dont give it to
an NPC if you wouldnt give it to a PC. This being said, major villains
that have plagued the adventuring party for two years should probably
provide a memorable payday, so walk a fine line between the +1/5 Rule
and the cautionary mantra above. For example, a 5th-level dark ranger
could have a +2 longbow if the ranger is a memorable villain.

Special Classed NPCs

Of all the various classes from which an NPC may hail, none is as illustrious as the infamous assassin. Assassins in Myth & Magic are classed
thieves that have at least the death attack class talent, although most
have training in poison use as well. See the section below on hiring an
NPC for more.

Unclassed NPCs

You normally do not inject unclassed NPCs into the action of combat - they support the PCs in a critical aspect and help you propel the
story, instead. Unclassed NPCs are either commoners or specialists.

Commoners

Commoners can occupy any job in town, whether it is the innkeeper,

baker, butcher, or porter. Although commoners may still show skill in
their jobs, they require no highly specialized training and rarely, if ever,
demand a high wage. In essence, commoners are not quite experts or
known specialists. Regardless, non-classed NPCs that are key to the
story should still be thoroughly fleshed out and the mechanical building of such commoners is fairly streamlined.
Attributes: Attributes are generally unimportant. If one attribute is
important to the commoners profession, assign an attribute score between 12 and 16. You can safely assume a +0 check modifier on all
other attributes.
Proficiencies: Commoners do not receive proficiencies. They simply
use their attribute checks to ply their trade. Hence, when choosing to
enhance an attribute, its wise to consult the chart below to determine
which attribute check is rolled for the profession to which your NPC
belongs.
Equipment: Commoners should have gear sensible to their profession. A butcher, for instance, should have access to a cleaver. Most
commoners do not have a functioning suit of armor and are assumed
to have an AC 10, unless Dexterity was earlier considered important
and a Dex-based AC adjustment applies.

Common NPC Professions

Profession

Daily Cost

Wisdom

This person trains animals. The commoner trainer handles common animals, such as
dogs and horses.

5 sp

Appraiser

Intelligence

One with the ability to measure the worth of a valuable item (not gem)

1 gp

Armorsmith

Strength

One who crafts and repairs all types of armor

5 sp

Astrologer

Intelligence

A person with an understanding of the stars, moons, planets, etc.

1 gp

Blacksmith

Strength

One who works to create items of iron except weapons and armor

5 sp

Bowyer/Fletcher

Dexterity

A bowyer carves and makes bows. A fletcher carves arrow shafts. (A weaponsmith is
required to craft the arrow head.) A settled area will often have one person serving as
both the bowyer and Fletcher.

5 sp

Brewer

Intelligence

A person who brews ales, beers, ciders and other strong drink

2 sp

Carpenter

Strength

A woodworker who labors to create houses and interior fixings

3 sp

Cobbler

Intelligence

This person fabricates and repairs footwear

1 sp

Cook

Intelligence

This person is proficient in the art of preparing meals and drinks

8 cp

Farmer

Strength

One skilled in the growing and trading of agriculture

1 sp

Fisherman

Wisdom

A person working and trading in the fishing business

1 sp

Forger

Dexterity

One who can artfully replicate the script of another

2 gp

Guide

Wisdom

A person who can help others reach a destination in a certain terrain

7 sp

Healer

Intelligence

A person using herbs, salves, bandages and the like to mend minor wounds and ailments. A successful skill check provides 1 hit point of healing per day and/or alleviates
the symptoms of minor sicknesses.

1 gp

Herald

Intelligence

A royal or official messenger, or one with knowledge of heraldry

2 sp

Herbalist

Intelligence

This professional works solely with herbs to create certain effects

5 sp

Historian

Intelligence

One with the knowledge of the past (local, geographic or ancient)

2 sp

Animal Handler

18

Key Attribute Description

NPCs: Creating NPCs

The use of a tool as a weapon is considered improvised. A -2 attack

penalty applies. In most cases, a weapon in the Equipment chapter
of the Myth & Magic Players Guide is a suitable substitute for damage. For smaller and harder-to-define weapons, follow a 1d4 standard
damage roll.

a magical item or were once blessed by an artifact, divine blessing, or

wish. Other attributes may also be important. For example, while the
prime attribute of a spy is Dexterity, a solid Wisdom score may also be
desired. For secondary attributes, assign a number between 12 and 16.
Other attributes may be considered 10.

Hit Points: Commoners have 1d6 base hit points, modified by their
Fortitude modifier.

Proficiencies: Commoners receive no proficiencies; they use attribute

checks only. Specialists, on the other hand, have a certain level of proficiency in their chosen field of expertise. You determine the specialists
proficiency rank and consult the following chart:

Saving Throws: Commoners have a +0 base on all saves, modified by

their attributes only.
Roles: Commoners occupy most of the professions encountered in a
fantasy settlement. A list of some common roles for commoners can be
found on the table at the bottom of this page and the previous.

Specialist NPC Bonuses per Rank

Specialists

Specialist or expert NPCs often serve as hirelings. They are the truly
inspiring professionals of a campaign. Specialists have accumulated a
great deal of proficiency in their profession and have gathered a fair
amount of notoriety. Some may even be retired adventurers. All specialists have very specialized knowledge.
Attributes: Attributes may be more important to specialists than commoners. One attribute is critically important to their trade, so assign
an attribute score between 14 and 18. Some famous specialists may
have a score in their prime attribute that is greater than 18 if they have

Rank of
Specialist

Level of Proficiency

Proficiency Bonus

Expert:

Superior

+4 proficiency bonus

Master:

Exceptional

+5 proficiency bonus

Legend:

Legendary

+5 proficiency bonus

The rank of a specialist also determines how expensive the specialist is

to retain. See the Specialist NPC Professions chart on the next page
for more information.
Equipment: Specialists often have highly valuable gear required for
their trade. A spy, for example, should be equipped with the right
adventuring and combat gear. Legends in the spy world likely employ

Common NPC Professions (Cont.)

Profession

Key Attribute Description

Daily Cost

Jeweler

Intelligence

One who appraises and finishes gems

1 gp

Laborer

Strength

A person who performs all forms of unskilled manual labor.

5 cp

Leatherworker

Intelligence

A person who tans and treats leather to create clothes, armor and items

3 sp

Linguist

Intelligence

One fluent in up to four additional languages

3 sp

Lip Reader

Intelligence

A person who gleans what a target is saying by reading lips

1 sp

Miner

Strength

Someone able to work in or supervise a mining expedition

2 sp

Mountaineer

Strength

One who is proficient in climbing mountains (and guiding others)

1 sp

Pathfinder

Wisdom

A person able to find passage in wilderness terrains

1 sp

Potter

Dexterity

A person able to create clay items with a wheel and kiln

7 cp

Roper

Dexterity

One proficient with the use and knotting of ropes

8 cp

Scribe

Intelligence

A person who reads, writes and copies manuscripts, scrolls and the like

1 sp

Seaman

Intelligence

Someone with knowledge of the sea and the ships that traverse it

8 cp

Snare Builder

Intelligence

A person skilled at engineering snares and traps

2 sp

Stonemason

Strength

A worker able to create walls, castles and other stone structures

5 sp

Swimmer

Strength

An excellent long-distance and depth swimmer

1 sp

Tailor

Dexterity

Someone with skills in the fabrication and ornamentation of clothes

8 cp

Teacher

Intelligence

One who proficiently imparts knowledge of one subject onto others

5 cp

Theologist

Intelligence

A person with extensive knowledge of various religions

2 sp

Ventriloquist

Intelligence

One able to throw his voice to appear as if it originates from elsewhere

5 sp

Weaponsmith

Intelligence

One who forges or repairs weapons (including arrow heads)

5 sp

19

NPCs: Creating NPCs

powerful magical items, such as boots of elvenkind, to execute a job to

perfection.
In determining a specialists AC, if important, calculate the AC as you
would a player character.
Hit Points: Specialists have 1d6 base hit points, modified by their
Constitution. However, some specialists may be retired adventurers. If
this is the case, the specialist has half as many hit points as he did in
his adventuring class. For example, if the specialist was once a 9th-level
fighter with 82 hit points he now has 41 hit points. Of course, this
generalization assumes the specialist is still in relatively good health
and you, as GM, feel that his hit points will be important at some
time.
Saving Throws: Specialists have a +2 base on all saves, modified by
their attributes only. If a specialist is a retired adventurer, his saving
throw bases are half their former glory, rounded down.

Retired Adventurers: As the previous two entries indicate, specialist

NPCs may be retired adventurers. They retain only so much of their
former competence. Retired adventures have half as many hit points
as they had in their career. Their saving throw bases are also halved,
rounded down.
Roles: There are two types of specialists. The first type is simply an advanced commoner. Thus, a profession from the common lists is chosen
and the specialist receives the proficiency bonus to skill checks noted
above on page 18. Specialists, in this regard, are simply much better
at their profession and have come to be regarded as such. The second
type of specialist is a member of a truly unique and highly specialized profession that excels in common adventuring concerns, such as
spying and alchemy. The chart at the bottom of the page contains
professions exclusive to this second camp and also a few commoner
professions that often pump out specialists.

Specialist NPC Professions

Name

Key Attribute

Description

Expert

Master

Legend

Alchemist

Intelligence

A person who creates potions, salves, toxins, antitoxins, etc.

Master and legendary alchemists are often sought to create
unique, campaign-focused potions and antitoxins.

50 gp

150 gp

300 gp

Animal Handler

Wisdom

This person trains animals. Master handlers train exotic beasts,

such as griffons, to be competent mounts. Legends train
dragons.

5 gp

15 gp

50 gp

Armorsmith

Strength

Specialist armorers are hired to craft masterwork suits and

are often enlisted to craft armor that will receive a magical
enchantment.

5 gp

10 gp

25 gp

Astrologer

Intelligence

A person with an understanding of the stars, moons, planets,

etc. Specialist astrologers can discern changing pattern in the
celestial stars and make predictions

15 gp

25 gp

50 gp

Bowyer

Dexterity

A master bowyer is required to fashion a masterwork bow or a

bow that will receive a magical enchantment.

5 gp

10 gp

25 gp

Intelligence

Specialist healers can restore 1d6 points of damage per day

and can alleviate the symptoms of serious maladies. Legendary
healers, for example, can temporarily toll the effects of magical
diseases, such as lycanthropy.

25 gp

75 gp

250 gp

Intelligence

A sage is an expert researcher in a particular knowledge-based

subject. They have dedicated their lives to the subject, so many
have firsthand information that could take a character weeks to
procure.

100 gp

200 gp

500 gp

Soldier

Strength

A soldier is a man-at-arms that has no classed levels and is considered a 1 HD fighter without specialization. Soldiers can be
archers, crossbowmen, footmen, cavalry or any other military
occupation.

1 gp

2 gp

3 gp

Spy

Wisdom

Spies infiltrate, track, listen and observe. They are specialists

at procuring secrets and gathering information about a person
through first-hand observations.

50 gp

150 gp

250 gp

Weaponsmith

Intelligence

Specialist weaponsmiths create masterwork and soon-to-be

magical weapons, including arrow heads.

5 gp

25 gp

50 gp

Healer

Sage

20

Daily Cost

NPCs: Hiring NPCs

Hiring
NPCs
Commissioning the services of a classed NPC, commoner or specialist
is an oft-trodden path for adventurers. This can be one of the real joys
of roleplaying, so the actual hiring should be played out in character.
NPCs may be hired for a contract job or on a long term basis. If an
NPC is to be hired on a short-term basis, use the daily cost listed in
this section or on the chart, if applicable. NPCs may also be hired
for long-term employment, which is often the case when the PC has
established a stronghold later in his or her career. In this case, use the
monthly cost, if listed.

Classed NPCs

Cost: The price for such an NPCs services varies with the negotiation
skills of the character (and player, of course). An average cost is around
10 gp per day per level for non-spellcasting classes. A cleric charges 25
gp per day per level and the cost of any scrolls and potions expended;
most of this money is considered church property. A wizard charges
30 gp per day per level and the cost of any special components, scrolls
and potions expended.
Classed NPCs for hire are rare and often have only a few levels of
experience. In any standard fantasy settlement, about 1% of all classed
NPCs could be hired.
Spellcasters generally charge by the spell. For most spells, the cost of
casting is 100-200 gp per caster level. Some Level 1 spells common
enough to reduce the cost to 50 gp per casting. Some more common
Level 1 spells include: comprehend languages, cure light wounds, detect poison and protection from evil.

Specialist NPCs

Each specialist has an average cost of daily work noted in the Specialist
NPC Profession Chart on the previous page. This cost can be modified
by a number of factors, such as notoriety of the NPC, secrecy of the
job and urgency. The daily cost does not reflect the cost of materials
expended for a job, if any, and only accounts for labor.
Specialists can be hired on a monthly basis. In fact, many specialists
are employed as such by wealthy lords and adventurers who have built
keeps. The monthly cost is generally two-thirds of what the cost would
be if paid monthly on a per diem basis (20 times the daily rate).
Roleplaying the contract is an enjoyable aspect of the game and those
with the mercantilism skill should be aptly with or without the need
for a roll.
Sages: Sages are sought after by adventurers for their knowledge on a
specific subject. Sages are often employed by a guild, but some are in
the employ of large churches or powerful and rich nobles. In all accounts, sages are extremely intelligent and have access to a vast store of
learned knowledge and an expansive library.

22

Hiring an Assassin
The assassin breaks the mold. While most classed NPCs spend their time on
adventures, the assassins adventure is the hired hunt, so high level thieves
with assassination class talents can be procured. The hiring of an assassin is
not a task to be taken lightly. First, its an evil act, regardless of the target.
The alignment of the PC should be questioned when an assassin is hired
and a conversation take place between you and the player regarding the possible long-term ramifications of the evil act. Second, its dangerous. Assassins
pride themselves on remaining fairly anonymous. If the PC has no verifiable
and vouching reference, the fact that the PC knows the assassin may be
enough to draw unintended ire. Lastly, its expensive very expensive, and
the cost can skyrocket when the target is particularly well-known.
The average cost of an average assassin (5th-level thief with poison use
and death attack) is 500 to 2,000 gold pieces. Master assassins (9th- level)
charge between 2,000 and 8,000 gold pieces. The real legends of assassination (14th-level and beyond) rarely take jobs unless the target is sufficiently
challenging (and interesting) and commonly charge 10,000 gold pieces for
fairly anonymous targets and up to ten times that amount for someone of
high import.
It is helpful to create an assassin as you would create a PC. If that is burdensome, it is essential to at least assign a full array of attributes and assign skill
points where necessary. This will allow you to perform actual rolls for success
(once a plan has been hatched) to determine whether the assassin succeeds
in all legs of his journey.
An alternate method is to simply roll a d%, according to the following formula. This is the simplest and blandest approach. Once the percentage is
known, a simple roll determines whether the assassin succeeded in all tasks:
Successful Assassination Percentage = 50% + 2% per Level
(maximum 95%)
Failed Assassinations: Not all assassination attempts are successful and you
must consider the motives of a caught assassin. Most do not wish to die and
will strike a deal for their release. If this should happen, the hiring PC is
likely to be the target of revenge. An even more frightening prospect is the
return of the assassin to dispatch the PC; no assassin wishes the trouble of
clearing his name when a simple cleaning-up will suffice.

When creating a sage, Intelligence is the primary concern. All sages

have an Intelligence score commensurate with their experience. Expert
sages (+3 proficiency bonus) have an Intelligence score of 10+1d6.
Master sages (+7 proficiency bonus) have an Intelligence score of
12+2d3, while legendary sages (+12 proficiency bonus) have an Intelligence equal to 15+1d3.
All sages have at least one subject for which they have accumulated
enough knowledge to call themselves expert, master or legend. Some
sages have secondary areas of expertise they may have only attained
expert or master status. As GM, you obviously may choose how many
subjects a given sage knows and to which level of specialization the
sage has attained. If a random sage is to be encountered, the following
chart may be used:

NPCs: NPC Characteristics

Descri ption

Random Sage Proficiency

D%

Primary
Subjects

Proficiency Secondary Proficiency

Rank
Subjects
Rank

01-50

Expert

N/A

51-64

Master

Expert

65-74

Master

Master

75-84

Legend

Expert

85-94

Master

Expert

95-00

Legend

Master

The time it takes to research a particular topic relates to the obscurity

of the knowledge sought. The following chart lists the required research time. The complexities track the information provided in the
Proficiencies chapter under knowledge-based skills.

A good GM can describe an NPC in a way that creates a lasting impression. Important and recurring NPCs should be tailored to your
tastes. They should have an interested description that fits their position in the story. Consider the following description for the traitorous
captain of the guard who will later become the villain:
The captain has tanned skin, dark and oiled hair, small narrow eyes
and arched brows. She is a tall and strong human woman in her early forties. She often wears a black-trimmed, red cape that is perched
on ornate flanges jutting from her shoulder plates. She favors her
left leg and uses a sword swagger stick adorned with a petrified and
dispelled basilisk eye.
Random Description: Major NPCs should be uniquely crafted,
though mere background NPCs ought not be relegated to the status of
vanilla props. The charts on the following page can be used on the fly
to randomly determine the description of an NPC.

Personality

Sage Research Time

Complexity of
Knowledge Check

Required
Study Time

Basic

1d6 minutes

Average

1d6 hours

A good GM not only assigns a personality to an NPC but effectively

portrays this personality in play. Recurring and key NPCs should have
a personality tailored to the story. If a random personality is needed,
the following chart should help:

Random NPC Personality

Superior

1d6 days

d20

Trait

Exceptional

1d6 weeks

Loud and/or Hot-Tempered

Legendary

1d6 months

Snotty and/or Demeaning

Mischievous and/or Scandalous

Absent-Minded and/or Clumsy

Courageous and/or Impetuous

Inquisitive and/or Curious

Compulsive and/or Obsessive

Forgiving and/or Trusting

Determined and/or Focused

Commoner NPCs

Each commoner profession has an associated daily labor rate, as well.

Material is an additional expense, but most common professions require less than 1 gold piece worth of material.
The monthly rate for a commoners labor is 20 times the daily rate.

NPC
Characteristics
This section will help you to create the description and personality of
an NPC.

Name

NPC names are entirely campaign specific and heavily dependent

upon local traditions. From an advice angle, it is advisable to have at
least fifty NPC names printed out and placed handily nearby. You will
often be required to label NPCs on the fly.

10

Greedy and/or Selfish

11

Irritable and/or Compulsive

12

Gullible and/or Innocent

13

Argumentative and/or Biased

14

Happy and/or Fun-Loving

15

Cynical and/or Jaded

16

Quiet and/or Contemplative

17

Dull and/or Boring

18

Nervous and/or Paranoid

20

Cantankerous and/or Pushy

There are several resources for NPC name generation. Simply search
for, Fantasy Name Generator, online and youll quickly receive links
to at least a dozen possible applications.

23

NPCs: NPC Characteristics

Random NPC Description Generator

Sex

% Chance

Male

01 - 50

Female

51 - 00

Skin Color*

% Chance

% Chance

Average for Race and Sex

01 - 59

Small (short or skinny)

60 - 79

Big (tall or heavy)

80 - 00

Facial Hair*

% Chance

Albino

01 - 10

None

01 - 39

Pale

11 - 29

Mustache

40 - 49

Fair

30 - 59

Goatee

50 - 59

Olive

60 - 79

Short Beard

60 - 79

Dark Tan

80 - 89

Long Beard

80 - 89

Brown to Black

90 - 97

Fu Manchu

90 - 94

Exotic (Other)

98 - 00

Exotic (Other)

95 - 00

* These are only skin tints. The player chooses a race and any ethnic group within
that race, if any. Then, the random skin tint applies to that group.

Hair Style

% Chance

* Often, the player characters race and gender will dictate to what extent, if any,
the character has facial hair.

Distinguishing Mark

% Chance

Bald

01 - 09

Scar (Facial)

01 - 09

Balding

10 - 19

Scar (Neck)

10 - 19

Short Spikes

20 - 29

Scar (Other)

20 - 29

Short Roman

30 - 39

Tattoo (Facial)

30 - 39

Medium Straight

40 - 54

Tattoo (Neck)

40 - 49

Medium Curly

55 - 69

Tattoo (Other)

50 - 59

Mohawk

70 - 74

Birthmark (Facial)

60 - 69

Long Straight

75 - 84

Birthmark (Neck)

70 - 79

Long Curly

85 - 97

Birthmark (Other)

80 - 89

Exotic (Other)

98 - 00

Exotic (Other)

90 - 00

Hair Color

% Chance

Identifying Flaw/Trait

% Chance

01 - 04

Lisp

01 - 06

Light Blond

05 - 15

Stutter

07 - 13

Blond

16 - 22

Other Speech Problem

14 - 20

Dirty Blond

23 - 31

Missing Digit

21 - 24

Light Brown

32 - 40

Extreme Hair

25 - 31

Medium Brown

41 - 49

Hairless (Eyebrows, etc.)

32 - 37

Dark Brown

50 - 59

Favoring Leg

38 - 39

Strawberry Blond

60 - 64

Visible Facial Deformity

40 - 46

Dull Red

65 - 69

Hidden Deformity

47 - 53

Bright Red

70 - 74

Shaky

54 - 60

Salt & Pepper

75 - 82

Hearing Problem

61 - 67

Black

83 - 87

Eyesight Problem

68 - 74

Gray

88 - 91

Thin

75 - 81

Green Hued

92 - 93

Portly

82 -88

Violet Hued

94 - 95

Lefty

89 - 94

Blue Hued

96 - 97

Roll Dist. Mark Again

95 - 97

Exotic (Other)

98 - 00

Exotic (Other)

98 - 00

White

24

Height and Weight

Chapter 1

Monsters

This chapter contains over seventy-five of the more iconic monsters to

challenge players of levels 1 10. This chapter also contains rules to
individualize and advance monsters.

Mastering
Monsters
Monsters included in this chapter represent a wide swath of different
beasts and baddies, each ready to test your players mettle. Your job, s
GM, is to look at the monster entries, cook up a little creativity and
run the monsters effectively and memorably. The monster entries in
this chapter help in this regard and serve as a source of fuel for combat
and non-combat play.
In determining how to run a monster (and when we say, run a monster, were talking about the actions taken before, during and after
combat), the Alignment, Intelligence and Wisdom of the monster provide a fine source of inspiration. Alignment can be used to determine,
in a round-about way, how a monsters view of the world gels with
that of the player characters. Monsters with the opposite moral code
would sensibly oppose the player characters and conduct themselves as
enemies. Alignment is also a crutch to use when deciding how active
a monster is in its own affairs. Lawful monsters are generally more
deliberate, while chaotic monsters are more apt to abandon a pressing
interest for an immediate concern, such as when a group of adventurers happen to enter their lair.
Intelligence helps in creating the environment in which the monster
is encountered. Low or fairly non-intellgent monsters are instinctual
and will often carve out a space to sleep, collect food and mate. The
location of such monsters lairs will often be protection enough and no
additional defenses are raised. Monsters with moderate to average intellects, which are those with a score between 6 and 13 have an ego and
a will to survive. They often have homes or lairs that are situated and
located in a such a way or place that aids the monster in its quest to
stay alive. Minor traps or warning devices are not beyond the intellect
of such monsters. Above average to highly intelligent monsters generally make great use of their surroundings and are apt to search out a
home that works to their favor. Flying monsters with such intelligence,
for example, need no floors or traditional doors; thus, they may lair in
a complex with no consistent floor space that uses vertical shoots and
expansive space. Intelligence is also a great indicator of what a monster

would do in the face of imminent death. Low or fairly non-intelligent

monsters often feel the instinct to survive and flee, while those with
higher intelligence may barter for their lives or fight harder if failure
provokes something far more frightening than death.
Wisdom is a key entry, since the monsters awareness and ability to
interact with its surroundings is critical leading up to a battle. Very
perceptive monsters will likely notice or hear the approaching party
members and set up or flee. Wisdom and Intelligence are complementary stats here. The element of surprise is often too good to discard, so
perceptive and intelligent monsters will seek to gain it.
Alignment, Intelligence and Wisdom, when used in conjunction with
the monsters combat stats and abilities can turn an otherwise dull
encounter into something with a bit more teeth.

Memorable Monsters

The entry provided for each monster represents the common member
of the monsters population and it should be the first place you look to
individualize the monster without adding to its power level. Without
touching the Hit Dice, AC or Combat Ability Modifier yet, you can
start with the description, alignment, attributes and gear.
If you wish your players to remember a select few monsters in an adventure, do not alter the description or alignment of the vast majority
of monsters and spend your time tweaking the select few. For inspiration, you can start with the random NPC Description chart in the
NPC chapter, or you can simply put paint to canvas and concoct whatever outrageous impression you want. For example, the high sorceress
of the dark naga tribe may have two heads. In terms of alignment, a
slight alteration can go a long way too. Imagine the interesting motivations and roleplaying potential behind the two-headed high sorceress
of the dark naga tribe that is Lawful Neutral, instead of Lawful Evil.
Attributes and gear can also play a part in individualizing a key monster - an extremely intelligent hill giant is quite interesting indeed - and
the weapons and armor commonly associated with a certain monster
can be scrapped for more distinct gear. First take away the hill giants
boulders and replace them with flaming dwarf corpses, then toss in
some samurai-style armor, and prepare to soak in some amazed faces.
Altering Core Mechanics: Toying with the other mechanics included
in a monsters entry can be tricky. The goal, in this section, is to alter
the common monster to create an individual and memorable encounter without altering the power of the creature. Although most altera-

25

Monsters: Monster Entries

tions to the attack modifier, AC, HD, special attacks and defenses will
result in a shift of power, you can carefully tinker without producing
a net effect that requires more or less experience points. Adding a +1
to attacks, while reducing -1 to AC is one such example and this may
exemplify your idea of a monster having its defenses torn apart and
responding with a resurgence of anger and adrenaline.
Modifications to the core mechanics of a monster can be prepared
before the battle or made during combat. This is an important power
inherent to the role of the Game Master. The alterations to the monster above, whose natural hide has been torn to shreds, could result
from an injury that happened before the PCs arrive or it could result
from a critical hit that a PC scored during the fight.

Advancing Monsters

The simplest way to advance a monster is to increase its Hit Dice.

With each +1 increase in Hit Dice, the monster receives another roll of
its Hit Dice for hit points and a +1 boost to its attacks and its Armor
Class.
For each +1 increase to its Hit Dice, the monsters Encounter Level
increases by one and the monster thereafter has the minimum required
experience points for the higher EL. Read the following example to
visualize the process of taking a bugbear from 3 HD to 6 HD:
1.

An average bugbear has 3+3 Hit Dice, +3 attacks and a 15

AC. It is worth 120 xp.

2.

Increasing it to 6 Hit Dice results in 6+3 HD, +6 attacks

and an 18 AC.

3.

Consulting the XP/EL Chart, which has been copied on

this page for convenience, we see that 120 XP makes a sin-
gle bugbear an EL 3.

4.

Boosting the monster three HD increases the bugbear to

an EL 6 worth 1,000 xp.

Encounter
Level

Experience
Point Budget

15 - 34 XP

35 - 64 XP

65 - 119 XP

120 - 269 XP

270 - 549 XP

550 - 999 XP

1,000 - 1,499 XP

1,500 - 2,499 XP

2,500 - 3,499 XP

3,500 - 4,999 XP

10

5,000 - 6,499 XP

11

6,500 - 8,499 XP

12

8,500 - 10,499 XP

13

10,500 - 12,999 XP

and they should suffice for many sessions of gaming. If you still feel
the need to create entirely new attacks or defenses for a monster, you
will need to judge how many ELs worth of advancement the monster
accrues. In most cases, it will be fairly sensible. If you were to provide
the monster with a toughened exoskeleton that granted the monster
half-damage from slashing and piercing weapons, you might sensibly
consider that the monsters hit point total probably increased by about
3HD as a result of the resistance. You may also choose proficiencies for
special monsters. Nonweapon proficiencies do not add to the EL of a
monster, but certain weapon proficiencies add +1 to the EL, such as
fighting styles and maneuvers training. The point here is that the finer
aspects of monster advancement should in any event be within the
purview of a creative GM.

Special Attacks: When advancing the HD of a monster, you normally

do not change the saving throws required to thwart the monsters special attacks. Ratcheting up the complexity of a required saving throw
shifts the EL one step for each increased complexity. This is independent of an EL boost from more HD.

Monster
Entries

The ettercaps poisonous bite requires a Superior (TC 15) Fortitude save. If you were to ratchet the required saving throw to
Exceptional (TC 20), the ettercaps EL would increase one step.
Since the ettercap is worth 650 xp, it is a mid-range EL 5. Upping
the complexity of the save versus its poisonous bite ratchets the EL
of that particular ettercap to EL 6 and the monster is now worth
1,000 xp.

The remainder of this chapter is dedicated to the various monster entries. To effectively run combat with a monster, you must understand
how to navigate the actual stat blocks.

Ratcheting up the required saving throw always increases the EL. If

you were to advance the ettercap a few HD in addition to increasing
the complexity of its bite, you would first calculate the EL based on the
additional HD and then add one additional EL for the bite.
Finer Aspects of Advancement: Increasing HD and the required saving throw for special attacks are two easy ways to advance a monster

26

XP Budget for Encounters

Stat Blocks
Name:This is what most people call the monster.
Hit Dice: Hit Dice represent the brute combat power of a monster.
The parenthetical notation contains the average number of hit points
for such a monster. The hit point total is the sum of a number of d8
rolls equal to the Hit Dice. The parenthetical notation lists an average,
but roll when a random number of hit points is desired.

Monsters: Monster Entries

AC (Armor Class): The AC of the monster is listed here. If the monsters AC includes armor, this fact is noted and the type of armor
should equate to the AC. For ease of play, the monsters AC does not
change if surprised or attacked from behind. A +2 attack bonus to the
attacker suffices.
Saves: The monsters Fortitude, Reflex and Will saving throw modifiers are listed here. The notation -- represents a monster immune to
any effect calling for such a save. This is most often encountered when
running undead creatures who do not have Constitution scores and
thus are immune to all effects requiring a Fortitude save.
Attacks: Here, youll find the monsters rate of attacks, as well as the attack bonus and damage for each different type of attack. For monsters
with multiple attacks, some follow a distinct series, such as claw-clawbite; if so, the series is listed. A noted series is resolved in succession;
the attacks are not staggered to the back of the round. Multiple attacks
only occur at the end of the round if the monster is using a weapon or
distinctly different attack sources such as a bire and tail, if such attacks
do not belong to a series.
Special Attacks: Any special attacks are listed here and explained in
the description of the monster.

Frequency: As a general matter, this line item quickly summarizes how

commonly adventurers encounter such a monster. There are many factors you may wish to consider based on your campaign. Frequency is
a very general term.
Activity Cycle: Time of the day when the monster is most active. Nocturnal monsters can be active anytime when in subterranean environments. This is a general guideline and there are many exceptions.
Terrain: This is the most common terrain in which a monster can be
found, although many monsters can (and will) be found elsewhere.
Attributes: The full set of the average example of the monsters species
is listed here for reference. Modify at will.
Special Qualities: Monsters have other qualities, such as senses, protections and even vulnerabilities. For special senses, if no range is listed
in the entry, assume the range is 60 feet.
XP: The number listed is the amount of experience points awarded for
surviving a threatening encounter with the monster.

Size: The size and height (or length) of the monster is listed here. As
a rule of thumb, smaller than Medium-sized monsters have a fixed
amount of damage they can deal regardless of weapon type. Large
monsters often use increased damage dice or have a flat bonus to damage, either of which will be noted in the Attacks entry.
Size plays a part in close-quarters combat, i.e. grapples and trips. A
general rule is to provide a +4 bonus to the initiation or defense of a
maneuver for each size category above the opponent. For example, an
ogre wishes to grapple a human; it receives a +4 bonus on the roll.
Movement: The listed movement speed indicates the distance traveled
in combat using one secondary action. If only one entry is listed, it
corresponds to land movement. Alignment: This is the alignment of
the monster.
Alignment: The general way in which a monster behaves and a respresentation of the belief systems which drive its behavior. Exceptions,
though uncommon, do exist for each monster.
Morale: A morale roll is 2d10. Any result equal to or greater than
the monsters morale indicates a faltering resolve and the potential for
retreat or surrender. Morale is only rolled in times where it is sensible
to question the monsters spirit. There is more information on morale
in Part 4 of the Combat chapter.
Appearing: This is the number of appearing monsters in an average
encounter. This is only a guideline and often used for random encounters. The GM is encouraged to tailor her encounters as she sees fit.
Treasure: If you determine that a certain monster has random treasure, this entry lists the treasure type rolled in the Treasure chapter. If
more than one rating is listed, you choose which of the listed ratings
apply. A random treasure roll is used in lieu of assigning your own appropriate treasure. OL stands for out of lair; L stands for lair.

27

Ankheg
Hit Dice: 3 (3d8 hp)
AC: 16
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +4

Attacks: 1/1; Bite +3 (3d6 + 1d4 acid)
Special Attacks: Spit acid
Size: L (10 ft. long)
Movement: 30 ft., 15 ft. burrow
Alignment: N
Morale: 9
Appearing: 1d6
Treasure: L: C
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Temp/trop plains or forests
Str 17, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 0, Wis 10, Cha 5
Special Qualities: Burrow, infravision (60 ft.), tremorsense (300 ft.)
XP: 175
The ankheg is a burrowing monster found in temperate weather. It
looks like a 10-foot-long worm with six legs and a hard, chitinous shell
over most of its body. It weighs 800 pounds and can vary in color from
dull yellow to rich brown. It has strong legs and mandibles used for
burrowing and biting, as well as two long antennae that can detect a
tremor from a great distance away.
Combat: Ankhegs are rarely encountered in the open, since their
tremorsense alerts them to possible danger well in advance. At the first
sense of a tremor, an ankheg will burrow down 5 or so feet from the
surface and wait for something to approach. It will then lie and wait
until its prey comes overhead and will quickly burrow up and surprise
with a mandible bite to the lower half of its target. This bite crushes its
victim and secretes a digestive acid that deals additional damage. Once
battle commences, an ankheg generally retreats below ground when
the tide of the battle turns. Depending on the nature of its wounds
and the height of its hunger, an ankheg may attempt to follow its opponents to strike again. Note that an ankheg uses its spit acid attack
sparingly, since the ejected acid is required to digest food and, without
an ample store of acidic enzymes, the ankheg must wait several hours
before eating again.
Burrow: An ankheg can burrow into temperate soil at 15 ft. per round,
but, at this speed the ankheg cannot create a lasting tunnel. If the
ankheg moves at 5 ft. per round, it can create a usable tunnel 5 ft. tall
and 5 ft. wide which it can then move through at 30-ft. per round.
Spit Acid: An ankheg can spit a stream of acid up to 30-ft long and
5-ft. wide once every 6 hours. All creatures caught in the stream must
succeed on a Superior (TC 15) Reflex save or take 4d4 points of acid
damage. One such attack depletes an ankhegs acid supply for 6 hours,
and it cannot spit acid or deal acid damage with its bite until after the
6 hours has expired.

28

Tremorsense: They may sense prey via vibrations in the earth at a

range up to 300 feet.
In The World: Ankhegs predominately live underground in a maze of
tunnels they burrow with their powerful mandibles. Such tunnels can
prove beneficial to the any cultivated land, by way of increasing air
and water flow in the soil. If encountered within such tunnels, one can
expect to find ankhegs very territorial. Although they have a digestive
enzyme that breaks down most organic matter, ankhegs prefer freshly
killed meat.
If food sources are ample in a particular area, ankhegs will cut larger
lairs out of their tunnel system 40-50 feet from the surface of the
ground. Here, they create sleeping and mating chambers. When the
food runs scarce, they burrow onward in search of a more fruitful locale.
Ankhegs are often hunted if they threaten a farmland. They are also
hunted for their digestive enzyme and chitinous shell, both of which
are used in trade as acid or material for armor, respectively.
Ecology: Ankhegs live in temperate climates and must hibernate in
the winter season when they shut their metabolic systems down almost completely. While hibernating, their antennae remain alert and it
takes 1d6 rounds for an ankheg who senses danger to awaken.
Ankhegs mate in the Fall. Females who become fertilized kill their
male mates, fill their carcasses with the fertilized eggs and within a
few weeks, 2d6 eggs hatch. Baby ankhegs stay with their mother for
two years, during which time they learn to live and hunt. After two
years, they separate from their mother. Singular ankhegs discovered by
adventurers are often recently emancipated.

basilisk
Hit Dice: 6+1 (6d8+1 hp)
AC: 16
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +6

Attacks: 1/1; Bite +6 (1d10)
Special Attacks: Petrifying Gaze
Size: M (7 ft. long)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: 12
Appearing: 1d4
Treasure: L: F
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Day
Terrain: Any land
Str 21, Dex 9, Con 14, Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.)
XP: 1400
A basilisk is a reptilian, scale-covered creature that turns living flesh
into stone with its gaze. A common basilisk weighs 300 pounds and
measures 7 feet in length from nose to the start of its tail, which can
then extend an additional 7 ft. It has a brown body with a yellow belly
and eight lizard-like legs. It sports a snappy jaw and large golden eyes.
Combat: A basilisk has a very slow metabolism and so moves slowly.
It rarely over-exerts itself in combat. Thus, it relies heavily on its gaze
attack, but it will bite those close by, and it never pursues in chase.
Petrifying Gaze: Any living creature (composed of flesh) within 30
feet that meets the gaze of the basilisk must make a Superior (TC 15)
Fortitude save or be turned permanently to stone. An active attempt to
avoid the gaze removes the danger of succumbing to the gazes effect,
but a -4 penalty is applied to all attacks made while doing so.
The common basilisk is easily betrayed by its own gaze. If a mirror, or
similarly reflective object, is used to cause the creature to see its own
gaze, there is a 50% chance the monster is instantly turned to stone.
In the World: For many colonies, wandering animals and stone deposits serve as food for years and quell the need or desire to venture out
to feed. For this reason, many nearby civilizations may not be aware
of the threat, until one day, many lives are lost in a random, deadly attack. The impetus for such attacks is almost always survival-based.
Loners are much more difficult to predict. Most singular basilisk are
very old and live in solitude for a reason - they dont play well with
others. Loners tend to wander from their holes and engage in random
acts of violence much more frequently than basilisks living in colonies. Loremasters attribute this behavior to the fact that many older
basilisks develop multiple stone cysts in parts of their brains that cause
erratic behavior. This is an especially dangerous clash of physiological
events, due to the fact that many basilisks grow stronger and fiercer
as they age.

In general, adventurers and other sturdy folk view basilisks as monsters

and attack them on sight. While a perfectly commonsense approach,
an often-ignored, yet possible, angle is to capture and train a basilisk.
Younglings and slightly-matured basilisks (up to the age of four) can
be trained to serve as guardians and pets. Training a basilisk requires
eight straight weeks of full-time attention (the basilisk being blindfolded for seven of these). The trainer must succeed on an Exceptional
(TC 20) Animal Handling check at the beginning of each week. One
failed check results in total failure - the basilisk in question cannot be
trained - and a failed check at the beginning of the last week (when
the blindfold is removed) could result in the trainer being turned to
stone.
Ecology: Being very adaptive to its environment and able to survive
on multiple food sources, including stone, the basilisk can be found
in almost any land terrain either alone or in small colonies of 1d4.
Such small colonies generally inhabit shallow caves or burrows suitable
to their terrain, where they spend most of their time sleeping, only
intermittently venturing out to hunt, protect their lair or roam the
nearby environs. Colonies do not generally have a leader, per se, and
all basilisks able to hunt are required to fend for themselves. The only
exception to this can be seen for a two-year period of time when a family colony designates a protector of the young and forager of food.
Basilisks who survive their first two years of life tend to live for a century or longer. Youngling basilisks have a small chance of survival, due
to complications in the development of their gaze attack which has a
50% chance to turn a basilisk (younger than two years old) into stone
without notice. Petrified young are eaten by the colony, so they are
quite rare to find and fetch upwards of 200 gp to collectors of such
oddities.

29

Balor
Hit Dice: 20 (20d8 hp)
AC: 28
Saves: Fort +22, Ref +19, Will +19

Attacks: 1/1; Slam +25 (2d6+10) or two-handed sword +25 (2d6+10
plus terror) or flaming whip +25 (1d4 plus grapple and fire); or 2/1; 2
Slams +25 (2d6+10)
Special Attacks: Flaming whip, great sword, spell-like abilities, terror
Size: L (14 ft. tall)
Movement: 40 ft., 90 ft. (fly)
Alignment: CE
Morale: 18
Appearing: 1
Treasure: L: Hx3
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Lower Planes
Str 25, Dex 25, Con 25, Int 25, Wis 25, Cha 25
Special Qualities: Death throes, immunities, weapon immunity
XP: 46000
Balors are the epitome of terror on the Lower Planes. Indisputable
masters of chaos and fear, they take immense pleasure in the suffering
of others and simply torture lesser creatures for the enjoyment it brings
them. Armed with their flaming whip and sword, they reign supreme
and few infernals are a match for its ferocity and strength.

Great Sword: As long as a balor wields its lightning-bolt-shaped twohanded sword, it acts as a sword of wounding and can detect evil/good
within a 30 foot radius. Anyone other than a balor that picks up the
balors sword suffers 6d10 points of damage and must make a Legendary (TC 25) Fortitude save or die immediately.

These frightful infernal creatures are abhorrent and repugnant in visage, with crimson red skin, massive horns, gargantuan bat-like wings,
terrifying venomous fangs and elongated bestial claws. Standing 14
feet high and weighing 4,500 pounds, they are fearsome and the picture perfect demons of legend, almost always surrounded by scorching
flames and a multitude of terrified subservient minions.

Immunities: Balors are immune to natural fire and electrical damage

and all poisons. Balors take only half damage from cold, gaseous attacks, magical fire attacks and silver weapons.

Balors have the ability to telepathically communicate with any intelligent life, regardless of language. In addition, they speak infernal.
Combat: Balors prefer to attack with either their fists or melee weapons (preferred) if in melee, or with their spell-like abilities for those
they cant engage directly, in which case they favor more direct damage
spells such as pyrotechnics. They will use telekinesis to disarm ranged attackers or move reluctant melee combatants to within their reach.
Death Throes: When a balor dies, it explodes in a fireball dealing
50 points of fire damage to anything within 100 feet, destroying any
weapons it is holding. Anyone within the blast zone who succeeds on
an Exceptional (TC 20) Reflex save suffers half damage.
Flaming Whip: Balors use a great flaming cat-o-nine tails whip, which
inflicts 1d4 damage on a hit and then magically grapples the victim
(the whips Strength is equivalent to half of the balors for grapple effects). The balor then draws the victim in towards its flaming body,
doing 4d6 fire damage per round he is grappled. While grappling, the
whip cannot be used to attack.

30

Spell-like Abilities: Balors have the ability to cast the following spells
at will as spell-like abilities: detect magic (always active), dispel magic,
fear, read magic, pyrotechnics, suggestion, symbol of power, telekinesis,
tongues, and true seeing (always active).
Terror: A balors slam forces the target to make an Exceptional (TC 20)
Will save or flee in abject terror away from the balor for 1d6 rounds.
Weapon Immunity: Balors cannot be harmed by any weapon with
less than a +3 magical enchantment.
In the World: A balors sole purpose is to fight in battle and command the infernal legions. They also know that power on the Material
Plane often translates to increased influence and power on the Lower
Planes;they often make pacts with mortal beings, rendering services in
exchange for increased influence on the Material Plane.
Ecology: There are 24 known balors in existence, but whether this
constitutes the sum of their kind and if they can create more is unknown; legends say the combination of multiple powerful villainous
mortal souls is required to create such a creature. Serving as the generals and captains in the armies of the Lower Planes, they command
through terror and woe betides any of those lesser infernals who displease them.

Bear, Black
Hit Dice: 3+3 (3d8+3 hp)
AC: 13
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +4

Attacks: 3/1; 2 claws +3 (1d3+2) and bite +3 (1d6)
Special Attacks: Bear hug
Size: M (6 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: 10
Appearing: 1d4
Treasure: None
Frequency: Common
Activity Cycle: Day
Terrain: Temperate land
Str 17, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 2, Wis 10, Cha 9
Special Qualities: Low-light vision (60 ft.), scent (60 ft.)
XP: 175
Black bears range in color from black to light brown. They live in small
families and usually inhabit caves near a plentiful water source. They
are fiercely territorial if threatened, but will not always attack seemingly non-threatening passers-by. A typically-encountered black bear
will be 6 feet tall and weigh 400 pounds. Depending on the season, its
weight can fluctuate up or down by up to 150 pounds.
Combat: Bears start a melee round with two claw attacks and, if successful, finish with a bite. If the bear scores a natural 18 20 on a claw
attack, it will automatically grapple the defender into a bear hug. Bears
are tough and courageous but will flee an overwhelming foe.
Bear Hug: Once a bear succeeds on a claw attack, the bear will attempt to hug the target. This hug is a non-action and deals 2d4 points
of damage. The bear will then commence with his round of attacks.
In the World: Black bears are ubiquitous throughout any substantial
sparsely settled temperate forested region; the more inaccessible the
better, with a preference for areas of thick vegetation and undergrowth
located in somewhat mountainous regions. Their lifespan averages 18
years and they are very territorial, marking their territories by rubbing
their bodies against trees and scraping the bark with their claws over a
15-to-80-square-mile range, and not very gregarious in temperament.
They are terrific swimmers and excellent climbers as well, habitually
arboreal in search of food.

These animals are extremely dexterous and able to operate door latches
and unscrew screw-top containers. Physically, they are also very strong,
able to easily turn over rocks and other items weighing in excess of 325
pounds and they can run in a rhythmic, loping gate at speeds of 25-30
mph. They also have excellent eyesight and can be taught to distinguish basic geometric shapes as well as having the capability to learn
visual discrimination tasks based on color as quickly as dogs.
Ecology: Black bears are extremely efficient hibernators during colder
seasons. Prior to their 3-5 month hibernation, they will often put on
as much as 30 pounds of body fat in preparation for the long seclusion,
during which they will lose 25-40% of their body weight. Hibernation
generally occurs in hollowed-out tree dens, underneath large logs or
rocks, in caves, in shallow depressions, and other such sheltered spots.
During their hibernation cycles, they do remain somewhat alert and
active and have been known to wake up and forage during milder
winters; it takes 1d3 rounds for a black bear to fully awaken from its
hibernation when it senses danger.
Females usually begin to reproduce between 3-5 years of age, with a
gestation period of 235 days. Litters generally consist of 2 cubs and
birth generally occurs in the latter part of the winter months. Cubs are
dependent on their mothers milk for 30 weeks, become independent
at 1618 months, reach sexual maturity at 3 years, and reach their
peak growth at 5 years.

Black bears are omnivorous, crepuscular creatures; approximately 85%

of their diet is vegetative, consisting mainly of new grasses, forbs, and
wetland plants, as well as berries and other fruits during the summer
months. As for their animal diet, this mainly consists of insects such
as ants, yellow jackets, and bees. Stereotypically, black bears have a
fondness for honey and have been known to even gnaw through trees
exteriors to access deeply-embedded hives to extract the honey within.
These large bears have also been known to eat deer, caribou, and moose,
often attacking from ambush and dragging the carcasses to cover, as
they prefer feeding in seclusion. Fish is also a staple of their diet.

31

Behir
Hit Dice: 12 (12d8 hp)
AC: 16
Saves: Fort +11, Ref +10, Will +9

Attacks: 1/1; Bite +12 (2d4+7)
Special Attacks: Breath weapon, constrict, swallow whole
Size: G (40 ft. long)
Movement: 60 ft.
Alignment: NE
Morale: 15
Appearing: 1d2
Treasure: L: C; OL: Q
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day
Terrain: Any land
Str 22, Dex 11, Con 15, Int 7, Wis 11, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Climb, immunity to electricity, infravision (60 ft.)
XP: 7000
The behir is a serpentine monster that looks like a gargantuan snake
with the head of a crocodile and twelve short legs. It is a fast monster
and can climb half its movement speed. It may also slither like a snake
if it tucks its twelve legs under its body.
An average adult behir is 40 feet long and weighs 4,000 pounds. Its
coloring is that of ultramarine to deep blue with bands of gray-brown.
The belly is pale blue or gray. Its head sports two large horns that curve
back away from its face, which are used only for preening its scales.
Behirs speak common.
Combat: The behir is an evil creature and will attack a group of adventurers for sport or survival. It usually climbs up away from sight, only
to quickly slither down and attack the rear of an unsuspecting group.
from ambush The creature usually bites and grabs one target first then
either swallows or constricts the opponent. If faced with more than 3
opponents, it employs its breath weapon within the first 3 rounds.
Breath Weapon: Once every 10 rounds the behir can breathe forth a
bolt of lightning that deals 7d6 points of electricity damage to anyone
in a line 20-feet-long by 5-feet-wide in front of the beast. A Superior
(TC 15) Reflex save halves this damage.
Climb: Behirs are fantastic climbers and can scale most surfaces with
ease. They climb 30 feet in one secondary action.
Constrict: After a successful bite attack, the behir may perform, as a
free action, a standard attack to coil its body around its prey. If successful, the behirs body constricts its prey and the opponent is subject
to six talon attacks (1d6 damage) every round he or she remains in
the hold. While constricting, the behir may use its breath weapon on
other foes.
Immunity to Electricity: Behirs are immune to electrical damage.
Swallow Whole: The behir swallows a Medium or smaller target whole

32

on a natural attack roll of 20 with its bite attack. Targets take 2d8+8
points of damage per round from the behirs gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon
to deal 25 points of damage to the gizzard (AC 13). For each round
spent in the beasts belly, the attacker suffers a cumulative -1 on both
attacks and damage. Once the target exits, muscular action closes the
hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out. A behirs
gizzard can hold 2 Medium or 4 Small opponents at a time. Complete
digestion takes two hours with no traces of tvictims left behind.
In the World: Behirs inhabit desert hilly regions and often can be
found dwelling in high cliff side caves or other above-ground ruins.
They are extremely territorial, claiming whatever they survey from
their lofty dwellings as their own.
Although somewhat dimwitted, behirs are sentient and naturally conniving. Although it is possible to negotiate with behirs, they tend to be
somewhat aggressive and fight first and ask questions later.
Ecology: Solitary creatures by nature, behirs are rare and there is only
a small (5%) chance that more than a single behir is ever encountered;
in this unlikely event, it is likely a single mated pair. Mating usually
occurs in the hottest summer days, frequently coinciding with massive electrical storms. Clutches of eggs number between 8-12 eggs and
are often mistaken for blue gemstones as they resemble large bluish
geode formations. Only about half of the offspring birthed survive the
first few weeks of life; independence is reached after 2 years, when the
mother drives the offspring from the nest with much fanfare of lightning blasts and threatening roars.
Natural enemies with dragons of all sorts, behirs will not tolerate their
presence (and vice versa), often actively driving any encroaching great
wyrms from their territory if possible, only moving as a last resort.

Bugbear
Hit Dice: 3+3 (3d8+3 hp)
AC: 15 (chainmail)
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +4

Attacks: 1/1; Slam +3 (2d4+2) or weapon +3 (weapon damage+2)
Special Attacks: Ambush
Size: M (6 to 7 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: CE
Morale: 12
Appearing: 2d4 (party), 2d10 x 3 (tribe)
Treasure: OL: J,K,L or M
Frequency: Common
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Subterranean
Str 16, Dex 11, Con 11, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 8
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), scent (60 ft.)
XP: 120
Bugbears are large and strong cousins of the goblins. Their muscular
bodies are covered in hair ranging from yellowish brown to rust red.
They have wide and tall ears, a wide face, and a mouth full of sharp
teeth. Their snouts appear similarly to that of bears. While they do appear humanoid, they also appear savage. They are consummate hunters and prefer to ambush when possible.
Bugbears often belong to a tribe that is led by an advanced bugbear
chief (6 HD, AC 18, +4 damage) and several of the chief s offspring
(4 HD, AC 16, +3 damage).
Bugbears speak a dialect of goblin and most also speak common.
Combat: Bugbears are hunters that have perfected the art of ambush.
They will wait in hiding to either fall upon their marks or unleash a
round of missiles before wading into melee. In combat, they prefer to
attack in pairs and will almost always attack the biggest enemy first.
While bugbears prefer melee, at least a few members of a bugbear
party will have short-range weapons and, if feasible, will attempt to
disrupt casters.

Like most other goblinoids, they are fond of anything that is shiny and
glittery, often willing to barter for these items when they cannot take
them by force.
Ecology: Mainly carnivores, in their natural habitat, bugbears are consummate hunters and will attack and kill anything they perceive as
encroaching on their territory, including other sentient humanoids.
They are not afraid of attacking prey which outnumber them, but prefer to whittle down any potential threats with missile barrages prior to
engaging in melee. After successful hunting forays, they like to drink,
enjoying potent ale and wines, as well as exotic meats and other delicacies. Negotiation is not a strong suit of bugbears, and they would
prefer to kill something for its nutritional value as opposed to engaging
in discourse with a potential dinner course!
Bugbears are not as ubiquitous as their other goblin kin; their fertility is not as potent and they are therefore a much smaller portion of
the goblinoid population overall. However, what they lack in numbers
they more than make up for in ferocity and sheer cunning. They reach
maturity at age 11 and their lifespan, if not cut violently short which
is not exactly a rare event - is 75 years.

Ambush: Bugbears are consummate ambushers. They receive a total

+6 on their stealth roll to surprise.
In the World: Bugbears are the largest of the goblinoids and somewhat
solitary by nature, although it is not unheard of for small groups to
band together to serve as guardsmen in larger goblinoid settlements or
even as leaders in some hobgoblin tribes.
Known to be intelligent by goblin standards, bugbears often demonstrate an innate sense of small-band military and guerrilla tactics,
preferring ambush tactics to full-on military-scale assaults. That said,
they are sometimes recruited to serve in leadership positions in some
mercenary armies, keeping the rank-in-file goblin recruits in line. They
do not often take slaves, as the natural inclination for other, lesser
goblinoid races to follow the lead of a bugbear does not lend itself to
such practices. There is a ready supply of willing labor in the goblinoid
races; the rest is just food.

33

Bulette
Hit Dice: 9 (9d8 hp)
AC: 22
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +9, Will +7

Attacks: 3/1; 2 claws +9 (3d6+8) and bite +9 (4d12)
Special Attacks: Leap
Size: L (9.5 ft. tall, 12 ft. long)
Movement: 40 ft., 10 ft. burrow
Alignment: N
Morale: 11
Appearing: 1d2
Treasure: None
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Temperate Land
Str 23, Dex 12, Con 18, Int 1, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.),
scent (60 ft.), tremorsense (200 ft.), vulnerabilities
XP: 4000
The bulette (pronounced boo-lay) is often called land shark because of its habit of burrowing around with the crest of its back breaking through the surface, an act that looks hauntingly similar to a shark
swimming just below surface. Like sharks, they are huge, vicious, and
always hungry. They seem to be someones experiment gone wrong: a
turtle crossed with an armadillo with just a touch of demon thrown
in.
Their favorite food is horse but they will eat just about anything that
moves. The only kind of meat they dont seem to like is dwarf or elf.
They have been known to dig halflings right out of their holes. A typical bulette has a territory that reaches 30 miles in diameter.
Combat: A bulette will often lie underground. When it senses approaching prey, it will wait until something comes dangerously close
before quickly surfacing to attack. It relentlessly attacks anything it
regards as edible. Considering their love for horses, they have been
known to break combat with a rider to attack his stead. When they
attack, they use their vicious bite and two front claws. If necessary to
avoid being surrounded or to retreat, it will use its leap.
Leap: A bulette can jump 8 feet into the air and land 8 feet away.
During this leap, it can attack something underneath its airborne body
with four claw attacks for 3d6 points of damage each.
Tremorsense: They may sense prey via vibrations in the earth at a
range up to 200 feet.
Vulnerabilities: The underbelly of the bulette is AC 14, but this portion of the monster only appears during a leap. There is also an 8-inch
diameter perimeter around each of the creatures eyes that has AC 16;
however, a full round action is required to get one careful shot against
that region.
In the World: Bulettes are voracious eaters, living to feed. Indeed, in
this they are much like the underwater sharks from which they derive

34

their nickname. They are nomadic by nature, and only male bulettes
(known as bulls) have been known to maintain any fixed territory for
a prolonged period, usually in areas of abundant food sources; this
only continues until they have exhausted their food supply. Females
are constantly on the move, only stopping to eat and mate.
Bulettes have no known natural predator and are difficult to kill. Only
by piercing its softer underbelly, targeting inside its great maw as it
opens itself for the kill, or by hitting its protected eyes can one be put
down, generally.
Ecology: Found throughout the plains and temperate forested regions,
the bulette is a fierce predator, although not particularly intelligent; it
is notably mean and fearless, often attacking prey much larger or in
greater numbers than itself. Hunting by sensing the ground vibrations
of its prey and then striking rapidly from ambush, only the relatively
quick reflexes of a potential meal will save it from being quickly devoured. Universally ostracized, even by other creatures, this solitary
creature is rarely encountered with others of its kind, except for an
occasional mated pair. Young ones are almost never seen.
Agrarian halflings, human barbarian tribes, and other plains-dwellers
rightly fear this creature. The only race that has nothing to fear is the
elves, as the creatures refuse to eat them for whatever reason. Dwarves
are also not their first choice in prey, but will do in a pinch. It swallows
its prey whole, all weapons and equipment, and even magic items,
degraded by its powerful stomach acids.

Centaur
Hit Dice: 4 (4d8 hp)
AC: 15
Saves: Fort +7, Ref+7, Will+5

Attacks: 1/1; large composite longbow +4 (1d10) or two-handed
sword +4 (1d10+2)
Special Attacks: Hooves
Size: L (8-9 feet tall)
Movement: 50 ft.
Alignment: N or CG
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1d8
Treasure: OL: M or Q
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day
Terrain: Temperate forest
Str 16, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 11
Special Qualities: Low-light vision (60 ft.)
XP: 175
Centaurs are part man, part horse. They have the body of a horse, but
have the upper torso, arms and head of a human in place of the horses
neck and head. Antipathetic toward humans, yet friendly toward
elves and their kin, centaurs prefer unfrequented glades, pastures and
woodlands. A centaur is about 8-9 feet tall and weighs about 2,100
pounds.
Centaurs speak their own dialect of sylvan and a small number speak
elven, as well.
Combat: Unless somehow surprised in a nestled glade (which is almost impossible) centaurs are found well-armored and well-armed.
Most carry either heavy lances (1d8+1) or great clubs (2d4), while a
few may also carry a composite long bow (1d8+1) with 20-40 arrows
in a quiver. All centaurs are capable of attacking with melee weapons
and two hoof attacks each melee round. A centaur employing a lance
deals double damage when it charges.
If encountered in a group of six or more, there will be a 5 HD leader
that will employ a great club with a large wooden shield (AC 18).
Hooves: In addition to a weapon attack and in place of a movement
action, a centaur may take two hoof attacks (1d6) each round to one
target immediately in front of the creature.
In the World: Centaurs live far from civilization, deep within secluded
glades, amongst others of their kind. They tend to avoid other races,
except elves, with whom they regularly trade and welcome into their
private territory. Visitors to a centaur grove are dealt with according to
their race. Humans and dwarves are asked to leave. Gnomes, halflings
and half-elves may be welcome to stay, yet with restrictive access and
constant supervision. A centaur tribe may attack a half-orc on sight,
or it may simply ban entry, a distinction dictated by the tribes history
with orc-kind.

Evil-aligned monsters are usually attacked immediately, unless such a

threat is beyond the tribe, in which case, the tribe will initiate a wellplanned and well-trained escape.
Centaurs can survive with little help. They are masters at wilderness
survival, able to use horticulture for protective and medicinal means.
Despite this fact, centaurs relish in trading with elves and, as such,
require coin and other tradable treasures. Centaur tribes stock treasure
in a place akin to a treasury, which is kept full by the bounty provided
by slain monsters.
Centaurs live in tribes that survive on foraging, fishing, farming,
hunting and trading. A centaur tribe varies in size, the average being ten members, and will include one male combatant (as presented
in the stats above) per two women in the tribe. There will be four
times the amount of children and elderly members than male combatants. Larger tribes include advanced centaurs, one 6 HD specimen per
twenty members, and some religious leadership. Sizeable tribes have
one spiritual leader, usually with 6 - 8 HD and the spell capabilities of
a 4th-level cleric or druid. The largest tribes (those with more than 75
centaurs) have multiple 6-8 HD divine spellcasters, with one religious
leader having 10+ HD and the spell capabilities of a 6th-level cleric
or druid.
Ecology: Centaurs live as part of the wilderness. They strive to maintain the natural balance as much as possible, building huts, tents and
lean-tos from nearby flora, only taking as much as needed and reseeding where possible. In a similar vein, centaurs do not hunt more than
they need to survive and do not manipulate more than necessary in
the local environment. Humanoid races and monsters that destroy and
take from the land are the antithesis of their culture.

35

Centipede, Giant
Hit Dice: 1/4 (2 hp)
AC: 11
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +3

Attacks: 1/1; Bite +0 (1 hp plus poison)
Special Attacks: Poison
Size: T (12 to 16 in. long)
Movement: 20 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: 7
Appearing: 2d12
Treasure: None
Frequency: Common
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any
Str 7, Dex 13, Con 6, Int --, Wis 10, Cha 2
Special Qualities: Infravision (15 ft.)
XP: 35
Giant centipedes are found in dark, dank places and resemble 1 foot
long replicas of their diminutive cousins. Hungry bottom feeders, they
lurk in corners or on ceilings waiting for prey. They have protective
coloration and effortlessly blend into their surroundings.

laced bite attacks and tail swipes. The terrorpede devours its preys
body and belongings (metal and magical items may survive and be
removed intact). Nearby settlements with knowledge of a resident terrorpede will actively seek to destroy it.

Combat: Giant centipedes generally drop from the ceiling or scurry

quickly from a hole to attack. They are always hungry and attack without prejudice for food, including each other, for food sources.

Hit Dice: 6 (6d8+3 hp)

AC: 19
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +6

Attacks: (2/1); tail +6 (1d8+3); bite (1d6+1 plus 1d6 acid)
Special Attacks: Spit acid

Poison: The bite of a giant centipede is laced with a Type I poison that
causes ones muscles to cramp. Unless an Average (TC 10) Fortitude
check is successful, the victim becomes slightly paralyzed, suffering a
2 on all attacks, damage rolls, saves and AC. The poison wears off
after 8 hours of rest.
In the World: Like insects, they live in small units or large colonies
and roam from place to place in search of food. Pure instinct drives
them to eat, even when faced with certain death. This mindless drive
has caused civilized races to view giant centipedes as meddlesome nuisances that should be exterminated on sight. Larger, advanced versions
of the giant centipede do exist, and some are very deadly creatures.
Ecology: Giant centipedes enjoy a relatively unique set of biological
defenses: their natural camouflage ability and poison dissuade most
larger predators from attacking. Giant centipedes feed on small animals due to their prevalence and minor defenses, but will attack larger
prey (like adventurous humans) without hesitation.
Variant Giant Centipedes: The terrorpede is a large, 10 foot long,
thousand-legged version of the giant centipede, with a shiny onyx carapace, a wicked, T-shaped tail covered in chitinous plate, and a wide
mouth filled with sharp teeth and acidic saliva.
Terrorpedes burrow into the ground or lair in dark, wet caverns and
dungeons. Voracious eaters, terrorpedes attack anything that moves
nearby, favoring small to medium-sized animals, insects and humanoids, as well as fungus. It uses its spit attack before resorting to acid-

36

Size: L (10 ft. long)

Movement: 30 ft., 15 ft. burrow
Alignment: N
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1d2
Treasure: Varies
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any non-arctic land, subterranean
Str 17, Dex 10, Con 15, Int 0, Wis 10, Cha 6
Special Qualities: Burrow, infravision (60 ft.), tremorsense (300 ft.)
XP: 975
Spit Acid: Once per round, the terrorpede can project a concentrated
cone of acid that deals 3d4 points of acid damage to all targets in a 10
foot radius from the point of impact. The acid continues to deal damage each successive round until washed off, with each round dealing
one less point of damage than the last. Washing off the terrorpedes
acid takes one full round and full concentration.

Chimera
Hit Dice: 9 (9d8 hp)
AC: 16
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +9, Will +8

Attacks: 6/1; 2 claws +9 (1d4+2), 2 horns +9 (1d4), lion bite +9 (2d4),
dragon bite +9 (3d4)
Special Attacks: Breath weapon
Size: L (10 ft. long, 5 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft., 50 ft. (fly)
Alignment: CE
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1d4
Treasure: L: F
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any temperate/tropic
Str 17, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 4, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.) scent
(80 ft.)
XP: 5000
A chimera has the hindquarters of a black goat, the forequarters of a
golden lion, and a set of dark dragon wings. The beast has three heads:
a horned goat, a lion, and a red dragon. A chimera stands 5 feet tall at
its shoulders, is nearly 10 feet long, and weighs about 4,000 pounds.
Chimeras can speak a broken version of draconic; however, they seldom speak, unless in the presence of someone much more powerful.
Combat: Chimeras prefer to surprise from above, swooping down to
ambush an unsuspecting target. They will either take 6 melee attacks
per round or unleash a breath weapon of fire from its dragon head.
More than one chimera will attack in concert.
Breath Weapon: The dragon head can breathe forth a cone of fire that
encompasses an area 15 feet from the creature and up to 20 feet wide
at its longest point. The fiery breath deals 3d8 points of damage; a
Superior (TC 15) Reflex save reduces this damage by half.
In the World: Created through dark magic in the distant past, these
bizarre, hermaphroditic hybrid beasts are omnivores, with the goathead preferring to graze on vegetation, while the lion and dragon heads
demand flesh to eat. The chimeras territory may extend as large as 20
square miles, with its average hunting time being once every 3-4 days,
while grazing constantly in between feeding on carcasses of that which
it has killed. In lean times, it can subsist on even sparse vegetation.
Anything inside its territory is deemed prey, even other monsters. Chimeras also prey on intelligent races such as dwarves, elves, halflings,
and humans; such is their evil nature that they actually enjoy this and
even relish such feasts because the dragon part of them craves the additional wealth such attacks inevitably bring, thus increasing its hoard
(such hoards are meager compared to those of true dragons).
Chimera are cunning creatures, able to prepare traps such as deadfalls
and landslides for their prey; once their prey is disabled, they swoop

in for the kill. They prefer a good meal to a good fight, and will target
easier prey if possible.
Ecology: These creatures prefer any temperate to tropical climates, although they prefer jagged and craggy terrain to nest; such landscapes
provide ample room to soar and roam, while providing ideal area to
lay in ambush for prey.
Combining the animalistic preferences of its disparate parts, it has a
distinct predilection for caves as its lair and is a somewhat solitary
creature. However, there are instances where small prides of chimera
are known to exist, led by a dominant male which provides protection
while the females hunt. Luckily, these creatures have a low fertility
rate, keeping their numbers in check. They are oviparous, with the
hard-stony shells of their eggs camouflaged in their rocky homes. Chimeras in the wild have lifespans up to 200 years.
Although on top of the food chain in their territories, they are not
intelligent enough and are too ill-tempered to acquire followers. The
rare exception to this is the occasional kobold tribe which pays tribute
to such creatures due to their shared draconic heritage. Conversely,
they are intractable and intelligent enough to make poor pets; only
significantly more powerful creatures can make them subservient.
Chimera Variations: Due to its magically-derived nature, several variations of the standard chimera are known to exist.
The following are various dragon head configurations and their breath
weapons (all do 3d8 damage): black dragon (40 foot line of acid), blue
dragon (40 foot line of lightning), green dragon (20 foot cone of acid),
white dragon (20 foot cone of cold).
Additionally, there is another variation called the gorgimera. They have
the hindquarters (and third head) of a gorgon instead of a goat. Likewise it has a gorgons breath weapon (60 foot cone of petrifying gas).

37

Cloaker
Hit Dice: 6 (6d8 hp)
AC: 14
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +6

Attacks: 2/1; 2 tail +6 (1d6), or engulf, or moan
Special Attacks: Engulf, moan, surprise
Size: L (8 ft. long)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: CN
Morale: 16
Appearing: 1d4
Treasure: L: C
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Subterranean
Str 13, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.), shadow
shift
XP: 1400
Cloakers are dastardly creatures that wait for passersby to torment and
kill. Before they reveal themselves, cloakers look identical to a black
cloak with bone clasps. Their eyes can be made to look exactly like two
buttons on the front of the cloak.
Once a cloaker unfurls itself and springs upon a victim, its true form
can be seen. Its white underbelly becomes visible and so too does its
hideous face composed of menacing red eyes and a large mouth of
wicked fangs. A thin black tail then falls and the cloaker then suddenly
attacks with ferocity.
Cloakers are highly intelligent and speak undercommon.

Nausea: Anyone in a 30-foot cone must succeed on a Superior

(TC 15) Fortitude saving throw or become nauseated for 1d4+1
rounds.
Stupor: A single creature within 30 feet of the cloaker must succeed
on a Superior (TC 15) Will saving throw or be affected as though
by a hold person spell for 5 rounds. Even after a successful save, the
subject must repeat the save if the cloaker uses this effect again.

Combat: The cloaker will always remain hidden and appear as a normal cloak until prey comes near. At that point, the cloaker will attempt
to surprise its prey and follow up with an engulf attack. If there are
several nearby threats, the cloaker will usually moan immediately upon
surprising. It will then begin engulfing the nearest creature.

Surprise: A cloaker lying in wait is difficult to notice. The cloaker

receives a total of +12 on a stealth check to surprise.

Engulf: The cloakers favorite special attack is engulf. A normal attack

roll is made and, if successful, the cloaker covers a Medium or smaller
target, raps its folds around its body and begins to eat. A successful
Superior (TC 15) Strength check is required to break free. The cloaker
deals 2d6 points of damage each round to the engulfed victim. This is
a full round action that does not require an attack roll.

Meld with Shadow: The cloaker uses the shadows to his advantage
in combat, granting it AC 19. This effect remains until the cloaker
leaves the shadow and requires a secondary action to initiate and
maintain it each round.

Moan: As a primary action, the cloaker can emit a sonic moan. If

in an enclosed space, the moan can prove quite useful. The cloaker
actually may employ one of four different moans, each having its own
frequency and effect:
Unnerve: Anyone within a 60-foot spread automatically takes a -2
penalty on combat rolls, no save. Those forced to hear the moan for
more than 6 consecutive rounds must succeed on a saving throw
or enter a trance, unable to attack or defend themselves until the
moaning stops.

38

Fear: Anyone within a 30-foot spread must succeed on a Superior

(TC 15) Will saving throw or become panicked for 2 rounds, which
causes the subjects to flee 100 feet from the cloaker.

Shadow Shift: A cloaker can manipulate shadows. This ability is effective only in shadowy areas and has three possible effects:

Shadow Images: This effect duplicates a mirror image spell (caster

level 6th). This requires a primary action in one round and the effects last for 6 minutes, per the spell.
Silent Image: As a primary action, the cloaker can duplicate the effects of an improved phantasmal image spell (caster level 6th) to distract its opponents into thinking other things lurk in the shadows.

Cloaker
In the World: Cloakers live in underground environs, preying on the
unwary. They can be solitary creatures or be found in flocks as large
as 12 individuals. Their unique aberrant physiology allows them to
disguise themselves as cloaks, tapestries, and other mundane objects.
Their wingspan is around 8 feet they weigh about 100 pounds.
The motives of these strange, highly intelligent creatures are extremely
obfuscated. They prey on unsuspecting victims, using their moan and
illusory abilities for a variety of effects on their targets before attacking
and enveloping them. They have been known to be in the employ of
various slavers, although again their motives are their own. They are
known to be mistrustful of other creatures, including their own kind.
Rumors persist of entire colonies of cloakers living in hive-like communities in the subterranean depths, but no definitive confirmation of
such conclaves exists. Those rare thrill-seekers or academics who have
ventured in search of such cloaker enclaves have never returned. Other
tales say these bizarre creatures are extra-planar in origin and seek conquest in the extreme depths.
Ecology: Reproductively, cloakers are hemotrophic viviparitic and
mate during a month-long mating season annually. Offspring are
birthed live and litters typically number around a half dozen. These
newborn are able to fly immediately after leaving the womb, resembling miniaturized versions of their parents; they are often birthed in
the heights of massive caverns to allow for the parents to catch any
failed fliers before they hit the ground. Weaker offspring are carried
by mouth until they can gain their strength; if the offspring does not
demonstrate flight capability soon after birth, it is abandoned in the
depths. Cloakers reach maturity at 4 years of age and are raised by
the community, akin to stereotypical communes. Lifespan is typically
around 30 years, although massive specimens have been known to
reach twice that or more; some of the greatest cloaker lords have been
known to live centuries.
Cloakers feed on the subterranean vermin which infest their habitats,
although they do occasionally hunt and eat humanoids and other intelligent creatures which intrude upon their terrain. In times of famine,
a cloakers reverbatrix (the organ which generates the cloakers moan
and gives essential support to all of the cloakers bodily systems) has
the ability to convert external vibrations into metabolic energy (not
unlike the photosynthesis process).

39

Death Knight
Hit Dice: 9 (9d10 hp)
AC: 20
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +4, Will +9

Attacks: 1/1; +3 base attack plus sword (see below)
Special Attacks: Fear aura, spell-like abilities, spells
Size: M (6 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: CE
Morale: 18
Appearing: 1
Treasure: None
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any
Str 20, Dex 14, Con --, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 16
Special Qualities: Control or rebuke undead, infravision (60 ft.), lowlight vision (60 ft.), magic resistance 75%, turn immunity, undead
traits
XP: 6000
Death knights are cursed and terrifying undead abominations created
when a corrupted paladin or lawful good warrior draws the ire of their
deity for utterly disregarding the code of honor they are bound to uphold; the gods see this as a cardinal sin and forever curse the betrayer.
Death knights generally stand in excess of 6 feet tall, weigh in at more
than 300 pounds, and wear scorched and blackened armor and a helm,
under which peer twin orange-red glowing orbs set in a blackened
skull covered with bits of shriveled, desiccated and rotting flesh. Their
sonorous, frigid voices seem to resonate as if the death knight is speaking from within a large, subterranean cavern, Death knights speak the
language of its former life, as well as up to 6 additional languages.
Combat: Death knights are extremely dangerous, fighting with utter disregard for their safety and with an unmitigated ferocity. It does
retain a twisted semblance of the code of honor it once held so dear
and will fight in an honorable fashion, never ambushing an opponent
from behind, never attacking an opponent before the target can ready
a weapon, and never resorting to dirty tactics to win in single combat.
Death knights will never yield and grant no quarter, unless the opponent maintains some vital information which the death knight seeks.
Death knights always wear the armor they wore in life; however, regardless of the armor, the death knight always has an AC of 20.
Death knights also almost always carry a sword (80% of the time,
this sword is magical). If the sword is magical, the exact type may be
determined from the table below:
Roll Death Knights Sword
1
Long sword +2
2
Two-handed sword +3
3
Two-handed sword +4
4
Short sword of speed
5
Short sword of defending
6
Short sword of wounding

40

Control or Rebuke Undead: Death knights may control or rebuke

undead as a 6th-level cleric.
Fear Aura: Death knights constantly generate an aura of fear in a
5-foot radius (as the spell).
Magic Resistance: Death knights have 75% magic resistance and if an
11 or lower is rolled on the magic resistance roll, the spell is cast but is
reflected back at the caster.
Spell-like Abilities: Death knights have the ability to cast the following spells at will as spell-like abilities: detect magic, true seeing, and
wall of ice. Twice per day a death knight may cast dispel magic. A death
knight may also cast symbol of power and a 10d6 damage fireball once
per day.
Turn Immunity: Death knights may not be Turned, but can be dispelled by a holy word spell.
Undead Traits: As an undead creature, the death knight is immune to
all effects relying on a working physiology, such as poison or disease.
Undead creatures are harmed by cure wounds spells and healed by inflict wounds spells.
In the World: Death knights, cursed as they are by the gods for despicable and horrific deeds that betrayed their goodly codes, must remain in their former domains, usually either a castle or other fortified
stronghold. As part of their cursed existence, they must also relive their
crime in song every night of the full moon; such melodies put forth by
these hideous creatures have been known to drive mortals to the brink
of insanity . . . and sometimes beyond!
Death knights are extremely protective of their territories and will attack any intruders on sight, as well as attacking anyone who disrupts
their mournful dirges to the moon.
Ecology: Being undead, death knights have the same immunities that
other undead possess. They are occasionally accompanied by liches,
skeletons, and other damned souls of those who served them in life,
and continue to do so after their own deat

Dragon
Dragons are magical winged beasts categorized by color and age. Quite
intelligent and powerful, each dragon has the potential to substantially
affect the world around it. While some dragons live a solitary life to
dwell in contemplation, others rule over entire kingdoms or ascend to
godhood.
A dragons primordial motivations stem from its color, a descriptor
that governs its appearance, mood, powers and moral compass. The
path a dragon takes throughout its life changes with its age, as well. As
a dragon ages, survival and greed instincts make way for more substantial goals. While an old gold dragon may aid a good king with worldly
council, an old red dragon may scheme and dream of widespread despair, devestation and death.
Adult dragons are often found alone or in mated pairs with a brood
of 1d4 hatchling to juvenile dragons. Older dragons are found alone
90% of the time. There is a 9% chance that older dragons will be
found with non-dragon associates and 1% of older dragons are paired
with another older dragon.
Young adult dragons leave their parents and venture out for the first
time to stake a cave or forest nook as its home. The lair must be perfectly suited for protection and storage; it is common for a young adult
dragon to test out a potential lair and then move along if unsatisfied.
Dragons of all colors and ages share a few common traits. They have
the ability to metabolize just about any compound, so food sources
range from meat to ash, wood and even rock. Also, all dragons have
a compulsive desire to collect treasure and wealth. This desire is insatiable. Even great wyrms still covet their hordes.
A dragon encounter is a terribly unpredictable event whether were
dicting how a dragon may react. Some red dragons, the most evil and
vile of all, may find a band of wannabe heroes an interesting departure
from the days doldrums. The red may even entertain a conversation!
On the other hand, a group of trusted heores may find their local gold
dragon, the most benevolent and caring of all dragons, too preoccupied to talk about the impending magical cateclysm set to take place
next month. Hence, you run a dragon based on the dragons role in the
campaign world and not from a written prescription.
Color: There are three broad color categories from which each dragon
hales: metallic, chromatic and gem. Color affects more than appearance. As stated above, a dragons color controls its attitude, motivations, powers and peers. Metallic dragons have scales that resemble
shining alloy, such as gold, silver or copper and are generally goodaligned and act accordingly. Chromatic dragons have muted scales of
color ranging from white to black and are generally evil-aligned and
terribly dangerous. Gem dragons have scales that resemble gems, such
as amethyst or diamond, and are neutral and relish in a good riddle.
Age: As a dragon ages, it grows in power. Many of its offensive and
defensive capabilities depend on its age. There are twelve age categories
broken out in the table on the next page. Dragon entries always provide stats for a juvenile, so the modifications adjust what is presented.
Hit Dice Modifier: Dragon Hit Dice vary by species and are modified
by age category. The example dragons hereafter are all juvenile dragons
and the resulting Hit Die for a different age category can be deter-

mined by adding or subtracting the relevant modifier (see the General

Dragon Age Categories & Powers table on page 42 for more).
Damage Modifier: The Damage Modifier modified by age category.
The bonus listed applies to all damage rolls by the dragon for each
physical attack; it does not apply to the breath weapon attack. The
caster level for a dragon also includes the Damage Modifier and is
determined by calculating the base spellcasting level + the Damage
Modifier listed for the dragons age category (see the General Dragon
Age Categories & Powers table on page 42 for more).
Domain and Lair: All dragons have lairs and they are not shining
beacons visible and accessible to all. A dragon lair is hidden, or at
least terribly taxing to reach. The environs of a dragon lair equal 10
square miles per age category. This wide area is considered the dragons
domain. Local flora and fauna will react to how the dragon cares for
its domain. Many animals and plant-life cease to live in the environs if
the dragon is malicious, while benevolent dragons often attract wildlife and cause vegetation to grow verdantly.
Senses: All dragons have supernatural senses. They see normally in the
dark and through any natural or magical obscurement up to 20 feet
per age category. They have a scent ability that extends 10 feet per age
category. They can see invisible objects and creatures as if they werent
invisible. In addition, dragons in their lair have clairaudience, where
they can eavesdrop on a location up to 20 feet away per age category,
regardless of whether it is beyond doors, walls or rock floors.
Aura of Fear: Young adult and older dragons have an aura of fear that
is a burst radius around the entire dragon. All 1 HD creatures caught
in the aura immediately flee for 4d6 rounds. Subjects with more than
1 HD within the aura must succeed on a Will save or suffer a -2 penalty on all d20 rolls as a result of fear. A successful save immunizes the
subject to the specific dragons aura of fear for the encounter. The Will
saving throw TC depends on the age of the dragon (see the General
Dragon Age Categories & Powers table on page 42 for more).
Dragons can voluntarily subdue their aura of fear. Metallic dragons
and gem dragons often do this. If subdued entirely, no saving throw
is required and no subject within the aura feels either fear or panic. If
subdued slightly, a discrtionary save bonus is permitted.
Dragon Hide: As a dragon ages, its hide strengthens and begins to reflect mundane damage and magical influences, providing an increasing
bonus to AC and magic resistance. Adventurers lucky enough to carve
the hide have a very strong, nonmagical material for the crafting of
armor, helmets and shields. Dragon hide provides a +1 AC bonus per
two age categories; however, crafting is expensive. It costs an additional
1,000 gp per age category to craft.
Flight: Dragons prefer aerial assults. All dragons can move up to
twice their normal land speed while flying and turn almost completely
around with a secondary action. They can climb at normal land speed
and dive at four times their normal land speed. Attacking in the air is
quite easy. A diving attack can be performed which is essentially two
claw attacks at +2 attack and damage. Hovering while attacking is a
full round action in which the dragon hovers and performs two claws
or two wings, however any wing attacks immediatlely cause the dragon to lose altitude. Hovering always provides a +1 bonus for higher

41

Dragon
elevation and can impose penalties to attack. Dragons can also cast
spells and perform other special attacks (such as utilizing their breath
weapon) while flying.
Flying dragons of at least juvenile age may also perform two additional
special attacks, snatch and pin, as full round actions with the number
of targets depending on its age category. Juvenile dragons can only
snatch or pin one target and both claws must be used for either the
snatch or pin. Young adults and adults need only one claw to snatch
or pin, but are still restricted to just one target. Mature adults and
older dragons can use both claws independently to snatch or pin two
different targets. The number of targets that each adult dragon or older
can attempt to pin or snatch with either claw is 1 + 1 per three age
categories above category 6. Thus a great wyrm can attempt to pin or
snatch up to three targets with each claw.

Snatch: The snatch is a grapple, although a normal attack roll is performed. If successful, the victims suffer automatic claw damage every
round. The dragon can attempt to swallow one or more of its victims
as one of its claw attacks for the round, however, this attack roll is
performed at -6 versus each victims standard AC.
Escaping a snatch requires a successful opposed Strength check
against the dragon. The dragon suffers a -4 to the roll unless both
claws are being used for the snatch.
Pin: The pin is also a grapple, although there is no chance to swallow.
It merely pins the targets to the ground. The pin attack deals claw
damage plus 2 points of additional damage per two age categories.
This damage is inflicted automatically per round.
Escaping a pin requires an Average (TC 10) Strength check for drag-

General Dragon Age Categories & Powers

42

Category

Relative
Age

HD
Mod

Damage
Mod

Domain

Senses

Aura
of Fear

Flight

Attacks/
SpecialActions

Hatchling
(0-5)

-6

+1

10 sq.
miles

sight 20 ft., scent 10 ft.,

clairaudience 20 ft.

N/A

Dive, hover

Claw/claw/bite,
kick, breath
weapon

Very Young
(6-15)

-4

+2

20 sq.
miles

sight 40 ft., scent20 ft.,

clairaudience 40 ft.

N/A

Young
(16-25)

-2

+3

30 sq.
miles

sight60 ft., scent 30 ft.,

clairaudience 60 ft.

N/A

Juvenile
(26-50)

+4

40 sq.
miles

sight 80 ft., scent40 ft.,

clairaudience 80 ft.

N/A

Snatch, pin
(1 target)

Spells
(some species)

Young Adult
(51-100)

+1

+5

50 sq.
miles

sight 100 ft., scent 50 ft.,

clairaudience 100 ft.

45 radius;
Average
(TC 10)

Adult
(101-200)

+2

+6

60 sq.
miles

sight 120 ft., scent 60 ft.,

clairaudience 120 ft.

60 radius;
Average
(TC 10)

Snatch, pin
(2 targets)

Wing attack, tail

slap,
Spells (all species)

Mature Adult
(201-400)

+3

+7

70 sq.
miles

sight 140 ft., scent 70 ft.,

clairaudience 140 ft.

75 radius;
Superior
(TC 15)

Snatch, pin
(4 targets)

Old
(401-600)

+4

+8

80 sq.
miles

sight 160 ft., scent 80 ft.,

clairaudience 160 ft.

90 radius;
Superior
(TC 15)

Very Old
(601-800)

+5

+9

90 sq.
miles

sight 180 ft., scent 90 ft.,

clairaudience 180 ft.

105radius;
Exceptional
(TC 20)

10

Venerable
(801-1,000)

+6

+10

100 sq.
miles

sight 200 ft., scent 100 ft., 120 radius;

clairaudience 200 ft.
Exceptional
(TC 20)

11

Wyrm
(1,001-1,200)

+7

+11

110 sq.
miles

sight 220 ft., scent 110 ft.,

clairaudience 220 ft.

12

Great Wyrm
(1,200+)

+8

+12

120 sq.
miles

sight 240 ft., scent 120 ft., 150 radius;

clairaudience 240 ft.
Legendary
(TC 25)

Snatch, pin
(5 targets)

135radius;
Legendary
(TC 25)
Snatch, pin
(6 targets)

Dragon
ons up to and including adult, a Superior (TC 15) Strength check
for mature adult and old dragons, an Exceptional (TC 20) Strength
check for very old and venerable dragons, and a Legendary (TC 25)
Strength check for wyrms and great wyrms.
Natural Attacks: While dragons prefer to use their breath weapons
or spells, they must resort to their natural attacks in almost any challenging encounter. All dragons have a claw/claw/bite attack flurry that
takes up one primary action. Claw attacks may be made against any
opponent in front or to the side of the dragon. Bite attacks may be
made against any opponent in front, to the side, or behind the beast.
Instead of simply using a claw/claw/bite progression, a dragon may
choose to perform two different natural attacks, such as one claw and
a tail slap, or a kick and wing attack.
Here are three additional natural attacks that may be employed during
battle:
Tail Slap: Adult or older dragons may use a tail slap against opponents to the rear or side. The tail deals twice the normal claw damage,
affects a number of targets equal to the dragons age category, and
requires the victim to make an Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude save or
be stunned for 1d4 rounds in addition to taking damage.
Kick: Any dragon can kick rear opponents. The kick deals 1d4 points
of damage per three age categories and sends a victim flying backward
an equal amount of feet, unless the struck target succeeds on an Exceptional (TC 20) Reflex save.
Wing: Adult or older dragons can employ a wing attack to front and
side opponents. Damage equals that of its claws. Very old and older
dragons have larger wings. Any large or smaller opponent struck by
such a large wing must succeed on an Exceptional (TC 20) Reflex
save or be knocked aside and prone a number of feet away equal to
the amount of damage dealt.

mal restrictions. As a guideline, each entry includes some information

on the most common daily spell preparation.
Breath Weapon: Once every three rounds, a dragon can unleash its
breath weapon. While usually an element of some sort, such as fire or
electricity, some dragons emit spell-like sprays, clouds and even darkness. Each color of dragon has its own unique breath weapon and it
will be noted in the dragons individual entry.
Typical Offense: If possible, a dragon stays in flight for the first three
to five rounds of combat. On round one, it typically tests its opponents physical mettle by unleashing its breath weapon. The following
round, a dragon typically tests its opponents magical defenses by casting one of its more potent spells. If the dragon has no spells, or during
the third round, the dragon will begin using tail slaps to affect multiple opponents while in flight. Another breath weapon is due the next
round. If the fight rages on past the fourth round, this is usually due
to various magical protections and a spellcaster or two, so the fight will
come to the ground where barrages of tail whips, kicks, claws and bites
commence until the opponent is battered, at which point the dragon
will take to the air and start the strategy anew. This time, the dragon
may interchange a spell round with the breath weapon. As intelligent
beings, a dragon will find a weakness and will never seem predictable.
A favored weakness is sight; dragons can see in the dark perfectly and
will often blow out torches and dispel light spells to render its opponent vulnerable.
Note on Color-Specific Advancement: Each dragon species has its
own breath weapon, attack progression and AC progression. Some
have special defenses and offenses specific to their color. Each dragon
entry has its own chart of advancement that you must consult alongside the information and chart in this general dragon entry to accurately advance a dragon.

Spells: All adult or older dragons (and some juvenile dragons) have
spellcasting capabilities. A dragons Intelligence determines how easy
it is to learn a spell and how many spells may be learned. Each dragon
must learn a spell before being able to prepare and cast that spell. Casting a spell is a primary action.
The similarities between wizards and dragons stop there. First, a dragon
has no spellbook and requires no time to prepare daily spells; a dragon
retains full memory of all known spells. In combat, spell preparation
is more difficult and requires one full round per spell level to properly
prepare a spell. Second, all spells cast by a dragon have a casting time
of 1. Third, the dragon may prepare every spell he knows once and
can cast a number of spell each day equal to its Intelligence score. That
being said, most dragons prepare one or two spells from each spell
level they know, unless they are certain they will need more powerful
capabilities. Lastly, dragons are not limited to arcane spells; they may
learn divine spells (or any other body of magic) as well. Dragons cannot physically attack, use their breath weapon or spell-like abilities, or
fly (except gliding) while casting spells.
Dragons do not use spell books or pray to divine beings for their spells.
Their spells only have a verbal component to them, regardless of nor-

43

Dragon, Black
The base black dragon is juvenile. Consult the general dragon entry above
for information on how to scale the dragons power with age.
Hit Dice: 12 (12d8 hp)
AC: 19
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +8

Attacks 3/1; 2 claws +16 (1d6+4) and bite +16 (3d6+4); or 2/1; claw
+16 (1d6+4) and kick +16 (2d4+4); or 2/1; bite +16 (3d6+4) and kick
+16 (2d4+4); or 1/1; spell; or 1/1; breath weapon
Special Attacks: Breath weapon, dive, pin (1 target), snatch, spell-like
abilities, spells
Size: G (29 ft. long)
Movement: 40 ft., 80 ft. (fly), 40 ft. (swim)
Alignment: CE
Morale: 18
Appearing: 1 or 1d4+1
Treasure: Special
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any swamp, jungle, and subterranean
Str 17, Dex 10, Con 15, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Camouflage, clairaudience (80 ft.), flight, hover,
scent (40 ft.), sight (80 ft.), water breathing
XP: 10000
Black dragons are utterly evil and scheming creatures that are shorttempered, abusive and territorial. While not nocturnal, they favor
the night and lair in sheltered spots overrun by vegetation and water
(swamps, jungles and subterranean caves). Black dragons keep to their
own kind and anger quickly at intrusions. While not the most intelligent dragon, they are instinctive and perfectly in synch with their
environment.
Black dragons speak a distinct draconic dialect. There is a chance that
a black dragon will spontaneously develop the ability to communicate
with all intelligent creatures: 10% at birth and increasing consecutively by 5% as the dragon attains each age category thereafter.
Combat: Black dragons do not fight fairly and do not take risks. They
prefer to wait in ambush to gauge their opponents strengths while formulating ways to debilitate before striking. Using their special powers
and terrain to great advantage, they enjoy creating pockets of darkness
and plant growth, while summoning insects to confuse their prey.
A black dragon lairs in an area that will support both ground cover
and flight. A common tactic is to remain underwater or shrouded in
undergrowth while using its powers to gain a quick advantage. It then
takes to the air and fights from an elevated position, where it rains
down its acid breath and powerful physical attacks. Opting for hovering combat allows an overmatched black dragon to quickly flee.
Breath Weapon: A black dragon emits a stream of acid 60 ft. long by
5 ft wide. The base juvenile black dragons breath weapon deals 8d4+4
points of damage. A successful Exceptional (TC 20) Reflex save halves
the damage.

44

Camouflage: The scales of a baby black dragon are thin and glossy.
As it ages, however, its scales become much harder and duller, making it easier to remain unseen. When attempting to hide in shadows,
murky water or within vegetation, and a roll for Stealth is required, the
dragon adds a +4 modifier per each age category above juvenile.
Immunity to Acid: All black dragons are immune to acid.
Spell-like Abilities: Juvenile black dragons can cast the following
spell: darkness 3/day (40 ft. radius).
Spells: The base juvenile black dragon may learn a number of 1st-level
arcane and divine spells equal to its Intelligence score, but generally
only prepares one spell per day. The caster level is determined by calculating 5 + the Damage Modifier listed for the dragons age category
(see the General Dragon Age Categories & Powers table on page 42 for
more).
Water Breathing: Black dragons are born able to breathe underwater.
Special Qualities: The base juvenile black dragon has the same special
qualities as any general juvenile dragon (see the General Dragon Age
Categories & Powers table onp age 42 for more).
In the World: Black dragons are isolationists, holing up in the damp
and windy cave systems beneath swamps, marshes, jungles and rainforests. They love balmy environments with adequate shelter where
they can swim in murky water and revel in the shadows. The vast
majority are found alone, and even those living with a family will leave
in a flash to save their own scales.
Black dragons horde treasure like most chromatic dragonkind, but
they tend to prefer coins over gems, art and magical items. The older
black dragons have huge stockpiles of coins that fill large caverns.
Ecology: Black dragons can digest almost anything for sustenance,

Dragon, Black
Black Dragon Progression
Age
Category

Average
Length

HD/Att
Mod

Saves

MR

Spells

Spell-Like
Abilities

Body 5,
Tail 4

Treasure

XP

2d4+1

F+5, R+4,
W+4

-6

+1

16

N/A

N/A

darkness 3/day, 10 radius

N/A

4000

Body 10,
Tail 9

-4

+2

17

4d4+2

F+6, R+5,
W+5

N/A

N/A

darkness 3/day, 20 radius

N/A

5000

Body 20,
Tail 16

-2

+3

18

6d4+3

F+9, R+9,
W+9

N/A

N/A

darkness 3/day, 30 radius

N/A

7000

Body 29,
Tail 23

+4

19

8d4+4

F+10, R+8,
W+8

N/A

darkness 3/day, 40 radius

L: 1/2 H

10000

Body 38,
Tail 31

+1

+5

20

10d4+5

F+13, R+10,
W+11

10%

darkness 3/day, 50 radius

L: H

12000

Body 47,
Tail 39

12d4+6

F+15, R+11,
W+12

darkness 3/day, 60
radius; spoil food & drink
1/day, 10 cubic feet of
water

L: H

13000

Body 56,
Tail 47

14d4+7

F+18, R+13,
W+15

darkness 3/day, 70
radius; spoil food & drink
1/day, 20 cubic feet of
water

L: H

14000

Body 65,
Tail 54

16d4+8

F+19, R+14,
W+16

darkness 3/day, 80 radius; spoil food & drink 1/

day; plant growth 1/day,
30 cubic feet of water

L: H x2

15000

Body 74,
Tail 61

18d4+9

F+22, R+16,
W+19

darkness 3/day, 90
radius; spoil food & drink
1/day, 40 cubic feet of
water

L: H x2

17000

L: H x2

18000

+2

+3

+4

+5

Breath
Weapon

+6

+7

+8

+9

21

22

23

24

15%

20%

35%

30%

10

Body 83,
Tail 68

+6

+10

25

20d4+10

F+23, R+17,
W+20

35%

darkness 3/day, 100

radius; spoil food & drink
1/day, 50 cubic feet of
water; summon insect
swarm 1/day

11

Body 92,
Tail 77

+7

+11

26

22d4+11

F+26, R+19,
W+23

40%

darkness 3/day, 110

radius, 60 cubic feet of
water

L: H x3

19000

darkness 3/day, 120

radius; spoil food & drink
1/day, 70 cubic feet of
water; charm monster
(reptiles only) 3/day

L: H x3

20000

12

Body 101,
Tail 84

+8

+12

27

24d4+12

F+28, R+20,
W+25

45%

though they prefer to eat fish and other aquatic-based creatures. When
eating a food source not born from the water, they marinate the food
source in murky water for days before dining.

45

Dragon, Blue
The base blue dragon is juvenile. Consult the general dragon entry above
for information on how to scale the dragons power with age.
Hit Dice: 14 (14d8 hp)
AC: 20
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +11

Attacks 3/1; 2 claws +18 (1d8+4) and bite +18 (3d8+4); or 2/1; claw
+18 (1d8+4) and kick +18 (2d4+4); or 2/1; bite +18 (3d4+4) and kick
+18 (2d4+4); or 1/1; spell; or 1/1; breath weapon
Special Attacks: Breath weapon, dive, flight, hover, pin (1 target),
snatch, spell-like abilities, spells
Size: G (40 ft. long)
Movement: 40 ft., 80 ft. (fly), 20 ft. (burrow)
Alignment: LE
Morale: 18
Appearing: 1 or 1d4+1
Treasure: Special
Frequency: Very rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Arid deserts
Str 19, Dex 10, Con 17, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 14
Special Qualities: Clairaudience (80 ft.), flight, hover, immunity to
electricity, scent (40 ft.), sight (80 ft.)
XP: 13000
Blue dragons enjoy protecting a vast stretch of desert land. They are extremely territorial and survey their land often. Their incredible senses
pick up travelers and herds of animals from a great distance, allowing
them time to bury in the sands or set up a more elaborate ambush. For
blue dragons, nothing is more enjoyable than surprising and destroying a band of unaware travelers. Corpses from truly special ambushes
become decaying trophies.
Scales of a blue dragon retain a high gloss, due to the whipping desert
sands, causing them to be readily identifiable unless they hide. Their
scales range in color from light sky blue to deep indigo. Blue dragons
with lighter blue scales may be harder to spot in the air.
Blue dragons prefer their own distinct dialect of draconic, but can
speak any dialect of draconic. There is a chance that a blue dragon
will spontaneously develop the ability to communicate with all intelligent creatures: 12% at birth and increasing consecutively by 5% as
the dragon attains each age category thereafter.
Combat: A preferred yet certainly not the only option for combat is
to set up an ambush that allows the blue dragon to suddenly emerge
from the sand in full glory, opening combat with its terrifying lightning breath weapon. Following this display, the blue dragon takes to
the sky. If its opponents have not scattered and seem eager to fight, the
creature will remain in flight, swooping down to snatch or plummet,
again taking to flight when it wishes to use its breath weapon again.
If the beast wishes to destroy its prey quickly, it will relentlessly rain
down its electricity in concert with tail slaps and wing buffets. If the
beast wishes to toy with its prey, it will use its destroy water ability and
then follow in the skies as its opponents slowly die of dehydration.

46

Blue dragons despise cowardice and rarely flee, even if pressed.

Breath Weapon: A blue dragon emits lightning as its breath weapon,
a bolt of which is 5 ft. wide and 100 ft. long. The base juvenile bluedragons breath weapon deals 8d8+4 points of damage. A successful
Exceptional (TC 20) Reflex save halves the damage.
Immunity to Electricity: All blue dragons are immune to electricity.
Spell-like Abilities: Juvenile blue dragons have the ability to cast the
following spells: create water 3/day and audible illusion 1/day.
Spells: The base juvenile blue dragon may learn a number of 1st-level
arcane and divine spells equal to its Intelligence score, but generally
only prepares one spell per day. The caster level is determined by calculating 7 + the Damage Modifier listed for the dragons age category
(see the General Dragon Age Categories & Powers table on page 42 for
more).
Special Qualities: The base juvenile blue dragon has the same special
qualities as any general juvenile dragon (see the General Dragon Age
Categories & Powers table on page 42 for more).
In the World: Blue dragons lair deep under the arid desert sands or hot
plains, where they can keep safe their stockpile of treasures (especially
gems). They venture out of their lair each day to survey their lands
and to watch for meddling trespassers and encroaching brass dragons,
their most-hated enemy. If they happen to notice a brass dragon, they
begin to scheme and will not rest until the brass dragon is driven off
or destroyed.

Dragon, Blue
Blue Dragon Progression
Age
Category

Average
Length

HD/Att
Mod

DmgMod

Saves

MR

Spells

Spell-Like
Abilities

Body 6,
Tail 5

Treasure

XP

2d8+1

F+6, R+5,
W+5

-6

+1

17

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

6000

Body 14,
Tail 12

-4

+2

18

4d8+2

F+8, R+6,
W+6

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

8000

Body 25,
Tail 21

-2

+3

19

6d8+3

F+10, R+8,
W+9

N/A

N/A

create water 3/day

N/A

10000

Body 40,
Tail 30

+4

20

8d8+4

F+12, R+9,
W+11

N/A

audible illusion
at will

L: 1/2 H;
OL: S

13000

Body 60,
Tail 39

+1

+5

21

10d8+5

F+15, R+11,
W+13

20%

N/A

L: H;
OL: S

15000

Body 79,
Tail 48

+2

+6

22

12d8+6

F+17, R+12,
W+15

25%

gust of wind
1/day

L: H;
OL: S

16000

Body 93,
Tail 57

+3

+7

23

14d8+7

F+19, R+14,
W+17

30%

3/1

N/A

L: H;
OL: S

17000

Body 102,
Tail 66

+4

+8

24

16d8+8

F+21, R+15,
W+19

35%

3/2

ventriloquism
1/day

L: H;
OL: S x2

18000

Body 111,
Tail 75

+5

+9

25

18d8+9

F+23, R+17,
W+21

40%

3/3

N/A

L: H;
OL: S x2

20000

10

Body 120,
Tail 84

+6

+10

26

20d8+10

F+25, R+18,
W+23

45%

3/3/1

hallucinatory
terrain
1/day

L: H;
OL: S x2

21000

11

Body 129,
Tail 93

+7

+11

27

22d8+11

F+28, R+20,
W+25

50%

3/3/2

N/A

L: H;
OL: S x3

22000

12

Body 138,
Tail 102

+8

+12

28

24d8+12

F+29, R+21,
W+27

55%

3/3/3

N/A

L: H;
OL: S x3

23000

AC

Breath
Weapon

Blue dragons prefer solitude. They despise sharing. Those blue dragons
found in a family will attack to defend their families, teaming up with
the other parent to quickly quell a threat.
Ecology: Blue dragons have voracious appetites and are forced often to
sate that appetite with desert plants and reptiles. Their favorite food is
lightning-charred camel. They can eat entire caravans of them.

47

Dragon, Green
The base green dragon is juvenile. Consult the general dragon entry above
for information on how to scale the dragons power with age.
Hit Dice: 13 (13d8 hp)
AC: 20
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +11

Attacks 3/1; 2 claws +15 (1d8+4) and bite +15 (3d8+4); or 2/1; claw
+15 (1d8+4) and kick +15 (2d4+4); or 2/1; bite +15 (3d8+4) and kick
+15 (2d4+4); or 1/1; spell; or 1/1; breath weapon
Special Attacks: Breath weapon, dive, flight, hover, pin (1 target),
snatch, spell-like abilities, spells
Size: G (40 ft. long)
Movement: 40 ft., 80 ft. (fly), 40 ft. (swim)
Alignment: LE
Morale: 18
Appearing: 1 or 1d4+1
Treasure: Special
Frequency: Very rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any sub-trop./temp. forest/subterranean
Str 19, Dex 10, Con 17, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 14
Special Qualities: Clairaudience (80 ft.), flight, hover, immunity to
poisons and gases, senses, scent (40 ft.), sight (80 ft.)
XP: 11000
Green dragons are downright despicable creatures, abhorring anything
tangentially related to goodness, and take a very rude, crass and mean
approach to everything. They enjoy enslavement and torture, killing
any creature that might stand up to its madness.

forms of poison and any noxious or poisonous gases.

Green dragons most often lair in temperate forests. Their scales start as
a deep green at birth and lighten to the shades of a forest as they age.

Spells: The base juvenile green dragon may learn a number of 1st-level
arcane and divine spells equal to its Intelligence score, but generally
only prepares one spell per day. The caster level is determined by calculating 6 + the Damage Modifier listed for the dragons age category
(see the General Dragon Age Categories & Powers table on page 42 for
more).

Green dragons speaka distinct draconic dialect (which blends a bit of

the sylvan language); however, they can speak and understand all dialects of draconic. There is a chance that a greendragon will spontaneously develop the ability to communicate with all intelligent creatures:
12% at birth and increasing consecutively by 5% as the dragon attains
each age category thereafter.
Combat: Green dragons are bullies needing no provocation or reason
to fight. If an enemy appears powerful or intriguing, the green dragon
will remain under the cover of its environment and stalk its prey to
assess the best time to attack. Capable opponents generally witness a
breath weapon first, followed by spells and special abilities, before the
beast uses physical attacks. Weaker opponents suffer the wrath of its
majesty, cowering in fear, before claws rip them apart.
Breath Weapon: A green dragon emits a cloud of poisonous gas in the
shape of a cone that stretches 50 long, 30 high and 40 wide at its
maximum distance. The base juvenile green dragons breath weapon
deals 8d6+4 points of damage. A successful Exceptional (TC 20) Reflex save halves the damage.
Immunity to Poisons and Gases: All green dragons are immune to all

48

Spell-like Abilities: Juvenile green dragons can cast water breathing

at will.

Special Qualities: The base juvenile green dragon has the same special
qualities as any general juvenile dragon (see the General Dragon Age
Categories & Powers table on page 42 for more).
In the World: While some can be found in sub-tropical forests, green
dragons prefer huge temperate forests with immense trees. Regardless
of the specifics, a green dragon considers its entire forest to be its home
and will lair in the subterranean caves directly beneath it.
Similar to other dragons, green dragons are selfish, scheming and not
without enemies. However, green dragons are slightly political in that
they will work with their greatest enemy if collaboration will yield
greater power. In fact, many green dragons enter into relationships
with other evil-aligned forest dwellers to keep apprised of happenings,
while secretly maneuvering to one day rule the entire forest.
Green dragons of any considerable age are almost always loners. Adult
green dragons are generally parents and live in mated pairs. If one were

Dragon, Green
Green Dragon Progression
Age
Category

Average
Length

HD/Att
Mod

Dmg
Mod

Saves

MR

Spells

Spell-Like
Abilities

Body 5,
Tail 4

Treasure

XP

2d6+1

F+5, R+4,
W+4

-6

+1

17

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

5000

Body 12,
Tail 10

-4

+2

18

4d6+2

F+8, R+6,
W+6

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

7000

Body 26,
Tail 23

-2

+3

19

6d6+3

F+9, R+7,
W+8

N/A

N/A

water breathing at will

N/A

8000

Body 40,
Tail 36

+4

20

8d6+4

F+12, R+9,
W+11

N/A

N/A

L: 1/2 H

11000

Body 49,
Tail 44

+1

+5

21

10d6+5

F+4, R+10,
W+12

15%

N/A

L: H

13000

Body 58,
Tail 52

+2

+6

22

12d6+6

F+17, R+12,
W+15

20%

suggestion
1/day

L: H

14000

Body 67,
Tail 60

+3

+7

23

14d6+7

F+18, R+13,
W+16

25%

warp wood 3/day

L: H

15000

Body 76,
Tail 68

+4

+8

24

16d6+8

F+21, R+15,
W+19

30%

4/1

plant growth
1/day

L: H x2

16000

Body 85,
Tail 76

+5

+9

25

18d6+9

F+22, R+16,
W+20

40%

4/2

entangle
1/day

L: H x2

18000

10

Body 94,
Tail 83

+6

+10

26

20d6+10

F+25, R+18,
W+23

45%

4/3

N/A

L: H x2

19000

11

Body
103, Tail
91

+7

+11

27

22d6+11

F+27, R+19,
W+24

50%

4/4

pass without trace 3/day

L: H x3

21000

12

Body
112, Tail
100

+8

+12

28

24d6+12

F+29, R+21,
W+27

55%

5/4

N/A

L: H x3

22000

AC

Breath
Weapon

to encounter a mated pair, the female attacks first, while the male shelters the young in safety before joining the fight. Hatchlings are always
encountered near their home (or in their lair), while juveniles do have
a bit of wanderlust.
Ecology: Hungry-enough green dragons can live off trees, shrubs, and
even dirt; but, prior to falling to such standards, green dragons will
hunt for their favorite foods: elves, hill giants and ettins. If such a hunt
should prove fruitless, they will happily consume any living creatures
they can find.

49

Dragon, Red
The base red dragon is juvenile. Consult the general dragon entry above for
information on how to scale the dragons power with age.
Hit Dice: 15 (15d8 hp)
AC: 23
Saves: Fort +14, Ref +10, Will +12

Attacks 3/1: 2 claws +15 (1d10+4) and bite +15 (3d10+4); or 2/1;
claw +15(1d10+4) and kick +15 (2d4+4); or 2/1; bite +15 (3d10+4)
and kick +15 (2d4+4); or 1/1; spell; or 1/1; breath weapon
Special Attacks: Breath weapon, dive, pin (1 target), snatch, spell-like
abilities, spells
Size: G (50 ft. long)
Movement: 40 ft., 80 ft. (fly)
Alignment: CE
Morale: 18
Appearing: 1 or 1d4+1
Treasure: Special
Frequency: Very rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any trop./temp. hill/mtn
Str 29, Dex 10, Con 19, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 14
Special Qualities: Clairaudience (80 ft.), flight, hover, immunity to
fire, senses, scent (40 ft.), sight (80 ft.)
XP: 12000
The iconic red dragon epitomizes the ideal fiend for adventurers bent
on the destruction of evil or the swelling of their own coffers. Gracing
countless books and bedtime tales, the Big Red is the most recognized (and hunted) chromatic dragon in all lore. They are also the
most covetous and despicable dragon, quite territorial, haughty and
perfectly convinced of their power.
Red dragons have hardened red scales and two backward-facing horns
protruding from their crest. Having a stocky and muscled frame, red
dragons look mighty. They spew fire for a breath weapon.
Red dragons all speak common and draconic, but most know many
more languages. As they age, they routinely learn new languages, so
mature adult or older red dragons know many languages. Red dragons
tend to also learn lost written languages and scribe runes and symbols
in their lairs.
Combat: Red dragons generally underestimate an unknown opponent, especially if that opponent is smaller than a giant or not presented as a mighty warrior or epic spellslinger. In such cases, a red dragon
may simply utilize one or two haughtily displayed natural attacks until
the dragon realizes the real challenge at hand. At that point, the red
dragon follows a standard dragons strategy of opening with a breath
weapon and taking to flight for additional spell and breath weapon
rounds. Red dragons that have lived in solitude for quite some time
also concoct lavish plans to protect their horde, so if they are encountered in their lair, adventurers should expect vicious traps and magical
influences, such as illusions and powerful glyphs.
A red dragon may or may not flee from death. As complex, intelligent

50

and supremely powerful beings, each will have its own affairs in mind
and a morale to match.
Breath Weapon: Red dragons spew forth a seering cone of fire. The
base width of the cone is 30 ft. and it can reach up to 90 ft. from the
dragon. The base juvenile red dragons breath weapon deals 8d10+4
points of damage. A successful Exceptional (TC 20) Reflex save halves
the damage.
Immunity to Fire: All red dragons are immune to fire damage.
Spell-like Abilities: Juvenile red dragons have the ability to cast the
following spells: manipulate flames 3/day and pyrotechnics 3/day.
Spells: The base juvenile red dragon may learn a number of 1st-level
arcane and divine spells equal to its Intelligence score, but generally
only prepares one spell per day. The caster level is determined by calculating 9 + the Damage Modifier listed for the dragons age category
(see the General Dragon Age Categories & Powers table on page 42 for
more).
Special Qualities: The base juvenile red dragon has the same special
qualities as any general juvenile dragon (see the General Dragon Age
Categories & Powers table on page 42 for more).
The availability and potency of other special qualities, such as magic
resistance, spell-like abilities and aura of fear, are age dependant. Please
consult the general dragon entry and the chart at the bottom of this
page for more information.

Dragon, Red
Red Dragon Progression
Age
Category

Average
Length

HD/Att
Mod

Dmg
Mod

Saves

MR

Spells

Spell-Like
Abilities

Body 8,
Tail 7

Treasure

XP

2d10+1

F+7, R+5,
W+5

-6

+1

20

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

7000

Body 18,
Tail 16

-4

+2

21

4d10+2

F+10, R+7,
W+8

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

8000

Body 30,
Tail 25

-2

+3

22

6d10+3

F+11, R+8,
W+9

N/A

N/A

manipulate
flames 3/day

N/A

10000

Body 50,
Tail 42

+4

23

8d10+4

F+14, R+10,
N/A
W+12

pyrotechnics
3/day

L: E;
OL: S, T

12000

Body 70,
Tail 55

+1

+5

24

10d10+5

F+16, R+11,
30%
W+13

N/A

L: H;
OL: S, T

14000

Body 85,
Tail 74

+2

+6

25

12d10+6

F+18, R+13,
35%
W+17

2/1

heat metal
1/day

L: H;
OL: S, T

15000

Body
105, Tail
90

+3

+7

26

14d10+7

F+20, R+14,
40%
W+18

2/2

N/A

L: H;
OL: S, T

16000

Body
125, Tail
112

+4

+8

27

16d10+8

F+23, R+16,
45%
W+21

2/2/1

suggestion
1/day

L: H;
OL: S, T x2

19000

Body
145, Tail
134

+5

+9

28

18d10+9

F+25, R+17,
50%
W+23

2/2/2

hypnotism
1/day

L: H;
OL: S, T x2

21000

10

Body
160, Tail
145

+6

+10

29

20d10+10

F+28, R+19,
55%
W+26

2/2/2/1

N/A

L: H;
OL: S, T x2

22000

11

Body
170, Tail
155

+7

+11

30

22d10+11

F+30, R+20,
60%
W+27

2/2/2/2

N/A

L: H;
OL: S, T x3

23000

12

Body
180, Tail
165

+8

+12

31

24d10+12

F+32, R+22,
65%
W+30

2/2/2/2/1

N/A

L: H;
OL: S, T x3

24000

AC

Breath
Weapon

In the World: Red dragons reside on the mountain heights or on immense hilltops where they can survey their territory. which consists
of all they can perceive from their perch, easily. Their lairs are large
caves which extend deep into the bowels of the mountain or hillside
and house their massive hoards. They are obsessed with wealth andare
extremely arrogant and vain creatures.

Ecology: Carvivores, red dragons eat virtually any meat and can digest
almost anything, although their preferred prey are human or demihuman maidens. They have even been known to charm humanoids in
villages within their territories to provide them with regular sacrifices
of beautiful maidens.

Red dragons are solitary creatures, prefering their own company to

that of others, including their own race. When a young red dragon
reaches the age of a young adult, they are banished from their nest to
make their own way in the world and to carve out their own territories.
Otherwise, they are potential competition which the parental dragon
does not desire.
Quick of temper and action, red dragons will not hesitate to attack
any and all creatures which encroach into their demnse; they are particularly watchful for copper or silver dragons, which live in similar
environs. Gold dragons are their arch-enemies, being the only dragons
to rival their own in power and might.

51

Dragon, White
The base white dragon is juvenile. Consult the general dragon entry above
for information on how to scale the dragons power with age.
Hit Dice: 11 (11d8 hp)
AC: 19
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +8

Attacks 3/1: 2 claws +15 (1d6+4) and bite +15 (3d6+4); or 2/1; claw
+15(1d6+4) and kick +15 (2d4+4); or 2/1; bite +15 (3d6+4) and kick
+15 (2d4+4); or 1/1; spell; or 1/1; breath weapon
Special Attacks: Breath weapon, dive, pin (1 target), snatch, spell-like
abilities, spells
Size: H (28 ft. long)
Movement: 40 ft., 80 ft. (fly), 40 ft. (swim)
Alignment: CE
Morale: 18
Appearing: 1 or 1d4+1
Treasure: Special
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Arctic plains, hills, mountains, and subterranean
Str 17, Dex 10, Con 15, Int 8, Wis 11, Cha 8
Special Qualities: Clairaudience (80 ft.), flight, hover, ice walking, immunity to cold, senses, scent (40 ft.), sight (80 ft.)
XP: 8000
Despite being the weakest of dragons, white dragons are animalistic
and downright scary. They are dull-minded, but sadistic and wildly
chaotic, caring only to quell whatever urge might spring inside their
wicked minds. White dragons are the most unpredictable dragons. interestingly the weakest of all dragons, yet they are the most cunning
and intelligent.

juvenile white dragons breath weapon deals 4d6+4 points of damage.

A successful Exceptional (TC 20) Reflex save halves the damage.
Ice Walking: Juvenile and older white dragons can walk and run across
ice as if on dry ground without slipping.

A white dragons scales match their favored frozen terrain perfectly.

Younglings have a white mirrored sheen that makes them almost camouflaged against a snowy backdrop. As the white dragon ages, their
mirrored scales dull a bit, and start to take on gray and blue hues.

Spell-like Abilities: Juvenile white dragons have the ability to cast the
following spell: chill metal 3/day.

White dragons, like all dragons, prefer their own draconic dialect, but
can speak and understand all dialects of the language. There is a chance
that a greendragon will spontaneously develop the ability to communicate with all intelligent creatures: 7% at birth and increasing consecutively by 5% as the dragon attains each age category thereafter.
Combat: Being a rather animalistic creature, the white dragon has
come to rely upon a standard array of attacks. Starting first with a
breath weapon, until exhausted, the dragon will then fall upon any of
its known special abilities, before launching into melee. When hunting
though, the dragon will generally batter its prey with its claw attack.
Having a go-to set of tactics can sometimes hurt the white dragon,
especially if its breath weapon fails to work to its maximum efficiency
or when its special powers do nothing against its foe. Nonetheless, it
often works to great effect.
Breath Weapon: The white dragon emits as a breath weapon a cone of
cold that is 5 ft. wide, 70 ft. long and 25 ft. wide at its base. The base

52

Immunity to Cold: All white dragons are immune to cold damage.

Spells: The base juvenile white dragon may learn a number of 1stlevel arcane and divine spells equal to its Intelligence score, but generally only prepares one spell per day. The caster level is determined
by calculating 5 + the Damage Modifier listed for the dragons age
category (see the General Dragon Age Categories & Powers table on page
42 for more).
Special Qualities: The base juvenile white dragon has the same special
qualities as any general juvenile dragon (see the General Dragon Age
Categories & Powers table on page 42 for more).
In the World: White dragons live in the frozen wastes and sub-zero
arctic locales, preferring the isolation such environs provide and relishing in the wintery air; temperatures which are too warm cause these
giant creatures to become sluggish and slow. They lair in deep subterranean caves whose temperatures are cold and away from the warming
rays of the sun. It is in this frigid, remote lair that the white dragon
stores its amassed treasures, which are often coated in ice and rime and
reflect the sparkle of lights within the cave, creating scintillating patterns which can be quite breathtaking.

Dragon, White
White Dragon Progression
Age
Category

Average
Length

HD/Att
Mod

Dmg
Mod

Saves

MR

Spells

Spell-Like
Abilities

Body 3,
Tail 2

Treasure

XP

1d6+1

F+4, R+3,
W+3

-6

+1

16

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

3000

Body 10,
Tail 8

-4

+2

17

2d6+2

F+6, R+5,
W+5

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

4000

Body 18,
Tail 17

-2

+3

18

3d6+3

F+8, R+6,
W+6

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

6000

Body 28,
Tail 25

+4

19

4d6+4

F+10, R+8,
W+8

N/A

N/A

chill metal 3/day

8000

Body 37,
Tail 32

+1

+5

20

5d6+5

F+12, R+9,
W+9

5%

N/A

N/A

L: E;
OL: O, S

10000

Body 45,
Tail 41

+2

+6

21

6d6+6

F+15, R+11,
W+11

10%

N/A

L: E;
OL: O, S

12000

Body 55,
Tail 50

+3

+7

22

7d6+7

F+17, R+12,
W+13

15%

gust of wind
3/day

L: E;
OL: O, S

13000

Body 64,
Tail 58

+4

+8

23

8d6+8

F+19, R+14,
W+15

20%

N/A

L: E;
OL: O, S x2

14000

Body 73,
Tail 66

+5

+9

24

9d6+9

F+21, R+15,
W+17

25%

wall of fog (snow/

hail) 3/day

L: E;
OL: O, S x2

16000

10

Body 82,
Tail 74

+6

+10

25

10d6+10

F+23, R+17,
W+19

30%

N/A

L: E;
OL: O, S x2

17000

11

Body 91,
Tail 82

+7

+11

26

11d6+11

F+25, R+18,
W+20

35%

freezing sphere
3/day

L: E;
OL: O, S x3

18000

12

Body 100,
Tail 90

+8

+12

27

12d6+12

F+28, R+20,
W+24

40%

N/A

L: E;
OL: O, S x3

19000

AC

Breath
Weapon

Ecology: Omnivores, white dragons can eat virtually anything, although they are very particular on one point: they will only consume
food which has been frozen. Thus, after killing its prey, the white dragon prefers to bury it in the icy terrain, removing it once it has been
froxen and is fit for consumption.
White dragons and frost giants are mortal enemies; frost giants hunt
them for food and to capture them, training them as mounts and
guards.

53

Elemental, Air
Size: L (8 ft tall)
Movement: 100 ft. (fly)
Alignment: N
Morale: 16
Appearing: 1
Treasure Rating: None
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Air
Str 11, Dex 16, Con --, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Air mastery, elemental traits, infravision (60 ft.),
weapon immunity
XP: 3000
Air elementals generally appear as huge, shifting clouds with no discernible features. They are always encountered in areas of open air
where ample wind is present, which is also the environment into
which they must be summoned.
Air elementals speak auran, the language used by those on the Elemental Plane of Air, but they will only speak to (or even seem to
comprehend) the one that summoned them. Their voice has a deep,
furnace-type tone that sounds like a raging storm.
Combat: Air elementals fly through the air with incredible speed,
which allows them to cover distances quickly and to choose an elevated position over grounded opponents. If elevated, they receive a +2 to
attack rolls, while those below the air elemental suffer a -2 to attacks
made against it. If presented with an option to attack a grounded foe
or an opponent in the air, they will always choose to engage in aerial
combat, where their mastery over the air provides an ample bonus.
Air Mastery: In battles occurring at least 25 feet in the air, these elementals receive +1 to hit and +4 to damage.
Elemental Traits: Elementals are composed entirely of air, earth, fire
or water. As such, an elemental is immune to poisons, sleep and other
mind-affecting spells, paralysis, petrification, stunning and disease.
Weapon Immunity: Air elementals cannot be harmed by any weapon
with less than a +2 magical enchantment.
Whirlwind: The elemental can transform itself into a whirlwind. Its
form turns into a reversed cone, which is 10 feet wide at its base, rising
up and widening to 30 feet at the top. The height of the whirlwind
is 5 feet per Hit Dice. It can remain in this form for 1 round, during
which time the whirlwind automatically blows around small, loose
objects and creatures. It collects and kills all creatures that get caught
in the whirlwind with less than 3 HD, no save, and deals 2d8 points
of damage to any creatures with more than 3 HD.
In this form, the elemental can move through the air or along a surface
at its fly speed.
It takes 10 rounds for the elemental to form this whirlwind. The elemental can attack normally with its slam while transforming.

54

In the World: Similar to all extraplanar beings, air elementals have no

natural origin or habitat on the Material Plane and care very little for
the two-dimensional nature of the world. Some may find temporary
enjoyment soaring in and around various natural landscape, but the
vast majority of air elementals prefer the infinite azure airs of their
home plane. Magic users and spellcasting creatures often conjure air
elementals to do their bidding, so one who encounters an air elemental
can safely assume its bound to serve a powerful, magic-wielding master. Once a task is complete, the vast majority of air elementals relish
in returning home to the Elemental Plane of Air.
On their home plane, most air elementals can be found in the servitude of powerful djinn.
Ecology: The Elemental Plane of Air births air elementals exclusively
and in random quantities, at random times. Air elementals require no
sustenance or sleep, and prefer to roam with the planes high winds
and tornadoes.

Elemental, Earth
Hit Dice: 8 (8d8 hp)
AC: 18
Saves: Fort +13, Ref +8, Will +7

Attacks: 1/1; Slam +1 per HD (2d8+2 or 4d8+2 (earth mastery))
Special Attacks: None
Size: L (8 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft., 20 ft. (burrow)
Alignment: N
Morale: 16
Appearing: 1
Treasure: None
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any land
Str 17, Dex 9, Con --, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Earth glide, earth mastery, elemental traits, infravision (60 ft.), weapon immunity
XP: 2000
When summoned to the Material Plane, an earth elemental generally
takes the shape of a large, faceless humanoid that consists of whatever
types of dirt, stones, metals and gems it was conjured from. Two large
gemstones set into the front of the elemental serve as its eyes.
It can travel through solid ground or stone walls as easily as humans
can walk on a surface through air. It cannot swim, however, and must
either walk or burrow around a body of water or burrow through the
ground under it. An earth elemental can move along the floor of a
body of water at half speed, but prefers not to.
Earth elementals speak terran, the language used by those on the Elemental Plane of Earth. On the very rare occasion that an earth elemental actually does speak, its voice sounds like crushing and grinding stone.
Combat: An earth elemental will always attempt to keep a fight on
the ground, where it deals tremendous damage to those touching any
portion of the ground on which the elemental stands. Though it moves
slowly above ground, it is a relentless opponent and will burrow below
to set quickly upon its targets. When attacking any target not touching
the ground, all slam attacks deal 2d8 points of damage.
Earth Glide: An earth elemental can glide through stone, dirt, or almost any other sort of earth except metal as easily as a fish swims
through water. Its burrowing speed is 30 feet per round and it leaves
behind no tunnel or hole, nor does it create any ripple or other signs
of its presence.

Elemental Traits: Elementals are composed entirely of air, earth, fire

or water. As such, an elemental is immune to poisons, sleep and other
mind-affecting spells, paralysis, petrification, stunning and disease.
Weapon Immunity: Earth elementals cannot be harmed by any weapon with less than a +2 magical enchantment.
In the World: Earth elementals are very volatile (even for elementals).
Those found on the Material Plane are most-often conjured from a
spellcaster bold enough to bind the creature, since earth elementals notoriously attack their conjurers when permitted the slightest chance.
On their home plane, the Elemental Plane of Earth, they live a reclusive existence in nigh-unreachable depths of the planar masses. Rare
is the earth elemental that roams the plane and rarer still is the earth
elemental that willingly consorts with other beings.
Ecology: On the Elemental Plane of Earth, they remain in colonies
deep within the huge, solid masses on the plane, far away from the
other features and natives of the plane. Many visitors to the Elemental
Plane of Earth make reference to the utter absence of earth elementals.
For this reason, more specific information on the ecology of the earth
elemental simply doesnt exist.

Earth Mastery: When attacking any target not touching the earthen
or stone surface to which the elemental is currently attached, all slam
attacks deal 2d8 points of damage. When attacking any target touching an earthen or stone surface to which the elemental is currently
attached (wall, floor or ceiling), its slam attacks deal 4d8 points of
damage.

55

Elemental, Fire
Hit Dice: 8 (8d8 hp)
AC: 18
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +12, Will +7

Attacks: 1/1; Slam +8 (3d8)
Special Attacks: Burn
Size: L (8 ft. tall)
Movement: 50 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: 16
Appearing: 1
Treasure: None
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any land (except water)
Str 11, Dex 13, Con --, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Elemental traits, infravision (60 ft.), weapon immunity
XP: 2000
Fire elementals can be summoned into any area containing a large
open flame that measures at least 6 feet in diameter and 4 feet high.
They appear as tall columns or sheets of fire with two arm-like appendages on either side that seem to wink in and out of existence. Two
patches of bright blue flame seem to serve as the elementals eyes.
A fire elemental cannot enter or cross water or any other nonflammable liquid.
Fire elementals speak ignan, the language used by those on the Elemental Plane of Fire. Similar to other elementals, they rarely speak.
When they do speak, their voice is composed of high-pitched hisses
and crackles.
Combat: A fire elemental fights similarly to an earth elemental: fierce
and unrelenting. It moves adjacent to as many opponents as it can
and begins to take slam attacks. Since it relishes in the sight of burning matter, the opponent with the accessible cloth (such as a mage or
wizard) could become the creatures first mark.
Burn: A fire elementals slam attack deals all fire damage, although it
is in a bludgeoning fashion. Flammable objects hit by a fire elementals
slam attack also must succeed on a save or catch on fire. Any substance
that easily catches aflame (cloth, paper, plant-life, etc.) must succeed
on a Superior (TC 15) save, while metal or other substances more
resistant to flame are required to succeed on a Basic (TC 5) save. Creatures hitting a fire elemental with natural weapons or unarmed attacks
take 1d6 points of fire damage on all successful attacks.
Elemental Traits: Elementals are composed entirely of air, earth, fire
or water. As such, an elemental is immune to poisons, sleep and other
mind-affecting spells, paralysis, petrification, stunning and disease.
Weapon Immunity: Fire elementals cannot be harmed by any weapon
with less than a +2 magical enchantment.

56

In the World: Similar to other elemental beings, fire elementals encountered on the Material Plane are summoned forth with magic and
serve their summoner. On foreign planes, they suffer a certain limitation - they cannot enter nonflammable liquids. Unless covered in
some flammable solution (like oil) or passable by other means (such
as leaping or climbing) a fire elemental cannot cross a collection of
standing or running water. For this reason, fire elementals prefer to
return to their native plane as soon as possible, caring very little for
anything else.
Fire elementals found on their native plane, the Elemental Plane of
Fire, often serve more powerful native beings, like salamanders, efreet,
or elder elementals (22 HD advanced fire elementals) hailing from
the planes capital city of brass. Small collections of fire elementals do
roam the planes outer reaches, where the citys denizens care little to
control.
Ecology: Fire elementals need nothing to survive, so they live according to their desires. They yearn to frolic and roam the fiery pits of their
elemental plane. Visitors to the Elemental Plane of Fire see countless
schools of fire elementals weaving through the fire sea. Those that serve
a more powerful being still yearn for the wild flame, thus making fire
elementals less than ideal slaves.

Elemental, Water
Hit Dice: 8 (8d8 hp)
AC: 18
Saves: Fort +13, Ref +8, Will +7

Attacks: 1/1; Slam +8 (5d6)
Special Attacks: Drench, vortex
Size: L (8 ft. tall)
Movement: 20 ft., 90 ft. (swim)
Alignment: N
Morale: 16
Appearing: 1
Treasure: None
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Water
Str 13, Dex 11, Con --, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Elemental traits, infravision (60 ft.), weapon immunity
XP: 2000
Water elementals are huge crested waves with two greenish orbs that
serve as the creatures eyes and two smaller waves that protrude from
its sides that serve as arms. They are always encountered near a large
amount of water, since they must be conjured into a quantity of water
equal to a small pool (approximately 1,000 cubic feet of water).
These creatures are composed of sentient water and their touch immediately extinguishes all non-magical flames no larger than a torch.
Water elementals speak aquan, the language spoken by those on the
Elemental Plane of Water. However, they rarely speak. They talk in a
mixture of sounds that resemble a crashing and ebbing shore.
Combat: A water elemental prefers to fight in a large body of water
where it can disappear beneath the waves and suddenly swell up behind its opponents to lash out with a powerful slam. Opponents on a
boat are often tipped into the water. At that point, the water elemental
will stay beneath its wading victims while attacking their lower body.
Drench: The elementals touch puts out torches, campfires, and other
open non-magical flames of Large size or smaller. It can dispel magical
fire it touches as if casting dispel magic.
Elemental Traits: Elementals are composed entirely of air, earth, fire
or water. As such, an elemental is immune to poisons, sleep and other
mind-affecting spells, paralysis, petrification, stunning and disease.
Vortex: As long as it is underwater, a water elemental can transform
itself into a whirlpool vortex once every 10 minutes and may remain in
that form for up to 1 round for every 2 HD it has. In vortex form, the
elemental can move through the water or along the bottom at its swim
speed. The vortex is 5 feet wide at the base, up to 30 feet wide at the
top, and 10 feet or more tall, depending on the elementals size. The
elemental controls the exact height, but it must be at least 10 feet.
The elementals movement while in vortex form does not grant free at-

tacks, even if the elemental makes a full retreat from combat. Another
creature might be caught in the vortex if it touches or enters the vortex, or if the elemental moves into or through the creatures space.
A creature one or more size categories smaller than the elemental
caught in the vortex must succeed on a Reflex save when it comes
into contact with the vortex or take damage (see table). It must also
succeed on a second Reflex save or begin taking damage automatically
each round as it is picked up bodily and held suspended in the powerful currents. An affected target is allowed a Reflex save each round to
escape the vortex. The creature still takes damage, but can leave if the
save is successful.

Water Elemental Vortex

Size

Save TC

Damage

Height

Small

Average (TC 10)

1d4

10-20 ft.

Medium

Superior(TC 15)

1d6

10-30 ft.

Large

Exceptional (TC 20)

2d6

10-40 ft.

Huge

Legendary (TC 25)

2d8

10-50 ft.

Greater

Legendary (TC 25)

2d8

10-60 ft.

Elder

Legendary (TC 25)

2d8

10-60 ft.

Targets trapped in the vortex cannot move except to go where the elemental carries them, but can otherwise act normally, but must make
a Superior (TC 15) Intelligence check to cast a spell. Creatures caught
in the vortex take a -4 penalty to Dexterity and a -2 penalty on attack rolls. A vortex can accomodate as many targets as fit within the
vortexs volume.
The elemental can eject any carried creatures whenever it wishes, depositing them wherever the vortex happens to be. A summoned elemental always ejects trapped creatures before returning to its home
plane.

57

Elemental, Water
If the vortexs base touches the bottom of the sea or lake floor, it creates
a swirling debris cloud centered on the elemental and having a diameter equal to half the vortexs height. The cloud obscures all vision,
including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. Creatures 5 feet away have 25%
concealment, while those farther away have 90% concealment.
Those caught in the debris cloud must make a Superior (TC 15) Intelligence check to cast a spell.
An elemental in vortex form cannot make slam attacks.
Water Mastery: A water elemental cant venture more than 180 feet
from the body of water from which it was conjured; if it does, the total
damage on all successful slam attacks suffers a -5 penalty. When touching a large body of water, the damage on its successful slam attacks is
unhindered. The elemental also fights perfectly underwater, suffering
no penalties to attacks or damage.
Weapon Immunity: Water elementals cannot be harmed by any
weapon with less than a +2 magical enchantment.
In the World: Water elementals encountered on the Material Plane
are mercurial beings, constantly shifting size and dimension. They are
capricious beings and a danger to ships that may cross their paths; they
can easily capsize smaller boats (1 ton of ship weight per Hit Die of the
water elemental) and can significantly impede the movement of larger
ships (1 ton of ship weight per hit point of the water elemental; slowed
by a percentage equal to the ratio of the ships tonnage over the water
elementals maximum hit points).
Water elementals have also developed a reputation as hoarders and
thieves, desiring to collect as many treasures as possible and bringing
them to the watery depths; whether this is a sailors perception or a
true aspect of these creatures personalities is unknown.
Ecology: Water elementals need nothing to survive, so they live in wild
abandon and according to their ever-changing desires. They prefer to
roam the depths of the waters of the Elemental Plane of Water and
visitors to the Elemental Plane of Water may observe water elementals
weaving in apparently haphazard fashion through the watery sea.

58

Elf, Dark
Hit Dice: 2 (2d8 hp)
AC: 16 (chainmail +1 armor)
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +5

Attacks: 1/1; Short sword +2 (1d6) or hand crossbow +1 (1d6 plus
poison) or javelin +1 (1d6)
Special Attacks: Sleep poison, spell-like abilities, spells (clerics and wizards only)
Size: M (5 ft. or less)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: CE
Morale: 14
Appearing: 2d4 (patrol) or 50 (war party)
Treasure: OL: N x2, Q x2
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night (subterranean); Night (surface)
Terrain: Subterranean
Str 13, Dex 13, Con 9, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Danger sense, darkvision (120 ft.), improved initiative, light sensitivity, magic resistance, stonecunning, superior focus
XP: 975 (Clerics); 650 (Other classes)
Dark elves are a sub-race of elves that long ago in the deep mists of
history chose the path of evil over the worship of nature and of all
things good, leading to an elven civil war that resulted in the expulsion
of the dark elves from their sylvan homes and driving them deep into
the bowels of the earth. These elven outcasts worship an evil goddess
and a select subset of other evil deities, maintain a strict hierarchical
caste system and matriarchal noble house structure based on the strong
dominating the weak, and live deep in the subterranean depths in disturbingly bizarre cities carved of stone and earthly minerals, where
they hatch fiendishly evil plots against other denizens of both the subterranean earth and those above it.
Dark elves stand 5 feet or less in height, have purplish black skin and
white hair, purple to crimson eye coloration, and weigh between 95120 pounds for females and 80-100 pounds for males. They have extremely fine, chiseled features and have long, lithe fingers and toes.
Dark elves speak a variant of elvish, common, standard elvish, gnomish, the subterranean trade language, and a specialized, complex silent
sign language that conveys information but not meaning or emotional
content.
Combat: The lives of dark elves are violent ones, filled with contention, betrayal, and the lust for power. Conflict in such situations is
inevitable and always expected; it is rare to find a dark elf off-guard.
Dark elven armor, like the specialized cloaks the shadowy elves wear,
is made of such fine quality and permeated by the same effects observed in the cloaks that it is always considered to be equivalent to at
least chain mail +1 armor (although it can reach up to chain mail +5
in quality, although such pieces are usually reserved for high-ranking
nobles or generals), although it never radiates a magical aura. Similarly,
dark elves are known to carry small bucklers fashioned of the highest
quality metals, usually equivalent to a +1, +2, or even +3 bonus (again,

no magical aura can be detected), as well as long dirks and short swords
with similar bonuses. Some dark elf nobles have been known to carry
weapons of up to a +4 bonus. Finally, dark elves are known to carry
small hand crossbows which shoot darts instead if quarrels; such darts
do 1-3 points of damage and are usually coated with the infamous
dark elf sleep poison.
Dark elves are masters of stealth and subterfuge. Due to their lengthy
time in the subterranean depths, they have developed several useful
adaptations which serve them well in establishing ambushes and laying
traps for the unwary intruders into their domains.
Danger Sense: Dark elves are better than most races at noticing nearby danger. They receive a +2 bonus on any roll to avoid being surprised
or caught flat-footed.
Darkvision: Dark elves have very enhanced sight. They can see up to
120 feet in total darkness.
Improved Initiative: Dark elves are agile, intuitive and insightful
combatants. Their quicker set of combat reflexes reduces the dark elf s
base initiative die type to d8.
Light Sensitivity: Dark elves do have a weakness to bright lights. Any
light or continual light spell expose a dark elf 90% of the time. They
also lose 2 points of Dexterity and their attacks against targets inside
the lit zone from outside the zone suffer a -2 penalty while the targets
are within the area of the light. If the dark elf and their target are both
inside the lit area, the dark elf s attacks suffer an additional -1 penalty
(-3 total). Anyone subject to the spells of dark elves while in a brightly
lit area receives +2 to their saving throws versus the spell effects (+3
versus the effects if both the dark elf and the target are within the lit
area). Dark elves are 75% likely to retreat from areas of bright light,
unless involved in a battle from which they cannot easily escape. Light
sources such as torches, faerie fire, lanterns, magical weapons and the

59

Elf, Dark
like do not affect the dark elves; they are simply not bright enough.
Magic Resistance: Dark elves have an innate magic resistance of 50%
as a base, which increases by 2% per level of experience. (Multi-classed
dark elves calculate this increase based on their highest class level.)
Sleep Poison: Sleep poison (Type II poison; causes unconsciousness
on a failed Superior (TC 15) Fortitude save); used to coat ranged
weapons like darts, crossbow bolts, and javelins.
Spell-like Abilities: Dark elves unanimously receive magical training,
and all are able to use the following spells once per day: dancing lights,
darkness, and faerie fire. Dark elves at 4th-level and above can use detect
alignment, detect magic, and levitate once per day as well.
Stonecunning: Dark elves hone a great sense of underground gradations and worked stone. If attempting to discern some interesting
feature of a slope or section of worked stone within 20 feet, the dark
elf rolls a Wisdom check (or Perception check, if trained) against a
TC set by the GM. Common applications of stonecunning include:
detecting grades or slopes; detecting new construction or secret walls
and rooms; detecting stonework traps and hazards; and determining
underground depth.
Superior Focus: Dark elves receive a +1 bonus on any checks to notice
secret or otherwise concealed objects, such as a secret door or trap.
In the World: Dark elves do not retain the same link to the ancient
wilds that their surface counterparts do and are almost universally selfcentered beings, concerned only with how to increase their power or
that of the noble house to which they belong. All dark elves carry
brooches inlaid with the symbol of the noble house or merchant family to which they belong or to which they may be allied. They keep
these badges hidden, only revealing them when they have need to let
others know that they have the backing and power of their particular
faction behind them.
Master craftsmen, the dark elves have developed methods to imbue
their clothing with magical-like properties, although they do not radiate any magical auras. Theories ranging from the crafting of these
items in areas containing some unique substance or radiation deep
underground to having these items blessed by their evil deity abound;
no one except the dark elves themselves know the secret to making
these items, and they never divulge the secret to outsiders.
Dark elves prefer to wear dark black to grey clothing that is extremely
functional; the exception to this are the priestesses, who wear much
more finery, laden with jewels and other trinkets. They are known as
master weavers and the material they use in creating their signature
cloaks is extremely difficult to rip, is resistant to fire (treat as strong
versus fire effects), and acts similarly as a cloak of elvenkind (although
it only provides a 75% chance for total concealment in shadows and
does not radiate a magical dweomer). Any attempt at altering the
cloaks has a 75% likelihood of destroying the cloaks properties and
making it useless.
They have also mastered the art of poison, using many variations to
great effect. One of the most common is a sleep poison (Type II poison; causes unconsciousness on a failed Superior (TC 15) Fortitude

60

save) which they coat on their darts, crossbow bolts, and javelins; this
concoction is highly prized by surface merchants, but loses its potency
instantly when exposed to sunlight and after 60 days once exposed to
the air (it may keep its potency up to 1 year when kept sealed).
When encountered in groups (usually a scouting party or warband of
some sort), dark elves always have a higher level leader directing the
party. If 10 or more dark elves are encountered in a group, the leader is
at least a 3rd-level straight multi-classed fighter/wizard. If 20 or more
are encountered, the leader is a straight multi-classed fighter/cleric of
at least 6th-level, in addition to the fighter/wizard, who is a lieutenant.
If 30 or more are encountered, in addition to the above leaders, the
group will be led by a straight multi-classed 7th-level fighter/8th-level
cleric with a straight multi-classed 5th-level fighter/4th-level wizard as
a lieutenant; also, up to 50% of this larger group will be clerics.
Ecology: Dark elves prefer the subterranean depths to the open air
of the surface world, although frequent raids from under the earth at
night are not uncommon in areas which have access to the subterranean realms where they make their homes.
Dark elf religion plays a key role in their society, with priestesses of
the dark goddess holding many of the key ruling positions within the
noble houses. Males are generally subservient to females in dark elf
society, acting as guards, warriors, and scouts to their female leaders.
Dark elf life and society is based on survival of the strongest and fittest, violence, murder, cunning, and betrayal; the weak are killed at
best and made to be subservient at worst. There is a strong influence
from the matriarchal society. The concept of love is almost a foreign
emotion to dark elves, as is marriage, and courtship is the responsibility of the females and the selection of mates mimics that of selecting a
good breeding animal; chosen males are given no choice in the matter.
Bearing children is a sign of the females power and dark elf women
desire to birth as many children as possible. Rare, though, is there any
affection or emotional bonding between parent and child. Among the
noble houses, young dark elves are raised by tutors and elder siblings,
while commoners rely on extended family for this purpose. Males are
sent to the military or wizard academies, while most females attend the
temples of their dark goddess for training.
Dark elves use giant lizards as pack animals, use bugbears and troglodytes as servants, and have alliances with many of the subterranean
realms evil inhabitants. They are constantly at war with other underground races such as dwarves, and keep slaves of all types - including
former allies who fail the dark elves in some way.

Ettercap
Hit Dice: 5 (5d8 hp)
AC: 14
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +5

Attacks: 3/1; 2 claws +5 (1d4), and bite +5 (1d8 plus poison)
Special Attacks: Poisonous bite
Size: M (6 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: NE
Morale: 13
Appearing: 1-4 (1d4)
Treasure: None
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any forest
Str 12, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 9
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.), trapmaking
XP: 650
Ettercaps are intelligent bipedal monsters with stooped shoulders, long
sinewy arms that stretch to the floor, short legs, a pot-belly and a face
that resembles a spider with deep red reptilian eyes. Two large fangs
protrude from a large mouth.
Ettercaps speak their own language that combines violent body movement with shrieking tones.
Combat: If an enemy survives the ettercaps traps, the monsters will
use their claw attacks first and then their poisonous bite. They fight
intelligently, using their surroundings and fleeing from certain death.
Ettercaps lair with 1d4+1 giant deadly spiders 75% of the time. These
giant deadly spiders are slightly more intelligent (Int: 5). The spiders
will fight to protect the ettercaps as a faithful animal companion. Spider companions understand the ettercaps commands and will follow
them as effectively as possible.
Poisonous Bite: A successful bite requires the victim to make a Superior (TC 15) Fortitude save or suffer the effect of a Type III poison
which renders a victim failing the check unconscious immediately.
Unless the proper antitoxin is admitted or a neutralizing spell is cast,
the victim will be rendered paralyzed within 1 hour and remain so
until the paralysis is magically removed.
Trapmaking: The ettercap spits out a web-like substance and easily
manipulates it to form thin, strong strands. They can be used to create
tripwires, garrotes or a springing net trap. All ettercap traps are considered Superior (TC 15) complexity to dodge, detect or disable.
In the World: Ettercaps are somewhat solitary creatures, preferring
the presence of their giant spider pets to those of other creatures, even
their own race; though not overly intelligent, female ettercaps are more
intelligent than the males. They are instinctual creatures, caring for
all arachnid life within their habitat and communicating with them
through use of powerful pheromones and bodily resins.

These creatures most commonly live in temperate forest regions, often

making their homes near paths frequented by their prey. Their cocoonlike dwellings reside high in the forest canopy, obscured by the surrounding foliage; from the dwellings entrance, ettercaps attach long
webbed strands to the traps it has placed in the area and to the lairs
of other arachnid creatures in order to monitor when prey becomes
caught. Once notified that prey has become ensnared, the cowardly
and vicious ettercap descends, locates its prey and proceedes to inject
it with poison from its bite, devouring its helpless prey live.
Despite their lack of opposable thumbs, ettercaps are excellent climbers and trapmakers. They can dexterously weave, shape, cut, and mold
their webbing into a variety of shapes and web patterns as quickly as
their lower abdominal spinnerets can produce material.
Ecology: Ettercaps reproduce through normal sexual reproduction,
but lay scores of eggs inside external 2-3 foot-long ovoid web sacs.
These sacs are hung in clusters from cave walls, tree boughs, and other
easily defensible locations. Gestation period is around 3 months, after which the eggs hatch, releasing 30-80 voracious young. Ettercap
mothers generally store a living food source, kept paralyzed by alive,
nearby in preparation for the birth and inevitable feeding frenzy which
follows. Should a suitable food source not be present, the ettercap
mother leaves the nest until after the hatching and rapacious feeding
frenzy of the newly-hatched swarm has abated. After several weeks,
the swarms population has generally decreased substantially through
exposure, predation, starvation, or birth defects; the ettercap mother
then chooses the 1-3 most promising survivors to rear until they reach
maturity at 4 years, while the remaining young are abandoned to their
fate. Lifespans range from between 20-50 years for most ettercaps.

61

Ettin
Hit Dice: 10 (10d8)
AC: 17
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +9, Will +8

Attacks: 2/1; Right club +10 (3d6+4) and left club +10 (2d8+4) or
right slam +10 (2d6+7) and left slam +10 (1d10+7)
Special Attacks: None
Size: H (13 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: CE
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1d4
Treasure: L: C; OL: O or Y
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Cold/temp. hills or mountains
Str 19, Dex 9, Con 16, Int 6, Wis 18/10, Cha 5
Special Qualities: Keen perception, low-light vision (60 ft.)
XP: 3000
Ettins are often referred to as the two-headed giant. They are vicious
and unpredictable hunters that stalk the night for any meat source
they can find. They are slightly smaller than hill giants but one could
easily mistake an ettin for a hill giant from afar. Of course, once the
ettins two heads become visible, there is no further confusion.
An ettins two heads are each independent and each controls one side
of the ettins body. The right head is more dominant and so the right
side of the giant is stronger. The left head is very perceptive and provides the ettin with its keen awareness defense.
An ettin never bathes. Its skin is so grimy and dirty that it resembles
thick, gray hide.
Ettins speak a crude and simplified version of giant.
Combat: Ettins attack with each side each round. All ettins prefer to
fight with large spiked clubs that deal tremendous damage. They do
not exemplify the high level of strategic ability as their hill giant cousins. Instead, they simply pound their opponents mercilessly.
Keen Perception: The left head of the ettin remains sharply attuned
to its surrounding and thus it has Wisdom 18 (+8). The Wisdom of
the right head is actually 10 (+0); however, this value only plays a role
when the left head is unconscious.
In the World: These carnivores prefer to dwell in dark, underground
abodes such as caves and caverns located in remote, rocky areas, emerging at night to hunt and raid for food. They are largely mistrustful and
almost violently solitary creatures, although mated pairs will cohabitate until their offspring is born and becomes independent. Rarely will
a strong leader arise, but such a thing is not unheard of. These cohesive
bands of marauding ettin are fearsome opponents; however, this cohesiveness only lasts so long as the leader remains alive. Once defeated or
killed, the band breaks apart rapidly as each ettins natural isolationism
reemerges.

62

Ettins do tend to value trinkets and treasures and use them to barter
for services for specific tasks from other intelligent creatures, usually
goblins or orcs, in the hopes that more food will be gained by so doing. If, however, the bargaining becomes unpleasant or frustrating,
they may abruptly change their mind and decide to eat the other party.
Regardless, ettins do not feel bound by agreements reached by bargaining; they seek to get as much of what they desire as possible with the
least risk and effort to themselves.
Ecology: After mating and a gestation period of 7 months, a female ettin will bear a single offspring. Maturity is reached after 8-10
months. Females are universally longhaired, and generally more fullbodied than their gaunt and wiry male counterparts. Both sexes tend
to be broad-shouldered, a characteristic which makes sense, given their
unique anatomy! Females also tend to wear jewelry; these trinkets
serve as both status symbols and as a symbol of their hunting prowess,
thereby acting as an attractant to a prospective mate. This finery is
either taken from prey they vanquish, or given as gifts from male ettins
during crude courtship rituals.

Gargoyle
Hit Dice: 4 (4d8 hp)
AC: 15
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +5

Attacks: 4/1; 2 claws +4 (1d3), bite +4 (1d6), horn +4 (1d4)
Special Attacks: Swooping Attack
Size: M (6 ft. tall)
Movement: 40 ft., 60 ft. (fly)
Alignment: CE
Morale: 11
Appearing: 2d8
Treasure: L: C (x10); OL: M
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any
Str 12, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 7, Wis 11, Cha 9
Special Qualities: Low-light vision (60 ft.), stoneskin
XP: 420
Gargoyles are ferocious, stone-like creatures that are often found
perched among statuary, serving as guardians or scouts. Most gargoyles
appear as bipedal, winged creatures with large, fang-filled mouths and
bodies covered in a stone-textured skin. They are usually dark brown
to black in color. Gargoyles have the ability to appear as a stone statue
and can maintain this ruse for as long as desired.
Gargoyles speak Common and Terran.
Combat: Gargoyles make strategic use of their flying, often gaining
a +2 bonus on attacks against those targets grounded below the creature. Gargoyles have powerful claw, horn, and bite attacks that they
attempt to employ; some gargoyles wield man-made weapons, including ranged weaponry, but only advanced gargoyles with at least 5 HD
can do this.
Stone Skin: Gargoyles have a magical protection that wards them
against damage from all non-magical weapons.
Swooping Attack: Gargoyles can swoop down upon a target and take
either two claw attacks or one bite attack, all in one primary action.
In the World: Gargoyles are vicious magically-created creatures which
are found in virtually any environment, although they have a predilection for settled, urban areas or sprawling urban ruins, where they have
natural camouflage with the statuary invariably found within. Indeed,
the longer they reside in such environs, the greater their resemblance
to the local architecture becomes. They can be found as solitary creatures or in wings of up to 16 individuals.

Ecology: Although magical in origin, gargoyles have gained their own

unique semblance of life and are capable of reproduction, although the
specifics of their family structure and the exact method of reproduction are shrouded in mystery.
Gargoyles are predators of the worst sort and hunt purely for the pleasure that it brings, not for any biological need. They are often employed as messengers by evil masters and make particularly capable
guardians due to their minimalistic physiologic needs and ability to
remain motionless almost indefinitely.
Gargoyle Variations: There are numerous variations on the standard
gargoyle. One of the most well-known is the kapoacinth, which is a
sea-dwelling gargoyle that uses its wings as powerful mechanisms to
propel itself rapidly through the water at the same speed as normal
gargoyles fly. Its prey consists of mermen, sea elves, and other undersea
intelligent races. These are otherwise identical to standard gargoyles.
There is also the margoyle, a subterranean variation of gargoyle whose
skin and coloration matches its cavernous terrain so well that it has
only a 20% chance of being seen when standing still. These creatures
are even more cruel and evil than their standard brethren, often serving as leaders of wings of standard gargoyles. They are identical to
standard gargoyles, but their wing size is up to 8 individuals, their
attacks are 4/1; 2 claws +6 (1d4), bite +6 (2d8), horn +6 (2d8), morale
is 13, and their AC is 17.

Psychologically, they tend to be somewhat obsessive-compulsive, often

collecting various trophies, books, trinkets and other paraphernalia
from their foes to line their lairs. Although they do not require sustenance, air, or sleep of any sort to survive, they are extremely sadistic
and will often torture and play with their prey for some time before
devouring it live, thereby inflicting additional needless pain and suffering on the victim.

63

Gelatinous Cube
Hit Dice: 4 (4d8 hp)
AC: 12
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +0, Will -
Attacks: 1/1; touch +4 (0 hp plus paralysis)
Special Attacks: Digestive acid, paralyzing touch
Size: L (10 ft. square)
Movement: 15 ft
Alignment: N
Morale: 13
Appearing: 1d4
Treasure: Nil, see below
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Subterranean
Str 10, Dex 1, Con 10, Int --, Wis 9, Cha 9
Special Qualities: Mindless, ooze traits, surprise, tremorsense (100 ft.),
vulnerability to cold
XP: 650
Gelatinous cubes are large cubes of transparent ooze that slowly travel
subterranean halls and caverns for any organic material to eat and are
mindless monsters that sense the movement of all things within 100
feet and attack anything that moves.
Combat: Gelatinous cubes mindlessly attempt to consume any matter
with which it comes into contact.
Digestive Acid: The gelatinous cube is composed of an interior core
of acid surrounded by oxidized ooze created from the exposure of the
acid to the air. If the gelatinous cube moves onto a target, the target
begins to suffer 2d8 points of acid damage per round and continues to
take damage until freed. The cube can use a primary action in combat
versus the target AC to move onto the target.
Mindless: Being mindless, a gelatinous cube is immune to any mindaffecting spell or effect, including charms, hold, fear, illusions, etc.
Ooze Traits: The creature is composed entirely of acid and ooze, thus
it has no senses (other than tremorsense) and has no working physiology. It is immune to any effect requiring senses (sight, hearing, sound,
etc.). It is also immune to poisons, acids, electricity, polymorph, paralysis and stunning effects. It also does not suffer additional damage
from any special attack, such as sneak attack.
Paralyzing Touch: The gelatinous cube will reach out from any side of
the cube with an appendage-like extension that reaches 5 feet. While
doing no physical damage, a successful attack versus a targets touch
AC requires the target to succeed on an Average (TC 10) Fortitude
save or be paralyzed. This paralysis lasts for 3d6 rounds; however, a saving throw is allowed each round to regain ones faculties. Anyone coming into direct contact with the gelatinous cube must save or become
paralyzed; attacks with a hand-held weapon do not require a save.
Surprise: Being almost completely transparent and cube-shaped, a
gelatinous cube can easily catch a wandering party by surprise. Gelati-

64

nous cubes receive a +15 total bonus on a Stealth roll when would-be
victims attempt to spot the cube before coming into contact with it.
Tremorsense: They may sense prey via vibrations in the earth at a
range up to 100 feet.
Vulnerability to Cold: When suffering cold-based damage, the cube
takes normal damage and suffers a -2 penalty on all combat rolls until
its initiative the next round.
In the World: Gelatinous cubes are solitary creatures that roam the
subterranean depths, feeding on whatever organic matter with which
they come in contact; any non-living matter is eventually excreted
from the cubes mass. Typical non-living matter found inside cubes
ranges from weapons, metallic armor, coins, gems and other hard
treasure to potions, metallic wands, rods, and rings; scrolls, non-metallic armors, wooden weapons and the like are all absorbed by the cubes
acidic juices and never found intact. They are often found in dungeon
corridors, leaving a slimy trail gives observant adventurers a chance of
noticing and identifying the presence of a gelatinous cube.
Ecology: Gelatinous cubes reproduce asexually through budding;
the parent cube generates a smaller cube from its biomass, termed a
bud, which is left behind in a side corridor or within heaps of trash
where it grows into a full-sized cube. There is the potential of these
smaller buds being absorbed by the parent again as it makes its way
through the dungeon environs.
Perfectly adapted to their dungeon environments, their cuboidal shape
grows to fully encompass entire corridors in the largest specimens,
which may weigh up to 15,000 pounds. They are able to detect and
respond to heat and vibration. Given their malleable forms, they can
alter their size to fit through cavities as small as 1 cubic foot.

Ghost
Hit Dice: 10 (10d8 hp)
AC: 20
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +9, Will +8

Attacks: 1/1; incorporeal touch +10 (1d6 plus soul drain)
Special Attacks: Ghost sickness, incorporeal touch, possession, soul
drain
Size: M (5-6 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft fly
Alignment: LE
Morale: 15
Appearing: 1
Treasure: L: E; OL: S
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Any
Str --, Dex 16, Con --, Int 14 Wis 12, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Horrific appearance, immunities, incorporeal, undead traits
XP: 7000
Ghosts are the powerful undead spirits of dead humans who are unable to move on to the afterlife. Their cursed existence is due to either
malevolence in life or to the tragic and uncommon circumstances surrounding their death. They haunt dark and forlorn places and wait to
feed off the soul of an unaware stranger. In some cases, merely draining
someone isnt sufficient and the ghost will attempt to possess its victim
so that it can once again experience the pleasures of flesh.
A ghost speaks whatever languages it knew in life.
Combat: Ghosts remain incorporeal and manifest to attack. They often recede back into the Ethereal Plane in apparent pain and horror,
only to later manifest and surprise its foes. If destroyed, the ghost immediately rolls an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save. If successful, the
spirit will rejuvenate in 2d4 days and returns to its haunt. While the
existence of each ghost differs, the only way to ensure permanent destruction of a ghost is to discover the reason for its existence and set
right whatever wrong prevents its soul from resting. The uncovering of
a ghosts tale often requires a great deal of research.
Ghost Sickness: A living creature that is affected by the ghosts soul
drain must also succeed on a Superior (TC 15) Fortitude save or become infected with a dread malady known as ghost sickness. Victims
of this sickness begin to have nightmares of dying in the same manner
from which the ghost died. These nightmares take a toll on the victim
and each night the victim must succeed on another Superior (TC 15)
Fortitude save or permanently lose one point of Charisma. A character
whose Charisma drops to 0 as a result of ghost sickness doesnt die,
but rather falls into a deep, nightmare filled slumber from which he
cant awake. There are only two known ways to cure ghost sickness:
permanently lay to rest the ghost who caused the sickness in the first
place, or find a priest powerful enough to cast a dispel evil followed by
restoration.
Horrific Appearance: Any living creature within 60 feet that views a

ghost must succeed on a Superior (TC 15) Will save or flee in panic for
1d6 minutes. A creature that successfully saves against this effect cannot be affected by the same ghosts horrific appearance for 24 hours.
Immunities: Ghosts are immune to paralysis, polymorph, cold-based
effects, electricity, mind-affecting spells and enchantments, and sleep.
Incorporeal: The ghost lives primarily on the Ethereal Plane. If encountered on that plane, the creature is solid and its combat statistics
remain the same, except the incorporeal touch attack becomes a 1d8
slam attack and the soul drain attack becomes an energy drain attack
similar to a wights.
When it wishes to interact with the Material Plane, it simply manifests,
but it remains a ghostly form. In this state, it is immune to all forms of
physical damage with the following exceptions: magical weapons specifically created to affect ghosts, spectres or other incorporeal undead
in general deal normal deal normal damage, holy water affects them
normally, as do cure wounds and inflict wounds spells.
Possession: Once per round, a ghost can attempt to merge its body
with a creature on the Material Plane. This ability is similar to a magic
jar spell (caster level 10th) except that it does not require a receptacle.
To use this ability, the ghost must be manifested and it must move into
the targets space. The target can resist the attack with a Superior (TC
15) Will save. A creature that successfully saves is immune to that same
ghosts possession for 24 hours. If the save fails, the ghost vanishes into
the targets body and begins to take control of it.
Soul Drain: The incorporeal touch of the ghost not only deals 1d6
points of cold damage, but it permanently drains an equal amount
of Charisma points. These attribute points cannot be regained with
rest. A restoration spell, or greater magic, is required to regain all lost
points. A living creature brought to 0 Charisma is irrevocably slain and
cannot be raised by any means short of a wish.

65

Ghost
Undead Traits: As an undead creature, the ghost is immune to all
effects relying on a working physiology, such as poison or disease. Undead creatures are harmed by cure wounds spells and healed by inflict
wounds spells.
In the World: Ghosts are generally confined to haunting a localized
area, usually surrounding where they died. They generally have a specific reason for clinging to the land of the living, some tie which binds
them here, be it benevolent or benign; this may include avenging a
wrongful death, serving as a warning to others, or possibly because
they were denied a proper burial. Rarely, multiple ghosts may haunt a
single location, such as a ship or burned-out building.
A ghost may be put to rest either by destroying its incorporeal form
or, more often than not, by putting right the reason for its undead
existence. Perhaps that is burying its corporeal remains in consecrated
ground or ensuring just revenge for an unjust murder and betrayal.
Ecology: The soul-chilling fear ghosts emanate is not well-understood. Folklore suggests that those of courage can face a ghosts fear
and overcome it, while other tales suggest the origin is that of the
incorporeal form itself. In truth, this power emanates directly from
the supernatural nature of the spirit and there are few who can stand
against such power.

66

Ghoul
Hit Dice: 2 (2d8 hp)
AC: 14
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +4

Attacks: 3/1; 2 claws +2 (1d3), bite +2 (1d6)
Special Attacks: Paralysis
Size: M (6 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: CE
Morale: 12
Appearing: 2d6
Treasure: L: B; OL: T
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Any
Str 11, Dex 12, Con --, Int 4, Wis 10, Cha 9
Special Qualities: Immunities, paralysis, undead traits
XP: 175
Ghouls are terribly foul-smelling grave dwellers. They slightly resemble
their appearance in life; however, they now have thin, bluish skin and
a set of large, razor-sharp teeth. They usually frequent and feed from
crypts and graveyards, but ghouls can be found wherever there exists
a fleshy food source.
A ghoul speaks the languages it spoke in life.
Combat: Ghouls have insatiable appetites. They use their claw, claw,
bite attack as frequently as possible and appear to be fighting while
they feed. Those that die at the hands of a ghoul rise as a ghoul unless
properly warded by a cleric. Ghouls pay no mind to this fact during
and after a fight. Ghouls prefer to eat their prey whole, instead.
Immunities: Ghouls are immune to sleep and charm effects.
Paralysis: Any touch or bite attack by the ghoul forces the target of
the attack to roll an Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude save or become
paralyzed for 1d6+2 rounds. Elves are immune to this effect.
Undead traits: As an undead creature, the ghoul is immune to all
effects relying on a working physiology, such as poison or disease. Undead creatures are harmed by cure wounds spells and healed by inflict
wounds spells.

Ecology: Ghouls are thought to be the animated corpses of those who

have resorted to cannibalism. While this may or may not be true, it
certainly appears to explain the ghoulish behaviors of this particular
form of undead.
Ghoul Variations: Land-based ghouls are not the only ones to be
feared. Their water-based cousins, the lacedons, prowl the ocean reefs,
river and lake quagmires and other water-based locations where ships
or boats are likely to wreck or become stranded. They can swim as
quickly as their land-based cousins can run, as well as maintaining
their land-based locomotive ability.
Ghasts are virtually indistinguishable from ghouls. They often travel in
packs as well along with packs of ghouls, but can be identified by their
strong stench. This carrion stench is so strong it radiates continually
in a 10 foot radius around the ghast, causing nausea and -2 to all attacks unless an Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude save is made. Also, their
Paralysis ability is so strong that it lasts for 1d6+4 rounds and can even
affect elves. They are identical to standard ghouls, except their packs
consist of 2-4 individuals, their attacks are 2 claws +4 (1d4), bite +4
(1d8), morale is 16, and their AC is 17. Cold iron weapons also inflict
double normal damage against them.

In the World: Ghouls are most commonly found lurking within the
sewers, graveyards and other necropolises of land-based urban societies, where they find a plentiful source of corpses on which to feed.
Battlefields are also ripe sources of meat for them. They are generally
found in packs of 2-24 individuals, relying on pack tactics and their
feral and ferocious natures, as well as their paralyzing touch, to overcome foes. Although they prefer moldering corpses for food, they will
eat fresh meat if provided no other option.
These foul undead creatures prefer to surprise their foes from ambush
whenever possible, hoping to touch and paralyze them before they can
react. Ghouls attack without fear or remorse.

67

Giant, Fire
Hit Dice: 15 (15d8 hp)
AC: 15 (21 half-plate)
Saves: Fort +13, Ref +12, Will +10

Attacks: 1/1; Slam +15 (1d8+10) or two-handed sword +15
(2d10+10)
Special Attacks: Rock throw
Size: H (18 ft. tall)
Movement: 40 ft.
Alignment: LE
Morale: 16
Appearing: 1d8
Treasure: L: E
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any non-cold land
Str 25, Dex 9, Con 22, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Immunity to fire, catch projectile, low-light vision
(60 ft.)
XP: 8000
Fire giants are built like enormous dwarves, tall but squat. An adult
male is 18 feet tall, has a chest that measures 12 feet around, and
weighs about 7,500 pounds. Females are slightly shorter and lighter.
Fire giants tend to have coal-black skin and flaming red hair. They can
live to be 350 years old. Fire giants wear sturdy cloth or leather garments colored red, orange, yellow, or black. Warriors wear helmets and
half-plate armor of blackened steel.
Fire giants carry sacks with 1d4+1 hurling rocks, 3d4 various smashed
and tattered collectibles, the giants personal daily necessities (such as
rations of small animal parts) and a tinderbox. Most of the unusual
items are in disrepair, but its not terribly rare that one finds a valuable
item therein.
Fire giants speak giant and common.
Combat: Fire giants are disciplined warriors and make good use of
tactics. Typically a group of fire giants will hurl rocks at opponents in
order to weaken them before engaging in melee. If circumstances allow, they will often heat their rocks (or sword) in a nearby fire source
or pool of lava so the projectiles (or sword) deal an extra 1d6 points
of fire damage. This is only one reason why fire giants are typically
encountered near a source of extreme heat. They also enjoy throwing
their victims to a fiery death.

In the World: Fire giants in their native habitats live mostly in temperate, subtropical, or tropical environments, usually in caverns or large
castles which they have either built or appropriated violently from
their previous owners. Their inherent social structure is tribal in nature, although it tends to be extremely hierarchical in nature.
When encountered within their lair, 13-20 (1d8+12) giants will usually be found, approximately half of whom are immature. Determine
the level of maturity randomly; roll 1d4: 4 = non-combatant infant;
1-3 indicates combat-capable younger giants (Hit Dice, damage, attack rolls reduced by 1, 2, or 3, respectively). Masterful tacticians, fire
giant lairs are often protected by traps, usually large crossbows (1-3
bolts; 2d8 points of damage each on a hit) and deadfalls (5d6 points
of damage; Superior (TC 15) Reflex save to avoid the trap completely
or Average (TC 10) Reflex save to take half damage (rounded up)).
Lairs will also possibly contain prisoners which the giants have taken
during raids or military efforts to ransom or as slaves (25% chance per
10 giants of 1-2 captives).

Immunities: Fire giants are immune to natural fire and heat damage,
as well as a red dragons breath weapon. They are resistant to magical
fire, taking -1 hit point per die of damage from such sources.

Larger bands consisting of 30+ individuals are usually commanded by

a king, who usually has better-than-average armor and carries a large
magical weapon (generally a two-handed sword) of +1 to +3 enchantment. Any band of fire giants may also contain the presence of either
a shaman (80% chance; up to 7th-level cleric; casts normal or reversed
spells from the Charm, Combat, Divination, Elemental, Healing, or
Protection spheres) or a witch doctor (20% chance; up to 7th-level
cleric/3rd-level wizard; prefers spells that detect/halt intruders). Presence of a spellcaster occurs 20% of the time, except if a king is present,
in which case is an 80% chance.

Rock Throwing: Fire giants typically carry 1d4+1 throwing rocks on

their person. They can hurl these rocks at medium range. A successful

Fire giants also capture and tame other creatures to use as guardians
for their lairs (50% chance a lair will have 1d4 hell hounds per 10

Catch Projectile: Fire giants have a tremendous catching reflex. The

giant catches any projectile hurled or shot at it with an Exceptional
(TC 20) Reflex save as a non-action.

68

hit deals 2d10 points of damage (plus 1d6 fire damage if the giant has
had the opportunity to heat his rocks as mentioned above).

Giant, Fire
giants present). Larger bands (30+ individuals) may also have 1d4+1
trolls present (30% chance per 20 giants), and a kings band may also
additionally have 1-2 red dragons present (20% chance; age category
2-5 [1d4+1]).
One of the most militaristic of the giant races, fire giants are often
employed as mercenaries in armies, making good use of their size and
strength to augment the more standard troops common to evil despots.
Ecology: Fire giants prefer hot terrain, such as volcanically active locales or natural hot springs. They frequently share their territories and
lairs with other fire-oriented creatures such as fire elementals or salamanders, as well.
Omnivores, fire giants will consume a variety of plant and animal matter, preferring meat which they have hunted and killed themselves and
relying on raids on local human and demi-human villages to provide
breads, grain, treasure, and the occasional prisoner.

69

Giant, Frost
Hit Dice: 14 (14d8 hp)
AC: 15 (20 chainmail)
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +11, Will +10

Attacks: 1/1; Slam +14 (1d8+9) or two-handed axe +14 (2d8+9)
Special Attacks: Rock throw
Size: H (21 ft. tall)
Movement: 40 ft.
Alignment: CE
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1d8
Treasure: L: E
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any arctic land
Str 24, Dex 9, Con 21, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 12
Special Qualities: Immunity to cold, catch projectile, low-light vision
(60 ft.)
XP: 7000
Frost giants have the overall appearance of a giant, muscled barbarian.
They have light yellow or blue eyes, with white hair that can likewise
be tinged with yellow or blue. An adult male is about 20 feet tall and
weighs about 8,000 pounds. Females are slightly shorter and lighter,
but otherwise identical to males. They can live to be 250 years old.
Frost giants carry sacks with 1d4+1 hurling rocks, 3d4 various smashed
and tattered collectibles, the giants personal daily necessities (such as
rations of small animal parts) and the giants personal wealth. Most
items are in disrepair, but occasionally a valuable item lies therein.
Frost giants speak giant and common.
Combat: Frost giants usually start combat at a distance, throwing
rocks until they run out of ammunition or the opponent closes in.
They then wade into melee with their enormous battle axes. The giant
alsol often hides among (or under) a white, snowy background for
surprise. A second favored tactic is to remain on top of an icy or snowy
bank while fighting his opponents below. This provides a +2 bonus for
the elevated position and can prove to be a suitable defensive position,
If readied for battle they usually wear chainmail armor.
Catch Projectile: Frost giants have a tremendous catching reflex. The
giant catches any projectile hurled or shot at it on an Exceptional (TC
20) Reflex save as a non-action.
Immunity to Cold: Frost giants are immune to cold.
Rock Throwing: Frost giants typically carry 1d4+1 throwing rocks on
their person. They can hurl these rocks at medium range. A successful
hit deals 2d10 points of damage.
In the World: Frost giants live mostly in arctic, frigidly cold and hostile environments, usually in frigid caverns or simple castles which
they have either built or appropriated violently from previous owners.
Their inherent social structure is tribal in nature.

70

If within their lair, a band of 9-16 (1d8+8) giants will usually be found,
approximately half of whom are immature. Determine the level of maturity randomly; roll 1d4: 4 = non-combatant infant with an ogres hit
points; 1-3 indicates combat-capable younger giants (Hit Dice, damage, and attack rolls of a stone giant). Lairs will also possibly contain
prisoners which the giants have taken during raids or military efforts
to ransom or as slaves (15% chance per 8 giants of 1-2 captives).
Larger bands consisting of 20+ individuals are usually commanded by
a jarl chieftan, who usually has better-than-average armor and carries a
large +1 to +3 magical weapon (generally a giant battle axe). Any band
of frost giants may also contain the presence of either a shaman (80%
chance; up to 7th-level cleric; casts normal or reversed spells from
the Charm, Divination, Healing, Protection or Weather spheres) or a
witch doctor (20% chance; up to 7th-level cleric/3rd-level wizard; prefers spells that bewilder/confound intruders). Presence of a spellcaster
occurs 20% of the time; if a jarl is present this increases to 80%.
Frost giants often tame other creatures to use as guardians for their lairs
(50% chance a lair will have 1d6 winter wolves per 8 giants present).
Larger bands (20+ individuals) may also have 1d4 yetis present (30%
chance per 16 giants), and a jarls band may also additionally have 1-2
white dragons present (20% chance; age category 2-5 [1d4+1]).
Ecology: Frost giants prefer arctic, frigid terrain filled with glaciers
and covered in dense snowfall.
Omnivores, frost giants consume a variety of plants and animals, preferring meat which they have hunted and killed themselves and relying
on raids on local villages to provide breads, grain, treasure, and the
occasional prisoner.

Giant, Hill
Hit Dice: 12+2 (12d8+2 hp)
AC: 17
Saves: Fort +11, Ref +10, Will +9

Attacks: 1/1; Slam +14 (1d6+7) or two-handed club +14 (1d10+7)
Special Attacks: Rock throw
Size: H (15 to 17 ft. tall)
Movement: 15 ft.
Alignment: CE
Morale: 13
Appearing: 1d12
Treasure: L: D
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any arctic land
Str 22, Dex 9, Con 19, Int 6, Wis 9, Cha 7
Special Qualities: Catch projectile, low-light vision (60 ft.)
XP: 3000
Hill giants are the smallest of the true giants. An average example
stands 16 feet tall and weighs just over 4,000 pounds. They have an
aboriginal and barbaric look, with stooped shoulders and elongated
arms. Most wear tribal hides.
Hill giants terrorize for fun. They relish in the razing of nearby villages.
Although not quite sharp, they are capable brutes that can fight strategically when necessary. If presented with a challenge, they will focus
intently, split up and flank if necessary.
Like most giants, hill giants prefer to carry their belongings in a large
bag. In this bag, one finds 3d4 boulders and the giants clothing, food
and treasure. Although a treasure rating is provided in the entry above,
most hill giant bags have a range of various items that the giant has
picked up over the years, including the occasional rare or magic item.
Most items are in disrepair, though.
Hill giants speak a very rudimentary version of giant.
Combat: Unlike most huge brutes, hill giants are capable ranged attackers. They usually begin a combat with a rock throw, hoping to
soften up an enemy before advancing to begin an onslaught of weapon
or slam attacks. They always use some fashion of a wooden club, although trees, wooden beams and even livestock can be wielded in a
way to deal 1d10+7 points of damage.
Catch Projectile: Hill giants have a tremendous catching reflex. The
giant catches any projectile hurled or shot at it on an Exceptional (TC
20) Reflex save, as a non-action.
Rock Throw: Every hill giant has a bag and in it, among other things,
are 3d4 boulders that the giant can throw up to Medium range. A successful hit deals 2d8 points of damage.

When encountered within their lair, a band of 9-16 (1d8+8) giants in

an extended family unit will usually be found, in the approximate ratio
of 50% male, 25% female, and 25% immature hill giants. Determine
the level of maturity randomly; roll 1d4: 4 = non-combatant infant
with a gnolls hit points; 1-3 indicates combat-capable younger giants
(Hit Dice, damage, and attack rolls of an ogre). Lairs rarely contain
prisoners, as hill giants cannot help but try and eat anything they capture almost immediately upon returning to their lairs. Hill giants are
rhabdophobic and will seek to eliminate and destroy any spellcasters
(which they do in ritualistic fashion) and magic items they take as
treasure from raids or kills.
Larger bands consisting of 2-4 times the usual number encountered
in lairs can be gathered by more intelligent hill giant giant kings, as
they term themselves.
Hill giants also tame other creatures to use as lair guardians (50%
chance a lair will have 2d4 dire wolves, 30% chance of maintaining a
contingent of giant lizards, or 20% chance of a group of 2d4 ogres).
Ecology: Hill giants are omnivores and will consume a variety of plant
and animal matter, preferring meat which they have hunted and killed
themselves and relying on raids on local villages to provide breads,
grain, treasure, and the occasional prisoner. They are particularly fond
of the taste of green dragon flesh and will often organize hunting parties to track down and kill these creatures, especially in preparation for
the ritualistic demise of a spellcaster. The enmity goes two ways and
green dragons will consciously eliminate any known hill giant lairs in
their territories.

In the World: Hill giants live mostly in temperate hilly or mountainous regions utilizing crude huts, excavated dens, or natural caverns
where cohabitating extended family units reside.

71

Giant, Stone
Hit Dice: 14 (14d8 hp)
AC: 20
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +11, Will +10

Attacks: 1/1; Slam +14 (1d8+8) or two-handed club +14 (2d8+8)
Special Attacks: Rock throw
Size: H (18 ft. tall)
Movement: 40 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: 16
Appearing: 1d10
Treasure: L: D
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any temp./trop. land
Str 23, Dex 12, Con 22, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Camouflage, catch projectile, low-light vision (60
ft.)
XP: 7000
These tall, lean giants get their namesake from their stone-like complexions and iron-colored eyes. Their hair is also a dark-stone color,
and sometimes shows a hint of blue. Stone giants prefer stone clubs as
weapons. Adults are about 18 feet tall and weigh about 9,000 pounds.
Stone giants can live to be 800 years old.
Stone giants prefer to carry their belongings, consisting of 2d12 boulders, a portion of its treasure and 1d8 common items, in a large bag.
Unlike other giants, a stone giant often cares for its belongings. If a
stone giant owns any particularly useful, meaningful or magical item,
it usually stores it in its lair.
Stone giants speak giant and common.
Combat: Stone giants prefer to volley stone boulders from afar, taking
advantage of their tremendous ability to do so. If the fight draws near,
their gigantic, stone-cut clubs serve quite well to pulverize their foes.
As their skin tone allows them to blend into rock backgrounds, if the
chance permits, they often attempt to surprise would-be foes.
Camouflage: Camouflaged with their stone-like skin tone and small
cloth togas stained and crimped to appear as stone, attempts to notice
a hidden stone giant suffer a -4 penalty.
Catch Projectile: Frost giants have a tremendous catching reflex. The
giant catches any projectile hurled or shot at it on an Exceptional (TC
20) combat ability check.
Rock Throwing: Frost giants typically carry 2d12 throwing rocks on
their person. They can hurl these rocks at medium range. A successful
hit deals 3d10 points of damage.
In the World: Stone giants live in deep caverns set high atop the
stony, storm-swept mountains in temperate or sub-tropical regions.
Their inherent social structure is tribal in nature, with clans centered

72

on extended family units; often, 2-8 clans will lair near each other to
provide protection and a sense of community.
When 8 or more stone giants are encountered within their lair, approximately 25% are male, 25% are female, and 50% are immature.
Determine the level of maturity randomly; roll 1d4: 4 = non-combatant infant with an ogres hit points; 1-3 indicates combat-capable
younger giants (Hit Dice, damage, and attack rolls of a hill giant).
Evolutionarily, 1 in 20 stone giants develops unique abilities related to
their environment. These giants are termed elders and have the ability to cast stone shape, stone tell, and transmute rock to mud/transmute
mud to rock once per day (as a 5th-level wizard). One in 10 of these
elders are are able to cast spells as if they were 3rd-level wizards; randomly determine or assign spells as needed.
Stone giants also tame other creatures to use as lair guardians (75%
chance a lair will have 1d8 cave bears or 1d8 polar bears [cold climates
only] present).
Ecology: Preferring temperate, high-altitude lairs, their lives are centered around their clan; clan members can often be found having rock
throwing contests with each other or in competition with other clans.
They are also crude artists and musicians, often painting scenic dioramas on their lair walls, fashioning simple necklaces or bracelets from
painted stone beads or playing primitive flutes and drums.
Omnivores, stone giants will consume only fresh plants and animals,
preferring meat which they have hunted and killed themselves which
they then cook. Using animal skins as primitive blankets, they often
trade with nearby villages for hard-to-find items, such as bolts of cloth
and livestock. Goats are used to provide dairy products.

Gnoll
Hit Dice: 2 (2d8 hp)
AC: 15
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +4

Attacks: 1/1; Battle axe +2 (1d8), halberd +2 (1d10) or shortbow +2
(1d6)
Special Attacks: None
Size: M (6 to 7 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: CE
Morale: 11
Appearing: 2d6 (party) or 2d10 x 100 (lair)
Treasure: L: D(x5); OL: Q(x5)
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity cycle: Night
Terrain: Any
Str 12, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 7, Wis 9, Cha 8
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.)
XP: 35
Gnolls are hyena-headed, bipedal monsters with dark gray, matted,
and often-spotted fur. They have yellow manes.
Gnolls often belong to a large tribe lead by a 4 HD gnoll. Large lairs
have up to 10 stronger (3 HD) guard gnolls. They can be seen wandering old castles, dungeons, and ruins, and only prowl above ground at
night.
Gnolls speak their own language and there is a 50% chance any leader
also speaks Common.
Combat: Gnolls wield weapons and prefer pole arms (like halberds)
and axes, but also use ranged weapons such as short bows. They usually set up ambushes with ranged attackers honed to unleash a volley
before the gnolls engage in melee. Gnolls that seem to be fighting
in unison and with a purpose are usually commanded to do so by a
stronger leader.
In the World: Primarily nocturnal, gnolls are found most often in
tropical to temperate non-desert terrain, likely within underground
lairs or inside abandoned and oft-forgotten ruins. When found underground, they are 30% likely to have 1-3 trolls as minions or guardians.
If located on the surface, they are 65% likely to have some sort of pets
as guardians (80% likely to be 4-16 hyenas, 20% likely to be 2-12
hyenadons). Gnoll hunting and scouting patrols generally consist of
2-12 individuals.
Gnolls often work together with other evil races, including trolls,
ogres, bugbears, hobgoblins, and orcs; they always ensure that they are
of equal strength to their allies, however, to ensure that the partnership stays on equal footing. They refuse to work as equals with lesser
races, including goblins, kobolds, giants, humans, halflings, gnomes,
elves, half-elves, and dwarves.

in the lair, and often the ratio of slaves to adults is much higher. The
slaves are typically drawn from those they deem inferior, such as the
lesser races mentioned above. Slaves serve as sources of manual labor
and as a convenient fresh larder.
Ecology: Gnoll tribes consist of 20-200 adult males and half as many
females and twice as many young; the females are equal to the males
in combat skill, although typically less well-armed or armored, while
the young are non-combatants. The larger tribes (100+ individuals) are
ruled by a tribal chieftain (4 HD ) who is protected by up to 10 elite
(3 HD) guards. Gnolls rule by the old adage that might makes right
and their leaders are typically the strongest of their tribe.
The gnolls diet consists of any fresh, warm-blooded source of meat;
they favor intelligent creatures over animals because of the terror and
pain they can inflict as they kill and devour them. They are rapacious
hunters, clearing an area of all food or slave sources before moving the
tribe to fresher areas. Lifespans of gnolls who manage to not get themselves killed through violence is around 35 years of age.
Gnoll Variations: Flinds are reminiscent of their gnoll cousins, but
they are much more muscular and slightly shorter. They are the warriors of the gnoll tribes, often serving as patrol or tribal leaders, and
held almost in awe by standard gnolls. Flind tribal leaders have 3+3
HD, minimum Intelligence of 13, and always use flindbars. Weapons
of choice for flinds include common clubs (75%) or flindbars (25%).
Flindbars consist of chain-linked bars which can be spun rapidly, inflict 1d4 damage, allow the flind to strike twice per round, and impose
only a -2 called shot penalty to force a disarm check vs. a one-handed
weapon (-4 vs. a two-handed weapon on a single disarm check in a
round) as the targets weapon becomes entangled with the flindbars
chain. Flinds gain +1 to their attack rolls compared to standard gnolls
due to their higher strength.

Gnolls are also consummate slavers, as they are extremely averse to

manual labor of any sort, and will often have 10 slaves for every 1 adult

73

Goblin
Hit Dice: 1-1 (1d8-1 hp)
AC: 10
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +4

Attacks: 1/1; Short sword +1 (1d4-1), javelin or spear +1 (1d4-1) or
shortbow +1 (1d4)
Special Attacks: None
Size: S (4 ft. tall)
Movement: 20 ft.
Alignment: LE
Morale: 10
Appearing: 4d6 (gang), 4d100 (tribe)
Treasure Rating: L: C
Frequency: Common
Activity cycle: Night
Terrain: Any
Str 8, Dex 11, Con 9, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 9
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), light sensitivity
XP: 15
Goblins form the base of the goblinoid ranks. These creatures often
live in a hive-like society underground, but masses of goblins can lair
in any dank, dark areas above ground, in places such as mountain
holes, abandoned ruins, sewers, etc. They prefer to live and move
about in large numbers.
Tribes often have goblin shamans (that take levels of cleric) and warriors that become fighters. Shamans serve as spiritual leaders, while
the warriors serve as leaders in war. Tribes usually name the strongest
goblin as king.
Goblins speak goblin, and common if Intelligence permits.
Combat: Goblins fight in numbers and, frankly, find it difficult to
survive in small squads. As a result, goblins prefer surrounding one
or two common enemies rather than spread to affect a larger group.
Once the numbers of a goblin squad dwindle, goblins often flee unless
something more awful than death awaits those that retreat.
Light Sensitivity: Goblins are cave dwellers and, as such, can see in
the dark up to 60 feet, but they cannot see in sunlight. In fact, any
bright light shown in the face of a goblin causes the goblin to suffer a
1 on AC and all d20 rolls.
In the World: Goblins are found in virtually every non-arctic environment, preferring subterranean locations or above ground ruins. They
are primarily nocturnal, avoiding bright sunlight when possible, venturing out during the day only when extremely overcast. They are a
cowardly lot, easily subjugated by the stronger goblinoid races, orcs,
gnolls, and the like, and they prefer attacking from ambush.
Goblins often use large worgs as mounts. These cavalry units often
comprise approximately 10% of any significantly-sized goblin tribe or
war party (25% chance) and also contain 4-40 unmounted worgs as
well. Goblin lairs have a 60% chance of being guarded by 5-30 worgs
and a 20% chance of being guarded by 2-12 bugbears.

74

Goblins are also adept at slavery, using the chattel for both food and
labor; numbers of slaves usually comprise 10-40% of the total tribe
size. Slaves are treated harshly, reprimanded for slight infractions, and
always kept shackled and staked to a central common chain when
sleeping in order to make guarding them easier. Goblins loathe most
other humanoids, especially dwarves and gnomes, working to attack
and kill or enslave them whenever possible.
Ecology: Goblins live in large, communal colonies (leading to even
more tendency for accumulation of filth for which they are known),
usually 40-400 adult males strong, with females equal to 60% of the
male number and children being equal to the total adults, both of
which are noncombatants. For every 40 goblins there is a 1 HD leader
and 4 guards, for every 200 goblins there is a 1+1 HD sub-chief and
2-8 bodyguards, and each tribe is led by a 2 HD tribal chief and 2-8
bodyguards. Goblin young reach maturity at age 5 and can live up to
50 years of age, although most do not come close to this span due to
violent death.
Possessions are kept close at hand and most are stolen from other races,
although leatherworking and weaving are usually done by the tribal
clothiers and armorsmiths.
The goblin diet consists of virtually any meat source and ranges from
rats, snakes, and lizards to humans and the occasional elf. They have
even been known to consume carrion in times of famine. They will
denude their local habitat of all food sources, including game, before
moving on.
Religion generally consists of shamanistic rituals and ancestor worship,
although some goblin tribes have been known to worship particularly
powerful creatures who may dominate the tribes locality. Goblin shamans (clerics or druids) have been known to reach 7th-level.
Goblins are also decent miners and wherever they reside you can be
sure that the area will be riddled with warrens and tunnels as they delve
into the earth to create room for their expanding communities.

Golem, Flesh
Hit Dice: 9 (9d8 hp)
AC: 11
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +9, Will -
Attacks: 1/1; Slam +10 (2d8+4)
Special Attacks: None
Size: L (8 to 10 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: Not applicable
Appearing: 1
Treasure: None
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any
Str 19, Dex 9, Con --, Int --, Wis 11, Cha 1
Special Qualities: Construct, infravision, low light vision (60 ft.),
spell immunity, weapon immunity
XP: 2000
Flesh golems are suspected of being the very first golem, accidentally
created by a powerful caster obsessed with re-animating the dead without the use of necromantic magic. They are large and tall, with hulking Strength. They are the remains of at least six bodies, all stitched
together in frightening fashion. One body is required for the torso,
another body is required for the brain and four additional bodies are
used to compose the arms and legs. Flesh golems emit a smell that is
unsurprising - that of fresh dirt and dead bodies.
All golems are animated in a certain way. Each requires a certain series
of spells be cast on the raw material. Then, the caster binds an earth
elemental to the form and, in the case of the flesh golem, also binds
the spirit of the body used for the golems brain. The flesh golem is
created only after the arcane spellcaster (minimum 14th-level wizard)
infuses the following spells into the flesh: wish, polymorph any object,
geas/quest, protection from projectiles and permanency. The process of
molding the body takes 2 months, costs an additional 50,000 gp
worth of additional spell materials and the caster often employs skilled
craftsman to assist.
Flesh golems are mute, although they can grunt and emit a hoarse
roar of sorts.
Combat: Golems are mindless constructs that are magically bound to
follow their masters commands. Thus, if they are forced to fight, they
will charge ahead and pound any opponent it is required to destroy.

Weapon Immunity: The flesh golem is immune to piercing damage,

suffers only half damage from slashing weapons and cannot be harmed
at all by non-magical weapons, regardless of type. Therefore, the weapon must be a magical bludgeoning weapon to deal full damage. Note
that any electricity-based weapon actually heals a certain amount of hit
points after taking into account damage (see above).
In the World: Flesh golems can be found in virtually any environment. They are generally found either solitarily or in groups of 2-4
serving as guardians of valuable items or places under the complete
control of their master, who is generally a necromancer or other practitioner familiar with the dead. Flesh golems can obey simple conditional phrase instructions dealing with direct actions, but in general,
their limitations in understanding make them poor servants.
Ecology: Standing 8 feet tall and weighing 500 pounds, flesh golems
are manufactured constructs, despite their organic origins, and have
no natural place in the ecology of the world. They exist in a fairly static
state until disturbed, either through some pre-set trigger or through
the commands of their masters.
There are rumors of unusual flesh golems which have managed to
retain a limited intelligence after their creation; if true, this state of
awareness almost certainly requires an extremely strong-willed brain
and perfect freshness, as well as an element of chance.

Construct: A construct is a mindless automaton. It is immune to anything requiring a mind or working physiology, such as poisons, disease, gases, mind-affecting charms and enchantments, hold spells, etc.
Spell Immunity: The flesh golem is immune to almost every spell.
Fire and cold-based spells deal no damage but slow the golem for 2d6
rounds. This effect halves the golems movement speed and allows it
to take only one attack per round. Electricity-based spells actually heal
the golem 1 hit point per die rolled for damage.

75

Golem, Iron
Hit Dice: 18 (18d8 hp)
AC: 17
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +9, Will -
Attacks: 1/1; Slam +20 (4d8+10)
Special Attacks: Breath weapon
Size: L (12 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: Not applicable
Appearing: 1
Treasure: None
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any
Str 25, Dex 9, Con --, Int --, Wis 11, Cha 1
Special Qualities: Construct, infravision, low light vision (60 ft.), spell
immunity, weapon immunity
XP: 13000
Iron golems are powerful constructs whose forms are built by skilled
iron smiths using a minimum of 5,000 pounds of iron and an ornate
masterly-crafted sword and then animated using a specialized series of
dweomers cast by powerful wizards of 18th-level or greater, including
wish, polymorph any object, geas/quest, and cloudkill. The sword used
in the construction can be magical, although there is a 50% chance
that such magic is destroyed during the golems construction. If the
magic remains intact, the golem may use those magical properties of
the sword that are automatic; any magical properties that require activation through a command word or other method are lost. The magical sword becomes fused with the magical nature of the golem during
construction and if it is ever removed from the golem or the golem is
killed, it loses its magical properties. In addition to the raw material
components of iron and a sword, additional tinctures and components
are needed and these additional costs amount to 100,000 gp and construction time is generally around 4 months.

poisonous gas directly in front of it which dissipates 1 round after it is

dispensed if there is room for it to do so. Targets must make a Superior
(TC 15) Fortitude save or become paralyzed for 1 hour. (Note that the
GM may allow some subjects to perform a Superior (TC 15) Reflex
save instead if they could sensibly avoid the entire cube.)

Iron golems stand twice as tall as an average human (12 feet tall),
its massive weight causing the very ground to quake when it moves.
It generally is crafted in such a fashion to resemble a large, armored
humanoid with smooth features.

Weapon Immunity: The iron golem is immune to any weapons of

less than +3 enchantment. Note that any fire based weapon actually
heals a certain amount of hit points after taking into account damage
(see above).

Iron golems cannot speak or vocalize in any fashion, nor does it have
any distinct odor.

In the World: Iron golems can be found in virtually any environment.

They are generally found serving as guardians of valuable items or places under the complete control of their master. Iron golems can obey
simple conditional phrase instructions dealing with direct actions, but
in general, their limited understanding make them poor servants.

Combat: Golems are mindless constructs that are magically bound to

follow their masters commands. Thus, if they are forced to fight, they
will charge ahead and pound any opponent it is required to destroy.
Iron golems prefer to fight using their massive fists, although they have
been known to carry weapons of varying sorts as well; these are mostly
for show and in combat the iron golem always relies on its fists. It has
a Strength of 24 for the purposes of lifting, throwing, or damaging
objects. Iron golems are vulnerable to damage by rust monsters.
Breath Weapon: Once every 7 rounds, beginning on the 1st or 2nd
round of combat, the iron golem may breathe forth a 10-foot cube of

76

Construct: A construct is a mindless automaton. It is immune to anything requiring a mind or working physiology, such as poisons, disease,
gases, mind-affecting charms and enchantments, hold spells, etc.
Spell Immunity: The iron golem is immune to almost every spell.
Electricity-based spells deal no damage but slow the golem for 3
rounds. This effect halves the golems movement speed and allows it
to take only one attack per round. Fire-based spells actually heal the
golem 1 hit point per die rolled for damage and breaks any slow effect
on the golem.

Ecology: Iron golems are manufactured constructs and have no natural place in the ecology of the world. They exist in a fairly static state
until disturbed, either through some pre-set trigger or through the
commands of their masters.

Gorgon
Hit Dice: 8 (8d8 hp)
AC: 18
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +7

Attacks: 1/1; Gore (2d6+4)
Special Attacks: Breath weapon
Size: L (8 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: Not applicable (see below)
Appearing: 1d4
Treasure: L: E
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Temp./tropic or subterranean
Str 19, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low light vision (60 ft.), scent
(40 ft.)
XP: 1400
The fierce gorgon, with its thick metallic scales, looks like an armorplated bull. A typical gorgon stands 8 feet tall at the shoulder and
weighs about 4,000 pounds. They have the ability to stand on their
two hind quarters for any length of time, but these beasts are usually
seen walking or running on all fours. Gorgons are incredibly aggressive
and simply cannot be calmed. They attack on sight.
Gorgons do not speak. They only roar.
Combat: A gorgons will start combat with its breath weapon and, as
a testament to its vicious nature, soon thereafter charge straight at its
opponents to deliver a melee gore attack. As mentioned, this beast will
continue to attack relentlessly until destroyed. It will never run away.
Breath Weapon: Once every 1d4 rounds, but no more than four times
per day, the gorgon may breathe forth a cone of petrifying gas. The
cone is 5 feet wide at its base, 20 feet wide at its far end and 60 feet
long. All subjects in the cone must succeed on a Superior (TC 15)
Fortitude save or be turned to stone permanently. (Note that the GM
may allow some subjects to perform a Superior (TC 15) Reflex save
instead if they could sensibly avoid the entire cone.)
In the World: Gorgons live in groups of 3-4 individuals (1 bull with
2-3 females) in temperate tropical or wilderness terrain and in subterranean lairs, wandering in a range of a 60 mile radius from their lairs.
Gorgons are omnivores, preying mainly on deer and elk along with
vegetable matter as desired, although they will not hesitate to eat other
sources of flesh when hungry. They have an acute sense of smell and
can track a particular scent with 75% accuracy; once on the trail, a
gorgon will pursue its prey relentlessly, over days if necessary, until the
prey drops from exhaustion or is petrified by the gorgon. They actually
feed on the stony flesh of their prey once it has been petrified; during
the consumption of the stone, their flat iron teeth crunch up the stone
chunks while their saliva transforms the stone back to flesh, making it
fit to digest. Gorgons do not need treasure or trinkets and such items
are usually eaten along with the flesh of the creatures, to be later ex-

creted in the feces of the gorgon outside its lair. They also like to keep
these metallic treasures as decoy materials for any rust monsters that
may roam near any subterranean lairs they may occupy.
Ecology: Mated pairs of gorgons cohabitate for 2-6 years and will reproduce approximately once a year (more often if food is plentiful,
less often if it is not). After mating, females will keep to the lairs (their
mates hunting for them) from the fourth month of pregnancy until
she gives birth to 1-3 calves from 6-8 months later. A newborn calf
is somewhat self-sufficient at 1 month, able to move and attack for
itself; young are small 3 Hit Dice creatures, able to breathe a halfnormal-size cloud of vapors twice per day, and do half normal damage on all physical attacks. At 3 months of age a young gorgon has
grown to medium size and 5 Hit Dice, and can use its half-normal-size
breath weapon three times per day. A gorgon reaches full adult size and
strength within 5-7 months after birth, achieving sexual maturity and
leaving its parents lair at 2 years of age. Very rarely, a gorgon will mate
with a chimera to produce a gorgimera, but the two creatures will not
habitually consort together for any length of time.
Gorgons have no natural enemies other than other gorgons, although
men have been known to hunt them and they fear rust monsters for
obvious reasons. A rust monsters attack only affects the one or two
scales touched by the rust monsters antennae; the non-metallic, cartilage-like seams between scales prevent the rusting effect from traveling any farther than the scale(s) it actually hits. A rusted, corroded
scale immediately detaches from the skin and falls off; lost scales cannot be regrown and are never replaced. The scales are coated with a
constantly-secreted waxy fluid that serves several functions, including
keeping the scales from rusting due to rain or dampness, making the
gorgon difficult to grapple, and causing many blows to glance off its
protective hide.

77

Griffon
Hit Dice: 7 (7d8 hp)
AC: 17
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +6

Attacks: 3/1; 2 claws +7 (1d4+2), bite +7 (2d8)
Special Attacks: None
Size: L (9 ft. long)
Movement: 30 ft., 80 ft. (fly)
Alignment: N
Morale: 12
Appearing: 2d6
Treasure: L: C: OL: S
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Day
Terrain: Temperate hills or mountains
Str 16, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11
Special Qualities: Low light vision (60 ft.), scent (40 ft.)
XP: 650
Griffons are powerful, majestic creatures that appear as a hybrid of
lion and eagle. They have the rear half of a lion and the front half of an
eagle. Their head is that of a lion (without a mane) and a pair of broad,
golden wings sprouts from their back and span 25 feet or more. From
nose to tail, an adult can measure 9 feet. From floor to shoulder, it can
measure 5 feet. A griffon weighs about 500 pounds.
A griffon cannot speak, but it understands rudimentary common.
Combat: Griffons have an unyielding taste for horses (and all horsekind). They also hunt in groups of 212. Although infrequent, they
can ambush a party of riders for their prey. Thus, griffons have earned
a poor reputation as chaotic monsters. The reality is that griffons are
fairly indifferent hunters. If encountered near their home, they become
territorial, but they will not immediately lash out in combat; they will
give someone a chance to leave before pouncing on them. In combat,
they pounce upon their prey and begin clawing and biting.
In aerial battle, they are equally fierce and will attempt to tangle with
its opponent in mid-air. Griffons fight until either they or their opponents are dead.
In the World: Griffons establish their nests in high, rocky locations in
shallow caves along cliff faces, usually near open plains. Nests consist
of sticks, leaves, mud, and the occasional bones. Such nests and their
associated caves usually contain treasures of travelers who unsuccessfully defended their horses from the griffons predations. Nests are
75% likely to contain 1-2 fledglings or eggs. They remain in their
chosen territory, usually consisting of a 20 mile radius, guarding it ferociously and hunting during the day until the food supply is depleted,
at which time they relocate to more fertile grounds.
Similar to lions, griffons live in hierarchical prides. Each pride consists
of an alpha male, several mated pairs who have their own separate nests
near each other, and young hatchlings and juveniles. The alpha males
responsibilities include settling territorial disputes with rival prides
and directing the locations for hunting.

78

Ecology: Female griffons mate early in the spring and lay 1-2 eggs,
which hatch about 5 months later in late summer. Hatchlings (from
1-3 months old) mature into fledglings (3 months to 3 years), at which
time they begin to learn to fly and hunt; they reach maturation at 3
years of age, when they are big enough to hunt with the pride. Adult
griffons are extremely protective of their young and will attack any
intruder who approaches within 100 feet of the nest, regardless of who
they are or their reason for venturing near. Due to the extreme difficulty in capturing them from their wary parents, griffon eggs and
fledglings command 2,000 and 5,000 gold pieces each respectively on
the open market.
As carnivores, a griffons preferred prey includes anything from a rabbit
to a buffalo to horses and their kin, as well as other herd animals. If
the prey is a horse, the griffon is 90% likely to attack, regardless if the
horse has a rider or not. Griffons only fight to the death in two cases:
to protect their young and to obtain horseflesh.
Hatchlings captured young (within 3 months of age) can be trained
to serve as mounts; such training requires much time and expense,
usually a minimum of 2 years of effort. Griffons are more solitary than
other mounts and tend to dislike crowds. They fare poorly in captivity,
needing open spaces to exercise, and would eventually refuse to eat if
caged. Such training is worth it, though, as griffons make extremely
loyal mounts, bonding with a single rider for life; they will protect
their masters even unto death.

Hag
Hags are witch-like monsters that closet away from civilization in solitary hovels or groups of three (called a covey). Although they appear
as old, withered and decrepit women, this is a ruse; they are supernaturally strong and relish in the crushing and eating of smaller living
creatures. At first glance, a hag seems to have long and skinny fingers.
In fact, the hands of a hag are quite powerful claws with razor-sharp
nails.
Hags that live alone have the powers listed in their individual entries
only, although all hags can universally use the spell-like ability of
change self at will. Coveys (which can be composed of any type or
combination of different types of hag) has additional access to covey
powers, which are ritual spells that can each be cast once per day outside of combat. These spells are: animate dead, bestow curse, control
weather, dream, forcecage, mind blank, mirage arcana and veil. All
three hags must be within 10 feet of each other and each must perform
the components of these spells and they take effect as if cast by a 9thlevel wizard.
Coveys are 80% likely to be guarded by a mix of ogres (1d8) and evilaligned giants (1d4). If the hags feel it necessary, they will cast veil
upon their guards to appear as non-hostiles; these guards will often
serve as spies, with one guard being burdened with the job of carrying
the coveys hag eye. The hag eye is a magical item that is formed by a
special ritual that transforms a victims eye into a gem through which
the hags can scry. At first glance, the eye appears to be a gem worth 20
gp, but a true seeing spell (or similar means) reveals the true nature of
the thing. Only one hag may scry through the hag eye at one time.
If the hag eye were to be destroyed, all three hags in the covey immediately suffer 24 points of damage and the hag who used the eye last
(or who is currently scrying through the eye as it is being destroyed)
is rendered blind for 24 hours. The covey must wait until the next full
moon to perform the ritual and create another hag eye.
In the World: Hags generally live in well-hidden dens deep within
old-growth forests. There is an 80% chance that such dens contain 1-2
captives kept imprisoned within earthen pits (and guarded by a giant
or 1-2 ogres) or a forcecage; the purpose of maintaining such prisoners
is unknown, but it is thought that the hags are infiltrating their guard
spies as these individuals, as mentioned above, in order to obtain information and sow chaos and dissent.
Hags have numerous enemies generated in large part due to their wanton predations; these include good-aligned giants and dragon, both of
which will actively seek to destroy any hags should their presence be
noted in their territories. In addition, human settlements will actively
search to destroy hags, since they are the most affected by their predations.
Ecology: Hags reproduce prodigiously, using their change self spell to
appear as stunning human females and seducing virile and strong human males. Such mates are usually clueless until, after the post-coital
activities, the hags reveal themselves and devour the men; those that
manage to survive these attacks are often driven insane from such encounters. A hags progeny are always female.
Hags are ravenous creatures and can consume a medium size creature
in 10 rounds. They are strict carnivores, preferring a diet of human

flesh when possible, but they can subsist on orc and demi-human flesh
as well.
Hags are universally arrogant creatures, believing themselves superior
to all other beings, particularly in regards to their mental faculties and
disguise capabilities. Clever humans and demi-humans can, given sufficient interaction with a hag in disguise, may be able to detect that
something is not right through the course of conversation.
Variant Hags: There are numerous known varieties of hags.
Annis Hag
Hit Dice: 7+7 (7d8+7 hp)
AC: 20
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +9
Attacks: 3/1; 2 claws +7 (1d4+8), bite +7 (2d4+1)
Special Attacks: Grapple, Spells
Size: L (8 ft. tall)
Movement: 40 ft.
Alignment: CE
Morale: 15
Appearing: 1d3
Treasure: L: D
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Any land
Str 23, Dex 11, Con 15, Int 14, Wis 11, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), magic resistance 20%, steel skin
XP: 4000
The largest of the hags, an annis hag stands 8 feet tall and weighs about

79

Hag
325 pounds. In their natural form, they have blue skin with glossy
black teeth, nails and hair. An annis commonly uses its change self
spell to take the form of an exceptionally tall human, a fair giant, or an
ogre, though. An annis hag lives for 500 years.
Annis hags speak their own language, common, giant and ogre.
Combat: An annis hag that has time to prepare for combat will often
change her appearance to that of an exceptionally tall peasant or damsel in distress. Once her opponents draw near, she will cast fog cloud
and, as soon as possible, lash out against one of her opponents with
her powerful string of physical attacks. If she manages to grapple this
target, she often then recedes from the fog cloud, all the while raking
and gnawing at her catch.
Grapple: An annis that hits with both claw attacks and a bite attack
in the same round (against the same target) automatically grapples
that opponent with no roll needed. Once grappled, the annis hag automatically succeeds on all claw and bite attacks against her grappled
victim; however, she does not add a damage bonus to these attacks.
While grappling, the annis may also move 20 feet with her secondary
action.
Spells: The annis hag can cast the spell fog cloud up to three times per
day. She may also cast change self at will as a spell-like ability like all
hags; however, she is limited to taking the form of an ogre, fair giant or
exceptionally tall human only. She casts as an 8th-level wizard.
Steel Skin: The skin of an annis hag is hardened like skin. All damage
rolls from non-bludgeoning weapons suffer a -1 penalty. Conversely,
all bludgeoning weapons crack and shatter an annis hags skin, so they
receive a +1 damage bonus.
Green Hag
Hit Dice: 9 (9d8 hp)
AC: 22
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +9, Will +11
Attacks:: 2/1; Claw +9 (1d4+6)
Special Attacks: Spells
Size: M (5-6 ft. tall)

Movement: 30 ft., 30 ft. (swim)
Alignment: NE
Morale: 15
Appearing: 1d3
Treasure: L: F; OL: X
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Any land
Str 21, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Camouflage, infravision (60 ft.), magic resistance
35%, mimicry, unnatural strength
XP: 4000
Green hags are found in desolate swamps and dark forests. As their
name would suggest, green hags have sickly and pale green skin. Their

80

hair ranges in color from near perfect black to olive green, and their
eyes are dull orange or amber. While their skin appears withered and
deathly, it is actually quite rough and hard like the bark of a tree. They
have wicked claws at the ends of their fingers that they use to tear their
victims apart. A typical green hag stands 6 feet tall, weighs 200 pounds
and lives for 1,000 years.
Green hags speak a dialect of the annis hags language, as well as common, elven, dwarven, halfling, sylvan and gnome.
Combat: Green hags prefer to lure victims at night with their mimicry, often sounding as a hurt child or deer. They will often hide in a
dark shadow and watch with their infravision until their victims get
close. They will then lash out of the shadows and hope to gain surprise. They are simple combatants, though, relying almost exclusively
on their powerful slam attacks to pulverize their prey.
Camouflage: Green hags have a +10 total modifier on stealth rolls to
attempt to blend into its surroundings and surprise others.
Mimicry: A green hag can imitate the sounds of almost anything,
including a child, damsel in distress, or even an animal. The only requirement is that the green hag has access to the source of the voice to
be mimicked. Thus, they often mimic animals found near their lair or
mimic the voice of a captive.
Spells: The green hag casts the following spells at will as a 9th-level
wizard: audible illusion, change self, dancing lights, invisibility, pass without trace, symbol of power (pain). tongues, and water breathing.
Unnatural Strength: Like all hags, green hags are unusually strong.
They have a +6 bonus to damage rolls.

Harpy
Hit Dice: 7 (7d8 hp)
AC: 13
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +6

Attacks: 3/1; 2 claws +7 (1d3), bite +7 (1d6) or by weapon
Special Attacks: Enchanting song, mesmerizing touch
Size: M (6 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft., 80 ft. (fly)
Alignment: CE
Morale: 14
Appearing: 3d4
Treasure: OL: R
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day
Terrain: Any temp./tropic land
Str 10, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low light vision (60 ft.),
scent (40 ft.)
XP: 975
Harpies are horrid winged creatures that have the body and wings of
a vulture and the torso and head of a human female. They rarely live
alone and prefer to belong to a coven of 3 to 12 harpies. When not
singing their enchanting song, they communicate with their own language, a series of high-pitched cackles. They generally do not speak
other languages.
They are terribly evil and will attack to destroy anything.
Combat: Harpies rarely fight evenly. They prefer to draw a party
close with their enchanting song. Any victims of the song are usually touched immediately and then later toyed with and destroyed. If
pressed to fight, they employ a claw, claw, bite sequence, unless they
have a melee or ranged weapon instead. Harpies will attempt to flee if
brought to below 10 hit points.
Enchanting Song: The song of a harpy is a mind-affecting charm that
affects any creature within 60 feet, unless they previously protected
themselves against this attack (by stuffing wax in their ears, etc.) before hearing the songs first note. On a failed Superior (TC 15) Will
save, the subject moves quickly to the harpy and views her as a divine
beauty. The charm lasts as long as the harpy continues to sing, which
is a secondary action that can be performed during combat. If struck
and harmed by the harpy, a mesmerized subject will immediately snap
out of the enchantment.
Mesmerizing Touch: If a harpy touches a charmed subject, the subject
enters a trance-like state for 24 hours. This is also a mind-affecting
charm. Once entranced, the victim cannot defend itself and no attacks
made by the harpy will break the enchantment; however, the victim
can be shaken out of the charm if someone spends a full-round action
to do so. Once awareness is regained, the subject is no longer under the
effects of either the enchanting song or the mesmerizing touch.

In the World: Harpies are territorial creatures which abide near coastal
shipping routes or close to well-traveled land trafficking lanes, usually
in a hollow or shallow cavern that serves as home and as a place for
their grisly repasts after they have lured their prey to their doom with
their sweet song. Their presence and territorial markings are enough to
warn away any local wildlife. Their lairs are so riddled with filth, excrement, and whatever baubles or items they discard from their victims
that they make goblin warrens look positively immaculate! A harpy
den usually is home to around 6 or so of these disgusting creatures.
Ecology: Harpies apparently reproduce through parthenogenesis, as
no male harpy has ever been seen, laying a single egg on alternate years.
Harpies do not care for their newly-hatched young, who must feed
and scrounge for their food from scraps the harpy dens residents leave
after their done consuming their prey until they are strong enough to
hunt on their own, at which point they leave the nest permanently. A
harpys lifespan is typically around 50 years.
The social structure of harpies is nonexistent, with every harpy for
herself. This leads to frequent and often violent infighting over food;
often, the loser becomes part of the meal herself! On rare occasions,
harpies have been known to work in conjunction with other evil humanoids to wreak havoc in their local areas in exchange for promises
of food. They are voracious eaters and viscous, taking pleasure in killing and devouring their food, which ranges from rabbit to deer to
humanoid.

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Hell Hound
Hit Dice: 4 (4d8 hp)
AC: 16
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +5

Attacks: 1/1; Bite +4 (1d10 plus 1d6 fire)
Special Attacks: Breath weapon, fiery bite
Size: M (3 ft. tall, 4 ft. long)
Movement: 40 ft.
Alignment: LE
Morale: 13
Appearing: 2d4
Treasure: L: C
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any land
Str 19, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Immune to fire, infravision (60 ft.), low light
vision (60 ft.), scent (40 ft.), stealth
XP: 420
Hell hounds hail from the infernal planes and are often found on the
Material Plane as a result of being summoned forth to serve some nefarious master. Unless a hell hound escaped into the wild, it will always
be following the commands of its master.
In appearance, a hell hound resembles a large hound with rust or redbrown colored fur. Its teeth and tongue are coated in a black soot and
it has glowing red eyes. A typical hell hound stands 3 to 4 feet tall at its
shoulders and weighs 120 pounds.
Hell hounds do not speak but they understand infernal.
Combat: Hell hounds corral and attack their prey as a concerted pack.
A favorite pack tactic is for one hell hound to leap out at one opponent and then flee toward a position where other hell hounds wait to
ambush. In an ambush, all hell hounds start with a breath weapon to
harm multiple opponents. Then, they close to bite.
Breath Weapon: Once every 2d4 rounds a hellhound may breathe a
10-foot cone of fire that deals 2d6 points of damage to all in its path.
A Superior (TC 15) Reflex save halves this damage.
Fiery Bite: A hell hound bite deals an extra 1d6 points of fire damage.
On a natural 20 roll on a bite attack, the hellhound actually deals 2d6
points of additional fire damage.
Stealth: Hell hounds are efficient hunters. They have a +14 total modifier on stealth checks to stay hidden or to move silently.
In the World: Hell hounds roam in packs ranging in size from 2-40
individuals, led by a 7 HD pack leader, across their native extra-dimensional homes, all of which are notable for their intense heat and
fiery landscapes. When on the Material Plane, they are virtually always
acting on the orders of an evil master.

82

Hell hounds are omnivores and have a diet similar to that of native
Material Plane canines. Although usually maintaining some staple of
meat in their diet, they can intake a variety of foods, including large
portions of vegetables. Slain prey is usually consumed onsite, but rarely
some hell hounds will occasionally drag their victims carcasses to their
dens for later consumption; this usually occurs only in lean times.
Their territories usually encompass a 5-14 square mile area centered on
their den and pack territories can overlap somewhat, leading to strife
and confrontation occasionally.
Ecology: Hell hounds do not successfully reproduce easily on the Material Plane. When reproduction does occur, puppies are born in litters
of 2-8 pups, all of which burp flames uncontrollably at least once a
day as they learn to control their fiery breath; maturity occurs after
about a year and a half. Pups can attack with their fiery bite, inflicting
1 hit point of fire damage in addition to their bite damage for every six
months of age until maturity is reached.
Hell hounds do not naturally fit into any local ecological niche. They
tend to be annoyances in their territories and set random fires whenever they hunt; their dens possibly have some treasure from the kills
brought back to be devoured, almost none of which is ever parchmentbased material for obvious reasons. They do have their uses, though;
evil humanoids, most often fire giants, will often use them as watch
dogs, as their excellent senses allow them to more easily detect hidden
or invisible enemies. They can also be domesticated if raised from puppies, but each year there is a straight 10% chance of such hell hounds
turning feral and escaping into the wild.

Hippogriff
Hit Dice: 3 (3d8+3 hp)
AC: 15
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +4

Attacks: 3/1; 2 claws +3 (1d6+2), bite +3 (1d10)
Special Attacks: None
Size: L (10 ft. tall)
Movement: 50 ft., 100 ft. (fly)
Alignment: N
Morale: 10
Appearing: 1, 2 or 2d8+1
Treasure: L: E (x4)
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day
Terrain: Any non-arctic land
Str 16, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 11
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), scent (40 ft.)
XP: 175
Hippogriffs are the magical crossbreed of eagles and horses. They are
majestic creatures that measure 10 feet tall at their shoulders and have
feathered wings that span up to 25 feet. They have the head, mane and
front claws of an eagle. The rest of its body is horse-like.
Hippogriffs are omnivorous they eat anything. In the absence of
other food sources, they will attack living creatures.
Hippogriffs are highly territorial and attack if their home is threatened. They are not inherently aggressive though; so many hippogriffs
are tamed and turned into flying steeds. This requires an Exceptional
(TC 20) Animal Handling check by a skilled animal handler. Hippogriff steeds are sold for 3,000 to 5,000 gold pieces.
Combat: If pressed, a hippogriff will use a claw/claw/bite progression.
They are very good flyers, so a hippogriff will usually fly around its
prey pausing only to attack. These attacks are often performed from an
elevated position, granting an additional +1 attack bonus.
In the World: Although fiercely territorial, hippogriffs live in herds
which contain 1-3 adult males, an equivalent number of mares (25%
chance of any one being pregnant), and usually one foal (1% chance
of twins) and have a preference for rather unpopulated temperate and
tropical regions of 1-40 square miles in their territories, often with
myriads of rolling hills from which to attain flight. Their natural nesting location within their territory is always well-protected and secluded. The nest is never left unattended while foals are present.

will still need to be taught to fly. These domestic hippogriffs are also
taught to be more discerning about their food choices; humans and
other good humanoids are not on the menu!
Ecology: The hippogriff gestation period is 10 months long, with the
first 5 months occurring within the mare and after which it lays its
single egg and it then hatches 5 months later. Foals are born able to
stand and walk, learning to fly at 6 months of age; after a year, young
hippogriffs are considered skeletally mature, although sexual maturation does not occur until 3 years of age. Captive hippogriffs have a
harder time conceiving than those in the wild.
Hippogriffs are omnivorous creatures and feed on whatever vegetable
or animal source is available in their territory. Although they will not
eat other carnivores; herbivores such as bison or deer are fairly common; less commonly devoured are humanoid fare, which is only a
source of food in lean times. Carcasses of prey are carried back to the
nest to feed the herd, often leaving trinkets and other treasures of the
prey in the nest after feeding. Males will use these shiny baubles as an
attractant to potential mates during mating season.

Although closely related, hippogriffs are preyed upon by griffons, although their natural defenses provide them some protection against
the stronger griffins predations. Pegasi avoid their company due to the
fact that hippogriffs eat meat.
Hippogriffs make excellent mounts. Although not as maneuverable as
their griffin cousins, they make up for that in their speed and better
temperament. If captured when very young (under 4 months of age),
a hippogriff can be tamed and taught to serve as a steed, although it

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Hobgoblin
Hit Dice: 1 (1d8+1 hp)
AC: 12 (leather)
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +4

Attacks: 1/1; Longsword +1 (1d8), hand mace +1 (1d4+1), javelin +1
(1d6), or shortbow +1 (1d6)
Special Attacks: None
Size: M (6 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: LE
Morale: 12
Appearing: 2d10 (gang), 3d100 (tribe)
Treasure Rating: L: D(x5) or J; OL: M or Q
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any non-arctic
Str 11, Dex 11, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 9
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.)
XP: 35
Hobgoblins are sturdier and larger than goblins. They range in color
from burnt orange to black, and have blue or red noses. The eyes of a
hobgoblin are red and their teeth are yellow. They tend well to their
weapons and armor, adorning them with brightly colored tassels and
straps.
Hobgoblins speak goblin, common, hobgoblin, and orc.
Combat: Hobgoblins fight strategically, utilizing advantageous doubling up, terrain, and movement. They often have ranged attackers
positioned in well-covered places while melee combatants attack.
Hobgoblins will often flee to regroup when they lose advantage. Unlike goblins, they are unaffected by light.
In the World: Well-versed in military and guerrilla tactics, hobgoblins
are constantly at war with the other humanoid races. They live in almost any climate or subterranean terrain (80% of all lairs are located
underground; the remaining 20% are surface enclaves).
Fortified like an armed encampment, hobgoblin villages maintain a
defensive perimeter with military precision generally consisting of
several bulwarks, ditches, fences, 2 gates, and 3-6 guard towers. Offensively, they generally maintain 2 heavy catapults, 2 light catapults,
and a ballista for every 50 male warriors. Subterranean encampments
are also guarded by carnivorous apes 60% of the time.
Hobgoblins are highly sought after by mercenary armies to serve as
leaders and commanders due to their knowledge of battle and tactics.
Gaining prestige through such work, hobgoblins that are successful in
such mercenary endeavors are well-regarded by their tribal leaders.
Hobgoblins make use of worgs and slaves similar to their goblin kin,
although even their goblin kin serve as slaves or at best are dominated
by the hobgoblin tribes where territories intersect.

84

Ecology: Hobgoblin tribes consist of 20-200 adult male warriors, females equal to 50% of the male numbers and children equal to the
three times the male adult numbers; females and children are noncombatants. For every 20 male hobgoblins there is a 1+1 HD leader and
2 guards, for every 100 hobgoblins there is a 3 HD sub-chief (+2 to
damage rolls) and 2 guards, and each tribe is led by a 4 HD tribal chief
(+3 to damage rolls) and 5-20 3 HD sub-chief bodyguards. Each hobgoblin tribe denotes itself with a distinctive battle standard and tribal
markings; carried into battle, they increase troop morale by 2.
Hobgoblins reproduce in a strict fashion consistent with their sense
of order. They use selective breeding to try and breed stronger and
superior offspring. There is no marriage or monogamy; breeding is
there to ensure racial survival and to enhance generational superiority. The tribe is everything and children are raised often not knowing
their parents. Taught forcefully from an early age to maintain a sense
of personal space, it is ingrained into them becoming inherent part
of their psyche, enhancing tribal loyalty and military regimen. Mercy
and compassion are almost unknown in hobgoblin culture; those who
demonstrate these traits are quickly beaten, subdued, or even killed.
Religion, like all else, is also regimented. Religious leaders are typically
the most intelligent of the tribe and are responsible for youth instruction, instilling tribal values, and serve as the tribal governing body;
they are the only ones that a hobgoblin chief will bow to in terms of
decision-making. The governing council are the true tribal leaders.
Hobgoblins are omnivorous, but prefer the taste of meat. Although
encampments maintain small herds of livestock for emergencies, most
of their food is obtained through raiding the surrounding territories.
Hobgoblins are even more rapacious than goblins and will slaughter
mercilessly any creature or humanoid in their area.

Homunculus
Hit Dice: 2 (2d8 hp)
AC: 14
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +4

Attacks: 1/1; Bite +2 (1d3 plus poison)
Special Attacks: Poisonous bite
Size: T (14 to 18 in. tall)
Movement: 20 ft, 50 ft fly
Alignment: Per master
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1
Treasure: None
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any
Str 8, Dex 12, Con --, Int **, Wis **, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.)
XP: 270
Homunculi (pl.) are magical constructs created with the sole purpose
to assist a spell caster. Homunculi are magical constructs, but they possess the alignment of their master, as well as Intelligence and Wisdom
scores equal to their masters minus 4. They can understand and follow
multiple, complex instructions and never tire. As a result, they are the
perfect magical automatons.
The look similar to an imp, with bat-like wings, scaly skin and snoutlike mouths, but a homunculus will sharply resemble its master and so
too will its mannerisms.
The vile process of creating a homunculus consists of several ingredients, including different types of the casters bodily fluids and flesh, as
well as additional components costing 1,000 gp. The ingredients must
fester for 1d4 weeks before a mending spell must be cast upon them.
This coagulates the goo into form. A mirror image spell is then cast on
the form, which links the master with the creation. Arcane eye is last
to be cast upon the form, granting the homunculus sight and forging
a sensory bond. The special ingredient, however, is a strand of hair
from the model creature. Once the magic is infused, a 1-foot tall fleshy
replica of that creature appears, although the actual body contours and
features are extremely muted. Homunculi serve only their creators and
so no homunculi market exists.

In the World: Homunculi are the perfect servants for wizards, acting
as part servant, assistant, spy, emissary, and scout. Telepathically linked
to their wizardly creator, they have complete knowledge of everything
that their creator knows and the wizard is able to observe everything
that the homunculus sees and hears. Additionally, the wizard is able
to control the homunculus within a radius of 480 yards; the homunculus never travels outside this range of its own volition. If for some
reason it is removed from this control radius (usually through force),
the creation begins to become extremely unstable within its limited
emotional range and exhibits signs of distress and panic. If unable to
make contact with its creator again due to spatial or temporal distance,
or by being blocked by dimensional or planar barriers, the creation will
remain in an inactive state near the last known location of its creator.
Ecology: As artificially-created beings, homunculi have no place in
the natural world; they exist simply to act as tools and extensions of
their wizardly creators will. Although artificial beings, homunculi are
biological in form and require the basic sustenance of food and drink
to survive; such fare usually is similar in nature to what their creator
prefers.

Homunculi are mute but are able to write as long as their creator is
literate in the language desired.
Combat: Homunculi fly up and around combatants, swooping down
to bite and incapacitate a target. Homunculi know when to flee and
will always retreat with its master. If one is destroyed, its master suffers
2d10 points of damage. If its master dies, the homunculus will melt
instantly into a small puddle of reddish gel.
Poisonous Bite: The homunculus bite injects a Type II poison. A bite
victim must succeed on an Average (TC 10) Fortitude check or suddenly fall asleep for 5d6 minutes.

85

Hydra
Hit Dice: 5 - 12 (1 HD per head; 1d8 per head in total hp)
AC: 15
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +5

Attacks: 1/1 per head; Bite +1 per head (1d8)
Special Attacks: None
Size: G (30 ft. long)
Movement: 20 ft., 20 ft. (swim)
Alignment: N
Morale: 10
Appearing: 1
Treasure: None
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Swamp/subterranean
Str 13, Dex 11, Con 14, Int 5, Wis 11, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.), scent
(20 ft.)
XP: 400 per head
Hydras are gigantic reptilian creatures that have between five and
twelve heads connected to a well-protected body. Each head rests atop
an elongated dragon-like neck. In fact, hydras appear very similarly to
dragons, except hydras have no wings and they have multiple heads.
Combat: Each head has 8 hit points. When the hydra accrues 8 hit
points of damage, one of its heads is severed and the wound quickly
closes to stop further blood loss. Each head must be severed before the
hydra is destroyed. Attacks to the body generally do not harm the hydra; a single attack dealing hit point damage equal to the hydras total
remaining hit points will instantly slay the beast, however.
The hydra can focus no more than 4 heads on one target per round.
Other targets must be attacked if more than 4 heads are thrashing.
Each head can reach up to 10 feet from front half of the hydra.
In the World: Solitary, carnivorous and semi-intelligent, hydras live in
swamps, bogs, remote mountains, and subterranean lairs, only gathering together during the mating season.
A single hydra is a true threat, as it is able to make multiple attacks
with its heads as it bites at its prey. The armored body of the hydra is
heavily protected, so piercing it is difficult at best.
Dragons are the most feared predator of the hydra.
Ecology: Male hydras have longer horns than females, although the
horns are likely just used for attracting potential mates, as the hydra
does not use them in combat. Hydras also are not able to effectively
use their claws in combat due to their low center of gravity; their four
short legs are spread wide across its wide body and they cannot bring
a set of claws to bear without upsetting their balance. This physiology
also makes them relatively poor climbers.
Despite having multiple heads, a hydra only has one central brain
located at the base of its necks. They also generally have one tail, al-

86

though some have been recorded as having as many as three tails. Hydras also have terrific eyesight and are almost impossible to surprise,
given their effectively 360 degree vision.
Female hydras lay small clutches of 1-4 eggs, which hatch after a gestational period of 230 days. Hydras reach maturity within 8-9 years and
live for approximately 33 years.
Hydra Variations: There are four types of hydras: common hydra
(listed above), pyrohydra, cryohydra, and Lernaean hydra.
The pyrohydra typically has a reddish hue to its scales, has 7-8 heads,
and has the ability to breathe a cone of fire which encompasses an area
20 feet from the creature and up to 10 feet wide at its longest point
once every 1d4 rounds that deals 3d6 points of damage. A Superior
(TC 15) Reflex save halves this damage.
The cryohydra can emit a cone of frost in a similar pattern and damage
to that of the pyrohydra.
The Lernaean hydra looks virtually identical to the common hydra.
However, the difference becomes apparent once a head is severed; in
place of the severed head, two heads are regenerated. A maximum of
12 heads can be grown in this fashion. New heads regenerate in 1-4
rounds; fire or acid damage will stop this regeneration from occurring.
This hydras body is immune to all attacks; the only way to kill it is to
sever all the heads and prevent them from regrowing.
Cross-breeding across hydra variants is possible. Lernaean hydras always breed true, but retain the characteristics of both parents, so cryo
and pyro versions of the Lernaean hydra are known to exist. When
cryo and pyro hydras procreate, the offspring is always a common hydra.

Imp
Hit Dice: 2+2 (2d8+2 hp)
AC: 18
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +7

Attacks: 1/1; Stinger +2 (1d4 plus poison)
Special Attacks: Poisonous sting, spells
Size: T (24 to 36 in. tall)
Movement: 20 ft., 50 ft. (fly)
Alignment: LE
Morale: 10
Appearing: 1
Treasure: OL: O
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any
Str 10, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 15, Wis 11, Cha 13
Special Qualities: animal shape (change self), familiar, immunities,
infravision (60 ft.), magic resistance 25%, regeneration, weapon immunity
XP: 1400
Imps often serve as familiars to powerful spell casters, demons, and
other malevolent creatures. Imps not in such service travel the Material
Plane in search of opportunities to further their nefarious goals.

porarily loses 1 level based on his reliance on the imps sensory inputs.
If a masters imp is slain, the master loses 4 levels until he either gains
another imp familiar or advances again normally.

Imps are born on the Infinite Lower Planes, though a few powerful
people and creatures have found the secret to creating these creatures
on other planes. Only an imp spawned outside of the Infinite Lower
Planes has a chance to be anything other than evil.

Immunities: Imps are immune to cold, electricity, and fire damage.

Imps appear as a very small, hairless humanoid with enlarged ears,

noses, lips, eyes, and chins. Standing about 2-3 feet tall, they have
leathery wings, two small fangs, and a tail ending in a wicked stinger.
No two imps look identically alike, however.
Imps speak common and infernal; some speak elven, goblin, and
dwarven.

Magic Resistance: Imps enjoy 25% magic resistance.

Poisonous Sting: A successful sting by an imp injects a Type IV poison. Targets must make aSuperior (TC 15) Fortitude save or die.
Regeneration: Imps regenerate 1 hit point per round.
Spells: An imp may cast the following spells whenever desired
change self (1-2 animal forms; see above), detect good, detect magic and
invisibility. An imp may cast suggestion once per day.

Combat: Imps despise standard toe-to-toe combat. It prefers to gain

the upper hand by more cunning means, learning about potential enemies using invisibility and change self. They often cast detect magic
while invisible to gauge an opponents gear. In combat, an imp employs a staggered strategy of invisibility and stinger attacks. The staggered rounds allows them to move while invisible, position for a strike,
strike and then fly away to cast invisibility again next round.

Weapon Immunity: Imps are only harmed by magical weapons or

specially prepared silver weapons of masterwork quality.

Animal Shape (Change Self): An imp can assume one or two forms
from the following list as desired: giant spider, goat, rat or raven.

An imps spirit is not easily dispatched. When its physical form is slain,
its spiritual essence returns to the Lower Planes, where after a period
of penance and tender mercies by its betters (and, of course, recuperation), it is returned to the Material Plane to wreak further havoc.

Familiar: Imps will respond when a summon familiar spell is cast by

someone they feel is worthy to receive their companionship. The imp
begins to assume the role of familiar, but in reality, the imp is slowly
taking control over its master. A telepathic and empathic link (1 mile
range) is formed allowing the imp to covertly cast suggestion and to
share its spells and other powers with its master (including its 25%
magic resistance and regeneration). If the link is lost the master tem-

In the World: Imps corrupt and spread chaos and dissention by proxy
via their masters. Their goals also include increased personal power;
to this end, they often seek out magical items and valuables from those
slain by themselves or their master.

Ecology: Imps have no natural part in the ecology of the Material

Plane. They exist purely to spread chaos and advance the agenda of evil
as emissaries for their evil arcane masters.

87

Kobold
Hit Dice: 1/2 (1d4 hp)
AC: 13
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +3

Attacks:: 1/1; Claw +0 (1 hp) or by weapon (small damage)
Special Attacks: None
Size: S (3 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: LE
Morale: 9
Appearing: 5d4 (party), 4d10 x 10 (tribe)
Treasure: L: J; OL: O
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Any land
Str 8, Dex 11, Con 9, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), vulnerability to sunlight
XP: 7
Kobolds are short, scaly humanoids with beady red eyes, short horns,
and a tail. They are sometimes referred to as dogs, a fitting reference
since they have a pronounced jaw bone and ears that resemble a dogs,
they emit an odor of wet dog, and their own language sounds strangely
like yapping hounds. Their scales colors range from dark red to black.
They speak their own language and most speak goblin and/or orc.
Combat: Kobolds encountered in the wilderness prefer to use ranged
weapons, such as spears and javelins, before engaging in melee combat.
Kobolds encountered in their lair are heavily fortified with multiple
traps and hiding places, hiding in nooks and crannies, waiting with
oil and flame in an ambush site located in a place beyond many traps.
They despise gnomes and are wary of casters, so will fight accordingly.
Vulnerability to Sunlight: Kobolds suffer a 1 penalty on all d20 rolls
if affected by light as bright as the sun.
In the World: Kobolds prefer living in darkened areas, such as deep
subterranean caverns or old-growth forests with heavy, protective canopies which shut out most light. They can live in almost any climate
and are excellent miners by nature; any location a serpentine system
of interconnected warrens underground may house tribes of kobolds.
These lairs are labyrinthine and trap-laden, almost impossible to navigate by anyone not familiar with them.
Their society revolves around survival. Kobolds do not see retreat as
cowardice, but common sense and survival is paramount. The tribal
leaders are often the wiliest and oldest members, having shown they
have what it takes to survive.
Ecology: Kobolds usually belong to a larger tribe from an underground or deep forest location. Kobolds are often encountered wandering in parties of up to 20. These parties are charged with hunting
and scavenging.

88

Kobold tribes consist of 40-400 adult males. Inside the lair at any
given time, there will be 4-20 bodyguards (1-1 HD, AC 14), females
equal to 50% of the adult males, children equal to 10% of the adult
makes, and 30-300 eggs. Each tribe will also have a chief (3 HD, AC
16), 2-8 elite guards (1 HD , AC 14), and at least one 1st-level shaman (cleric) or wizard; as well, there is a 65% chance of the presence
of either 2-5 wild boars (70% chance; 3+3 HD, AC 13, damage 3d6
gore) or 1-4 giant weasels (3+3 HD , AC 14, damage 2d6 bite and
blood drain) which serve as guard animals.
Kobold tribal society is also segmented into war bands consisting of
several allied clans, each of which may consist of up to 10 families; each
clan patrols a 10-mile radius from the lair. Kobolds scavenge the loot
off their enemies and bring it back to the lair. They may also take slaves
of the defeated enemies; gnomes are always killed and devoured.
Kobolds typically mate and pair purely for the sake of procreation.
Females generally lay a single egg; they may repeat this process a half
dozen times per year and remain fertile throughout their lives, as do
males. Partially ovoviviparous, embryos develop in utero for inside
their eggs 2 months prior to being laid, where they then continue to
develop before hatching 2 months later. Kobolds maintain a central
nursery housing the eggs, kept safe through use of guards and traps.
Kobolds rely on caretakers to rear their young. Newly-hatched younglings are almost entirely self-sufficient, able to hunt and feed themselves, although they are still extremely vulnerable to predators.
Kobolds are omnivorous and their diets consist of almost anything.
They lose and regrow their sharpened 54 teeth throughout their entire
life, unlike many races which gain their adult teeth once. Many kobolds wear their displaced teeth as mementoes around their necks.
Kobold lifespans can extend as long as 135 years, but rarely do due to
violent death. Young kobolds mature by around 6 years of age. They
are the target of predations from almost all other humanoids. Within
the goblin and kobold tribes, tales of the many territorial wars fought
between the two races are almost legendary.

Lizardfolk
Hit Dice: 2+1 (2d8+1 hp)
AC: 15
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +4

Attacks: 3/1; 2 claws +2 (1d2) and bite +2 (1d6) or 1/1; club +2 (1d6)
or javelin +1 (1d6)
Special Attacks: None
Size: M (6 to 7 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: N or NE
Morale: 14
Appearing: 4d4 (hunting party), 10d6 (tribe)
Treasure: L: D
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any swamp
Str 11, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Amphibious, low-light vision (60 ft.)
XP: 65
Lizardfolk appear as bipedal lizards covered with thick scales ranging
in color from green to brown. Their heads are not as prolonged as an
average lizard, but their mouths are still wide and filled with short, jagged teeth. Each has a tail it uses for balance and support.
Lizardfolk live in large, tribal societies in the deep wet jungles. They
normally convert an old, abandoned village or town. Every lizardfolk
society has a central shrine or temple in which they revere Isisis, an
aspect of a more prominent nature god, regardless of alignment.
Lizardfolk speak draconic; more intelligent ones speak common.
Combat: Lizardfolk fight much like most humanoids in tribal societies. They use their surroundings to trap, surround, and attack their
foes, but are always ready for a speedy retreat. They fight in numbers,
often utilizing ranged weaponry like shortbows and blowguns. They
are not very intelligent, so collaborative attacks are often disjointed
and a bit misplayed. Most know how to work with Type I (Basic (TC
5)) poisons, with which they coat their weapons.
Lizardfolk spellcasters usually take an offensive stance in combat.
Amphibious: Lizardfolk can breathe both air and water.
In the World: Lizardfolk live in temperate swamps, bogs, marshes,
and other similar dank areas, making their homes in submerged airfilled caves. Females act as gatherers, collecting plant life and other
edibles, while males serve as scouts, hunters, and fighters. Oftentimes,
disparate lizardfolk tribes will band together against a common enemy, putting aside tribal differences temporarily in the face of a greater
threat. Once the enemy is dispatched, the tribes return to their communities and resume warring with their neighbors.
Most other races consider lizardfolk little better than primitive savages
and do not see any reason to engage with a society who only views

them as a source of food. Lizardfolk incursions are met with force and
little in the way of quarter is given to the reptilian race.
Ecology: Lizardfolk tribes consist of 150 individuals, including noncombatant females (50% of adult males in number) and hatchlings
(numbering half the total adults), and are led by the strongest and
most powerful as its chieftain. Lizardfolk are primitives and have a
shamanistic religion; these shamans, usually sterile hermaphrodites
with higher Intelligence, typically act as advisors to the chieftains, interpreting the divine omens and advising on courses of action, as well
as passing along the oral traditions of the tribe. Survival of the tribe is
paramount, and lizardfolk have been known to resort to cannibalism
and other distasteful practices to provide for this.
Lizardfolk believe that hunting, fighting, and breeding, not intellect,
ensure the best survival and strengthen the tribes the most. Selective
breeding is practiced to produce stronger progeny.
Reproduction occurs sexually, with females laying clutches of 1-3 eggs
several weeks after mating occurs. These eggs are buried in the swamp
mud, where water and plant matter are readily absorbed through their
porous shells to provide nourishment. The pigmentation of the mud
and earth determines the hatchlings coloration.
Omnivorous, lizardfolk will eat almost anything, but prefer human
flesh. They have few natural predators, preying themselves on nearby human, demihuman, or humanoid settlements. They rarely take
slaves, preferring to take their scrumptious morsels back to their lairs
and devour them in gruesome fashion.
Lizardfolk eggs are bitter and inedible, as is their meat, although their
hides are sometimes used to fashion scale armor. Primitives, they do
not produce anything resembling art, worked goods, or artifacts.

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Manticore
Hit Dice: 6+3 (6d8+3 hp)
AC: 16
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +6

Attacks: 3/1; Claw +6 (1d3+2), claw +6 (1d3+2), bite +6 (1d8)
Special Attacks: Tail spikes
Size: L (6 ft. tall, 15 ft. long)
Movement: 30 ft., 50 ft. (fly)
Alignment: LE
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1d4
Treasure: L: E
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any
Str 17, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Low-light vision (60 ft.)
XP: 975
Manticores have the body of a lion, the head of a bearded human
male, the wings of a giant bat and a vicious barbed tail suitable for a
wicked demon. They are despicably evil and territorial monsters that
relish in the torment of others.
Manticores usually nest with family. The mother and father often
engage in hunting forays for their favorite food - humans. They will
always drag their prey back to the nest and horde their victims treasures.
Combat: Manticores will begin combat with a volley of their tail
spikes. They will often fly while fighting, but are limited to a tail spike
attack or two claw attacks in one round.
Tail Spike: The barbed tail of a manticore is covered in long spikes
that the creature can release with a whip of its tail. Each spike is 6
inches long and the creature can whip a spike up to Medium range.
Each volley is one primary action and releases 1d6 spikes toward one
target. The manticore can only perform four tail spike attacks each day
and it takes one full round for the spikes to regrow before the manticore is able to release another volley.
In the World: Manticores may be found in virtually any environment,
the better to match with their favorite choice in food human flesh
- but prefer more temperate climes to colder ones. They are extremely
territorial beasts, averaging a 20-square mile range from their lairs; this
territory almost always encompasses at least one human settlement
and generally overlaps with other manticore territories as well as other
man-eating predators, such as dragons.
Manticores are terrible and ferocious opponents, highly sought after
by the most elite hunters. A completely intact manticore pelt (including wings) can be worth upwards of 10,000 gp. Possession of these is
rare, as most hunters find, to their eternal chagrin, that it is their hides
that become trophies for their intended prey.

90

Ecology: Manticores mate for life, with the male providing sustenance
for the family, especially the female during gestation, which takes approximately 100 days. Females birth 1-2 cubs, which are reared by
both parents and reach adulthood by 5 years of age. Cubs cannot fly
until they are about a year old and must learn it from their parents.
Cubs up to 2 years of age are able to fend for themselves to a certain
degree, doing 1 point of damage with claw attacks and 1-2 point with
their bites. Cubes 3-4 years of age inflict 1-2 points of damage with
their claws and 1-6 points of damage with their bite. Immature manticores do not have the ability to shoot and regrow tail spikes.
If captured young, manticores can be domesticated, although they
cannot be trained as mounts; adult manticores, however, have an 80%
chance of turning feral and returning to the wild. Manticores have also
been known to ally with those allies who have an evil bent for promises
of a steady food supply.
Manticores are strictly carnivorous and typically will eat their prey immediately upon killing it, unless hauling the carcass back to the lair to
provide for the female and cubs. They will also collect any treasures or
possessions of their kills, bringing them back and storing them in their
lairs. They do this because they know that this will draw more humans
into their territory and therefore increase the food supply.

Medusa
Hit Dice: 6 (6d8 hp)
AC: 15
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +6

Attacks: 1/1; Snake strand +6 (1d4 plus poison) or shortbow (1d6)
Special Attacks: Petrifying gaze, poisonous snake bites
Size: M (5 to 6 ft tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: LE
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1d4
Treasure: L: J(x10); OL:P, Q, X orY
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any
Str 10, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 12
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.)
XP: 2000
The medusa is a hateful and cunning creature. She has an alluring
figure that, from a distance beyond 30 feet, appears as the perfect female form. Within 30 feet, her glowing red eyes are visible. Within 20
feet, the strands of her flowing hair reveal themselves as hissing and
undulating snakes.

In the World: Medusae can be found in virtually any environment

and often live in abandoned ruins or dark caves. Their dwellings are
always draped in flickering shadows, giving visitors an eerie impression
and allowing the medusa additional camouflage as well as disorienting
opponents.

Medusae lure male victims close by shielding their head in shadow or

garb. Once close, they reveal themselves. Medusae relish in collecting
petrified victims and later smashing their stone bits into dust. They are
truly despicable creatures.

Medusae are solitary omnivores that feed off the local flora and fauna.
Their chosen method of dealing with intruders into their territory is
to attempt to petrify them. Once petrified, the medusa will often then
smash the petrified form into unrecognizable chunks of stone in order
to hide her presence; after all, walking into a ruin and finding a bunch
of statues of humanoids frozen in mid-motion is a dead giveaway of
the medusas presence.

Medusae have their own language. They also speak common.

Combat: As mentioned, medusae rarely venture into the open to engage in combat. They prefer to lure a group of men close so that they
have the best chance of turning the most opponents into stone. If
pressed to martial combat, they will usually employ a ranged weapon,
but will command her poisonous snake strands to attack melee opponents when the fight draws near. Opponents must actively attempt
to avert their eyes to fight the medusa (which grants the medusa 90%
concealment versus these opponents, a condition that imposes a -4
penalty on the opponents attack rolls), and the medusa will move to
attack with her snake strands.
Petrifying Gaze: All those within 30 feet that look at a medusa when
she shows her face must succeed on an Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude
save or be permanently turned to stone. Only those who avert their
eyes before she reveals her face are unaffected.
The medusa can look into the Astral and Ethereal Planes and her petrifying gaze is equally effective on creatures looking at her on the Material Plane.

Medusae will often collect the treasures of those they petrify. However,
any reflective surface, such as mirrors, metallic shields and the like
are never kept and are destroyed if possible. If a medusa sees her own
reflection in a mirrored surface, it will turn to stone itself; however,
medusa are immune to the petrifying gaze of others of their ilk. Nonmetallic reflectors such as pools of water do not replicate this effect.
Ecology: Medusae reproduce through copulation with humanoid
males, who usually do not survive long afterwards. Approximately
one month after successful fertilization, the medusa will lay 2-6 eggs,
which after a gestational period of 8 months hatch into miniature versions of the female medusa parent. These hatchlings do not yet have
the ability petrify. Medusae mature at a rate similar to humans; their
serpentine hair becomes alive and poisonous around age 2 and at adolescence the ability to petrify manifests.
Medusae have no natural predators other than those who hunt them in
order to end the threat these abominations represent to themselves.

Poisonous Snake Bites: A successful attack made by the medusas

snake strands deals 1d4 points of damage and injects a lethal Type IV
poison. Those bitten must succeed on a Superior (TC 15) Fortitude
save or die instantly.

91

Mimic
Hit Dice: 7 (7d8 hp)
AC: 13
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +6

Attacks: 1/1; Slam +7 (3d4+2 plus glue)
Special Attacks: Glue, grapple, swallow
Size: L (150 cubic ft.)
Movement: 10 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: 15
Appearing: 1
Treasure: None
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Subterranean
Str 17, Dex 11, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Immunity to acid, infravision (60 ft.), shapechange,
surprise
XP: 975
In their natural form, mimics are square-shaped masses. They have a
hardened outer shell that is the color of light granite which protects its
soft core, which houses its soft organs and its digestive acid.
Mimics are never encountered in their natural form. They can alter
their form to appear as anything; thus mimics often take the form of a
large chest or door. They are voracious eaters and will lure in potential
prey before lashing out.
Mimics are wizard-born creatures and can speak one language that is
programmed by the creator.
Combat: Mimics never outwardly reveal themselves to attack. They
wait for someone to approach unaware. If this should occur, they
quickly lash out with their slam attack and, if successful, they pull the
victim into their mouth with their non-action grapple attack.
Glue: The mimic can secrete a glue from its body in any form. This
glue holds fast a victim struck by its slam attack or a victim that haphazardly stumbles into the creature. An Average (TC 10) Strength
check is required to break free.
Grapple: If the mimic succeeds on a slam attack, it receives a nonaction grapple attack (Slam roll versus opponents Strength check). If it
succeeds, the victim is dragged toward the mimics mouth. If it fails to
overcome the target, the subject is instead free from the mimics glue.
Shapechange: The mimic can perfectly take on the shape and hue of
any inanimate object having a total mass of 150 cubic feet. An Exceptional (TC 20) Wisdom check is required to spot the ruse, but only if
the onlooker is actively looking. The mimic can also shapechange into
a living creature; however, the mimics slow movement speed makes it
much easier to notice the disguise (Average (TC 10) Wisdom check).
Surprise: Mimics gain surprise on a nearby opponent unless that opponent succeeds on an Exceptional (TC 20) Wisdom check in the

92

surprise round. Mimics do not roll.

Swallow: The mimics mouth can expand to fit a Medium-sized creature, so all creatures Medium or smaller that suffer the mimics grapple
attack are automatically swallowed. The swallow attack is a non-action
performed immediately after a successful grapple attack. Inside, the
victim suffers 2d4 points of acid damage each round until freed, which
only results from the destruction of the mimic.
In the World: Mimics can be found in any subterranean environment.
These solitary and territorial creatures avoid sunlight, are actually quite
intelligent and are focused on survival and obtaining food. They have
no social structure, no moral code, no religion and have been known
to offer an exchange of information for food; usually 1-2 humanoid
creatures is enough to provide sustenance for weeks.
Magical creations originally designed by wizards to act as guardians for
their stores of magical artifacts and alchemical labs, mimics typically
pose as doors, statues, chests, stairs, desks and other stone, wood, or
metallic items of about their mass.
Ecology: Mimics reproduce asexually through binary fission; once
split, one of the two organisms then leaves the territory of the other to
search out its own niche. The two smaller organisms then grow back
to full-size within 2 years.
Their sensory organs consist of optical sensors on their surface that
allow them to see even in complete darkness and intense light sources
can overload these sensors, effectively blinding them temporarily.
Mimic secretions, including the glue and a liquid attractant that draws
rats and other vermin, are useful in many alchemical devices and as
perfumes or delectable delicacies in some cultures.

Minotaur
Hit Dice: 6+3 (6d8+3 hp)
AC: 14
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +6

Attacks: 2/1; Greataxe , maul, or flail +6 (2d6+3), horn +6 (2d4+3),
bite (1d4+3)
Special Attacks: Charge
Size: L (7 to 8 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft
Alignment: CE
Morale: 16
Appearing: 1d8
Treasure: L: C
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Subterranean
Str 18, Dex 10, Con 15, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Heightened senses, infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.)
XP: 1400
Minotaurs are tall, strong representations of a human and ox hybrid.
These bipedal behemoths stand on thick cloven feet, have coarse hair
covering their body, and have a set of fiercely sharp and curved horns.
Their natural underground direction sense seems to draw most minotaurs to underground lairs that remain hidden in labyrinthine passages.
Minotaurs speak giant.
Combat: Minotaurs deliver in battle exactly what one would expect
from a human/ox hybrid - blunt force trauma. Most wield an oversized, huge maul (called a Minos bar) to devastating ends. They rarely
flee, and face death with courage.
Charge: A minotaur can travel up to twice its movement speed and
gore a target with its horns as a full round action. If successful, the
charge deals 2d8+6 points of damage.
Heightened Senses: Minotaurs have sharpened senses that allow them
to track with scent and receive an additional +2 bonus on any check
to avoid being surprised or flat-footed. Minotaurs have an uncanny
direction sense, which immunizes them from maze.
In the World: Minotaurs live in tropical to temperate labyrinthian
locations, often in subterranean terrain or in ancient, subsurface abandoned ruins. These labyrinths are often constructed by evil wizards or
other wicked despots who use the minotaurs as guardians, buying the
minotaurs service by providing regular sacrificial humans on which
the clan feeds.
Minotaur culture is based on strength of might providing the necessary attributes for rule. They are rather primitive and bestial creatures,
always ravenous and spoiling for a fight. Consummate hunters and
fighters, they have been known to accord particularly strong human
fighters (usually barbarians) a measure of respect and even, in rare

cases, almost subservience. In battle, they are fearless and will attack
without hesitation, even in the face of greater numbers.
Ecology: Their clannish communal structure consists of up to 8 members; if more than 6 are present in a clan, one is always a minotaur
elder with heightened strength and endurance (+2 damage on attacks
and 8+4 HD) who serves as clan chieftain. The chieftain always lives
in the central portion of their labyrnthian homes, teaching and raising
the young minotaurs, while the remainder of the adult clan members
hunt and patrol their domain. They are carnivores, preferring a diet
consisting of human flesh; able to survive for years at a time without
eating, they are almost always hungry unless receiving a steady diet of
human flesh, which is rare.
Minotaurs reproduce by breeding with human females; offspring from
such brutal unions are always male minotaurs and gestation and maturation of minotaurs is similar to that of humans. Lifespans of minotaurs can reach up to 200 years of age.
Minotaurs have few natural enemies, except for gnolls. The two races
will attack each other on sight and no quarter is given and the reason
for such racial enmity is unknown.
Religious practices are shamanistic and revolve around worship of
crude, bestial deities. A larger clan will generally have a shaman present (3rd-level cleric).
Minotaurs hoard the treasures of their defeated prey and occasionally utilize magical items, particularly weapons or other such devices,
which focus on enhancing strength, misdirection, or location effects.
Any other types of items are discarded or left with the corpses remains.

93

Mummy
Hit Dice: 6+3 (6d8+3 hp)
AC: 17
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +6

Attacks: 1/1; Slam +6 (1d12+5)
Special Attacks: Fear, rotting touch
Size: M (5 to 7 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: LE
Morale: 15
Appearing: 1d8
Treasure: L: D; OL: P
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Subterranean
Str 20, Dex 11, Con --, Int 7, Wis 11, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Immunities, infravision (60 ft.), undead traits, vulnerability to fire and holy water, weapon resistance
XP: 3000
Mummies are embalmed corpses usually found wrapped in tattered
linen strips. A mummy generally stands as tall as it did in life, and
retains some semblance of its former shape. In undeath, they all enjoy
a profoundly powerful slam regardless of size or former Strength.
Mummies can speak at least one language it knew in life.
Combat: Mummies hate all living things and will attack on sight.
They employ their slam attack liberally, and attempt, at least once per
encounter, to inflict its disease on at least one living creature. Creatures that die from a mummys slam attack immediately rot to dust
and can never be raised unless the ashes are first cured of the disease.
Fear: The mere sight of a mummy is enough to shake a person to his
core. An Exceptional (TC 20) Will saving throw is required and a
failed save results in paralyzing fear for 1d4 rounds. A +1 bonus to
this save can be conferred if the subject is a member of a group attacking the mummy together.
Immunities: Mummies are immune to cold and any sleep-based,
charm-based, or hold spells.
Rotting Touch: A mummys touch spreads a disease that rots the
victim, draining 2 points of Charisma each month, for six months.
The subject dies upon reaching 0 Charisma, but will die after the
sixth month, regardless. A subject dying of this rot rises as a mummy,
unless completely burned beforehand.
Undead Traits: As an undead creature, the mummy is immune to
all effects relying on a working physiology, such as poison or disease.
Undead creatures are harmed by cure wounds spells and healed by
inflict wounds spells.
Vulnerability to Fire and Holy Water: The touch of normal fire
deals 1d3 points of damage and any flaming weapons or magical fire
effects deal an additional +1 damage per die. Alchemists fire or other

94

fire-based grenade weapons deal 1d8 points of damage and double

that each round if the mummy catches fire. Holy water splashed or
thrown at a mummy deals 2d4 points of damage.
Weapon Resistance: Only magical weapons deal damage to a
mummy, and still only deal half-damage (rounded down).
In the World: Found in most any environment, but most often in
desert and subterranean regions, mummies are reanimated human
corpses that were preserved using specialized embalming processes
which, unlike the foul stench of most undead, leave the mummy
smelling of strong, unguents and spices. Regardless of the source of
reanimation, whether dark magic or through the strength of will,
mummies are horrifically strong, fearless undead monstrosities that
kill without compunction or mercy.
Mummies usually inhabit dark crypts inside ancient ruins or pyramids, their tombs a labyrnthian series of chambers filled with all
manner of mostly mundane treasures and relics, many of which had
special significance for the deceased; these include such things as bodies of dead pets, favorite mementos, and even slaves and close family
members who are also buried with the deceased.
Ecology: Mummies are created by immersing the corpse in preserving solution (usually carbonate of soda) for several weeks and covering the corpse in select spices and unguents. The corpses organs are
removed and placed in urns and sealed jars inside the burial chamber.
Mummies are undead monstrosities that exist outside the natural
order; they have no natural enemies. They exist to protect their treasures and woe to any who would intrude upon their demesne to loot
or plunder, for the mummy is not a forgiving sort.

Naga, Dark
Hit Dice: 9 (9d8 hp)
AC: 17
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +9, Will +11

Attacks: 2/1; Bite +9 (1d4) and stinger +9 (2d4 plus poison); or 2/1;
bite +9 (1d4) and spell
Special Attacks: Expeditious spells, poisonous tail sting
Size: L (12 ft. long)
Movement: 40 ft.
Alignment: LE
Morale: 15
Appearing: Solitary or pair
Treasure: OL: S,T or W
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day
Terrain: Any non-arctic
Str 12, Dex 12, Con 11, Int 16, Wis 11, Cha 12
Special Qualities: Detect thoughts, infravision (60 ft.), immunity to
acid and poison, shielded mind
XP: 4000
The dark naga is a magical creature that has the face of an attractive
human and the body of a Large snake but with less pronounced scales.
Its tail ends in a long sharp stinger. Dark nagas are either deep purple,
midnight blue or black in color.
They are evil creatures and often ally themselves with a powerful being
or spellcaster that seeks to advance a similarly nefarious scheme. When
not so aligned, dark nagas often recede to a secret tower or underground keep where they conduct extensive experiments in spellcraft.
Dark nagas prefer to speak draconic and common, but any individual
dark naga may know up to three additional languages.
Combat: Dark nagas are smart. They believe in their ability to save
against magic so they tend to focus on quickly destroying powerful
martial opponents first. This is easiest to achieve by using a few stinger
attacks at one or two mighty foes. They always attack twice and they
will take advantage of their unique expeditious spells ability to attack
with both a bite and a spell in the same round.
Detect Thoughts: Dark nagas can use the arcane spell detect thoughts
at will and as a non-action.
Expeditious Spells: Dark nagas learn and cast a number of arcane
spells equal to that of a 6th-level wizard and receive bonus spells based
on their Intelligence. A dark naga with a 16 Intelligence may prepare
and cast seven 1st-level, four 2nd-level and two 3rd-level spells (7/4/2)
per day.
Dark nagas remove all unnecessary incantations and tailor the spell
casting to a minimum. As a result, they cast spells in a way that resembles the activation of a spell-like ability. This allows them to attack
and cast a spell in the same round; however, they are limited to only a
bite attack in the same round they cast.

Immunity to Acid and Poison: Dark nagas are immune to all known
acids and poisons, (natural or magical).
Poisonous Tail Sting: Victims struck by the dark nagas tail stinger
must succeed on a Superior (TC 15) Fortitude save or fall unconscious
at the beginning of the next round. This poison is a Type II poison and
its effects last for 1 hour. Only an antitoxin or magical neutralization
can awaken the victim.
Shielded Mind: Dark nagas are immune to detect thoughts.
In the World: Dark nagas are loners by nature and dwell on land in
any non-arctic environment, preferring rocky locales including subterranean caverns or ruins. Their trap-laden lairs typically have multiple
entry and exit points, with at least one choke point within where the
dark naga can limit the number of attackers it must face at once in
melee combat, if direct confrontation occurs.
Dark nagas often are found consorting with other evil races, including
orcs, dark elves, and hobgoblins, acting as sergeants or as magical support in any military units.
Ecology: Dark nagas, although solitary, do occasionally form larger
family units of 2-3 dark naga. Dark nagas are hermaphrodites and
birth occurs within a few months after fertilization, producing a writhing mass of worm-like offspring, which are then abandoned to fend for
themselves. The young appear as giant snakes until reaching maturity,
when their human-like head emerges after a painful molting process.
Dark naga diets consist of virtually anything, living or dead, except
other dark naga. Although omnivores, they prefer meat, and the fresher the better!

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Naga, Dark
Dark nagas do not hold to any particular religious or other belief system. They adapt to whatever allied group they are associated with at
the time. Universally, however, their motives are always self-serving
and usually consist of whatever it takes to increase their personal power, whether through the accumulation of new arcane artifacts or spells
to increasing their influence with whatever group with which they are
allied.
Whenever they find new arcane paraphernalia, they swallow such
items, storing them in a thick, rubbery bag-like internal organ and
regurgitating the items once they return to their lair for analysis. While
these items are within the body of the dark naga, they do not radiate
magical auras of any sort and are immune from magical detection.

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Naga, Spirit
Hit Dice: 9 (9d8 hp)
AC: 16
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +9, Will +11

Attacks: 1/1; Bite +9 (1d4 plus poison)
Special Attacks: Charming gaze, poisonous bite, spells
Size: H (15 ft. long)
Movement: 40 ft.
Alignment: CE
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1d3
Treasure: OL: X
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Swamp, subtettanean
Str 13, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.)
XP: 5000
The spirit naga is a corrupt creature with the body of a Huge snake and
the head of a misshapen human female. Its body is covered in black
scales with blood-red bands that stripe it from head to tail. Their fangfilled mouths drip venom constantly and they stink of rotten flesh.
Spirit nagas speak draconic and common.
Combat: Spirit nagas meet their foes boldly so as to use their gaze attacks to best effect. Those who manage to avoid the beguiling gaze of
the naga are attacked at range with spells. The naga will use its venomous bite attack against any creatures that come into melee range.
Charming Gaze: Anyone who meets the spirit nagas gaze must make
an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save or become charmed per the charm
person spell.
Poison: The bite of a spirit naga injects a deadly Type IV poison. Anyone bitten must succeed on a Superior (TC 15) Fortitude save or die
instantly.
Spells: Spirit nagas cast spells as a 5th-level caster and receive the following spells per day: 3/2/1. These spells may be drawn from either the
arcane or divine lists.
In the World: Spirit nagas derive their name from their preference
for dwelling in battle-scarred ancient ruins, despoiled graveyards and
old-growth forests, poisonous swamps and dark subterranean caverns. They particularly like places which have been defiled, such as
desecrated temples, death sites of famous heroes, or crypts of tyrants
and despots. Territorial by nature, the spirit naga patrols an area a
quarter-square mile in diameter. They are wise and patient creatures
able to stay motionless for hours before striking suddenly at any intruders. Their lairs and adjacent areas always have a peculiar and very
identifiable odor as well as ethereal wisps of dark fog which constantly
emanate from the spirit nagas body.

These creatures are the witches of the naga race, feared and shunned
by intelligent races for their dark magics. They believe themselves to be
the recipients of some corrupt divine blessing, and demonstrate such
favor through their innate magical abilities. They are often surrounded
by various dark cult servants and potential sacrificial supplicants who
view them as conduits to their dark gods; often, these servants were
once good-hearted folk who were corrupted through the use of the
spirit nagas charming gaze ability.
Spirit naga occasionally come together in groups, somewhat akin to
the covens of hags. These dark alliances are generally short-lived, as
spirit naga are self-centered creatures who, like their dark naga cousins,
are always looking for ways to increase their personal power; betrayal
and elimination of potential competitive threats are the norm.
Ecology: Like dark nagas, spirit nagas are hermaphrodites and birth
occurs within a few months after fertilization, producing a writhing
mass of worm-like offspring, which are then abandoned to fend for
themselves. The young appear as giant snakes until reaching maturity,
when their human-like head emerges after a painful molting process.
Spirit naga diets consist of virtually anything, living or dead. Although
omnivores, they prefer meat, and the fresher the better!
Like other nagas, spirit nagas are long-lived, their lives spanning multiple generations of humans. They are extremely knowledgeable about
a variety of subjects, keep an extremely detailed oral history and are
good information sources, if they can be made to talk. They are sometimes employed as guardians of treasure troves or other artifacts.

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Nightmare
Hit Dice: 6+6 (6d8+6 hp)
AC: 24
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +6

Attacks: 3/1; 2 hooves +6 (1d6+4) and bite +6 (2d4)
Special Attacks: Flaming hooves, smoke
Size: L (6 ft. at shoulder)
Movement: 40 ft., 90 ft. (fly)
Alignment: NE
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1
Treasure: None
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Extraplannar
Str 19, Dex 12, Con 15, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 12
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), planar travel
XP: 2000
Nightmares are evil steeds from the Lower Planes that are often called
to serve as mounts for powerful evil beings. While they resemble large
war horses, they are unmistakably otherworldly, having glowing red
eyes, flaming nostrils, powerful fangs, a pitch black coat, a mane of
shadow and hooves wreathed in flame.
Nightmares do not speak, but understand common and infernal.
Combat: Nightmares are vicious opponents, attacking with both
fangs and flaming hooves. Additionally, they are surrounded with a
cloud of noxious smoke. A nightmare can fight while carrying a rider,
but the rider cannot also fight unless he or she succeeds on an Average
(TC 10) Ride check. The Ride check pertains to either the land-based
or aerial proficiency based on whether the nightmare is flying at the
time of the attack.
Flaming Hooves: A blow from a nightmares hooves sets combustible
materials alight. Flammable objects hit by a nightmares hoof attack
must succeed on a save or catch on fire. Generally, any substance that
easily catches aflame (cloth, paper, plant-life, etc.) is weak to these
effects and must succeed on a Superior (TC 15) save, while metal or
other substances more resistant to flame are strong to these effects and
are required to succeed on a Basic (TC 5) save.
Planar Travel: The nightmare can enter and travel through the astral
and ethereal planes at will, taking a rider with it if it wishes.
Smoke: During battle, a nightmare snorts and neighs with rage. This
snorting creates a cloud around the beast of a hot, sulfurous smoke that
chokes and blinds opponents. Anyone within 10 feet of the nightmare
suffers a -2 penalty on all attack and damage rolls until 1d6 rounds
after leaving the cloud.
In the World: Nightmares are very intelligent beasts from the Lower
Planes, often willingly serving as mounts to many evil lower planar
denizens. They do have a strong will, however, and riders must be

98

alert, as a nightmare may decide to follow its own agenda instead of its
riders with little to no notice!
Nightmares are also often summoned by evil spellcasters to serve as
steeds on the Material Plane, either for themselves or for the evil tyrants they serve. Through the use of complex spells (including mount,
monster summoning III, and obscuring fog), rituals, and a specific
offering (200 gp worth of platinum oat flakes), the summoner may
call forth a nightmare. Whoever feeds the offering of platinum oats
to the creature will be its master for no more than 72 hours. Lower
Plane denizens need not perform the complex ritual to summon the
nightmare, although what price they pay for the creatures service is
unknown.
Ecology: Nightmares are the wild and roaming steeds of the Lower
Planes, used by all manner of evil masters to serve steadfastly in dread
missions of evil and depravity. Although similar in form to the horses
of the Material Plane, they are of no relation. Why the infernal spirit
chooses the form of a demonic horse as its form is unknown. Nightmares can often be found in the presence of extremely powerful evil
spellcasters and other dark forces on the Material Plane.
Nightmares have a habit of devouring fallen foes, leading many to
believe that they are carnivorous when it suits them, although it is
known that they require neither food nor air for sustenance to survive.
Their infernal strength is likely gained through their constant service
towards evil and its own ends.

Octopus, Giant
Hit Dice: 8 (8d8 hp)
AC: 13
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +7

Attacks: 6/1; 6 tentacles +8 (1d4+5 plus grapple)
Special Attacks: Attach, grapple, ink cloud
Size: L (12 ft. long body)
Movement: 20 ft., 30 ft. (swim)
Alignment: N
Morale: 13
Appearing: Solitary or pair
Treasure: OL: R
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Aquatic (salt water)
Str 20, Dex 11, Con 18, Int 1, Wis 11, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Camouflage, low-light vision (60 ft.)
XP: 2000
The giant octopus has haunted seafarers for centuries. The annals of
shipping history account for many lost ships and stolen deck hands.
In many of these tragedies, a giant octopus is to blame. These wicked
creatures live to strip large vessels of their needed help, to torment
swimmers and to swallow small ships whole.
A giant octopus body is 12 feet long and 6 feet wide, weighing as
much as 110 pounds. Each of its eight tentacles can reach 15 feet.
Some specimens have been known to grow as large as 30 feet across
and weigh more than 600 pounds.
Combat: A giant octopus will camouflage itself to appear like the surrounding water conditions. This allows them a vantage onto a ship to
attack. It will attach itself with two of its eight tentacles and begin to
attack with its remaining six tentacles (also known as arms). If more
than four of its tentacles are severed, or the beast is brought to below
10 hit points, it will flee into the water, where it will use its ink cloud
to ensure a safe retreat.
Attach: As a full-round action, the giant octopus can stealthily attach
to a structure, such as a boat, with two of its six tentacles. Thereafter,
it requires no actions to maintain the attachment.
Camouflage: The pigmentation on the giant octopus can almost perfectly reflect its surrounding. Someone passively or actively looking in
the direction of a camouflaged giant octopus can notice it only on an
Exceptional (TC 20) Wisdom check.

Ink Cloud: If the rear of its body is underwater, the giant octopus can
excrete a cloud of ink that grows in 1 round to a 100 foot radius and
completely obscures vision. It provides the octopus 100% concealment. Only one ink cloud can be secreted per hour.
In the World: Giant octopi are relatively solitary creatures, dwelling
in warm waters of medium to shallow depths and they often lair in
undersea caverns and wrecked ships. They are patient hunters, often
waiting motionless camouflaged against the terrain and waiting for
prey to come within reach. They produce secretions which are venomous to smaller prey such as crabs and lobsters, but generally non-toxic
to humans and humanoids.
Ecology: Giant octopi mate every spring, laying their eggs in the
protection of the reefs; females tend fastidiously to the eggs during a
month-long brooding period, after which young hatch and must fend
for themselves. They live to be about 4 years old, with both males and
females dying soon after breeding.
These nocturnal hunters subsist primarily on shrimp, clams, lobsters,
and fish, but have been known to attack sharks and the occasional sailor! They are highly intelligent creatures and can master simple tasks,
such as mimicking other octopi and opening screw-top jars. Their
suckers are extremely sensitive to touch and can differentiate among
objects of varying size and geometry.

Grapple: Any successful tentacle slap requires an immediate Average

(TC 10) Strength check or the victim of the slap becomes grappled by
the tentacle and its powerful suction cups. The grapple can be maintained by the octopus as a non-action each round and it deals 1d4
points of damage to the grappled victim. The victim must then succeed on an Exceptional (TC 20) Strength check to break free thereafter. In any round in which a victim is grappled, the victim cannot
attack or cast spells.

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Ogre
Hit Dice: 4+1 (4d8+1 hp)
AC: 15
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +5

Attacks: 1/1; Slam +4 (1d10+3) or greatclub +4 (1d10+3)
Special Attacks: None
Size: L (9 ft. tall)
Movement: 40 ft.
Alignment: CE
Morale: 11
Appearing: 2d10-1
Treasure: L: B; OL: M
Frequency: Common
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any land
Str 18, Dex 9, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 8
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.)
XP: 270
Ogres are big, strong brutes that bash their foes with blunt force trauma. Most are controlled by a more intelligent (and nefarious) mind,
but ogres are known to roam the wilderness in search of food and
shelter so it is not entirely rare to wander into a roaming ogre. They are
known to associate with giants and trolls and serve as mercenaries in
the employ of evil clerics, dastardly wizards, orcs and gnolls. They are 9
feet tall, weigh 500 pounds, and have mangled humanoid features.
Ogres speak Giant and some speak common as well, with a few of the
brighter ones actually speaking troll and gnoll.
Combat: Ogres fight in response to a command or instincts. They
need to eat and do fear death, so they attack anything that appears to
be a meal or an intruder. Most ogres, although dull by any measure,
understand how to fight. They club or slam the largest opponents,
moving about the field to avoid being surrounded. Ogres flee if they
feel death is imminent. The problem is that most ogres dont realize
they will lose a fight until they have already lost.
In the World: On their own, ogres are tribal creatures, living in varied
environments ranging from deep subterranean caves to high mountainous terrain and surviving by raiding and pillaging. Their tribes
generally contain 5d4 males, 2d6 females (fight as males, Hit Dice
4d6, 2d4+3 hit points damage with slam or club), and 2d4 young (Hit
Dice, damage, and attack rolls of a goblin). Some tribes also contain
a shaman (3rd-level cleric; spheres (major access): combat, divination,
healing, protection, sun (darkness only)), who serves as spiritual leader
of the tribe and advisor to the tribal chieftain. Tribes of 11 or more
usually contain a leader (7 Hit Dice [7d8+1 hp], AC 16, +5 to hit
with slam or great club, doing 2d6+3 hp damage), while those of 16 or
more will have 2 leaders and a chieftain (7 Hit Dice [7d8+1 hp], AC
18, +6 to hit with slam or great club, doing 2d6+6 hp damage).
Ecology: The rare ogre which does not die an early, violent death typically lives for about 90 years. They are scavengers and will eat virtually
anything they can find; they are particularly fond of dwarf, elf, and
halfling flesh and will eat them if given the chance (10% chance that

100

any of these races are found in any prisoner population). An ogre den
has a 30% chance of containing 2d4 slaves. When captured, prisoners
are most likely to be eaten (75% chance), but are occasionally taken
as slaves (25% chance). Any treasures possessed by their victims are
likely to become a source of contention, as ogres are notorious for their
avarice and general untrustworthy nature.
Variant Ogres:
Ogre Mage
Hit Dice: 5+2 (5d8+2 hp)
AC: 16
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +9
Attacks: 1/1; Slam +5 (1d10+2)
Special Attacks: Spells
Size: L (10 1/2 ft. tall)
Movement: 40 ft.
Alignment: LE
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1d6
Treasure: L: G
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any land
Str 17, Dex 10, Con 15, Int 16, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.), regeneration
XP: 650
The ogre mage is a more intelligent and dangerous variety of ogre and
is sometimes found leading a band of standard ogres. An ogre mage
stands about 10 1/2 feet tall and weighs up to 700 pounds. Its skin var-

Ogre
ies in color from light green to light blue. Most have reddish colored
eyes, two horns, thick tusks, sharp black nails and long dark hair. Ogre
mages favor loose, comfortable clothing and lightweight armor.
These beings, given their physiology, may have some link in the distant
past to trolls. Their society, similar to standard ogres, is patriarchal and
dominated by the stronger ruling the weaker. It is common for elder
sons, once reaching maturity (not a given, in this society where infanticide is an accepted practice to rule out competition), to track down
and slay their fathers, thereby obtaining their wealth and social status.
Other than their clan members, ogre mages generally do not associate
with each other.
Ogre mages speak giant and common.
Combat: Ogre mages rely on their spells, resorting to physical combat
only when necessary. When faced with obviously superior forces, they
prefer to retreat using gaseous form rather than fight a losing battle.
Regeneration: Ogre mages regenerate 1 hit point per round. Damage
from fire and acid cannot be regenerated.
An ogre mage that loses a limb or body part can reattach it by holding the severed member to the stump. Reattachment takes 1 minute.
If the head or some other vital organ is severed, it must be reattached
within 10 minutes or the creature dies. An ogre mage cannot regrow
lost body parts.
Spells: Ogre mages may cast the following spells at will as a 9th-level
caster: darkness, fly (for a total of 2 hours per day), invisibility, and
change self (humanoid forms only); once per day they may cast the
following spells, also as a 9th-level caster: charm person, cone of cold,
gaseous form, and sleep.

101

Orc
Hit Dice: 1 (1d8 hp)
AC: 13 (studded leather)
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +4

Attacks: 1/1; Longsword +1 (1d8), or shortsword +1 (1d6), or spear
+1 (1d6), or shortbow +1 (1d6)
Special Attacks: None
Size: M (6 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: LE
Morale: 12
Appearing: 3d4+1 (band), 3d100x10 (tribe)
Treasure: L: C; OL: L or Q
Frequency: Common
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any
Str 13, Dex 10, Con 10, Int 9, Wis 9, Cha 9
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), scent (20 ft.)
XP: 15
Orcs live in the dark and filthy holes segregated into marausding tribes
or family clans. If congregated in massive numbers by a motivated
and intelligent leader, orcs can pose a very dangerous threat. Generally
orcs resemble normal humans with green-grey mottled skin covered
in coarse hair, stand 5-6 feet tall, weigh 210 pounds, have oversized
tusked canine teeth with which to tear the flesh they eat as carnivores,
and have short and pointed ears resembling a wolf s.
Orcs speak their own language, although there are many tribal dialects,
and most speak common as well.
Combat: Orc combat tactics vary with the tribe and individual. Orcs
do not have a firm grasp of tactical battle, often simply surrounding
an obviously powerful foe and moving around to gain an advantage.
One tactic common to all orcs is the ability to whip themselves into a
battle frenzy where they allow their more bestial side to emerge, combining ferocity and often sheer numbers to take down opponents.
Frenzy: Once per day as a primary action, an orc may enter into a
powerful but reckless frenzy that lasts no more than 10 consecutive
rounds. The orc suffers a -2 penalty to AC, but gains a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls. Exiting the frenzy early is a full round action.
In the World: Orcs live in massive tribes ranging from 100-20,000
individuals which lair in subterranean depths 75% of the time and in
the surface wilds 25% of the time.
Orc tribal societal structure is based on rule of the strong. For every
3 orcs in a group, there will be an additional leader and 3 assistants
(8 hit points each), for a total of 7 in a group. For every 150 orcs in a
group, there will be a sub-chief and 3 guards (AC 14, 11 hit points, +1
damage on attacks). For every 100 orcs in a group, there will be either
a shaman (maximum 5th-level cleric) or a witch doctor (maximum
4th-level wizard); these spellcasters each have +1d4 hit points per Hit
Die after the first and fight as a creature of 1 Hit Die per 2 caster levels
(round up) (e.g., a 5th-level shaman has 1d8+4d4 hit points and is a

102

3 Hit Dice creature). Additionally, when encountered in their lairs,

villages, or cities, there will also be a chief and 5d6 bodyguards (AC
16, 13-16 hit points, attack as 3 HD creatures, +1 damage on attacks).
Also, if the lair is subterranea, there is a 50% chance that 1d4+1 ogres
are also present for every 200 orcs; if located above ground, there will
be 1 ballista and 1 catapult present for every 100 adult male orcs.
Orcs are consummate slavers, subjugating foes defeated during raids.
When a raiding party is encountered, there is a 20% chance they will
be escorting a convoy back to their lair consisting of 1d6 carts laden
with goods obtained in their raids as well as 6d10 slaves. The total sum
of treasure in such caravans usually ranges between 10-1,000 silver
pieces and goods worth 5-30 silver pieces per slave. If a convoy is present, there will be twice the usual number of leaders and assistants plus
10 orcs per cart; there are always a sub-chief and 5d6 guards present.
Ecology: Orcs are a patriarchal society and value territory foremost,
followed by experience in battle, wealth, and number of offspring.
Females are relegated to breeding and nursing duties. Orcs are also
famous for interbreeding with female humans, producing half-orcs.
These half-orcs are often accepted by the tribes and become tactical
leaders, due to their enhanced intelligence. Females gestate for 10
months and birth 2-3 offspring. Infant mortality rates are very high,
giving orcs with many progeny high accolades. Lifespans average
around 40 years; most males die violently in battle prior to this age.
Orcs are strict carnivores whose diets consist of mostly game meats,
though they will feast on other humanoids if needed.
Orcs have no natural enemies, but have created an enmity throughout
the land due to raiding. Orcs are skilled miners and weaponsmiths.
Orcish religion centers on worship of a multitude of violent and bestial gods; the main god appears as a giant, single-eyed orc. Worship
promotes violence and expansionism through battle and is very xenophobic in nature.

Otyugh
Hit Dice: 6 (6d8 hp)
AC: 17
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +6

Attacks: 3/1; 2 tentacles +6 (1d8) and bite +6 (1d4+1)
Special Attacks: Disease, grapple
Size: M (6-7 ft. diameter)
Movement: 20 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1-2
Treasure: OL: Q
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Subterranean
Str 11, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 9
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), never surprised, scent (20 ft.)
XP: 650
Otyughs are foul creatures that feed off the filth of other beings. They
are often found in waste pits and refuse piles. Otyughs have no discernible head; their bodies consist of a large, thickly armored torso
supported by three stocky legs. At the center of their mass is a large,
fang-filled maw. Two thorny tentacles extend out from the side of the
beast which it uses to grapple and crush prey. A third tentacle extends
from the top of the otyugh and serves as an eye stalk for the creatures
three eyes. Otyughs are typically covered in filth and reek of rot and
decay.
Otyughs speak their own language and also possess a limited form of
telepathy that allows them to communicate with other creatures.
Combat: Although generally content to feed on waste material, an otyugh will attack a living creature if it is hungry enough or feels threatened. Otyughs use their two tentacles to attack foes, generally attempting to grapple prey so that they can drag it into their mouths.
Disease: The bite of an otyugh is 90% likely to infect a victim with
a disease. 80% of the time this is merely a Type I debilitating disease
that lasts for 1d4 days and imposes a -2 penalty on all d20 rolls. 20%
of the time it is Type IV fatal disease that immobilizes the subject for
2d4 days and kills the subject on the last day. One successful Superior
(TC 15) Fortitude save each day for two consecutive days cures either
disease type.
Grapple: An otyugh may attempt to grapple any opponent struck by
one of its tentacles as a non-action. If the otyugh is successful, the
opponent automatically takes tentacle damage each round and the otyugh gains a +2 on attack rolls with its bite attack against a grappled
opponent.
In the World: Otyughs dwell in subterranean dungeons and ruins,
feeding off the offal and waste of its denizens. They will even make
non-aggression pacts and even agree to act as defenders of territory
with local denizens in order to secure access to their excrement. It is

possible to even persuade an otyugh to not attack in exchange for food

and promises of friendship.
Otyugh communicate using a limited form of telepathy up to a range
of 40 feet away. This is basic communication, limited to empathic
sensing of hunger, temperature, comfort or discomfort, dislike of
bright lights, and imminent death to its prey.
Otyugh corpses have no value, even to spellcasters, who would never
want to touch such a foul and disease-ridden hunk of flesh.
Ecology: Despising bright light and requiring the waste products of
animals and other creatures to survive, otyughs (also known as gulguthra, or Dung-Eaters) often make their homes in the secure environs of subterranean dungeons.
They are solitary creatures, only pairing up during mating season (10%
chance of encountering 2 otyughs in the lair at this time). Mating
season occurs during 1 month each year (although otyugh only mate
once every 7 years or so) and such pairings always produces a quivering, jelly-like eggmass; the parent otyugh then burrows underground
until it reaches another of its kind, where it then deposits this eggmass
to be fertilized by the other otyugh (an otyugh cannot fertilize its own
eggmass). In 1 week, if left undisturbed, the fertilized eggmass produces a singular offspring, which matures rapidly over a 4 month span.
While immature, they are capable of defending themselves (3-5 HD, 2
tentacles, +2 attack, 1d6 damage; 1 bite, +2 attack, 1d2 damage).
Obviously, an otyughs main diet source is the waste from living creatures, although it can eat fresh meat as readily as it does carrion and
offal and has been known to attack parties of three or less readily.
They are virtually never surprised by creatures intruding upon their
domain; those that choose to fight them soon realize the innate physical strength of these creatures they are not to be trifled with nor
attacked alone!

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Owlbear
Hit Dice: 5+2 (5d8+2 hp)
AC: 15
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +5

Attacks: 3/1; 2 claws +5 (1d6+3) and bite +5 (1d8)
Special Attacks: Hug
Size: L (8 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: 12
Appearing: 1 or 2
Treasure: L: C
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Temperate forests
Str 17, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 9
Special Qualities: Low-light vision (60 ft.), scent (30 ft.)
XP: 420
Owlbears look exactly like their name suggests they do a cross
between a bear and an owl. An owlbears coat ranges in color from
brown-black to yellowish brown; its beak is a dull ivory to yellow color.
A full-grown male stands 8 feet and weighs up to 1,500 pounds. A
bestial madness is evidenced in its red-rimmed eyes. It is clear from
looking at it that this creature is the product of bizarre magical experimentation.
Owlbears live in the deep temperate forests of the realms, far from
civilization. They speak their own strange squeaky language.
Combat: Owlbears are vicious creatures. They attack without provocation and without reason or pattern. If encountered in the wilderness,
there is an 80% chance an owlbear will be accompanied by its mate. If
encountered in its lair, there is a 40% chance that 1d6 eggs are near to
hatching or have recently spawned young.
Hug: Once an owlbear succeeds in landing a well-placed claw attack, it
will attempt to hug the target. This hug is a non-action and deals 2d6
points of damage. The owlbear will then commence with its round of
attacks.
In the World: Owlbears dwell in temperate climates, inhabiting oldgrowth forests, subterranean depths (where they have generally been
placed by powerful wizards to guard items of importance), and shallow
caves. They often mark their territory by clawing at trees, rocks, and
other terrain features; this also serves to keep their claws razor sharp!
Owlbear territories extend 1-2 square miles and they are extremely
territorial.
Owlbears are large creatures; due to their bulk, they do not make
terrific climbers. If an owlbears prey can gain high ground in a tree
or other area they may gain some semblance of safety, although the
owlbear is typically tenacious enough to wait the target out or just
proceed to knock over the tree, if it is strong enough! Their tenacity
and strength are their greatest assets, but also their greatest weaknesses.

104

Tricking them in combat into doing something detrimental, such as

goading them into charging into a trap or off a cliff is not difficult.
Ecology: The lifespan of these creatures is around 20 years and they
mate for life. Although mammals, they are monotremes and their eggs
are nearly perfectly spherical in shape. Young owlbear cubs are carnivores from their hatching and are fed a diet of raw meat by the mother.
They are raised by the mother for the first 2 years of life, after which
they leave the nest and establish their own territory. Any offspring
encountered with the mated pair will be 40-70% grown (3-4 HD,
respectively). Immature owlbears have the following attacks and damage: Attacks: (3/1): 2 claws +3 (1d4) and bite +3 (1d6).
An owlbear is mostly a carnivorous beast, feeding on prey ranging
from rabbits to snakes to trolls and bears. It tears its food into large
chunks and devours it whole. It then regurgitates pellets of indigestible
pieces, such as bones, feathers, fur, and insect chitinous shells; presence
of these pellets around an owlbears lair is a good sign of its presence.
The sole exception to its diet of meat is the consumption of honey, the
harvesting of which its physiology is well-adapted for pursuing; it has
a thick fur and feathered coat, has the long tongue of a bear, and sharp
claws to tear into trees to reach large and hard-to-reach bees nests.
Being such a unique magical hybrid, the owlbear has some interesting
physiological adaptations. The owlbears eyes are fixed in its head, but
similar to an owl it can rotate its head a full 270 degrees rapidly; this
feature allows it to be able to quickly watch many areas around it at
once. In addition, its sense of hearing in unparalleled and it is a difficult creature to surprise. It also maintains the ability to rotate its forearms, which allows it to not only grasp its prey in tight hugs and crush
it, but also to slash with its claws to deadly effect. The owlbear also
has a nictitating membrane it can flip across its eyes at will, providing
protection to its sensitive eyes from dust, grit, and other irritants; this
membrane also protects its eyes from strong light and light spells are
ineffectual as blinding attacks.

Pegasus
Hit Dice: 4 (4d8 hp)
AC: 14
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +5

Attacks: 3/1; 2 hooves +4 (1d8+4) and bite +4 (1d3+4)
Special Attacks: Dive, rear kick
Size: L (5 1/2 ft. at shoulder)
Movement: 60 ft., 120 ft. (fly)
Alignment: CG
Morale: 11
Appearing: 1d10
Treasure: None
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day
Terrain: Any non-arctic forest
Str 19, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 14
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.), scent
(30 ft.)
XP: 175
The pegasus is a magnificent winged horse that will sometimes serve as
a steed for heroes dedicated to the cause of good. The typical pegasus
has an ivory white coat of fur and stands over 5 feet tall at the shoulder
and can weigh as much as 1,500 pounds. When fully extended, the
pegasus wings stretch 20 feet from wing tip to wing tip.
Pegasi cannot speak, but they understand common.
Combat: Like a horse, a pegasus will attack with its two front hooves
and bite with its mouth. Pegasi are intelligent creatures and will use
their ability to fly to their advantage, making diving attacks against
opponents on the ground.
Dive: A pegasus can make a dive attack if it is at least 50 feet above
its opponents. When doing so the pegasus can attack with both front
hooves, gaining a +2 to its attacks and inflicting double damage.
Rear Kick: A pegasus can attack an opponent directly behind it with
its two rear hooves, each inflicting 2d6 points of damage. It cannot use
its other attacks when doing so.
In the World: Pegasi live in temperate to warm plains areas. They are
generally found in mated pairs or in herds consisting of 6-10 pegasi.
Most of them are white in color, although rare ones are hatched with
more conventional horse markings.
Though highly prized as aerial steeds, pegasi are wild and shy creatures not easily tamed (Exceptional (TC 20) Animal Handling check
required, plus other requirements as determined by the GM); should
someone try to forcibly tame a pegasus, the creature can become
violent. They are as intelligent as humans and will agree to serve as
mounts, however, to those of good intentions and temperament who
are able to successfully negotiate using favors, good deeds, and good
diplomatic skill. Riding a pegasus, and potentially fighting while
mounted, requires the Riding (Air-Based) skill. As long as its master

maintains good-aligned intentions and temperament, a tamed pegasus

will obey its commands.
Pegasi can detect good and detect evil at will at a range of 60 yards.
This ability is used most often to assess those who try to ride them.
They will not hesitate to attack those whom they determine are evil.
Ecology: Despite their horse-like appearance, pegasi are monotremes
and lay eggs; on the open market a single pegasus egg can fetch as
much as 3000 silver pieces, while a freshly hatched young pegasus can
be worth as much as 5000 silver pieces. Pegasi mate for life and for every pair of pegasi found in the wild, there will likely be 1-2 eggs (30%
chance) or young (70% chance) present as well. The lifespan of pegasi
is around 40 years of age.
Similar to their land-bound equivalents, pegasi are herbivores and
their diets consist of various grasses, fruits, and other plant life. They
can often be found grazing on the wide-open plains where they make
their homes, similar to their land-based equivalents.
Pegasi are natural enemies of griffons and hippogriffs and will attack
them on site.
Pegasi Variations: Greater pegasi are rare creatures indeed. According
to myth, these creatures are spawned fully-formed and mature when a
medusa is slain and beheaded (5% chance). They have the same game
statistics as a common pegasus, but are treated as 6 HD creatures,
have 20% magic resistance, have a Morale of 12, and a lifespan of 100
years. If a herd of pegasi is encountered, there is a 5% chance that it
is led by a greater pegasus. Greater pegasi can only be tamed by paragons of good and great heroes (Legendary (TC 25) Animal Handling
check required, plus must be determined to be a hero and champion
of good).

105

Pit Fiend
Hit Dice: 13 (13 d8)
AC: 25
Saves: Fort +19, Ref +19, Will +21

Attacks: 6/1; 2 wing buffet +25 (1d4), 2 claws +25 (1d6+10), bite +25
(2d12 plus poison and disease), and tail swipe +25 (2d8); or 6/1; 2
wing buffet +25 (1d4), 1 claw +25 (1d6+10), bite +25 (2d12 plus poison and disease), tail swipe +25 (2d8), and spiked club +25 (3d4+10)
Special Attacks: Fear aura, poisoned and diseased bite, spell-like abilities. tail constriction, weapon immunity
Size: H (14 ft. tall)
Movement: 50 ft., 80 ft. (fly)
Alignment: LE
Morale: Not applicable
Appearing: 1d4
Treasure: L: G; OL: W
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: The Lower Planes
Str 25, Dex 25, Con 25, Int 25, Wis 25, Cha 25
Special Qualities: Immunities, regeneration, weapon immunity
XP: 57500
Pit fiends are gigantic, winged humanoid infernals reminiscent of
the stereotypical gargoyle in appearance. They have overly large fangs
which protrude from their upper mandibles, constantly dripping with
a viscous, vile green substance. Their bodies are crimson in color, covered in fine, almost reptilian-like scales, and often exude flames when
the pit fiend is excited or angered. They stand over 14 feet tall, with
wingspans exceeding 20 feet and weigh in excess of 1,000 pounds.
They are diabolically intelligent and physically indomitable creatures,
capable of wielding immense power and controlling massive armies of
infernals in the quest to subjugate those lesser than themselves.
Pit fiends have the ability to telepathically communicate with any intelligent life, regardless of language. In addition, they speak Infernal,
although only when not able to communicate so telepathically.
Combat: Pit fiends prefer to attack with their natural weapons if engaged in close combat, or with their spell-like abilities for those they
cant engage directly. They may attack 6 times in a single round against
up to 6 different opponents in melee.
Fear Aura: Anyone within a 20-foot radius must succeed on an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save or become panicked for 1-10 rounds, which
causes the subjects to flee from the pit fiend.
Immunities: Pit fiends are immune to fire, damage from non-magical
iron weapons, and all poisons. Pit fiends take only half damage from
cold, gaseous attacks, and silver weapons.
Poisoned and Diseased Bite: Those bitten by a pit fiend must succeed
on a Superior (TC 15) Fortitude save or die instantly from the poison.
Those that survive must also make a Superior (TC) Fortitude save or
contract the devils chills [Type IV disease; Superior (TC 15) Fortitude

106

save; onset is immediate; frequency is 1/day; effect is 1d4 Str loss and
subject is fatigued; cure is 2 consecutive saves].
Regeneration: Pit fiends regenerate 2 hit points per round.
Spell-like Abilities: Pit fiends have the ability to cast the following
spells at will as spell-like abilities: advanced illusionary image, animate
dead, charm person, detect alignment (always active), detect magic, fireball, hold person, improved invisibility, pyrotechnics, shape change, suggestion, teleport without error, true seeing, and wall of fire. Once per day, a
pit fiend can cast symbol of power (pain). Once per year they can cast
a wish spell.
Tail Constriction: After the completion of a successful bite attack, the
pit fiend receives a free standard attack to try and coil its tail around
its victim. If successful, the pit fiends tail constricts its prey for 2d4
points of damage per round until the victim makes a successful opposed Strength check to break free.
Weapon Immunity: Pit fiends cannot be harmed by any weapon with
less than a +3 magical enchantment.
In the World: These horrific creatures are the lords of the Lower
Planes. Wherever they are found, they wield tremendous authority
and power, usually command vast legions of infernal armies, and can
be found leading these forces into battles against rival lords. Such is the
terrifying nature of these large armies and the power of their pit lord
leader that any non-native of the Lower Planes of less than 10 Hit Dice
who views these monstrous legions automatically flees in panic for 1d4
days; non-native creatures of 10 Hit Dice or greater must make an
Exceptional (TC 20) Will save or flee in panic for 1d12 turns.

Pit Fiend
Pit fiends are strict masters, almost obsessive in their obedience and
belief in their superiority to rule those lesser than themselves.
Ecology: Pit fiends are raised to their status from the lower ranks of
infernals directly by the archdukes of the Lower Planes themselves.
They are the generals and commanders of many infernal legions, directing the balors and other such infernals in warfare across the Lower
Planes and beyond. Although bound the service by the hierarchies of
the infernals and others of their kind, pit fiends will not hesitate to
overthrow their masters if they find weakness of any kind.
Only the strongest and most powerful spellcasters may summon a pit
fiend. They respond to such summons quickly and with great fanfare, flames spewing around their physical forms and their attitude
full of rage and belligerence. They are duty-bound to obey those that
are strong enough to summon them and survive, but always look to
further corrupt and damn the souls of those that it serves, thereby
swelling the ranks of lower-level infernals. They are immortal and extremely intelligent, with the patience and confidence of those who
know that even the most stalwart soul will ultimately fall to ruin given
enough time.

107

Purple Worm
Hit Dice: 15 (15 d8 hp)
AC: 14
Saves: Fort +17, Ref +8, Will +4

Attacks: 2/1; Bite +20 (2d12) and tail stinger +20 (2d4 plus poison)
Special Attacks: Poisonous sting, swallow whole
Size: G (8-9 ft. in diameter, 140-150 ft. long)
Movement: 20 ft., 20 ft. (burrow), 10 ft. (swim)
Alignment: N
Morale: 12
Appearing: 1
Treasure: L: B
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Subterranean
Str 25, Dex 6, Con 25, Int 1, Wis 8, Cha 8
Special Qualities: Amphibious, tremorsense (60 ft.)
XP: 13000
Purple worms are solitary creatures, living underground and constantly burrowing to eat and digest the soil from which they obtain their
nutrients. They maneuver through undulating their bodies and using
hair-like bristles which cover their skin (called setae) to pull their massive bulk along the tunnels they dig.
Combat: Purple worms attack by biting their prey and proceeding to
swallow it whole or by stinging with their poisonous tail stingers.
Amphibious: Purple worms can breathe both air and water.
Poisonous Sting: A purple worm can use its tail stinger to attack,
doing 2d4 points of damage on a hit. The purple worms stinger also
injects a lethal Type IV venom into its victim who must succeed on a
Superior (TC 15) Fortitude save or die instantly.
Swallow Whole: When attacking with a bite attack, the purple worm
swallows targets as large as a Large creature whole on a natural attack roll which exceeds the targets Armor Class by 4 or more. A swallowed creature takes 2d10 points of damage per round from the purple
worms digestive juices and grinding motions of the gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing
weapon to deal 25 points of damage to the gizzard (AC 17); however,
for each round spent in the beasts belly, the attacker suffers a cumulative -1 on both attacks and damage. Once the creature exits, muscular
action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own
way out. A gargantuan purple worms gizzard can hold 2 Large, 8 Medium, 32 Small, 128 Tiny, or 512 Diminutive victims at a time. Complete digestion takes two hours leaving no traces of victims behind.
Tremorsense: They may sense prey via vibrations in the earth at a
range up to 60 feet.
In the World: Purple worms make their lairs in large subterranean
burrows which usually only have a single entrance but the tunnel leading to it may have several diverging branches which the worms take
when they exit their lairs. This maze of tunnels, which often crisscross

108

and penetrate through existing caverns, helps protect the actual location of their nests from other burrowing creatures and subterranean
races which use their tunnels essentially as highways underground.
Treasure consumed from prey is often found in the worms droppings,
which appear as piles of wet soil and can be found surrounding and
inside their lairs. Such treasure generally consists only of items that resist the acidic nature of the worms digestive tract, such as metal items
(rings, weapons, some armors), coins, and gems (which can also be
found in the worms gizzard and are used to assist in digestion).
Ecology: Purple worms are hermaphrodites, with the female reproductive organs located further distal in the body than the male ones. Any
two purple worms can breed simultaneously as they lie next to each
other in opposite directions for several hours and fertilize each others
eggs. During their annual mating cycle, they exude a copious amount
of thick, viscous mucus which helps adheres their bodies together during the reproductive act. After fertilization, the bodies separate and
each worm returns to its own lair to deposit its eggs in a cocoon made
from this same mucus. These eggs hatch and these hatchlings then
burrow immediately into the ground, completely self-sufficient as they
leave the lair for good to burrow and digest the soil.
Purple worms breathe through specialized pores located in their skin
and they can breathe only so long as their skin remains moist and their
mucus coating remains intact. Purple worms can live in either air or
water environments equally well. When injured, a purple worm exudes
a chemical signal, referred to as a warning scent, which warns other
purple worms to avoid the location. Subterranean races oftentimes will
harvest the glands responsible for creating this secretion from immature purple worms and coat the tunnels leading to their subterranean
cities and lairs to protect them from these giant pests.
A purple worm has four eyes which face straight forwards and are centered equidistantly around the circumference of its head; the creatures
vision is therefore limited to whatever is directly in front of it and it
has no peripheral vision capability.

Rat, Giant
Hit Dice: 1/2 (1d4 hp)
AC: 13
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +3

Attacks: 1/1; Bite +0 (1d3 plus disease)
Special Attacks: Diseased bite
Size: T (2 ft. long)
Movement: 20 ft.
Alignment: N or NE
Morale: 6
Appearing: 5d10
Treasure: L: C
Frequency: Common
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Any
Str 6, Dex 12, Con 9, Int 3, Wis 10, Cha 9
Special Qualities: Fear of fire, low-light vision (60 ft.), scent (15 ft.),
swarm
XP: 15
Giant rats are vile rodents that carry disease as they feed along the
floors of underground areas, such as sewers and dungeons. They are
often black with a fat body. Their teeth are short but sharp.
Combat: Giant rats attack to feed and will attack as if attempting to
desperately feed. They are consummate swimmers and can attack with
their bite while swimming without penalty.
Diseased Bite: 5% of all injurious bites from a giant rat require a Basic
(TC 5) Fortitude save. Failure indicates that the victim contracts a
rabid disease that imposes a -2 penalty on all d20 rolls for 1d8 days. A
successful saving throw for two consecutive days cures the disease and
so too does magic.
Fear of Fire: They are afraid of fire and must make a morale check if
threatened by fire.
Swarm: A swarm of rats is treated as a single monster with defined Hit
Dice and causes damage automatically to creatures within the swarm
area every round as the victims are overtaken and the rats target all
vulnerable spots on their bodies. A typical swarm covers a 10 foot x
10 foot area, has 4 Hit Dice, and causes 4 points of damage per round
to all creatures within the swarms area. Standard melee and ranged
weapons have no visible effect on the swarm mass, although area effect spells and other attacks (such as flaming oil or flasks of acid) are
effective and do full damage to the swarm. When the swarm suffers
enough damage that it has lost all its hit points, it is considered to have
dispersed and can no longer do mass damage to creatures in the area.

Rats will usually flee any predators larger than themselves, unless they
are cornered, in which case they will fight savagely and attack in packs.
Rats generally fear fire and will avoid it unless driven by something
they fear more. They are often called to service by powerful monsters
such as wererats and vampires.
Ecology: Rats are omnivorous and live to eat and consume anything
they can find, including seeds, fruit, stems, leaves, fungi, and a variety
of invertebrates and vertebrates, often burrowing into food storage locations and causing chaos. Excellent swimmers and climbers, they can
reach virtually any location, no matter how remote or concealed.
They will nest virtually anywhere they can find that is close to food
sources, using paper, cloth, or wood to create nests. They breed 3-5
times annually, producing 4-8 pups per litter after a gestation period of
between 22-25 days and live for 2-4 years. Giant rats can reach sexual
maturity at 5 weeks of age.

In the World: Giant rats live in packs, hunting at night and scavenging for whatever scraps and carrion they can find in subterranean areas
such as dungeons and various necropolises. They are most often more
a nuisance than a true threat, unless they are driven by extreme hunger,
in which case they can generate huge swarms of furry bodies full of
ravenous gnashing teeth!

109

Rust Monster
Hit Dice: 5 (5d8 hp)
AC: 18
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +5

Attacks: 2/1; Antenna +5 (0 hp plus metal rot)
Special Attacks: Metal rot
Size: M (6-ft. long)
Movement: 40 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: 10
Appearing: 1d2
Treasure: OL: Q
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Subterranean
Str 10, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 10, Cha 9
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), metal scent (100 ft.)
XP: 270
Rust monsters are underground monsters that look like man-size rustcolored insects. They walk on four insectoid legs. They have a long
thin tail that ends in a bony T-shaped protrusion. Two long and erratic
antennae protrude out from underneath its eyes reaching up to 5 feet
from monster.
Rust monsters are not combative monsters. If a person wearing no
metal wished to walk up to one and pet the monster on the head, the
rust monster would likely let the person. If the person was wearing any
metal, even in jewelry, the rust monsters demeanor would instantly
change into a voracious beast.
Combat: Upon sensing metal, the rust monsters motive turns to the
devouring of this metal at the expense of all other concerns. It will immediately seek out the source and use its antennae to rot and later eat
the metal. The rust monster harbors no thoughts of survival or tactics;
it simply needs to eat the metal.
Metal Rot: A successful antenna attack against any source of metal
requires the object to perform a saving throw versus as if it were weak
to the effect, which requires a Superior (TC 15) roll. Any magical
items gain a bonus to the roll equal to its enchantment (non-weapon
metallic objects are treated as having a +2 enchantment for resisting
this effect). A failed roll means the object instantly turns into a pile of
rust dust. The object is obviously useless.
Metal Scent: These creatures can smell metal up to 100 feet away.
In the World: Rust monsters live in dark subterranean locations, such
as caverns and underground ruins. These creatures are solitary by nature in conditions of scarce food supply; if found in their lair, there
may be a mate as well as a slight chance (5%) of a single offspring (3
HD). However, larger colonies of rust monsters (12-40 individuals)
have been noted around particularly rich veins of ore and other large
sources of worked metals. Such larger colonies are rare, thank goodness!

110

Rust monsters are generally very passive creatures, preferring to live

their lives in search of their preferred food: metal. However, once they
sense a source of metal, they will charge and attack savagely anything
which resists its intent to devour the source of metal. They prefer iron
and ferrous alloys like steel, but will consume even mithral, adamantite, and enchanted worked metals without hesitation. Metals touched
by the creature corrode and turn to dust in seconds.
Adventurers obviously fear this creature, as by its very nature, it targets their most prized possessions: treasure and magical objects such as
swords, armors, and other accoutrements. Subterranean mining races
such as dwarves and kobolds also fear these creatures, as an infestation
of them can quickly turn a mining operation on its head, and they
therefore will hunt down with extreme prejudice any of these creatures once their presence is known. Many miners purposefully keep a
few stone or wooden implements and weapons at hand with which to
combat these creatures should they become a threat. Also, adventurers
have learned to keep disposable dense metallic items on their persons
(such as a non-magical shield or short sword) that can be thrown to an
approaching rust monster to distract it while they make their escape
from the creature, hopefully with most of their prized metal implements intact.
Ecology: Rust monsters serve a vital ecological role in removing excess
metallic clutter from subterranean caverns and ruins, in similar fashion to that which a carrion crawler serves in removing excess carrion
and organic waste in such environs. A rust monsters colony typically
consist of 3-5 adult males working in instinctual cooperation with 5-7
adult females, along with 1-6 offspring per female, depending on the
richness of the food source in the area. Adult males and non-pregnant
adult females hunt for sources of ore, bringing it back to the colony
for consumption, prioritizing the young and pregnant females before
other adults.
Rust monsters have an glandular organ called a rust sac which produces
an oxidizing residue that, rusts metallic substrates almost immediately
upon contact. This residue is dispensed throughout the rust monsters

Rust Monster
entire body via specialized ducts; thus, even the rust monsters blood
can be dangerous to metals.
With the advent of improvements in mining innovation, such as the
introduction of rail systems and carts to shuttle ore to the surface, the
presence of rust monsters has slowly been detected increasingly closer
to the surface, where construction using worked metals such as steel is
more prevalent and provides a new and ready source of nutrients for
this creature.
Although the potential for domesticated rust monsters for use in warfare and other areas of sabotage is attractive theoretically, the actual use
of such measures in war has never resulted in much success; often, the
side attempting to utilize such creatures have suffered more severely
than their opponents due to escaped rust monsters, untrained personnel, and other neglect.
Rust monsters also do not breed or thrive in captivity, in large part due
to the rust monsters unique physiology. Females utilize embryonic diapause (a state where when an embryo is fertilized, the embryo doesnt
immediately implant in the uterine wall) to essentially allow them to
dictate within a 2-year window post-fertilization when conditions are
right (i.e., when the female is healthy enough and, by extension, has
access to a ready food source) for between 1-8 fertilized embryos they
may carry to implant and gestate. Stressed females will not start gestation. Newborn offspring lack the ability to generate sufficient secretions from its own body to metabolize metals and must rely on adults
to prepare metals for consumption

111

Sahuagin
Hit Dice: 2+2 (2d8+2 hp)
AC: 15
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +4

Attacks: 3/1; 2 claws +2 (1d2) and bite +2 (1d4) or 1/1; trident +2
(1d6+1) or spear +2 (1d6)
Special Attacks: Rake
Size: M (6 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft., 60 ft. (swim)
Alignment: LE
Morale: 12
Appearing: 2d4x10
Treasure: OL: N
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Temperate aquatic
Str 12, Dex 11, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 9
Special Qualities: Blindsense (30 ft.), infravision (60 ft.)
XP: 175
Sahuagin are savage fish-like humanoids of evil alignment. They dwell
in shallow, warmer salt waters coming out at night to raid coastal villages for food and sport. Sahuagin have webbed hands and feet that
end in wickedly curved claws that they use for tearing the flesh of their
prey; likewise, their mouths are filled with razor sharp teeth similar to
sharks. Sahuagin tend to be varying shades of green, darker along the
back and lighter on the belly. Many have dark stripes or spots across
their bodies, but these tend to fade with age. An adult male sahuagin
stands roughly 6 feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds.
Sahuagin speak their own language. Some also speak aquan and common.
Combat: Sahuagin are savage warriors, delighting in ripping into
foes with their clawed hands and powerful jaws. When swimming,
a sahuagin tears with its feet as well as using its hand talons. Many
sahuagin also carry weapons into battle, preferring piercing weapons
like spears and tridents due to their usefulness underwater as well as
on land. About half of any groups of sahuagin are also armed with nets
that they use to capture enemies for later feeding.
Blindsense: While underwater the sahuagins sensitivity to changes in
current and water pressure allow it to automatically locate creatures
within a 30-foot radius of itself.
Rake: A sahuagin gains two rake attacks for 1d4+1 points of damage
with its powerful hind legs when it attacks while swimming.
In the World: Residing in temperate or warm ocean locations from
100 to 1,500 feet deep where they construct immense cities and coastal fortresses, these nocturnal predators, also known as sea devils or
devil men of the deep, use cover of night to raid coastal villages for
food and sport. They are extremely warlike and do not easily make alliances, viewing other intelligent sea-abiding races such as merfolk and
aboleths as competitors; the exception to this are sharks, with which
they seem to have an a shared affinity and respect. They particularly

112

hate aquatic elves and will take every opportunity to hunt and destroy
these foes. Their main foes include aquatic elves, dolphins, and hippocampi; these races will typically attempt to free any captives during
raids on sahuagin strongholds.
In general, sahuagin also are extremely wary, frightened even, of spellcasters or those with spell-like powers. They will target spellcasters
with their strongest attacks, focusing on them to the exclusion of others as much as possible. They are also extremely susceptible to fire,
suffering -2 to all saving throws versus fire-based spells and effects and
these effects and spells deal an additional point of damage per die from
these attacks.
Ecology: Sahuagin exist in the salt water deeps, a continual threat to
all life within their reach. Socially, sahuagin is a monarchy by a king
ruling from a centralized city of some 5,000 sahuagin inhabitants and
an additional some 1,000 nobles and their retinues located beneath
the ocean at the greatest depths the race can achieve. The enormous sahuagin king (10+10 HD) is accompanied by 9 noble guardsmen (9+9
HD) and the sinister high priestess (9+9 HD) of the great devil-shark
they worship, as well as her retinue of assistant priestesses (7th-level
clerics). The kingdom is divided into 9 provinces, each managed by a
prince (8+8 HD), who in turn manages 2d10+10 nobles underneath
him who have varying responsibilities in overseeing the needs of each
province.
Sahuagin lairs are constructed of stone in typical town or village fashion. Not much is known about these areas, as the sahuagin do not
keep slaves and devour or use for sport any captured opponents they
may take from their raids. These opponents are stored in specialized
cells that have air capacity; they are the only such areas with breathable
atmosphere in the lair and only found in noble towns.
If sahuagin are encountered in their lairs, a typical demesne consists
of the following:

Sahuagin
1 baron (6+6 HD)
9 guards (3+3 HD)
3d4x10 females (2 HD); noncombatant
1d4x10 hatchlings (1 HD); noncombatant
2d4x10 eggs
Additionally, for every 10 male sahuagin there is a 10% chance of the
presence of a priestess (1d4+1-level cleric) and 1d4 assistant priestesses
(3rd or 4th-level clerics). Also, there are always 2d4 sharks located in a
sahuagin lair serving as additional guards.
Whenever a lair is encountered, there is a 10% chance that it is a
princes stronghold. In that case, the prince and his guards (4+4 HD)
are present, as well as a high priestess (8th-level cleric) plus her 4 assistant priestesses (4th-level clerics). In addition, the number of males,
females, hatchlings, and eggs are doubled from the above numbers and
4d6 sharks are always present.
Sahuagin territory typically extends as far as 50 miles from their lairs,
and most are located 2d20+10 miles from the coast. Roaming bands
of sahuagin raiders are always led by a sahuagin chieftain (4+4 HD)
and there is 1 lieutenant (3+3 HD) for every 10 members of the band.
These leaders are in addition to the normal members of the band.
Sahuagin are fond of wealth, which is viewed as a status symbol in
their society and given as offerings during particular religious rituals to
their malevolent god.
Sahuagin are able to remain out of the water for up to 4 hours before
needing to resubmerge; if they cannot resubmerge after time is up,
they begin to suffocate (treat as drowning). Also, sahuagin have terrific
hearing and vision, able to see for 300 feet underwater at a depth of
100 feet (this visual range decreases by 10 feet for every 100 feet of
deeper depth) and they can detect the splashing of a boat oar at 2 miles
or the sound of metal clinking at 1 mile. They also have a blindsense
ability enabling them to function well at close quarters, regardless of
lighting conditions.
Sahuagin society is brutal and cruel and lives are often brief. Any injured, infirm, or otherwise imperfect sahuagin (birth defects are included) are becomes a source of food for this cannibalistic species.
They rule by strength and leaders are almost always some of the most
physically imposing of specimens. The exception to this rule is the
rare mutant that is born which has 4 functional arms; these mutants
are deemed as exceptional members of the race and accorded much
respect; the king and all 9 princes are mutants and have the gray-toblack coloration typical of this variant.
Sahuagin are oviparous, with males fertilizing the eggs after they are
laid and the young gestate for approximately 3 months in their eggs inside designated hatcheries after they are laid; after hatching, the young
are fully mature and self-sustaining within two months. Females may
reproduce several times a year.
Sahuagin enjoy eating giant squid and kraken, in addition to the humanoids taken on their raids; unfortunately for the sahuagin, this enjoyment is two-way and the predations of these massive specimens
helps keep the sahuagin population in check.

113

Shadow
Hit Dice: 3+3 (3d8+3 hp)
AC: 13
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +4

Attacks: 1/1; Incorporeal touch +3 (1d4+1 plus strength drain)
Special Attacks: Incorporeal touch, strength drain
Size: M (6 ft. tall)
Movement: 40 ft. (fly)
Alignment: CE
Morale: 17
Appearing: 1 or 2d20
Treasure: L: F
Frequency: Rare
Acrivity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Subterranean
Str --, Dex 12, Con --, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 9
Special Qualities: Immunities, incorporeal, infravision (60 ft.), undead traits
XP: 420
Shadows are undead creatures that appear as nothing more than their
name suggests, a shadowy form in the shape of a humanoid. They
crave the vitality of the living and their mere touch can leave even the
mightiest warrior with little more than the strength of an infant. A
shadow can be difficult to see in dark or gloomy areas and by the time
adventurers realize that the shadow is more than just a harmless patch
of darkness it is often too late. A shadow is typically between 5 and 6
feet tall and is weightless.
Shadows cannot speak intelligibly.
Combat: Shadows lurk in dark places, waiting for living prey to happen by. They will use their natural stealth to their advantage to take
a victim by surprise and the use their incorporeal touch to sap their
foes strength.
Immunities: Shadows are immune to cold, mind-affecting spells, hold
spells, paralysis and polymorph.
Incorporeal: Shadows live primarily on the Plane of Shadow. If encountered on that plane, the creature is solid and its combat statistics
remain the same, except the incorporeal touch attack becomes a slam
attack (1d4+1 damage) and it does not drain Strength.
When it wishes to interact with the Material Plane, it simply manifests, but it remains a shadowy form. In this state, it is immune to
all forms of physical damage with the following exceptions: magical
weapons specifically created to affect ghosts, spectres or other incorporeal undead in general deal normal deal normal damage and holy water
water deals 2d4 points of damage.
Strength Damage: Any creature struck by its incorporeal touch also
loses 1 point of Strength. Lost Strength returns after 1 hour. If a victim is drained to 0 Strength it dies and its spirit rises as a newborn
shadow.

114

Undead Traits: As an undead creature, the shadow is immune to all

effects relying on a working physiology, such as poison or disease. Undead creatures are harmed by cure wounds spells and healed by inflict
wounds spells.
In the World: Located most often in abandoned ruins, dungeons,
graveyards, and other sites where adventurers like to visit, shadows exist to terrify their victims and drain their vitality. They travel in loosely
organized packs of 2d20 individuals; there is no leader in these packs.
Shadows are not treasure hoarders, although their tendency to collect
all treasure and deposit it in a remote central location away from the
shadow packs normal territory certainly fosters this misconception.
Shadows are furious in their attacks once a target has been ambushed,
trying with all of their power to drain the target of their life force.
Ecology: The origin of shadows is a mystery, although most scholars
agree that they are likely magical creations of some sort, perhaps the
result of a curse. The curse only affects humans, dwarves, elves, halfelves, gnomes, halflings and half-orcs; apparently whatever the curse is,
it affects the spirits of the affected races. When the victims are drained
of all their Strength, the curse takes effect and the majority of the victims spirit shifts to the Plane of Shadow, leaving only a shadow of its
former self on the Material Plane and utterly destroying the corporeal
form of the victim. The process of becoming a shadow drives what remains of the victims spirit irrevocably insane and demonstrably evil.

Shambling Mound
Hit Dice: 8 (8d8 hp)
AC: 20
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +7

Attacks: 2/1; Slam +8 (2d8+2)
Special Attacks: Suffocate
Size: L (6-9 ft. tall)
Movement: 20 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: 18
Appearing: 1d3
Treasure: L: B; OL: T or X
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Temperate swamps
Str 17, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 9
Special Qualities: Immunities, infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60
ft.)
XP: 6000
Shambling mounds, also called shamblers, appear to be heaps of rotting vegetation when in fact, they are intelligent, carnivorous plants.
They tend to be found in swamps and subterranean caves, but can exist
wherever there is sufficient moisture. Shambling mounds arent particular about the source of their food and will eat anything organic.
Shamblers have no language of their own and are mute. Their limited
intelligence allows for communication via speak with plants spells, but
the information they can communicate is fairly rudimentary.
Combat: A shambling mound attacks with its two arm-like appendages, either smashing foes with powerful slam attacks or attempting to
engulf prey in order to choke the life out of it.
Immunities: Shambling mounds are immune to bludgeoning damage
and take only half damage from piercing and slashing weapons. Shambling mounds are immune to fire and take half or no damage from
cold, depending on whether or not it makes its save. Electrical attacks
cause the creature to grow, gaining 1 foot in height and 1 Hit Die per
successful electrical attack.
Suffocate: A shambler that hits with both slam attacks can attempt to
grapple as a free action. Creatures grappled by the shambling mound
suffocate in the creatures slime in 2d4 rounds unless the shambler is
killed or the creature breaks free by succeeding on a Superior (TC 15)
Strength check.
In the World: Shamblers are so in touch with their native swampy or
subterranean environments that they are virtually invisible and almost
completely silent when moving through it. They are able to wait patiently, completely still and aware, until an unsuspecting victim steps
on them, at which point they strike rapidly.
They are susceptible to spells which target plants, such as command
plants and hold monster, and transmute mud to rock spells can paralyze it temporarily (causes 2d8 hit points damage and immobilizes the

shambler for 1d4 rounds; only affected by this spell once per encounter, as it rearranges its matter to dispel the mud and free itself, making
it immune to this spell as second time). They also appear to thrive on
electricity, which seems to supercharge their vegetative body; this is
possibly linked to the myths of their origins.
Ecology: A shamblers brain and sensory organs are located in its upper body. Shambling mounds are usually between 6 and 9 feet tall
when standing fully erect and they weigh about 3,800 pounds. Shamblers are generally solitary creatures and have no known organized
societal structure nor natural enemies. Their diet consists of rotting
vegetable matter, supplemented with mild photosynthesis; they have
been known to digest rotting organic matter from carrion as well, usually in self-defense or due to scarcity of plant matter. Occasionally, up
to 3 shamblers may be found cohabiting in a single food-rich locale.
It is postulated that shamblers reproduce when a bolt of elemental
lightning strikes a sufficiently large heap of decaying vegetable matter,
igniting a spark of intelligence to the previously non-sentient matter.
The section struck by lightning houses the brain deep inside their
upper torso region, while the rest of the plant matter is resculpted
into a humanoid form. They are as intelligent as orcs, demonstrating
surprising cunning when in battle. Since their bodies are made from
clumps of rotting vegetation, removal of a limb or even their head does
not slow down the creature, as it redistributes its biomass to regrow the
severed limb or head within one round. Wounded shamblers can fully
heal within 12 hours by absorbing additional rotting vegetation and
wet foliage. Unless killed, shamblers are virtually immortal creatures.
Surprisingly, shambling mounds are reasonably good swimmers, able
to make their way easily through the dense rain forests and swampy
terrains in which they live.
Shamblers have also been known to house colonies of insects and other
creatures, as well as various molds and fungi. Most of these are harmless, but occasionally a more dangerous variety of these flora and fauna
can be found residing here, as those who suffer the suffocation find out
s they are attacked by such threats as well as the shambler!

115

Skeleton
Hit Dice: 1 (1d8 hp)
AC: 13
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will -
Attacks: 1/1; Slam +1 (1d4) or weapon +1 (standard dmg)
Special Attacks: None
Size: M (5 to 6 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: Not Applicable
Appearing: 3d10
Treasure: None
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any
Str 10, Dex 10, Con --, Int --, Wis 10, Cha -Special Qualities: Immunities, infravision (60 ft.), undead traits,
weapon resistance
XP: 65
Skeletons are animated corpses of the long dead. Necromantic magic
(and in some cases divine power) control the movements and motivations of these mindless automatons. On average, they understand and
follow very simple instructions, but do so with robotic efficiency.
The above statistics correspond to a medium-sized skeleton. Small
skeletons and much larger skeletons exist, and an advanced build is
suitable for the animated remains of once-powerful creatures.
Combat: Skeletons require commands to act. Being mindless, they do
not employ tactical combat since they only follow simple instructions.
They take normal damage from bludgeoning weapons, 2d4 points of
damage from holy water, and normal damage from fire.
Humanoid skeletons generally fight with weapons, commonly rusty
swords or spears, and occasionally bows.
Immunities: Skeletons are immune to cold. They are also immune to
sleep-based, charm-based, hold, and fear spells and effects. They never
need to morale.
Undead Traits: As an undead creature, the skeleton is immune to all
effects relying on a working physiology, such as poison or disease. Undead creatures are harmed by cure wounds spells and healed by inflict
wounds spells.
Weapon Resistance: Skeletons take half damage from slashing and
piercing weapons.
In the World: Skeletons are found wherever they are summoned, generally by a powerful evil cleric or wizard necromancers, although neutral clerics have been known to summon undead champions to defend
their sanctuaries. Good clerics rarely summon undead, unless granted
special permission by the undead being prior to their death or having
special dispensation by their deity.

116

Ecology: As animated undead creatures, skeletons do not occupy any

ecological niches. Their entire existence is an abomination to the natural order.
As animated undead creatures, skeletons do not occupy any ecological
niches.
Variant Skeletons:
Animal Skeletons
Hit Dice: 1-1 (1d8-1 hp)
AC: 12
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will Attacks: 1/1; Bite +1 (1d4) or claw (is applicable) +1 (1d4)
Special Attacks: None
Size: S to M (per animal)
Movement: 50 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: Not Applicable
Appearing: 2d10
Treasure: None
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any
Str 10, Dex 11, Con -, Int -, Wis 11, Cha Special Qualities: Immunities, infravision (60 ft.), undead traits,
weapon resistance
XP: 65

Skeleton
Animal skeletons are animated corpses of long dead animals. They
function in exactly the same manner as standard skeletons, above.
Monster Skeletons
Hit Dice: 6 (6d8 hp)
AC: 14
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will Attacks: 1/1; Bite +3 (1d8) or claw (is applicable) +3 (1d6)
Special Attacks: None
Size: M to L (per creature)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: Not Applicable
Appearing: 1d6
Treasure: None
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any
Str 12, Dex 11, Con -, Int -, Wis 11, Cha Special Qualities: Immunities, infravision (60 ft.), undead traits,
weapon resistance
XP: 270
Monster skeletons are animated corpses of long dead creatures, such as
giants, bugbears, or other creatures. They function in exactly the same
manner as standard skeletons, above.

117

Spectre
Hit Dice: 7+3 (7d8+3 hp)
AC: 17
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +6

Attacks: 1/1; Incorporeal touch +7 (1d8 plus soul drain)
Special Attacks: Incorporeal touch, soul drain
Size: M (6 to 7 ft. tall)
Movement: 80 ft. (fly)
Alignment: LE
Morale: 15
Appearing: Solitary or 1d4+2
Treasure: OL: Q (x3)
Frequency: Rare
Terrain: Subterranean
Str --, Dex 13, Con --, Int 7, Wis 11, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Immunities, infravision (60 ft.), undead traits, vulnerability to sunlight
XP: 3000
Spectres are incorporeal undead that appear similar to ghosts, but
much more noticeable as an extension of their former selves. They
appear in the same clothes they wore when they died and their faces
are recognizable.
Spectres are very powerful undead creatures that exist primarily on the
Negative Plane, the plane of inverse energy that overlaps the Material
Plane. They tend to be drawn to old and abandoned places where necromantic energy (or evil, generally) swells with power. They do grow
bored. When this happens, they wander about and have been known
to float into the more civilized settlements.

cifically created to affect ghosts, spectres or other incorporeal undead

in general deal normal deal normal damage, holy water affects them
normally, as do cure wounds and inflict wounds spells.

Combat: Spectres do not fight in the normal fashion. In fact, they

rarely complete a battle. They will often focus on one living creature.
Once that creature is sapped of its soul, the spectre usually recedes
back into the Negative Plane. Spectres will sometimes pay no mind
to others in the area, even if it takes damage. It is a rare sight to see
a spectre truly enraged to a point where they engage in a full throttle
battle with a group of opponents. The chance of this happening greatly
increases if the spectre is encountered in an area it once called home.
A flask of holy water deals 2d4 points of damage to the creature. Likewise, a flask poured over a weapon will deal the holy water damage on
a roll that would normally be successful.

Soul Drain: The incorporeal touch of the spectre not only deals 1d8
points of cold damage, but it permanently drains an equal amount of
Charisma points. These attribute points cannot be regained with rest.
A restoration spell, or greater magic, is required to regain lost points. A
living creature brought to 0 Charisma instantly sheds its body and becomes an incorporeal spectre. The spawn will turn to attack the nearest
living thing, as it is fueled by a seething hatred for all things still living. This hatred passes with time, but it is unbearable during the early
stages of unlife.

Immunities: Spectres are immune to paralysis, polymorph, cold-based

effects, electricity, mind-affecting spells and enchantments, and sleepbased effects.
Incorporeal: The spectre lives primarily on the Negative Energy Plane.
If encountered on that plane, the creature is solid and its combat statistics remain the same, except the incorporeal touch attack becomes
a 1d8 slam attack and the soul drain attack becomes an energy drain
attack similar to a wights.
When it wishes to interact with the Material Plane, it simply manifests,
but it remains a ghostly form. In this state, it is immune to all forms of
physical damage with the following exceptions: magical weapons spe-

118

Incorporeal Touch: The incorporeal touch attack ignores all bonuses

for armor and deals 1d8 points of cold damage plus soul drain.

Undead Traits: As an undead creature, the spectre is immune to all

effects relying on a working physiology, such as poison or disease. Undead creatures are harmed by cure wounds spells and healed by inflict
wounds spells.
Vulnerability to Sunlight: Real or magical sunlight renders the spectre powerless. The spectre suffers 1d10 points of damage on its initiative in every round that the spectre is subject to such light. During this
time, the spectre can take no actions, but it can make an Exceptional
(TC 20) Will save to recede back to the Negative Energy Plane.
In the World: Spectres are mightily feared by all adventurers. They are
mostly solitary undead, although some rare instances of groupings of
spectres have been noted, particularly if a single spectre has managed
to drain multiple humans or demi-humans of life. In this case, the
original spectre is known as a master spectre (always has maximum

Spectre
hit points per Hit Die) and it almost never engages any foes itself in
combat, preferring to send its follower spectre minions in to attack.
Any living beings drained to the point of death become new spectres
enthralled to the master spectre. If the master spectre is slain, all thralls
become free to matriculate anywhere in the hopes of becoming master
spectres themselves.
Spectres loathe all life and light, striving to destroy any sources of them
in order to not be reminded of their undead state. They are intelligent
undead and almost universally encountered in places of extreme isolation and darkness, such as long-forgotten ruins, deep dungeons, and
underground sewers. Cunning adversaries, spectres strive to remain
hidden from the general knowledge of the populace and make their
presence a mystery.
Ecology: Little is known about the origins of spectres and even less
is known for certain regarding their motives or purpose. All that is
known is described above, and even that is possibly conjecture in areas.

119

Spider
Spiders are generally brown to black, with a bulbous hairy abdomen
and thin legs. Giant spiders come in different sub-species, each with
a different color, but having the same bulbous appearance. Deadly
spiders can be found anywhere, but usually congregate in forests and
large cavernous areas. They are often pets or in the protective care of
a giant deadly spider. Giant deadly spiders can be found in large dark
and dank places and some create lairs and live a solitary life feeding off
animals and adventurers that wander in.
Combat: Spiders are either hunters or spinners. Hunters do not spin
webs but can inject a deadly poison. Spinners have a much less lethal
poison but spin webs capable of holding fast most victims. Spinners
tend to wait near a system of webs for a meal to haphazardly drop
in. Once something becomes stuck in the web, many spinners will
crawl to attack at once. If encountered away from its webs, a spinner
will keep its distance from its target, preferring to move away after an
attack with a bite. A spiders fangs usually remain tucked inside the
spiders jaws until it feels threatened. When that happens, it releases its
fangs, digging them into the victims body and secreting poison.
In the World: Spiders are either opportunistic (spinners) or more actively predator-like (hunter) in their feeding. Regardless, these creatures
are the subject of many arachnophobic nightmares and are frightening
in their countenance and almost alien appearance, despite the fact that
of the nearly 40,000 known spider species, only a tiny fraction of them
can inflict any significant pain in humanoids.
Ecology: Spiders are generally found in any non-arctic land environment, with the deadlier ones often found in desert or jungle environments. Some species can even be found in aquatic environments
.
Spiders reproduce by eggs laid in silk bundles called egg sacs and often use elaborate mating rituals to allow the male to approach close
enough to inseminate the female without triggering a predatory response; after mating, the male spider must depart quickly in order to
escape before the females normal predatory instincts return.
The spider life cycle progresses through three stages: the embryonic,
the larval, and the nympho-imaginal. The embryonic stage consists of
the time between when an egg is fertilized and begins to resemble the
shape of a spider. It then enters the larval stage as a prelarva molts several times until it reaches its larval form; this form, while resembling
a spider in overall shape, is not yet self-sufficient and relies on its yolk
supply for sustenance. Subsequent molting results in differentiation
of the spiders body structures and maturation of all organ systems.
At this nympho-imaginal stage, the spider begins to hunt on its own.
This stage is consists of two distinct sub-stages: the nymph, or juvenile
stage, and the imago, or adult stage, characterized by sexual maturity.
Many spiders may live only about a year, but a number will live two
years or more, overwintering in sheltered areas, such as civilized dwellings.
Variant Spiders:
Deadly Spider
Hit Dice: 1 (1d8+1 hp)
AC: 12
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +4

120

Attacks: 1/1; Bite +3 (1 hp plus poison)

Special Attacks: Poisonous bite, web
Size: S (2 to 3 ft. body)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: 7
Appearing: 2d10
Treasure: L: J
Frequency: Common
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any non-arctic

Str 7, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 10

Special Qualities: Infravision (20 ft.), tremorsense (60 ft.)
XP: 175
The deadly spider is a web spinner and one of the rare types of spiders
that is deadly to humanoids. Deadly spiders are generally brown to
black, with a bulbous hairy abdomen and thin legs. Deadly spiders
can be found anywhere, but usually congregate in forests and large
cavernous areas. They are often pets or in the protective care of a giant
deadly spider.
Poisonous Bite: The bite of a deadly spider contains a Type I poison
that deals 1d8+10 points of damage on a failed Average (TC 10) Fortitude save.
Tremorsense: Deadly spiders may sense prey via vibrations in their
webs at a range up to 60 feet.

Spider
Web: The web of a deadly spider is very sticky. An Exceptional (TC
20) Strength check is required to immediately break free from it, and a
successful Superior (TC 15) Strength check is required in each of three
successive rounds to slowly break free. Multiple spiders can attack a
stuck victim. All attacks on the stuck victim receive a +4 bonus against
the victims AC without a Dexterity adjustment.
Giant Deadly Spider
Hit Dice: 3+3 (3d8+3 hp)
AC: 16
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +4
Attacks: (1/1): Bite +3 (1d8 plus poison)
Special Attacks: Poisonous bite, web
Size: L (10 ft. long)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: CE
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1d8
Treasure: L: J
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any non-arctic
Str 7, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 10[SJD4]
Special Qualities: Infravision (20 ft.), tremorsense (60 ft.)
XP: 420
The giant deadly spider is cousin to the smaller deadly spider and can
either be hunters or spinners. Giant deadly spiders come in different
sub-species, each with a different color and look. They can be found
in large dark and dank places. Some create lairs and live a solitary life
feeding off animals and adventurers that wander in.
Poisonous Bite: The bite of a hunter contains a Type IV poison that
kills instantly on a failed Average (TC 10) Fortitude save. The bite of
a spinner contains a Type II poison that causes lower body paralysis
on a failed Average (TC 10) Fortitude save. The victim cannot stand
and falls prone, but otherwise may act normally. The paralysis lasts for
one hour.

Size: H (14 ft. diameter)

Movement: 40 ft, 20 ft climb
Alignment: N
Morale: 15
Appearing: 1d4
Treasure: L: E
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any
Str 13, Dex 13, Con 11, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 9
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.), phasing
XP: 1400
Phase spiders are aggressive predators resembling a typical giant spider,
but with an almost human-like head filled with venomous fangs. What
truly separates them from their mundane kin is the ability to shift in
and out of phase with the Material Plane, a tactic they use to surprise
foes in combat. A typical phase spiders body is 14 feet in diameter and
weighs over 700 pounds.
Combat: In combat a phase spider will use its ability to shift to and
from the Ethereal Plane to get the advantage over it prey. Typically,
the phase spider shifts in, bites its victim, and retreats quickly back to
the Ethereal Plane to wait to see if its victim succumbs to the spiders
deadly venom.
Phasing: A phase spider can shift from the Ethereal Plane to the Material Plane as a free action and shift back again as a secondary action.
This allows them to phase in (free action), make an attack (primary
action), and then phase out (secondary action) all in the course of one
round. A phase spider will almost always position itself so that it can
attack a victim from the rear, thus gaining a +2 bonus on its attack.
Poisonous Bite: A phase spiders deadly bite contains a Type IV poison; anyone bitten by the creature must make a Superior (TC 15)
Fortitude check or die instantly.

Web: The web of a spinner is very sticky. A Strength of 19 is required

to immediately break free from it, and for every 1 point of Strength
below 19, one full round of struggle is required to escape. Multiple
spiders can attack a stuck victim. All attacks on the stuck victim receive
a +4 bonus against the victims AC without a Dexterity adjustment.

In the World: Although phase spiders can appear in any terrain, they
seem to prefer targeting prey located in temperate to warmer hilly regions. They are usually solitary hunters, but have been known to hunt
in larger groups (called clusters) consisting of 3-6 individuals. They are
voracious in their predations and masters of ambushing their targets.
They feed on virtually any warm-blooded creature, intelligent or not,
but prefer humanoid prey. Unwary travelers who succumb to their
poisonous bite are then able to be shifted to the Ethereal Plane along
with the spider and are never heard from again, their disappearance a
lingering mystery never to be solved.

Phase Spider
Hit Dice: 5+5 (5d8+5 hp)
AC: 13
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +5

Attacks: 1/1; Bite +5 (1d6 plus poison)
Special Attacks: Poisonous bite

Ecology: Residing on the Ethereal Plane unless actively hunting, these

creatures are frighteningly adept hunters that strike without warning,
leaving devastation in their wake. While on their home Ethereal Plane,
phase spiders are able to manipulate the hazy ether of the plane to
create constructs resembling spider webs. Vast lairs of these semi-solid
web constructs float throughout the Ethereal Plane, home to multiple
phase spider colonies. Unlike spiders residing on the Material Plane,

Tremorsense: Giant deadly spiders may sense prey via vibrations in

their webs at a range up to 60 feet.

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Spider
phase spider webbing is universally similar in consistency and structure.
Although preferring like company, phase spiders have no concept of
a family unit. Newly-hatched phase spiders are fully independent and
capable of sustaining themselves through hunting and there is no special treatment by parents or siblings for any biologically-related family.
Phase spiders lay eggs in egg sacs and encase their eggs in a silken
pouch inside their lairs; male phase spiders will then fertilize the egg
sacs. Phase spider females will stay with these sacs until the spiderlings
hatch, where they then continue molting, growing larger until they
reach sexual maturity. Phase spiders may live up to 20 years of age.
Phase spiders are natural enemies of the xill, insect-like outsiders also
from the Ethereal Plane. The two races are amidst a protracted and
bloody war on the Ethereal Plane, with no end in sight.

122

Stirge
Hit Dice: 1+1 (1d8+1 hp)
AC: 12
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +4

Attacks: 1/1; Attach +1 (0 hp), drain +3 (1d3 plus blood drain and
disease)
Special Attacks: Attach, blood drain, disease
Size: S (2 ft. span)
Movement: 10 ft, 40 ft fly
Alignment: N
Morale: 8
Appearing: 2d10+1
Treasure: L: D
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Any non-arctic
Str 4, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.)
XP: 175
Stirges are birdlike creatures with four appendages ending in sticky
pincers, and sport long, sharp, hairless proboscises.
Each stirge has large, bat-like wings that range in color from dark gray
to dull ash. Their stomachs appear either full and bloated, or shriveled
and emaciated, depending on the time of their last feeding. They hunt
in swarms and can sometimes be found in a hive with dozens to hundreds of other stirges, as well as a hive queen.
Stirges cannot speak and communicate with each other through simple movements of the probisci.
Combat: Stirges have one attack, an attach. A stirge flies toward an
opponent and attempts to latch on to the victim to allow for an extraction of the victims blood. They approach in packs but often will
separate in pairs to allow each to feed from multiple targets.
Attach: As a secondary action, a stirge may attach its four pincers to a
part of the victims body that is not covered by metal. Once attached,
the stirge maintains the hold until it either voluntarily detaches or is
killed. Any attack made against a stirge that misses requires a second
roll against the attached victim. If the second roll hits the victims AC,
the victim takes damage.
Blood Drain: Once attached, the stirge attempts to penetrate the victims skin with its proboscis. A successful attack deals 1d3 points of
damage and the stirge begins draining the victims blood. 1d4 points
of damage are suffered each round the stirge drains. After draining 12
hit points, the stirge voluntarily detaches and flies away.
When a mother carrying 1-2 offspring (1d4 hit points each) on her
back successfully attacks a target, the offspring attack on the round
following her initial hit. Offspring attacks are at -2 to hit, do 1 point
of initial damage from the proboscis, and drain 1-2 hit points of blood
per subsequent round; they become sated and detach after 6 hit points
have been drained. A mother will remain attached to a target even after
sated until her offspring have finished feeding.

Disease: Stirges have the potential to be carriers of disease as well (5%

chance per stirge). These diseases are generally a disorder of the blood
(Type II disease; Average (TC 10) Fortitude save; onset is 1d4 days;
frequency is 1/day; effect is 1d6 subdual damage per failed save and
subject is fatigued; cure is 2 consecutive saves).
In the World: Striges can be found in any non-arctic environment
where the presence of large herds of herbivores is ubiquitous. They
usually make their lairs inside abandoned ruins, forests, and caverns;
these lairs may possess treasure from unfortunate wandering creatures
which have been overtaken by the stirge swarms within. Colonies of
these creatures range from 2d10+1 individuals, but often they are encountered in groups of 3 individuals.
Stirges communicate with each other by wagging their probisci in
particular patterns to signal danger or food, approximate numbers of
targets, and how urgent the need is for the entire swarm to mobilize.
Ecology: Stirge diets consist solely on blood and often entire swarms
can be found following groups of domestic or nomadic herd animals,
such as caribou, cattle, deer, elk and sheep. These creatures are not unlike gigantic mosquitoes.
Stirges breed constantly throughout the year. Females are fertilized and
after a gestation period of 6 months, they reproduce through live birth,
producing litters of 1-3 offspring. These offspring cannot fly until they
reach about half adult size at 4 months of age; prior to that, up to 2
are carried on the mothers back (any others must fend for themselves,
as other stirges will not carry offspring that is not theirs). Maturation
is reached 7 months after birth. There will be a mother bearing 1-2
offspring for every 8 stirges encountered.
Stirges have remarkable regenerative abilities and can regrow lost body
parts over 1-3 months and heal even the severest of lacerations (healing
4 hit points every 24 hours), as long as their head and spines are intact
and a constant source of blood is available. They also hang upside
down when asleep.
Stirges cohabitate in the lairs of some evil dragons, since they are immune to the predations of the stirges due to their armored hides.
Stirge territories only extend for a 1-mile diameter around their lairs
and they stay in their lairs as long as a blood supply is present. Once
they have exhausted their food source, they migrate and are difficult
to track, as their presence is often only detected after the colony has
moved on.

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Tiger
Hit Dice: 5+5 (5d8+5 hp)
AC: 14
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +5

Attacks: 3/1; 2 claws +5 (1d4+1) and bite +5 (1d10)
Special Attacks: Pounce, rake
Size: M (7 ft. long)
Movement: 40 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: 10
Appearing: 1, 1d3+1
Treasure: None
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Any land
Str 15, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 11
Special Qualities: Infravision (20 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.)
XP: 650
Tigers are the largest of the great wild cats, standing more than 3 feet
tall at the shoulder, measure about 9 feet long and weighing from
400 to 600 pounds. They often have orange fur and darker stripes, although there are white tiger variants as well. Tiger stripes are similar to
human fingerprints in that no two tigers have the same pattern. They
are fast, strong and ferocious predators. Tigers are supremely protective of their homes and will attack anything that comes near their den.
In this aspect, tigers exemplify their most ferocious side. Tigers are
often encountered during a hunt, as well. In this case, they are smart
predators, preferring to divide and sneak upon their prey.
Combat: Tigers usually start combat with a pounce attack, and follow
with multiple claw and bite attacks. A tiger that lies and waits to attack
will try to get a surprise pounce attack to engage. A tiger will flee when
brought to below 10 hit points.
Pounce: A tiger may perform a pounce attack after positioning itself
for the powerful spring. This requires one round of preparation, thus
tigers often only perform one pounce attack per combat. The tiger may
leap up to 10 feet and attack with both claws at the same time. This
requires one attack roll and deals 2d4+2 points of damage on impact.
Rake: A tiger that succeeds on striking with both claws, or that succeeds on a pounce attack, receives a non-action rake attack with its rear
claws that deals 2d4 points of damage.
In the World: Tigers live in sub-arctic to tropical environments, usually found in forested areas near sources of water. These nocturnal hunters are terrific climbers and swimmers and are capable of sustained
speed during chases. They are extremely territorial (10-30 square-mile
range) when encountering other creatures, will not hesitate to attack
any creature they deem a threat, including humans, but they rarely
fight among themselves and their territories often overlap. Adult tigers
are solitary creatures, except for when females are raising cubs.
Tigers are carnivorous and prefer large ungulates such as cattle, deer,
and wild pigs, generally killing up to 50 a year per individual. They

124

are master hunters and utilize their environment to ambush their prey;
often, 2 or more tigers will combine their efforts to take down prey.
When threatened or attacking, tigers may produce loud roars. They
also communicate with other tigers using load moans over longer
ranges; at shorter ranges a chuffing sound is often used.
Ecology: Female tigers reach estrus every 3-9 weeks and mate usually
in the cooler months. After a gestation period of 104 days, female tigers give birth and raise from 1-3 cubs solitarily until the cubs become
independent and leave, usually after 1.5-3 years of age. Females reach
sexual maturity around 3 to 4 years of age and males mature at about 4
to 5 years of age. Tigers have multiple mates over their lives. If a female
is encountered in her lair, cubs are present 25% of the time.
Tigers mark their territory using a combination of urine and scent
gland excretions, spraying bushes, rocks, and other local terrain features. They also use their claws to scratch trees.

Treant
Hit Dice: 8 (8d8 hp)
AC: 20
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +7

Attacks: 2/1; Slams +8 (2d8+8, 3d8+8 or 4d8+8)
Special Attacks: Animate trees
Size: H (13-18 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: CG
Morale: 16
Appearing: 1d20
Treasure: OL: Q or X
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any forest
Str 23, Dex 11, Con 17, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 11
Special Qualities: Low-light vision (60 ft.), vulnerability to fire
XP: 2000
Treants are large intelligent plant creatures that are virtually indistinguishable from normal trees until they start moving. Their thick torsos
are covered in rough bark as are their two trunk-like legs. Their arms
appear to be large branches extending out from their sides and their
heads are crowned with smaller branched that sport a lush canopy of
leaves that range from green in the spring and summer to vivid reds,
yellows and oranges in the fall and brown in the winter. A treant stands
between 13 and 18 feet tall, and weighs about 4,500 pounds.
Treants speak their own language, plus common and sylvan. Most also
can manage a smattering of just about any other humanoid tongue
at least enough to say Get away from my trees!
Combat: Treants rarely rush into combat, but if their forest is threatened they can be fearsome foes. They attack by bludgeoning enemies
with their branch-like arms. Against structures and objects, a treants
powerful slams inflict double damage. If sorely pressed in a fight a treant will animate the trees to serve as additional forest defenders.
Animate Trees: A treant has the ability to animate trees within 180
feet at will, controlling up to two trees at a time. It takes 1 full round
for a normal tree to uproot itself. Animated trees have a movement of
10 feet per round and fight as a 12 Hit Die treant in all respects including being vulnerable to fire. Animated trees lose their ability to move if
the treant that animated them is incapacitated or moves out of range.
Vulnerability to Fire: Treants make all saves against fire based attacks
at -4 and such attacks deal an extra point of damage per die against
the treant.
In the World: Living in enclaves located deep within large forests of
hardwood trees, treants are reclusive beings, rarely interacting with the
shorter-lived species (anything less than 500 years, by their definition).
The only time they will proactively interact with lesser species is in the
presence of evil which invades their domains; then, they awaken fully
and their wrath can be something terrible to behold. Orcs and goblins
are seen as enemies, and anyone carrying an axe is viewed with extreme
suspicion.

Treants have no real use for treasure or magical relics. When in possession of such items, they will take them and store them in a centralized
location, usually hidden underneath a great rock, large cavern or other
suitably remote location which can hide the trove. These troves are
guarded by chosen treants and it is from these locations that they brew
their powerful potions, store keepsakes, and stay safe from forest fires
and electrical storms. How they brew these magical potions is known
only to them. They will not relinquish these trove items unless given
sufficient motive and a demonstration of extreme commitment to do
good with the items therein, as they have done so in the past and the
results have always led to further destruction for the treants territory.
Common potions to be found in a treant lair include:
1. potion of healing
2. potion of extra healing
3. potion of giant strength
4. potion of health & well being
5. potion of sweet water
6. potion of plant growth
Ecology: Treants utilize photosynthesis to gather the vital nutrients
they need to survive. They will also take root in the soil during their
rest periods (ranging from days to years) to gather nutrients.
Treants reproduce by generating off-shoot stalks, which are nurtured
and protected by the female treants until they are mature, a process
taking many years. Lifespans of treants range upwards of several thousand years. As they grow older, their agility and periods of awakening
lessen substantially; ancient treants eventually take permanent root
and enter an irreversible sleep from which they never awaken, living
out their lives as a normal tree.

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Troglodyte
Hit Dice: 2 (2d8 hp)
AC: 15
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +4

Attacks: 3/1; 2 claws +2 (1d2) and bite +2 (1d4+1); or 1/1; spear +2
(1d6)
Special Attacks: Stench
Size: M (5 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: CE
Morale: 11
Appearing: 10d10
Treasure: L: A
Frequency: Common
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Subterranean, mountains
Str 10, Dex 9, Con 10, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 9
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.)
XP: 120
Troglodytes are a warrior race of carnivorous reptilian humanoids.
They have leathery scaled skin and a lizard like head A troglodyte
stands about 5 feet tall and weighs about 150 pounds. Males can be
distinguished from females by the fine-like crest that runs across their
heads and down their necks.
Troglodytes speak draconic.
Combat: Troglodytes are cunning warriors, preferring to ambush opponents rather than engage them in a fair fight. Typically, half of a
group of troglodytes are armed only with claws and teeth while the
rest carry weapons; troglodytes tend to prefer clubs and axes for melee
combat and javelins for ranged attacks. A standard tactic for troglodytes is to lie in wait for opponents and then loose a volley of javelins
to soften them up before moving to engage in melee.
Stench: When a troglodyte is angry or frightened, it secretes an oily,
musk-like chemical that is overwhelming revolting to most living creatures. All living creatures (except troglodytes) within 30 feet of a troglodyte must succeed on an Average (TC 10) Fortitude save or become
weakened, a condition that imposes a -4 penalty on all combat rolls.
The penalty is removed after 10 rounds.
In the World: Troglodytes are a warlike race of semi-intelligent humanoid reptilian creatures which live in vast underground caverns near
human or demi-human settlements and raid cattle and other livestock,
as well as more humanoid prey which they can get such at minimal
risk to themselves. Troglodytes crave steel above all else, using it as a
form of wealth, a status symbol, and to make javelins and spear heads.
Their lairs are often full of a variety of treasures and trinkets collected
from their frequent raids on the surrounding settlements. Reduced to
feral savages, they are among the most populous of the subterranean
races residing near the surface and are all that is left of what was once
a proud and prolific races that ranked among the largest empires in
the world.

126

Ecology: Troglodytes live enormous caves or cavern tunnels in large

tribes located near human or demi-human settlements and which consists of 60 individuals upward to 100 or more, with each tribe led by
a chieftain (6 HD, 7 feet tall), who is always the strongest and most
fierce troglodyte in the tribe and always accompanied by 2d4 guards (3
HD). They subscribe to the axiom of might makes right and are notorious for epitomizing survival of the fittest. For every 20 troglodytes
there are 2 sub-chieftains (4 HD) and for every 10 troglodytes there is
1 leader (3 HD). Females (1+1 HD) in the lair number 100% of the
males located in the tribe and will fight to the death to protect their
noncombatant hatchlings, which number 50% of the males.
The troglodyte diet consists of strictly meat, preferably human; they
are not, however, above cannibalism, especially in regards to rival
troglodyte tribes. Troglodytes have no known natural predators, as
their stench drives most away and those it doesnt cannot stand the
wretched taste of their meat, which may even be more atrocious than
their smell.
Religion plays a strong role in the daily life of troglodytes, mainly in
the form of shamanism. The shamans and priests are among the most
highly regarded tribe members, guiding the tribes in worship to various reptilian or primeval gods. Often, the chieftains of the tribe will
serve as high priest or shaman as well; those that do not assume this
dual role become little more than mouthpieces for the head shaman.

Troll
Hit Dice: 6+6 (6d8+6 hp)
AC: 16
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +6

Attacks: 3/1; 2 claws +6 (1d4+4) and bite +6 (1d8+4); or 1/1; large
club (2d6+4)
Special Attacks: None
Size: L (9 to 10 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: CE
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1d10
Treasure: L: D; OL: Q
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Any land
Str 19, Dex 12, Con 15, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 6
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.), regeneration, scent (30 ft.)
XP: 1400
Trolls are large, green, ugly, and mean. They rank high among the
most revolting creatures in the world, with a mangled and hunched
body covered in moss-colored hide. They have long and thin, but
powerful, arms ending in large claws. Their heads are covered in a
tangled mass of swampy hair and their eyes are black and sunken.
These creatures attack non-trolls without provocation, hoping to eat a
good meal before resorting back to the filth they usually eat.
Trolls speak giant, and more intelligent ones speak common as well.
Combat: Trolls fight mercilessly. Their ferocious appetite is clear with
each attack. Fire seems to be the only viable repellent, since fire damage negates the trolls natural regeneration. Trolls usually proceed in
battle with caution if a source of fire is visible.
Regeneration: Trolls regenerate 3 hit points each round on their
turn. Fire and acid damage does not regenerate. If any of the trolls
arms (or claws) are severed (which occurs on a natural 20 with at
least a Medium-sized slashing weapon), that part will continue to
fight using the trolls normal combat statistics and movement speed.
Severed parts can be instantly reattached or regrow in 1 week. If
reduced to 0 hit points, the troll becomes temporarily incapacitated
until regaining 3 hit points the next round. Only by consuming the
incapacitated body in fire or acid can one actually kill a troll.
In the World: Trolls live in virtually all climates, but have a preference for subterranean caverns, swamps and old-growth dense forests;
such locales provide protection from the hated sunlight. Inside a
trolls lair there are generally several nesting areas made from old
straw and grass; such nests often contain the discarded remnants of
unfortunates who have become sustenance for the troll. If there are
no caves nearby, trolls will dig trollholes in the ground and excavate a
larger area underneath for their dens. They then cover these trollholes
with local foliage, superbly masking the entrance (Superior (TC 15)
Wisdom or Perception roll to identify). Trollholes and cave lairs often

have 2 entrances/exits to allow for escape if needed.

Trolls collect magical items and trinkets, measuring status by the
amount accumulated. They also use these, along with bestial displays
of strength, to impress potential mates. Items that can be used to
enhance a trolls fighting prowess are especially prized.
Ecology: Trolls packs consist of 3-12 trolls led by a dominant female
who serves as chieftain and shaman (7th-level cleric). The chieftain
leads the pack on nightly foraging raids, tracking prey and letting
forth with loud roars when the prey is in sight. Leadership is through
right of might and skirmishes for pack dominance are frequent and
brutal as combatants claw and rend each other limb from limb. Such
battles are rarely fatal, due to their spectacular regenerative ability.
Troll are carnivores and their diets range from grubs to intelligent humanoids to more powerful creatures. They are ravenous eaters, often
devouring their victims completely except for the occasional bone.
Trolls hate good giant-kin and wage almost constant war with them.
They respect and fear dragons, especially red and black ones, due to
their strength, power, and ability to permanently hurt the trolls.
Troll mating is infrequent and they have low birth rates, with female
trolls giving birth after a year gestation to a single offspring once
every 5 years. Courtship ritual consist of domination fights among
females, with the winner the one chosen first by prospective mates.
Young trolls reach maturity at around 10 years of age, although they
are relatively self-sufficient and can hunt after about 1 year of age.
Troll history and traditions are passed down orally. They believe they
have a stronger connection to their bestial gods than other giant races
and hold themselves superior for this closeness. They see their natural
regenerative abilities as proof of their divine right to dominate.
Troll blood is often used in manufacturing poison antidotes and healing potions; one trolls blood (worth 400 gp) is able to facilitate the
manufacture of 3 such potions.

127

Unicorn
Hit Dice: 4+4 (4d8+4 hp)
AC: 18
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +5

Attacks: 3/1; 2 hooves +4 (1d6+5) and horn +4 (1d12+5)
Special Attacks: Charge
Size: L (8 ft. long, 5 ft. at shoulder)
Movement: 60 ft.
Alignment: CG
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1d6
Treasure: OL: X
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day
Terrain: Temperate forests
Str 20, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 12
Special Qualities: Animal empathy, immunities, infravision (60 ft.),
low-light vision (60 ft.), scent (30 ft.), teleport
XP: 650
A unicorn might be mistaken for a large and powerful horse if not for
their cloven hooves and the single ivory horn growing from the center
of its forehead. Their hair, manes, and forelocks are the shining white
of new fallen snow and as smooth as silk. Males can be distinguished
from females by the white tuft of chin hair. A typical adult unicorn
grows to 8 feet in length, stands 5 feet high at the shoulder, and weighs
1,200 pounds. Females are slightly smaller and slimmer than males.
Unicorns speak sylvan and common.
Combat: Peaceful creatures, they only attack if they or their forest is in
danger, striking with hooves and horn, charging if possible. The horn
is a +2 magic weapon; its power fades if removed from the unicorn.
Animal Empathy: As rangers class ability; -2 penalty on save.
Charge: To charge there must be at least 30 feet between the unicorn
and its target. A successful hit deals 3d12 points of damage to the
opponent.
Detect Danger: A unicorn constantly detects the presence of danger
within 240 yards of itself. Aside from the area of effect, this functions
identically to the detect danger spell.
Immunities: Immune to poisons and charm, hold, and death spells.
Teleport: Once per day a unicorn can use a teleport spell to move up
to 360 yards with no chance of error.
In the World: Reclusive defenders of the sylvan woodlands and masters of the wilds, unicorns reside in an open dell of their chosen temperate forest. Inside the boles of the dells trees, unicorns etch a magical
sigil with their horns marking the forest as under the unicorns protection and recognizable by sylvan creatures. Other unicorns, other than
its immediate family, will not enter a protected forest preserve unless
invited; the range of this protection extends a maximum of 400 square

128

miles. Some forests are so immense that multiple unicorns will protect various sectors; some band together in groups of 3-6 individuals,
known as a blessing, if the threat is greater than a solitary or single
mated pair can handle.
Good- and Neutral-aligned travelers may pass freely and hunt judiciously within the forests confines. However, evil creatures, anyone
killing for sport or causing harm to the woodland preserve is subject to
the unicorns wrath if it is nearby (10% chance); retribution magnitiude scales with the offense given. Rangers have a 10% chance per level
to detect if a forest is protected by a unicorn.
Solitary unicorns or those whose mates have been slain may submit
and allow themselves to be tamed by an extremely pure elf maiden or
female human of Good alignment. If treated kindly, the unicorn will
become an exceptionally loyal mount to its female surrogate, even carrying her beyond the confines of the unicorns protected preserve and
protecting her with its life. This bond generally ends amicably if the
surrogate becomes committed to another, such as a mate or child.
Ecology: Unicorns are mostly solitary creatures, but those that mate
do so for life. The birth of a foal is extremely rare and cause for much
rejoicing for all within the unicorns demesne. Unicorn lifespans are
unknown, but estimated to be in the thousands of years; such longevity is likely due to the magical nature of their horns. Unicorns do not
conceptualize time; each day is a fresh time to experience and live.
Unicorns have no natural predators other than evil creatures who wish
to kill them for the good they represent and to obtain their horns,
which provide proof against all poisons, natural and synthetic, and
may be used in the manufacture of potions of healing.
Unicorn horns on the open market sell for 1,500 gp or more.

vampire
Hit Dice: 8+3 (8d8+3 hp)
AC: 19
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +7

Attacks: 1/1; Slam +8 (1d6+3) or bite +8 (1d4 plus Constitution
drain) or by weapon (weapon damage+3)
Special Attacks: Dominating presence, blood drain
Size: M (5 - 6 1/2 ft.)
Movement: 30 ft., 40 ft. (fly - bat form)
Alignment: CE
Morale: 16
Appearing: 1d4
Treasure: L: F
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Any land
Str 18, Dex 17, Con --, Int 16, Wis 13, Cha 14
Special Qualities: Immunities, infravision (60 ft.), regeneration, shape
change, spider climb, undead traits, vampiric weaknesses, vampirism
XP: 8000
Unlike many undead, vampires appear as they did in life (although a
bit paler if they havent fed recently), a trait they use to their advantage
when hunting prey. They are active at night, stalking mortal victims
to feed upon, but must return to their coffins during the day to avoid
the destructive rays of the sun. Although it is often impossible to tell a
vampires true nature until it attacks, perceptive individuals may note
that the vampire casts no reflection and has no shadow.
Vampires speak any languages they knew in life.
Combat: Vampires tend to use their human appearance and powers
of mental manipulation to avoid combat altogether. Often times, a
vampires victim will be charmed into being a willing accomplice to its
feedings. If forced to enter combat, vampires are fierce opponents and
make full use of both their great strength and their magic abilities to
destroy their foes.
Blood Drain: A vampire can suck blood from a living victim with its
fangs by successfully grappling an opponent. This attack drains blood,
draining 1d4 points of Constitution each round the grapple is maintained. On each such successful attack, the vampire gains 5 temporary
hit points. If the vampire drains the victims Constitution to 0 the
victim dies only to rise as a vampire itself the following night. Such
newly risen vampires are under the control of the vampire that created
them. Victims that survive a vampires bite attack must make an Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude save or become afflicted with vampirism
(see below). A successful saving throw avoids vampirism and lost Constitution points return naturally at a rate of one per day.
Dominating Presence: This ability manifests in two different ways.
When used against humanoids, it enables the vampire to charm an
individual within 30 feet. This effect is identical to the charm person
spell with an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save. When used on animals
it enables the vampire to call forth and command either a swarm of

10d10 bats or rats or a pack of 3d6 wolves. These creatures arrive in

2d6 rounds and serve the vampire for up to 1 hour.
Immunities: Vampires are immune to mind-affecting spells, hold spells,
and paralysis. Vampires take only half damage from cold and electrical attacks. Vampires are also immune to any damage inflicted by a
weapon without at least a magical +1 bonus.
Regeneration: A vampire regenerates 3 hit points each round so long
as it has at least 1 hit point. If reduced to 0 hit points in combat, it
automatically assumes gaseous form and attempts to escape. It must
reach its coffin home within 2 hours or be utterly destroyed. (It can
travel up to nine miles in 2 hours.) Any additional damage dealt to
a vampire forced into gaseous form has no effect. Once at rest in its
coffin, a vampire is helpless. It regains 1 hit point after 1 hour, then is
no longer helpless and resumes healing at the rate of 3 hit points per
round.
Shape Change: A vampire can assume the form of a bat or a cloud of
fog at will as a primary action. Assuming the form of a cloud of fog has
an effect identical to the gaseous form spell except that there is no limit
to how long the vampire can remain in this form.
Spider Climb: A vampire can climb sheer surfaces at will as though
with a spider climb spell.
Undead Traits: As an undead creature, the vampire is immune to all
effects relying on a working physiology, such as poison or disease. Undead creatures are harmed by cure wounds spells and healed by inflict
wounds spells.

129

Vampire
Vampiric Weaknesses: For all their power, vampires have a number
of weaknesses. Vampires cannot tolerate the strong odor of garlic and
will not enter an area laced with it. Similarly, they recoil from a mirror or a strongly presented holy symbol. These things dont harm the
vampirethey merely keep it at bay. A recoiling vampire must stay at
least 5 feet away from a creature holding the mirror or holy symbol
and cannot touch or make melee attacks against the creature holding
the item for the rest of the encounter. Holding a vampire at bay takes a
primary action. Direct contact with holy water or a holy symbol deals
2d4 points of damage to a vampire.
Vampires are also unable to cross running water, although they can
be carried over it while resting in their coffins or aboard a ship. They
are utterly unable to enter a home or other building unless invited in
by someone with the authority to do so. They may freely enter public
places, since these are by definition open to all.
Reducing a vampires hit points to 0 or lower incapacitates it but
doesnt always destroy it (see the note on regeneration). However, certain attacks can slay vampires. Exposing any vampire to direct sunlight
disorients it: It can take only a single action and is destroyed utterly
in the next round if it cannot escape. Similarly, immersing a vampire
in running water robs it of one-third of its hit points each round until
it is destroyed at the end of the third round of immersion. Driving a
wooden stake through a vampires heart instantly slays the monster.
However, it returns to life if the stake is removed, unless the body is
destroyed. A popular tactic is to cut off the creatures head and fill its
mouth with holy wafers (or their equivalent).
Vampirism: A character acquires this affliction as a result of surviving
being bitten by a vampire and failing his saving throw. Every night
the character loses a point of Constitution. The only way to prevent
this loss is to have a priest cast a protection from necromantic energy
spell upon the victim. Casting the spell in this manner causes it to be
discharged immediately as the positive energy of the spell attempts to
counteract the negative energy of the vampiric corruption. Success is
not guaranteed, however; the priest must make an Exceptional (TC
20) caster level check (1d20+caster level), and even if successful the
priest has merely staved off the corruption for one night. For every step
the afflicted character has moved up on the vampiric corruption chart
the caster level check suffers a -1 penalty.
Every time the character loses a point of Constitution from this affliction he moves up one step on the vampiric corruption chart. Loss of
all Constitution from the affliction results in the character dying and
rising as a vampire the following night, as does reaching step 7 on the
chart.

130

Vampiric Corruption Chart

Step

Effects

The characters feral strength increases and he receives a +1

damage bonus, but his skin becomes pale and he no longer
casts a reflection or shadow.

The character gains the ability to spider climb at will. From

this point on, he must be invited in order to enter a house.

The character can be hit only by +1 or better magical weapons, but garlic, mirrors and holy symbols now physically
repulse him. Strength increases to 17 (+2 attack/damage).

The character acquires the dominating presence ability, but

sunlight now burns him, inflicting 1d4 points of damage
each round.

The character gains the vampires shapeshifting ability, but

holy water and symbols now inflict 2d4 points of damage to
him on contact and he can now be turned or commanded
as a vampire.

The character gains the ability to regenerate 3 hit points

per round, but sunlight can irrevocably destroy him in one
round. Strength increases to 18 (+3 attack/damage).

At this point the character has become a full vampire. The

character gains the ability to drain blood (Constitution) via
a bite attack, but he can now be incapacitated by a stake
through the heart. The character cannot regenerate while
the stake is in place, but he will be completely restored
if the stake is removed. The character is also undead and
acquires the full range of vampiric immunities. Finally, the
characters alignment shifts to chaotic evil and he become
an NPC under the control of the GM.

Once infected with vampirism there are only two known cures. The
first involves finding a priest capable of casting both dispel evil and
restoration. The second involves the brewing of a magical potion requiring at least one unusual ingredient (details are left to the GM,
but typical ingredients might include powdered unicorn horn or the
blood of a phoenix). In either case, the cure must be administered before the character fully turns into a vampire (either through loss of all
Constitution or reaching step 7 on the vampiric corruption chart) in
order to be effective. Once a character has fully turned, nothing short
of a carefully worded wish spell or divine intervention can restore the
character to his former state.
In the World: Reclusive and solitary to a fault, vampires generally
prefer remote areas where death and despair are prevalent in order
to not have reminders of the life they have lost. Such areas are typically abandoned castles, long-forgotten ruins, necropolises, desecrated
chapels, or sites of great battles or tragedies. They often feel drawn to
areas of great significance to their previous lives as well, such as the
site of a bitter betrayal or of a significant murder, perhaps their own or
someone close to them.

Vampire
Vampires rely heavily on their immortality to define how they will deal
with threats. For minor threats, they will often dispense with them
harshly and quickly. Greater threats, if they can be overcome without
great personal risk, are also dealt with harshly; however, in cases where
the vampire feels overwhelmed or threatened, it may flee into hiding
to wait out the threat, letting time destroy what it cannot. Vampire
lords will also use their minions, usually consisting of a small group
of lesser vampires created by the lord as well as creatures of the night
it summons, to either do its bidding in affairs deemed beneath him
or to fight and delay significant threats while the lord escapes to fight
another day. They also use thralls and those supplicants who ultimately
hope to achieve the immortality which vampirism provides to promote their evil schemes and spread fear.
Ecology: Vampires exist outside the natural order and exist only to
sow chaos and foment evil. They are universally feared by all within
their territory who know of their existence; they try to not advertise
their presence, preferring to work through minions and thralls to further their evil agendas, thereby lessening their chances for encountering any true threats.
Vampires require the blood of living creatures to survive, preferring
human or demi-human blood to those of lesser creatures. They are
generally careful not to cause the death of those on which they feed,
preferring to place into thrall such victims; if the death of their prey is
achieved, the vampire generally ensures the bodys destruction, unless
it wishes to create vampire minions.
Once infected with vampirism there are only two known cures. The
first involves finding a priest capable of casting both dispel evil and
restoration. The second involves the brewing of a magical potion requiring at least one unusual ingredient (details are left to the GM, but
typical ingredients might include powdered unicorn horn or the blood
of a phoenix). In either case, the cure must be administered before the
character fully turns into a vampire (either through loss of all Constitution or reaching level 7 on the vampiric corruption chart) in order
to be effective. Once a character has fully turned, nothing short of a
carefully worded wish or divine intervention can restore the character
to his former state.

131

Werewolf
Hit Dice: 4+3 (4d8+3 hp)
AC: 15
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +5

Attacks: 2/1; 2 claws +4 (2d4+1); or 1/1; 1 claw +4 (2d4+1) and bite
+4 (2d8)
Special Attacks: Lycanthropic bite
Size: M (7 ft. tall both forms)
Move: 30 ft. (bipedal), 60 ft. (wolf )
Alignment: CE
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1-2 or 3d6
Treasure: L: B
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Any
Str 15, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.), scent
(40 ft.), weapon immunity
XP: 420
Werewolves are feared lycanthropes - humans able to take on the form
of an animal, in this instance, that of a wolf. Werewolves actually have
two forms, a hybrid bipedal form and a large wolf. In either case, the
werewolf is 7 feet tall, from floor to head. In bipedal hybrid form,
some of its clothing remains, hanging tattered from its frame; its head
is that of a wolf, its hands are powerful claws and its body is covered in
fur. They are nocturnal.
There are two types of werewolves: true and infected. A true werewolf is born a werewolf and can assume bipedal or wolf forms at any
time during the day or night. An infected werewolf is afflicted with
the lycanthropy curse either from a bite from a true werewolf or a
magical curse. Those so infected are forced to turn on the full moon
and the nights immediately preceding and following the full moon.
Infected werewolves cannot voluntarily change and may only assume
wolf form.
Combat: Werewolves are savage beasts that hunt to eat and long to
kill. Rarely attacking alone, they prefer to split their numbers and attack from the front and rear simultaneously. As intelligent monsters,
they will flee from imminent death.
Lycanthropic Bite: Only true werewolves have this special attack. Any
victim of a successful bite attack must succeed on a Fortitude save
based on the amount of damage dealt by the bite, according to the
following:

Lycanthropic Bite Save

132

Damage Dealt

Required TC

1 - 12

Average (TC 10)

13 - 15

Superior (TC 15)

16 +

Exceptional (TC 20)

A person afflicted with infectious lycanthropy falls unconscious four

days before the next full moon. Upon the rising of the full moon, the
afflicted victim turns into a wolf and wreaks havoc. The next day, the
victim returns to their normal form and remembers nothing of his
time as a wolf. Henceforth, the victim will assume wolf form every
month during the nights preceding, during, and after the full moon.
In no case will the person remember the events of the night before.
All hit point damage that was incurred while changed is fully healed
the next morning, although other signs of struggle, such as bloodied
clothes or dead bodies, remain.
PC lycanthropy: The GM controls the PC during the nights in which
a change occurs. It is completely story-driven at that point. Curing
lycanthropy requires a remove curse spell cast by a caster at least 12thlevel. One can delay only the first change by ingesting belladonna two
nights before a full moon. The belladonna causes the person to fall unconscious and remain sleeping for four straight nights, thus avoiding
the forced change. This reduces the victims Constitution by 1 point
for the remainder of the month.
Weapon Immunity: Werewolves are only harmed by magical weapons
or specially prepared silver weapons of masterwork quality.
In the World: True werewolves live remotely outside civilized society,
generally preferring to remain nomadic, traveling and hunting alone
or in packs consisting of other true werewolves or a mixture with normal wolves. During colder months and during times of raising young,
if in wolf form, they will generally hole up in their cavern dens to
protect the females rearing helpless cubs. In their humanoid forms,
werewolves may also live in abandoned dwellings of past victims.

Werewolf
Infected werewolves are usually unaware of their curse, pursuing their
normal lives in their community, at least until after the first change.
After the change, depending on the damage wrought, they may try either hiding their curse by making themselves absent during the change
or by confining themselves somewhere secure during the three days
the curse is active, or they may abandon their old life, seeking solitude
from civilization in an attempt to not hurt those they love. Infected
werewolves will preferentially target those closest to their humanoid
selves during the change, often leading to tragedy for the cursed when
they return to themselves after the change.
Ecology: True werewolves live in single family groups consisting of a
male and its mate, as well as 3-6 cubs ranging in age from 6-9 years of
age. Cubs under 6 years of age are always kept secluded in a specialized den and never encountered by enemies. Females birth between
5-10 cubs; mortality is high, however, and 2-4 cubs of each liter do
not generally survive to 6 years of age. Cubs grow at the same rate as
humans for the first 5 years; at age 6, they have attained 60% of their
adult size, at which point they gain the ability to transform into their
humanoid form. Maturity is achieved at 10 years of age, when the
werewolf achieves its maximum adult size. True werewolves are passionately devoted to their families and will go to any length to protect
them from harm.
The offspring of a true werewolf who breeds with a female human is
always human, although they generally have more bestial and violent
temperaments and are prone to mental illness. Such offspring have a
10% chance annually after reaching puberty of spontaneously transforming into a true werewolf.
True werewolves are nocturnal and pure carnivores, savagely hunting
their prey and devouring it rapidly. Their diet consists mainly of animals living within their hunting territory, but they are not averse to
making a meal of the occasional humanoid who wanders too close to
their den.

133

Wight
Hit Dice: 4+3 (4d8+3 hp)
AC: 15
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +5

Attacks: 1/1; Claw +4 (1d4 plus energy drain)
Special Attacks: Energy drain
Size: M (5 to 7 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: LE
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1-2, 3d6 (pack)
Treasure: L: B
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Any land
Str 11, Dex 11, Con --, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Immunities, infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60
ft.), undead traits, weapon vulnerability
XP: 1400
Wights are nocturnal grave dwellers. Being undead, they were once
humanoids of some sort and they retain the general build and appearance of their former self. Upon closer examination, one can see the
wights mummified features, glowing red eyes and long white claws.
Wights carry a tremendous amount of negative energy wherever they
go. As such, it is generally 15 degrees colder than the local temperature
within 30 feet of the wight.
Combat: Wights are vicious creatures that wish only to destroy and
spawn new wights. They are very aggressive and fight with brutality,
not strategy. They employ their claw attack every round, hoping to
drain enough energy from their victims to spawn one more of their
own. They never travel in the day and will flee from a bright light
source, but they often lurk and follow a person that presents such
light, later to destroy them in the dark. A flask of holy water will deal
2d4 points of damage to a wight on contact. A resurrection spell cast on
a wight instantly destroys the physical body of the wight.
Energy Drain: A touch or claw attack by the wight requires a Superior
(TC 15) Fortitude save to avoid losing ones life force. A successful save
means the victim only suffers an additional 1d6 points of damage (in
addition to the damage from any attack made). This damage stems
purely from the negative energy of the wight as it saps the victims
positive life force. A failed save means the victim suffers 2d6 points
of additional damage. This additional damage is permanent hit point
loss and cannot be healed naturally or magically, unless by means of a
restoration spell or wish spell. The wight heals half as many hit points
as it drained.
In addition, any living creature that is slain at any time after suffering an amount of permanent hit point loss equal to half its current
maximum total hit points (rounded down) will rise immediately as a
wight. There is no duration. Only by regaining these permanent lost
hit points does a living creature hope to stave off this horrific fate.

134

Immunities: Wights are immune to cold, mind-affecting spells, hold

spells, paralysis and polymorph.
Undead Traits: As an undead, the wight is immune to all effects relying on a working physiology, such as poisons or disease. Undead
creatures are harmed by cure wounds spells and healed by inflict wounds
spells.
Weapon Vulnerability: Wights suffer normal damage if a weapon has
least a magical +1 bonus and/or if it is forged from silver.
In the World: Wights dwell in barrows, subterranean catacombs and
other necropolises. They are despicably evil creatures which seek to
destroy all living creatures they encounter, not because they have any
agenda or real need, but because they can. Despite being found often
in small groups of 2-16 individuals, they are solitary by nature; larger
groups will be led by a wight master (maximum hit points per Hit
Die), with the remaining wights subservient to its will. It has no compunction about sacrificing its minions to assure its victory or survival.
Ecology: Wights have an extremely powerful link to the Negative
Plane, more so than most other undead; this explains their ability to
drain the energy and life force of those it touches. Although they may
physically devour the flesh of the living, it is done only for sport and to
terrorize their opponents, as they only require the life force of the living for sustenance. Animals can also sense the presence of a wight and
will refuse to enter an area they inhabit and will howl, neigh, bray or
otherwise make sounds of alarm if they detect the presence of a wight
in the vicinity. Plant life in the area they inhabit also suffers from the
wights presence as it wilts and dies and is a telltale sign of the presence
of the wights presence, if one knows what to look for.

Wolf
Hit Dice: 3 (3d8 hp)
AC: 13
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +4

Attacks: 1/1; Claw +3 (1d4) or bite +3 (1d4)
Special Attacks: None
Size: M (4 to 6 ft. long)
Movement: 50 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: 10
Appearing: 2d6 (pack), 5d4 (lair)
Treasure: None
Frequency: Uncommon
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any non-tropical
Str 12, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.), scent
(20 ft.)
XP: 65
Wolves are animals that live in familial packs in the outskirts of the
wilderness. They generally measure between 4 and 6 feet long and
have colored fur based on their surroundings. Many mountain and
northern wolves have white fur, while those in temperate forests have
a much darker fur.
Combat: Wolves hunt in packs. If encountered in the wilderness,
there is a good chance (75%) that a pack is nearby. Wolves encountered close to their lairs will not immediately attack unless they are
protecting young. In combat, they prefer to have 2 to 4 wolves attack
from the front while the rest of the pack stealthily flanks the enemies.
In the World: Wolves can be found in any non-tropical environment,
usually near wooded areas which are free of larger predators and human presence and has terrain which they can play, including large
rocks, gurgling brooks, and felled trees. They are extremely social animals, with a strict social hierarchy and tend to live in packs consisting
of 2-12 individuals. Wolf packs are led by a single alpha male. The alpha males mate is known as the alpha female and only these two breed
within a pack. The second ranking female often assists in whelping and
nursing of the pups. The remainder of the pack is usually somehow
genetically related to the alpha pair.
Ecology: Wolves have an important ecological niche as the dominant
carnivorous predators in their territories, helping to keep the populations of deer and rodents in check.
Wolf dens are generally located in remote locations. The alpha female
generally gives birth in the early summer to a litter of up to 10 pups,
with the entire pack assisting in the upbringing of the pups, including
nursing, feeding, and guarding the pups from predators such as grizzly
bears. The pack during this time is generally localized to the area surrounding the den. Generally by the fall, pups are more self-sufficient
and the pack becomes increasingly nomadic once again. Pups are generally self-sufficient by age 1 that they leave the pack, becoming soli-

tary hunters for a time before pairing up with another solitary mate
and establishing their own territory and pack.
Wolves live to hunt, with territory ranging from 10-20 square miles to
up to more than 5,000 square miles in size and they defend it viciously.
Pack size and relative territory is highly dependent on the availability
of a constant food source. Territory may also expand in lean times or
when their main source of prey is migratory as the wolves roam further
abroad in search of food.
A wolf s diets consists mainly fresh meat provided by caribou, elk, bison, deer, reindeer, moose, mountain sheep, marmots, squirrels, hares,
mice, and even spawning salmon. Wolves have also been known to
resort to cannibalism in cases where a member of the pack is severely
wounded in cases of territory disputes. Wolves prefer smaller prey,
often eating as many as 30 mice in a single day during the summer
months, because it expends less energy to hunt and run to ground;
even then, they generally only catch the weaker and sicklier prey.
They hunt only larger prey one time per week per pack and have been
known to go without food for several days at a time.
Wolves have natural enemies in other predators such as bears, mountain lions, badgers, bobcats, lynxes, golden eagles, great horned owls
and coyotes. Also, humans are major threats when their settlements
begin to encroach on the natural habitats of wolves. Wolves will generally not fight to the death unless cornered and offered no avenue of
escape, preferring to run away to live another day.
Variant Wolves:
Winter Wolf
Hit Dice: 6+3 (6d8+3 hp)
AC: 15
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +5
Attacks: 1/1; Claw +4 (1d6+3) or bite +4 (2d4)
Special Attacks: Frost Breath

135

Wolf
Size: L (7-12 ft. long)
Movement: 50 ft.
Alignment: NE
Morale: 15
Appearing: 2d4
Treasure: None
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any arctic land
Str 18, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 9, Wis 13, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Immunity to cold, infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.), scent (20 ft.), vulnerability to fire
XP: 975
The winter wolf is the most dangerous and intelligent of the variant
wolf species, known not only for its larger size but also its foul and
mean temperament. They only live in frigid arctic regions and have
shiny white or silver fur with pale blue or silver eyes. A well-preserved
pelt may bring as much as 5,000 gp on the open market.
They are known to be able to communicate with worgs as well as speak
their own complicated language.
Combat: Tactics are similar to that of normal wolves listed above.
Frost Breath: They are able to breathe a stream of arctic air once every
10 rounds (6d4 points of damage in a cone up to 10 feet from them
and up to 10 feet wide at its longest point).
Immunity to Cold: Frost wolves are immune to cold.
Vulnerability to Fire: Fire-based attacks do +1 hit point of damage
per damage die.
Worg
Hit Dice: 3+3 (3d8+3 hp)
AC: 14
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +4

Attacks: 1/1; Claw +3 (1d6) or bite +3 (2d4)
Special Attacks: None
Size: Medium (4-7 ft. long)
Movement: 50 ft
Alignment: NE
Morale: 11
Appearing: 3d4
Treasure: None
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day or Night
Terrain: Any forest
Str 13, Dex 12, Con 11, Int 7, Wis 11, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.), scent
(20 ft.)
XP: 120

136

Worgs are large wolves with a greater degree of intelligence than their
smaller brethren and a strong tendency toward evil. A typical worg
has gray or black fur, grows to 5 feet long and stands 3 feet tall at the
shoulder, and weighs 300 pounds.
More intelligent than their smaller cousins, worgs speak their own language. Some can also speak common and goblin.
Combat: Mated pairs or packs work together to bring down large
game, while lone worgs usually chase down creatures smaller than
themselves. Both often use hit-and-run tactics to exhaust their quarry.
A pack usually circles a larger opponent: Each wolf attacks in turn, biting and retreating, until the creature is exhausted, at which point the
pack moves in for the kill. If they get impatient or heavily outnumber
the opponent, worgs attempt to pin it.
In the World: Worgs live in the temperate forested and plains regions.
They live in packs and share many of the pack traits, hunting patterns,
and combat tactics as wolves. Unlike common wolves, these creatures
are intelligent and conniving beings which choose to work with evil
races such as goblins, hobgoblins, and other evil humanoids to further
evil agendas. They often act as mounts, working in conjunction with
their riders, but are not subservient to them; instead, they are partners
with their evil riders, at least as long as their agendas do not conflict.
Worgs also act as valuable guardians to their allies, serving powerful
humanoid masters when it suits them or, in rare cases, when they have
been raised from a pup. Occasionally, an extremely strong humanoid
leader earns the fear and respect of a worg; in such cases, the two are
virtually inseparable and make a powerful team when in combat, acting in concert and utilizing the ferocity and cunning of the worg with
the powerful sorceries, tactics and magics of their master.
Ecology: Worg pack life is similar to that of their standard wolf cousins, as is their reproductive cycle and habits. They are surprisingly caring for their young, although once the pups are old enough to fend
for themselves, they quickly leave the pack to establish their own territories; adolescent pups that linger too long often begin to be seen as
a threat to the pack alphas and must be dealt with harshly.
A worgs diet consists mainly of fresh meat provided by larger herbivores, unlike their wolf cousins, who are content with smaller game.
Also, unlike their smaller relatives, they have no fear of humans or
other humanoids and will often hunt them as prey as well; they love
the taste of terror when they hunt down intelligent prey and will go
to great lengths to cause fear and trepidation prior to going in for the
brutal kill with such beings. This serves as their form of play. They
are not fearful creatures and will fight to the death when cornered or
threatened.
Worgs have natural enemies in other larger predators, inlcuding dire
animals, standard wolves, sylvan fae and virtually all good-aligned
creatures. Such creatures will attack worgs on sight in an attempt to
kill them and prevent further corruption and death.

Wyvern
Hit Dice: 7+7 (7d10+7 hp)
AC: 17
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +6

Attacks: 2/1; Bite +7 (2d8), sting +7 (1d6 plus poison) or 2 talons
+7 (1d6+4)
Special Attacks: Grab, poisonous sting
Size: G (35 ft. long)
Movement: 20 ft., 60 ft. (fly)
Alignment: NE
Morale: 14
Appearing: 1d6
Treasure: L: E
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Day and Night
Terrain: Any temperate
Str 19, Dex 11, Con 15, Int 7, Wis 11, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Infravision (60 ft.), low-light vision (60 ft.), scent
(20 ft.)
XP: 1400
Wyverns are distant cousins to dragons. They are enormous flying reptiles that lack front legs but possess a scorpion-like stinger on the end
of their tail. A wyverns body is 35 feet long and dark brown to gray;
half that length is tail. Its wingspan is about 50 feet.
Wyverns speak Draconic, but usually dont bother with anything more
elaborate than a loud hiss or a deep-throated growl much like that of
a bull alligator.
Combat: Wyverns are stupid but incredibly aggressive; they will attack nearly anything that moves unless it is clearly more powerful than
them. On the ground they will use their powerful jaws to tear into opponents and their tail stinger to inject lethal doses of venom, but they
are far more deadly from the air where they can use their hind talons
to snatch opponents from the ground and carry them off.
Grab: To use this ability, a wyvern must be flying and must hit with
at least one of its talons. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free
action. Once airborne with its prey, the wyvern stings and bites each
round (with a +4 bonus to its attack) until the victim is motionless.
Poisonous Sting: The wyverns stinger injects a lethal Type IV venom
into its victim who must succeed on a Superior (TC 15) Fortitude save
or die instantly.
In the World: Wyverns are distant reptilian kin to true dragons and
uniformly aggressive, brutish, and violent in temperament; they prefer
resorting to force to accomplish their objectives. They may be stupidly
brutish to the point of absolute idiocy in some cases, but it is this
penchant for violence that causes others to fear them, a fact in which
they relish.
Although extremely territorial and generally solitary in nature, wyverns
do occasionally join forces to hunt in smaller groups in order to kill
larger prey, such as elephant or true dragons. Their territorial hunt-

ing grounds generally extend in a vaguely-circular pattern some 25

miles in diameter, but can extend outwards to 100-200 square miles
in areas with sparse food sources. They live in temperate climates and
warm hilly regions, marking their territories with poison from their
stingers.
If one is able to ally himself with a wyvern, a process that involves
equal parts flattery, smooth diplomacy, and bribery with food and
treasure, then the wyvern can be a powerful ally. They have served as
guardians for giants and other strong humanoids, and some lizardfolk
tribes have been known to use them as mounts.
Ecology: Wyverns mate in the late fall to early winter biannually.
The female then generally lays 1-2 eggs (2 only if food conditions are
extremely favorable) 2-3 months later in their aeries, where the eggs
hatch a month later towards the end of winter to early spring. The
wyvern remains dependent upon its parents for its first year for the
live prey which they bring back to the lair for the hatchling to poison
and devour, after which it is independent enough to leave the nest on
its own. Young wyverns begin to fly around 6 months of age and are
accomplished flyers at 9 months. Immature wyverns are too small to
carry live prey in mid-flight, so they generally will hunt, kill the prey,
and carry the carcass back to their lair to feed. Wyverns reach maturity
around 5 years of age.
As brutal as these creatures are, adult wyverns which fight over territory undergo an interesting ritualistic battle in which the contestants
fight to see which can inject their poison into the others mouth first;
the one to do so claims the territory in dispute. These battles, while
not gentle by any means, are generally non-lethal and result in no
permanent injury.
Extreme carnivores, wyverns prefer larger prey, such as deer, elk, moose,
antelope, horses and the like. They have also been known to hunt in
larger packs to hunt larger prey or to take down an extreme threat.

137

Zombie
Hit Dice: 2 (2d8)
AC: 12
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +5, Will -
Attacks: 1/1; Slam +2 (1d8)
Special Attacks: None
Size: M (5 to 6 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: N
Morale: Not Applicable
Appearing: 3d8
Treasure: None
Frequency: Rare
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Any
Str 13, Dex 12, Con --, Int --, Wis 8, Cha -Special Qualities: Immunities, infravision (60 ft.), vulnerability to
holy water
XP: 65
Zombies are the animated corpses of the somewhat-recently dead;
such unnatural revival is usually done by evil wizards or clerics focused
on necromancy. Enough flesh still clings to the bones of these automatons to differentiate their appearance and capabilities from skeletons.
They are slow, moving with a jerky and uneven gait, but strong. The
stench from their rotting corpses may be detected up to 100 feet away,
although this depends on the state of decomposition of the body; fresh
corpses not exhibiting any significant decay may be virtually undetectable by scent unless one is in extremely close proximity.
Zombies cannot talk, but may make low moaning sounds if unable to
effectively complete a task assigned to it.
Combat: Zombies fight on either instinct or via simple single-phrase
commands and employ a constant and straightforward barrage of attacks. They are relentless in their attacks, never stopping unless commanded to do so or until utterly destroyed. A zombie will usually
attack the first open target it sees. Because they have slow reflexes,
zombies always take last initiative in each round.
Immunities: Zombies are immune to cold-based, death-based, or
sleep-based effects, as well as any mind-affecting spell or effect, including charms, hold, fear, illusions, etc.
Undead Traits: As an undead creature, the zombie is immune to all
effects relying on a working physiology, such as poison or disease. Undead creatures are harmed by cure wounds spells and healed by inflict
wounds spells.
Vulnerability to Holy Water: Zombies suffer 2d4 points of damage
from holy water.
In the World: Zombies are usually found inhabiting necropolises or

138

other places where a ready supply of somewhat-fresh corpses are readily available. Zombies generally appear in larger groups of 4d6 individuals, although much larger swarms of them have been described as
well in the cases of powerful necromancers. They generally are dressed
in whatever clothing or armor in which they were buried, the state of
which is dependent upon the freshness of the zombie.
Ecology: Zombies are unnatural abominations that exist outside the
natural order and have no role in their local environment, except to
carry out the wishes of their evil masters.
Variant Zombies:
Zombie Lord
Hit Dice: 6 (6d8 hp)
AC: 14
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +5
Attacks: 2/1; Slam +6 (2d8)
Special Attacks: Death Stench, spells
Size: M (6 ft. tall)
Movement: 30 ft.
Alignment: NE
Morale: 12
Appearing: 1
Treasure: L: F
Frequency: Very Rare
Activity Cycle: Night
Terrain: Any
Str 18, Dex 12, Con -, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 6
Special Qualities: Immunities, infravision (60 ft.), undead traits, vul-

Zombie
nerability to holy water
XP: 650
Zombie lords are created when certain conditions are met: an evil human is killed by an undead creature, he or she fails a Shock Survival
roll during a resurrection attempt, and finally an evil deity must curse
the evil human with undeath. Zombie lords rise within one week of
the aforementioned conditions being met and are visually identical
to what they look like while alive, save for their pale grey and rotting
flesh and the carrion stench which surrounds them. In addition, they
are often surrounded by swarms of carrion eating insects, which hover
about or crawl through their desiccated corpses.
Zombie lords speak the languages they knew in life and have a mystical
ability to telepathically communicate with other undead. Additionally,
they may speak with dead simply by touching a corpse. All zombies
within a zombie lords vision are subject to its will. Zombie lords may
also use the senses of any zombie within a range of 1 mile; they can
therefore monitor a wide area and are very rarely surprised.
Death Stench: The stench of zombie lords is so horrendous that all
living creatures within 90 feet of a zombie lord must succeed on an
Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude save or be affected in some way, as
shown below.
1d6 Roll Effect
1
Symbol of Power (Pain) (as the spell)
2
Confusion (per the spell)
3
Inflict Poison (per the reverse spell of neutralize poison)
4
Contagion (as the spell)
5
Stinking cloud (as the spell)
6
Character dies instantly and becomes a zombie under

the zombie lords control
Immunities: Zombies are immune to cold-based, death-based, or
sleep-based effects, as well as any mind-affecting spell or effect, including charms, hold, fear, illusions, etc.
Spells: Once per day, the zombie lord may cast animate dead and slay
living (target must have fewer Hit Dice than the zombie lord; if slain,
the creature rises in 1d4 rounds as a zombie under the zombie lords
control) as a 9th-level cleric.
Undead Traits: As an undead creature, the zombie is immune to all
effects relying on a working physiology, such as poison or disease. Undead creatures are harmed by cure wounds spells and healed by inflict
wounds spells.
Vulnerability to Holy Water: Zombies suffer 2d4 points of damage
from holy water.

139

Chapter 1

Treasure

For decades, fantasy roleplaying games have come to be known as

your chance to stand against mythological beasts, wield mind-bending
magic and amass a vault of glittering gold and mystical items. Myth &
Magic stays true to this legacy and retains treasures importance to the
soul of the game.

Awarding
Treasure
You determine how much treasure is found. There are no rules tying treasure values to encounter levels. There are no rules that govern
how much gear or wealth a typical adventurer should have at certain
levels. In fact, high-level adventurers might fight a dragon miles from
its horde, leaving nothing but the prospect of finding its lair one day.
That same day, a lone and weak kobold might find the horde and provide a windfall for the upstart adventuring group that slays it. In this
circumstance, the epic adventurers have a tale to tell, but the young
adventurers get rich.

The Right Amount

The first and only determination that a GM makes is how much treasure the PCs should earn at each point of the campaign. This is related
to the story and the world. There is nothing stopping a group of 1stlevel adventurers from finding themselves entwined in an epic campaign. If that is your intention, you would be justified in providing a
certain amount of treasure, including magical items, early in the campaign. On the other hand, a campaign focused on the PCs struggles to
rise above slavery and start a revolution against a tyrannical ruler may
not provide much treasure. It may not be needed.
Too much treasure is not good for a campaign, unless it is planned
and required. PCs that can buy and sell their way to the end of an
adventure find little satisfaction in adventuring. Too little treasure,
when money and equipment are necessary, can be equally counterproductive. The players may find little motivation in starting out on
the next quest if there is little hope of gaining wealth. GMs that find
their campaigns wavering toward either extreme are cautioned to adjust and regulate the treasure. Take some away. Give some more. There
is a perfect balance that may only reveal itself with play.

140

Where It Lies

Adventurers often find treasure in dungeons and lairs, as well as on

NPCs or monsters. They may also receive rewards and gifts for their
services.
Dungeons and Lairs: This is often lost or hoarded treasure. Treasure
found in a dungeon should complement the inhabitants of the dungeon or the era in which the dungeon was built. Some of the most
coveted and sought after treasure rests in ancient tombs and ruins. On
the other hand, treasure in an active lair is brought to the lair by whatever lives in the lair. Hoarded treasure in lairs is often a collection of
various findings and can be very interesting. The type of treasure found
in a lair usually relates to the Intelligence and greed of the inhabitants and their past endeavors. Although even non-Intelligent creatures
may find and keep shiny things, most lairs of instinctual beasts and
monsters have little treasure. Dragons, however, maintain a vast store
of treasure.
NPCs and Monsters: Some of the PCs enemies have treasure. This
type of treasure is often coins, gems and items, and often corresponds
to whatever the enemy uses in combat. For example, an enemy fighter
may have magical items that add to his Armor Class and attacks. An
enemy mage may have a wand, staff, rod, etc. A monster, such as an
orc or goblin, has equipment and some coin, while its leaders may
have better gear and more valuable items. More so than in other cases,
the relative power level of the NPC or monster has a relation to its
treasure.
Gifts and Rewards: Treasure is a motivator. It often serves as consideration by the benefactor to convince the adventuring group to undertake a dangerous mission. Perhaps the benefactor gifts enough gold to
purchase necessary equipment. Perhaps a valuable magic item is given
instead. Once the mission is complete, the PCs may earn yet more
treasure as a reward for success.

The Open Market

Adventurers undoubtedly deal with the open market at some point to

either sell or buy goods. For most mundane items, even artwork, this is
a common practice. When buying items, the cost of the item listed in
the book, if any, is the price commonly paid; however, negotiation can
move the price up or down. If the item has a value instead of a price (as
is commonly the case with pieces of art), the value is not always what
is paid. It merely serves as a launching point for discussions between
the merchant and customer. Selling an item with a value usually nets
the seller about 33 50% of the listed value. A buyer usually purchases

Treasure: Treasure Tables

Random Treasure in Lair

Lairs or Hordes
Type
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I

Copper

Silver

Gold

Other Coin

Gems

Art

Magic

25%

30%

40%

35%

60%

50%

30%

1d4 x 1,000

3d8 x 100

2d4 x 1,000

2d8 x 100

1d4 x 10

2d6

Any 3

50%

25%

25%

25%

30%

20%

15%

1d6 x 1,000

1d4 x 1,000

2d8+1 x 100

3d4 x 100

1d6+1

1d4

1 Armor or Weapon

25%

35%

--

15%

25%

20%

10%

1d10 x 1,000

2d4 x 1,000

--

1d8 x 100

1d4+1

1d4

Any 2

10%

20%

50%

20%

30%

25%

20%

1d4+1x1,000

3d4 x 1,000

1d4 x 1,000

1d6 x 100

1d8+1

1d4+1

Any 2 + 1 potion

5%

30%

30%

25%

20%

15%

30%

1d10 x 1,000

1d8 x 1,000

1d4 x 1,000

4d4 x 100

1d12

1d6

Any 3 + 1 scroll

--

20%

50%

20%

25%

15%

35%

--

2d8 x 1,000

1d4+1x1,000

1d6 x 1,000

3d6+1

1d6+1

Any 5 except weapons

--

--

50%

50%

40%

35%

30%

--

--

3d6 x 1,000

2d6 x 1,000

3d6

1d4+1

Any 5

30%

40%

50%

40%

50%

50%

20%

2d10 x 1,000

2d10 x 1,000

2d10 x 1,000

2d4 x 1,000

4d8

3d6+1

Any 6

--

--

--

25%

50%

50%

20%

--

--

--

1d10 x 100

3d4

1d8+1

Any 1

Gems Chart
d%

Value

Average

Flawed

Examples

01 - 25

4d4 gp

10 gp

10%

Banded, eye, or moss agate; azurite; blue quartz; hematite; lapis lazuli;
malachite; obsidian; rhodochrosite; tiger eye turquoise; freshwater (irregular)
pearl

26 - 50

2d4 10 gp

50 gp

10%

Bloodstone; carnelian; chalcedony; chrysoprase; citrine; iolite, jasper; moonstone; onyx; peridot; rock crystal (clear quartz); sard; sardonyx; rose, smoky,
or star rose quartz; zircon

51 - 70

4d4 10 gp

100 gp

15%

Amber; amethyst; chrysoberyl; coral; red or brown-green garnet; jade; jet;

white, golden, pink, or silver pearl; red spinel, red-brown or deep green
spinel; tourmaline

71 - 90

2d4 100 gp

500 gp

15%

Alexandrite; aquamarine; violet garnet; black pearl; deep blue spinel; golden
yellow topaz

91 - 99

4d4 100 gp

1,000 gp

15%

Emerald; white, black, or fire opal; blue sapphire; fiery yellow or rich purple
corundum; blue or black star sapphire; star ruby

00

2d4 1,000 gp

5,000 gp

15%

Clearest bright green emerald; blue-white, canary, pink, brown, or blue

diamond; jacinth

141

Treasure: Treasure Tables

Random Treasure Out of Lair

Outside Lair or Horde
Type
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

142

Copper

Silver

Gold

Other Coin

Gems

Art

Magic

100%

--

--

--

--

--

--

3d8+1

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

100%

--

--

--

--

--

--

4d4+1

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

100%

--

--

--

--

--

--

2d6+1

--

--

--

--

--

100%

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

100%

--

--

--

--

--

--

1d6+1

--

--

--

100%

100%

--

--

--

--

--

1d6 x 10

1d4 x 10

--

--

--

--

--

--

100%

--

100%

--

--

--

--

1d8 x 10

--

2d8+1

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

100%

--

--

--

--

--

--

1d4

--

--

--

--

100%

100%

100%

100%

--

--

--

2d10

1d6 x 10

1d8+1

1d4

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

100%

--

--

--

--

--

--

2d4 potions

--

--

--

--

--

--

100%

--

--

--

--

--

--

1d4 scrolls

--

--

--

--

90%

80%

75%

--

--

--

--

2d6+1

1d6+1

--

--

--

--

--

--

100%

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

100%

100%

55%

50%

60%

--

--

3d10+2

1d6+2

2d8+2

1d8

--

--

--

--

--

--

100%

--

--

--

--

--

--

2 potions

--

--

100%

--

--

--

--

--

--

2d6 x 100

--

--

--

--

100%

100%

100%

100%

55%

55%

55%

1d4 x 100

1d4 x 100

1d4+1 x 100

1d4 x 100

1d6

2d6

Any 3

Treasure: Treasure Tables

Objects of Art Chart

d%

Value

Average

Examples

01 - 10

1d10 10 gp

55 gp

Silver ewer; carved bone or ivory statuette; finely wrought small gold bracelet

11 - 25

3d6 10 gp

105 gp

Cloth of gold vestments; black velvet mask with numerous citrines; silver chalice with
lapis lazuli gems

26 - 40

1d6 100 gp

350 gp

Large well-done wool tapestry; brass mug with jade inlays

41 - 50

1d10 100 gp

550 gp

Silver comb with moonstones; silver-plated steel longsword with jet jewel in hilt

51 - 60

2d6 100 gp

700 gp

Carved harp of exotic wood with ivory inlay and zircon gems; solid gold idol (10 lb.)

61 - 70

3d6 100 gp

1,050 gp

Gold dragon comb with red garnet eye; gold and topaz bottle stopper cork; ceremonial
electrum dagger with a star ruby in the pommel

71 - 80

4d6 100 gp

1,400 gp

Eyepatch with mock eye of sapphire and moonstone; fire opal pendant on a fine gold
chain; old masterpiece painting

81 - 85

5d6 100 gp

1,750 gp

Embroidered silk and velvet mantle with numerous moonstones; sapphire pendant on
gold chain

86 - 90

1d4 1,000 gp

2,500 gp

Embroidered and bejeweled glove; jeweled anklet; gold music box

91 - 95

1d6 1,000 gp

3,500 gp

Golden circlet with four aquamarines; a string of small pink pearls (necklace)

96 - 99

2d4 1,000 gp

5,000 gp

Jeweled gold crown; jeweled electrum ring

00

2d6 1,000 gp

7,000 gp

Gold and ruby ring; gold cup set with emeralds

such an item for about 75-90% of its value. It should be noted that
items costing more than 1,000 gold pieces are not sold in stores - not
even the ritzy kind. In fact, most stores rarely carry items worth over
50 gold pieces. More expensive items require a specialized craftsman
or dealer.

There are few markets for magical items or other valuable goods. A PC
usually must search out a proper channel for such dealings, which is
often a fence that leads to interesting future dealings.

Trying to buy or sell magical items is very difficult. It is hard to find the
right merchant willing and able to afford a magical item for sale, unless
the merchant is absolutely sure of a quick profit. Similar to items of
value, magical items are sold by adventurers at 33-50% of their value,
but always purchased by these adventurers for at least full value.

Treasure can be determined randomly. In this case, you consult the

charts splattered across the next few pages, which provide a way to
generate individual and lair treasures. Lair treasure is designated as
Types A to I and appears in a monsters inhabited lair. Out of lair treasure is designated as Types J to Z and is held treasure gathered from
destroying a foe away from its lair. Notwithstanding the existence of
the charts, you may plan treasure found on bodies or in lairs to suit
your campaign.

Magical item value is determined by the GM and should account for

the level of magic in the campaign setting, scarcity of magical items,
relation of magical items to the campaign world, etc. Thus, no strict
rules are given in Myth & Magic to determine exact pricing of magical items. If, however, the GM seeks some guidelines to determine
magical item prices, then use the table below as a guide based on a
campaign settings desired magic level. Assume that the base starting
GP value for any low-powerered magical item starts at the GP value
listed in the chart below.

Magical Item Pricing Guidelines

Campaign
Magic
Level

Base
GP
Value

Base GP Value Multiplier

Single-Use
Items

Standard
Items

Unique or
Artifact

Rare

1,000

x1 - x10

x10 - x100

Priceless

Standard

100

x1/2 - x10

x10 x1000

x10,000 priceless

High

10

x1 - x10

x10 - x100

x1000 priceless

Random or Planned Treasure

Treasure Tables

The treasure tables are consulted when generating random treasure.

Each monster has a treasure rating in its entry in Chapter 4. Consult
that rating on the Random Treasure tables on page 62 or 63 and make
the appropriate rolls to determine what treasure is found.
Treasure ratings correspond to the treasure type. Most monsters have
only lair ratings, but some have both. If a monster had a treasure rating
of L: C; OL: L, the GM refers to the C lair entry if encountered in the
lair, and to the L individual entry if encountered away from its lair.
The charts above have a column for each type of treasure that can be
found. The chance percentage is rolled first on the d%. If successful,
the quantity roll is then made. Gems and art each have a separate random table below to help determine what types are found. The magical
items section has its own tables.
Any treasure type having a -- reference in a column means that no
such coin or object of that type is found.

143

Chapter 1

Magical Items

The following chapter details the various types of magical weapons,

magical armor, scrolls, wands, staves, rods, potions and oils, rings and
wondrous items suitable for low to mid-level play.

Magical Item
Creation and
Destruction
Magic Item Creation

Magical Weapons: It is suggested that only wizards and runecasters

have the capability to create these items.
Magical Armor: It is suggested that only wizards and runecasters have
the capability to create these items.
Rings: It is suggested that only wizards and runecasters have the capability to create these items.
Staves: It is suggested that only wizards, runecasters, witches, and
druids have the capability to create these items.

The following are some guidelines on allowing player characters to

create magical items. These are guidelines only and the GM is free to
develop their own requirements as they feel warranted.

Rods: It is suggested that only wizards and runecasters have the capability to create these items.

Note that a failed creation attempt may result in a cursed item (see the
Cursed Items section for more details).

Wondrous Items: It is suggested that only clerics, druids, wizards,

runecasters and witches have the capability to create these items.

Note also that the class guidelines given should be applied to items
individually and that not all classes should be able to create all items
within a particular magical item category; in general, unless stated
within an items decscription that it is geared towards a particular
class(es), a good guideline is to assume that wizards and runecasters
are the default classes able to create most magical items.

Magic Item Destruction

If creation rules are not mentioned in the descriptions below, the specific creation rules are determined by the GM; use as a guideline the
information in the Wandcraft talent to determine the requirements. At
a minimum, there is a Spellcraft check requirement, research time, and
material cost associated with the items creation.
Scrolls: Only clerics and wizards may create these items. The creation
rules are found in the relevant class descriptions in the Myth & Magic
Players Guide.
Potions and Oils: Only clerics and wizards may create potions and
oils in general, although witches have some limited capacity in this
area as well. The creation rules are found in the relevant class descriptions in the Myth & Magic Players Guide and in the Myth & Magic
Core Expansion PDF.
Wands: Only wizards and witches may create wands. The creation

144

of wands requires the Wandcraft talent found in the Myth & Magic
Players Guide.

Note that rules for destruction of magical items are handled under the
Item Saving Throws section of the Myth & Magic Players Guide.
In general, a good rule of thumb is that magical artifacts or unique
items by the GM cannot ususally be destroyed except under specific
conditions determined by the GM; ie. the Saurons Ring of Power in
the Lord of the Rings series. These items generally have a unique and
venerated place in the campaign setting history and their general invulnerability to most forms of destruction reflects this.

Recharging
Magical
Items
Many items are imbued with a finite number of charges and some
are rechargeable. Although not easy, recharging an item is easier than
creating an entirely new magical item. High-level wizards, runecasters,
clerics, druids or witches may find it useful to recharge an old item.

Magical Items: Magical Weapons

Random Magical Weapons Chart

d%

Magical Weapons

d%

Magical Weapons

d%

Magical Weapons

01 - 15

+1

44

Arrow, Explosive

63

Hornblade

82

Sword of Lifestealing

16 - 20

+1/+2 vs Creature

45

Arrow, Stone

64

Javelin of Lightning

83

Sword of Sharpness

21 - 23

+1/+3 vs Creature

46

Axe of Hurling

65

Javeling of Piercing

84

Sword of Speed

24 - 27

+2

47

Bow, Angling

66

Lunar Sickle

85

Sword of the Planes

28 - 29

+2/+3 vs Creature

48

Bow, Twinshot

67

Mace of Disruption

86

Sword of Wounding

30

+2/+4 vs Creature

49

Crossbow of Accuracy

68

Mace of Smiting

87

Sword, Defender

31

+3

50

Crossbow of Distance

69

Mistletoe Dart

88

Sword, Divine Protector

32

+3/+4 vs Creature

51

Crossbow of Speed

70

Net of Entrapment

89

Sword, Flame Tongue

33

+3/+5 vs Creature

52

Dagger of Impaling

71

Net of Snaring

90

Sword, Frost Brand

34

+4

53

Dagger of Sounding

72

Projectile, Extended Range

91

Sword, Giant Slayer

35

+4/+5 vs Creature

54

Dagger of Throwing

73

Projectile, Seeking

92

Sword, Hallowed Redeemer

36

+4/+6 vs Creature

55

Dagger of Venom

74

Quarterstaff, Magical

93

Sword, Holy Avenger

37

+5

56

Dagger, Longtooth

75

Shadowblade

94

Sword, Invigorator

38

+5/+6 vs Creature

57

Dagger, Spellstoring

76

Shortsword of Sneak Attack

95

Sword, Luck Blade

39

+5/+7 vs Creature

58

Dart of the Swarm

77

Sling Bullet, Wooden

96

Sword, Mage Bane

40

Arrow of Slaying

59

Dragon Slayer

78

Sling of Seeking

97

Sword, Vorpal

41

Arrow/Bolt of Darkness

60

Hammer of Thunderbolts

79

Sling Bullet/Stone, Plague

98

Sword, Wolfsbane

42

Arrow/Bolt of Direction

61

Hammer, Dwarven Thrower

80

Sun Blade

99

Trident of Submission

43

Arrow/Bolt of Harm

62

Heartwood Cudgel

81

Sword of Dancing

00

GMs Choice

The requirements for recharging an item should use the guidelines

presented in the Wandcraft talent found in the Myth & Magic Players
Guide. Once prepared, new charges can be cast into the item. However, recharging is not without risk to the item. Each time the item is
enchanted to recharge, it must make an Average (TC 10) saving throw.
If this saving throw is failed, the character has accidentally interfered
with the magic of the item and it crumbles into useless dust.

Magical
Weapons
Magical weapons are either simple (and self-explanatory) or highly
specialized. Simple magical weapons have enhancement bonuses to attack and damage or have a magical property that needs no elaborate
explanation. They are extremely easy to create as a GM. A +1 long
sword grants a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls against all targets.
An invisible long sword is a long sword that is invisible. There are millions of possible examples of simple magical weapons and there is no
real need to explore these options. You can create these weapons for
your campaign with ease.

Bane Weapons

Some enhanced weapons have two sets of bonuses, a standard bonus and a higher bonus versus certain targets. For example, a +1 long
sword/+2 versus giants grants a +1 bonus to hit and damage against
almost all enemies, but grants a +2 bonus to attacks and damage when

employed against a giant. These are often referred to as bane weapons.

Examples of Bane Weapons: +1 lance/+3 versus evil aligned creatures,
+1 dagger/+2 versus sneak attack victim, +2 long sword/+4 versus good
aligned creatures. Bane weapons are extremely easy for a GM to create
for his campaign and there is no real need to provide a list of them.

Specific Magical Weapons

Some magical weapons are special. They were crafted to be used most
effectively in a specific situation. Most specific magical weapons have a
simple enhancement that constantly applies (such as +1) and a special
property that requires activation or a certain circumstance to reveal its
true power.
The following list contains common specific magical weapons:
ARROW OF SLAYING
This is the perfect bane weapon. These arrows have a standard attack
and damage bonus between +1 and +3 versus all targets, but are created to slay a certain creature on a failed Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude saving throw. The creature suffers a saving throw penalty equal to
the standard bonus of the arrow. The arrow must be specifically crafted
with an actual piece of the creature or a symbol of the creature that
easily tips off the true intent of the weapon. An arrow of slaying can
be tied to any specific monster type, racial subtype, or player character
class. They cannot be tied to playable character races in whole.

145

Magical Items: Magical Weapons

ARROW/BOLT OF DARKNESS
These come in groups of 2 8 (2d8) and are designed for a single use.
Upon impact with a target, the projectile shatters, unleashing the darkness spell (as though cast by a 5th-level arcane caster) upon the target.
ARROW/BOLT OF DIRECTION
A boon to any adventurer, this arrow or bolt functions similarly to a locate object spell, empowered to show the direction to the nearest stairway, passage, cave, or egress. For one consecutive hour each day, the
wielder of the projectile may request for one of the following: stairway,
sloping passage, egress or ingress, cave or cavern. Each request must be
phrased with a distance, such as nearest, farthest, highest, lowest, or
by cardinal direction.

ARROW/BOLT OF HARM
These black projectiles are inscribed with fell runes of death, murder,
and pestilence granting a +3 bonus to hit. Upon impact the target is
automatically reduced to 1d4 hit points, suffering the effects of the
harm spell.
ARROW, EXPLOSIVE
This appears to be a normal arrow upon first inspection, though if detect magic is used, it radiates moderate conjuration magic. When fired
at a target, upon impact, in addition to suffering normal arrow damage, it explodes in a 10 feet burst of flames. Everyone within the area of
the explosion suffers 4d6+6 points of damage, suffering only half damage on a successful Exceptional (TC 20) Reflex save. The target upon
which the arrow exploded suffers full damage, no save permitted.
ARROW, STONE
The crude look of this stone-tipped arrow belies its true power. Upon
impact with a target, in addition to suffering damage, the target must
succeed at an Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude saving throw or be turned
to stone as though targeted by a flesh to stone spell.
AXE OF HURLING
This appears to be a standard +3 hand axe that does not reveal its true
power is not discovered until it is thrown. When thrown, this axe has
a range of 180 feet and will return to its wielder whether or not the attack is successful. In the event that the axe does strike a target to which
it has been hurled, the axe deals double damage.
AXE, THROWING
This +2 throwing axe can be thrown up to Medium range and it retains
its bonus to hit and damage when thrown or wielded in hand.
BOW, ANGLING
This appears to be a normal bow. Upon command it is capable of firing
bolts with special properties up to three times each day. The magical
arrow fired from this bow functions as a +2 arrow for the determination of attacks and damage. When the arrow impacts the intended
target, the head explodes into a small claw, gripping so strongly as
to embed itself into the target. Upon uttering the second command
word, the gripped target is pulled toward the bow wielder at a rate of
60 feet per round. This may be resisted with an Exceptional (TC 20)
Strength check. In the event that the target is heavier than the bow
wielder, braced exceptionally well, or resists the pull with a successful
Strength check, the bow wielder is pulled toward the target instead.

146

BOW, TWINSHOT
This bow functions as a +1 bow until a non-magical arrow is fired from
the bow. When this happens, the bow expends a charge (similarly to
how a wand expends a charge when it is used) creating a duplicate of
the arrow. This allows two arrows to be propelled with a single draw
of the string. Both arrows must target the same opponent, but are resolved as separate attacks. All arrows shot from this bow, whether they
hit or not, are destroyed upon impact (or as soon as it is determined
that they did not hit) and cannot be recovered. A newly crafted twinshot bow has 50 charges and, once all charges have been expended, the
bow functions forever after as a normal +1 bow.
CROSSBOW OF ACCURACY
These +3 crossbows grant the bonus to attack rolls only.
CROSSBOW OF DISTANCE
This +1 crossbow has double the normal range for its type.
CROSSBOW OF SPEED
This +1 crossbow automatically cocks back a bolt placed inside the
groove, which doubles the normal rate of fire for whichever type of
crossbow is found.
DAGGER OF IMPALING
These +2 daggers are especially desired by thieves. When used by a thief
with a successful sneak attack, the sneak attack multiplier is increased
by 1. For example, a 6th-level thief has sneak attack x3 normally, but
with an impaling dagger it would be sneak attack x4. Additionally,
in the event that a natural 20 is rolled with a sneak attack using the
impaling dagger, the target is impaled the dagger becomes lodged in
the target. Each round that the target is impaled with the dagger they
automatically sustain 1d4+2 or 1d3+2 as appropriate for the size of the
target impaled by the dagger. The dagger can be removed with a successful Superior (TC 15) Strength check by the target; no additional
damage is sustained when the dagger is removed.
DAGGER OF SOUNDING
These +1 daggers, with their unusually large, hollow, bulb-like pommel, are invaluable when used to aid in the search for hidden doors
and secret compartments. When this dagger is gently tapped against a
hollow surface, the bulb of the dagger gives a distinct resounding tone.
This translates into the dagger granting a Basic level of proficiency in
Perception (in the hands of one untrained in Perception) when used
to search for secret doors or compartments. In the hands of one who
has training in Perception, they are treated as having training one level
higher (Basic level proficiency is treated as Average, Average level of
training is treated as Superior, and Superior is treated as Exceptional)
when using the dagger to search for secret doors and compartments.
DAGGER OF THROWING
This dagger has a +1 to +4 enhancement to attack and damage whether
thrown or wielded. If thrown, however, it can reach up to 100 feet and
deals 2d4 points of damage (plus enhancement bonus) on impact.
DAGGER OF VENOM
This black +1 dagger has a hilt that can hold up to six doses of the
same type of poison. On a natural attack roll of 20, it automatically
injects a dose of poison into the opponent, who must then succeed on
a Fortitude save at the poisons complexity or suffer the poisons effects
as well as damage from the successful attack.

Magical Items: Magical Weapons

DAGGER, LONGTOOTH
Initially, this +2 dagger appears to be a normal magical weapon. Indeed, in the hands of most adventurers, it will function as a simple +2
dagger. However, when it is wielded by a creature that is small in size,
such as a gnome or halfling, the blade will actually lengthen and function as a +2 short sword. Even while functioning as a short sword, the
longtooth dagger is still treated as a dagger in regard to proficiency.
DAGGER, SPELLSTORING
This +1 dagger has the capacity to store up to five spells. Only spells
of 3rd-level or lower with a range of touch may be stored in the dagger. The wielder of the dagger determines which spell (if any currently
stored) are unleashed on those against which the dagger used. Additionally, should the wielder of the dagger be the target of a touch
spell of 3rd-level or lower and the dagger has room to store spells, the
wielder may store the spell in the dagger rather than be affected by
the spell.
DART OF THE SWARM
A dart of the swarm multiplies when thrown, becoming a veritable
swarm of stinging projectiles. When one is hurled, percentile dice
are rolled to determine the attack bonus and number of darts in the
swarm. Only one attack roll is made to see whether or not all of the
darts strike the target. Note that the bonus applies only to attack rolls,
not to damage, which is the standard amount for a dart (1d3 v. S or M;
1d2 v. L). Darts of the swarm are often found in bundles of ten.

Dart of the Swarm Chart

d%

Attack
Bonus

No. of
Darts

01 - 40

+1

5d4

41 - 70

+2

4d4

71 - 90

+3

3d4

91 - 00

+4

2d4

DRAGON SLAYER
Dragon slayers are usually lances or swords, but any weapon can be
imbued with this magic. This is a type of special bane weapon. Dragon
slayers are always +2 weapons; however that bonus doubles to +4 when
used against any chromatic dragon, not merely against any dragonkind, and the damage is also tripled. Furthermore, each dragon slayer
is specifically tied to one type of dragon in the same way as an arrow
of slaying. Roll a d6 on the evil chart to determine exactly what type of
dragon the weapon is attuned to slay:

HAMMER OF THUNDERBOLTS
This large, extraordinarily heavy great hammer; functions as a +3 great
hammer and deals double damage to all struck by it. However, due to
its size and weight, it may only be wielded by a character that has 18
Strength and is at least 6 feet tall, if not taller.
While an impressive weapon on its own, in order to utilize the full effects of the hammer, the wielder must also be wearing a girdle of giant
strength and gauntlets of ogre power. When that happens, the hammer
functions as a +5 great hammer in melee or if hurled at a target, deals
double damage on all strikes, and immediately strike dead any giant
upon which it scores a hit.
When hurled it has a range of 180 feet, will return to the wielder
whether it strikes a target or not. Upon impact with a target, the hammer will issue a tremendous noise, akin to a great clap of thunder,
which stuns all creatures within 90 feet for round if they fail an Exceptional (TC 20) Will Save. Even with the girdle of giant strength and
gauntlets of ogre power this is a difficult and taxing weapon to throw,
allowing only one throw every other round. If the wielder throws the
hammer more than 5 times in a single combat, they must rest for one
hour or become fatigued, suffering a -2 to all attribute and proficiency
checks, attack rolls, and saving throws.
HAMMER, DWARVEN THROWER
When this weapon is wielded by anyone other than a dwarven fighter,
it functions as a standard +2 warhammer. In the hands of a dwarven
fighter who knows the appropriate command word, its full power is
realized, its bonus increases to +3. Furthermore, it can be hurled 180
feet and return to the wielders hand. When hurled, the hammer deals
double damage to all opponents on a successful hit, except giants.
Against giants, including ogres, ogre magi, trolls, and ettins, it deals
triple damage.
HORNBLADE
This unusual and deceptive weapon has a sickle-like blade resembling
some indeterminate animal horn, ranging in size from that of a knife
to as large as a scimitar. Contained within the horn is a curved blade
of great strength that will spring forth when pressure is applied to the
correct place. The type of hornblade found and the typical bonus are
found in the chart below:

Hornblade Chart
d%

Type

Bonus

01 - 25

Knife

+1

26 - 45

Knife

+2

46 - 60

Dagger

+1

61 - 70

Dagger

+2

Evil Dragons

71 - 85

Scimitar

+1

Red

86 - 95

Scimitar

+2

White

96 - 00

Scimitar

+3

Black

Green

Blue

GMs Choice

Dragon Slayer Attunement Chart

d6

HEARTWOOD CUDGEL
This club is fashioned from the heartwood of an oak tree. In the hands
of anyone other than a druid or witch, this cudgel functions as a +1
club. For a druid or witch, it functions as a +3 club.

147

Magical Items: Magical Weapons

JAVELIN OF LIGHTNING
These javelins have a standard +1 to +3 enhancement bonus. Activated
by a command word during flight, the javelin turns into a lightning
bolt with a medium range (300 feet) that deals an additional 20 points
of damage on impact. This lightning bolt has a line of attack similar to
the arcane spell, so those near the direct path of the lightning bolt may
suffer half damage on a failed save.

of 2 8 (2d4) and have double the normal range for projectiles of

their type. These projectiles are typically empowered with a +1 bonus
to hit and damage.

JAVELIN OF PIERCING
This weapon is typically found in bundles of 2 8 (2d4), with each
javelin having a +6 bonus. Rather than being hurled, the holder of the
javelin utters a command word to launch the javelin at the intended
target. The javelin of piercing has a range of 200 feet and becomes a
normal, non-magical javelin after one use.

QUARTERSTAFF, MAGICAL
This appears to merely be an ornately finished quarterstaff and, in fact,
if a detect magic spell is cast upon it, it resonates no magic. A command
word wreathes the staff in a soft glow that illuminates an area half as
large as that of the light spell. It also can be commanded to elongate
up to 12 feet or to shorten up to 6 feet. In battle, it deals normal quarterstaff damage, but each magical quarterstaff is enhanced with a +1 to
+5 bonus to attack and damage.

LUNAR SICKLE
This sickle is crafter from silver under the light of the moon, binding it
to the moon. It has a variable bonus dependent upon the phase of the
moon in which it is wielded. It has a +1 bonus during the waxing and
waning crescent, a +2 bonus during first and last quarter, a +3 bonus
during waxing and waning gibbous, a +4 bonus during the full moon,
and no bonus whatsoever during the new moon.
MACE OF DISRUPTION
This +1 mace is the bane of all undead. Any undead creature struck
by it takes double damage from the weapon and must succeed on a
Superior TC (15) Fortitude save or be destroyed.
MACE OF SMITING
This +3 heavy mace deals double damage against golems and creatures
native to a plane of existence other than the Prime Material. Additionally, any golem struck by it on a natural 20 is completely destroyed.
MISTLETOE DART
This magical dart is fashioned from a piece of enchanted mistletoe.
This impressive weapon has been empowered to bypass the magical
bonus to AC granted by magical armor, shields, or rings. Magical
armor and shields still provide their normal AC bonus, just not the
bonus granted by the magical enhancement. These darts are typically
found in groups of 2 to 8 (2d4).
NET OF ENTRAPMENT
On command, a thrown net of entrapment can reach Short range and
encompass a 10 ft. square area. All those in the 10 ft. space must save
vs. breath weapon or suffer the nets effects. The net is very strong and
it cannot be cut unless 5 points of damage are dealt to the net, which,
for purposes of these attacks, has an AC of 30. The net can be thrown,
set on the floor to snatch upward, hanged from a ceiling as a trap, etc.
The magical property of the net causes it to purposefully entrap with
ease.

148

PROJECTILE, SEEKING
This projectile is empowered such that it the user suffers no penalties
to attack targets with cover or concealment.

SHADOWBLADE
This +1 sword contains an imprisoned shadow. In addition to dealing
damage, targets also lose 1d4 points of Strength. Anyone completely
drained of Strength by the sword becomes a shadow under control of
the wielder. Non-evil aligned creatures attempting to wield this weapon must succeed at Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude save each round or
lose 1d4 points of strength.
SHORTSWORD OF SNEAK ATTACK
This is a simple +2 shortsword, except when in the hands of a thief.
When a thief uses it to make a sneak attack attempt, they do so as
though they were 4 levels higher than their actual level. This includes
a corresponding improvement to their base to hit and sneak attack
multiplier on a successful hit.
SLING BULLET, WOODEN
These sling bullets are crafted from wood, and are found I groups of 2
5 (1d4+1). They are empowered such that they bypass the protection
afforded by metal armors and shields.
SLING OF SEEKING
This sling has a +2 bonus for attack and damage rolls; however missiles
launched from this weapon are treated as +1 with respect to whether
or not certain creatures are hurt by it.
SLING BULLET/STONE, PLAGUE
These insidious sling projectiles have a +3 bonus and are found in
groups of 2 5 (1d4+1). Anyone attempting to use one of these projectiles or becomes struck by one, must succeed at an Exceptional
(TC 20) Fortitude save. Failure results in the target contracting a fatal
plague that will kill them in 1d20 days.

NET OF SNARING
This is a net of entrapment designed to be used only underwater,
where it can be commanded to shoot forth up to 30 feet away to trap
a creature.

SUN BLADE
This is a bastard sword that has been enchanted to allow it to be wielded as a short sword. In combat it functions as +2 sword against all but
evil creatures, where its bonus increases to +4. Against creatures that
draw their power from the Negative Energy Plane, the sword inflicts
double damage.

PROJECTILE, EXTENDED RANGE

Whether this is an arrow, crossbow bolt, sling bullet or stone, these
projectiles are crafted to perfection. They are typically found in groups

The most potent ability of the sword is its sunray power. Once each
day, the blade can be swung vigorously above the wielders head, causing it to shed a bright yellow radiance identical to the light of a noon-

Magical Items: Magical Weapons

day sun. The radiance begins at a 10-feet radius around the wielder,
increasing 5 feet per round until it has a radius of 60 feet around the
wielder. Once the swinging stops, the radiance fades to a dim glow for
a round before disappearing entirely.
SWORD, DEFENDER
This +4 sword allows the wielder to transfer some or the entire +4
bonus to the wielders AC for one round. For example, the wielder
can, on the first round of battle, opt to reduce the swords attack and
damage bonus to +2, thus receiving a +2 bonus to his Armor Class.
This can be done on the wielders initiative each round as a secondary
action and the effects last until the beginning of the wielders initiative
the next round.
SWORD OF DANCING
This ornately crafted sword has a variable, cyclical bonus. On the first
round of combat it is +1, in the second round +2, +3 in the third
round, and a +4 on the fourth round. On the fifth round it drops back
to +1 and the cycle repeats itself. Once the wielder has used the sword
for a one cycle, they may release the sword and will it to dance for a 4
rounds. During the time in which the sword is dancing, it will move
and attack as though held by the wielder. It will never travel more than
30 feet away from the wielder. The fifth round after the sword began
dancing, it will return to the wielder who must grasp and wield it again
for a full cycle before allowing it to dance again. In the event the sword
and wielder ever become separated by more than 30 feet, the sword
falls to the ground and returns to being a +1 sword.
SWORD OF LIFE STEALING
This black bladed +2 sword has the deadly ability to drain the life from
those it strikes. Anytime the wielder strikes a target with this weapon
with a natural 20 on the attack roll, the target loses Constitution instead of hit points when damage is rolled. The loss of Constitution
is permanent if the target fails an Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude save.
SWORD OF SHARPNESS
This +1 sword has a severely sharp blade. The sword is so sharp, that
when a 19 or 20 is rolled during an attack with a sword of sharpness
it will sever an extremity, such as an arm, leg, tail, tentacle, hand, but
never the head. The severing ability works even against animated statues of metal and stone.
SWORD OF SPEED
Any small or medium-sized sword can be a sword of speed. A sword of
speed always grants its wielder one free attack action before initiative
is rolled each round. Thereafter, the wielder rolls initiative and attacks
normally. Swords of speed all have a base enhancement bonus between
+1 and +5.

Sword of Speed Chart

150

d%

Bonus

01 - 20

+1

21 - 70

+2

71 - 85

+3

86 - 95

+4

96 - 00

+5

SWORD OF THE PLANES

This longsword has a bonus of +1 when wielded on the plane in which
it was forged, but on any other plane of existence, or against creatures
native to other planes, its enhancement bonus increases to +4. Additionally, once per week the sword may be used to temporarily cleave
the fabric that separates one plane from the next; this has the effect of
a plane shift spell, but only for the wielder of the blade.
SWORD OF WOUNDING
This +1 sword inflicts damage that cannot be regenerated or healed
by a spell, item, or other magical means short of a wish or periapt of
wound closure. Additionally, the wounds caused by the sword continue to bleed from round to round, causing the opponent to lose an
additional hit point for each wound inflicted by the blade. Loss of such
additional hit points stop after either a successful first aid check or the
passing of ten rounds.
SWORD, DIVINE PROTECTOR
This beautiful weapon acts as a +2 sword in everyones hands except
that of a paladin. In a paladins hands, the bonus increases to +4 and
will alert the paladin to the presence of evil within a 60-feet radius by
emitting a soft hum only the paladin can hear. The sword will only
warn of an evil presence, not the intensity or direction in which it lies.
The hum is loud enough to the paladin that it will awaken him from a
sound sleep or warn him of an ambush.
Much like a sun blade, once a day the paladin may raise the divine
protector sword above his head and swing it vigorously for one round.
All non-good aligned creatures will hear a deafening siren-like sound
only audible to them. Affected creatures must succeed at an Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude save or be affected for 2 5 (1d4+1) rounds
as though under the effects of the spell cause deafness.
SWORD, FLAME TONGUE
This +1 sword can also be commanded to crackle with natural flames.
While the flames deal no damage to the wielder of the sword, they
empower the weapon when used against creatures or objects susceptible to flame. As such, the sword grants a +2 enhancement bonus
versus any regenerating creature, a +3 versus any cold-based creatures
or those with cold-based attacks, and a +4 against any undead creature
not specifically immune to fire. The flames on this sword radiate light
equivalent to a torch.
SWORD , FROST BRAND
This +3 sword becomes a +6 weapon against any fire creature, which
natural fire attacks and/or full invulnerability to fire. The sword also
sheds light as a torch when the temperature drops below 0F; at such
times it cannot be concealed when drawn, nor can its light be shut off.
Its wielder is protected from fire as if wearing a ring of fire resistance. A
frost brand extinguishes all non-magical fires in a 10-foot radius. It has
a 50% chance to extinguish any magic fire it is thrust into, including
a wall of fire.
SWORD, GIANT SLAYER
This +2 long sword actively assists its wielder in the destruction of giant kind. It provides a +4 bonus versus any giant, giant-kin, ettin, or
ogre mage. Against any of the true giants (hill, stone, frost, or fire) the
sword causes 2d12+4 points of damage instead. Furthermore, like the
famed dragon slayer, each giant slayer is specifically tied to one type of

Magical Items: Magical Armor & Shields

giant in the same way as an arrow of slaying. Roll a d4 to determine the

type of giant that the sword is attuned to slay.

Giant Slayer Attunement Chart

d4

Giant

Fire

Frost

Hill

Stone

SWORD, HALLOWED REDEEMER

This appears to a +5 sword, until wielded by a paladin. When wielded
by a paladin, anytime they choose to invoke their aura, all evil creatures and foes within the area of the aura succumb to the effects of a
fear spell unless they succeed at an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save.
SWORD, HOLY AVENGER
This sacred weapon functions as a +2 sword for anyone other than a
paladin. In a paladins hands, its true power is unlocked, granting everyone within the paladins aura a 50% magic resistance, dispels magic
within the paladins aura as a caster of the paladins class level, and the
smite evil ability of the paladin is always active while wielding the
Holy Avenger.
SWORD, INVIGORATOR
This +3 sword increases by half the number of hit points restored to a
character with a healing spell or other magical curative ability, such as
lay on hands. For this healing boost to occur the wielder must touch
the target with the sword immediately after the healing spell or ability
is used.
SWORD, LUCK BLADE
This sword has a +1 bonus which also applies to the wielders saving
throws and will have 1d4+1 wishes. The GM should keep the number
of wishes secret.
SWORD , MAGE BANE
This is a specific and special bane weapon that resonates no magic
upon detection. In fact, the sword is always a +1 sword, but is a +2
versus spellcasters and magically enchanted creatures.

TRIDENT OF SUBMISSION
This +1 trident causes any opponent struck by it to succeed at a morale
check (if a monster or NPC) or an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save (if
a PC). Failure results in the target immediately surrendering to the
wielder, overcome with hopelessness. This effect lasts for 4 10 rounds
(2d4+2), after which time the affected creatures may act normally.

Magical
Armor&Shields
Similar to weapons, magical armor comes in the basic enchanted type
and in very unique suits or shields crafted for a specific purpose.

Specific Magical Armor & Shields

BASIC ENCHANTED ARMOR & SHIELDS
Armor and shields can receive a magical enhancement bonus, usually
between +1 and +5. This enhancement bonus adds to the wearers AC.
For example, +1 leather armor grants leather armors normal AC bonus, but also adds +1 due to the magical enhancement. Special armor
and shields are described below:
ARMOR OF BLENDING GLAMER
This armor can be of any type. Upon command, the armor can disguise itself via an illusion to appear as mundane clothing of the wearers choice. This illusion cannot be disbelieved, however. Only magical
detection reveals it. The most common form of this armor provides
no AC enhancement; enhanced versions do exist, but they are very
expensive.
ARMOR OF ABSORPTION
This +5 armor can be of any type, though it is most often found as
chain mail. Each time the user is hit by a blow that would cause soul
drain or energy drain, the armor absorbs the drain and only the normal damage affects the user. Immediately upon absorbing the drain
the bonus of the armor decreases by 1. Once the armor has absorbed
drain five times, the armor becomes forever non-magical.

SWORD, VORPAL
This sword appears to be identical to a sword of sharpness. However, it
has the ability to sever a targets head from their body when a natural
20 is rolled for the attack, provided the target is no more than one size
larger than the wielder.

ARMOR OF ANYTHING
This +1 armor may be of any type. Upon command the armor will
transform into any sort of normal non-magical armor for 24 hours
or into any other armor with a special function (such as plate mail of
etherealness) for one hour. Once the armor has been commanded to
transform three times it forever loses the ability to transform becoming
a normal +1 armor.

SWORD , WOLFSBANE
This is also a specific and special bane weapon. It normally functions
as a +1 sword, but grants a +3 bonus to attack and damage versus
any shape-shifters. The sword is laced and infused with mystical wolf s
bane, as well. On command, the sword exudes an aura of the herb
which, on a failed save, keeps at bay any werewolves or natural wolves.
Furthermore, a natural 20 attack roll against a werewolf temporarily
forces the werewolf to revert to its original form for 1 hour.

ARMOR OF ATTRACTION
This armor appears to be a normal suit of magical armor, type and bonus determined by the GM. However, the armor is cursed and serves
to attract projectiles. The bonus to Armor Class provided by the armor
does not apply against projectile attacks. Any projectile targeting or
fired within a 30-feet radius of the wearer of armor of attraction will
turn and fly at the wearer. The true nature of the armor will not reveal
itself until the character is fired upon in actual combat.

151

Magical Items: Magical Armor & Shields

Random Magical Armor or Shield Chart

d%

Magical Armor or Shield

01 - 10

+1 Armor

61 - 62

Barber Shield

11 - 20

+1 Shield

63 - 64

Elven Chain Mail

21 - 24

+2 Armor

65 - 66

Golden Clothe

23 - 25

+2 Shield

67 - 68

Inferno Hide

26 - 28

+3 Armor

69 - 70

Piety Shield

29 - 31

+3 Shield

71 - 72

Mail of Underwater Action

32 - 34

+4 Armor

73 - 74

Plate Mail of Command

35 - 36

+4 Shield

75 - 76

Plate Mail of Invisibility

37 - 38

+5 Armor

77 - 78

Plate Mail of Fearsome Presence

39 - 40

+5 Shield

79 - 80

Plate Mail of the Seas

41 - 42

Armor of Blending Glamor

81 - 82

Rainbow Mail

43 - 44

Armor of Absorption

83 - 84

Red Mail

45 - 46

Armor of Anything

85 - 86

Shield of Arrow Deflection

47 - 48

Armor of Blackflame

87 - 88

Shield of Dragon Protection

49 - 50

Armor of Comfort

89 - 90

Shield of Missile Protection

51 - 52

Armor of the Desert Evening

91 - 92

Shield of Proof Against Element or Energy

53 - 54

Armor of Gaseous Form

93 - 94

Shield of Reflection

55 - 56

Armor of Haste

95 - 96

Storm Armor

57 - 58

Armor of Invisibility

97 - 98

Thermocs Buckler

59 - 60

Armor of Reflection

99 - 00

Tortoise Shield

ARMOR OF BLACKFLAME
This armor can only be worn by creatures of halfling size or smaller
and may be of any type. The armor surrounds the wearer with a shifting aura of darkness, concealing the wearers features against all scrutiny. Armor of Blackflame is insubstantial, cant be damaged, and does
not provide protection against physical attacks. Instead, it grants the
wearer complete immunity to magical and non-magical fire, heat, and
cold. The armor of blackflame can be utterly destroyed if touched by a
rod of cancellation or targeted by a disintegrate spell.
ARMOR OF COMFORT
Armor of comfort has been empowered to be as comfortable to wear as
regular clothing, even allowing the wearer to sleep in it without problems. It does not provide any additional protection beyond the base
AC listed for the armors type.
ARMOR OF THE DESERT EVENING
While conferring no magical bonus to Armor Class, this armor may be
worn in the desert heat without causing problems to the wearer.
ARMOR OF GASEOUS FORM
Much like the armor of the desert evening, armor of gaseous form confers
no magical bonus to Armor Class. It is instead enchanted to allow the
wearer, and all carried equipment, for one hour each day to transform
into a cloud of gas. The wearer may return to normal by concentrating
for one round.

152

d%

Magical Armor or Shield

ARMOR OF HASTE
While this armor provides no magical bonus to Armor Class, once per
day for one turn the wearer gains the benefits of the haste spell.
ARMOR OF INVISIBILITY
Three times per day, this +2 armor can be commanded to make the
wearer invisible (as the spell invisibility).
ARMOR OF REFLECTION
This +2 armor reflects all gaze attacks back upon the attacker.
BARBER SHIELD
These +1 bucklers, once per day upon command, heal the user as if
targeted by the spell cure critical wounds.
ELVEN CHAIN MAIL
This is the epitome of finely crafted armor. Although not magical, elven chain is crafted to provide the same bonus to AC as chain mail,
but be only slightly more restrictive than leather armor. It is thin and
can be concealed under mundane clothing. It is also lighter than chain
mail, so classes restricted to light armor often can wear elven chain
with slight penalties.
GOLDEN CLOTHE
This finely woven, golden suit of padded cloth armor provides a +2
bonus to Armor Class and protects the wearer from non-magical projectiles as though under the effects of a protection from projectiles spell.

Magical Items: Magical Armor & Shields

INFERNO HIDE
This blood red, +4 hide armor allows the wearer to save against firebased attacks for half damage on a failed save or no damage on a successful save.
PIETY SHIELD
These +2 large steel shields bare the symbol of the bearers chosen deity
on the front. When wielded by a cleric, they turn undead as though
they were four levels higher in level.
MAIL OF UNDERWATER ACTION
These suits of armor are only ever found as chain mail, scale mail, plate
mail, field plate mail, or full plate mail. They provide no magical bonus
to Armor Class. Instead, the armor allows the wearer to breathe under
water for 24 hours before it requires 24 hours to recharge. Additionally, the mail allows the wearer to swim 180 feet per round, provided
the wearer has at least an Average level of proficiency in Swimming.
PLATE MAIL OF COMMAND
This suit of +1 plate mail grants its wearer an 18 Charisma when
wearing the armor. It also grants clerics a +2 bonus on turn undead
checks.
PLATE MAIL OF INVISIBILITY
At will, the wearer of this suit of +1 plate mail can render the armor invisible per the spell, concealing the fact that armor is worn at all. Once
per day, upon command, the armor can render its wearer invisible per
the spell as well (caster level 10th).
PLATE MAIL OF FEARSOME PRESENCE
This armor functions as normal +1 plate mail. However, upon uttering a command word, the wearer radiates a 25-foot radius aura of fear
as per the frightening aura spell. All creatures (except the one wearing
the armor) must succeed on an Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude save
or be affected. The armor has 4d10 charges when found and when
all charges are spent, the armor functions as normal plate mail +1. It
cannot be recharged.
PLATE MAIL OF THE SEAS
Plate mail of the seas is a suit of +1 full plate mail that will float in water.
The wearer of the armor can tread water indefinitely, but will not be
able to dive deeper than 2 feet.
RAINBOW MAIL
This multicolored, shimmering suit of +3 chain mail illuminates everything within a 20-feet radius. The radiance of the armor negates magical darkness, the ability to hide in shadows, and will reveal invisible or
obscured creatures similarly to the spell faerie fire.
RED MAIL
This +4 chain mail protects the wearer from bolt and ray spells and
spell-like effects by deflecting them to the next closest target within
range of the bolt or ray.

SHIELD OF DRAGON PROTECTION

The shield of dragon protection provides a +3 bonus to Armor Class
against all enemies except dragons. When used against a dragon the
bonus increases to +5 and applies to the all saving throws of the user
against magical spells cast by dragons and dragon breath weapons. In
addition to providing a bonus to saving throws against dragon breath
weapon, the user suffers no damage on a successful save and only half
damage with a failed save.
SHIELD OF MISSILE PROTECTION
This +1 shield is always a large shield. It grants an additional +4 bonus
to AC versus any small and medium projectile and grants 25% Magic
Resistance versus all magical missiles and rays, including those that
unerringly strike.
SHIELD OF PROOF AGAINST ELEMENT OR ENERGY
These +3 small shields provide their bonus to the bearers saving throws
against a single element or energy type. Each shield is crafted to be
proof against a single element or energy, as determined by the following chart.

Proof Against Element or Energy Chart

d%

Element or Energy

1 - 15

Acid

16 - 30

Cold

31 - 45

Electricity

46 - 60

Fire

61 - 75

Heat

76 - 90
91 - 00

Sound
Roll twice, ignoring results from 91 00

SHIELD OF REFLECTION
These +4 large steel shields reflect all gaze attacks, rays, and bolts back
at the attacker.
STORM ARMOR
This is a suit of +2 plate mail that provides immunity to the fireball, ice
storm, and cone of cold spells and immunity to electricity. Additionally,
the armor allows the wearer to stand or move about in the face of even
the most powerful wind, including that generated by the spell gust of
wind or the like.
THERMOCS BUCKLER
This +2 buckler reflects back all magic missiles targeting the bearer
back at the caster.
TORTOISE SHIELD
These +2 bucklers provide protection identical to a tower shield; including the ability to provide cover if braced by the bearer.

SHIELD OF ARROW DEFLECTION

This large shield acts as a +1 shield/+4 versus all normal missile attacks.
Additionally, the shield reflects any magic missile attacks targeting its
wielder back at the caster on a d6 roll of 5 or 6.

153

Magical Items: Magical Scrolls

Random Magical Scrolls Chart

d%

Spell Scrolls

d%

Trigger Scrolls

d%

Spell Enhancement Scrolls

01 - 10

1st Level Spell Scroll

01 - 07

Missive Scrolls

01 - 13

Enduring

11 - 20

2nd Level Spell Scroll

08 - 13

Protection From Bludegeoning Weapons

14 - 25

Expanded

21 - 30

3rd Level Spell Scroll

14 - 19

Protection From Breath Weapons

26 - 38

Friendly

31 - 38

4th Level Spell Scroll

20 - 25

Protection From Elementals

39 - 50

Penetrating

39 - 44

5th Level Spell Scroll

26 - 30

Protection From Element or Energy

51 - 62

Power

45 - 50

6th Level Spell Scroll

31 - 37

Protection From Magic

63 - 75

Reach

51 - 55

7th Level Spell Scroll

38 - 43

Protection From Petrification

76 - 85

Repeat

56 - 60

8th Level Spell Scroll

44 - 49

Protection From Piercing Weapons

86 - 00

Swift

61 - 63

9th Level Spell Scroll

50 - 56

Protection From Poison

64 - 65

Cursed Scroll

57 - 63

Protection From Projectiles

66 - 80

Spell Enhancement Scroll

64 - 69

Protection From Spells

81 - 00

Trigger Scroll

70 - 77

Protection From Shapechangers

78 - 85

Protection From Slashing Weapons

86 - 92

Protection From Undead

93 - 00

Scroll of Wonder

Magical
Scrolls
Scrolls contain a number of spells that can be activated by a reader.
There are three scrolls types: those that can be activated by anyone
trigger scrolls; those that require an appropriatly-classed spellcaster
spell scrolls; and those usable by any spellcaster spell enhancement
scrolls.

Activating Scrolls

There are different rules for activating trigger scrolls, spell scrolls, and
spell enhancement scrolls:
Trigger Scrolls: To activate a trigger scroll, the reader need only read
the scroll. If the scroll is written in a foreign language, it will need to
first be translated. Note that most cursed scrolls are trigger scrolls and
simply activate upon attempting to read them. Trigger scrolls use the
minimum required caster level for calculations to a maximum of 9thlevel. If no caster level can be discerned, they are considered 9th-level.
Spell Scrolls: Scrolls are written so that any character of the appropriate class will be able to read it: runecaster, witch, wizard or bard for arcane spell scrolls; cleric, druid, paladin, ranger or witch for divine spell
scrolls. The scroll simply need be read to activate the spell or spells. If
the caster has the spell on his list of known spells, there is no chance
of failure. If the spell is of a level and/or type that the caster has access
to, there is no chance of failure. If the spell is of a level too high for
the caster, or it belongs to a school or type of magic the caster cannot
employ, an Exceptional (TC 20) Intelligence check is required or the

154

attempt fails. At that point, take note of the activation check result and
consult the failed attempt section below.
Spell Enhancement Scrolls: These special trigger scrolls may only
be utilized by spellcasters. To read the scroll, an Exceptional (TC 20)
caster level check is required (caster level check is 1d20 plus caster
level) or the scroll cannot be used. Unlike other scrolls, failure does
not result in anything untoward occurring to the reader. However, the
reader may not attempt to use the scroll again until they gain enough
experience to advance a level.
Failed Attempts: More often than not, a failed attempt simply indicates the caster failed to invoke the spells energy. The attempt can be
retried. Sometimes, the failed attempt results in an unfortunate mistake that either harms the reader or invokes the exact reverse effect. An
explosion occurs on any activation check resulting in an Average check
(between TC 10 and TC 14), while a reversal occurs on any activation
check resulting in a Basic check (between TC 1 and TC 9).
Explosion: 1d6 points of damage per spell level to the reader only.
Reversed Effect: The reader or readers allies suffer the spells effects,
receiving a save if allowed.

Casting Time and Duration

Trigger scrolls, unless otherwise stated, have an activation time of +4

and a duration of 1d6+4 rounds.
Spell scrolls have activation or casting times identical to the spell to
be activated plus two, with a duration appropriate to the caster level
of the spell.
Spell enhancement scrolls require a full round to activate and have a
duration of 1d4+1 rounds.

Magical Items: Magical Scrolls

Trigger Scrolls
MISSIVE SCROLLS
This is actually a matched set of scrolls, in two separate, but identical
scroll cases. As long as both scrolls are on the same plane of existence,
regardless of the distance, what is written on one scroll will appear
upon the second scroll. The message may be up to 100 words in length.
The message will remain on both scrolls until the holder of the scroll
that received the message speaks the command word to erase it.
PROTECTION FROM BLUDGEONING WEAPONS
These scrolls protect the reader from sustaining damage from all bludgeoning weapons.

PROTECTION FROM SPELLS

These scrolls provide the reader with a +4 bonus on all saving throws
versus spells cast at the subject. Spells that target the reader from a triggered effect (such as a trap) do not enjoy the bonus.
PROTECTION FROM SHAPECHANGERS
This scroll protects the user from sustaining damage any creature with
the ability to change shapes, including druids of sufficient level.
PROTECTION FROM SLASHING WEAPONS
These scrolls protect the reader from sustaining damage from all slashing weapons.

PROTECTION FROM BREATH WEAPONS

These scrolls protect the reader from sustaining damage from any form
of breath weapon.

PROTECTION FROM UNDEAD

The reader of this scroll is protected from all attacks made by undead.
The granted protection includes special attacks, such as a gaze, but not
magical spells.

PROTECTION FROM ELEMENTALS

These scrolls come in one of five varieties Protection from Air Elementals, Protection from Earth Elementals, Protection from Fire Elementals, Protection from Water Elementals, and Protection from all
Elementals. The type of scroll found is determined by the GM. Once
the scroll is read, everyone within 10 feet of the reader is protected
from sustaining damage from the type of elemental noted, as well as
elemental creatures of the same plane. The scroll protects against up to
24 HD of elemental creatures.

SCROLL OF WONDER
This scroll, once each day, allows whatever mundane item drawn upon
it to be taken off the scroll and used. The item that is drawn, when
taken off of the scroll, must fit within a 5-foot by 10-foot by 2-foot
area and weigh no more than 50 pounds. Only non-magical items,
including armor and weapons, may be drawn and created by the
scroll. Food, wine, and other perishable goods cannot be made with
this scroll. Regardless of what is created by the scroll, the item vanishes
within 24 hours.

PROTECTION FROM ELEMENT OR ENERGY

These scrolls protect against acid, fire, cold, electricity, gas, and water.
Once activated, a 10-ft. radius globe appears around the reader and
shields those within from any form of natural element or energy. In
the case of water, the globe creates an air pocket. Those in the globe
are rendered immune to any damaging effects of existing sources of
the energy or element. Targeted effects, however, still require a save,
but are performed with a +6 to the roll and always deal half damage
on a failed save.

Spell Scrolls

PROTECTION FROM MAGIC

This scroll invokes a 5-foot radius globe of antimagic, which functions
as the spell antimagic shell, around the reader. The globe moves with
the reader.
PROTECTION FROM PETRIFICATION
The reader is surrounded in a10-foot circle of protection, which moves
with the reader. All within the radius are immune to any attack that
will turn flesh into stone.
PROTECTION FROM PIERCING WEAPONS
These scrolls protect the reader from sustaining damage from all piercing weapons.
PROTECTION FROM POISON
These scrolls render the reader immune to all forms of poisons for
1d4+10 rounds.
PROTECTION FROM PROJECTILES
These scrolls protect the reader from all projectile damage, excluding
projectiles composed of energy, such as the spell magic missile.

Spell scrolls hold a number of spells that can be found in the spell descriptions in the Spells chapter. Each scroll will contain from one to six
spells (1d6) when found. These spells work exactly as they read in the
Spells chapter. Spell scrolls use a caster level equal to 9th-level or the
minimum level needed to cast the spell, in regards to range, duration,
and effects. Once a spell is read from a scroll, it forever disappears, the
magic released to activate the spell.
In addition to the magical ability to release a spell, arcane scrolls may
also be copied into a spell book. This requires the use of the spell read
magic. Once the spell is copied into the spell book, the spell disappears
from the scroll as though it were read and used.

Spell Enhancement Scrolls

This second type of spell scroll boosts the spells cast by the reader in
some fashion range, duration, or variable effects such as damage, and
so forth. Only a single spell enhancement scroll may be active at any
time with the reader.
ENDURING
These scrolls double the duration of spells cast while it is in effect.
Spells with a duration that is instantaneous or permanent are unaffected.
EXPANDED
These scrolls increase the area of effects of area effect spells, such as
fireball or repel insects, by 50%. Only spells that have an area of effect
expressed as a measure of area, such as 10-foot cube, gain this benefit.

155

Magical Items: Potions & Oils

FRIENDLY
When a caster reads this scroll, they designate up to one character per
caster level as an ally. In the event that a designated ally is within the
area of harmful spell cast by the reader, the ally will be unaffected by
the spell, as though immune to its effects.
PENETRATING
These scrolls increase the difficulty to resist spells cast, increasing saving throws for spells to Legendary (TC 25).
POWER
This scroll benefits only those spells that deal damage, by increasing
the damage die roll to the next higher die. For example, the spell fireball would deal 1d8 per caster level instead of 1d6.
REACH
These scrolls extend the range of spells cast while in effect short
range spells increase to medium, medium ranged spells increase to
long. Spells with a range of personal or touch gain no benefit.
REPEAT
This scroll causes a cast spell to affect the target(s) twice in the same
round.
SWIFT
This scroll allows spellcasters to cast spells as a secondary action instead
of a primary action.

Potions &
Oils
Potions are liquid shots of magic. They are stored in flasks or vials
using a process that protect the potion from disintegration, and with
enough liquid to serve as one dose for one subject. Potion brewers
have unique processes, so it is impossible to guess a potions effects by
sight or even scent. Only by once experiencing the potion in the past
and tasting a small portion of the potion does one glean its effects. An
Intelligence check is often required to recall the potion this way.
Drinking a potion imposes a +1 initiative penalty. Once imbibed, the
potions effects take effect before initiative the next round.

Although you have full discretion to adjudicate the complications involved in mixing potions, the chart below can be consulted on the fly.

Combining Potion Results Chart

d%

Result

01 05

Internal explosion causing 6d10 points of damage. If

the amount of damage suffered is enough to kill the
subject, the body explodes, dealing 1d10 points of
damage to all those within 5 feet.

06 19

The subject retches up both potions, losing the effects of any previously enjoyed effect. The retching
continues for 1d4 minutes, during which the subject
can take no other actions.

19 30

Mild poisoning causes a -2 to Strength, Dexterity,

and Constitution for 24 hours.

31 40

Deadly poisoning of subject that, unless neutralized

within 1 hour, kills the subject.

41 65

Nothing happens. The first potion remains active.

66 75

The second potion safely overrides the first potion.

The second potions effects take effect normally.

76 80

The second potion actually empowers the first potion,

extending the first potions duration by an additional
1d4+4 rounds.

81 90

The two potions work in harmony. The subject enjoys

both effects normally.

91 95

A totally new magical effect takes hold of the subject

and a new potion is discovered.

96 00

The mixture causes the subject to exude a beacon of

antimagic. All magical items worn, stored, or carried
by the subject, including armor and weapons, become
permanently non-magical.

Specific Potions & Oils

Here is a list of potions and oils suitable for low to mid-level play:

Oils are magically infused and activated when they are sufficiently
spread over a creature or object. The process for applying oil takes
one full round and the oils effects take hold before initiative the next
round.

ACUMEN
This potion grants the imbiber a +10 bonus to all non-weapon proficiency checks for one hour.

Duration: Unless otherwise stated, the effect of a potion or oil lasts

1d4+4 rounds.

ANIMAL CONTROL
The subject can control the emotions of an animal through an instant empathic link. If the subject can actually communicate with the
animal, this potion will render the animal charmed and under the

Saving Throws: Unless otherwise stated, where a saving throw is allowed to thwart a potions effect, the saving throw is Exceptional (TC
20) as is customary for spells.
Combining Potion Effects: The introduction of a potion, while one is
under the effects of another potion can be a very disastrous occasion.
Simply put, some potion effects interact dangerously with others. As a

156

general mode of precaution then, the standard operating procedure of

adventurers is to never combine potions.

Magical Items: Potions & Oils

Random Magical Potions & Oils Chart

d%

Potion or Oil

d%

Potion or Oil

01 - 02

Acumen

51

Heroism

03 - 04

Animal Control

52 - 54

Influence

05

Arcane Comprehension

55 - 56

Invisibility

06 - 07

Clairaudience

57 - 58

Invulnerability

08 - 09

Clairvoyance

59 - 61

Iron Hands

10 - 12

Climbing

62 - 63

Linguistics

13 - 15

Cure Disease

64

Luck

16 - 17

Diminution

65 - 67

Magic Resiliency

18 - 19

Damage Resistance

68 - 69

Master Thievery

20 - 21

Dragon Control

70 - 71

New Moon

22

Dragon Breath

72 - 73

Oil of Bludgeoning Impact

23 - 24

Elasticity

74 - 75

Oil of Dispelling

25 - 26

Elemental Control

76 - 77

Oil of Etherealness

27 - 28

Energy

78 - 79

Oil of Liquid Fire

29

Entropic Touch

80 - 81

Oil of Preservation

30 - 32

Expansion

82 - 83

Oil of Slipperiness

33 - 34

Extra Healing

84 - 85

Polymorph

35 - 36

Fire Resistance

86 - 87

Poison

37 - 38

Flying

88 - 90

Rejuvenation

39 - 40

Gaseous Form

91 - 92

Speed

41 - 42

Giant Control

93

Super-Heroism

43

Giant Strength

94 - 96

Sweet Water

44-45

Glibness

97 - 98

Undead Control

46 - 48

Healing

99 - 00

Water Breathing

49 - 50

Health & Well Being

complete control of the subject for 1d4+4 rounds. Animals with an

Intelligence score of 5 or higher receive a Will saving throw to thwart
the effects, but, unless threatened, most animals waive the save. The
following chart can be used to randomly generate the type of animal
controlled.

Random Animal Control Chart

d%

Animal

01 14

Avians/Birds

15 24

Water-based/Fish

25 65

Land-based mammal

66 79

Amphibians

80 89

Reptiles

90 96

Insects

97 100

Roll Twice Above

ARCANE COMPREHENSION
The imbiber of this potion enjoys the ability to use magical items as
though they were a wizard or runecaster.
CLAIRAUDIENCE
The subject enjoys the effects of the clairaudience spell for 1d4+4
rounds, although nearby areas (within close range) do not require the
subject to have any form of familiarity.
CLAIRVOYANCE
The subject enjoys the effects of the clairvoyance spell for 1d4+4
rounds, although nearby areas (within close range) do not require the
subject to have any form of familiarity.
CLIMBING
The subject essentially is considered to have Exceptional level of proficiency in the thief proficiency Climb, free of charge, and receives a
+10 additional bonus on all Climb checks for 2 minutes. Although no
racial modifications apply, the subject does suffer from wearing armor
based on the following chart. A carried shield shifts the armor type one
category to the worse.

157

Magical Items: Potions & Oils

Climbing Armor Penalty Chart

Penalty

Armor Type

-1

Any magically lightened armor

-1

Studded Leather/Elven Chain Mail

-2

Ring Mail

-3

Scale Mail

-4

Chain Mail

-5

Banded or Splint Mail

-6

Plate Mail or Field Plate

-8

Full Plate

-10

Full Plate with Shield

CURE DISEASE
This potion functions identical to the cleric spell remove disease.
DIMINUTION
The subject shrinks down in size a percentage equal to the percentage
of the potion drunk. For example, drinking 50% of the potion reduces
the subject 50% in size. If the entire potion is consumed, the subject
shrinks down to as small as a few inches tall.
DAMAGE RESISTANCE
This potion decreases the amount of damage from a successful physical
attack melee or ranged, by 2 points of damage per attack.
DRAGON CONTROL
This potion grants the ability to cast a powerful charm monster spell
upon a single dragon within 300 feet. The drinker of the potion has
the ability for 1d4+1 rounds. The dragon is permitted an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save with a -2 penalty. The subject may attempt to
charm the dragon in successive rounds in the event of a successful save.
Should the dragon fail the save, the subject of the potion gains control
of the dragon for 5d4 rounds.
DRAGON BREATH
The imbiber of this potion gains the ability to spew forth a specific type
of dragon breath weapon in a cone 20 feet wide, up to 80 feet long.
The damage dealt by the breath weapon is as that spewed by a dragon
of juvenile age. Those caught within the breath weapon are permitted
an Exceptional (TC 20) Reflex saving throw for half damage. Consult
the chart below for the type of dragon breath gained.

Dragon Breath Weapon Type Chart

158

d%

Dragon Breath Type

01 - 20

White

21 - 40

Green

41 - 60

Black

61- 80

Blue

81 - 00

Red

ELASTICITY
This potion allows the imbiber to stretch their arms, legs, neck, or other appendages up to a number of feet equal to double their Fortitude
save modifier. Only a single appendage may be stretched at time.
ELEMENTAL CONTROL
The imbiber gains the ability to control a elemental creatures whose
total hit dice are equal to or less than double the level of the imbiber.
ENERGY
This potion restores the imbiber to a state of being well rested and
nourished despite exertion, lack of sleep, starvation, and dehydration.
If no depravation has been experienced when the potion is drunk, the
imbiber may go seven days without the need for rest, food, or water.
ENTROPIC TOUCH
The imbiber of this potion gains the ability to destroy objects touched,
as though the object were targets by the spell disintegrate.
EXPANSION
The imbiber of this potion, including all gear, gains the benefit of being the subject of the enlarge spell as though cast by a 15th-level arcane
caster.
EXTRA HEALING
This potion need not be entirely consumed. It essentially holds three
doses of a healing potion (which heals 1d8+1 hp) in concentrated
form. If entirely consumed, the subject enjoys the effects of the three
potions at once.
FIRE RESISTANCE
The subject becomes immune to all mundane fire or heat sources and
gains a +4 save bonus vs all heat-based magical or special effects and
spells (including a fiery breath weapon from a dragon or a fireball
spell). Whenever the subject takes fire or heat damage, two points of
damage are subtracted from each die of damage rolled.
FLYING
The subject flies as if he was the subject of the fly spell.
GASEOUS FORM
For 1d4+4 minutes, the subject and all his gear turn into a gaseous
form and can float about at a speed of 30 feet per round. The gas can
penetrate the smallest holes, cracks and gaps. While in this gaseous
form the subject is rendered immune to all normal attacks, but can be
harmed by magical fire and lightning.
GIANT CONTROL
This potion functions similarly to a potion of dragon control, except that
it grants control of giants instead of dragons.
GIANT STRENGTH
The subject enjoys a Strength attribute of 20 for 1d4+4 rounds. The
magic only works on those with an aggressive personality, so it generally only works for fighters, barbarians, paladins and battle clerics.
GLIBNESS
This potion enables the imbiber to speak with such eloquence and
loquaciousness, that even outrageous lies sound completely legitimate

Magical Items: Potions & Oils

and genuine. The imbiber is considered to have Superior level of proficiency in Diplomacy for one hour.
HEALING
This potion heals 1d8+1 points of damage to the subject.
HEALTH & WELL BEING
This potion does not actually heal hit point damage, but it does remove any natural or magical ailment, poison, mental defect, or physical impairment (such as blindness or deafness). If the subject suffers
from more than one malady, he must consume the entire potion to
remove all defects. If less than the entire potion is consumed, only one
(randomly determined) issue is resolved.
HEROISM
The subject magically gains a certain bonus on all combat rolls (attack,
damage and saving throw), as well as a certain amount of temporary
hit points equal to 1d10+1 per bonus granted.

Heroism Bonus Per Level Chart

Level

Bonus Gained

1-3

+3

4-6

+2

7-9

+1

INFLUENCE
The imbiber becomes incredibly charismatic, gaining a +5 bonus to all
Charisma-based influence checks.
INVISIBILITY
This potion imbues the subject with the effects of the invisibility spell.
It can commonly be found or purchased as an 8-dose potion, each
dose granting the subject invisibility for 2d3 minutes. Any outwardly
hostile action dispels the effects, requiring another dose.
INVULNERABILITY
The imbiber of this potion is granted complete immunity to sustaining
damage from any source.
IRON HANDS
The imbibers hand transform into iron, enabling them to attack with
their bare hands as though armed. The hands deal 1d12 points of damage per successful melee attack.
LINGUISTICS
The imbiber of this potion permanently learns to speak and read a
previously unknown language by concentrating on a specific race or
type of creature.
LUCK
This potion makes the imbiber incredibly lucky. The player of the
character who drank the potion, select three die rolls in which the
result is the maximum value possible. Only die rolls of the player of
the imbiber may be affected. The effect lasts for one turn or until the
luck has been used.

MAGIC RESILIENCY
This potion grants the ability for the imbiber to succeed at ALL saves
against spells and spell-like effects.
MASTER THIEVERY
This potion is similar to a potion of heroism, with two differences: first,
the bonus only applies to saving throws and Rogue proficiency checks;
second, only 1d6+1 temporary hit points are gained per bonus instead
of 1d10+1.
NEW MOON
This potion, when imbibed, cures those afflicted with lycanthropy.
OIL OF BLUDGEONING IMPACT
When spread on a bludgeoning weapon, the oil enchants the weapon
with a temporary +3 enhancement bonus. Two-handed weapons deal
3 additional points of damage (total +6). Melee weapons so enchanted
last for 1d4+8 rounds. Ranged weapons remain enchanted for 1d4+8
rounds, or until hurled. Ranged weapons do not deal any additional
damage above the +3 enhancement.
OIL OF DISPELLING
This oil, when applied to an object, suppresses all magical enhancements and enchantments for 1 hour. When it is applied to a creature,
rather than suppress, it will permanently dispel all magical effects on
the affecting the creature.
OIL OF ETHEREALNESS
This light oil is applied to the clothes and exposed flesh of the user,
conferring etherealness three rounds after being applied. While ethereal, the individual is able to pass through solid objects in any direction sideways, upward, downward, backwards, and even to different
planes. The individual may only interact with other ethereal objects,
is invisible to all non-ethereal beings, and will remain ethereal for 10
minutes. There is enough oil to be applied to a single medium-sized
creature with equipment.
OIL OF LIQUID FIRE
When this insidious oil is exposed to air, it immediately explodes into
flame, dealing 5d8 points of damage, the first round, to any creature
unfortunate enough to be directly exposed to it. Creatures affected
must roll an Exceptional (TC 20) Reflex save or be engulfed in flames
as the oil of liquid fire ignites there equipment. Ignited creatures suffer 1d6 points of fire damage per round until extinguished; the only
way to extinguish the flames is by dousing the burning creature with
vinegar or wine. When hurled, all creatures within a 10-feet radius of
impact will be affected. The oil will continue to burn for 1 minute
before it expires.
OIL OF PRESERVATION
When this oil is applied to an object made of formally living matter
(such as leather, paper, wood, dead flesh, clothing, and so on), it is immune to the passage of time, forever preserved in its current condition.
The oil lasts until magically removed. A single flask holds enough oil to
coat eight medium-sized objects, or 10 square feet.
OIL OF SLIPPERINESS
If spread on an object or creature, the subject cannot be grabbed, grappled, entangled, or constricted in any way. The oil allows a creature

159

Magical Items: Rings

to easily spring from any sort of restraint, even webs. If placed on a

floor, any creature that steps on the oil must roll an Exceptional (TC
20) Reflex save. Failure causes the creature to fall prone. Subsequent
rolls must be rolled when attempting to regain footing. Any form of
alcohol, if poured on the oil, will dilute its effectiveness.
POLYMORPH
The imbiber of this potion gains the ability to change shape similarly
to that of the spell polymorph.
POISON
This is a magical poison that affects its subject via contact, injury, or
ingestion. In any case, it is a Type IV poison that requires a Superior
(TC 15) Fortitude saving throw to avoid death. Older potions of poison may be weak, in which case an Average (TC 10) save is required.
Likewise, horribly potent potions exist that require an Exceptional
(TC 20) or Legendary (TC 25) save!
REJUVENATION
This potion reduces the subjects age by 2d4 years. It is possible to
reduce the potency of the potion by taking a small mouthful, allowing
the subject to reduce their age by only 1 year; doing so extends the
number of uses to 3, with each use allowing a 1 year reduction.
SPEED
This potion doubles the movement speed of the subject and grants the
subject one additional attack action before initiative in every round.
The potion has a duration of 5d4 rounds, after which time the subject
ages one year.
SUPER HEROISM
This is almost identical to a potion of heroism, except the imbiber gains
a +4 bonus to all combat rolls attack, damage, saving throws, and
4d10+4 hit points.
SWEET WATER
This potion utterly cleanses up to 100,000 cubic feet of contaminated
liquid (even poison). The effect is permanent and for 5d4 rounds after
the introduction of sweet water into the polluted liquid, the liquid
cannot be re-contaminated.
UNDEAD CONTROL
This potion allows the imbiber to rebuke undead as though they were
an evil cleric. Rebuke undead checks are based upon the imbibers
character level.
WATER BREATHING
The subject can breathe underwater. Potions of water breathing usually
contain two doses, but rarer potions may contain up to four doses.
Any single dose provides water breathing for 1 hour.

Rings
Magical rings must be worn to imbue their magic, and only one magical ring may be worn on a hand at any one time. There is no required
style of crafting a magical ring, and so two magical rings of the same
type may have two different styles. Most rings, when found, will not fit
the finder. Some magical rings, however, are crafted with the ability to
change their size to fit its wearer. If not, the ring can still be worn loose
or the finder can hire a jeweler to fashion a fitter to the ring.
Examining a magical ring with ones eyes is useless; they never seem
magical. Only through magical detection or experimentation does one
learn what a particular magical ring does. All magical rings are considered 12th-level casters, unless a higher level is noted.

Specific Rings
RING OF ANIMAL FRIENDSHIP
Whenever the wearer of this ring approaches within short distance of a
non-magical and mundane animal, the animal must succeed on an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save or be forced to become a temporary friend
of the wearer. Up to 12 HD of animals can be affected at one time.
RING OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM
The wearer of this ring is treated as having an 18 Charisma when communicating with animals. As long as the ring is worn, the wearer may
communicate as though under the effects of the spell speak with animal.
RING OF BEGUILING INFLUENCE
This ring has the effect of raising the wearers Charisma to 18 for the
purpose of influence with regards to humans and humanoids. Additionally, the wearer can cast charm person and suggestion once per day.
RING OF BLINKING
On command, this ring makes the wearer blink as per the spell. The
ring will function for six rounds before becoming dormant for one
hour while it replenishes itself.
RING OF BONE
These rings when newly forged have 50 charges, 3 30 (3d10) charges
when found. When worn the wearer each time the wearer would be hit
for soul drain the ring expends one charge and absorbs the drain. If the
wearer would be hit for energy drain the ring expends two charges and
absorbs the drain. Once the ring expends its last charge it crumbles
to dust.
RING OF BREATH WEAPON WARDING
The wearer of this ring is granted complete immunity to the breath
weapons attacks from all non-dragon creatures. Against dragons the
ring allows the wearer to sustain no damage with a successful saving
throw or half damage for a failed save.
RING OF CHAMELEON POWER
Similar to the way a thief can hide in shadows, the wearer of this ring
is proficient in hiding in his surroundings with a +15 bonus on the
Dexterity check to succeed.

160

Magical Items: Rings

Random Rings Chart

d%

Ring

d%

Ring

01 - 04

Animal Friendship

52 - 54

Nullification

05 - 07

Animal Magnetism

55 - 58

Protection

08 - 11

Beguiling Influence

59

the Ram

12 - 14

Blinking

60 - 62

Readiness

15 - 17

Bone

63 - 67

Regeneration

18

Breath Weapon Warding

68 - 70

Resolve

19 - 22

Chameleon Power

71 - 74

Shock

23

Elemental Dominion

75 - 77

Spell Extension

24

Enduring Spell

78 - 80

Spell Storing

25 - 27

Feather Fall

81

Spell Turning

28 - 32

Fire Resistance

82 - 84

Sustenance

33

Freedom of Movement

85 - 89

Swimming

34 - 37

Ghostwalk

90 - 92

Telekinesis

38 - 41

Hierophant

93

Three Wishes

42 - 45

Invisibility

94 - 96

Truthspeaking

46 - 49

Leadership

97 - 99

Warmth (Cold Resistance)

50

Mind Shielding

00

Wizardry

51

Mneumonic Memory

RING OF ELEMENTAL DOMINION

There exist four types of this powerful ring: Air Elemental Dominion,
Earth Elemental Dominion, Fire Elemental Dominion, and Water Elemental Dominion. The rings have a set of common powers which
may be used by anyone wearing the rings. The true power of the rings,
powers specific to each ring, may only be unlocked by a druid, ranger
or witch. No more than one ring of elemental dominion may be worn
and used at any time.
The following powers are common to all rings of elemental dominion:

Elementals to which the ring is attuned cannot attack or

approach within 5 feet of the wearer.
Creatures from the elemental plane to which the ring is
attuned may attack the wearer with a -1 penalty to attack
and damage and the wearer is granted a +2 bonus to saving
throws from the creatures attacks.
The wearer is granted a +4 bonus to attack and damage
against creatures native to the elemental plane to which
their ring is attuned.
Elementals and elemental creatures to which the ring is attuned suffer a -4 penalty to saving throws against the wearer.
Any weapon used by the wearer can hit elementals and
creatures native to the elemental plane to which the ring
is attuned.
The wearer of the ring is able to converse with elementals
and elemental creatures to which the ring is attuned.
All elementals and elemental creatures, regardless to which

element the ring is attuned, affords the wearer a healthy

level of respect, bordering on reverence.
The possessor of a ring of elemental dominion is immune
to damage from spells and spell-like effects based upon the
element to which the ring is attuned.
Each ring provides a particular vulnerability as follows:
o
Air
-2 vs. Fire and Heat
o
Earth
-2 vs. Reflex Saves
o
Fire
-2 vs. Ice or Cold
o
Water
-2 vs. Electricity

The following list describes the specific powers of each ring which may
only be used by druids, rangers or witches:
Ring of Air Elemental Dominion
fly
gust of wind (1/round)
haste
invisibility
wall of force (1/day)
Ring of Earth Elemental Dominion
move earth (1/week)
passwall (2/day)
stone tell (1/day)
stone to flesh (2/week)
wall of stone (1/day)
Ring of Fire Elemental Dominion

burning hands (1/turn)

flame strike (2/week)

161

Magical Items: Rings

flame blade (1/day)

pyrotechnics (2/day)
wall of fire (1/day)

Ring of Water Elemental Dominion

control water (1/week)

create water (1/day)

lower water (2/week)

purify food and drink (water only)

water breathing (5-foot radius, continuous)

wall of ice (1/day)
RING OF THE ENDURING SPELL
Spells cast by the wearer of this ring have double the normal duration.
Spells with a duration of concentration, instantaneous, or permanent
gain no benefit from this ring.
RING OF FEATHER FALL
The wearer is always under the effects of a feather fall spell. Anytime
the wearer falls more than 5 ft., the rings magic takes effect.
RING OF FIRE RESISTANCE
The wearer becomes immune to all normal fire and heat sources. Additionally, they gain a +4 saving throw versus all fire- and heat-based
magical or special effects and spells (including a fiery breath weapon
from a dragon or a fireball spell). Whenever the wearer takes fire or
heat damage from a magical or special effect, each damage die roll
result is decreased by 2 (minimum of 0). Furthermore, if completely
engulfed in a source of extreme heat, such as lava, the wearer suffers the
minimum amount of damage.
RING OF FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
This ring enables its wearer to move and attack normally, even under
the influence of magic that usually impedes movement, such as paralysis, solid fog, slow, and web. The ring also allows the subject to move
and attack normally while underwater, even with slashing weapons
such as axes and swords or with bludgeoning weapons such as flails,
hammers, and maces, provided that the weapon is wielded in the hand
rather than hurled. This does not, however, provide any form of water
breathing.
RING OF GHOSTWALK
These are actually rings of invisibility (see below) but also render the
wearer completely silent. Speaking breaks the silence effect instantly,
but does not affect the invisibility.
RING OF THE HIEROPHANT
When this ring is worn by a druid, once per day, it enables the druid
to shape change into an elemental of their choosing air, earth, fire,
or water. The shape change enjoyed by the druid is similar to that of
the 9th-level arcane spell shape change. However, unlike the spell, the
druid retains the ability to cast spells. The shape change lasts for 10
minutes.
Regardless of whether or not the ring is worn by a druid, once per day,
the ring grants the wearer the ability to cast the 5th-level divine spell
protection from elemental energy as though cast by a 10th-level caster.

162

RING OF INVISIBILITY
The wearer enjoys the ability to render himself invisible per the spell
invisibility. Similar to the spell, any outward act of hostility immediately dispels the effect.

RING OF LEADERSHIP
The wearer of this ring, if not a fighter, is treated as having an 18
Charisma in regard to the number of henchman they will attract.
When worn by a fighter, they attract twice as many henchman as their
Charisma would normally allow. Additionally, the all followers of the
wearer gain a +4 bonus to morale.
RING OF MIND SHIELDING
The wearer of this ring is continually immune to detect thoughts, detect
lie, and any attempt to magically discern his alignment.
RING OF MNEMONIC MEMORY
Once per day, this ring allows a bard, runecaster, witch or wizard to
retain a spell after having been cast. Additionally, it allows a witch or
wizard to rememorize spells in 10 minutes (instead of 10 minutes per
spell level) without requiring the need of an Intelligence check.
RING OF NULLIFICATION
This cursed ring nullifies magic items, spells, and innate magical
powers possessed by the wearer. The wearer may still be affected by
magic from an outside source such as being within the area of a
fireball spell or the beneficiary of a heal spell. Magical items held by
another character, such as potions, would constitute an outside source,
as long as the wearer of the ring of nullification was not holding the
item. A remove curse spell is required in order to remove the ring.
RING OF PROTECTION
A ring of protection covers its wearer in an invisible layer of force that
provides a bonus to AC between +1 and +5. The vast majority of rings
of protection are +1.
RING OF THE RAM
The wearer can cause the ring to shoot forth a ram-like force up to
30 ft. that is shaped to resemble the head of a ram or goat. The ramlike force strikes a single target, dealing damage dependent upon the
number of charges discharged with the strike: one charge deals 1d6
damage; two charges will deal 2d6 damage; and three charges will deal
3d6 damage. The force of the blow can also open magical or mundane
doors that are stuck naturally or via magic as though forced by someone with an effective Strength of 18. Expending two charges increases
the effective Strength to 19, while expending three charges increases
the effective Strength to 20.
A ring of the ram can be used in a few additional ways, all of which
relate to the use of a powerful force. For example, the ring could be
used to knock a target off a ladder or ledge (requiring a save with a bonus equal to any damage bonus for high Strength). It could be used to
knock someone prone or into a dangerous object. It could also be used
to smash an item (requiring an item saving throw). Expending three
charges will cause a magical item to save or be smashed.
A newly created ring has 50 charges, but those found usually do not
have more than 10. When all the charges are expended, the ring becomes a nonmagical item until recharged.

Magical Items: Rings

RING OF READINESS
This is actually a pair of rings, one worn as normal, the second secured
in some fashion to an item, such as a suit of armor. As long as the rings
are within 10 miles of each other, the wearer of the smaller ring need
only utter the command word to summon forth the object to which
the larger ring is attached. The summoned object will appear instantaneously ready for immediate use. For example, if the larger ring was
attached to armor, the armor would appear on the wearer.
RING OF REGENERATION
The wearer heals one hit point turn. Death due to loss of Constitution,
fire, acid, disintegration or similar means prevents the regeneration
from working. The ring is powerful enough that severed appendages
will be regrown in one weeks time.
RING OF RESOLVE
While this ring is worn, the wearer gains the benefit of adding 1 point
to Wisdom (18 maximum). Additionally, the wearer is immune to
sleep, charm, and fear effects.
RING OF SHOCK
The wearer may expend one charge upon touching someone or something and deal 1d8+6 points of electrical damage.
RING OF SPELL EXTENSION
Spells cast by the wearer of this ring have the range of the spell increased to the next higher range category. Spells with a range of personal or touch are unaffected by this ring.
RING OF SPELL STORING
This ring may store up to five spells. The spells may be discharged
by the wearer as though the wearer were a caster of the minimum
level needed to cast the stored spell, even if they are not a spellcaster
themselves. The ring imparts the knowledge of what spells are stored
to the wearer.

ring sustains the aging as though being the actual caster of the spell.
RING OF TRUTHSPEAKING
The wearer of this ring can instantly discern if someone is lying per the
spell detect lie. Conversely, while the ring is worn, the character is unable to tell a lie himself. If the wearer tries to tell a lie, he finds himself
speaking the literal truth instead.
RING OF WARMTH (COLD RESISTANCE)
The wearer is never affected by cold environments and enjoys a +2 saving throw bonus against any cold-based special attack. Even on a failed
save, the damage suffered by a cold-based effect is reduced by 1 point
per every die rolled.
RING OF WIZARDRY
This ring, beneficial only to wizards or runecasters, allows a wizard or
runecaster to memorize twice as many spells of two or more levels, as
shown on the cart below:

Ring of Wizardry Chart

d%

Double Spells of ...

01 - 50

1st and 2nd-level

51 - 75

2nd and 3rd-level

76 - 90

3rd and 4th-level

91 - 95

4th and 5th-level

96 - 97

1st through 3rd-level

98 - 99

1st through 4th-level

00

1st through 5th-level

RING OF SPELL TURNING

This ring may turn spells back upon the caster of the spell, identical to
the 7th-level arcane spell spell turning.
RING OF SUSTENANCE
After 1 week of wearing this ring, the wearer need only sleep two hours
per day to be completely refreshed, and needs no food or drink. If it is
removed, even for a second, it will not function again until it has been
worn for another week.
RING OF SWIMMING
The wearer of this ring is able to swim at the normal base move speed.
Additionally, it quadruples the amount of time the wearer may remain
underwater before needing to surface for air.
RING OF TELEKINESIS
This potent ring grants the wearer the power of mind over matter,
similarly to the spell telekinesis. The wearer can move 25 pounds of
weight per character level.
RING OF THREE WISHES
These rare and powerful rings contain three wish or limited wish spells.
The type of ring found is determined by the GM. The wearer of the

163

Magical Items: Wands

Wands
Wands are small, thin shards of a sturdy material, such as bone, wood,
or ivory, that store a certain number of charges of a specific magical
spell or effect. Wands must be commanded to expend a charge, which
usually requires the knowledge of a command word or phrase. Some
wands have their commands written magically on their shaft. A simple
read magic spell suffices if this is the case. Other wands deliver their
command via an empathic or telepathic connection. You, as GM, determine how secretive the command word or phrase is, and what is
required to attain it.
All wands are created with 10 to 100 (1d10 x 10) charges, but are usually found with far less than the original lot. You determine the exact
amount of remaining charges. Once all of the charges are expended,
the wand could disappear, turn to dust, explode, or simply become an
inert piece of material.
Activating a wand, unless otherwise stated, adds a +4 penalty to the
initiative roll. Furthermore, all wands are considered 6th-level casters
for calculations, unless otherwise stated.

Specific Wands

Here are some wands suitable for play:

WAND OF CONJURATION
While holding this wand, an arcane or divine caster may recognize any
cast or written arcane or divine conjuration/summoning spell (Divine:
prayer, summon insect swarm, summon animals, conjure animals, summon majestic animal, summon weather, wall of thorns, creeping doom,
holy word, miracle, summon earth elemental; Arcane: mount, summon
familiar, summon swarm, sepia snake sigil, black tentacles, mages faithful
hound, secret chest, ensnare planar being, instant summons, trap the soul,
unseen servant, monster summoning, summon elemental, invisible stalker,
limited wish, symbol, maze, gate, prismatic spray, wish).
Upon expending a charge for each power desired, the wielder may access the following powers:
unseen servant
monster summoning*
* A maximum of six charges may be expended, one per level of the
monster summoning; for eaxample, six monster summoning I, three
monster summoning II, two monster summoning II, or any combination totaling six spell levels. The arcane or divine caster must be a high
enough class level to cast the desired monster summoning spell.

164

Random Wands Chart

d%

Wand

01 - 05

Conjuration

06 - 12

Detect Magic

13 - 16

Earth and Stone

17 - 21

Enemy Detection

22 - 26

Fear

27 - 33

Fire

34 - 38

Flame Extinguishing

39 - 45

Frost

46 - 51

Illuminating Lights

52 - 56

Illusion

57 - 61

Lightning

62 - 70

Magic Missiles

71 - 73

Metal and Mineral Detection

74 - 79

Negation

80 - 85

Paralyzation

86 - 89

Polymorphing

90 - 93

Secret Door and Trap Location

94 - 98

Size Alteration

99 - 00

Wonder

Each function of the wand has an initiative penalty of +5, and only
one function per round may be used. The wand can be recharged.
WAND OF DETECT MAGIC
A wand of detect magic locates the strongest magical aura within 30
feet of the wielder. This initial detection takes one round. The wielder
can expend an additional charge to spend a full round discerning the
properties of the magical aura (similar to the detect magic spell) or can
locate the second most-powerful magical aura within range. Every attempt to locate magic or discern magic requires one round and drains
one charge. The wand can be recharged.
WAND OF EARTH AND STONE
Appearing as a shorter stick tipped with some form of minera, this
wand is imbued with the following powers:
passwall (1 charge/use)
move earth (2 charges/use)

Upon expending 2 charges, the wand can also conjure a veil of total
darkness that absorbs all light; a maximum area of 600 square feet (60
x 10, 40 x 15, 30 x 20) may be shrouded, but it must encompass the
entire area from ceiling to floor and stretch wall to wall. The darkness
can be penetrated only by physical means or magic.

In addition, half of all wands of earth and stone have the following
powers:

Upon expending a charge per color desired, the wielder may use the
wand to construct a prismatic sphere or prismatic wall, one color at a
time, ranging from red to violet.

The wand can be recharged.

transmute mud to rock (1 charge/use)

transmute rock to mud (1 charge/use)

WAND OF ENEMY DETECTION

When held and activated, this wand pulses and points in the direction of any creature(s) hostile to the wielder within a 60-foot sphere;

Magical Items: Wands

creature(s) can be invisible, ethereal, astral, out of phase, hidden, disguised, or in plain sight. The wand functions for one round per charge
expended. The wand can be recharged.
WAND OF FEAR
Upon activation (1 charge per activation), once per round, a pale amber ray in the shape of a cone 60 feet in length and 30 feet in base
diameter emanates from the tip of the wand, flashing on and instantly
disappearing. Each target touched by the ray must make an Exceptional (TC 20) Will saving throw. Failure causes the target(s) to react
as per the cause fear spell (1st-level divine spell, remove fear reversal),
forcing those that fail the save to flee from the wielder for 1d4 rounds.
The wand can be recharged.
WAND OF FIRE
This wand can mimic the following arcane spells, one effect allowed
once per round. All effects are as per the arcane spell except as noted.
Burning hands (1 charge/use): The wand emits a sheet of flames
in a wide 120 degree cone from the casters fingers and encompasses anyone within 10 ft. of the caster. The flames deal 6 hit
points of fire damage.
Pyrotechnics (1 charge/use; Initiative penalty +2): This function
duplicates the spell of the same name.
Fireball (2 charges/use; Initiative penalty +2): A beam of red
light emanates from the tip of the wand and ends at a desired
point within 160 feet. A small bead then forms and begins to
travel the beam. Unless the bead or beam is interrupted by a
solid object or creature, the bead blossoms into a fireball as it
approaches the end of the beam. The fireball explodes with a low
roar when it reaches the end, dealing 6d6 points of fire damage
and all 1s rolled are counted as 2s (i.e., the burst causes 12-36
points of damage). Any unattended object must save or be destroyed (unless the object is immune to fire), and all surrounding
combustibles, including worn cloaks of those that do not save,
may catch fire. A successful Exceptional (TC 20) Reflex saving
throw reduces the damage by half.
Wall of fire (2 charges/use; Initiative penalty +3): The wand can
be used to draw an immobile, blazing curtain of shimmering fire
1200 feet square (10 x 120, 20 x 60, 30 x 40, etc.) which
lasts for 6 rounds. One side of the wall, selected by the wielder,
sends forth waves of heat, dealing 2d6+6 points of fire damage
if touched, 2d4 points of fire damage to creatures within 10 feet
and 1d4 points of fire damage to those between 10 feet and 20
feet from the wall. The wall deals double damage to undead creatures. If the caster causes the wall to appear where creatures are,
each creature takes damage as if passing through the wall. The
wall deals this damage to any nearby creatures when it appears
and on the casters initiative each round. The flames can also be
shaped into a 25-foot diameter ring surrounding the wielder if
desired.
The wand can be recharged.
WAND OF FLAME EXTINGUISHING
This wand has three distinct functions:
Extinguish smaller nonmagical fires (no charges): The wand
may extinguish nonmagical fires up to the size of a bonfire or a

fire in a regular fireplace without using any charges.

Extinguish specialized nonmagical fires (1 charge/use): The
wand may extinguish larger nonmagical fires such as flaming
oil (1 gallon or more), the flames ignited naturally by a fiends
body, a flame tongue sword, or a burning hands spell. Continual
magical fire such as that produced by a sword or a creature able
to ignite, can be extinguished for a maximum of 6 rounds, after
which they resume burning.
Extinguish large magical fires (2 charges/use): The wand may
extinguish larger magical fires, such as ones produced by the
spells fireball, flame strike, or wall of fire.
Note: If the wand targets a creature composed of pure flame (such as a
fire elemental, for example), a successful attack roll inflicts 6d6 points
of damage.
WAND OF FROST
This wand can mimic the following arcane spells; one effect is allowed
once per round. All effects are as per the arcane spell except as noted.
Ice storm (1 charge/use): A silvery ray bursts from the wand and
a hail storm occurs up to 60 feet away from the wand holder.
Wall of ice (1 charge/use; Initiative penalty +2): A silvery ray
bursts from the wand and forms a wall of ice (6-inches thick,
covers a 600-squarefoot area (10 x 60, 20 x 30, etc.)).
Cone of cold (2 charge/use; Initiative penalty +2): White crystalline motes emanate from the wand in a cone (60-foot length,
terminal diameter of 20 feet) for one second in duration at a
temperature of -100 degrees Fahrenheit, dealing 6d6 points of
cold damage and all 1s rolled as are counted as 2s (i.e., the burst
causes 12-36 points of damage). A successful Exceptional (TC
20) Reflex saving throw reduces the damage by half.
The wand can be recharged.
WAND OF ILLUMINATING LIGHTS
A wand of illuminating lights produces one of a few different illuminating effects based on the amount of charges expended. One charge
musters a light spell or dancing lights spell. Two charges muster a continual light spell. When three charges are expended, the wand summons forth a 20 ft. radius ray of light, equal in intensity to sunlight,
that can strike a point at up to medium range. Any living creatures in
the area of effect must succeed on an Exceptional (TC 20) Reflex save
or be blinded for 1 round. Any undead in the area suffer 6d6 points of
damage, no save. The wand can be recharged.
WAND OF ILLUSION
This wand creates audible and visual illusions (similar to those produced by the spells audible illusion and phantasmal image) through
emission of an invisible ray (maximum 140-yard range). The wielder
must concentrate on the illusion in order to maintain ithe may
move normally but cant perform attacks. Each type of effect, audible
and visual, costs one charge to activate and one charge per round to
maintain. Activating the wand has an initiative modifier of +3 and the
wand can be recharged.
WAND OF LIGHTNING
This wand can mimic the following arcane spells; one effect is allowed
once per round. All effects are as per the arcane spell except as noted.

165

Magical Items: Wands

Shocking Grasp (1 charge/use): Striking a target in melee combat or

simply touching them with the wand does 1-10 hit points of damage.
Lightning Bolt (2 charges/use; Initiative penalty +2): Upon command
of the wielder, the wand can discharge a lightning bolt up to 120 feet,
dealing 6d6 points of damage and all 1s rolled are counted as 2s (i.e.,
the bolt causes 12-36 points of damage). It can melt metals with a low
melting point (copper, silver, gold, bronze, etc.), and can set fire to
combustibles. Objects that take the full brunt of the bolt must save or
be destroyed. The wand can be recharged.
WAND OF MAGIC MISSILES
A wand of magic missiles functions exactly like the spell of the same
name. The wielder can use one or two charges each round to expel one
or two magic missiles that deal 1d4+1 points of damage on impact.
WAND OF METAL AND MINERAL DETECTION
The wand pulses in the wielders hand and points to the largest mass
of metal within a radius of 30 feet. Upon concentrating on a specific
metal or mineral (gold, platinum, quartz, beryl, diamond, corundum,
etc.), the wand will point to all places it is located within range and imparts knowledge of the approximate quantity as well. Each use requires
one round. Each charge used empowers the wand for two rounds. The
wand can be recharged.
WAND OF NEGATION
When activated, this wand emits a pale gray beam which, upon touching a targeted object, negates the spell or spell-like effect(s) of rods,
staves, wands, and other magical items. This totally negates any wand
function, and makes any other spell or spell-like function from that
device 75% likely to be negated. A wand of negation has no effect on
cast spells or a creatures spell-like abilities. The wand has an initiative
penalty of +1, can be used once per round, and each use drains one
charge. The wand cannot be recharged.
NOTE: (GM Option: High Level Campaign): The wand temporarily
renders targeted magical devices unable to generate spell-like effects.
When a devices spell-like effect(s) is negated, any charges drained to
produce the effect are lost; the device is not otherwise harmed.
WAND OF PARALYZATION
Upon activation, the wand emits a thin, bluish colored ray out to a
maximum 60-foot range. Any creature touched by the ray must make
a Superior (TC 15) Reflex saving throw; failure means the ray hit the
target and the target is frozen rigidly immobile for 5d4 rounds. The
wand can only target one creature per round, has an initiative penalty
of +3 , and each use drains one charge. The wand can be recharged.
WAND OF POLYMORPHING
Upon activation, the wand emits a thin, green beam out to a maximum range of 60 yards. Any creature touched by the beam must make
a Superior (TC 15) Reflex saving throw; failure means the target is
polymorphed (as the polymorph any object spell) into any type of small
and innocuous creature (i.e., snail, frog, insect, etc.).
Alternatively, the wielder may elect to touch a target with the device
instead. Unwilling creatures must be hit with a melee attack and may
make a Superior (TC 15) Reflex saving throw to avoid the effects. If
the touch is successful and the (unwilling) target fails its save, the target
is evveloped by motes of twirling, sparkling emerald light, transform-

166

ing into a corporeal creature of the wielders desire (as the polymorph
spell). Only one function per round may be used, either function has
an initiative penalty of +3, and each use drains one charge. The wand
can be recharged.
WAND OF SECRET DOOR AND TRAP LOCATION
Upon activation, the wand pulses in the wielders hand and points
either to all secret doors (15-foot radius) or all traps (30-foot radius).
Note that for each charge used, the user must designate whether they
are searching for secret doors or traps. The wand requires one round to
function and each use drains one charge. The wand can be recharged.
WAND OF SIZE ALTERATION
Upon activation, the wielder may cause any single corporeal target of
virtually any size within a 10-foot radius to grow or shrink in size by
50%; note that this does also affect anything worn or carried by the
target and that the targets Strength and power increases or decreases
proportionally (for enlarged humanoid creatures, Strength is roughly
proportional to that of a giant of corresponding size). For example,
a humanoid enlarged to 18 feet tall is approximately equivalent to a
stone giant (23 strength), and a 20-foot tall humanoid is approximately
equivalent to a frost giant (24 Strength). Unwilling targets must make
a Superior (TC 15) Fortitude save to resist the effecs; willing targets
need not make a saving throw. The effect of the wand can be removed
prior to its effect duration either by a dispel magic spell, requiring the
target to make a shock survival check, or by being cancelled by the
wielder. Each use (but not cancellation) drains one charge. The wand
can be recharged by a 12-level or higher wizard, runecaster, or witch.
WAND OF WONDER
The wand of wonder is a strange and unpredictable device that will
generate any number of strange effects, randomly, each time it is used.
The usual effects are shown on the table below, but you may alter these
for any or all of these wands in your campaign as you see fit. See the
chart below for possible effects of the wand.
One charge is drained per use. The wand cannot be recharged.

Magical Items: Magical Staves

Magical
Staves

Wand of Wonder Effects Chart

d%

Effect

01 - 10

Slow creature pointed at for one turn

11 - 18

Deludes wielder for one round into believing the

wand functions as indicated by a second die roll

19 - 25

Gust of wind, double force of spell

26 - 30

Stinking cloud at 30-foot range

31 - 33

Heavy rain falls for one round in 60-foot radius of

wand wielder

34 - 36

Summon rhino (1-25) [base move of 24 feet, AC

14, 60 hp, Fort +8, Ref +4, Will +5, 8 HD, 3
attacks gore (2d8), trample (2d8), and charge
(4d8), XP 975], elephant (26-50) [base move of 45
feet, AC 14, 85 hp, Fort +10, Ref +7, Will +8, 11
HD, 4 attacks two tusks (2d8), trunk (2d6), and
trample (4d12), XP 4000], or mouse (51-00) [base
move of 2 feet, AC 13, 1 hp, Fort +1, Ref +4, Will
+2, 2 HD, XP 0] [as per the appropriate monster
summoning spells]

37 - 46

Lightning bolt, as wand

47 - 49

Stream of 600 large butterflies pour forth and

flutter around for two rounds, blinding everyone
(including wielder)

50 - 53

Enlarge target (within 60 feet radius), as spell

54 - 58

Darkness (30-foot diameter hemisphere centered

on wielder)

59 - 62

Grass grows in area of 160 square feet before the

wand, or existing grass grows to 10x normal size

63 - 65

Vanish any nonliving object of up to 1,000 pounds

mass and up to 30 cubic feet in size (object is
ethereal)

66 - 69

Diminish (reverse of enlarge spell) wand wielder to

1/12 height

70 - 79

Fireball, as wand

80 - 84

Invisibility covers wand wielder, as spell

85 - 87

Leaves grow from target (within 60 feet of wand)

88 - 90

10-40 (1d4x10) 1 gp base value gems shoot forth

in a 30-foot-long stream, causing 1 point of damage each to any creature hit in path; roll 5d4 for
number of hits

91 - 97

98 - 00

Shimmering colors dance and play over a 40-by 30foot area in front of wand; targets within area are
blinded for 1d6 rounds
Flesh to stone, 60-foot radius (reversible)

Note: Where applicable, saving throws should be made.

Magical staves are tall and relatively slender shafts of any sturdy material, such as bone or wood. They are frequently carved in elaborate
fashion with metal bands and/or gems. Similar to wands, staves store
a certain number of charges of a specific magical spell or effect. Staves
must be commanded to expend a charge, which usually requires the
knowledge of a command word or phrase. Some have their commands
written magically on their shaft. A simple read magic spell suffices if
this is the case. Other staves deliver their command via an empathic or
telepathic connection; some even speak to the wielder in the wielders
dreams. It is up to you to determine how secretive the command word
or phrase is, and what is required to attain it.
All staves are created with 24 charges, but are usually found with less
than the original lot. Once all the charges are expended, someone
trained to do so can recharge the staff.
Activating a staff, unless otherwise stated, adds a +4 penalty to the initiative roll. Furthermore, all staves are considered 8th-level casters for
calculations, unless a specific staff states a different level is to be used.

Types of Magical Staves

There are many magical staves. Most are crafted for a specific spellcaster who has a predetermined vision of the staffs functions. As such,
a magical staff can have any number of various spells and spell effects
attuned to it.

Random Staves Chart

d%

Staff

01 - 07

Staff-Mace

08 - 15

Staff-Spear

16 - 23

Staff of Commanding

24 - 30

Staff of Healing

31 - 38

Staff of the Magi

39 - 46

Staff of Power

47 - 54

Staff of the Serpent

55 - 62

Staff of Slinging

63 - 70

Staff of Striking

71 - 78

Staff of Swarming Insects

79 - 85

Staff of Thunder & Lightning

86 - 93

Staff of Withering

94 - 00

Staff of the Woodlands

167

Magical Items: Magical Staves

Specific Magical Staves

The activation of any spell requires a primary action in combat that

does not suffer an initiative penalty normally associated with the
spell.

STAFF-MACE
This weapon appears to be a normal wooden hiking staff often used
when traversing the wilderness. Usually made of bronzewood, this
staff is reinforced by heavy bands and tips of iron and gives off a very
faint aura of alteration magic. Upon command by a wielder who is a
divine caster, the staff-mace takes on one of three forms, as desired by
the wielder.

STAFF OF THE MAGI

This powerful staff contains the ability to cast a myriad of spells and
the capability to perform other functions, some of which drain charges
and others which do not.

The following are examples of types of magical staff that can be created
or found.

Quarterstaff: +3 quarterstaff, iron-shod

Great Mace: +1 hand mace, iron
Mace: +2 heavy mace, iron

STAFF-SPEAR
This seemingly ordinary quarterstaff radiates an aura of alteration
when examined magically. Upon an initial command, a long, sharp
spear blade extends forth from the upper end, effectively making the
staff into a spear. Upon a second command, the length of the weapon
elongates to 12 feet. Upon a third command, the staff-spear reverts to
its original quarterstaff form. The weapons magical enhancement bonus and monetary value of each staff-spear are determined randomly
when the item is first used.

Staff-Spear Chart
d%

Enhancement Bonus

GP Value

01 - 30

+1

1,000

31 - 50

+2

1,500

51 - 65

+3

2,000

66 - 80

+4

2,500

81 - 95

+5

3,000

96 - 00

+3*

3,500

* Does damage as guisarme (2d4, 1d8+1 vs. Large+), but still acts as a
spear if used to thrust or when set to receive a charge.
STAFF OF COMMANDING
When in the hands of an arcane spellcaster, a charge can be expended
to cast the suggestion spell or to activate an effect similar to that of a
ring of animal control. A divine caster can also use the suggestion and
animal control powers, but may also use a charge to control plants and
plant-creatures in a 10-ft area.
STAFF OF HEALING
This white ash wood staff is inlaid with silver runes. It allows the wielder to expend a certain amount of charges to bring forth the effects of
the following spells:

168

neutralize poison (1 charge)

cure serious wounds (1 charge)
remove blindness or deafness (2 charges)
remove disease (3 charges)

The following spells do not drain charges:

detect magic
enlarge
hold portal
light
protection from evil

The following spells drain one charge per usage:

dispel magic
fireball
ice storm
invisibility
knock
lightning bolt
passwall
pyrotechnics
web
wall of fire

These following spells drain two charges per usage:

control winds
summon elemental*
plane shift
telekinesis**

* The staff can be used to summon one 8 HD elemental of each type

per day
** Telekinesis is at 8th-level also (i.e., 200 pounds maximum weight).
The staff of the magi grants a +2 bonus to all saving throw rolls made
to resist spells or spell-like effects. Additionally, it can absorb arcane
spell energy directed at its wielder in order to recharge the staff; this
takes a full round to accomplish during which no other action may
be performed by the wielder. Also, during absorption, the wielder has
no idea how many spell levels are being absorbed; the staff does not
impart this knowledge. Absorbing spells is risky, for if the staff absorbs
energy in excess of its charge limit, it will explode as if a retributive
strike (see below) had been made.
A retributive strike is a purposeful sundering of the staff, declared by
the wizard or runecaster wielding it, which releases a massive energy
burst as all absorbed spell energy in the staff is instantaneously released
in a 30-foot radius globe centered on the staff. The wielder has a 50%
chance to plane shift during the strike; if he fails, the resulting explostion obliterates him. All other creatures within the blast radius suffer
the following damage: up to 10 feet away, damage equals 8x the current number of spell energy levels in the staff (1 to 25); between 10-20

Magical Items: Magical Staves

feet away, damage equals 6x levels; and those 20-30 feet distant take
4x levels. Targets succeeding on an Exception (TC 20) Reflex save take
half damage from the blast.
This staff and the staff of power are the only magical items capable of a
retributive strike.
STAFF OF POWER
This staff is an extremely potent weapon, possessing awesome destructive power and powerful defensive capabilities.
The staff has three basic functions in addition to the ability to cast
spells; none of these drain charges except the double damage capability.

It acts as a +2 quarterstaff, inflicting 1d6+2 points of damage. Addtionally, if one charge is expended, the staff may
cause double damage on a successful melee strike.
It grants the wielder a +2 bonus to Armor Class
It grants the wielder a +2 bonus to saving throws

Additionally, the staff has the ability to generate spell-like powers.

The following powers drain one charge per usage:

cone of cold or fireball (staff contains one)

continual light
levitation
lightning bolt or magic missile (staff contains one)
ray of enfeeblement

The following powers drain two charges per usage:

globe of invulnerability
grasping hand
Thermocs shield

The GM may assign alternate powers either as he deems appropriate

or by random die roll.
The staff of power can be broken for a retributive strike (see staff of the
magi). The staff can be recharged.
STAFF OF THE SERPENT
The staff of the serpent actually consists of two varieties: a python
and an adder. The staff only functions in the hand of a divine caster.
In the hands of anyone else, it is simply a +1 or +2 quarterstaff , depending on ths version of staff.
The python version is a +2 quarterstaff and inflicts 1d6+2 points
of damage on a successful melee strike. Upon being thrown to the
ground and at the command of the wielder, the staff transforms in 1
round into a 25-foot long python constrictor snake (Hit Dice 9, 49
hp; see Table 22 of the Myth & Magic Players Guide for constrictor
stats). The round after making a successful melee attack, the snake will
entwine and constrict its opponent for 2d4+2 points of damage per
round. Treat this as a grappling attack. The python will return to its
owner upon command. If the python is destroyed while in snake form,
the staff is destroyed.

The adder version is a +1 quarterstaff and inflicts 2d2 points of damage

on a successful melee strike. Upon the wielders command, the head
of the staff becomes that of an actual serpent (Hit Dice 3, AC 15, 20
hp) for one full round. On a successful melee strike, in addition to the
damage, the target must make a Superior (TC 15) Fortitude save or
be slain. Only evil clerics will employ an adder staff. If the snake head
is destroyed, the staff is destroyed.
Neither staff requires charges to function. When found, 60% of these
staves are the python version.
STAFF OF SLINGING
The staff of slinging detects to be a normal +1 quarterstaff when magically examined. However, if grasped by a druid or witch, its true nature is revealed and can be utilized. The slinging power is activated by
touching one end of the staff to a heavy, roughly spherically shaped
object (a stone, metal ball, pottery crock, etc.) of up to nine inches in
diameter and five pounds in weight. The object adheres to the end of
the staff and the wielder may the release the sphere as a projectile by
swinging the staff in an overhand arc toward the target. The maximum
range of such a missile is 180 feet.
This staff carries charges which a druid or witch wielding the item
can expend as he uses the staff to hurl a missile of large size, as if
the wielder were a stone giant (medium range, 3d10+3 damage). This
drains one charge from the staff.
Whether used as a magical quarterstaff or by employing one of its
slinging powers, the staff bestows +1 to the wielders attack roll and +1
per die of damage dealt. The weapon may be recharged by a druid or
witch of 12th-level or higher.
STAFF OF STRIKING
This oaken staff acts as a +3 quarterstaff. Each successful melee attack
drains from 1-3 charges, inflicting 1d6 base damage and an additional
+3 additional damage per charge spent on the strike (maximum of
+9 additional damage if 3 charges are expended). The staff can be recharged.
STAFF OF SWARMING INSECTS
This staff is shorter and thicker than most staves, with much of its
length covered with finely crafted carvings depicting winged biting
and stinging insects (bees, deerflies, horseflies, wasps, and the like).
Any cleric. druid or witch grasping the staff can expend a charge and
command the staff to create a swarm of such insects. This effect mimics
the effect of the 2nd-level arcane spell summon swarm with the following changes: no save is allowed, area of effect is 60 yards + 10 yards per
wielder level, the damage produced is based on wielder level instead
of caster level, and the swarm only has a duration of 1 round. Targets
are damaged, regardless of Armor Class, unless they are protected by a
force field, engulfed in flames, etc.The insects will not affect creatures
larger than man-sized with a natural Armor Class of 15 or better.
Each time the staff is employed, one of the insect-shapes carved into its
wooden surface will disappear, thereby making it is easy to determine
how many charges are left in the staff. Unlike other staves, a staff of
swarming insects has a maximum of 50 initial charges and cannot be
recharged.

169

Magical Items: Magical Staves

STAFF OF THUNDER & LIGHTNING

Constructed of wood and bound with iron set with silver rivets, this
staff has the properties of a +2 quarterstaff but also allows the activation of other magical effects with the expenditure of a certain number
of charges. Its other magical powers are as follows:

Thunder Strike: The staff is now considered a +3 quarterstaff and strikes with a deafening clap. The victim struck
must succeed on an Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude save or
be unable to take any further action in the round struck.
This function drains one charge.

Lightning Strike: A powerful current of electricity covers

the staff and leaps forth when the staff strikes an opponent.
This electricity adds an extra 2d6 points of electricity damage to the attack. This function drains one charge.

Thunderclap: The staff emits a deafening boom in a 40-foot

long cone that deals 2d6 points of damage to all those in the
area of effect, In addition, those affected must succeed on
an Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude saving throw or be deafened for 2d6 rounds. This function drains two charges.

Lightning Bolt: The staff shoots out a 5-foot-wide lightning bolt (9d6 points of damage, save for half ) that extends
to a range of 200 feet. This function drains two charges.
Thundering Lightning: The wielder of the staff effectively
combines the thunderclap effect with the lightning bolt effect described above to create a deafening and sonic version
of the normal lightning bolt. The lightning bolt has a range
of 200 feet and deals 9d6 points of electricity damage to
those in its path (damage rolls of 1 or 2 are considered rolls
of 3, for a range of 27 to 54 points), and the accompanying
thunderclap deals 2d6 points of additional damage to those
directly in the line of the bolt and deals a like amount of
damage to those within 10 feet of the bolt. A single save applies to both effects. This function drains four charges.

STAFF OF WITHERING
The staff of withering acts as a +1 quarterstaff and inflicts 1d4+2 points
of damage on a successful melee strike. Additionally, at the cost of addtional charges, the staff can produce two other devastating effects.

Aging (2 charges/use): On a successful melee strike, the

creature struck also ages 10 years, its abilities and lifespan
adjusted for the aging effects.
Withering (3 charges/use): On a successful melee strike,
one of the targets limbs (randomly determined) can be
made to shrivel and become useless unless it makes a Superior (TC 15) Fortitude save.

Note that each effect of the staff is cumulative, so that two charges result in damage and aging, while three charges result in damage, aging,
and withering. Ageless creatures (undead, demons, devils, etc) cannot
be aged or withered.

170

STAFF OF THE WOODLANDS

This staff is always beautifully carved from oak, ash, or yew, with fine
wood grain and bound with bronze. Effective only in the hands of a
druid or witch, each such staff has three powers, with each expending
one charge per use.

wall of thorns
charm monster (animals only) plus speak with animal
liveoak

In addition to these powers, each staff of the woodlands has a magical

weapon value and has extra magical powers that do not expend charges
and may be used once per day; see the chart below to determine which
type of staff is found.

Staff of the Woodlands Chart

d%

Enhancement Bonus

Power

01 - 25

+1

barkskin; pass
without trace; meld
into tree

26 - 50

+2

barkskin; pass
without trace

51 - 75

+3

pass without trace

76 - 00

+4

no additional
powers

Magical Items: Rods

Rods

Random Rods Chart

d%

Rod

Rods are only slightly longer than wands but are about twice as thick
and sturdy. They can be fashioned from any hard material and are usually ornately and gaudily adorned. Similar to wands and staves, rods
store a certain number of charges of a specific magical spell or effect.
Rods must be commanded to expend a charge, which usually requires
the knowledge of a command word or phrase. Some rods have their
commands written magically on their shaft. A simple read magic spell
suffices if this is the case. Other rods deliver their command via an
empathic or telepathic connection. You determine how secretive the
command word or phrase is and what is required to attain it.

01-08

Absorption

09-17

Alertness

56-62

Passage

Almost all rods are created with 50 charges, but are usually found with
less than the original lot. Once all of the charges are expended, someone trained to do so can recharge the rod.

63-66

Resurrection

67-71

Rulership

72-79

Security

Activating a rod, unless otherwise stated, adds a +4 penalty to the initiative roll. Rods function as 10th-level casters.

80-89

Smiting

90-95

Splendor

96-00

Terror

Specific Rods
ROD OF ABSORPTION
This rod acts as a magnet and battery for arcane and divine spell energy. It acts by drawing both arcane and divine magic targeted at the
rod wielder into itself, nullifying its effects, storing its energy potential,
and then acts a a battery for fueling the wielders own spells. The rod
may absorb a total of 50 spell levels; once this limit is reached, it may
only discharge its imbued energy and can never be recharged.
The rods wielder may use the rod in a way similar to an Arcane Focus
(as per the wizards Class Talent, see page 91 of the Myth & Magic
Players Guide) and use the stored spell energy to cast any spell he has
memorized without using any spell slots. A short series of command
words is all that is necessary to cast the desired spell through the rod.
The spell energy remains indefinitely infused into the rod and the casting time for all spells which utilize the imbued energy becomes +1. The
only restriction on the use of the imbued energy is that the levels of
spell energy stored in the rod must be equal to or greater than the level
of the spell the wielder wishes to cast.

18-25

Beguiling

26-32

Cancellation

33-40

Fear

41-49

Flailing

50-55

Lordly Might

cast any 1st-, 2nd-, or 3rd-level spell he has memorized, without using a spell slot, up to a total of 3 spell levels worth of spells. Now, lets
assume the cleric casts hold person back at the wizard using the rods
imbued energy. This spell is only 2nd-level divine spell, so the casting
only uses up 2 levels of spell energy, leaving the rod with 1 spell level
of imbued spell energy remaining. The rod has used two charges permanently and can absorb 47 more.
ROD OF ALERTNESS
This rod is indistinguishable from a +1 light mace. It has eight flanges
on its mace-like head. The rod allows its wielder to roll a d8 for all
initiative checks when the rod is being wielded. If grasped firmly and
activated, the rod enables the holder to effectively cast the following
spells: detect evil (or detect good), detect magic, detect lies, and invisibility, as well as all illusion spells of Level 3 or lower. The use of the detect
spells does not expend any of the charges in the rod.

The wielder can instantly detect an absorbed spells level and when
holding the rod can detect that the rods limit has been reached. If
the wielder senses used charges, this indicates that the rod has already
absorbed some of its maximum of 50 spell levels and that some of
those have been used.

If the head of the rod is planted in the ground, and the possessor wills
it to alertness, the rod senses any creature within 120 feet who intends
to harm the possessor. At the same time, the rod creates the effect of
a prayer spell upon all creatures friendly to the possessor in a 20-foot
radius. Thereafter, the rod sends forth a mental alert to these friendly
creatures, warning them of possible danger from the unfriendly creature or creatures within the 120-foot radius. These effects last for 10
minutes, and drain one charge.

A running total of absorbed (and used) spell levels should be kept. For
example, a rod that absorbs a 6th-level spell and a 3rd-level spell has a
total of 9 absorbed levels of spell energy available for use. The wielder
could cast a maximum of one 9th-level spell, one 6th-level and one
3rd-level, and so on with the imbued energy.

The rod can be used to simulate the casting of an animate objects spell,
utilizing any eleven (or fewer) small objects located around the perimeter of a 5-foot-radius circle centered on the rod when planted in the
ground. Objects remain animated for 11 rounds. This effect drains
one charge.

A more specific example is as follows: A cleric uses a rod of absorption

to nullify the effect of a hold person spell (3rd-level arcane spell) cast
at him by a wizard. The rod has now absorbed 3 spell levels and can
absorb 47 more. Utilizing the imbued energy of the rod, the cleric can

The rod can be recharged by a cleric, druid or witch of 16th-level

or higher, as long as at least one charge remains in the rod when the
recharging is attempted.

171

Magical Items: Rods

ROD OF BEGUILING
This rod enables its wielder to radiate a mental wave of emotional good
feeling to all creatures with an Intelligence wof 1 or higher within a 20foot radius (no saving throw). The creatures will regard the wielder as a
friendly comrade and will trust the wileder, listening to and obeying
him, as long as communication is possible and the instructions given
dont conflict with the creatures natural sense of self-preservation or
go against their nature or alignment. Each charge of the rod beguiles
for one round and it can be recharged.

The spell-like functions of the rod are:

ROD OF CANCELLATION
This dreaded rod is a bane to all adventurers, for its touch drains the
magical properties from all items unless a saving throw versus the cancellation is made. A normal attack roll must succeed in order to initiate
contact during melee combat.

The paralyzation and fear spell-like functions entitle victims to make

an Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude or Will saving throw, respectively, to
resist, while the draining function requires a successful attack during
melee combat to activate.

Potions, scrolls, rings, and wands are weak to the effect (Superior (TC
15)), while rods, staves, wondrous items, armor, shields, weapons, and
artifacts or relics are strong to the effect ((Basic (TC 5)).
Note that several small items, such as magical arrows or bolts together
in one container, will be drained simultaneously.

The weapon uses of the rod are:

Upon draining an item, the rod itself becomes brittle and cannot be
used again. Drained items are not restorable, even by a wish spell.
ROD OF FEAR
This rod functions as a +2 mace. On command, the rod causes the
wielder to appear to all living creatures within 30 feet as the embodiment of each creatures darkest and most horrific nightmare. All subjects within the range that fail an Exceptional (TC 20) Will saving
throw become panicked as if by a fear spell (normal save applies). Each
use of the fear effect drains one charge. The rod can be recharged.
ROD OF FLAILING
There are two distinct functions of this rod. The first function, which
expends one charge, is to grant the wielder a +4 bonus to both AC and
saves for one minute. The second function, which does not expend a
charge, is to transform upon command into a double-headed flail. In
its weapon form, the flail is a +3 weapon. The wielder can choose to
transform the rod into either a footmans or horsemans flail. In either
case, the flail has two heads, and so an additional attack action each
round can be taken against a single opponent or against an opponent
standing adjacent to the primary target. If the wielder is restricted to
only one attack per round, he may expend five charges to receive a
second attack immediately after the first attack is rolled. The rod cannot be recharged.
ROD OF LORDLY MIGHT
The rod of lordly might is metal, thicker than other rods, with a flanged
ball at one end and six buttons along its shaft. It weighs 10 pounds,
thus requiring 16 or greater Strength to wield properly (-1 penalty to
attack rolls for each point of Strength below 16). This rod has three
basic functions; some are spell-like, some mimic magical weapons, and
some are more mundane uses.
Each spell-like function draws off one charge from the rod. The weapon uses and mundane uses do not expend charges.

172

Paralyzation upon touch for 1d10 minutes upon command

of the wielder
Causes fear upon all enemies within a 6-ft radius viewing it
upon command of the wielder (as per the aura of fear spell)
Drains 2d4 hit points from a touched opponent and bestows them upon the rod wielder, up to the rod wielders
normal maximum.

Normal configuration: +2 hand mace

Button #1 (sword of flame tongue): When pushed, a blade
springs from the ball, the ball becomes the swords hilt, and
the weapon shortens to an overall length to three feet.
Button #2 (+4 battle axe): When pushed, an axe blade
springs forth, and the handle can be lengthened up to 12
feet, for an overall weapon length of from 6 feet to 15 feet.
At 15-feet in length, the weapon may serve as a light lance.

The mundane uses of the rod are:

Button #3 (Climbing Pole): When pushed, a piton spike

extrudes from the ball, while the opposite end sprouts three
sharp hooks. The rod lengthens anywhere from 5 to 50 feet
in a single round, stopping when button #4 is pushed. Horizontal bars three inches long fold out from the sides, one
foot apart, in staggered progression. Held firmly by spike
and hooks, the rod can bear up to 4,000 pounds. It retracts
by pushing button #5.
Button #3 (Battering Ram): The ladder function can also
be used as a battering ram to force open doors. The rods
base is planted in-line 30 feet or less from the door. The
force exerted is equal to a Strength of 22 (+12 modifier).
Button #6 (Compass or Depth/Height Gage): When
pushed, the rod indicates magnetic north and imparts
knowledge of the wielders approximate depth/height beneath/above the surface.

The rod cannot be recharged. When its charges are exhausted, all spelllike and weapon functions cease and the rod becomes a hand mace +2.
All mundane uses remain active.
ROD OF PASSAGE
With the expenditure of a charge, this rod is activated and allows
its wielder to cast any of the following spells, one at a time, once per
round: astral projection, dimension door, passwall, phase door, and teleport without error. Once activated, the wielder may perform each of
the listed spells one time. The rod remains charged either for one day
or until each of the five spells are used once. Once a spell is used, it is
not available unless another charge is expended, whereupon the rod
resets all uses of the spells.

Magical Items: Rods

When using astral projection, the wielder may affect up to five targets
(one of which must be the wielder). Any remaining spells in the rod
are cancelled by this action. The rod cannot be reactivated until it exits
the Astral Plane. Only astral projection can be used more than once per
activation, and only in the manner described.
The rod exudes a magical aura of alteration and evocation magic. Because the physical bodies of the travelers, and their possessions, are actually empowered to become astral, the recharging of the rod requires
a wizard or runecaster of 20th-level or higher.
ROD OF RESURRECTION
This rod enables a cleric to resurrect the dead as per the resurrection
spell. The rod can be used once per day and the number of charges
used to resurrect a target depends on the targets class and race, indicated on the chart below.

Rod of Resurrection Chart

Class

Charges

Race

Charges

Barbarian

Aasimar

Bard

Dwarf

Cleric

Elf

Druid

Elf, Dark

Fighter

Eladrin

Monk

Genasai

Paladin

Goblin

Ranger

Gnome

Runecaster

Half-elf

Thief

Half-giant

Witch

Halfling

Wizard

Human

Kobold

Lizardfolk

Minotaur

Thri-Keen

Tiefling

Multi-classed characters use the least favorable class. The rod cannot
be recharged.
ROD OF RULERSHIP
When the rod is activated, the wielder of the rod is able to command
the obedience and fealty of creatures within 120 feet. From 200 to
500 Hit Dice (or levels of experience) can be ruled, but creatures with
15 or greater Intelligence and 12 or more Hit Dice/levels may make
an Exceptional (TC 20) Will saving throw to resist. Ruled creatures
will obey the wielder as if the wielder were their absolute sovereign, as
long as the instructions given dont conflict with the creatures natural
sense of self-preservation or go against their nature or alignment; such
commands will cause the the magical control to fail. The rod has a
casting time of +5. Each charge lasts for one round and the rod cannot
be recharged.

ROD OF SECURITY
With expenditure of a charge, the rod creates a non-dimensional
pocket universe to which the wielder and as many targets as were
touched with the rod at the time of. activation are transported (members of large groups can hold hands or otherwise touch each other,
allowing all to be touched by the rod at once). A maximum of 200
targets (including the wielder) can remain protected in the pocket universe for a maximum time equal to 200 days divided by the number
of affected targets. Thus, the wielder can stay for the full 200 days; a
group of 4 creatures (including the wielder) can stay for 50 days; a
group of 60 creatures (including the wielder) can stay for 3 days. All
fractions are rounded down, so that a group numbering between 101
and 200 inclusive can stay for a single day only.
While within the pocket universe, targets dont age naturally (magical causes such as a wish spell are not affected by this), and natural
healing and curing take place at twice the normal rate (2 hit points
per level per period of at least six hours of rest instead of 1). Fresh
water and fruits and vegetables only are present in abundance. The
climate is comfortable for all targets (protection from the elements is
not necessary).
When the rods effect is cancelled or expires, all affected targets instantly reappear in the original location they occupied when the rod
was activated. In the case where the original space to which a target
would be returning is already occupied, the target is displaced a minimum distance to allow for a safe return.
The rod can be recharged by the joint efforts of a cleric of 16th level or
higher and a wizard or runecaster of 18th level or higher.
ROD OF SMITING
This rod is a +3 magical weapon that inflicts 1d8+3 points of damage per successful melee attack. Against golems, the rod causes 2d8+6
points of damage, and any melee attack roll totalling 20 or better completely destroys the golem. Any hit upon a golem drains one charge.
Against creatures of the Outer Planes, the rod causes normal damage
(1d8+3). However, any melee attack roll totalling 20 or better drains
one charge and causes triple damage: (1d8+3) x3. The rod cannot be
recharged.
ROD OF SPLENDOR
Firstly, the wielder of this rod enjoys a Charisma score of 18. This is
automatic and does not expend any of the rods charges. Secondly,
the wielder may expend one charge to garb himself in an outfit of the
finest clothing (including jewels and furs) worth 1d10 x 1,000 gold
pieces. This entire outfit disappears if any part of it is removed from
the wielder. Thirdly, the wielder may expend one charge to create a
palatial tent that is large enough to fit up to 100 people comfortably.
The tent is equipped with food and magical instruments that can feed
and entertain up to 100 people. The tent remains for 1 day before it,
and all of its contents, disappears. Anything taken out of the tent immediately teleports back inside. The wielder can expand one additional
charge per day to maintain the tent. Once all charges are expended, the
wielders Charisma returns to its former score, a created outfit or tent
disappears, and the rod can never again be recharged.
ROD OF TERROR
This rod is a +2 magical weapon that inflicts 1d6+3 points of damage

173

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

per successful melee attack. Additionally, upon command, the wielder

can expend a charge to transform his appearance into an illusion of
the most terrifying nightmare of the targets; all creatures within 30
feet who view him must make an Exceptional (TC 20) Will saving
throw or be struck motionless with terror. NPCs who succeed on their
save suffer a -1 penalty to their morale score and must make immediate morale checks. Each use of the rod generates a 20% chance the
wielder will permanently lose 1 point of Charisma. The rod cannot
be recharged.

Wondrous
Items
Wondrous items are miscellaneous magical items, such as boots, books,
gloves, bags, dusts, etc. Most wondrous items do not appear magical
and some require a detailed procedure for detecting their magical nature. All items of clothing can be tailored or arranged to fit the wielder,
unless the item has been enchanted to change size. Also, items that are
broken usually lose all magical properties forever.
Wondrous items do not usually require a casting level, but, if necessary, the specific items description will list a level. Furthermore, any
class can use a wondrous item, unless specifically forbidden by the
item or the subjects race.

Specific Wondrous Items

AIR SPORES
Air Spores allow the creature who ingests them to breathe normally
when in environments deprived of air, such as being submerged underwater. The spores last for 2d4 days once ingested, before the effects
wear off. Within environments in which a creature may breathe normally, the spores are a hindrance, inflicting a -4 Constitution penalty.
AMULET OF CHARMING
This diamond pendant causes all those viewing it to become favorably disposed to the wearer, should they fail an Exceptional (TC 20)
Will save. Additionally, the wearer is considered to have an Influence
modifier as though their Charisma were 3 points higher than their
base score.
AMULET OF EXTENSION
Spellcasters who wear these amulets are considered to be 4 levels higher
in regard to spell duration.
AMULET OF FAR REACHING
Spells cast by the wearers of these amulets are considered to be 4 levels
higher in regard to spell range.
AMULET OF LEADERSHIP
Only characters of renown may benefit from this simple amulet, doubling the number of followers that may be attracted. Should the wearer
lose ownership of the amulet, the additional followers wander off over
the course of several days.

174

Random Wondrous Item Category Chart

d%

Wondrous Item Category

01 - 09

Books, Librams, Manuals & Tomes

10 -1 8

Jewels & Jewelry (A)

19 - 27

Jewels & Jewelry (B)

28 -36

Capes, Cloaks & Robes

37 - 46

Boots, Bracers & Gloves

47 - 55

Girdles & Helms

56 - 64

Bags, Bottles & Scabbards

65 - 73

Dust, Powders & Stones

74 - 82

Household Items & Tools

83 - 91

Musical Instruments

92 - 00

Weird Stuff

AMULET OF LIFE PROTECTION

This pearl-white brooch protects the wearer against the magic jar spell
or any other similar effect attack which would otherwise usurp control
of the wearers body. Should the wearer be slain, their spirit enters the
amulet and is protected for one full month, after which time it departs
to the afterlife. Should the amulet be destroyed during this time, the
held spirit is forever destroyed.
AMULET OF MAGIC RESISTANCE
These powerful amulets confer upon the wearer a 25% magic resistance. There is a 1 in 4 (1d4) chance that the granted magic resistance
applies only to spells up to 5th-level, determined when the amulet is
first discovered.
AMULET OF POWER
This smoky grey amulet is a boon to all spellcasters, periodically boosting their magical energy. Once every seven days is able to memorize 2
additional spells of each spell level they are able to cast. The additional
spells disappear from memory after 24 hours or once cast, whichever
comes first.
AMULET OF PROOF AGAINST DETECTION AND
LOCATION
This silver amulet protects the wearer from all magical attempts to
locate the wearer, including: clairaudience, clairvoyance, detect thoughts,
crystal balls, and other scrying devices. Additionally, the character is
immune to any spell that detects alignment.
AMULET VERSUS UNDEAD
This consecrated amulet confers upon the wearer one of two abilities,
depending upon whether or not they have the ability to turn undead.
For a wearer unable to turn undead, the amulet confers upon the wearer the ability to turn undead as though they were a 4th-level cleric. For
a wearer with the ability to turn undead, they are treated as though
they were 4 levels higher.
ARMBAND OF HEALING
These arm wraps have the ornate image of two snakes wrapped around
a staff embroidered upon them. Three times per day, a cleric heals an
additional number of hit points equal to their class level when casting
healing spells.

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

ARMBAND OF MIGHT
Three times per day these silken wraps may be commanded to increase
the wearers strength score to 18 for one turn.
BADGE OF FREEDOM
These small, metal pins take the shape of a pair of tiny wings above an
open shackle. When worn or carried, it grants the possessor the ability
to be freed of paralysis or hold effects, as well as entanglements caused
by magical or mundane webs, chains, bonds, and the like. The pin can
only be activated by the will of the possessor. These pins are consumed
upon use, turning to dust.
BAG OF BEANS
This bag looks identical to a bag of holding. However, when opened,
3d4 large, pebble-like objects beans will be found inside. The beans
may be used in one of two ways thrown or planted.
If thrown, they have a range of 30 feet and strike as a ranged touch
attack. Upon impact the bean explodes, immolating the target in blue
flame, dealing 5d4 points of damage.
If planted and watered, the bean will sprout a creature, object, or
other effect. Only one or two beans will be of benefit, with the rest
sprouting monsters or other useless things. A few examples have been
provided below, though GM imagination is highly recommended.
1.

2.
3.
4.

Three giant centipedes emerge and attack the nearest

creature
A fireball explodes in the area (6th-level caster)
A 10-foot diameter, 50-foot deep sinkhole open up
A wyvern bursts forth and attacks

BAG OF BONES
This bag contains a number of tiny bones. When scattered over 40
square feet, 4d10 skeletons immediately burst out of the ground.
These skeletons obey the orders of the individual who scattered the
bones unconditionally. They will fight until destroyed or the sun sets,
at which time they crumble to dust. These bags come in three types,
as determined below:
BAG OF HOLDING
All bags of holding are 2 x 4 ft. cloth sacks. The inside is a non-dimensional space that holds far more than what the outside of the bag
suggests. The type of bag rolled determines the amount of weight and
space the non-dimensional space can hold. Regardless of how much is
actually placed inside a bag of holding, all bags of holding of a certain
type weigh what is indicated.
If overloaded, pierced, or torn, the magical properties of the bag cease
and all contents are forever lost.

Type of Bag of Holding Chart

d%

Result

01 - 30

Type I bag always weighing 15 pounds and able to

hold 250 pounds, or 30 cubic feet, of contents

31 - 70

Type II bag always weighing 25 pounds and able to

hold 500 pounds, or 70 cubic feet, of contents

71 - 90

Type III bag always weighing 35 pounds and able to

hold 1,000 pounds, or 150 cubic feet, of contents

91 - 00

Type IV bag always weighing 60 pounds and able to

hold 1,500 pounds, or 250 cubic feet, of contents

BAG OF TRICK ANIMALS

A typical looking sack, at least upon initial visual inspection, will be
empty when first discovered. When the bag is opened, a small, soft,
fuzzy ball will be found. The owner of the bag may remove the ball
and toss it up to 20 feet away, causing it to transform into animal from
the table below.
Only one ball may be drawn from the bag at a time, with a different
animal appearing each time. The creature will remain until it is slain,
one turn has elapsed, or until it is ordered back into the bag, whichever occurs first. It will then vanish. Only then can another animal
be brought forth. Up to 10 creatures can be drawn from the bag each
week.
BEAD OF FORCE
A bead of force is a small black pearl that, once thrown, can be targeted
to strike a point within Medium range. On impact, all those within 10
feet take 5d4 points of damage and must roll a successful Superior (TC
15) Reflex saving throw. The bead explodes outward at the same time
as it forms a globe of force. Those that save are forced outward and are
not captured. Those that fail are caught within the globe of force for
3d4 rounds. Nothing can penetrate either side of the globe until it is
magically dispelled or the duration expires.
BEAKER OF PLENTIFUL POTIONS
This magical flask has alchemical properties allowing it to create 3
dozes of up to 6 different potions. The potions are layered in the flask,
requiring one round to pour out a dose of one of the potions.
Roll 1d6 to determine the number of potions contained, recording
each occurrence, duplicate potions are possible. As stated the potions
are layered and must be poured in order.
Should the flask contain a single potion, it will dispense it twice a day,
three times per week; if two are contained, it will dispense one of each,
three times per week; if three are contained, it will dispense one of
each, twice per week; if four, five, or six are contained, it will produce
each just once per week.
Once the flask has been opened, it will slowly lose its magical properties, becoming a normal flask. The degradation results in the permanent loss of one potion type per month, determined randomly.

175

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

Random Books, Librams, Manuals, Tomes Chart

Random Jewels & Jewelry Chart (A)

d%

Book, Libram, Manual or Tome

d%

Jewel or Jewelry

01 - 07

Book of Exalted Deeds

01 - 05

Amulet of Charming

08 - 14

Book of Vile Darkness

06 - 10

Amulet of Extension

15 - 22

Libram of Magic

11 - 16

Amulet of Far Reaching

23 - 29

Libram of Thaumaturgical Acumen

17 - 21

Amulet of Leadership

30 - 36

Manual of Adroitness

22 - 26

Amulet of Life Protection

37 - 44

Manual of Gainful Exercise

27 - 32

Amulet of Magic Resistance

45 - 51

Manual of Intestinal Fortitude

33 - 37

Amulet of Power

52 - 58

Manual of Golem Artifice

38 - 42

Amulet of Proof Against Detection and Location

59 - 66

Manual of Martial Prowess

43 - 48

Amulet versus Undead

67 - 73

Manual of Master Thievery

49 - 53

Armband of Healing

74 - 80

Manual of Righteous Valor

54 - 58

Armband of Might

81 - 87

Tome of Awareness

59 - 64

Badge of Freedom

88 - 94

Tome of Clear Thought

65 - 69

Bracelet of Charms

95 - 00

Tome of Leadership

70 - 74

Brooch of Shielding

BELT OF SWIMMING
This supple sealskin belt allows the wearer to swim in water as easily as
they could move on land.

75 - 80

Charm of Luck

81 - 86

Gem of Brightness

87 - 91

Gem of Insight

BELT OF ZEALOTRY
Once per day for one turn, upon command, this belt makes the wearer
especially fervent, granting a +3 bonus to attacks.

92 - 94

Gem of Revealing

95 - 00

Gem of Seeing

BOAT, AIR
This is a granite canoe 12 feet long by 4 feet wide by 3 feet tall, with
two sets of granite oars. The boat has seating for up to 10 medium
sized passengers. The boat responds to the helmsmans commands
The airboat is capable of moving in any direction sea or air. As it
moves, it is surrounded in a nimbus of soft white light allowing passengers to breathe normally, whether underwater or in an area lacking
breathable air.
The airboat has a maximum movement rate of 80 feet, but only if it is
being rowed with both sets of oars. If only one set of oars are used, the
boats movement rate decreases to 40 feet.
The helmsman must remain seated with hands on the rudder and
must focus solely upon commanding the craft. Leaving the seat or
taking hands off of the rudder will cause the airboat to stop. Should it
stop in the air, it will hover in place for one turn before sinking gently
to the ground. If it stops moving while in or on water, the boat will
simply drift.
BOAT, FOLDING
When first found, this boat appears as a small wooden box one foot
long by six inches wide by six inches deep, capable of storing small
objects, such as jewelry. The box is capable unfolding into one of two
different ships if the proper command word.
The first command word causes the box to unfold into a coble, 14-feet
long, 7-feet wide, and 3-feet deep. The ship is rigged with a single

lateen sailed mast and a pair of oars, capable of holding up to 4 sailors

comfortably, 8 in an emergency.
A second command word causes the boat to unfold further into a
sloop, 40-feet long, 14-feet wide, and 6 feet deep. Its size allows it to
comfortably carry fifteen, but may be pushed to hold up to 25 in an
emergency.
A third command word causes the vessel to fold itself up into a box
once again.
BOOK OF EXALTED DEEDS
Instantly recognizable by clerics of good alignment, this hallowed
book is a divine boon. By spending a week studying its sacred passages, the clerics Wisdom score permanently improves by one point.
Additionally, the cleric is gifted with enough experience points to be
halfway into the next experience level as a cleric. Once studied, the
book will vanish forever.
Bards, neutral-aligned clerics, witches, and druids who peruse the
book, must succeed at an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save or permanently lose one point of Wisdom. Evil-aligned clerics and witches and
blackguards who peruse the book automatically lose one point of Wisdom and must succeed at an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save or have
their alignment permanently changed to good.
Monks, rangers, paladins and sentinels will recognize the inherent
sanctity of the book. Fighters and barbarians who handle or peruse
the book are unaffected. Wizards and runecasters who peruse the book
must succeed at an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save or permanently

177

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

Random Jewels & Jewelry Chart (B)

d%

Jewel or Jewelry

d%

Cape, Cloak or Robe

01 - 05

Jewel of Flawlessness

01 - 05

Cape of Disguise

06 - 10

Medallion of Thought Protection

06 - 11

Cape of Pluck

11 - 16

Necklace of Adaptation

12 - 16

Cloak of the Arachnida

17 - 21

Necklace of Fireballs

17 - 22

Cloak of the Bat

22 - 26

Necklace of Prayer Beads

23 - 27

Cloak of the Chameleon

27 - 32

Pearl of Power

28 - 33

Cloak of Displacement

33 - 37

Pearl of the Sirines

34 - 38

Cloak of Elvenkind

38 - 42

Pearl of Wisdom

39 - 43

Cloak of the Manta Ray

43 - 48

Periapt of Health

44 - 50

Cloak of the Mundane

19 - 53

Periapt of Proof Against Poison

51 - 55

Cloak of Protection

54 - 58

Periapt of Wound Closure

56 - 61

Robe of the Archmage

59 - 64

Phylactery of Bravery

62 - 66

Robe of Blending

65 - 69

Phylactery of Faithfulness

67 - 72

Robe of Eyes

70 - 74

Phylactery of Longevity

73 - 77

Robe of Repetition

75 - 80

Scarab, Golembane

78 - 83

Robe of Scintillating Colors

81 - 86

Scarab, Insectbane

84 - 88

Robe of Stars

87 - 91

Scarab of Protection

89 - 93

Robe of Useful Items

92 - 94

Scarab of Uncertainty

94 - 00

Robe of Vanishing

95 - 00

Thermocs Amulet of Shielding

lose one point of Intelligence. A thief who handles or reads the book
sustains 4d10 damage and must succeed at an Exceptional (TC 20)
Fortitude save or permanently lose one point of Dexterity. Additionally, should the thief have a Wisdom score of 15 or higher, they have a
50% chance of giving up there larcenous ways to become a cleric.
BOOK OF VILE DARKNESS
This horrific text of wicked malevolence is sought after by evil clerics. It requires a single week of study for an evil cleric to absorb the
malicious lessons of this book, after which time the evil cleric permanently gains one point of Wisdom. Additionally, the cleric is gifted
with enough experience points to be halfway into the next experience
level as a cleric. Once studied, the book will vanish forever.
Good-aligned clerics and paladins perusing the vile text permanently
lose one point of Wisdom. Additionally, they must succeed at a Superior (TC 15) Fortitude save or die; if they survive, a second Exceptional
(TC 20) Will save must be made or they become insane, curable only
through the use of a heal spell cast in conjunction with limited wish.
All other non-evil characters who handle the book suffer 4d10 points
of damage. In the event that the character still wishes to view the writings within, they must succeed at an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save or
their alignment permanently changes to evil.
BOOTS OF ELVENKIND
These soft boots allow the wearer to enjoy a +15 bonus on any Dexterity or Stealth checks to move silently in imperfect conditions, such as
walking over dry leaves. Perfect conditions require no roll for success.

178

Random Capes, Cloaks and Robes Chart

BOOTS OF LEVITATION
On command, these leather boots allow the wearer to levitate as per
the spell cast by a 5th-level caster.
BOOTS OF THE NORTH
When worn, these incredibly comfortable boots allow the wearer to
travel across snow as though they were walking down a gravel road,
leaving no tracks. Upon horizontal icy surfaces they enable the wearer,
moving no faster than a walk, to travel without fear of slipping or
falling. The boots also confer warmth upon the wearer, allowing the
wearer to withstand arctic temperatures with ease.
BOOTS OF SPEED
The wearer of these boots can command them to activate a haste spell
for 2 rounds. The wearer ages 6 months after each activation.
BOOTS OF STRIDING AND SPRINGING
These boots increase the wearers base land speed by 10 feet. In addition, these boots help the wearer to make great leaps by providing a +6
bonus on all Athletics proficiency checks.
BOOTS, WINGED
These feather boots, upon command, allow the wearer to fly, as though
being the subject of a fly spell cast by a 12th-level arcane caster. The
flight may be taken all at once or in 10 minute increments.
BOWL OF WATER ELEMENTAL COMMAND
This large basin, when filled with water, allows a bard, runecaster or
wizard to summon forth an 8 Hit Dice water elemental. For every 100
gp of pearl powder sprinkled into the water, the summoned elemental
gains an additional Hit Die (a maximum of +6 Hit Dice). Only one elemental may be summoned at any time, no more than once per day.

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

Random Boots, Bracers and Gloves Chart

Random Girdles and Helms Chart

d%

Boot, Bracer or Glove

d%

Girdle or Helm

01 - 05

Boots of Elvenkind

01 - 07

Belt of Swimming

06 - 10

Boots of Levitation

08 - 14

Belt of Zealotry

11 - 16

Boots of the North

15 - 21

Circlet of Blasting

17 - 21

Boots of Speed

22 - 28

Crown of Leadership

22 - 26

Boots of Striding and Springing

29 - 35

Girdle of Dwarvenkind

27 - 32

Boots, Winged

36 - 42

Girdle of Giant Strength

33 - 37

Bracers of Archery

43 - 50

Girdle of Many Pouches

38 - 42

Bracers of Brachiating

51 - 57

Girdle of the Three Fold Way

43 - 48

Bracers of Defense

58 - 64

Hat of Disguise

49 - 53

Bracers of Deflection

65 - 71

Helm of Brilliance

54 - 58

Bracers of Rapid Striking

72 - 78

Helm of Comprehend Languages

59 - 64

Gauntlets of Dexterity

79 - 85

Helm of Telepathy

65 - 69

Gauntlets of Ogre Power

86 - 92

Helm of Teleportation

70 - 74

Gauntlets of Might

93 - 00

Helm of Underwater Action

75 - 80

Gauntlets of Swimming and Climbing

81 - 86

Gloves of Arrow Catching

87 - 91

Gloves of Dexterity

92 - 94

Gloves of Swimming and Climbing

95 - 00

Slippers of Spider Climbing

BRACELET OF CHARMS
This bracelet is particularly valuable to warriors (barbarians, fighters,
and paladins). When a warrior slides the bracelet around the haft of a
weapon, it disappears, reappearing as a charm on the bracelet. Up to
four weapons can be bonded to the bracelet in this way. Siege weapons
cannot be held.
Once a weapon has been charmed, the warrior need only speak the
command word with the name of the weapon in order for it to appear
instantly in hand. The bracelet may be commanded to switch between
weapons once per minute, but no more than eight times per day.
Should the charmed weapon be removed from the warriors hand in
anyway, another weapon cannot be called. The bracelet is within the
weapon, requiring the character to retrieve the lost weapon first.
Charmed weapons can be changed by the warrior at any time. This
requires them to speak the name of the weapon followed by the command word.

BRACERS OF DEFENSE
These seemingly mundane bracers grant the wearer an Armor Class as
if wearing armor. They do not function if armor is worn that confers
a greater AC bonus than the bracers and they do not function if only
one bracer is worn. The magic of the bracers does stack with other
types of bonuses from protective magic, such as a ring or cloak of protection, and does stack with a Dexterity AC adjustment. The type of
AC conferred is based on a random d% roll below. The parenthetical
bonus is listed only to allow one to determine whether a certain set of
bracers works with a certain suit of armor.

Random Bracers of Defense Chart

d%

Armor Class (Bonus)

01 - 06

12 (+2)

07 - 16

13 (+3)

17 - 36

14 (+4)

37 - 50

15 (+5)

51 - 71

16 (+6)

72 - 86

17 (+7)

87 - 96

18 (+8)

97 - 99

19 (+9)

00

20 (+10)

BRACERS OF ARCHERY
These bracers grant the wearer an automatic proficiency in all bows
(not crossbows). If the wearer already is proficient, the wearer instead
enjoys a stackable +1 bonus to attack and +2 bonus to damage rolls.

BRACERS OF DEFLECTION
These bracers cause all who attack the wearer to suffer a -5 attack penalty as long as the wearer is unarmored.

BRACERS OF BRACHIATING
These ordinary looking leather wrist bands enable the wearer to climb
and move through trees, by swinging from branch to branch like a
monkey, at their normal movement rate.

BRACERS OF RAPID STRIKING

These ornate bracers confer upon all who don them improved speed
in combat, decreasing their initiative die type by one step a d10
decreases to a d8, a d8 decreases to a d6.

179

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

Random Bags, Bottles and Scabbards Chart

d%

Bag, Bottle or Scabbard

01 - 10

d%

Dust, Powder or Stone

Bag of Beans

01 - 08

Air Spores

11 - 20

Bag of Bones

09 - 16

Bead of Force

21 - 30

Bag of Holding

17 - 25

Dust of Appearance

31 - 40

Bag of Tricks

26 - 33

Dust of Disappearance

41 - 50

Beaker of Plentiful Potions

34 - 41

Dust of Dryness

51 - 60

Decanter of Endless Water

42 - 50

Dust of Illusion

61 - 70

Iron Flask

51 - 58

Dust of Mind Dulling

71 - 80

Handy Haversack

59 - 66

Dust of Tracelessness

81 - 90

Scabbard of Holding

67 - 75

Ioun Stones

91 - 00

Scabbard of Poison

76 - 83

Smoke Powder

84 - 91

Stone of Earth Elemental Command

92 - 00

Stone of Good Luck

When a fighter wears the bracers, they may choose to give up the improved initiative three times a day in order to double the number of
attacks they make in a single round.
BRAZIER OF FIRE ELEMENTAL COMMAND
This container allows a wizard or runecaster to summon forth an 8
Hit Dice Fire Elemental. The brazier must have a fire burning in it for
the summoning to succeed. For every 100 gp worth of diamond dust
added to the flames, the summoned elemental gains an additional Hit
Die (to a maximum of +6 Hit Dice). Only one elemental may be summoned at any time, no more than once per day.
BROOCH OF SHIELDING
This appears to be a mundane brooch that is used to fasten a cape or
cloak. The brooch absorbs a total of 101 hit points of magic missile
damage (regardless of source) before it loses its magical properties.
BROOM OF FLYING
This magical broom is capable of flying up to 90 feet per round with a
single rider weighing a maximum of 200 pounds. Every 10 additional
pounds decreases the flight speed by 5 feet per round. Ascending at
any angle over a 45 degree angle cuts halves the speed, while descents
have no effect on the speed. The broom will travel to any destination
named with or without its owner. By speaking the command word,
provided the broom is less than one mile away from the owner, the
broom will travel to its owner.
CANDLE, BLUE
While burning, this candle will confer upon its holder protection from
evil or protection from good, as determined by the holder. The candle
may burn for up to 24 hours before all wax has been consumed.
CANDLE, FLAME BLADE
The flame of this candle elongates into a 3 foot-long tongue of flame
immediately upon lighting, similar to the spell flame blade. The flame
deals 1d4+4 points of damage on a successful strike and lasts for one
minute before the flame is extinguished. Any combustibles touched
by the flame will ignite. Creatures or objects especially vulnerable to
fire suffer an additional 2 points of damage. The candle will not function if held underwater and can be used 6 times before the wax is
consumed.

180

Random Dusts, Powders and Stones Chart

CANDLE OF EVERBURNING
Once this candle is lit, it can only be extinguished at the command of
its holder. It will continue to burn, whether it is immersed in water or
is being buffeted by hurricane force winds. The candle can burn for 72
hours before all of its wax melts away.
CANDLE OF INVOCATION
These candles are consecrated to one of the nine alignments. Simply
burning the candle provides a +1 bonus to the holders Armor Class,
provided the holder and candle have the same alignment.
If held by a cleric, druid or witch, while burning, the candle temporarily confers a bonus of two experience levels, enabling the casting of
additional spells. This includes casting higher level spells normally unavailable, as though being of the higher level. The candle is consumed
after four hours of burning.
CANDLE OF REFUGE
The holder of this candle, while it is burning, is the beneficiary of a
sanctuary spell. The candle is consumed after 5 uses or 4 consecutive
hours burning, whichever occurs first.
CAPE OF DISGUISE
When the wearer of this cape wraps it about themselves, they may alter
their appearance similarly to the spell alter self. However, the altered
appearance must be of the same approximate shape and size as the
wearer.
CAPE OF PLUCK
This cape confers upon the wearer a +4 bonus to all saving throws
against fear and fear-like effects. The wearer is permitted an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save, with no modifier from the cape, against fear
effects that would not normally allow a save.
CARPET OF FLYING
These beautifully ornate and durable rugs can be commanded to fly,
following the verbal directions of the individual who activates it. The
size, passenger capacity, and speed of the carpet are determined as
shown on the chart below.

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

Random Household Items and Tools Chart

d%

Item or Tool

01 - 04

Bowl of Water Elemental Command

05 - 08

Brazier of Fire Elemental Command

09 - 12

Broom of Flying

13 - 16

Candle, Blue

17 - 20

Candle, Flame Blade

21 - 24

Candle of Everburning

25 - 28

Candle of Invocation

29 - 32

Candle of Refuge

33 - 36

Carpet of Flying

37 - 40

Censer of Air Elemental Command

41 - 44

Eyes of Charming

45 - 48

Eyes of the Eagle

49 - 52

Eyes of Minute Seeing

53 - 56

Lens of Detection

57 - 60

Mattock of the Titans

61 - 64

Marvelous Pigments

65 - 68

Maul of the Titans

69 - 72

Mirror of Life Trapping

73 - 76

Mirror of Mental Prowess

77 - 80

Rope of Climbing

81 - 84

Rope of Entanglement

85 - 88

Rug of Welcome

89 - 92

Sovereign Glue

93 - 96

Universal Solvent

97 - 00

Wind Fan

Carpet of Flying Chart

d%

Result

01 - 20

3 ft. x 5 ft. size carpet, able to carry 1 person, with a

movement rate of 42 feet

21 - 55

4 ft. x 6 ft. size carpet, able to carry 2 people, with a

movement rate of 36 feet

56 - 80

5 ft. x 7 ft. size carpet, able to carry 3 people, with a

movement rate of 30 feet

81 - 00

6 ft. x 9 ft. size carpet, able to carry 4 people, with a

movement rate of 24 feet

CENSER OF AIR ELEMENTAL COMMAND

This 6 in. x 6 in. x 1 in. golden vessel looks like other thuribles used by
clergy during worship. When filled with incense and lit, a cleric, druid
or witch may summon forth an 8 Hit Dice air elemental. For every
rose petal added to the censer, the air elemental gains an additional Hit
Die (to a maximum of +6 Hit Dice).

CHARM OF LUCK
These talismans can be anything coins, gems, rabbits foot, or other
trinket. The charm confers upon the possessor a +2 bonus to Armor
Class, attacks, and saves. Each charm may grant the possessor a single
wish consuming the magic of the charm.
CHIME OF INTERRUPTION
Once per turn, this chime may be struck, sounding a single resonant
tone for three full rounds. While resonating, anyone wishing to cast a
spell with a verbal component, within a 30-foot radius of the chime,
must succeed at an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save. The Once the
chime ceases resonating, it must recharge for seven full rounds. If it is
struck before it has had time to recharge, no sound will issue forth, and
ten full minutes must pass from that point before it may be sounded
again.
CHIME OF OPENING
A chime of opening is a hollow mithral tube about 1 foot long. When
struck, it sends forth magical vibrations that cause anything that shuts
to open and anything that locks to unlock. The device functions
against locks, lids, doors, valves, portals, normal bars, shackles, chains,
bolts, and so on. A chime of opening also automatically dispels a hold
portal spell or even an arcane lock cast by an arcane caster of 14th-level
or lower. The chime must be pointed at the object to be unlocked or
opened (which must be visible and known to the user). The chime is
then struck, a clear tone rings forth, and in 1 round the target object
is opened or unlocked. Each sounding only affects one object; it takes
four uses of a chime of opening to affect an object under an arcane
lock spell. A silence spell negates the power of the device. A brand-new
chime can be used a total of ten times before it cracks and becomes
useless.
CIRCLET OF BLASTING
Once per day, this simple golden headband can be commanded to
project a blast of searing light that acts as a ray with a range of 200 feet
and deals 3d8 points of damage.
CLAW OF MAGIC STEALING
This miniature hand or claw is typically fashioned from silver. Initial
inspecting and identification reveals that the item is capable of casting
spectral hand three times a day. While it is indeed capable of this, it is
a secondary function.
Its true purpose is to steal spells from other spellcasters. If the victim
of the spectral hand spell is a runecaster, wizard, witch or bard, a randomly selected spell is drained from memory unless an Exceptional
(TC 20) Will save is made. The owner of the claw may then utilize the
magical energy of the stolen spell to cast a memorized spell without it
being lost from memory.
The claw does not store magical energy; the owner must use the energy
of a stolen spell in the next round or it dissipates.
CLOAK OF THE ARACHNIDA
This black garment, embroidered with a web-like pattern in silk, gives
the wearer the ability to climb as if a spider climb spell had been placed
upon her. In addition, the cloak grants her immunity to entrapment
by web spells or webs of any sortshe can actually move in webs at
half his normal speed. Once per day, the wearer of this cloak can cast

181

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

Random Wierd Stuff Chart

d%

Weird Magical Item

01 - 04

Boat, Air

05 - 08

Boat, Folding

09 - 12

Claw of Magic Stealing

13 - 16

Crystal Ball

17 - 20

Cube, Gate

21 - 24

Cube of Force

25 - 28

Cube of Frost Resistance

29 - 32

Deck of Illusions

33 - 36

Deck of Many Things

37 - 40

Elven Quiver

41 - 44

Figurine of Wondrous Power

45 - 48

Horseshoe of Luck

49 - 52

Horseshoes of the Zephyr

53 - 56

Incense of Meditation

57 - 60

Instant Fortress

61 - 64

Iron Bands of Binding

65 - 68

Philosophers Stone

69 - 72

Portable Bridge

73 - 76

Portable Hole

77 - 80

Sphere of Annihilation

81 - 84

Stone Horse

85 - 88

Talisman of Pure Good

89 - 92

Talisman of Pure Good

93 - 96

Talisman of Pure Evil

97 - 00

Wings of Flying

web. He also gains a +2 bonus on all attribute checks against poison

from spiders
CLOAK OF THE BAT
Fashioned from dark brown or black cloth, it is not readily noticeable
as being unusual. When worn it provides a +2 bonus to Armor Class.
Additionally, it provides a 90% probability of being invisible if the
wearer is standing still within a shadowy or dark place. The wearer may
maintain this same chance of invisibility hanging upside down from
a ceiling like a bat.
By grasping the edges of the cloak, the wearer may fly 60 feet per
round. If the wearer desires, rather than grasp the cloak to fly, they may
instead transform into an ordinary bat. Whether by grasping the cloak
or as an ordinary bat, flight is only capable under the cover of darkness
either at night or in a lightless or near-lightless environment.
CLOAK OF THE CHAMELEON
This lightweight, hooded cloak covers a wearer from neck to foot, and
may be worn comfortably over studded leather or lighter armor. The
color of the cloak instantly changes to blend in with the surrounding
terrain, granting 90% concealment.

182

CLOAK OF DISPLACEMENT
This item appears to be a normal cloak, but when worn and activated
its magical properties distort and warp nearby light waves. This distortion grants the wearer a +2 bonus to AC. Further, any missile or melee
attack aimed at the wearer automatically misses the first time. This can
apply to first attacks from multiple opponents only if the successive
attackers were unable to observe the initial displacement miss.
CLOAK OF ELVENKIND
This cloak is always a dull gray and indistinguishable from a normal
cloak. When the hood is drawn, the wearer blends almost perfectly
with his surroundings. In natural outdoor environments, the chance of
total concealment is 98%; in shadowy interior environments or when
outside in an urban area, the chance is 90%. If indoors and in a lit area,
the chance of total concealment is 50%.
CLOAK OF THE MANTA RAY
These cloaks, upon submersion in water, will adhere to the wearer and
grant an appearance nearly identical to that of a manta ray there is
a 10% chance that someone viewing the wearer will discern that they
are not a manta ray.
The wearer is capable of breathing underwater and has a swim speed
of 60 feet. Additionally they are granted a +6 armor bonus, though
magical protections may improve the armor bonus.
The cloak has a tail spine which the wearer can be used to strike opponents following them. The spine inflicts 1d6 points of damage. This attack can be used in addition to others; the wearer can release takes their
hands off the cloak without detriment to underwater movement.
CLOAK OF THE MUNDANE
This extraordinarily shabby brown or gray cloak makes the wearers
appearance completely unmemorable. It also grants the wearer a +1
bonus to Stealth proficiency checks. In any circumstance in which
there is a chance for the wearer to be noticed, there is a -5 penalty to
the check.
CLOAK OF PROTECTION
These cloaks add a bonus to the wearers AC when not worn in conjunction with the use of magical armor, metal armor, or shields. The
bonus ranges from +1 to +5.
CROWN OF LEADERSHIP
This majestic piece of platinum jewelry is adorned with 10 gems worth
100 gp each, with removal of any of the gems rendering the crown
non-magical. An intact crown provides several benefits usable by the
wearer:

Grant an 18 Charisma or a +1 bonus to Charisma, whichever is greater;

Dispel any fear effect, magical or otherwise, with a single
word, to all within 60 feet;
Inspire Allies as a bard of equal level seven times per week,
by speaking for one full round

CRYSTAL BALL
This 6-in. crystal sphere is the most common form of scrying device,
and is used by arcane casters to find and look upon a person or object

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

with which the arcane caster is familiar. Familiarity may be from personal experiences with the target or through accumulated information
from third party sources. The level of familiarity is critical and affects
the chances of location, duration, and maximum attempts per day.
Magical protections against divination thwart an attempt, revealing a
hazy and incomprehensible image. Scrying attempts against a target
on another plane of existence suffer a 25% penalty.

Scrying Attempts Chart

Chance of
Locating*

Maximum
Duration

Maximum
Views
per Day

100%

1 hour

Slightly familiar

85%

30 min.

Detailed information
& picture

50%

30 min.

Body part in
possession

50%

30 min.

Belonging in
possession

25%

15 min.

Detailed accurate
information

25%

15 min.

Rumors, vague
information

20%

10 min.

Level of Familiarity
Intimately familiar

As with many other types of divination magic, the image granted by

the crystal ball uses the mages full visual acuity, including any magical
effects. In addition, the following spells have a 5% chance per caster
level of operating through the ball: detect good, detect evil, detect magic,
and message. Spells that enhance a subjects sight may improve the
users chances of a successful scry.
Targets notice the scry on an Exceptional (TC 20) Wisdom check.
Spellcasters can use their Intelligence for the check instead.
Certain crystal balls have the clauraudience spell (caster level 10) attached to them, allowing their user to hear the target and the targets
immediate surroundings.
A dispel magic spell causes the item to cease functioning for 1 day.
CUBE, GATE
This small, cubic devise, is fashioned from carnelian. Each of the six
sides is keyed to a specific plane, one of which is always the Prime
Material Plane. The remaining five sides are keyed to other planes as
determined by the GM.
Activating the cube requires the possessor to press the side for whichever plane they wish to open a link. There is a cumulative 10% chance
per round that something will travel through the link seeking food,
mischief, or mayhem. By pressing a side twice, all creatures within a
10-foot radius are drawn through the link to the other plane. Only one
link may be created at a time.

CUBE OF FORCE
This small, ivory device enables its possessor to surround their person
in a cubic wall of force 10 feet per side. The wall is impervious to attack forms as shown on the chart below. The cube has 36 charges, with
the energy restored each day. The holder presses one face of the cube to
activate or deactivate the field.
While the force screen is activated, the following attacks require additional charges from the cube in order to maintain integrity. These
attacks cannot pass into or out of the cube.

Cube Activation Effects Chart

Cube Face

Charge Cost Per Turn /

Move ment Rate

1/1

Keeps out gases, wind,

etc.

2/8

Keeps out nonliving

matter

3/6

Keeps out living matter

4/4

Keeps out magic

6/3

Keeps out all things

0/normal

Deactivates

Effect

Cube Attacks Chart

Attack Form

Extra Charges

Catapult-like missiles

Very hot fires, Wall of Fire

Delayed Blast Fireball, Fireball, Firestorm,

Flame Strike, Passwall

Lightning Bolt

Phase Door

Horn of Blasting, Disintegrate

Prismatic Spray

Meteor Swarm

CUBE OF FROST RESISTANCE

When this cube is activated, it encloses an area similarly to a cube of
force. The temperature within this area is always that of a warm spring
day. The field will absorb damage from cold-based attacks such as
that delivered by a cone of cold, ice storm, even a blast from a white
dragon. The cube can withstand 50 points of cold every turn, with additional damage causing the field to collapse. Should the field receive
100 or more points of damage in a single turn, the cube is forever
destroyed.
DECANTER OF ENDLESS WATER
If the stopper is removed from this unassuming flask and a command
word is spoken, an amount of fresh or salt water pours out. Separate
command words determine the type as well as the volume and velocity
of the water.

183

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

Stream pours out 1 gallon per round.

Fountain produces a 5-foot-long stream at 5 gallons per
round.
Geyser produces a 20-foot-long, 1-foot-wide stream at 30
gallons per round.

The geyser effect causes considerable back pressure, requiring the holder to make an Average (TC 10) Strength check to avoid being knocked
prone. The force of the geyser deals 1d4 points of damage to one target
per round in the geysers area of effect; however, any target larger than
Medium is unaffected.
The command word must be spoken again to stop the flow of water.
DECK OF ILLUSIONS
This deck of parchment cards, 34 cards of 4 suits, are typically found
in an ivory box. The owner may randomly draw a card and throw it to
the ground, creating a major phantasmal image of a creature. The illusionary creature will travel no more than 30 feet away from the card,
but will otherwise move and act as though it were real. The illusion will
remain until it is dispelled, either through dispel magic or by picking
up the card. Once an illusion has been dispelled, the card becomes
blank and cannot be used again. The cards in the deck and the major
phantasmal images brought forth are as follows:

Hearts
Creatures

Diamonds
Card

Creatures

Ace

Red Dragon

Ace

Nightmare

King

Fighter & 4 guards

King

Wizard & Apprentice

Queen

Female Wizard

Queen

Green Hag

Jack

Male Druid

Jack

Harpy

10

Stone Giant

10

Fire Giant

Ettin

Ogre Mage

Bugbear

Gnoll

Goblin

Koblold

Spades

Clubs

Card

Creatures

Card

Creatures

Ace

Vampire

Ace

Iron Golem

King

Cleric & 2 Underpriests

King

Tief & 3 Cohorts

Queen

Medusa

Queen

Dark Naga

Jack

Paladion

Jack

Bard

10

Frost Giant

10

Hill Giant

Troll

Ogre

Hobgoblin

Orc

Goblin

Kobold

Jokers (2): Illusion of the decks owner

184

DECK OF MANY THINGS

This unusual deck, is typically found in a box or leather pouch, and
contains a number of tiles or plaques crafted from ivory or vellum.
Each card is unique, engraved with various glyphs, characters, and
sigils. Immediately upon drawing one of these cards, its magic is bestowed upon the person who drew it beneficial or baneful.
The individual with the deck must announce the number of cards to
be drawn, whether it is a single card or more than a dozen, prior to
drawing the first card. If a jester is drawn, the possessor may elect to
draw two additional cards.
Every time a card is drawn from the deck it is replaced making it possible that the same card could be drawn two or more times. However,
should the jester or fool be drawn, they get discarded from the pack.
A deck of many things with contain 13 cards (75% chance) or 22 cards
(25%). To simulate the cards contained in the deck, you may use normal playing cards as indicated below. The additional cards found in a
22 card deck are italicized.
Upon drawing the last card possible or The Void or Donjon card, the
deck disappears. Each card is explained below:

Deck of Illusions Card Chart

Card

The illusions created may vary from deck to deck and may be discovered with one or more cards missing. The illusions act as any other
creature of its type and will respond to attacks accordingly play them
as if they were real creatures.

Sun: Roll for a miscellaneous magical item until the result ends with
an item useful to the character.
Moon: The image of the moon has a moonbeam for each wish granted
(as determined by rolling 1d4). The wishes are identical to the wish
spell and must be used within one hour.
Star: The attribute points gained cannot increase an attribute above
19, requiring a second attribute to be selected.
Comet: The player must defeat the next hostile monster encountered
without aid from anyone or lose the boon. Success results in the character gaining enough experience to place them at the midway point of
the next experience level.
Throne: Characters Charisma becomes 18 or gains a +1 increase to
Charisma, whichever is greater, becoming one worthy to follow. The
castle gained will be near any stronghold already possessed.
Key: GM provides a prepared treasure map and the weapon gained
is usable by the character, typically a magical version of their weapon
of choice.
Knight: The fighter joins as an unfailingly loyal cohort.
Gem: Each piece of jewelry or gem gained will be worth 1000 gp.
The Void: This disastrous card results in the immediate imprisonment
of the characters soul, either in an object on another plane or in the
possession of a powerful outer planar entity. The body continues to
function, albeit as an automaton, and runs the danger of being open
to possession.

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

Flames: Intense feelings, or what passes for them, of anger, jealousy,

and envy are aroused toward the character with an outer planar entity.
The enmity that is brought about by this can only be ended when the
character or the entity have been slain.
Skull: A Spirit of Death appears, immediately attacking the character.
If anyone aids the character in the fight, another Spirit of Death appears to attack each one who aids the character. Anyone slain by the
Spirit of Death is forever slain, unable to be raised or resurrected. The
Spirit of Death is considered to be undead with respect to spells.
Spirit of Death
7d8+2 Hit Dice; AC 24; Move - Fly 40 feet; always acts first in a
round; attacks once per round with a Scythe, never missing; immune to cold, fire, and electrical energy.
Talons: When drawn, all magical items owned, whether currently
in the characters possession or stored elsewhere, immediately turn to
dust.
Ruin: This card, as implied, causes all land, property, every bit of
wealth gems, coins, jewelry, treasure, art objects, are lost.
Euryale: The curse inflicted by this card can only be removed by the
Fates card or near deific entities, otherwise the -3 to saving throws is
permanent.
Rogue: The effects of this card are not immediately known or felt. One
of the characters followers become alienated, harboring a festering hatred of the character. The alienated follower will maintain a loyal appearance, but will work to undermine and ruin the character in secret,
only revealing their hatred and machinations at the most devastating
moment for the character. Should the character lack followers, a powerful personage or community can be used instead.
Jester: Should the character choose to gain the 10,000 experience
points, the deck immediately becomes more beneficial, causing The
Void, Fool, and Donjon cards to disappear from the deck.
Fool: The experience point loss and draw are unavoidable.
Vizier: The character is able to tap into supernatural insight to overcome their next challenge whether it is defeating an opponent, answering a difficult question, or knowing what to do to avoid imminent
death. The insight and knowledge gained by no means assures success.
Idiot: As the card implies, the character permanently loses 1d4 points
of Intelligence. The additional draw could result in drawing the Idiot
again.
Fates: The character is granted the ability to instantly avoid any single
situation if desired, reshaping reality in that moment. This card can
only stop something from happening for the character, with other
party members having to endure the situation.
Donjon: This card results in the character becoming immediately
imprisoned by some creature, as determined by the GM. All gear
and spells are stripped from the character, with the GM determining
whether they can be recovered.

DRUMS OF PANIC
These paired kettle drums, hemispheres about 1 foot in diameter, are
unremarkable in appearance. When both are sounded, all creatures
within 120 feet (save for those within a 20 feet radius safe zone immediately around the drums) must roll an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save
or move away from the sound with all due haste for one turn.
Every turn, panicked creatures are permitted another Exceptional (TC
20) Will save. Failure results in another turn of movement away from
the drums. Fleeing from the drums is always at the fastest possible
speed.
DUST OF APPEARANCE
This fine metallic dust can be blown or spread to reveal magically or
naturally hidden or distorted objects and creatures. Often, a handful
of dust can be thrown up to 10 feet (to cover a 10-foot area) or blown
through a tube up to 20 feet to affect a 15-foot area. The effects of
spread dust lasts for 2d10 minutes.
DUST OF DISAPPEARANCE
This looks and works similarly to dust of appearance; however, any object or creature touched by it turns invisible. No magic or mundane
means of sight can reveal the invisibility, except dust of appearance.
Invisible creatures that take outward acts of hostility still remain invisible. The effects last for 2d10 minutes.
DUST OF DRYNESS
A single pinch cast into a cubic yard of water, equal to one drum of
water, transforms it into a marble-sized pellet floating or resting where
it was cast. The pellet can be thrown down or hurled at a target up to
30 feet away. Upon impact, the pellet shatters releasing the same volume of water. A pinch of the dust could be spread over an area instead,
by casting about with a wave of the arm, drying up to 15 cubic feet
of water. Only water, whether it is fresh, salt, brackish, or alkaline is
affected.
Should the dust be utilized against a water elemental or similar creature, the creature must succeed at an Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude
save or be destroyed instantly. Even with a successful save, the dust still
inflicts 5d6 points of damage upon the water-based creature.
A pouch will contain 2d4+2 pinches.
DUST OF ILLUSION
At first glance, this dust looks to be nothing more than chalk dust or
powdered graphite. However, when it is stared at, the dust will change
color and form. By, sprinkling a pinch of dust of illusion on a creature
results in the creature appearing to become another creature of similar
shape, though the size may vary up to 50% larger or smaller than its
actual size. An unwilling recipient is permitted a Superior (TC 15)
Will save to escape the effect.
The individual sprinkling the dust must imagine the illusion desired as
it is applied to the subject creature. The illusionary power lasts for 12
hours unless otherwise dispelled.
A typical pouch contains 1d10+10 pinches or applications of the
dust.

185

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

DUST OF MIND DULLING

This seemingly harmless powder is the bane of spellcasters. A pinch of
the dust can be flung up to 30 feet from the user, scattering to fill a
5-foot radius sphere.
All spellcasters within the created sphere must succeed an Exceptional
(TC 20) Will save or find themselves mentally dulled and slowed. Failure results in all spells with a casting time less than one round gaining
a +5 to casting time as the spellcaster hesitates, trying to recall the correct casting procedures; spells with casting times of one round, require
two rounds to cast; spells with casting times greater than one round
require 50% more time to cast. The dust persists for one turn unless
dispersed, with affected Spellcasters being impaired for one hour.
DUST OF TRACELESSNESS
A handful of this dust can be thrown in the air to perform one of two
functions. If used indoors, the dust spreads throughout a maximum
space of 100 x 100 ft., replacing any traces of traffic with cobwebs and
dust. This effectively causes the space to appear as if unmolested for
ages. If used outdoors, the dust spreads over a path as far as 1 mile and
removes any tracks made by up to 12 men and accompanying horses.
The dust does not resonate magic. A bag of this dust commonly contains 12 to 24 handfuls.
ELVEN QUIVER
This quiver appears to be a normal quiver capable of holding 20 arrows. Further examination reveals that the quiver is actually separated
into three compartments. The smallest compartment is capable of
holding up to 60 objects the same size and shape long bow arrows.
The mid-sized compartment will hold up to 18 objects of the same size
and shape as a spear. The largest compartment may contain up to six
objects the same size as a bow. The quiver will produce whatever object
the possessor commands it to bring forth.
EYES OF CHARMING
This matched set of crystal lenses fit over the users eyes. When worn,
the wearer may use a primary action to charm person, as the spell, as
a gaze attack. Only one creature may be targeted with the gaze per
round. The target suffers a -2 penalty if the wearer has both lenses and
a +2 bonus if he wears only one.
EYES OF THE EAGLE
These lenses fit over the eyes of the wearer, granting vision 100 times
greater than normal at distances of one or more feet. Thus a wearer is
able to see at 2000 feet what they could normally see at 20 feet. Wearing only a single lens causes the wearer to be overcome with vertigo,
becoming stunned for one round, after which they may see without
the increased eyesight. Both lenses must be worn in order to gain the
granted eyesight.
EYES OF MINUTE SEEING
These crystal lenses appear to be eyes of the eagle, except they grant vision 100 times greater than normal for distances one foot or less. This
enables the wearer to discern minute marks, seemingly invisible seams,
even the impressions left from writing can be seen. Secret compartments and hidden joints can be noted, allowing the information to be
acted upon. The effect of wearing a single lens is the same as that of
eyes of the eagle, except that the wearer may cover the other eye, avoid
the vertigo, and still gain the benefit of the enhanced vision.

186

FIGURINE OF WONDROUS POWER

There are a variety of figurines of wondrous power. Each figurine is a
small carved statuette of an animal. By throwing the statuette down
and speaking the command word, it becomes a living animal of typical
size, unless noted otherwise in the description below. The animal will
serve and obey its owner without fail.
Should the figurine break or shatter while in statuette form, all magic
is lost, forever ruined and destroyed. If it is slain while in animal form,
it reverts to a statuette and can be used again at a later time, as listed
below.
Consult the chart below to determine which type of figurine is
found.

Figurine of Wondrous Power Chart

d%

Figurine Type

01 - 15

Crystal Griffon

16 - 30

Ebony Fly

31 - 45

Golden Lions

46-55

Ivory Goats

56 - 65

Marble Elephant

66 - 75

Obsidian Steed

76 - 85

Onyx Dog

86 - 00

Serpentine Owl

Crystal Griffon: This chiseled, crystalline carving grows into a griffon

with an AC of 20 and 9d8 Hit Dice; its remaining qualities and attributes are as a normal griffon. It may be used every other day for 12
hours, returning to a statuette after the 12 hours have passed.
Ebony Fly: At a word, this tiny, carved fly grows to the size of a pony.
It has an AC of 14, 4+4 Hit Dice, Fort +4, Ref +6, and Will +4. Its
flight speed is 90 feet when carrying up to 200 pounds, 60 feet when
carrying 201 to 275 pounds, and 30 feet when carrying 276 to 350
pounds. The ebony fly may be used three times per week, 12 hours per
day. Upon command or once the 12 hours have lapsed, it reverts to
its tiny statuette.
Golden Lions: These matched (pair) figurines become normal adult
lions: AC 15, base move of 30 feet, three attacks 2 claws 1d4 each,
bite for 1d10, and special rake attack with rear claws if both claws hit
for 2d6+2 damage, and medium-sized at 6 in length. If they are slain
in combat, they cannot be used again for one full week; otherwise they
may be used for one hour each day.
Ivory Goats: These statuettes come in threes, each appearing slightly
different, and having a specific purpose as described below. After three
uses, the goat figurines lose all magical properties.
Goat of Travel: This statuette provides a speedy, enduring
mount with AC 14, 24 hit points, Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +2,
and two attacks (horns) for 1d8 each as a 4 hit dice creature.
Additionally, the base move is 120 feet if carrying up to 350
pounds, with every 10 additional pounds decreasing its base
move by 5 feet. The goat may travel for 24 hours each week,
either continuous or in varying time increments equaling
24 hours. After which, or when the command word is uttered, it returns to its statuette form for one day before it

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

can be used again.

Goat of Travail: This statuette, upon command, grows to
be larger than bull with a pair of sharp hooves (2d4+2 points
of damage each), a powerful bite (1d12 points of damage),
and a pair of wicked horns (2d6 points of damage each).
When charging, it may only use its horns, dealing double
damage with each horn that hits. It has a base move of 60
feet, AC 20, 96 hit points, attacks as a 16 Hit Dice creature,
Fort +9, Ref, +7, and Will +7. The goat of travail may be
used once per month for up to 12 hours.
Goat of Terror: When called upon, this statuette transforms
into a destrier-like mount with a base move of 90 feet, AC
18, 48 hit points, Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +6, and no attacks.
Instead, its rider may employ the goats horns as weapons
one as a +3 lance, the other as a +6 long sword. When ridden
against an enemy, the goat of terror will radiate a 30-foot
radius aura of terror. All enemies within the radius must
succeed at a Legendary (TC 25) Will save or suffer a -8 to
Strength due to terror-induced weakness. Once all enemies
are slain, or command, it returns to its statuette form. This
goat may be used once every two weeks.
Marble Elephant: The marble elephant in statuette form is the size
of an adult male human fist. Upon command, it grows to become a
true elephant, fully obedient to the figurines owner. It has a base move
of 45 feet, AC 16, 110 hit points, Fort +11, Ref +8, Will +9, attacks
as an 11 Hit Dice monster with 4 attacks two tusks (2d8 points of
damage), trunk (2d6 points of damage), and trample (4d12 points of
damage). The marble elephant can be used for up to 24 continuous
hours once a week.
Obsidian Steed: This appears to be a shapeless lump of black stone,
though a discerning eye will see that it vaguely resembles some form
of quadruped. Upon command, it becomes an extraordinary steed. It
is considered to be a heavy war horse with the following additional
qualities: +4 Hit Dice, fly at its normal base move, and may travel into
the Astral Plane at the will of the owner. Anyone may ride the steed,
however, if the rider is of good alignment, there is a 10% cumulative
chance per use that it will leave the rider on the Astral Plane; after
which the steed will return to its statuette form. Note that the steed
and its rider actually travel to the Astral Plane not project, permitting travel to other planes. The statuette may be used for a maximum
of 24 hours each week before needing 48 hours of recharge.
Onyx Dog: This statuette changes into a creature with the same properties as a wolf, except it has Intelligence 10, able to speak Common,
has Exceptional level proficiency in Tracking, visual capabilities akin
to that eyes of the eagle, and Darkvision (120 feet). The onyx dog may
be used for up to 12 continuous hours, once per week.
Serpentine Owl: A serpentine owl becomes a giant talking owl
speaks common and six other GM designated languages, able to communicate telepathically with its owner up to one mile away, base flight
speed of 90 feet, 21 hit points, AC 17, attacks as a 4 Hit Dice monster,
Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +4, and three attacks two claws (1d6 points of
damage each) and one bite (1d4+1 points of damage). Additionally,
it has visual acuity in normal, above-ground darkness as if it was full
light, and sees four times as well as a human. Its hearing is so acute,
that it is capable of hearing a mouse up to 60 feet away anyone
or thing attempting to move silently suffers a -10 penalty against the
serpentine owl.

GAUNTLETS OF DEXTERITY
A pair of these lightweight leather hand wraps magically fit themselves
to any hand, from that of a halfling to that of a huge large half-orc.
The wearer gains a +4 bonus to Dexterity if they have a Dexterity 6 or
lower, a +3 if 7 to 10, +2 if 11 to 13, and +1 if 14 or higher. Additionally, any non-thief wearing these gloves gain a +2 bonus to all Forgery,
Open Locks, and Sleight of Hand checks. If worn by a thief, the bonus
increases to +4.
GAUNTLETS OF OGRE POWER
These are heavy gauntlets and only a person with a Strength 15 or
higher can put them on. Once on, the weight of the gauntlets diminishes and the wearer henceforth enjoys 18 Strength. If one gauntlet is
lost, destroyed or dispelled, the magic ceases to function.
GAUNTLETS OF MIGHT
These lightweight, seemingly fragile gauntlets, upon command, enable
the wearer to deal double damage with all melee attacks for one round
three times each day.
GAUNTLETS OF SWIMMING AND CLIMBING
These leather gloves grant the wearer the ability to swim and climb at
their normal base move, with the wearer is considered to have Superior
proficiency in both Swimming and Climb. The gauntlets do not provide any kind of water breathing capability.
GEM OF BRIGHTNESS
This long, rough, crystal prism, upon command, emits one of three
different bright lights. The simplest light capable of being emitted is
a soft, cone-shaped light 10 feet long, 5 feet wide at the end of the
beam. This use does not discharge any of the energy of the gem of
brightness.
The second light that may be emitted, as a primary action, is an intense, bright 1 foot diameter ray, 50 feet long. Creatures struck by
the ray are entitled to an Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude save to avoid
becoming dazzled, unable to see for 1d4 rounds. One charge is drained
when emitting this beam.
The third type of light that may be emitted is a blinding flare of light
in a 50-foot long cone, 30 feet wide at its end. The flare lasts but a
moment, but is so brilliant, that all creatures within the area of effect
must succeed an Exceptional (TC 20) Fortitude save or be blinded for
1d4 rounds; thereafter suffering a penalty of -1 to -4 (1d4) to attack
rolls due to permanent eye damage. Five charges are drained when the
gem is used in this fashion.
Dazzling or blindness effects may be reversed by a remove blindness or
deafness spell. Eye damage caused by the flare may only be cured by a
heal spell.
The gem of brightness has 50 charges, which, once expended, may not
be recharged. Once all charges have been expended, the gem loses all
magical properties. The gem loses one charge when targeted by a darkness spell and five charges when targeted by a continual darkness spell.
GEM OF INSIGHT
This finely cut quartz stone has no immediate effect upon the possessor. After a week, the individual will begin to notice the power of the

187

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

gem, gaining a +1 bonus to Intelligence based proficiency checks. At

the end of two weeks, the bonus extends to Wisdom-based proficiency
checks. Continuing possession of the gem for at least three months
grants a +1 bonus to Intelligence and Wisdom. If the gem is possessed
for a further three months, the bonus to Intelligence and Wisdom
becomes permanent, after which time the gem ceases to function. A
character may only ever benefit from one gem of insight.
GEM OF REVEALING
A gem of seeing appears as a fine stone with flattened opposite sides
and does not appear magical. When one looks through one side of the
gem, the viewer can see all things magically hidden and can discern
the true property of things. Mundane disguises and naturally hidden
objects cannot be seen. It takes the gem one full round to focus and
the magic of the gem can sometimes malfunction. On a roll of 1 on a
d20, the gem actually shows the viewer false images.
GEM OF SEEING
When these finely cut, polished stones are gazed through, allows the
user to discern all hidden, illusionary, invisible, astral, ethereal, or outof-phase objects or creatures within 50 feet.
GIRDLE OF DWARVENKIND
This sturdy belt lowers the wearers Charisma score by one with respect
to all nondwarves. Dwarves regard the wearer as if he has a Charisma
score two points higher than before. Further, the girdle enables the
wearer to become completely fluent in dwarvish. Finally, while the
girdle of dwarvenkind is worn, it grants the wearer all racial traits of being a dwarf: darkvision, stonecunning, protection from magic, magic
disruption, heritage enemies, giant guard, and +2 bonus to Constitution.
GIRDLE OF GIANT STRENGTH
The wearer of this seemingly ragged belt enjoys the Strength and boulder-throwing ability of a giant. Each belt is laced with the muscle of a
specific giant, a determination made by a d% roll and consulting the
following chart below.

Girdle of Giant Strength Chart

d%

Result

01 - 35

Fire Giant (Strength 22)

36 - 55

Frost Giant (Strength 21)

56 - 75

Hill Giant (Strength 22)

76 - 00

Stone Giant (Strength 23)

GIRDLE OF MANY POUCHES

This broad waist belt has 64 pouches hidden on its inner front surface.
Each pouch is akin to a miniature bag of holding, capable of holding one cubic foot of material weighing up to 10 pounds. The girdle
responds to the will of the wearer providing a full or empty pouch as
desired.
GIRDLE OF THE THREE FOLD WAY
This simple leather belt allows non-monk characters to add of their

188

Wisdom check modifier to AC as though they were a monk. When

worn by a monk, it enables the monk to add their entire Wisdom
check modifier to AC and grants three additional uses of ki power
each day.
GLOVES OF ARROW CATCHING
Once snugly worn, these gloves seem to meld with the hands, becoming almost invisible. They allow the wearer to catch all forms of Small
or Medium sized missile weapons (arrows, bolts, darts, bullets, javelins,
axes, hammers, spears, and the like), thus preventing possible harm.
The gloves also enable the wearer to return a caught, hand-thrown
missile to its original sender as a non-action attack immediately upon
catching it. Each glove can thwart one missile attack per round, and
both gloves must be worn for the magic to work.
GLOVES OF DEXTERITY
These thin leather gloves are very flexible and allow for delicate manipulation. They add to the wearers Dexterity score as follows: 4 points if
the wearers Dexterity is 6 or less; 2 points if the wearers normal score
is 7 to 13; and, by 1 point if the wearers Dexterity is 14 or higher.
Both gloves must be worn for the magic to work.
GLOVES OF SWIMMING AND CLIMBING
These apparently normal lightweight gloves grant the wearer a +10
bonus on all swim and climb checks. Both gloves must be worn for the
magic to be effective.
HANDY HAVERSACK
This is a finely crafted and tanned leather backpack with two outside
pouches and a central hold. The two outside pouches are actually bags
of holding that can hold up to 20 pounds, or 2 cubic feet, of contents.
The central compartment is another bag of holding that can hold up
to 80 pounds, or 8 cubic feet, of contents. Any sought object appears
at the top of the bag when commanded. While this item performs saving throws as a magical item, it also receives a +2 bonus. On a failed
save, all the sacks contents are lost forever. On a successful save, all the
items inside also save.
HARP OF CHARMING
This instrument is a golden, intricately carved harp. When played, it
enables the performer to work one suggestion spell into the music for
each 10 minutes of playing if he can succeed on a Superior (TC 15)
Performance check. If the check fails, the audience cannot be affected
by any further performances from the harpist for 24 hours.
HAT OF DISGUISE
The wearer of this hat can change his form per the alter self spell. The
hat itself can be disguised to appear as any headpiece.
HELM OF BRILLIANCE
The wearer of this extraordinary helm is granted a +2 bonus to AC.
Upon command, the true nature of the helm becomes visible to all.
It is a brilliant silver, polished, steel helm set with 10 diamonds, 20
rubies, 30 fire opals, and 40 opals each of which is magically empowered as explained below. The helm, when struck by bright light, will
reflect rays back in all directions, in a scintillating display of color. The
jewels function as follows:

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

Diamond
Ruby
Fire Opal
Opal

prismatic Spray
wall of Fire
fireball
light

Each gem can perform its spell-like power just once. Until all jewels
are expended, the helm of brilliance has the following magical properties when activated:

It will radiate a bluish light when undead are within 30 feet.

All undead within 30 feet suffer 1d6 points of damage each
round.
The wearer may command any sword held to become
wreathed in flame, dealing an additional 1d10 points of fire
damage with each strike.
The wearer is protected as though by a double strength ring
of fire resistance were worn. This protection cannot be augmented by further magical means.

Once all jewels have been expended, the helm forever loses its powers and the gems become worthless powder. The gems may not be
recharged.
If the individual wearing the helm is attacked by magical fire and fails
their save to resist, a second saving throw for the helm must be made.
Failure results in the helm detonating, inflicting on the wearer the accumulated effects of all unused jewels.
HELM OF COMPREHEND LANGUAGES AND READ MAGIC
The wearer of this helm can understand the spoken words of any language with a 90% chance of success and can read the writings of any
language with an 80% chance of success.
HELM OF TELEPATHY
This sturdy chain coif enables the wearer to detect thoughts (as the spell)
in creatures up to 60 feet away. Conversely, rather than just read the
targets thoughts, the wearer may choose to implant a suggestion (as the
spell). The creature receiving the suggestion is permitted an Exceptional
(TC 20) Will save. The save is modified -1 per two points of Intelligence lower or +1 per two points of Intelligence higher, than the
wearer of the helm of telepathy.
HELM OF TELEPORTATION
The wearer of this helm is able to teleport once per day. When worn
by wizards or runecasters capable of memorizing the teleport or teleport
without error spells, and retain the spell(s) in memory, may personally
teleport six times per day instead of once.
HELM OF UNDERWATER ACTION
The wearer of this helmet can see underwater. By drawing the helms
small lenses on either side into position before his eyes, the wearer activates the visual properties of the helm, allowing him to see five times
farther than the water and light conditions would normally allow.
(Weeds, obstructions, and the like block vision in the usual manner.)
If the command word is spoken, the helm of underwater action creates
a globe of air around the wearers head and maintains it until the command word is spoken again, enabling him to breathe freely.

HORN OF BLASTING
This exquisitely crafted trumpet may be sounded as a normal horn
or with the proper command word, issue forth two devastating blasts
simultaneously:

A 120-foot long cone of sound, 30 feet wide at the end. All

within the area of blast must succeed at an Exceptional (TC
20) Fortitude save or suffer 10 points of damage, become
deafened for one hour, and stunned for two rounds. Success results in being stunned for one round and deafened
for one turn.
A one foot wide, 100 feet long ultrasonic wave capable of
splintering three cubic yards of wood, shattering one cubic
yard of stone, or melt two pounds of metal.

If a horn of blasting is used magically more than once per day, there is a
cumulative 10% chance that it will explode, inflicting 5d10 points of
damage upon the individual sounding the horn.
HORN OF FOG
This bugle emanates a deep, fog horn noise, which abruptly drops
in register at the end. During each round during which the bugle is
blown, it emits a burst of thick fog in a 10-foot cube centered on the
user. The fog can be enlarged with subsequent rounds of use. Each
burst of fog remains for 2d4 rounds and reduces vision to 2 - 5 feet.
Strong winds can immediately disperse the fog and slighter winds can
reduce the duration of a blast by 50%.
HORN OF GOODNESS OR EVIL
In the hands of a good-aligned user, the horn produces a protection
from evil spell effect in a 10-ft radius around the user. In the hands of
an evil-aligned user, the horn produces the reverse of the spell in the
same space. In either case, the horn can be blown but once per day and
its effects last for 1 minute.
HORN OF HEROES
When the proper command word is spoken and the horn is sounded,
a number of fighters are summoned forth. They will gladly attack anyone the sounder of the horn commands them to fight, until they or
their opponents are slain.
The fighters will have plate armor (+7 AC), wield two-handed swords
(50%) or halberds (50%), and have 8 hit points per level. The number
of fighters summoned and their level are randomly determined by the
chart below.

Horn of Heroes Summoning Chart

d%

# of Fighters Summoned

Level

01 - 39

2d4+2

2nd-level

40 - 75

2d4+1

3rd-level

76 - 90

2d4

4th-level

91 - 00

1d4+1

5th-level

HORSESHOE OF LUCK
This small mithril horseshoe permits the bearer to reroll three saves
per day.

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HORSESHOES OF SPEED
When affixed to a horses hooves, they double the base move of the horse
when commanded by the rider.

Ioun Stones Chart

d10

Color

Shape

Effect

HORSESHOES OF THE ZEPHYR

These horseshoes allow a horse to travel over any terrain without touching
the ground. The horseshoes lift the horse 6 inches off the ground. Any
terrain may be passed over without effort or leaving tracks. Provided the
horse is not ridden at a full gallop, the horseshoes of the zephyr allow tireless
movement for 12 continuous hours of riding.

Clear

Spindle

Sustains w/out food or

water

Dusty rose

Prism

+1 bonus to Armor Class

Deep red

Sphere

+1 to Dexterity

Incandescent blue

Sphere

+1 to Wisdom

INCENSE OF MEDITATION
These small rectangular blocks of sweet smelling incense are indistinguishable from normal incense. Clerics will immediately recognize the unique
fragrance and pearly-hued smoke burning incense of meditation.
Clerics who spend eight hours in prayer and meditation near a block of
burning incense of meditation, becomes capable of casting spells to maximum effects. For example, cure light wounds would heal 8 hit points; blade
barrier would deal 64 points of damage on a failed Reflex saving throw;
those brought back from the dead automatically succeed at their shock
survival.

Iridescent

Spindle

Sustains w/out air

Pale blue

Rhomboid

+1 to Strength

Pearly white

Spindle

Regenerates 1 hp per turn

Upon discovery, 2d4+1 blocks of incense are found. Each block burns for
8 hours, granting the maximized spell benefits for 24 hours.
INSTANT FORTRESS
This small adamantine cube grows to form a tower 20 feet square, 30 feet
high, with arrows slits and crenelated battlement atop it when activated.
The foundation of the tower extends 10 feet into the ground. A small door
for entry and exit opens only at the command of the fortress owner even
knock spells will fail.
The adamantite walls of instant fortress are impervious to all weapons but
catapults, capable of withstanding 200 points of damage before collapsing.
The damage sustained is cumulative, reparable only through the use of a
limited wish or wish; a limited wish will restore 1 point of damage, while a
wish will restore 10 points of damage.
The fortress springs up in a single round, with door facing the owner. Any
creature or object, save the owner, caught in the area of the fortress sudden
growth, suffers 10d10 points of damage, no save.
IOUN STONES
These crystalline stones always float in the air and must be within 3 feet
of their owner to be of any use. When a character first acquires a stone, he
must hold it and then release it, whereupon it takes up a circling orbit 1d3
feet from his head. Thereafter, a stone must be grasped or netted to separate it from its owner. The owner may voluntarily seize and stow a stone (to
keep it safe while she is sleeping, for example), but she loses the benefits of
the stone during that time. Ioun stones have an AC of 4, 10 hit points, and
save as a +1 magical item. The following chart shows all available stones.

Pink

Rhomboid

+1 to Constitution

Pink and
green

Sphere

+1 to Charisma

10

Scarlet and
blue

Sphere

+1 to Intelligence

IRON BANDS OF BINDING

When initially discovered, this very potent item appears to be a 3-inch
diameter rusty iron sphere with bands on the globe. When the proper
command word is spoken and the spherical iron device is hurled at an opponent, the bands expand and then contract to bind the target creature on
a successful attack roll. A single Large or smaller creature can be captured
and held immobile until the command word is spoken again to return the
bands into spherical form. The creature can break (and destroy) the bands
with an Exceptional (TC 20) Strength check; however, due to the magical nature of the bands, the check is made with a -5 penalty. Iron bands of
binding are usable once per day.
IRON FLASK
These containers are typically inlaid with varying runes and are stoppered
with a glyph covered brass plug. When the command word the possessor of
the iron flask may capture a single creature, within 60 feet, trapping them
in the flask. The targeted creature, if their magic resistance is overcome, is
permitted an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save to resist being captured. Only
one creature may be captured and contained at a time. Removing the stopper automatically frees the captured creature.
Should the individual that frees the captured creature know and utter the
command word, the creature is compelled to serve for one hour. If freed
without knowledge of the command word, the creature flees, seeking to
get as far away from the flask as possible. Additional attempts to recapture
the same creature grant it a +2 bonus to its Will save, enraging the creature, making it totally hostile to whomever releases them from the flask.
At the GMs discretion, when found the iron flask may contain already
contain a creature.
JEWEL OF FLAWLESSNESS
This perfectly cut stone, when placed with other gems, transforms them to
increase in value by 20%. The jewel of flawlessness has 10 to 100 (10d10)
facets. For each gem with which it is placed, it loses a facet as it absorbs
flaws from other gems. Once all facets are gone, the jewel becomes a perfect sphere with no value.

190

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LENS OF DETECTION
This item is a framed 6 in. prism with a handle. It allows its user to see
much better at a distance of 1 foot, granting a +4 bonus on any attempts to
find a trap, secret door or other hidden object, including tracks.
LIBRAM OF MAGIC
These well-made books are always of small size, not much bigger than a
hand held notebook. They are extraordinarily durable, having a +3 bonus
to saving throws, are waterproof, fire resistant, and bound in iron and
silver.
The pages of the libram of magic readily accept spells scribed upon them,
capable of containing 75 spells of any level. Each spell, regardless of level,
can be contained on one page.
LIBRAM OF THAUMATURGICAL ACUMEN
This book contains useful arcane knowledge for wizards and runecasters.
By spending a week studying its complex secrets, the wizard or runecaster
gains enough experience to place themselves at the mid-point of the next
higher level. The libram disappears immediately upon completion of the
study.
Any nonwizard or non-runecaster perusing the work must succeed at an
Exceptional (TC 20) Will save in order to avoid becoming catatonic, mentally overwhelmed by the knowledge of the libram. A catatonic character
can be roused only with a remove curse cast in conjunction with heal.
LYRE OF BUILDING
This non-descript, plain lyre, once per day, is capable of negating the effects of a horn of blasting, the disintegrate spell, or similar effects upon
objects or buildings, when the proper chords are struck.
Once each week, the lyre may be struck to magically build various structures buildings, mines, tunnels, moats, bridges, and so forth. The magic
of the lyre of building duplicates three days of work of 100 laborers over
the span of one hour.
MANUAL OF ADROITNESS
This metal-bound manual bestows upon the reader knowledge of how to
increase their Dexterity by one point. The manual must be studied for one
week, after which it disappears. Then, throughout the following month,
the reader puts into practice the knowledge granted by the book.
The knowledge learned from the manual of adroitness cannot be taught,
articulated, or recorded by the reader. No one benefits from the manual
a second time, nor may more than one individual benefit from a single
copy.
MANUAL OF GAINFUL EXERCISE
This manual is similar to a manual of adroitness, except reading and practicing its prescribed regimens result in gaining a +1 to Strength.
MANUAL OF INTESTINAL FORTITUDE
This manual is similar to a manual of adroitness, except reading and practicing its prescribed regimens result in gaining a +1 to Constitution.
MANUAL OF GOLEM ARTIFICE
This rare book contains a complete compilation of formulas and incantations used to create one of two sorts of golems: flesh or stone.

The construction and animation of a golem is an involved and expensive

undertaking. Throughout the process, the manual of golem artifice must be
at hand for study and reference, and must be performed uninterrupted.
Once completed, the book crumbles to ash that must be sprinkled upon
the golem, animating it.
Should the cleric, druid, runecaster, witch or wizard attempting to use the
manual be under 10th-level, there is a 50% chance that the golem will
fall to pieces within one turn of animation due to the artificers imperfect
understanding.
In the event that any other individual other than a cleric, druid, runecaster, witch or wizard reads a manual of golem artifice, 6d6 points of damage
is suffered and a loss of 10,000 60,000 (1d6) experience points. Consult
the chart below to determine the type of manual discovered.

Manual of Golem Artifice Chart

d%
01 - 75

Golem Type
Flesh

Construction
Time

GP Cost

2 months

50,000

76 - 00
Iron
4 months
100,000
MANUAL OF MARTIAL PROWESS
The sturdy cover of this treatise on weapon techniques, stances, postures,
attack, and defense modes is indistinguishable from any other texts. Few
books are sought after by fighters as much as the manual of martial prowess. A fighter who spends a month studying and practicing the techniques
contained in the manual gain enough experience to be at the mid-point of
the next higher level.
The fighter is unable to pass on what has been read, nor record it in any
fashion. Should a wizard, runecaster or witch so much as glance at the
writings contained within becomes stunned for one hour and lose 10,000
to 60,000 (1d6) experience points. A character may benefit from reading
this tome only one time.
MANUAL OF MASTER THIEVERY
The manual of master thievery does for thieves what the manual of martial
prowess does for fighters. A cleric, ranger, or paladin who reads even a
single word of this manual suffer 5d6 points of damage, become stunned
for a like number of rounds, and lose 10,000 experience points. Failure to
atone will also result in the loss of one point of Wisdom.
MANUAL OF RIGHTEOUS VALOR
The manual of righteous valor does for paladins what the manual of martial
prowess does for fighters. Anyone other than a paladin reading this book
must succeed at an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save or turn away from all
other pursuits in order to take up the righteous cause of paladinhood.
A thief who so much as glimpses the writings of this book suffers 10d6
points of damage.
MATTOCK OF THE TITANS
This 10 feet long digging tool, weighs over 100 pounds. Any human-sized,
or larger creature, with a Strength score of 20 or more can use it to rend
earth or earthen ramparts, up to 100-cubic-feet, or smash 20 cubic-feet
of solid rock, in a single turn. Should it be wielded as a weapon, it is a +3
weapon that deals 5d6 points of damage, exclusive of Strength modifier.

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MARVELOUS PIGMENTS
These inks enable the possessor to create objects by sketching the desired
object on a surface floor, wall, ceiling, door, and so on. The sketch expands from the surface to form the sketched object as the wielder concentrates upon the image. The object created must be inanimate, such as a
door, pit, flower, tree, chair, et cetera; monsters, people, golems, animals,
and the like cannot be created.
Precious metals, gems, jewelry, ivory, and the like created with marvelous
pigments will appear valuable, but will actually be made of tin, lead, paste,
brass, bone, and so forth. Normal, non-magical, armor and weapons can
still be created.
One pot of marvelous pigments is enough to create an object up to 1,000
cubic feet. 2d4 pots of pigments will be found, with a one foot long instrument with which to sketch.
MAUL OF THE TITANS
The huge head of this 8 feet long, 150 pound mallet may only be wielded
by a human-sized or larger creature with a Strength score of 21 or greater.
The wielder may utilize it to drive 2 feet diameter piles 4 feet deep per blow
in normal earth or smash a 10 feet high, 4 feet wide, 2 inch thick oaken
door. As a weapon, it has a +2 bonus to attack and inflicts 4d10 points of
damage per hit, exclusive of Strength modifier.
MEDALLION OF THOUGHT DETECTION
This appears to be a normal pendant disk hung from a neck chain. The
medallion allows the wearer to read the thoughts of others, as with the
spell detect thoughts.
MIRROR OF LIFE TRAPPING
This brilliantly polished, 4 square feet, metal framed, crystal mirror is usable only by wizards or runecasters. It has 18 extradimensional compartments contained within it. Any living creature passing within 30 feet of
the mirror and seeing their reflection, must succeed at an Exceptional (TC
20) Will save or become imprisoned in one the compartments. Should the
mirror already be at maximum capacity, a randomly determined victim
will be freed to make room. Those aware of the mirrors nature receive a +2
bonus to their Will save. The owner of the mirror is protected from being
imprisoned within the mirror. All victims are immediately freed should
the mirror be broken.
An imprisoned creature is transported bodily into the mirror cell, regardless of size. The possessor of the mirror may call forth the reflection of any
imprisoned creature, engaging the helpless occupant in conversation.
MIRROR OF MENTAL PROWESS
This ordinary looking, 5 feet by 2 feet mirror, allows the possessor who
knows the proper commands to perform in one of 4 ways:

Read and understand the thoughts of any reflected creature.

Scry as if it were a crystal ball, even view into other planes with
which the viewer is familiar.
Use it as a portal, stepping through to the place pictured. An
invisible area remains on the other side, allowing those using the
portal to return if the correct spot can be found.
The mirror can answer one question regarding a creature whose
image is reflected on its surface once per week.

NECKLACE OF ADAPTATION
The magic of the necklace wraps the wearer in a shell of fresh air, making
him immune to all harmful vapors and gases (such as cloudkill and stinking
cloud effects, as well as inhaled poisons) and allowing him to breathe freely,
even when underwater or in a vacuum.
NECKLACE OF FIREBALLS
This device appears to be nothing but beads on a string, which is sometimes tied to form a necklace. Once held, however, all around can see
the strand as it really isa golden chain from which a number of golden
spheres hang. The spheres are detachable by the wearer (and only by the
wearer), who can easily hurl one of them up to 70 feet. When a sphere arrives at the end of its trajectory, it detonates as a fireball spell.
Spheres come in different strengths, ranging from those that deal 2d6
points of fire damage to those that deal 10d6. All spheres deal their damage to subjects within 20 feet of the detonation spot. An Average (TC 10)
Dexterity check allows the wearer to accurately hurl a sphere.
Each necklace is found with a random number of missiles, and each missile can be of a different power level in terms of damage. The amount and
power of the fireballs are determined by making a d% roll and consulting
the chart below.

Necklace of Fireballs Effect Chart

Number of Missiles per HD
d20

10 HD

9 HD

8 HD

7 HD

1-4

5-8

9-12

13-16

17-18

19

20

5 HD

4 HD

3 HD

For example, on a roll of 9-12, the necklace will possess seven missiles
one 7-dice, two 5-dice, and four 3-dice fireballs.
If the necklace is being worn or carried by a character who fails her saving throw against a magical fire attack, the item is allowed an item saving
throw as well (as if the item was strong to the effect). If the necklace fails to
save, all remaining spheres detonate simultaneously and deal their damage
to the wearer at once.
NECKLACE OF PRAYER BEADS
Necklace of prayer beads appear to be normal piece of simple jewelry until
worn by a cleric. Each necklace is comprised of 30 semi-precious stones.
The wearer gains a greater affirmation of faith in their deity, praying for
spells as though their Wisdom score were two points higher. Each necklace
will have 6 special beads, each usable once per day, as follows:

192

6 HD

Bead of atonement as the 5th-level divine spell

Bead of blessing as the 1st-level divine spell
Bead of curing remove blindness, remove disease, or cure serious
wounds
Bead of karma allow cleric to cast spells as if he were four

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

levels higher in level with respect to level-based effects

Bead of summons summon an avatar of the clerics deity
Bead of wind walking as the 7th-level divine spell

PEARL OF POWER
A pearl of power looks like a mundane pearl but is quite magical and useful
to any spellcaster. Each pearl is keyed to a certain level of spells. Once per
day, the owner can use the pearl to recall one previously cast spell of the
pearls given level. For example, a 1st-level pearl of power allows its owner
to recast a 1st-level spell already used that day. 50% of all pearls of power
are either keyed to the 1st or 2nd-level of power, and 5% are actually
cursed. These cursed pearls permanently remove one spell per day until the
caster sufficiently breaks the curse.
PEARL OF THE SIRINES
When this pearl is firmly clasped in hand, the possessor is enabled to
breathe water and has a swim speed of 60 feet. Furthermore, the possessor
is immune to poison from aquatic creatures.
PEARL OF WISDOM
Initially appearing as a normal pearl, it will increase the Wisdom of a cleric, druid or witch, who retains ownership of the pearl for at least 30 days,
by one point. Should the pearl be lost, the increased Wisdom is lost too.
PERIAPT OF HEALTH
This appears to be a fine gem, but when claimed and worn somewhere on
the owners body, the gem immunizes the owner against all diseases.
PERIAPT OF PROOF AGAINST POISON
This item is a brilliant-cut black gem on a delicate silver chain. The wearer
is immune to all natural poisons and receives a +4 bonus on any saving
throw to stave off a magical poison. Poisons active when the periapt is first
donned still run their course, though.
PERIAPT OF WOUND CLOSURE
The periapt doubles the wearers normal rate of healing to 2 points per
level per night of rest and allows the normal healing of wounds that cannot
be healed without magical aid. Hit point damage that involves magical,
continual bleeding, such as damage from a wounding weapon, is negated,
but the wearer is still susceptible to damage from bleeding out, such as
when the wearer is reduced to below 0 hit points.
PHILOSOPHERS STONE
Long sought by alchemists everywhere, this rare, magical rock contains a
quicksilver substance that enables the transmutation of base metals into
silver and gold. From 50 to 500 pounds of iron can be transformed into
silver; from 10 to 100 pounds of lead can be transformed into gold from a
single philosophers stone.
There is a 20% chance that the stone contains one of two substances, a
greenish, crystalline salt (75% of time) or a white powder (25% of the
time). The salt allows for the creation of 1d4 potions of rejuvenation.
When the white powder is combined with a potion of rejuvenation, it becomes a substance that can actually restore life to a creature that has been
dead for no more than one week (as the raise dead spell).
PHYLACTERY OF BRAVERY
When worn, this armband grants the wearer a +1 bonus to attacks and a
+2 bonus to Will saves against fear and fear-like effects.

PHYLACTERY OF FAITHFULNESS
Until worn, there is no way to ascertain the function of this device. The
wearer will be immediately aware of any action or item that will adversely
affect their alignment and standing with his deity. The information comes
prior to the action or association with the item as an overwhelmingly bad
feeling.
PHYLACTERY OF LONGEVITY
This prized item slows the possessors natural aging process by 50% as long
as it is worn. Thus, the wearer ages one year for every two that pass.
PIPES OF HAUNTING
This magical item appears to be a small set of pan pipes and resonates
magic when detected. When played by a person proficient in musical instruments, the pipes create an eerie, spell-binding tune. Those hearing the
tune must make an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save or become frightened.
This panic calls for a morale roll if in combat and imposes a 2 penalty to
the check. If under the effects of the pipes before combat and a surprise
roll is required, those panicked suffer a 1 to the roll.
PIPES OF SOUNDING
When played by one proficient in music, a variety of sounds can be produced wind blowing, laughter, whistling, bird calls, moaning, footsteps,
crying, mumbled voices, screams, running or rushing water, or creaking,
though a GM may decide that other similar sounds are possible. The
sounds produced will seem to be anywhere within 60 feet of the piper.
PIPES OF THE SEWER
These wooden pipes allow the piper to summon 10 to 60 (1d6 x 10) giant
rats (80%) or 30 to 180 (3d6 x 10) normal rats (20%) if either or both are
within 400 feet and the proper tune is played. As long as the piper continues to play, the rats will obey the piper. When the piper stops playing,
the rats disperse.
If the rats are under control of another creature, when the piper ceases
playing, the rats turn on the piper.
PORTABLE BRIDGE
This 30 feet long, 10 feet wide bridge can be folded up and carried in a
pocket. When unfolded, the bridge is capable of spanning a river or chasm
without the need for pillars. The bridge is as strong as though made of
stone.
PORTABLE HOLE
A portable hole is a 6 feet diameter magical cloth spun from the silk threads
of a phase spider, which can be folded up to as small as a pocket handkerchief. When spread upon any surface, it creates an extra-dimensional
hole 10 feet deep. The hole can be picked by grasping its edges and folding
it up, causing the entrance to disappear, along with anything inside the
hole.
The hole holds enough air for creatures contained within the hole to breathe
normally for one turn before needing to open the space with the magical
cloth. Each hole opens to its own extra-dimensional space. Placing a bag of
holding within the portable hole or vice versa, creates a rift through which
both are pulled, along with everything contained, lost forever.

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ROBE OF THE ARCHMAGE

This simple looking garment may be white (35% - good aligned), gray
(30% - neutral aligned, neither good nor evil), or black (35% - evil
aligned). The robe grants the wearer the following powers:

+5 AC;
5% Magic Resistance;
+1 bonus to saves;
Those targeted by spells cast by the wearer of the robe of the
archmage have 20% less magic resistance and suffer a -4 penalty
to saves

The type of robe found white, gray, or black, cannot be determined until
it is donned. Donning a robe not attuned to ones alignment results in
10d6 damage and the loss of 20,000 to 50,000 experience points (1d4+1
times 10).
ROBE OF BLENDING
When this robe is initially worn, the wearer intuitively knows that the
garment has very special properties. A robe of blending enables its wearer to
seemingly blend into his surroundings. This allows him to hide as a thief
with a +15 bonus. The wearer can also adopt the appearance of another
creature, as with the change self spell, at will. All creatures familiar with
the wearer see him normally.
ROBE OF EYES
This incredible robe enables the wearer to see in all directions simultaneously. The wearer also gains low-light vision and 120 feet darkvision, as
well as the ability to see displaced creatures in their actual positions. Solid
objects obstruct the robes powers, however camouflaged creatures or those
hidden in shadows are easily detected, making it impossible to for the
wearer to be ambushed or surprised. Finally, the wearer gains a +5 bonus
to all Tracking proficiency checks.
The robe can be blinded for one minute if it is targeted by a light spell or
for one turn if targeted by a continual light spell.
ROBE OF REPETITION
This amazing robe may create unique mnemonic resonance each time the
wearer casts a spell or uses a spell-like ability. There is a 25% chance that
the resonance enables the wearer to use the same spell or spell-like ability
a second time, immediately in the following round or the extra casting or
use is lost, the resonance distorting and dissipating.
Once the spell has been cast a second time, the resonance dissipates.
ROBE OF SCINTILLATING COLORS
This garment may only be used by a wearer with an Intelligence and Wisdom of 14 or higher. The wearer is able to command the robe to become
a shifting pattern of brilliantly varied hues, cascading from top to hem in
a dazzling display of light.
The light emanates in a 40-feet diameter sphere, capable of hypnotizing
opponents, rendering them unable to act against the wearer. It takes one
full round for the scintillation of color to begin. Every round thereafter,
any opponent within the area must succeed at an Exceptional (TC 20)
Will save or become hypnotized, transfixed for 1d4+1 rounds. Even after
the effect wears off, additional Will saves must be made in order to attack
the wearer.

194

Every round the scintillation occurs inflicts a cumulative -1 (maximum

of -5) penalty to all missile and natural attacks directed at the wearer. The
robe requires a secondary action each round in order to maintain the scintillation of color. Outside of combat the robe hypnotizes creatures who fail
their Will save for 1d4+1 hours.
ROBE OF STARS
This robe appears to be one stereotypically associated with wizards and
runecasters deep blue in color, embroidered with a plethora of yellow
and silver stars of varying size. Provided the robe is worn by a wizard or
runecaster, physical travel to the Astral Plane, including all worn and carried equipment is possible. For all others it provides a +1 bonus to saves.
Six of the embroidered stars can be used as missile weapons, provided the
wearer is proficient with darts of throwing stars. The stars are +5 to attack
and damage, deal 2d4 damage per star, and have a maximum range of 60
feet. As long as at least one of the six stars remains unused, one used star
each day is replaced. In the event that all six stars are used, the robe of stars
loses all magical properties forever.
ROBE OF USEFUL ITEMS
This appears to be an unremarkable robe to everyone but the person who
dons it. The wearer sees that the robe is covered in small cloth patches of
various shapes and colors. The wearer alone may detach one patch each
round. Detaching a patch causes it to become an actual item, as indicated
below. A newly created robe of useful items always has two each of the
items shown below.

Dagger
Bullseye lantern (filled and lit)
Mirror (a highly polished 2-foot-by-4-foot steel mirror)
Pole (10-foot length)
Hempen rope (50-foot coil)
Sack

In addition, the robe has several other patches. Roll 4d4 for the number of
other patches and then roll d% for each patch on the chart below.

Secondary Patch Chart

d%

Secondary Patch Result

01 - 08

Bag of 100 gold pieces

09 - 15

Coffer, silver (6 in. by 6 in. by 1 ft.), 500 gp value

16 - 22

Door, iron (up to 10 ft. wide and 10 ft. high and barred
on one sidemust be placed upright, attaches and
hinges itself )

23 - 30

Gems, 10 (100 gp value each)

31 - 44

Ladder, wooden (24 ft. long)

45 - 51

Mule (with saddle bags)

52 - 59

Pit, open (10 ft. by 10 ft. by 10 ft.)

60 - 68

Potion of extra healing

69 - 75

Rowboat (12 ft. long)

76 - 83

Random scroll

84 - 90

War dogs, pair (treat as riding dogs)

91 - 96

Window (2 ft. by 4 ft., up to 2 ft. deep)

97 - 99

Portable ram

00

Roll twice on this table, accepting both results

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

ROBE OF VANISHING
Three times per day, by grasping the edges of the robe and clutching it
tightly, the wearer vanishes similarly to the rope trick spell (albeit no rope
is visible) and is made invisible. The effect lasts for one hour or until some
offensive action is performed.
ROPE OF CLIMBING
A 60-foot-long rope of climbing is no thicker than a wand, but it is strong
enough to support 3,000 pounds. Upon command, the rope snakes forward, upward, downward, or in any other direction at 10 feet per round,
attaching itself securely wherever its owner desires. It can unfasten itself
and return in the same manner.
A rope of climbing can be commanded to knot or unknot itself. This
causes large knots to appear at 1-foot intervals along the rope. Knotting
shortens the rope to 50-feet until the knots are untied. A creature must
hold one end of the rope when its magic is invoked.
ROPE OF ENTANGLEMENT
A rope of entanglement looks just like any other hempen rope 30 feet
long. Upon command, the rope lashes forward 20 feet or upward 10 feet
to entangle a victim (as per the spell). An entangled creature can break free
with an Exceptional (TC 20) Strength check.
The rope has an AC of 22 and 12 hit points. The rope repairs damage to
itself at a rate of 1 point per 5 minutes, but if a rope of entanglement is
severed (all 12 hit points lost in one attack), it is destroyed.
RUG OF WELCOME
This rug appears exactly as a 6-foot by 9-foot sized carpet of flying, but
contains additional powers. Upon command it will entrap any creature
up to large size. It can also elongate itself, becoming as hard and strong as
steel, to 27 feet long by 2 feet wide. In this form it can be used as a bridge
or barricade, has an AC of 20, 100 hit points, hardness 5. Speaking the
command word a second time returns the carpet to its original size.

SCARAB, INSECTBANE
This small black scarab prevents the possessor from being bitten or stung
by any common insect. Monstrous varieties of insects suffer a -2 to attacks
and damage when attacking the possessor of an insectbane scarab.
SCARAB OF PROTECTION
The possessor of this azure scarab gains a +1 bonus to all saving throws.
Even when no save is normally permitted, the possessor of the scarab of
protection is permitted a Legendary (TC 20) save to resist the spell. For
instance, a successful (TC 25) Reflex would allow the possessor to avoid
sustaining damage from magic missile.
The scarab of protection also protects the possessor from soul drain attacks, absorbing up to 12 soul drain attacks. Once the scarab has absorbed
twelve such attacks, the scarab turns to powder, forever useless.
SCARAB OF UNCERTAINTY
If the wearer of this scarab is within 100 feet of a monster summoning or
similar spells conjure animals, conjure elemental, summon animals, summon earth elemental, and so forth, the summoned creatures must succeed
at a Superior (TC 15) Will save upon arrival. Failure results in the summoned creature mistakenly believing that the wearer of the scarab is the
actual summoner rather than the caster of the spell.
SLIPPERS OF SPIDER CLIMBING
The wearer of these slippers can climb vertically along walls with a 20 ft.
base movement speed and can climb on ceilings with a 60 ft. speed. Any
slippery surface can cause the spider climber to slide or fall.
SMOKE POWDER
This extremely rare and volatile powder is typically found divided into two
separate components a steely-blue granular substance and a fine white
powder. The substances, by themselves are inert and harmless. When equal
portions of each are blended together, and touched to flame, the mixture
explodes in powerful blast of noise and smoke.

SCABBARD OF HOLDING
This supple, finely crafted knife sheath appears to be made for a blade 10
inches in length. In actuality the sheath contains an extra-dimensional
space, similar to that found in a bag of holding, allowing it to hold a
sword. Only the hilt of the sword will be visible.

The size and force of the explosion depends upon the quantity of powder
used. A single charge of mixture, about a spoonful, causes 1d4 points of
damage, exploding similarly to a large firecracker. Increasing the charge
increases the damage proportionately; doubling causes 2d4 damage, tripling 3d4, and so on.

SCABBARD OF POISON
These devious scabbards contain reservoirs where poisons can be stored.
When a blade is sheathed in the scabbard, the poison is magically applied
to the blade. When the blade is drawn for use, the poison is wiped from
the blade after one successful strike or evaporates after 1d4+1 rounds. The
magic of the scabbard empowers whatever poison is held, negating immunity to poison and any bonus to saves against poison. Each scabbard contains enough poison for six doses, which must be replenished once used.

An explosion capable of causing 30 points of damage requires 15 charges

and has a 5-feet radius. Explosions of 50 or more points of damage require
25 or more charges and will have a blast radius of 15 feet. Larger blasts will
affect items and fortifications as though struck by a giant.

SCARAB , GOLEMBANE
This beetle-shaped pin enables its wearer to detect any golem within 60
feet although he must concentrate for a primary action in order for the
detection to take place. A scarab enables its possessor to combat golems
with weapons, unarmed attacks, or natural weapons as if it were a normal
monster with no special defenses.

SOVEREIGN GLUE
This pale amber substance is thick and viscous and always stored in a flask
lined with oil of slipperiness. Any given flask found will have 1-10 ounces
of the glue. Because of its particular powers, each time any amount of the
glue is poured from the flask, a new 1-ounce application of oil of slipperiness must be put on the flask within 1 round to prevent the container and
its stopper from being coated with the glue, making it difficult to touch.

When discovered, a single pouch of smoke powder contains 3d6 charges.

Combining charges from multiple bags can create larger and more damaging explosions.

195

Magical Items: Wondrous Items

If left open and kept completely stable, a flask of sovereign glue will not
lose its magical properties. Any amount of glue that spills from a resting
and open flask, however, will likely fasten the flask to whatever surface on
which it rests.
One ounce of the adhesive will cover approximately 1 square foot of surface and will permanently bond together virtually any two substances. The
glue takes 1 full round to set; if the objects are pulled apart before that
time has elapsed, that application of the glue will lose its stickiness and
be worthless. If the glue sets, then attempting to separate the two bonded
objects is impossible, unless universal solvent is applied.
SPHERE OF ANNIHILATION
This 2-foot diameter, black globe of pure nothingness, is a void in the
continuity of existence. Any matter coming in contact with the sphere is
instantly sucked into the void, utterly destroyed, ripped beyond the reach
of wishes and similar magicks.
The sphere is static, resting in a spot as though it were an actual hole.
An individual with an Intelligence of 12 or greater may move the sphere
through pure mental effort. The concentrating individual causes the sphere
to slide, requiring 40 feet of movement until control is established.
Control is based upon Intelligence and level of experience, with the higher
the level the greater the degree of mental power and discipline. The controller gains an additional 1% control for each point of Intelligence from
13 to 15, an additional 3% for each point of Intelligence from 16 to 18,
and an additional 5% for an Intelligence score of 19 or higher. The bonus
applies to the probability of control each round, as shown on the chart
below.

Sphere of Annihilation Control Chart

Controller Level

Movement /
Round

Control Probability /
Round

1st-5th-level

8 feet

15%

6th-7th-level

9 feet

20%

8th-9th-level

10 feet

30%

10th-11th-level

11 feet

40%

12th-13th-level

12 feet

50%

14th-15th-level

13 feet

60%

16th-17th-level

14 feet

70%

18th-20th-level

15 feet

75%

21st level and above

16 feet

80%

Any attempt at controlling the sphere will cause it to move, in the direction of the individual attempting to control it until control is established.
The sphere will continue to move in this direction for 1d4 rounds and the
individual is within 30 feet thereafter.
If two or more individuals vie for control of a sphere of annihilation, the
individual with the highest chance of control is checked first, then the next
strongest, and so on. Each individual attempting to control the sphere
reduces the control chance by a cumulative 5%, even when two or more

196

individuals are cooperating. Should no one be successful, the sphere slips

toward the strongest individual. Control must be checked each round.
A gate spell cast upon the sphere has a 50% chance of destroying it, 35%
chance of doing nothing, and a 15% chance that everything within a 180foot radius is pulled into rift, catapulted into another plane.
A rod of cancellation that touched the sphere causes a violent explosion,
causing 3d6x10 points of damage to everything within a 60-foot radius.
STONE OF EARTH ELEMENTAL COMMAND
This roughly polished, oddly shaped rock allows the possessor to summon forth an 8 Hit Dice earth elemental if earth is available. For every
pound of granite powder sprinkled onto the earth, the summoned elemental gains an additional Hit Die (a maximum of +6 Hit Dice). A minimum
volume of four cubic yards of earth is required to for an earth elemental
to be summoned. Only one elemental may be summoned at any time, no
more than once per day.
STONE OF GOOD LUCK (LUCKSTONE )
This stone is typically a bit of rough polished agate or some similar mineral. Its possessor gains a +1 bonus on saving throws, attribute checks, and
proficiency checks.
STONE HORSE
This item appears to be a full-sized, finely hewn statue of a horse. With the
right command, the statue comes to life, able to be used as mount like a
normal horse. The statue will be one of two steeds:

Courser: This stone horse has all the similar statistics to a medium warhorse, with an AC of 17, hardness 3, and 24 hit points.

Destrier: This stone horse has similar statistics to a heavy warhorse, with an AC of 19, hardness 5, and 40 hit points.

A stone horse is capable of carrying 1000 pounds tirelessly, never needs

food, water, or rest. Should it sustain damage, it can be repaired by transforming it with a stone to flesh spell, causing it to become a normal horse.
It will heal one hit point per day, after which it will revert to its magical
form.
TALISMAN OF PURE GOOD
A cleric who possesses this item can cause a flaming rift to open at the feet
of an evil cleric. The intended victim will be swallowed up forever if they
fail a Legendary (TC 25) Will save.
The talisman of pure good has seven charges which cannot be replenished.
Neutral clerics touching the talisman suffer 6d6 damage. Should an evil
cleric touch it, 12d6 damage is sustained. Non-clerics are unaffected by
the talisman.
TALISMAN OF THE SPHERE
This small adamantite loop inflicts 5d6 damage to any non-wizard or nonrunecaster that touches it. When held by a wizard or runecasterconcentrating upon control of a sphere of annihilation, the talisman of the sphere
doubles the Intelligence bonus granted for probability control. Further, if
control is established by the wielder of the talisman, control need only be
check every other round. If control is not established the sphere will move
toward the wizard at maximum speed 50 feet per round.

Magical Items: Cursed Items

TALISMAN OF PURE EVIL

This talisman resembles a talisman of pure good, but is exactly opposite
in all respects.
THERMOCS AMULET OF SHIELDING
Upon command, this small stone amulet generates a Thermocs shield spell
to protect its wearer with a duration of 1 hour. The amulet contains up to
24 charges and each use consumes 1 charge.
TOME OF AWARENESS
This tome is similar to a manual of adroitness, except reading and practicing
its techniques result in gaining a +1 to Wisdom.
TOME OF CLEAR THOUGHT
This tome is similar to a manual of adroitness, except reading and practicing
its techniques result in gaining a +1 to Intelligence.
TOME OF LEADERSHIP
This tome is similar to a manual of adroitness, except reading and practicing
its techniques result in gaining a +1 to Charisma.
UNIVERSAL SOLVENT
This is a very thin and watery solvent that is commonly contained in a
large 24-ounce glass decanter. When a certain amount of this solvent is
poured on any material covered in an adhesive or sticky material, the solvent immediately dissolves the adhesive. Universal solvent also works to
dissolve cement-based adhesives and sovereign glue. One ounce of the solvent can dissolve about 1 square foot of adhesion. More than 1 ounce may
be required to dissolve a larger amount and three times as much universal
solvent is required to dissolve sovereign glue.
Universal solvent resonates as a magical substance and further investigation
reveals a strange convergence of dispel magic and disintegrate with an oil of
slipperiness. If the solvent is alchemically concentrated down to remove
66% of its fillers (a process requiring an Exceptional (TC 20) Alchemy
check), this concentrated liquid is actually an oil of disintegration, which
can be poured on any one-foot cube of living or inanimate matter. An
Exceptional (TC 20) item saving throw is required if poured on inanimate
matter, including a magical item; failure indicates the item is disintegrated.
Living creatures take 6d6 points of damage if the entire decanter is poured
or splashed on flesh.
WIND FAN
A wind fan appears to be nothing more than a wood and papyrus or cloth
instrument with which to create a cooling breeze. The utterance of a preset
command word causes the fan to generate air movement duplicating a gust
of wind spell (as a 5th-level caster). The fan can be used once per day with
no risk. If it is used more frequently than once in a single day, there is a
cumulative 20% chance per additional usage that the device will tear into
useless, non-magical tatters.
WINGS OF FLYING
This plain, black cloak, once per day, may be commanded to turn into
a pair of huge bat wings 20 feet span, which allow the wearer to fly as
follows:

2 turns duration, 90 feet per round

3 turns duration, 75 feet per round
4 turns duration, 60 feet per round
1 hour duration, 45 feet per round
2 hour duration, 30 feet per round

Once the maximum duration has been reached, the wearer of the rings
must rest for one hour. Shorter flight durations only require an easy walk
for one hour. Flight less than one turn duration requires no rest. The wings
will support a maximum of 500 pounds.

Cursed Items
Cursed items can be accidentally created and often result from a failed
attempt to properly create the item. Crafters can also actively attempt to
imbue an item with a general or specific curse. Any magical item can be
cursed, including scrolls, rings, wands and wondrous items. Most of these
cursed items detect as a normal magical item and do not reveal their curse
until used.

Types of Curses

Curses come in many varieties. Accidentally created cursed items usually

backfire on the activator or wearer of the item. A scroll of fireball may
erupt in the face of the reader, while a ring of shocking grasp may instead
shock its wearer when used. Accidentally created cursed items might grant
the activator or wearer the exact opposite effect: a ring of protection +1
would actually impose a 1 penalty to AC; a +1 sword would actually be
a 1 sword. The effect of an item cursed as a result of the creation process
almost always retains some semblance to the intended magical effect.
An item purposefully cursed can work one of two ways. The item may
react in an unintended but related way similar to the items cursed by
accident and may be created to constantly impose the cursed effect or
be keyed to unleash its curse at a specific time or in response to a specific
stimulus. For example, a 1 sword could be crafted to work as a normal +1
sword until used against a giant, when it then converts to a 1 or 2 sword.
The alternative is to create an item that appears to perform one function
but instead imposes a cursed effect that is totally unrelated and surprising.
For example, a set of bracers that appear to increase Armor Class could
instead change the wearers gender.

Removing a Curse

Most curses require a remove curse spell. This does not necessarily remove
the curse permanently from the item. It more often allows the owner of the
item to part with it, thereafter suffering no more ill effects. Unless specifically noted, the GM determines how a cursed item is dealt with.

Specific Cursed Items

The various realms of Myth & Magic are filled with uncountable cursed
items. The following lists only those most commonly encountered at low
levels.

197

Magical Items: Cursed Items

Cursed Weapons
ARROW/BOLT OF AGGRAVATION
This appears to be a normal arrow or bolt until it is used to attack an opponent. The arrow/bolt shatters upon impact with its target, inflicting no
damage. Instead, the target is overcome with a seething hatred for the archer, seeking to do everything in their power to slay the archer. The hatred
is so strong, that for 1d6 minutes, the struck being gains a +2 bonus to
attacks, damage, and saving throws.
BERSERKER WEAPON
This is typically a +2 sword, but may be any melee weapon, with an enhancement ranging from +1 to +5. When used in battle, the wielder becomes filled with a mad rage, completely berserk, attacking the nearest
creature (friend or foe) until the wielder or target die or until no living
thing remains within 60 feet.
FOOT DAGGER
Foot daggers resonate as magically enhanced throwing daggers. When
hurled, the dagger automatically strikes its thrower in the foot, dealing
normal damage. From that point, until the curse is removed by a remove
curse spell, the owner feels compelled to continue to use it at least once
every encounter.
SPEAR, CURSED BACKBITER
This weapon seems like a normal +1 or +2 spear and, in fact, will function
as such until a natural 1 is rolled in combat with it. At that exact moment,
the spear will curve around the wielder and strike the wielder in the back,
dealing normal damage. Henceforth, the wielder is compelled to always
use the spear and each time a natural 1 is again rolled, the wielder is struck
in the back. If the wielder uses the spear as a ranged weapon, and a natural
1 result is rolled, the spear will reverse its direction, fly past the wielder,
curl around and strike the wielder in his back, dealing double damage.
The only way to be rid of such a weapon is through the use of a remove
curse spell.
SWORD, CURSED
This sword appears to be a +2 sword when identified and performs as such
during practice. However, when used in combat the bonus decreases to -2.
The wielder will be compelled to wield the sword against enemies. Only
through careful observation can the decrease be noticed. The only way to
be rid of such a weapon is through the use of a limited wish or wish spell.

ARMOR OF RAGE
This armor appears to be identical to plate mail of command. However,
when worn, the armor causes all allies within 60 feet to suffer -2 penalty to
AC in combat. In non-combat situations, all Charisma-based proficiencies
and checks suffer a -3 penalty. The effect is not noticeable by the wearer
or those affected.
ARMOR OF VULNERABILITY
This armor appears to be magical armor ranging from +1 to +5. However,
it is cursed armor granting its magical bonus as a bonus to hit to all who
attack the wearer of the armor instead of to the wearers Armor Class.
REPUGNANT MASK
This suit of +5 leather armor is cursed and, while worn, the wearer is perceived as being so horribly ugly they suffer the armors bonus to Armor
Class as a penalty to ALL Charisma and Charisma-based proficiency
checks. The only way to be rid of this armor once donned is through the
use of a remove curse spell.

Cursed Scrolls
Whether by intention, inexplicable circumstances, or flawed crafting, some
scrolls bear powerful curses. The moment a cursed scroll is read the reader
is instantly affected by the curse. Once affected, the only way to remove
the curse is through the use of the spell remove curse cast by a 12th-level
cleric. A curse could be anything the GM feels is appropriate harmlessly
humorous to outright deadly.
There is no single cursed scroll. Scrolls can be cursed to reverse their effect
or target the reader with the normal spells effect. Other scrolls can be purposefully cursed to trigger upon anyone even looking at the scroll. These
scrolls may have strange effects, such as perpetual clumsiness, change of
alignment, reduction of Strength, etc. The GM normally creates his own
unique cursed scrolls.

THIRST WEAPON
A thirst weapon can come in any form, even a bow, and with any apparent magical enhancement. When wielded in combat, the cursed weapon
requires its wielder to continue using it until at least one creature perishes,
including the wielder. This curse is not readily apparent upon magical inspection and usually springs forth after the wielders first actual kill with
the weapon.

Cursed Potions & Oils

Cursed Armors

POTION/OIL OF DELUSION
A potion or oil of delusion simply tricks its user into believing that the
potion or oil granted some magical effect when, in reality, nothing happened. This trickery lasts for 15 minutes and, during this time, no amount
of persuasiveness can detract the user from the truth. If multiple people
drink the same potion or use the same oil, there is a 90% chance that they
are all equally duped.

ARMOR OF ATTRACTION
This cursed armor can come in any type, and with any apparent enhancement. If attacked in earnest, the armor of attraction reveals its curse. When
multiple targets exist, this cursed armor makes the wearer twice as likely to
become the target. Armor of attraction can attract either melee or ranged
attacks and this designation is made at the time of the cursed armors cre-

198

ation. Armor of melee attraction causes nearby foes to engage in melee combat; armor of missile attraction causes ranged attackers to target the wearer.
Whatever magical enhancement is tied to the armor does not function
against its designated attacks. For instance, a +2 suit of full plate under an
armor of missile attraction curse would grant its +2 bonus against melee
attacks but not against missile attacks.

POTION/OIL OF AMOROUSNESS
A potion or oil of amorousness causes the imbiber to become charmed, as
the spell charm person, with the first creature seen after consuming it. The
imbiber will be completely enamored of the first seen creature, even amorous if the creature is of a similar race and of a sex to which they would
normally be attracted. The effects last for 7 12 hours (6+1d6).

Magical Items: Cursed Items

Random Cursed Item Chart

d%

Cursed Item

d%

Cursed Item

01 - 10

Armor

51- 70

Rod

11 - 20

Weapon

71 - 80

Scroll

21 - 30

Ring

81 - 90

Staff

31 - 50

Potion & Oil

91- 00

Wondrous Item

Cursed Weapons and Armors Chart

d%

Cursed Weapons

d%

Cursed Armors

01 - 20

Arrow/Bolt of Aggravation

01 - 25

Attraction

21 - 35

Berserker Weapon

26 - 50

Rage

36 - 55

Foot Dagger

51 - 75

Vulnerability

56 - 70

Spear, Cursed Backbiter

76 - 00

Repugnant Mask

71 - 90

Sword, Cursed

91 - 00

Thirst Weapon

Cursed Rings and Potions & Oils Chart

d%

Cursed Rings

d%

Cursed Potions & Oils

01 - 25

Clumsiness

01 - 20

Amorousness

26 - 50

Contrariness

21 - 40

Delusion

51 - 75

Delusion

41 - 60

Fumbling

76 - 00

Weakness

61 - 80

Madness

81 - 00

Stammering and Stuttering

Cursed Wondrous Items Chart

d%

Cursed Wondrous Items

d%

Cursed Wondrous Items

01 - 04

Amulet of Inescapable Location

61 - 62

Incense of Obsession

05 - 08

Bag of Devouring

63 - 64

Jewel of Attacks

09 - 12

Bag of Transmuting

65 - 66

Medallion of Thought Projection

13 - 16

Bracers of Defenselessness

67 - 69

Mirror of Opposition

17 - 20

Broom of Animated Attack

70 - 72

Necklace of Strangulation

21 - 24

Chime of Hunger

73- 75

Periapt of Foul Rotting

25 - 28

Cloak of Poisonousness

76 - 78

Phylactery of Monstrous Attention

29 - 32

Crystal Hypnosis Ball

79 - 81

Pipes of Persistent Pain

33 - 36

Dust of Sneezing and Choking

82 - 84

Robe of Powerlessness

37 - 40

Flask of Curses

85 - 87

Robe of Vermin

41 - 44

Guantlets of Fumbling

88 - 90

Rope of Contricting

45 - 48

Girdle of Femininity/Masculinity

91 - 93

Rug of Smothering

49 - 52

Hat of Stupidity

94 - 96

Scarab of Death

53 - 56

Helm of Opposite Alignment

97 - 99

Stone of Weight

57 - 60

Horn of Bubbles

00

Vacuous Grimoire

199

Magical Items: Cursed Items

POTION/OIL OF FUMBLING
A potion or oil of fumbling does not take effect until the next time the user
is in a stressful combat situation. The user then suffers a 50% chance each
action to drop a held or affected weapon or item. If in potion form, the
cursed elixir causes the subject to drop whatever weapon he is attempting
to use at the time or whatever held item is earning his attention. Oil of
fumbling must be applied to a single item or weapon, but once activated
through a stressful combat situation, the affected object slips from the
owners hand but remains easy to regain. Each subsequent round requires
another 50% chance roll.
POTION/OIL OF MADNESS
A potion or oil of madness appears to be a potion of linguistics when identified. Upon imbibing a single sip, the potion causes the imbiber to go mad,
as though affected by the confusion spell. The madness can be removed
through the use of heal, limited wish, or wish. Once any creature is affected
by the potion, the remaining liquid loses all magical properties.
POTION/OIL OF STAMMERING AND STUTTERING
When this liquid is consumed or applied, it will appear to be an oil or potion of glibness. Upon a meaningful utterance being spoken verbal spell
component, text of a scroll, critical negotiation, nothing can be spoken
properly. Spells are disrupted, scrolls are misread, and creatures react negatively to what is said.

Cursed Rings
RING OF CLUMSINESS
A ring of clumsiness will detect, and actually function as, any other magical ring. At some point, during a stressful situation, the ring will revert to
its true cursed form, thereafter imposing a 50% penalty to the Dexterity
score (and any skills that require stealth or manual dexterity) of its wielder
(rounded down). Any attempts to cast spells after the curse takes effect
require an Exceptional (TC 20) Dexterity check. Once the curse of the
ring is activated, removing the curse requires a dispel magic spell cast by
a 12th-level caster. If successful, both the curse and former magical effect
are dispelled.
RING OF CONTRARINESS
This cursed ring renders the wearer unable to agree with any action, idea,
or statement. Once the ring is put on, the wearer cannot remove the ring
until they are the beneficiary of a remove curse spell cast by a 12th-level
spellcaster. The wearer will resist any attempts to be cured of the contrariness, using everything at their disposal to retain the ring on their finger.
The ring will actually function as another type of magical ring, shown on
the chart below, as a secondary power to the contrariness. It is important
to note that the contrariness can never be removed from the ring.
The wearer of the ring will never cause damage to their person, ignoring or
agreeing with suggestions, as appropriate, that would ultimately result in
the wearer being harmed.

200

Ring of Contrariness Secondary Power Chart

d%

Secondary Power

01 - 20

Fly

21 - 40

Invisiblity

41 - 60

Levitate

61 - 70

Shocking Grasp (once per round)

71 - 80

Spell Turning

81 - 00

Enhance (Strength only)

RING OF DELUSION
This ring convinces the wearer that it is whatever sort of ring the wearer
truly desires, completely convinced of its magical properties. The wearer
will be so self-deluded that
RING OF WEAKNESS
Once worn, the ring depletes the wearers Strength and Constitution to a
minimum of 3 in each attribute at a rate of 1 point per round.
The results are only reversed after dispel magic has been successfully cast
after a remove curse spell. An unsuccessful dispel magic attempt forces
the subject to wait one day per lost attribute point before regaining full
strength and vitality. If a natural 20 is rolled on the dispel check, the ring
of weakness actually turns into a magical ring that grants 2 points to both
Strength and Constitution.

Cursed Wands, Staves, and Rods

Cursed wands, staves, and rods are similar to cursed spell scrolls in that
they usually appear as a normal magical wand, staff, or rod until activation. At that point, the item either targets the activator or imposes the
exact opposite of its intended effect.

Cursed Wondrous Items

AMULET OF INESCAPABLE LOCATION
This appears and detects as if it wards against divination spells and effects.
In truth, this amulet either doubles the chances of divination for the other
party or imposes a 6 on the wearers save, whichever results in a greater
chance of the wearer suffering the divination.
BAG OF DEVOURING
This appears and detects to be a Type I bag of holding but is actually one of
the feeding orifices of a creature lurking in another dimension. Upon the
initial introduction of any substance or item into the bag, there is a 90%
chance that the bag will ignore this intrusion. Thereafter, there is a 60%
chance the bag will attempt to bite and swallow any living flesh that enters.
So, if its owner places something in the bag without simply dropping it
in, the owner may be sucked into the bag. There is a 75% chance of the
bag successfully eating the person, with a 5% modification to the chance
per Strength modifier of the target. Swallowed creatures are gone forever
unless they can manage in 1 round to cross the dimensional barrier, which
requires powerful magic. Before this happens, however, the bag will act
like a Type I bag of holding, but each round that it stores anything, there is
a 5% chance the bag will purge its contents onto another plane.

Magical Items: Cursed Items

BAG OF TRANSMUTING
This sack appears to be a bag of holding, performing as such for 1d4+1 uses.
After which time, anything stored in the bag, including magic items, will
be turned into ordinary glass, lead, or wood.
BRACERS OF DEFENSELESSNESS
These bracers detect as bracers of defense of any enhancement; however,
when attacked in earnest, the wearers AC becomes 10 regardless of any
bonuses for other armor, magic, or Dexterity. A remove curse spell is required to remove them.
BROOM OF ANIMATED ATTACK
Indistinguishable from a broom of flying until used the first time. The
broom executes a perfect loop-the-loop with the rider, only to drop the
rider on their head 10 feet off the ground, stunning the rider. It will then
attack the stunned individual, swatting at the face with the straw bristles
and the body with the wooden handle.
The broom strikes four times per round, twice with each end, never missing. The straw end deals one point of damage and causes blindness for one
round if a Superior (TC 15) Reflex save is failed. The wooden handle deals
1d3 points of damage. The broom has 18 hit points and an AC of 13. It
will continue to attack until destroyed.
CHIME OF HUNGER
This will appear to be a chime of opening until struck. All creatures within
60 feet are immediately struck with a maddening, ravenous hunger. Affected creatures drop everything to tear into their rations, ignoring all else.
Those without food will attack the nearest creature in order to kill it and
eat them. After one minute of eating, affected creatures are entitled an Exceptional (TC 20) Will save to stop eating, having satisfied the hunger. A
new save may be made each round thereafter until the save is succeeded.
CLOAK OF POISONOUSNESS
This insidious cloak appears to be a cloak of protection. However, once it is
donned, the wearer is immediately poisoned, suffering the effects of Oath
Keeper poison. The cloak can only be removed upon the death of the wearer or through casting neutralize poison upon the cloak, which destroys it.
CRYSTAL HYPNOSIS BALL
This cursed item appears to be a standard crystal ball and will detect as
such. However, when used, the item actually connects the user to a powerful being or caster. The user believes that he has been granted whatever
vision for which he was searching, but he was actually hypnotized and
under a suggestion spell from the being or caster. With each use, the user
may fall deeper under the control of the other party and the GM determines to what extent the user is controlled and when full control has been
assumed.
DUST OF SNEEZING AND CHOKING
This magical dust detects as another magical dust, e.g., dust of disappearance, etc. When a handful is thrown or scattered, all living creatures in a
20-ft spread, including the originator, must succeed on a Superior (TC 15)
Fortitude save. Regardless of the result, all those in the area break down in
a fit of coughing and sneezing. Those that failed their save die immediately.
Those that succeeded stop coughing and sneezing in 5d4 rounds and are
considered stunned during this period.

FLASK OF CURSES
This can be any small container with a stopper. The contents are unimportant. They can be anything, such as liquid, smoke, gel, or body parts.
Once the container is opened, all those within 20 feet suffer a curse created
by the GM. The most common curse is one that distracts the subjects,
causing them to suffer 2 on all combat rolls, saves, and AC.
GAUNTLETS OF FUMBLING
These gauntlets may be of supple leather (gloves) or heavy protective material (gauntlets) suitable for use with armor (ring, scale, chain, etc.). If
gloves, they appear to be gauntlets of dexterity; if gauntlets, they appear
to be gauntlets of ogre power. They perform according to every test as if
they were actually their ruse. However, when the wearer is under immense
stress from a life and death situation, the curse takes hold. The wearer becomes very clumsy; with a 50% chance each round of dropping anything
held in either hand. The curse also lowers Dexterity by 2 points. Once
the curse is activated, the gloves can be removed only by means of divine
intervention, wish, or remove curse.
GIRDLE OF FEMININITY/MASCULINITY
This innocuous looking belt forever changes the sex of the wearer to the
opposite gender. A wish only has a 50% chance of restoring the wearers
original sex, though a sufficiently powerful entity (godlike creature) is capable of doing so. One in ten of these girdles change the wearer into a
completely androgynous being.
HAT OF STUPIDITY
This simple looking hat appears to be any other magical hat until worn.
However, once donned, the wearer will believe the hat to be completely
beneficial, unwilling to ever remove it. In actuality, their Intelligence is
lowered to 5 or by -1, whichever is worse.
HELM OF OPPOSITE ALIGNMENT
This metal hat looks like a typical helmet and detects as magical, often as a
helm of comprehend languages and read magic. Once placed upon the head
its curse immediately takes effect, changing the alignment of the wearer
to as radically different an alignment as possible. Good becomes evil, law
becomes chaos, and neutrality takes a sharp approach to either good or
evil. Once under the effects of this helm, the wearer actually desires to exemplify his new alignment and will not purposefully or willingly attempt
to return to his former alignment. This is a 1 charge item and once the
curse takes hold, the helm never again radiates magic. Only a wish spell
can restore the subjects former alignment; if a paladin is affected, a wish
has no effect. A paladin must undergo a special quest and atone for divine
intervention to lift the curse.
HORN OF BUBBLES
This cursed horn appears to be a horn of blasting until blown. A single
powerful note will sound, issuing a call for a dense cloud of bubbles that
will completely cover the sounder of the horn, blinding them for one turn.
However, the bubbles will not answer the call until another creature actively attempts to slay the character who blew the horn.
INCENSE OF OBSESSION
This cursed item resembles and detects as incense of meditation. A divine
caster burning them, however, suffers a curse that deludes them into becoming obsessed with casting their divine spells with reckless abandon.
The curse lasts until all the casters spells are expended or after 24 hours has
elapsed. The curse also has a 10% chance of causing the caster to expend

201

Magical Items: Cursed Items

any divine scrolls or potions in his possession once he casts his daily
spells.

all combat rolls, saves, and AC until the curse is removed by a remove
curse spell or forget spell.

JEWEL OF ATTACKS
This cursed jewel doubles the likelihood of the possessor encountering
wandering monsters. The jewel acts as a beacon for any monster that
pursues the possessor, should they flee, despite obstacles and distance.
Once the jewel is grasped, the individual is unable to rid themselves of
the jewel without the benefit of a remove curse spell.

ROBE OF POWERLESSNESS
This appears to be a robe of another sort, and detection reveals only the
fact that it is magical. As soon as it is donned, the wearers Strength and
Intelligence scores instantly drop to 3 and the wearer forgets all spells
and magical knowledge accordingly. The robe can be removed easily,
but in order to restore mind and body, the character must have a remove curse spell cast upon him, followed immediately by a heal spell.

MEDALLION OF THOUGHT PROJECTION

This device detects as a medallion able to discern others thoughts, but
actually conjures and delivers false thoughts. The wearer actually believes that the targeted people are saying what is heard. Worse yet, the
targets pick up the thoughts of the wearer on a roll of 1-5 on a d6.
MIRROR OF OPPOSITION
This mirror creates an exact duplicate of any creature that is reflected
upon it, immediately attacking the creature reflected. The duplicate
creature is identical to the original, including spells, items, and abilities. Upon the defeat or destruction of either, the duplicate and its
items vanish.
NECKLACE OF STRANGULATION
The only way to identify this necklace is to don it. It will immediately
constrict, unable to be removed short of a limited wish or wish spell.
The wearer loses one point of Constitution per round until dead. The
necklace remains clasped around the throat of the victim until it is a
skeleton. This insidious necklace may be reused.
PERIAPT OF FOUL ROTTING
This appears to be a small gem of little value. Upon being claimed,
the possessor immediately contracts a debilitating rotting disease. The
afflicted character loses one point of Dexterity, Constitution, and Charisma each week, one week after the gem was claimed. The disease
may only be removed by the afflicted being the beneficiary of remove
curse cast in conjunction with cure disease and heal, limited wish, or
wish spell. It may also be removed by sprinkling the dust of a crushed
periapt of health upon the afflicted character.
PHYLACTERY OF MONSTROUS ATTENTION
This arm wrap appears to be a beneficial item for any cleric who wishes
to don it. However, it actually draws the attention of supernatural
creatures of the exact opposite alignment of the cleric wearing it. If a
cleric of 11th-level or higher dons the phylactery, the attention of the
most powerful enemy to their deity is drawn instead. A wish spell is
required to remove take it off.
PIPES OF PERSISTENT PAIN
These pipes appear as any normal set of musical pipes and, once played,
sound truly wonderful. All those within Short range of the piper must
succeed on a Superior (TC 15) Will save or become overwhelmed with
peace and tranquility, only able to perform a calm sway. Once the
pipes stop, and for 1d4 rounds thereafter, any normal noise heard by
these subjects is painfully amplified, causing 1d4 points of damage.
Naturally loud sounds deal 3d4 points of damage. After this initial
period of time, the subjects hearing is quite sensitive and still requires
constant attention to block loud sounds. The subjects suffer a 2 on

202

ROBE OF VERMIN
The wearer of this garment will notice nothing unusual when it is
donned, actually conveying a +2 bonus to AC. However, during any
situation requiring concentration and action against hostile opponents, the wearer immediately suffers a multitude of bites from insects
which magically appear throughout the garment. The biting is so intense that the wearer must cease all other activities in order to scratch
and adjust the robe.
The wearer is suffers a +5 penalty to initiative, a -5 penalty to attacks,
proficiency checks, and ability checks, and a 50% chance of being
unable to cast spells. The robe of vermin cannot be removed short of
a remove curse spell.
ROPE OF CONSTRICTING
This 50-ft. rope detects as magical and seems to be a rope of climbing; however, when used as a rope of climbing, it instead lashes around
the users neck and begins constricting like a strong snake. The next
round, the rope extends itself outward to constrict around the necks
of 1d4 other targets within 20 feet. A Superior (TC 15) Reflex save is
required to avoid being strangled and suffering 2d6 points of damage.
Only a successful dispel magic cast against the rope will stop the entire
rope from constricting. A small portion of the rope can be temporarily
subdued by cutting a portion of it off. The rope has an AC of 22 and
22 hit points. One round later, the severed portion re-grows.
Subjects caught by the rope are considered grappled and entangled, so
they cannot cast spells with somatic components.
RUG OF SMOTHERING
This intricately woven carpet resembles a carpet of flying. When the
command word is spoken, the rug of smothering wraps itself around
the speaker, causing the character to be suffocated in 1d4+4 rounds.
An animate object spell is the only way to prevent the victim from being smothered.
SCARAB OF DEATH
This appears to be any one of the other magically beneficial pieces
of jewelry. However, once it is held for more than a round or placed
in within one foot of a living body for one turn, it transforms into a
hideous burrowing beetle-like creature. It will tear its way through any
and all leather or cloth, burrowing into the victims flesh seeking the
heart. It takes a single round for it to reach the heart, causing death,
whereupon it returns to its scarab form. Containing the scarab in a
container of some hard material, such as wood, bone, or metal will
prevent it from coming to life.

Magical Items: Cursed Items

STONE OF WEIGHT
This stone appears as a normal stone or gem and does not radiate
magic. When placed in a pouch, the curse takes effect. The person
who placed the stone into the pouch cannot remove the stone. If the
stone is tossed away or destroyed, it simply returns and places itself
somewhere on the persons body. Upon the first instance of physical
stress and danger, the owner of the stone becomes weighed down to
a point where his movement is halved and he suffers a +5 penalty on
all initiative rolls. The subject may take only 1 attack per round and
suffers a 2 on all combat rolls, Reflex saves and AC.
VACUOUS GRIMOIRE
A book of this sort conforms its look and title to complement surrounding works and, aside from detecting as magical, it appears otherwise normal. Anyone who opens the work and reads a single word
therein must succeed on two successive Exceptional (TC 20) Will
saves. The first is to determine if the reader loses 1 point of Intelligence. The second is to find out if the reader loses 2 points of Wisdom.
To destroy the book, a remove curse spell must be cast upon it while
the book is burning.

203

Chapter 1

GMs Miscellany

This chapter introduces four very important tools in the GMs arsenal:
poisons, diseases, curses and traps. It should be easy with the following
infomation to introduce these dangers with minimal work.
Poisons, diseases, curses and traps are essentially challenges for your
players to overcome, whether one is merely a nuisance or an agent of
deathly consequence.

Poisons
Poisons are toxic liquids, oils and gases that can harm, debilitate or
even kill. Some poisons are concocted with special alchemical processes or pulled directly from a poisonous source, such as from the bite

Sample Poisons Chart

204

Name

Type

Fortitude Save TC

Onset

Effect on a Failed Save

Effect on a Successful
Save

Assassins friend

II/injury

Superior (15)

immediate

debilitated for 2d10 rounds

plus 2d6 damage

half damage

Black lotus extract

IV/contact

Exceptional (20)

1 minute

death

2d10 damage

Blood fire

I/injury

Average (10)

immediate

2d4 damage

half damage

Deadly spider venom

I/injury

Average (10)

immediate

1d8+10

None

Death drops

IV/ingested

Superior (15)

2d4 minutes

death

debilitated for 1d4 days

Dragon bile

III/contact

Exceptional (20)

immediate

8d8 point of damage

half damage

Dream venom

II/injury

Superior (15)

2d6 rounds

unconscious for 1 hour

None

Ghouls touch

III/injury

Superior (15)

immediate

paralyzed for 2d6 rounds

slowed for 1d4 rounds

Giant wasp venom

III/injury

Exceptional (20)

immediate

5d6 damage and paralyzation for 2d6 hours

2d6 damage

Insanity powder

I/contact

Average (10)

immediate

act is if under confusion

spell for 2d4 rounds

half duration

Knights bane

II/ingested

Superior (15)

1d4 hours

debilitated for 1d4 days

plus partial paralysis

debilitated 1d6 hours

Lich dust

III/ingested

Exceptional (20)

2d6 minutes

paralyzed for 2d6 hours

slowed for 1 hour

Mage killer

I/injury

Average (10)

immediate

unable to speak for 2d6

rounds

None

Oath keeper

IV/ingested

Exceptional (20)

1 day (see below)

death

3d10

Shadow essence

II/injury

Superior (15)

immediate

1d4 Str loss for 2d4 hours

None

Sight stealer

II/contact

Superior (15)

immediate

Blindness for 1d4 hours/

-4 Perception for 1d4

hours

Sleeping powder

II/ingested

Superior (15)

1 minute

unconscious for 2d4 hours

fatigued for 1 hour

Striped toadstool
extract

I/ingested

Average (10)

2d6 minutes

debilitated for 2d4 hours

None

Thief catcher

III/contact

Superior (15)

2d4 rounds

paralyzed for 1d4 hours

debilitated for 1 hour

Wyvern venom

IV/injury

Superior (15)

immediate

death

None

GMs Miscellany: Poisons

of a deadly spider or the bile of a deceased dragon. Below you will find
a number of poisons to use indiscrimantely in your game.
In all instances, a character afflicted by a poison receives a Fortitude
saving throw to fend off the poison at the moment of introduction. If
the character succeeds on her save, you still need to concern yourself
with any effects of a successful save, which will be noted in the poisons
entry on the chart below.

Poison Entries

Name: The most common name associated with the poison.

Type: I-IV determines the relative strength of the poison. This becomes important for trying to neutralize the poison, since higher types
are more difficult to work with. The entry after the slash determines
how the poison is administered. Poisons are administered through either injury, ingestion, or contact.

ditional injury. This viscous poison is usually applied to a weapon.

Black lotus extract: A powerful and lethal toxin, black lotus extract
is made from the distilled essence of the rare black lotus flower. It is a
colorless and odorless liquid that can kill on contact.
Blood fire: A relatively common toxin, blood fire is a red liquid that
can easily be applied to a weapon. It reacts instantly to contact with
blood to create a caustic compound that causes burning pain and blisters the area around the wound.
Deadly spider venom: This poison is produced by milking the venom
of a deadly spider. It is commonly used to tip darts and arrow heads.
Death drops: This powerful toxin is produced via a combination of
rare and poisonous herbs. It is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and dissolves instantly in water or wine. A common use of this poison is to
place it in a victims drink or food.

Injury: The target must be injured by an object coated with the

poison. Even on a successful hit with the weapon or object, the target must take hit point damage for the poison to enter his system.
Bludgeoning weapons can be coated with a poison but only transfer
the poison into the bloodstream of the target if the target is already
wounded when hit or upon a successful critical hit.

Dragon bile: This caustic substance causes pain and injury upon contact. Although dragon bile can be used to coat weapons, it has a tendency to corrode them over time; hence the most common method of
using this poison is to keep it stored in glass vials and hurl it at a foe
much like a vial of acid.

Ingested: The poison must enter the digestive system by way of eating or drinking the poison.

Dream venom: This toxin is a typical example of a sleeping poison

that can be applied to a weapon (most often a dart or crossbow bolt)
and is generally used when the poisoner wants to take the target alive.

Inhaled: The poison must enter the lungs of the subject. Holding
ones breath does effectively defend against the poison; however,
breathing through a cloth mask does not.
Contact: Contact poisons actively seep though the subjects skin or
hair into his or her bloodstream. Contact gas poisons need only
touch the skin or eyes of a subject and can travel through tear ducts,
thus holding ones breath would not defend against the poison.
Fortitude Save TC: The TC needed for a successful Fortitude save to
avoid or lessen the effects of the poison.
Onset: The amount of time between when the poison is administered
and when it takes effect.
Effect: The first column, Effect of a Failed Check, describes the effect
of the poison on a failed Fortitude save and the second column, Effect of a Successful Save, indicates the effect of the poison (if any) on
a successful save.
Poisons that note debilitation as an effect cause a -2 penalty on all
d20 rolls.

Sample Poison Descri ptions

A description of each poison that appears in the chart on the previous

page follows. This is but a sampling of the multitude of poisons that
can exist in your campaign world.

Ghouls touch: This poison can cause temporary paralysis of its target
and, like many other poisons. is commonly employed via a melee or
ranged weapon.
Giant wasps venom: As the name suggests, this is the poison obtained
via milking the stinger of a giant wasp. It is a powerful venom that can
both injury and paralyze its victim. A common method of employing
the venom is on arrow heads crafted fro the giant wasps own stinger.
Insanity powder: This fine powder is made from thoroughly grinding
up dried hallucinogenic fungi. It is typically kept in a sealed pouch and
then flung into its victims face.
Knights bane: So named because of its use in jousting tournaments
by unscrupulous competitors to weaken their opponents, this poison
can leave its target weakened for days and also has a tendency to leave
one of its victims limbs completely paralyzed during that time. A common tactic is to slip this clear liquid into the targets drink the night
before a tournament.
Lich dust: A fine, bone white powder that readily dissolves in alcohol,
lich dust is a powerful paralytic that within minutes of being ingested
can cause complete paralysis of its victim.
Mage killer: This viscous blue liquid causes temporary paralysis of the
vocal cords upon being insinuated into the bloodstream. It is most
often employed via a ranged weapon and used to target enemy spellcasters.

Assassins friend: This is a typical example of a poison commonly employed by professional assassins. It debilitates its target and causes ad-

205

GMs Miscellany: Diseases

Oath keeper: Sometimes called the poor mans quest spell, this potent
poison will eventually cause the death of its victim. What makes it
unique is that it takes a day to become active once inside the body. Its
name come from its use to ensure that its victim behaves in a specific
way or performs a specific duty on behalf of the poisoner. In return,
the victim is typically promised the antidote to the poison. An interesting property of oath keeper is that if another dose is taken before the
first doses onset time has elapsed, the onset time is reset to 1 day from
the new dose. This allows for longer quests on behalf of the employer
of the poison if he is willing to supply the victim with additional doses
in order to delay the onset.
Shadow essence: This deep black, oily liquid is so named because once
it is insinuated into an opponents bloodstream it causes temporary
weakness much like that caused by the touch of an undead shadow.
Sight stealer: This clear liquid is usually kept in a vial to be splashed
upon its victim. Upon contact, sight stealer causes the targets vision to
become blurred and he may even lose hi sight altogether.
Sleeping powder: Much like other powdered poisons, this gray powder dissolved instantly in liquid and upon ingestion causes the imbiber
to fall into a deep sleep which can last for several hours.
Striped toadstool extract: The distilled essence of the poisonous
striped toadstool, this clear, tasteless liquid dissolves in water and
causes severe cramping and pain to anyone who ingests it.
Thief catcher: This toxic liquid dried clear when applied to an object.
It is virtually undetectable via mundane means, requiring an Exceptional Wisdom (or find/remove traps) check (TC 20) to notice it. The
poison is so named because it is frequently employed to coat valuable
objects in order to serve as a trap for would be thieves, who upon
coming into contact with the poison will often be left paralyzed for
an hour or more.

Wyvern venom: This poison is obtained by either milking the stinger

of a live wyvern or extracting the toxin from the venom gland of a
recently slain wyvern. It is among the more potent poisons known,
and upon entering the blood the victim must succeed on a Fortitude
save or die instantly.

Diseases
Diseases are similar in nature to poisons in that they require the infected character to make a Fortitude save in order resist their effects.
Where they differ from poisons is in the fact that diseases tend to have
longer lasting durations. Diseases also tend to have a wider range of
possible effects on a characters health; a disease can range from a mild
nuisance, such as a mundane cold, to a life threatening supernatural
ailment like the dreaded mummy rot.
In most cases, if a monster has a communicable disease, the effects
of the disease will be listed in the monsters entry. In cases where you
wish to introduce more realism to your campaign, you may require
periodic Fortitude saves to see if a character has become infected with
a disease. In most cases, the checks should be few and far between,
no more frequent than once a month. However, in situations where
you feel the chance for infection is much greater, require checks on a
daily basis. Such situations may include being in the presence of other
infected individuals, being in an environment conducive to disease
(swamps and jungles being two of the most common), or having suffered some ill effect that has significantly reduced a characters ability
to fight off infection (untreated injuries or having a reduced Constitution score are possibilities).

Disease Entries

Type: Like poisons, diseases are ranked Type I-IV, with Type I diseases
being relatively mild, while Type IV can be life threatening.
Fortitude Save: When a character is exposed to a disease s she receives
an initial Fortitude save to avoid infection. If she fails this check, she

Sample Diseases Chart

Name

Fortitude Save

Onset

Frequency

Effect

Cure
2 consecutive
saves

Blinding Ache

III

Superior (TC 15)

1d3 days

1/day

-2 to Percepton checks per failed check.

Three failed checks in a row result in
permanent blindness

Blight

IV

Superior (TC 15)

1 day

1/day

1d4 points of Con loss; cannot heal

naturally and gain only one-half benefit
from magical healing.

remove disease and

remove curse spell

Bubonic Plague

IV

Exceptional (TC 20)

1 day

1/day

1d4 Con loss and subject is fatigued

2 consecutive
saves

Common Cold

Average (TC 10)

1d3 days

1/day

-1 on all d20 rolls

2 consecutive
saves

Dysentery

II

Average (TC 10)

1d3 days

1/day

1d6 subdual damage per failed save and

subject is fatigued

2 consecutive
saves

1/day

Speed reduced by 5 feet per round and

permanently paralyzed once speed is
reduced to 0 feet

2 consecutive
saves or burning
and skinning of
feet (4d8 damage)

Rot Foot

206

Type

III

Superior (TC 15)

1 day

GMs Miscellany: Curses

must make a new check at intervals based on the diseases frequency to

see if she can stave off its effects.
Onset: Like many poisons, diseases usually have an onset time. This
time can vary, but is usually at least a day for mundane diseases.
Frequency: Unlike poisons, which have an effect then vanish, diseases
continue to hinder an infected character for some time. Frequency is
how often a character is allowed to make a save to fight off the effects
of a particular disease. Once per day is the typical frequency of most
diseases.
Effect: Diseases can have a wide range of effects. When designing a
disease, look to the effects of the various poisons as a guideline for how
potent the disease should be; in general, a disease can have any of the
listed effects for poisons, including damage, attribute loss, paralyzation, unconsciousness, and even death.
Cure: In most cases, a mundane disease can be cured by the infected
character successfully making two consecutive saving throws at the
diseases target complexity, one successful check each day. A remove
disease spell automatically cures the disease, but not necessarily the
damage the disease has already inflicted. In some cases, particularly
with supernatural diseases, the character cannot recover naturally and
even a remove disease spell may prove insufficient.

Sample Disease Descri ptions

The following are a few examples of diseases that a character might

encounter. The mechanics appear in the chart on the previous page:
Blinding Ache: This disease starts with the headache behind the eyes
and blurred vision. The headache increases, as does the blurriness,
with each failed save. On the third consecutive failed save, the subjects
eye balls ooze forth a white cloudy mucous and his eyes are thereafter
blanch white and incapable of sight.
Blight: This is a rotting disease that starts from the inside. It is very
aggressive and affects the natural metabolism of the body. Normal
healing works only half as good. Furthermore, this blight has a supernatural curse attached to it that halves the efficacy of magical healing as
well. A remove curse spell is actually required to remove this part of the
disease, which will remain after the bog blight has been cured.
Bubonic Plague: This disease starts in the digestive system of the subject and causes cramping, vomiting and incontinence. It can spread
quickly to the lungs and cause fever and chills as well. If the disease
is allowed to mature, within a few days, the subject will be totally fatigued, delirious and ultimately die when Constitution reaches 0.

Curses
Curses are supernatural afflictions brought into being by magic or
other mystical traditions. Mystical yet non-magical curses cannot be
dispelled by normal means and usually require a remove curse spell to
be cast in conjunction with the completion of another specific task.

Curse Entries

Name: The most common name associated with the curse. In most
cases, curse of will proceed the name.
Type: Type I-IV determines the relative strength of the curse.
Save: The TC of the Fortitude save required to avoid the curse.
Cause: The typical source of the curse. Type I and II curses are generally caused by a bestow curse spell (the reverse of a remove curse spell).
Type III and IV curses are often the result of either a specific ritual or
a unique circumstance (such as being bitten by a lycanthrope). Rituals
to invoke a curse vary in their methods and requirements, but require a
Dark Arts check with an Exceptional (TC 20) check at the least.
Effect: The effect of a curse on a failed save.

Sample Curse Descri ptions

Here is a description of the sample curses contained in the chart below.

The realms have uncountable curses that range from the mundane and
trivial aggravation to the penultimate scarring of ones soul.
Ashen Feast: This particularly nasty curse causes all food that comes
in contact with the victim to turn to ash, thus preventing him from
eating. If the curse is not removed, the afflicted character will eventually starve to death.
Bards Bereavement: This curse causes the afflicted character to seem
boorish and uncouth, suffering a -4 to all Charisma checks and Charisma based proficiency checks.
Betraying Hand: A particularly irksome curse, those affected by the
Curse of the Betraying Hand are at great risk during combat to drop
any held items, including weapons, magic items, holy symbols and
spell components. Targets of the curse must succeed on a Superior (TC
15) Dexterity check each round in order to maintain a steady hold on
to all held items. Failure causes the target to drop the held items.

Common Cold: This is the standard cold, with slight fever, chills,
runny nose and body aches. Its merely more than a nuisance.

Clumsiness: A typical example of a Type II curse, those afflicted lose a

measure of agility and grace as the curse saps 2d6 points of Dexterity
from them.

Dysentery: The symptoms of dysentery are similar to a mild form of

the bubonic plague with mucous-filled diarehea and vomiting. If allowed to mature, dysentery can be potentially deadly, as well.

Cowardliness: The bane of brave warriors everywhere, this curse

causes the victim to flee combat (as if affected by the fear spell) if they
fail a Superior (TC 15) Will save.

Rot Foot: The feet of the subject begin to fester with boils that quickly
ooze and cause the death of many skin cells. After a day, the skin of the
feet begin to then scale off and, if the disease is allowed to mature, the
skin will eventually die off and the feet will begin to rot down to the
bone, ultimately causing paralysis.

Eternal Slumber: A potent curse, those affected by the Curse of Eternal Slumber fall into a deep sleep from which they cannot be awakened by any means short of a limited wish.

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GMs Miscellany: Curses

Sample Curses Chart

208

Name

Type

Save TC

Cause

Effect

Ashen feast

IV

Superior (15)

ritual

All food touched turns to ash, target will eventually starve to death

Bards bereavement

Exceptional (20)

spell

-4 on all Charisma and Charisma based proficiency checks

Betraying hand

III

Exceptional(20)

spell

Make a Superior (TC 15) Dex check to hold onto anything in

combat

Clumsiness

II

Exceptional(20)

spell

Lose 2d6 Dex

Cowardliness

III

Superior (15)

ritual

In combat make a an Superior (TC 15) will save or be affected as

if by a fear spell

Eternal slumber

III

Exceptional(20)

ritual

Target becomes permanently unconscious

Fool

II

Exceptional(20)

spell

Lose 2d6 Int

Foul stench

Exceptional(20)

spell

-4 on all Animal handling, disguise, interaction, performance,

riding and stealth checks made within 30 feet of a creature with a
sense of smell

Ill fortune

II

Exceptional(20)

spell

On all d20 rolls always roll twice and take the worst roll

Incompetence

II

Exceptional(20)

spell

-4 on all attacks, AC, and saving throws

Lycanthropy

III

Varies

Mystic doom

III

Superior (15)

ritual

Target can not memorize spells (if an arcane caster) or receive

spells (if a divine caster)

Rage

II

Exceptional(20)

spell

In combat target must make an average (TC 10) will save or attack
nearest creature, even if an ally

Ravaging years

IV

Superior (15)

ritual

Age 1 year every day

Retribution

III

Superior (15)

ritual

Target takes damage equal to amount he deals to a foe

Truth

Exceptional(20)

spell

Must always speak the truth.

bite by true Target becomes a lycanthrope

lycanthrope

Weakness

II

Exceptional (20)

spell

Lose 2d6 Str

Weeping wounds

IV

Superior (15)

ritual

Wounds cant be cured magically and dont heal naturally

Withering

III

Superior (15)

ritual

1 of the targets limbs becomes withered and useless

Wizards lament

II

Exceptional(20)

spell

Lose the ability to learn new spells

Fool: Much like the Curse of Clumsiness, the Curse of the Fool is an
example of a curse that drains a victims attribute scores, in this case
2d6 Intelligence.

Any such character so afflicted loses the ability to regain their spells
until the curse is lifted. If a cure cannot be found this curse eventually
signals the end of the characters spellcasting career.

Foul Stench: Characters afflicted by this curse radiate a foul smelling

aura that extends out to a 30 ft. All animal handling, disguise, interaction, performance, riding and stealth checks made within the 30 foot
aura of stench suffer a -4 penalty.
Ill Fortune: Misfortune follows the victims of this curse wherever they
go. Cursed subjects must roll all d20 attempts twice, taking the lower
roll each time.
Incompetence: A powerful curse, the Curse of Incompetence subjects
its victims to a -4 penalty on all attack rolls, AC, and saving throws.

Rage: The Curse of Rage forces the target to succeed on an Average

(TC 10) Will save every round of combat or be forced to attack nearest living combatant, including allies. If the nearest opponent is felled
in battle, the afflicted character must immediately make another Will
save at the same TC or be forced to attack the next nearest creature.
This cycle continues for the rest of the fight until one of three things
happen: all other creatures on the battlefield are killed or knocked
unconscious; the affected character is killed or knocked unconscious;
or the affected character withdraws from combat on a round where he
has succeeded on making his Will save.

Lycanthropy: One of the most feared curses known, lycanthropy is

transmitted via the bite of a true lycanthrope. It forces the afflicted to
transform into a beast on the nights of the full moon. See the individual descriptions of the various lycanthropes for more details.

Ravaging Years: The bane of youth, this curse causes the target to
age at an accelerated rate, becoming one year older for every day that
passes. If the curse is removed before the character dies of old age then
he immediately regains his youth.

Mystic Doom: This curse is the stuff of nightmares for all spellcasters.

Retribution: The effects of the Curse of Retribution are often enough

GMs Miscellany: Traps

to cause a warrior to hang up his sword for good, for whenever the target of this curse deals damage to another with either a melee or ranged
attack, he takes an equal amount of damage himself.
Truth: Sometimes called the Liars Lament, the Curse of Truth renders
its targets unable to tell any forms of falsehood. Even if the affected
character attempts to remain silent, he must make an Average (TC 10)
Will save or be forced to answer any question he is asked with utter
truth.
Weakness: Another curse in the same vein as the Curse of Clumsiness
and the Curse of the Fool, this curse saps the target of his physical
prowess, causing him to lose 2d6 points of Strength.
Weeping Wounds: The curse of Weeping Wounds renders its victims
unable to regain hit points, either via magic or natural healing.
Withering: This foul curse causes its victims limbs to become withered and feeble. For all practical purposes, the afflicted limb is useless.
A withered arm cannot hold anything or be used for somatic casting,
while a withered leg reduces a characters movement rate to a maximum of 10 feet per round.
Wizards Lament: While not quite as fearsome as Mystic Doom, this
curse is still greatly feared by arcane spellcasters. The victim of this
curse is unable to learn new spells or record them in his spellbook; all
rolls to learn a new spell automatically fail, and if the character normally receives a new spell automatically for advancing to a new level,
he fails to do so while under the effects of this curse.

Traps
Menacing traps litter the corridors and crypts of many ancient dungeons and provide added protection to hordes and wealthy treasure.
In your campaign world, traps can be as prevalent as you prefer, but
one fact remains true traps exist and, therefore, you must know how
to build them.

Interacting with Traps

Before you delve into building your first trap, it is helpful to consider
how you want your players to interact with traps in general. One approach proclaims that a trap is a mechanical challenge and it should
be dealt with using character abilities instead of narration. In this approach, rolls are most important and members of non-thief classes are
almost assuredly inept at locating even the most simple trap. At the opposite end of the spectrum, traps could be manipulated by just about
anyone and ability rolls should only be resorted to when ingenuity
fails. In this second approach, players running thief characters should
be required to declare their actions as they search for a trap and may
not be required to roll. As a GM, feel free to take a side or play the safer
middle ground. Regardless, you should decide how traps will be played
out, since traps are designed differently for the various paradigms.
Trap-building can be sanitized to its purest form (complexity and effect) when building such hazards for players that will rely solely on the
rolls. The building process is more complex, but more enjoyable, when
crafting traps for players that are allowed to manipulate traps through

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GMs Miscellany: Traps

role-playing. (You may also wish to thoroughly construct a trap if you

are taking a middle ground, as well.) A very descriptive set up of the
action of a trap helps to run the trap when a player interacts with it
and certain elements, such as a bypass, prove to be very interesting
sources of role-playing magic.

Building Traps

All traps have certain elements in common: type, trigger, action, duration and bypass. Once you have mastered these common elements,
trap-building becomes an accessible and enjoyable exercise.

Type

There are two general types of traps: mechanical and magical. Mechanical traps are manufactured to trigger by a natural mechanism. Magical
traps are manufactured to release some form of harnessed magic as an
effect; they do not necessarily release a known spell, but they do at
least evoke some form of energy from one or more schools to produce
a magical effect. Mechanical and magical traps have many of the same
qualities, so building either type should be easy for an adventure.
Some mechanical traps have in their action a substance that is born
from magic, i.e. a magical gas or potion. This fact alone does not
change the type of trap. It is still mechanical. The natural mechanism
of the trap simply thrusts a magical component into action.
Likewise, magical traps may employ some natural mechanisms, such
as when a spell is triggered when the false bottom is manipulated. This
fact alone does not change type of trap; it still brings into existence a
magical effect and so it is still a magical trap.

Trigger

The traps trigger entry is the explanation of how someone brings the
traps effect into being. Most triggers will be hidden from apparent
view. Common triggers include:
Location: The location of a person can spring a trap. The most common example of a location trigger is a pressure plate, which triggers the
traps action if a person puts a certain amount of pressure upon it. If
you create a trap with a location trigger, it is important to note exactly
where the trigger is located and how it is set off. As you will read below,
non-thief characters should have an opportunity to avoid a trap if they
describe their characters actions; it is possible that a character at your
table will locate a traps trigger without rolling.
Proximity: Magical traps may have a magical means of determining
when a person is standing or moving through a particular area. This
is often expressed as a proximity trigger. Proximity triggers rely on
the magical sense of a trap in a way similar to sight, sound, smell, etc.
Magical traps with a proximity trigger will have a Wisdom score and
the trap must succeed on a roll to notice the presence of an intruder.
If an intruder is not attempting to sneak past a proximity trigger, the
traps magical senses pick up the intruder on an Average (TC 10) roll.
Similar to a standard, mechanical location trigger, you should also describe the area of the proximity trigger with specificity. There is again a
chance that an intuitive non-thief player will have a method of detecting a proximity trigger, such as through a detect magic spell, etc.
Timed: Both magical and mechanical traps can be timed to trigger. A

210

pressure plate built into the bottom of an hour-glass-type mechanism

is one such example. A magical contingency placed upon a magical
trap that triggers the action once every hour is another example.
Touch: This is a common trigger for traps placed upon the locks of a
chest or door. Touch triggers care not for your exact location; they trigger when a person touches a particular spot. Some traps triggered by
touch have no action. A poisonous needle in the lock is one such trap.
The action is the touching of the needle. Traps infused with a touch
spell are common examples of magical traps with such a trigger.

Action

The action of a trap is the explanation of what happens when it is

triggered. The action is also the term most commonly used to describe
the traps actual mechanism, thus a thief may say, I need to reset the
action of this trap manually. Feel free to craft an elaborate action for
a trap. Creative and particularly menacing traps can be quite memorable.
Effect: The last element of the traps action is the actual effects of suffering the traps design. The vast milieu of traps either deal damage
or bring a magical effect into being. Some rare species of traps bring
about an entirely unique result.
Damage: Mechanical traps almost always endeavor to deal damage.
The most common examples are an arrow trap, crushing wall, pit trap
and spear trap. All of these examples deal damage to a subject that
either fails his or her Reflex save or suffers a successful attack by the
trap. Damaging effects are the easiest to resolve. Simply roll the listed
damage dice.
Magical Effect: Sprung traps may instead produce a magical effect.
This the most apparent feature of a magical trap. Oftentimes, this
magical effect mirrors a known spell. In this case, the trap is said to
have a spell effect. Similar to when utilizing damaging traps, spell
effects are relatively easy to use in play. Simply refer to the spell in
the Myth & Magic Players Guide and handle this as you would a cast
spell.
Other magical effects may be crafted specifically for the trap by a powerful spellcaster working in conjunction with a master trap-builder.
The caster taps into one or more schools of magic and produces a
unique magical effect that is tied to the trap. In this narrow manner,
the trap is in essence a new spell. When building your first trap with
a unique magical effect, it is best to choose one school of magic and
emulate an effect that belongs to that school. For example, if you wish
to construct a trap that changes the sex of the victim, the trap would
draw from the alteration school. Unique magical effects can affect a
subject temporarily or permanently. The spellcaster either attaches the
permanency spell to the effect or sets the effects duration, if temporary.
Unique magical effects can be detected and studied, unless properly
warded against such divination (see below in the Detecting Magical
Traps section). Notwithstanding, you need not prepare an elaborate
name and explanation of the exact trappings of the magical effect. You
can, and often should, only provide the school of magic and the fact
that the magical effect is unlike any spell or magical aura previously
studied. Of course, if the player frequently encounters the same unique

GMs Miscellany: Traps

effect, later successful attempts to discern the magical properties of the

trap could reveal more information. By withholding information the
first few times the unique effect is encountered, you are preserving the
utility of a well-placed creative trap and ensuring a level of suspense
with the location of each new trap.
Special: Some traps defy the norm and affect those that spring them
in a special way. When building a trap, if you wish to produce an effect
that is neither damaging nor magical in nature, you are most likely
creating a special effect. Common special effects include entrapping a
victim (by way of an ankle-hold or body-hold rope trap, for example)
and imposing a condition (e.g. a caltrop trap that does not deal damage but instead slows the subject in the area of effect). A trap that,
once triggered, creates a barrier to separate the springing intruder from
another area is another example of a special effect. Imagine the partys
thief carefully lifting the statue from its pedestal when suddenly a ceiling block falls down behind the thief, separating the party.
Note on Poisons, Diseases and Curses: A poison, disease or curse can
be built into a trap. If so, this is noted in the effect entry, along with
any rules for staving off its effects. Experience points are also awarded
based on the Type of poison, disease or curse employed.
Range: The range of the traps effect should also be listed along with
information on how many subjects can be affected.
Reset: It is important to decide whether a traps action can be reset
or not. The action of a trap may remain in place, open for view and
readily accessible, e.g., a slicing blade falls from the ceiling, then hangs
about innocently. If so, one or more players may wish to reset it.
No Reset: The action of this particular type of trap cannot be reset.
Some common examples include an explosive rune and gas trap.
Manual: In this case, the traps mechanism may be set again manually
with a successful Engineering or Find/Remove Traps check against the
complexity required to interact with the trap. Note that the recasting
of a spell, if that is the only requirement to setting the trap, is still a
manual reset. The inner workings of the trap may or may not be accessible on a manual reset trap upon its completion. The slicing blade
example above is an example of such a trap. That same trap could have
been designed to allow someone to reset the blade into the mechanism
which will reset the trigger.
A failed attempt to properly reset a trap may, in some circumstances,
subject the tinkerer to some or all of the traps effect.
Automatic Reset: The action automatically resets. A time frame is
provided that denotes how many rounds or minutes it takes for the
trap to reset.

Duration

Once triggered, most traps have an instantaneous effect, such as when

a blade drops from a ceiling or a burst of fire emits from a lock. In
these cases, the duration is noted as instantaneous. You know that the
traps action can affect the subjects only once. If the trap receives an
attack roll, instantaneous traps receive only one attack.

chanical traps with such a build have more than one attack or require
more than one saving throw if an attack is not required. Magical traps
remain in play for more than one round. In either case, if you are
building a trap with a duration longer than instantaneous, you will
need to note how many attacks the trap has or how many rounds the
trap stays in play.

Bypass

A trap-builder can create a mechanical bypass for a trap, e.g. a small

level concealed in a secret compartment in the wall not far from the
scythe trap hidden above the door. Finding a mechanical bypass is not
unlike locating a secret compartment and requires a Wisdom (or finda
and remove traps) check to uncover it. If such a bypass exists, the trap
lists the complexity required to find it. The secret compartment that
houses the small level, for example, may require a Superior (TC 15)
check.
Magical traps often have a contingency bypass, which can be as simple
as a password or as complex as a series of strange movements performed in a specific area. Contingency bypasses are often unknown
to the players and feel free to create a contingency bypass that is considered extremely obscure if the trap is important to the person who
commissioned its creation.

Trap Complexity

A trap has an associated complexity to a) locate it, b) disable or reset it,

and c) to avoid its effects if triggered (Reflex save). While most, if not
all, traps will have a complexity set to locate or interact with it, some
traps do not allow for a saving throw once triggered. The animate dead
trap below is one such example.
Assign whatever complexities you want. Higher complexities for finding, removing or avoiding a trap create a higher XP value (see below).

Experience Points

Traps are challenges that have an associated amount of experience

points rewarded to characters that successfully overcome them. This
readily applies to a thief character that succeeds in finding and removing the trap. While not customary, you may award experience points
for simply surviving the effects of a trap, though such an award is
more appropriate if the characters attempt to discern information on
the traps mechanisms instead of simply walking through the trap with
abandon. Characters traveling with a thief may or may not deserve
experience points. This is discretionary and dependent upon the characters level of interaction. If more than one character help the thief
overcome the trap, split the experience points equally among them.
Characters that overcome a traps challenge receive experience points
once, even if the trap has multiple attacks, a duration that lasts more
than one round, or an automatic reset.

Calculating a Traps XP

Use the following charts to determine a traps experience point value.

What follows is very formulaic and granular. As GM, feel free to simply get a handle on the material and assign a value ad hoc.

Traps can be built with a duration longer than instantaneous. Me-

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GMs Miscellany: Traps

Base XP

Add XP for Trigger

Location

+0 XP

Proximity

+5 XP

Timed

+10 XP

Touch

+0 XP

2) Add XP for Effect

Damage

+5 XP per 1d4 points of damage;

+10 XP per 1d6 damage; +15 XP
per 1d8 points of damage;
+20 XP per 1d10 points of damage; +25 XP per 1d12 points of
damage;
+250 XP for instant death, e.g.
incapacitation.

Magical

If damage is the only effect of the

triggered magic, follow the damage values above;
+50 XP per spell level if the magical effect varies from damage
and it stems from a spell effect
(assign a level to a special and
unique magical effect)

Special

Add a discretionary value. Most

traps that are designed to separate or entrap a subject are worth
+50 XP.

Poison, Disease, Curse

+50 XP/Type, unless it simply

deals damage, in which case use
the XP for damage above.

3) Add XP for Reset

None

+0

Manual

+0

Automatic

+5 XP

4) Add XP for Complexity to Locate

Basic

-5 XP

Average

+0 XP

Superior

+10 XP

Exceptional

+15 XP

Legendary

+20 XP

5) Add XP for Complexity to Remove/Disable

212

Basic

+0 XP

Average

+0 XP

Superior

+10 XP

Exceptional

+15 XP

Legendary

+20 XP

Save Only

+10 XP

6) Add XP for Complexity to Reflex Save

None

+0 XP

Basic

+0 XP

Average

+5 XP

Superior

+10 XP

Exceptional

+15 XP

Legendary
+20 XP
Add up the elements for the total experience point value that is awarded to players who face and overcome the dangers of the trap to your
satisfaction.

Sample Mechanical Traps

Below are some sample mechanical traps using creativity, a slight bit of
discretion and the experience point charts on this page. As you will see,
traps can be designed as simply or as complex as the situation warrants.
Sample magical traps can be found in the next section.
You will notice that some of the material in a traps design is pertinent
to the actual adventure. For example, the stat block for each trap has
an Action and Bypass that is entirely constructed to the adventure.
Dont feel compelled to use these traps wholesale; modify the particulars to suit your intended design.
False Door Arrow Trap (25 XP): Type Mechanical; Trigger Touch
(open the false door); Action Arrow propelled forth by gas; Effect 2d6
damage to one subject within 20 ft. from the false wall; Reset None;
Locate Average (TC 10); Remove/Disable Average (TC 10); Avoid
Average (TC 10) Reflex Save; Duration instantaneous; Bypass None.
Gas Trap, Sleep (65 XP): Type Mechanical; Trigger Touch (place the
key into the chests keyhole); Action Upon the sound of the lock opening, a clear gas emits and rapidly spreads while changing into a whitish
cloud that affects all those within 10 feet of the chest; Effect Gas is
infused with the sleep spell per Myth & Magic Players Guide ; Reset
None; Locate Superior (TC 15); Remove/Disable Average (TC 10);
Avoid Average (TC 10) Reflex Save; Duration Instantaneous; Bypass
The actual lock that contains the trap can be rotated 180 degrees and
the key placed inside the lock upside down to bypass the trap.
Pit Trap (45 XP): Type Mechanical; Trigger Location (stand on the
10 x 10 ft. pit covered by leaves and dirt, requires 100 pounds); Action
The leaves and dirt cover multiple layers of stretched parchment which
breaks if triggered, sending a subject on a 20 ft. fall to a bone-covered
pit floor; Effect 3d6 damage to any subject that falls; Reset Manual;
Locate Superior (TC 15); Remove/Disable Basic (TC 5); Avoid Average (TC 10) Reflex Save; Duration Instantaneous; Bypass none.
Sarcophagus Containment Trap (70 XP): Type Mechanical; Trigger
Location (stand on a pressure plate directly in front of the Emperors
sarcophagus which is also coated with sovereign glue); Action The sarcophagus rests in the northeast corner. The sarcophagus, as well as the
section of the wall that comprises the corner, rests on a rotating section of the floor and pivots on an axel 180 degrees stopping in a tight
and dark alcove built beyond the northeast corner. Those in the room
see the quick rotation and a flat circular wall jutting out of the corner
where the sarcophagus once stood; Effect The trap separates the person

GMs Miscellany: Traps

stuck to the pressure plate and locks in place for 24 hours. Nothing
else happens, but there is no method of reversing the trap without
magic or breaking through the wall, which will breach the bottom of
the sarcophagus where 1d12 rot grubs are laired; Duration 24 hours;
Reset Automatic after 24 hours; Locate Average (TC 10); Remove/
Disable Average (TC 10); Avoid Legendary (TC 25) Reflex Save to
quickly pull free before sovereign glue takes hold; Bypass None.
Sarcophagus Trap, Diseased (180 XP): Type Mechanical; Trigger
Location (stand on a pressure plate directly in front of the Emperors
sarcophagus); Action The cover of the sarcophagus is intricately carved
to appear as the Emperor did in sleep. Once the pressure plate is triggered, the eye slits and mouth of the cover open. A bright red glows
from within the eyes and mouth and affects the nearest subject that
looks upon the glow with the withering curse; Effect Withering curse
(Type III curse; Superior TC 15 Fortitude save; Withers the subjects
strong arm and renders it permanently useless); Duration Instantaneous; Reset Automatic after 1 round; Locate Superior (TC 15); Remove/Disable Superior (TC 15); Avoid Superior (TC 15) Reflex Save
to quickly look away from glow; Bypass None.
Spiked Pit Trap, Poisoned (70 XP): Type Mechanical; Trigger Location (stand on either or both of two adjacent 5 x 5 ft. stone tiles,
requires 50 pounds); Action Two stone tiles open at the grout line if
triggered, sending a subject on a 10 ft. fall to a spike-covered pit floor;
Effect 3d6 damage to any subject that falls plus hag blood poison (Type
I poison that deals an additional 2d6 points of damage only), Reset
Manual; Locate Average (TC 10); Remove/Disable Superior (TC 15);
Avoid Superior (TC 15) Reflex Save; Duration Instantaneous; Bypass
Small concealed pressure plate on the floor 20 ft. to the south of the
trap that, if pressed, will render the trap inert for 1 minute (requires a
Superior (TC 15) check to locate).

Sample Magical Traps

Animate Dead Trap (65 XP): Type Magical; Trigger Touch (touching
the heart-shaped ruby in the tomb); Action The ruby is trapped and
the armored skeletons lining the tombs walls animate and attack the
intruders; Effect Animate dead spell, affects all ten armored skeletons
permanently or until destroyed; Reset Automatic after 1 day, unless
skeletons are removed from tomb; Locate Average (TC 10); Remove/
Disable Exceptional (TC 20); Avoid Not applicable; Duration Instantaneous; Bypass Removing the skeletons from the tomb before
touching the ruby.

spell added 100 XP to the build per the discretionary XP rule for special effects.
Fireball Keystone Trap (135 XP): Type Magical; Trigger Touch
(touch the doors handle); Action The keystone above the stone door
is shaped as the sun and upon triggering, a massive fireball shoots at
the triggering subject; Effect 10d6 damage to triggering subject and all
those within 20 ft.; Reset Automatic after 1 round; Locate Exceptional
(TC 20); Remove/Disable Superior (TC 15); Avoid Superior (TC 15)
Reflex Save; Duration instantaneous; Bypass Blow powder onto the
keystone before touching the doors handle.
Illusionary Floor Pit Trap (260 XP): Type Magical; Trigger Touch
(walk on the illusionary surface); Action Subject falls through the illusionary surface spell and lands in a pit 40 ft. below. Others nearby
no longer see the illusionary floor; Effect 4d6 damage; Reset None;
Locate Average (TC 10); Remove/Disable Successful Will save only if
attempting to disbelieve; Avoid Superior (TC 15) Reflex Save; Duration Instantaneous; Bypass Disbelieve.
Inorganic Matter Trap (335 XP): Type Magical; Trigger Touch (fully
entering the swirling mist); Action The mist is infused with speciallyprepared conjuration (teleportation) magic that is triggered one round
after immersion in the mist; Effect Magical conjuration (teleportation)
magic that will instantly teleport all non-living matter it touches, causing all items and dead cells to be teleported away from their owner; Reset Automatic after 1 round or when a new batch of non-living matter
enters; Locate Legendary (TC 25) on the keystone of the portals entrance; Remove/Disable Exceptional (TC 20); Avoid Not applicable;
Duration Instantaneous; Bypass None.
Note: The additional special effect of losing all gear added 300 XP
to the build per the discretionary XP rule for special effects.
Sleep Pillow Trap (70 XP): Type Magical; Trigger Touch (touching
the pillow on the bed); Action The pillow is trapped with a standard
sleep spell; Effect Sleep spell; Reset none; Locate Superior (TC 15);
Remove/Disable Average (TC 10); Avoid Save per spell; Duration
Instantaneous; Bypass None.

Black Tentacle Drowning Trap (180 XP): Type Magical; Trigger Location (coming within 5 feet of the illusion); Action An illusion of a
fully equipped adventurers corpse rests at the bottom of the murky
moat 20-ft. deep. When an intruder comes within 5 feet of the illusion, a black tentacles spell is triggered; Effect Black tentacles spell as
cast by a 10th-level caster (10 hour duration), all Reflex saves underwater suffer a -10 (2 shift) penalty; Reset Automatic after 1 minute;
Locate Average (TC 10) while underwater reveals the shimmering nature of the corpse illusion and allows for a Will Save to disbelieve. If
successful, an Average (TC 10) check reveals the black tentacles trap. If
the illusion is not removed, an Exceptional (TC 20) check is required
to find the black tentacle trap while the illusion persists; Remove/Disable Exceptional (TC 20); Avoid Reflex save (per spell); Duration 10
hours; Bypass None.
Note: The additional special effect of being drowned by a grappling

213

Chapter 1

Intro Adventure

The Shattered
Academy
By: Tom Ryan
An adventure for 1st or 2nd-level characters
built from the Myth & Magic Players Guide

214

The Shattered Academy

Adventure Background

Arteks Academy taught small classes of would-be wizards for decades. Originally built as a country retreat for the wizard, it was a garden variety wizards
keep built in a far flung recess of the wilderness. Converted years later into a
scholastic institution, the academy attracted teenage pupils excited to learn
magic under the tutelage of the Great Artek a boarding school for upstart
mages. What could be more fun?
An explosion rocked the countryside one fateful night. Claims trickled in to
the nearby settlements that the scholarly compound of the wizard Artek had
been destroyed. By all accounts, the destruction was total. All the lives were
claimed, including Arteks. Was it treachery within? Was it borne from an
enemy without? Did a magical experiment go terribly wrong?
The families of some lost pupils combined resources and commissioned a
band of adventurers to investigate. Specific answers to the question of what
happened that night were not to be had. The adventurers found the ruins of
the shattered academy scattered across the hillside and scoured the grounds
and bodies for clues to the cause of the explosion. The adventurers returned
without a clear explanation, but each swore to feeling terribly unsettled as
they searched what remained of the academy. Eyes were on us, no doubt,
one said. Another adventurer hauntingly proclaimed, It was as if unseen
hands were grasping at my soul.
The families never gave up hope, though unfortunately no further exploration of the ruins occurred. A pilgrimage happened to cross by the ruins on
the anniversary of the explosion last year. The pilgrims hurried into a nearby
town a few days later and recounted their sighting of various wizard ghosts
looming about the hillside and ruins.
The families of a few lost pupils heard the stories and journeyed to the ruins
on short notice, but saw no ghosts. Almost a year has since passed, the anniversary looms in the near future and the mystery of Arteks Academy remains
unsolved. A certain family has set aside some gold to hire adventurers to explore the ruins on the anniversary of that fated night in hopes that the ghosts
will appear and answer their many questions.

A Wizards Lament

Arteks past is fraught with tragedy. His wife Arlene died in childbirth some
years after Artek passed his Test of Sorcery. Losing so much had a profound
impact on him. The wizard decided to dedicate his life to the bettering of
young wizards and thus he set upon the task of starting an academy. At the
same time, from a deeply disturbed recess of his mind, he spawned an obsession with his late wife that caused him to exhume her body with the hope of
one day bringing her back to life.
He retired to his country retreat. He first built a secret workshop in the bowels of the keeps foundation, where he began his study of necromancy. His
goal was to preserve her body, leash her soul and ultimately bring her back to
life. Artek then hired many carpenters, engineers and masons to convert his
keep into a functional school.
Some years later, Arteks Academy graduated its first class of eight wizards and
Artek had mastered enough necromancy to call upon Arlenes soul when he
desired. Arlenes body was an animated zombie and Arteks secret workshop
was frothing with illusions that made his wife appear quite alive and his
workshop to appear as a quaint cottage. In time, Arteks Academy would
graduate many more classes and Arteks grasp of necromancy would allow

him to enchant his wifes wedding ring to shackle Arlenes soul nearby. His
life plans were nearing a successful completion. Of course, that was until a
mysterious explosion took his life and the lives of everyone else

Ghosts of Wizards Past

The ruins of Arteks Academy are indeed haunted. The ghosts of Artek, his
three assistants and twenty-two young wizards wander the Ethereal Plane
on a very tight leash to the Academy. Unlike ghosts of popular culture, the
ghosts here cannot manifest at will and cannot break free. Only once per
year, on the anniversary of the explosion, do the ghosts manifest. They do so
unwillingly and without the power to affect anything on the Prime Material
Plane. Living beings cannot hear their words or feel their ghostly touch. In
this way, the ghosts are merely impressions - stickers in space. All the turmoil
stems from Arlenes wedding ring, which is worn by the zombie in the secret
chambers that Artek built beneath the academy. The ring, with its unique
magic, chains them to the ruins of the academy and has altered their abilities.
In a word, the ghosts are harmless.

One Mans Trash

Very few people mention the haunted ruins in the woods and no one ventures
to the site. Its over a day from the nearest settlement and those that made the
journey in the past returned with nothing but stories of strange feelings and a
general creepiness. Ergo, aside from the memories and emotions harbored by
the affected families, Arteks Academy is utterly left to waste.
But one mans trash is another mans treasure
A quiet and sheltered set of ruins so far from prying eyes is bound to attract
someone at some point. To this point, a small gang of monstrous humanoids
stumbled upon this place and claimed it. Led by a megalomaniac bugbear,
Deebol, the group began using the ruins as a base of operations to pillage
the nearby trade paths and towns. To help navigate the new terrain, Deebol
hired a group of local bandits. The gang has only occupied the premises for
two months, but they have successfully robbed a few caravans, nearby farms
and a cemetery. The ghostly and disturbed energy of the place is tangible and
recognizable to all of Deebols underlings.

A VAMPIRES DELIGHT

So much concentrated necromantic energy is bound to attract some nefarious caster or intelligent undead creature at some point. In this instance, a
fledgling vampire named Katia stumbled upon this place last week and desired it as her home. The energys manipulation of the minds of Deebol and
his gang made them all easy to dominate. Katia has even bitten Deebol and
the human bandits, hoping to begin her long unlife here at the ruins with a
small coven of spawn to command. She plans to turn every person and every
monster into a vampire, if possible.

On the Day of Adventure

Deebol and the bitten bandits no longer care to pillage and raid. They desire only to serve Katia. Deebol has since descended to the second stage
of vampiric corruption, while each of the human bandits are making their
transformation from live to unlife as the adventurers explore the academy.
Most of Deebols original band of monstrous humanoids defected and fled
to the mountains. Only six hobgoblins remain out of fear. Katia swore she
would hunt down and torture cowards that fled, a risk that many took. The
six remaining hobgoblins have reserved themselves to their fate.

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None of the monsters at the academy knows of

the anniversary or the accompanying manifestation of the ghosts. Katia certainly feels the necromancy. She guesses some magical item or relic
is responsible, but she has been too rash in her
newfound vampirism to really set upon the task
of uncovering the ruins secrets herself. Instead,
she ordered her goblin slave, Nuggles, to search
through the rubble and collect anything that
looks or feels interesting.
During this adventure, Katia is not intended to
threaten the PCs directly. A vampire, fledgling or
not, should prove lethal to the entire party. If the
PCs storm by day, she is in her coffin and vulnerable to destruction (which really is a super-cool
badge of honor for upstart adventurers). If the
PCs storm by night, Katia is making good of her
promise to hunt down the defected monsters
in the mountains. Groups mulling around the
academy through dawn or dusk may confront
Katia at a time that she would sensibly awaken
or return. Work around this. Perhaps she does
not return at night, being forced to seek out a
different resting spot. Perhaps she has been partially staked and is too wounded to care about
the adventurers and rushes off to her sarcophagus in Area 19. Perhaps she is so intrigued by the
PCs that she stays in gaseous form and follows
the PCs. In all cases, feel free to use the vampire
entry on page 129, bur remember that Katia is
not the target here. Deebol is.
The ghosts will manifest on the anniversary as
planned. The sight of the PCs attempting to
destroy the monsters brings hope to the ghosts.
Although they cannot actually speak to the PCs
or aid them in combat, the ghosts will help the
band locate the magical wedding ring if they
manage to rout out the monsters.

Beginning the Adventure:

Rassach

The adventure begins in the Village of Rassach. Thirty years ago, an aged
and senile Lord Bellabus Rasson commissioned the building of an opulent
and grandiose waystation near the local trade road. Several engineers deemed
the plot unbuildable due to excessively high water tables and mud flooding, but Lord Rasson ignored the outcries and ordered his workers to commence posthaste. He envisioned a collection of manor homes and buildings
that resembled an exaggerated version of a small Vikinesque village he once
travelled to. The Lord went so far as to contract with a traveling company of
actors that would dress and behave as authentically Viking as possible.
The Lord died half-way through construction, which left the village abandoned and incomplete. Over time, folks began settling and fortifying the
decrepit buildings with tarps, thatching, hide (and whatever else they could
find). Today, the village is a colorful collection of makeshift cottages and

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buildings built on stilts among a mud-soaked field. Cut logs and wooden
planks plopped over the mud provide a network of paths.
The village can be placed in any campaign setting. The accompanied map
shows the general layout of the village. Area 1 is the Magic Missiles Inn.
Area 2 is the Provisioners Shop and Area 3 is the Manor Home. There is
only a brief description of each area. Feel free to add color to the locations
as needed.
The following serves as a fine introduction to Rassach and Area 1 for any or
all PCs:
Hoping to rest from your travels, you entered the Village of Rassach,
a collection of oversized cottages, halls and manor homes built on
stilts over a mud-soaked field. Planks of wood and log serve as a
floating network of paths. Locals quickly direct you to the Magic
Missiles Inn for good food and employment opportunities, although
you doubt the Inn can provide either. Rassach is a pit of poor folk
and vagabonds. Children flock to you as you walk, selling ragtag

The Shattered Academy

novelties for copper. Women of less repute ply their wares, as well.
The inn is near to the northern entrance of the village and set
back a bit. It is a mess of a building built from crude stone and
topped with a roof made of thatch and thick tarp. To the left of the
entrance stands the village gallows. To the right of the entrance is a
pen of squealing pigs. A wooden placard nailed into the front door
proclaims, Magic Missiles Inn - Huebar Krem, Proprietor and Retired Fighting Man.
The inside of the inn fares no better with its wobbly chairs, rat infestation and unsightly staff. A large barrel sits atop a makeshift bar
across the room with the words Hangmans Special - 3 cp painted
on it. A look around the room and over its patrons suggests the inns
Hangmans Special to be spiced ham, yams and a vegetable soup.
The liquor is flowing, slowly, but still flowing.
A portly waitress sits you at the nearest table and mumbles something about her name being Ursula and that 1 silver piece gets you
all you can drink.
If the PCs wish to begin the adventure as a group, simply read on; otherwise,
allow the PCs to meet each other here at the Magic Missiles Inn, which is
marked Area 1 on the Rassach map. They each look weary. They each look
competent. They each look eager for adventure. Once assembled as a group,
read the following:
As you begin packing up to venture forth, two women present themselves without announcement. One is an older human, 52, thin
and topped with long white hair. The other is a half-elf, the same
height, slender and young. While still marred by the dirt that hangs
over this town, the two women attempt to look presentable. They
appear nervous and somewhat desperate. The half-elf speaks:
My name is Ivy and this is my mother, Mabel. We live here in Rassach. We moved here almost four years ago after we sold our home
to hire an adventuring group that ultimately failed us. We saved
up some money again and we need to hire capable folk to succeed
where the first group failed. May we have some of your time?
Presumably, Ivy is allowed to continue:
My brother Lincoln was a very smart child. He loved to read and
of course once he read of wizards, Lincoln couldnt wait to be one.
Cant even tell you how many wizards and witches parties we threw
him growing up. When he turned thirteen, he decided to apply to
Arteks Academy. Our father was a ranger in the countrys guard, so
we had just enough money for him to board. In any event, Artek accepted Lincoln as an apprentice. It was the happiest day of Lincolns
life. My brother literally packed up and left as soon as he could. The
academy was to be his school and home for several years.
At that point, Mabel interjects:
If you dont already know what happened, four years ago, Arteks
Academy was destroyed. No one knew how it happened. The explosion took the lives of everyone in the school, my son included. Local
guards investigated, but they were worthless swine. A few families
decided to raise money to hire able men to investigate. We didnt
have much in the way of gold so we sold the house. Others did too.
But, in the end, we had enough money to hire adventurers, one of

which was even a wizard.

They returned with no clear knowledge of what happened or
who was responsible. My husband died soon thereafter. Ivy and I
were left to survive with almost nothing. We were forced to relocate
here.
The family of another student found us here last year and gave
us some exciting news. Apparently, pilgrims visited the ruins last
year and saw ghosts wandering about. The timing of the pilgrims
visit should have brought them to the ruins on the anniversary of
the explosion.
The anniversary is only three days away. Although wed love to
know what happened, the thought of my son wandering as a ghost
keeps me up at night. Please. Can you help us? Can you go to the
ruins and give my son peace?
Mabel and Ivy are genuinely desperate. So much so that Mabel purposefully
redacts the first bands accounts of unseen hands grasping at my soul. The
two have saved a total of 83 gold pieces, the lions share being proceeds of
Ivys new (unmentionable) job. They offer the lot of gold and a detailed set
of directions to the ruins. Once the offer is accepted, Mabel also produces
a crude hunting knife. She explains that Lincolns father gave the boy the
skinning knife when he was eight years old and it may help to befriend the
ghost.
The PCs have three days to reach the ruins. It takes one and half days to travel
there, so that leaves a little time to get provisions, get on the road, and rest at
the ruins (or nearby) for a night if needed.
A few locals have heard the tale of Arteks Academy either on the road or from
Mabel herself. A Superior (TC 15) Charisma check suffices to encourage
such a citizen to recount the true tale of the first group of adventurers. Feel
free to divulge to the successful PC as much of the adventure background
as you see fit. Additionally, a PC succeeding on an Average (TC 10) Local
History check knows the background information and knows that Mabel has
purposefully removed the scary parts of the story.
Note that if the PCs quest becomes known, whether by Mabel, Ivy, Tippett,
or the group itself, a few families friendly to Mabel and Ivy offer some rope,
torches, a lantern and some oil.
Area 2: Provisioners Shop: Rassach does have one small general store. Tippett Penhopp has one of the larger (yet equally decrepit) cottages and he runs
his general store inside it. (Most wares are sprawled about his kitchen.) The
selection is quite limited. There is only a 25% chance that any rudimentary
supply, even rope or torches, is currently for sale. If so, prices are 10% higher
than what is noted in the Equipment chapter of the Myth & Magic Players
Guide. Anyone with proficiency in Mercantalism automatically removes this
premium.
Tippett is a tall, stick-thin, 38-year-old human with balding blond hair and
a scratchy short beard.
Area 3: The Manor Home: This large two-story manor home has a farmers
porch that raps around the entire front and western side of the building and
provides access to either of two entrances, one directly to the north on the
central thoroughfare and one to the west. Once built to store Lord Rasson on
his visits, the manor home is now a local brothel and tavern owned and managed by Hellisan Scott, a former criminal turned business man. While his

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employees (and the citizenry of Rasson in general) fear

and loathe the man, visitors adore him. He has parties
every month, provides free food and ale to many travelers, and stocks his brothel with women from many
cultures.
Hellisan Scott is a stocky human male, 57 years old
with dark black hair streaked with gray. His full beard
is worn short and displays the same black and gray coloring. He is a fabulous piano player and can be often
found in the tavern of his establishment playing on his
grand piano. Hellisan rarely wears anything other than
a full gentlemans suit and hat. (His bodyguards provide enough protection to find armor and weaponry
necessary.)
For all intents and purposes, Hellisan and his boys
are the law here. Furthermore, they collect small taxes
from other establishments in exchange for protection.
Hellisan is a 1HD commoner, but his four bodyguards
are all 3 HD cage fighters (+6 to hit, 1d4+3 damage
unarmed (18 Str) and all with the Unarmed Combat
proficiency so 3/2 attacks and AC 14 with no armor.)
Hellisan does not interfere with the characters, unless
one or more of them starts a fight in his establishment,
permanently scars one of his girls, or fails to pay a
tab. Hellisan takes a pretty direct approach, first asking for money to repay him for damage to his property
and quickly releasing his bodyguards if not promptly
made whole.

the ruins

At some point, the PCs leave Rassach and follow Mabels directions. The route takes them northeasterly
from Rassach on a 1.5-day journey that skirts a winding river. At the end of
the trek, the PCs turn north, away from the river and follow a half-mile constructed road through the woods marked and referred to as Wizards Road.
The paved road is overgrown and beset on both sides by tall overgrown hedge
walls. Tree limbs overbear the hedge walls and weed vines choke out most of
the walls luster.
You may choose wandering monsters during the PCs journey from the many
monsters included in this book, although monster encounters worth more
than 120 XP is not recommended. The PCs must arrive before or on the
anniversary, whether by day or night (which is a matter of their discretion).
Track time as closely as you can. The PCs may or may not have spare time to
rest and regain spells.

The Approach

Built on an elevated clearing amidst a thickly-settled forest, the ruins of the

Academy cannot be missed. The PCs following or skirting Wizards Road
will shortly see the base of the elevated clearing. The paved road winds fairly
sharply at the end, placing visitors within a few feet of the entrance to the
hill almost suddenly.

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The hillside is completely devoid of trees, and it is being watched by sentries

positioned on the roof of the keep; two facts that combine to make a stealthy
approach difficult.
Read aloud this description when the PCs break out of the trees:
The trees open at the foot of a hill that rises slowly to its apex, where
the base of a wide, once-circular keep rises 20 ft. to a broken ruin.
Large chunks of moss and vine-covered stone litter the hillside and
from the wide scattering of such strange rock debris, one can imagine the tremendous explosion that shattered this once-great edifice.
What is left of the academy seems only partly intact and covered by
clinging vegetation. Almost the entire eastern half of the tower has
caved in and has spilled out into a mound of rubble.
Encounter: Two human (and bitten) bandits and two hobgoblins maintain
watch on the top of the keep, which is only 20 from the ground. The top is
the old second floor, now merely a roof protected on the westerly side by the
jagged remains of the exterior wall. The top is accessible by climbing up the
mound of rock rubble on the academys easterly face. Plenty of vantage points
exist on the second floor to notice a group of adventurers scaling up the hill.
Furthermore, the open-aired nature of the space provides each guard with a
discretionary Wisdom check to hear noises from the approaching party.

The Shattered Academy

If the PCs approach by day, the human bandits are sleeping under a makeshift tent placed anywhere on the top floor. Katias bite took hold and the
bandits have just entered Step 1 of their vampiric corruption (see the Vampiric Corruption chart on page 130 for more information.) The bandits find
it necessary to get plenty of rest, especially during the day. If awoken by
alarm, the bandits take two full rounds to gather themselves before they may
roll initiative.
If the PCs approach at night, they notice the shadows of a fire burning on
the top of the tower and a few figures walking around. (A crafty PC gaining
an incredible view of the top of the tower may notice the fact that the human
bandits cast no shadows.) Two fresh hobgoblins have replaced the two hobgoblins that pulled guard duty that day. (Please note that hobgoblins have
infravision up to 60 feet.)
Bitten Bandits (2)(15 XP each): HD 1-1 (4 hp each); AC 13 (studded
leather); SV F+5/R+5/W +4; #AT 1/1, shortbow +1 (1d6, +6 init), longsword +1 (1d8+1, +7 init); SZ M; MV 30; AL CN; ML 16; Str 16, Dex 11,
Con 10, Int 9, Wis 9, Cha 9.
SPECIAL step one vampirism (pale and sickish appearance, visible bite on
neck, no reflection or shadow, +1 bonus to damage).
ITEMS shortbow, quiver w/22 arrows, longsword, and studded leather armor.
Hobgoblin Sentries (2) (35 XP each): HD 1 (7, 6 hp); AC 14 (brigandine);
SV F+5/R+5/W +4; #AT 1/1, shortbow +1 (1d6, +6 init), longsword +1
(1d8, +7 init) or hand mace +1 (1d4+1, +4 init); SZ M; MV 30; AL LE; ML
6; Str 12, Dex 11, Con 11, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 9.
SPECIAL infravision 60.
ITEMS shortbow w/ 14 arrows, either a longsword or mace, and finely-kept
brigandine armor.
Tactics: If alerted to the PCs, the guards react quickly and quietly. The first
reaction of a watchful guard is to wake the sleeping bandits, if any. The bitten bandits will then scale down the debris slope to engage in melee, while
the hobgoblins begin a surprise round with arrows, using the jagged wall as a
battlement. The hobgoblins likely remain on the tower for two rounds before
joining in melee. Note that it takes around 85 of careful movement to scale
the debris slope. It very well could take two full rounds of hurried movement
for any guards on top of the tower to reach the PCs (and vice versa).
Because this is an introductory adventure, the guards should not be allowed
to enter the tower to alert the others inside. Its recommended that the PCs
deal with the guards fully before entering the ruins.
Morale: The bitten bandits are utterly mad and will fight to the death, unless
their lunacy causes them to act unpredictable in battle. The hobgoblins are a
different story. They have a lowered morale and could be placated easily if a
PC presents the option to flee. Hobgoblins generally despise meddling folk,
and the fear of Katia does spur most to action, but the option for some to
fail morale should be present. A failed morale roll can play out a few different ways. The hobgoblins could flee or they could be convinced to divulge
information about the keep and Katia. They will not join to assist the PCs
at any cost.
Treasure: As an introductory module, it is not intended to prove utterly impossible within the first hour of play. Feel free to equip the hobgoblins with
up to four potions of healing to help heal injured members. This should help
lift the PCs into action.

Inside the Tower

On the southern face of the keep, a small set of stairs leads up to an overhang
that shelters two large wooden doors. The doors lead directly into Area 1.
They are not locked, but are slightly damaged. There is a 25% chance that
unless a PC is explicitly careful, a door is pulled off its hinges. Such a sound
certainly gets the attention of Red Fang in Area 3, but it might catch the attention of the guards on top of the tower if they were avoided.
The first floor is the only level intact above the dungeon. The combination
spiral staircase in Area 10 once led to the upper floors as well as the lower
dungeon. Due to rubble, the stairs now only provide access to the dungeon.
The First Floor in General: All interior walls are cracked, some very much
so. The ceiling is also cracked in many places. Debris in the form of dust,
clumps of mortar and stucco, and planks of wood litter almost every inch of
this place. The doors are all wooden. Some tilt off the hinges and barely stay
in place. A few are less damaged and can be opened and closed.
Travel in most areas on the first floor is fairly unimpeded, though you should
often comment on the general disrepair of the place to help the players stay
in character.
Orbs of continual light provide balanced, subtle lighting in every room on
this floor.
The Second Floor in General: Without a ceiling and full of rubble, the second floor is totally ruined. It can be considered one open space, broken up by
piles of rock and wood. Only the exterior wall to the west and south remains
and even that is jagged and uneven, providing several vantage points to the
clearing and forest below. The entire northeasterly half is a pile of rubble
sloping down to the hillside. One can walk up and down the rocky slope for
access to and from the second floor. Going is slow and it takes two to three
full rounds of careful movement to climb the rubble slope.
The slope and the second floor are sturdy despite the appearance. No chance
of a cave-in exists.
1. Entrance Foyer
The interior of this 15-ft square antechamber shows signs of structural damage. Many floor tiles are broken and uprooted, providing
uneven footing. In many places, the ceiling is cracked and the broken ends of support timbers protrude down haphazardly. The walls
bow out in some places; in other places, the walls bear deep cracks.
The entire place looks structurally unsound. Among other piles of
debris on the floor, shards of a stone pedestal can be seen in the center of this room. An orb of subtle light floats near the ceiling.
A wooden door on the west wall is closed shut. A wooden door
on the east wall hangs precariously from its hinges. To the north,
an open archway leads to a larger room with a statue covered by
debris.
Artek created dozens of orbs of continual light to float a few inches below the
ceiling in most sections of the academy. They can be moved with telekinesis

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age).
The sigil on the double doors resembles a celestial
constellation comprising the shape of a diamond
with a more complex, smaller arcane sigil in its
center. This is the visible arcane mark of Artek.
The statue is of Artek. The first graduating class
commissioned the sculpture and had it placed
here in the visitors chamber. Gaining access to the
actual statue requires some crawling and pulling
away of beams and other debris, requiring a Superior (TC 15) Dexterity check to avoid a beam
cave-in (2d4 damage). If the boards are safely
cleared, the PCs see the face of Artek, which was
slightly damaged in the destruction: elderly, cleanshaven male with bushy eyebrows, bald top and a
big ol nose; despite the damage, it seems like hes
cracking a smile. (No pun intended.) The chair is
high-backed and another of Arteks glowing arcane
marks is placed on the chairs top piece.

or a successful Exceptional (TC 20) Spellcraft proficiency check. The orbs

may also be dispelled.
The pedestal once held a scale-bound book signed by each student on his or
her first day. The ledger book is presently in the library of Area 9 randomly
tossed on the floor.
2. Visitors Antechamber
This large room seems to have once supported a tall, raftered ceiling. Now, the broken ends of many splintered wooden beams hang
down to a height that varies from one to six feet. A statue of a figure
wearing robes and sitting at a throne-like chair occupies the center
of this chamber. Most of the upper torso and face of the figure is
covered by broken beams.
There are three doors in this room. A wooden door on the west is
closed. A wooden door on the east wall hangs off its hinges. A set of
grandiose double doors lead to the north and bear a glowing arcane
sigil, half on each door. The double doors are closed.
Navigating this room is difficult because of the many beams cutting down
from the ceiling. Movement is halved and each round of movement requires
an Average (TC 10) Dexterity check or a wooden beam is bumped with
enough force to cause it to fall on the person that disturbed it (1d4 dam-

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Note: An Average (TC 10) Wisdom check reveals

the sounds of the cows and chickens in Area 5 (the
deer are pretty quiet). An Average Wisdom check
also reveals the smell of death from Area 5 as well.
If Red Fang in Area 3 is alerted to intruders by way
of loud sounds, the wolf positions itself at the door
to Area 3 and will jump initiative on the first PC to
open the door. The fight with Red Fang may spill
into the visitors chamber, where the timbers could
provide a problem to Medium-sized PCs, who suffer a -1 attack penalty from fighting in cramped
quarters or from fighting to avoid taking a wood
slab to the head.
3. Long Curving Hallway
A 10 wide hall curves out of sight to the north. The western wall
bears multiple 10 wide tapestries running its length, each depicting
a different arcane sigil sewed with amazing complexity.
There are twenty total tapestries running the western wall. The eastern wall is
bare. Each sigil represents a wizards training from levels 1 through 20. Such
sigils are often used in conjunction with a wizards individual arcane mark
to identify their level of experience (a factoid known by all wizards and others that can succeed on a Superior (TC 15) Spellcraft check). The 11th sigil
on the wall is identical to the small symbol in the middle of Arteks arcane
mark.
Each tapestry is 10 wide by 15 tall and weighs 150 pounds. While quite
respectable, the tapestries were not created by a master seamstress and they
have been marred by dust, so they fetch 10 gold pieces on average.
Encounter: Katia has a favored wolf pet, Red Fang, that guards the spiral
stairs to the academys underground level. Catching Red Fang unaware is
almost impossible. The wolf hears the opening of the door to Area 3. The
wolf often simply runs down the corridor and attacks head on with zero

The Shattered Academy

hesitation. However, if provided with time, the wolf waits behind the door to
Area 3 and pounces on the first PC to open the door.
Red Fang is a fairly large gray wolf who has been stained a reddish color by
numerous coatings of blood. He wears a collar of braided strands of hardened
muscle fibers. From the collar hangs a single, bleach-white fang plucked from
a saber-toothed tiger. Red Fang is a vicious example of a wolf. He exhibits
a ferocious and maddened temperament in battle, scratching and whipping
spit as he prepares to launch attacks at his enemies.
Red Fang (advanced wolf )(120 XP): HD 4 (29 hp); AC 14; SV F +7/R
+7/W +5; #AT 1/1, claw +4 (1d4+1, +3 init), bite +4 (1d4+1, +6 init); SZ
M; MV 30; AL N; ML 11; Str 13, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 10.
SPECIAL infravision 60, low-light vision 60, scent 20.
ITEMS muscle collar with fang pendant worth 38 gp.
Note: If the PCs take possession of the collar, Katia might find a way in the
future to discern the location of either. She might be crazy, but shes a crafty
vampire who could easily gain a powerful spellcaster as her thrall.
4. Partial Hallway
A short curved hall stops abruptly at a wall of rubble.

collage of rock, wood, dirt, metal and bone. Ten minutes of digging around
reveals a gem randomly determined on the Gems Chart on page 141. Ten
more minutes of searching around reveals a piece of treasure randomly determined from the Objects of Art Chart on page 143.
5. Livestock Farm
This large room has a curved glass case for an eastern wall and a
western wall covered by tapestries. Dozens of various livestock, including deer, cows and chickens move about the rooms many statues and animal carcasses.
Katias bandit thralls murdered a nearby farmer and took several days to slowly bring the animals to the academy. Since that time, the animals have been
slowly offered to Katia. The carcasses of the eaten animals are brought back to
the room. Katia favors the smell and enjoys the other animals reactions.
The smell is overbearing and so too is the amount of flies and maggots. An
Average (TC 10) Constitution check is required to avoid becoming overwhelmingly nauseous and ultimately vomiting, a condition that lasts until 10
minutes of fresh air can be breathed. A -1 penalty applies to all actions taken
while nauseous and spellcasters must first succeed on an Average (TC 10)
Constitution check to successfully cast a spell without vomiting.

Katias slave-goblin, Nuggles, is here searching through the rubble. He has a

small, dirty burlap sack with him. The sound of the door to Area 1 opening
and closing is not something that will alarm the goblin. In fact, sounds of
fighting in the other room may not either. There has been nothing but insane
chaos since the bandits were bitten and Nuggles has grown accustomed to
the weirdness. Hence, PCs could easily sneak upon Nuggles going about his
business intently, poking the rock and rubble with a spear.

The animals are not hostile, although they are quite disturbed. It takes 20
minutes for a team of four to successfully escort the cows and deer out
through Area 1. The chickens are an entirely different matter. Theyre very
uncooperative and a chance exists that some chickens end up running around
the other areas of the academy before they leave. If this should occur, there
is a chance that a chicken wanders into Red Fang, or down the stairs to the
dungeon. This could be an indication that something is amiss.

Nuggles is covered in light-gray soot from sifting through loose stone and dirt
for too long. He wears a dirty toga and has a dog collar of hardened flesh.

6. Partial Room

Encounter: Nuggles is a goblin with a mission, and that mission does not
include combating fully-equipped heroes. He will attempt to flee to Deebol
in Area 19 if encountered. If forced to fight, the goblin uses his short spear.
He has barely no morale and will talk if pressed. Nuggles knows all about Katias plan and the transformation of Deebol and the bitten bandits, as well as
the vampires desire to hunt down all the monsters that fled (many of whom
were Nuggles clansmen). Nuggles does not know about the ghosts, only that
Katia feels that something in the academy causes the whole place to feel so
good. It is his job for the moment to find things. If Nuggles should talk,
he begs the party to let him flee the academy. With the amount of scattered
defectors, he thinks hell live longer out there.
Nuggles (goblin)(15 XP): HD 1-1 (3 hp); AC 10; SV F +5/R +5/W +4; #AT
1/1, spear +1 (1d4, +6 init); SZ S; MV 20; AL LE; ML 6; Str 7, Dex 11, Con
9, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 9.
SPECIAL infravision 60, light sensitivity (-1 AC and d20 rolls).
ITEMS spear, burlap sack containing a small silver eagle statue worth 50 gp,
a quartz eyeball worth 80 gp and a bunch of worthless cutlery and personal
items, such as hairbrushes and mirrors.
Treasure: Quickly searching through the rubble here reveals nothing. The
devastation leveled the eastern half of the building and this wall of debris is a

This wide room only extends 10 before stopping at a wall of rubble.

Similarly to Area 4, quickly rummaging through the rubble reveals nothing
but spending ten minutes of time . One 5 x 5 square can be safely excavated
with one hour of labor. If the PCs accomplish this, roll once on the Random
Treasure Table.
7. Auditorium
This large room appears to be the remains of a bowl-shaped auditorium. The eastern quarter of the room is a wall of caved-in rubble.
Shattered desks, wooden beams and rock shards cover everything.
The room has three tiers. The top tier is a walkway that wraps
around the room. There are two doors on this top tier, as well as two
staircases that provide access to the lower tiers. The second tier contains some desks, although most appear utterly ruined. The bottom
tier is a stage with a large professors desk and four large pedestals.
There are ten desks on the second tier. Only two remain moderately intact.
The two intact desks are built with a writing table that lifts up to reveal
a small storage compartment. One desk contains the rotted remains of a
mouse. The second desk contains a small spell journal. There are 50 pages

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in the journal. The first forty pages are forty bad attempts to scribe a spell
page. The last ten pages contain the following 1st-level spells in perfect form:
alarm, burning hands, comprehend languages, enlarge, floating disc, message,
mount, phantasmal image, Thermocs shield, and unhinge. An arcane character
can use the journal to learn the preceding spells.

All doors here are only slightly damaged, unlocked, and perfectly usable.
9. Grand Library

The top of the large professors desk has several dusty glass beakers and equipment for alchemy scattered across it. Sprinkled around the base of the desk
are dozens of broken glass vials, metal stirrers, mortars and pestles.

Empty, multi-tiered bookcases fill the walls in this tossed library.

Most of the floor is covered with books, likely thousands of them.
There are several sturdy wooden tables in the room as well; one is
covered with the carcass of a cow.

The professors desk has four visible drawers built into its rear side (to the
east). They are all shut fast by an arcane lock spell. The password for all four is
Barnabus Crane. If opened, the four drawers contain the following:

A mess of crunching sounds can be heard. Two bitten bandits (who happen
to be more deranged than the rest) sit on the floor behind the most northerly
table while they each eat a chicken raw, feathers and all.

Top drawer on the left side contains fifteen pieces of parchment paper.
Each paper contains a random 2nd-level spell in spellbook form with
markings and commentary from a grading professor. A Legendary (TC
25) Intelligence check allows a spellcaster to glean from any given spell
and its commentary how to cast that specific spell.

The bandits turned this place upside down. They also had been carving up a
cow on one of the tables and bringing the meat up to the roof to cook and
eat. Investigating the cow with an Average Intelligence check (or First Aid)
pinpoints the date of death and the last cut made about five days ago. The
bandits stopped eating altogether a few days ago.

Bottom drawer on the left side is coated with glass and once contained
eighteen vials of acid. It now contains the broken shards of twelve glass
vials, a thin layer of green liquid (acid) collected at the bottom of the
drawer, and six intact glass vials of green liquid sitting there in the acid.
Retrieving any intact glass vial causes 1 hp of acid damage to the skin or
to whatever gloves are being worn. If one gallon of water is poured in the
drawer, it is possible to retrieve the vials without taking damage.

There is a 10% chance that anyone spending 10 minutes worth of searching

will find a book with a 5 gp value. There is a 50% chance that any such book
will also relate to one of the knowledge-based proficiencies. If so, a character
could study the book for a level of so and then choose that knowledge-based
proficiency when a new slot opens up. The signature ledger from Area 1 lies
among the piles of books. There is a 1% chance per hour the ledger is located.
If so, it would serve as a great memento to any of the listed wizards. Create a
wizard NPC, who would then become a steady contact, employer or trainer
to the PCs, and plug him or her into your campaign.

Top drawer on the right side contains four scrolls, each with one of the
following spells scribed on it: detect evil, detect thoughts, message and
ventriloquism.
Bottom drawer on right side contains six broken glass vials and eight
potions of healing, all in usable form. The broken vials once contained
similar potions, which are now reddish stains in the drawer.
A small piece of the wooden table just below the lip behind the desk can be
pressed inward. This is a security feature put in place due to several miscast
spells and potion accidents. An Exceptional (TC 20) Wisdom check is required to notice it by sight if one is studying the back of the desk for oddities. (A PC who states that he or she is actually feeling around the back of
the desk should find this switch without a roll.) The switch is one inch tall
by four inches long. It can only be pressed inward. Once pressed, a magic
mouth spell appears on the front of the desk, which shouts, Emergency in
the Auditorium, Proceed to the outside in a safe and orderly manner! Several other magic mouth spells were cast upon various surfaces on all levels of
the tower. The auditoriums magic mouth triggers another magic mouth on
the first level and a chain reaction occurs in the academy, each shouting the
same thing and putting the entire complex on alert.
Development: If the alarms sound, Deebol orders two of his four hobgoblin
guards to investigate. He then rushes off to retrieve the insane bandits in the
guard barracks. Deebol, his remaining two hobgoblin guards and the four
insane bandits will then wait to make a stand in Area 19.
8. Hallway
This is an empty hallway with a floating orb of continual light in
it.

222

Encounter: The bandits here will attack the PCs on sight, using their first
primary action to throw their respective chickens in the face of a PC. This is
a called shot at -4. If successful, the blood of the chicken blinds the PC until
a full round action is expended to clean the blood out.
Although they both wear armor, neither bandit has a weapon. They resort to
grappling, punching and raking. They may attempt Exceptional called shots
(-8) to snap necks and rip out throats.
Bitten Bandits (2)(15 XP each): HD 1-1 (5 hp each); AC 13 (studded
leather); SV F+5/R+5/W +4; #AT 1/1, claw or punch +1 (1d2+1, +3 init);
SZ M; MV 30; AL CN; ML 16; Str 16, Dex 11, Con 10, Int 9, Wis 9, Cha
9.
SPECIAL step one vampirism (pale and sickish appearance, visible bite on
neck, no reflection or shadow, +1 bonus to damage).
ITEMS studded leather armor.
10.

Spiral Stairs

The hallway ends at a large spiral staircase built to provide access to

an upper floor and the lower level. Ruins have choked up the staircase. It looks impossible to travel upward, though the broken stone
stairs leading down into darkness seem clear.
The stairs led up to the second floor. They cannot be cleared. The bandits
have cleared the stairs leading down. Unless a source of light is present, anyone attempting to walk down the stone stairs has a 50% chance of stepping
on an unsteady portion of a step, requiring an Average (TC 10) Reflex save

The Shattered Academy

to avoid falling down the stairs. No damage would

incur, but the sound of the tumble would likely
alert those on the lower level.

The Dungeon

The dungeon level is 40 below the ground floor.

It previously encompassed Areas 11-16 only, but
Artek extended it. Areas 11-16 are cut from the
foundation of the keep, so the walls are different
than those in Areas 17-22.
Despite the occasional crack in the wall, all evidence suggests that the dungeon survived the
devastation almost unscathed. Thick and choking dust clings to everything and with additional
movement in some areas, the dust could impose a
-1 penalty on all d20 rolls and require all casters to
succeed on a Superior (TC 15) Constitution check
to bear through the casting of a spell.
Stone Doors: The doors to Areas 17, 13, 14 and
15 are made of stone and intricately carved. They
are well-made into nested hinges and work perfectly well. All stone doors are unlocked, but each
has a visible keyhole. A successful Superior (TC
15) Open Locks check allows a character to lock
and unlock a stone door without a key.
Cell Doors: The doors to Area 16 are composed of
1-thick iron. A small 1 square was cut out of the
door at a height of 5. Three iron bars were placed
therein. What resulted was a very solid and cold
iron cell door. They are all unlocked and empty.
Inhabitants: If the PCs manage to reach the dungeon without an alarm going off or a monster
alerting Deebol, Deebol and four hobgoblins are
currently tending to Katias sarcophagus (whether
shes present or not), while four bitten bandits sit around Area 12 doing
various crazy things. If Deebol learns of the PCs intrusion before they reach
the dungeon, two hobgoblin guards have been sent to the first floor to investigate, while Deebol and the remaining hobgoblin guards and bitten bandits
wait for trouble in Area 19. The statistics for the hobgoblins can be found in
the description for Area 19, while those for the bitten bandits can be found
in the descriptions for both Area 12 and 19.
11. Stairwell
The spiral stairs end at a hallway that leads to the north and south.
Unless the PCs have a source of light, this section of the dungeon is dark; the
orb of continual light has long been dispelled.
As one travels down the southern hall toward Areas 12 16, the light from
Area 12 can be seen. An orb of continual light in Area 12 provides illumination in the guard room alone. The hall to Area 16 is also quite dark. The door
to Area 17 is shut, but unlocked.

Read Area 12 quickly. There is a chance the PCs hear the insane chattering of
the bandits as they travel from Area 11.
12. Guard Room
Note: There are four bitten bandits currently stationed here if they were not
otherwise alerted or dispatched. If present, the bandits can be heard from the
corridor in Area 11. Each of the four bandits is sitting on the floor, with his
back against the southern wall, and rocking while loudly mumbling incomprehensible phrases. Their weapons are nearby on the floor.
This large room has two round tables surrounded by chairs. The top
of one table holds dirty plates and piles of old fly-infested food; the
top of the other table holds a few small wooden barrels, some mugs,
a pile of tobacco and a sprawled out deck of cards. Three doors lead
from this room, two to the north and one to the east. One of the
doors on the north wall has a red smear on it.
Encounter: Four bitten bandits spend time here unless dispatched to an-

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other section of the academy. They are dealing with their transformation
poorly. On examination, the hands of each bandit bear many new scrapes
and scratches, as well as dozens of deeply set splinters wounds suffered from
making their own coffins. They are unarmored. Their brigandine armor lies
nearby in a pile, along with a few coin purses.
Tactics: The bandits are as deranged as the rest and will fight fiercely. Roll
morale for the lone survivor only. A failed morale check sends the bandit
running to Deebol in Area 19.
Bitten Bandits (4)(15 XP each): HD 1-1 (6, 5, 4, 4 hp); AC 10 (unarmored); SV F +5/R +5/W +4; #AT 1/1, battle axe +1 (1d8+1, +5 init); SZ M;
MV 30; AL CN; ML 16; Str 16, Dex 11, Con 10, Int 9, Wis 9, Cha 9.
SPECIAL step one vampirism (pale and sickish appearance, visible bite on
neck, no reflection or shadow, +1 bonus to damage).
ITEMS battle axe
TREASURE four sets of brigandine armor, a pile of exotic tobacco worth 3
gp, and four coin purses each containing 2d8 silver pieces.
13. Old Privy
This room has a musty smell emanating from a 2 diameter hole in
the floor. There are no other contents.
The hole is 8 deep. Humanoid waste is piled up at the bottom. In the past,
there have been times when guards accidently dropped items of value into
the privy hole. A crafty PC that finds his or her way to the bottom of the
hole is rewarded with finding a ring of keys, 10 gp, a brooch worth 60 gp and
an uncut diamond worth 1,000 gp. Such a PC that fails to explicitly create
some method of blocking his or her nose automatically begins retching and
continues to do so for 30 minutes.
The keys open and lock the stone doors on this level.
14. Single Bedchamber
This 10 x 15 room contains the shattered remains of a single bedchamber. Furniture lies in ruin everywhere amongst ripped shards
of cotton and an upturned bed. A layer of dust covers most everything.
Deebol found this room in shambles and ordered his hobgoblins to search it.
They turned it upside down and discovered two giant centipedes. One hobgoblin wanted to smash them and the other wanted to keep them. So, they
decided to simply lock them in the room until a later time.
Encounter: The giant centipedes are hiding among the rubble. They are in
opposite sides of the room. Any PC spending one round searching through
one-half of the room invokes a surprise attack from a centipede. Once combat occurs with one centipede, the other joins at the end of the round.
Giant Centipedes (2)(35 XP each): HD 1/4 (2 hp each); AC 11; SV F +5/R
+4/W +3; #AT 1/1, bite +0 (1 hp plus poison, +3 init); SZ T (1 ft. long); MV
20; AL N; ML 7; Str 7, Dex 13, Con 6, Int --, Wis 9, Cha 2.
SPECIAL poisonous bite (Type I poison that requires an Average (TC 10)
Fortitude save or the victim becomes slightly paralyzed and suffers a 2 on
all attacks, damage rolls, saves and AC. The poison wears off with 8 hours of
rest.); infravision (15 ft.).

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15. Guard Barracks

This long rectangular room is in disarray. There are four sets of bunk
beds bolted to the north wall. Uncountable scraps of cotton, piles
of feathers and mounds of broken wood literally cover every inch
of the room. Chaotic smears of blood and waste mark the walls and
the bunks.
Choose two random beds. Under a thin sheet on each bed lies the corpse of
a bandit that did not survive the bite of Katia.
Among the mess on the floor, one can find a ring of keys that are used to open
and lock the cell doors in Area 16. A successful Exceptional (TC 20) Wisdom
check (or ten minutes of searching) reveals them.
16. Dungeon Cells
A thick iron door bars access to a 10 x 10 cell of cold, jagged
stone.
The cell doors are shut but unlocked. The cells are still viable. An Exceptional
(TC 20) Open Locks check suffices to work the locks. The keys are hidden
among the mess in Area 15.
17. Guardians of Stone
The walls in this 25 square room are made of black granite and,
although dulled by dust, the stones bright red veins easily shine
through. A stained glass ceiling arches to a 25 dome. In the center
of the dome shines a large orb, its light bouncing off the stained
glass in a way that creates a 10 wide column of multicolored light
to extend to the floor. Three statues (one on the north, east and west
walls) lie in ruin. The statues on the north and west walls once stood
in front of a door. The doors have been smashed into blocks of stone
as well, revealing their own passage.
This was once part of a test of sorcery held here in the academy for all candidates for graduation. Over the years, humanoid visitors and tomb raiders
smashed the statues and infiltrated the treasury and chamber of sorcery. The
result is a lot of rubble, but easy access to Areas 18 and 19.
The orb in the center of the dome is more than just an orb of continual light.
Arcane casters that stand in the column of light for one round have a moment of clarity. They receive one additional spell slot that may be filled immediately by a known spell with no studying required.
The orb cannot be moved or dispelled; it can be used once in the lifetime of
a caster. (This was the first stage of the test and thus all candidates for graduation had but one chance to pass.)
Development: Regardless of whether the keep is on alert, Deebol currently
guards Katias tomb in Area 19 with some hobgoblins. Provide Deebol with a
few Wisdom checks to hear PCs in Area 17. If he should hear anyone, he will
retrieve his axe and shield and spider climb above the door, while his guards
flank the entrance into Area 19.
Secret Hallway: Artek built Areas 20 22 almost entirely from spells, two

The Shattered Academy

of the most prevalent were wall of stone and permanent illusion (6th-level arcane). A wall of stone was
placed to block the hall from Area 17 to 20, with
small fissures to allow for gaseous travel.
As a precautionary measure, he had a secret compartment built on the wall in Area 17 to store a
few potions of gaseous form. An Exceptional (TC
20) Wisdom (or Perception) check reveals this
compartment.
Help of the Ghosts (Triggered Event): PCs returning back to Area 17 after successfully defeating
Deebol and his minions will see and hear something.
First, theyll notice the shimmering of the fissures
in the wall of stone. The shimmering is actually
caused by the ghosts partial manifestation.
Second, theyll notice a secret stone compartment
on the eastern wall of Area 17 open automatically,
unless the PCs previously located it. The compartment contains a number of gaseous form potions
equal to the amount of PCs plus 1.
Please see the section on Arteks Cottage for
more.
18. Empty Treasury
Three broken-down doors lead to a few connected rooms filled with shattered pottery,
upturned chests and broken scroll tubes.
This was a treasury but raiders long stripped it of
its worth.
19. Chamber of Sorcery
This large octagonal-shaped room has a starlit ceiling, the height of
which cannot be quickly discerned. Poorly constructed pine coffins
are haphazardly strewn about the west section of this room, some
actually piled three high. An ornate stone sarcophagus rests flush
against the east wall. Piles of coin have been laid to rest at the foot
of the sarcophagus, along with two large chests. In the center of
the room, three concentric arcane circles shimmer with life. A plush
padded, three-seat stone throne looks down from a small platform
on the north wall, accessible by three short steps.
Candidates for graduating Arteks Academy came here for their final tests
of sorcery. They would stand in the outer ring, face an arcane challenge and
move inward with success. The final circle was deemed the toughest challenge, but the last. Artek and his two highest ranking assistant professors
administered the test from the throne.
Several sharp angles in the ceiling bring it to a height of 20. A permanent
illusion provides the space-like scene.

The bitten bandits recently fashioned the pine coffins. They are poorly made.
Scattered around the coffins are nails and a few hammers. The sarcophagus is Katias. All the inhabitants, including Deebol, ripped the tomb from
a mausoleum in a town cemetery two days away and carted it here to the
academy.
In the day, Katia rests peacefully and without any knowledge of the PCs
exploits. In the night, the sarcophagus is empty; she is hunting the defectors
in the woods far to the north of the academy.
Encounter: If ignorant to the PCs intrusion, Deebol is commanding four

Destroying Katia Sidebar

PCs storming the academy during the day find Katia sleeping in her sarcophagus
in the Chamber of Sorcery (Area 19). She is a stunning beauty with spiralcurled, fire-red hair. She sleeps in a black leather corset.
Her beauty captivates, even when she sleeps. A Superior (TC 15) Will save
is required to bring oneself to destroy her. A stake (fashioned from pine perhaps)
in her heart, coupled with the severing of her head and the placing of a blessed
wafer (or blessed piece of bread from the party cleric) in her mouth, utterly
destroys her.
Katia has a matching ring and amulet set worth 400 gp.

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hobgoblins to clean and shine the sarcophagus. If alerted to danger, he

waits ready for battle here with two guards. Deebol possesses a legendary ego, one that poisons his brain into believing he is the most powerful hobgoblin alive. He harbors no fear and will fight to the death.
Deebol is 6 5 and weighs about 300 pounds. His facial hair and eyes
are red. Deep red veins snake throughout the region around his eyes
and the bridge of his nose, enhanced by his pale skin. He wears banded
mail, black chain covered in places by thick and shiny leather bands
(all bright red). He uses a large metal shield in battle; banded mail
identical to that of his own covers the shield. His wicked-looking masterwork battle axe is decorated with dangling bones and body parts.
Deebol (advanced vampiric hobgoblin) (120 XP): HD 2 (16 hp);
AC 16/18 (banded mail/large shield); SV F +6/R +6/W +5; #AT 1/1,
masterwork battle axe +3 (1d8+2, +5 init); SZ M; MV 30; AL LE; ML
19; Str 18, Dex 11, Con 13, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 10.
SPECIAL step two vampirism (pale and sickish appearance, visible
bite on neck, no reflection or shadow, +1 bonus to damage, spider
climb at will); infravision 60.
ITEMS masterwork battle axe, banded mail armor.
Hobgoblin Sentries (2 or 4) (35 XP each): HD 1 (8, 7, 6, 6 hp); AC
14 (brigandine); SV F +5/R +5/W +4; #AT 1/1, longsword +1 (1d8,
+7 init) or battle axe +1 (1d8, +5 init); SZ M; MV 30; AL LE; ML 6;
Str 12, Dex 11, Con 11, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 9.
SPECIAL infravision 60.
ITEMS either a longsword or battle axe, and finely-kept brigandine
armor.
The statistics for the bitten bandits is copied here for convenience:
Bitten Bandits (4)(15 XP each): HD 1-1 (6, 5, 4, 4 hp); AC 10 (unarmored); SV F +5/R +5/W +4; #AT 1/1, battle axe +1 (1d8+1, +5
init); SZ M; MV 30; AL CN; ML 16; Str 16, Dex 11, Con 10, Int 9,
Wis 9, Cha 9.
SPECIAL step one vampirism (pale and sickish appearance, visible
bite on neck, no reflection or shadow, +1 bonus to damage).
ITEMS battle axe
TREASURE four sets of brigandine armor
Tactics: Deebol spider climbs out of view and waits a few feet above
the entrance to this Area for the first person to enter. His two guards
will engage anyone that comes through and hell swing his battle axe
down while spider climbing in the area where the wall meets the ceiling. Spider climb is a new ability for Deebol. If the first attack succeeds,
he might battle through a few rounds while positioned above the PCs.
(Note that he has his shield strapped to his back when spider climbing,
so he may or may not have the shield bonus to AC at times.)
At some point, he drops to the floor to deliver full frontal, blunt-forcetrauma, but not before screaming for the bandits in Area 12. The echo
reaches such bandits and they scurry off to join the fight in Area 19. (It
takes them 2 rounds.) If appropriate, he squares up against the largest
opponent first and then moves on to the next, attempting to take his
enemies one-by-one. When beset by archers, Deebol uses his shield as
cover, if necessary. When pressed by casters, he might forgo the larger
melee opponents to attack the casters first. He never flees. Not until
death descends does Deebol see his folly.

226

Treasure: The large chests contain coins and gems collected from the
raids prior to Katia. There is the matter of the many coins scattered at
the foot of the tomb. The total value of the treasure equals 200 gp per
player character and contains copper, silver, gold and minor gems.

Arteks Private Cottage

Walls of stone fill the hallway that leads to Area 20. Artek built this
section and sealed it off. The wizard employed magic to replicate a
country cottage. Wall of stone, fabricate, minor creation, major creation,
minor cantrip and several illusion spells were used. He animated his
wifes corpse here and then used a permanent illusion that overlapped
her zombie form and made her appear as she did in life. The minor
cantrip spell was used liberally to remove the zombie smell and additional illusions were cast to create the windows which look out to a
beautiful landscape and the fire in the fireplace. Most of the contents
of the room are real, but the cottage dcor (wooden floors and walls,
etc.), as well as the fire, the windows and the female figure vanish once
the illusions are disbelieved.
PCs must use the gaseous form potions to gain access to this section.
20. Cottage Kitchen
This 15 room is a cottage kitchen equipped with a rustic
wooden table, chairs, cutting block, food preparation table,
fireplace on the far wall with a built-in cooking pot and a
small circular tea table in front of a large bay window that
looks out onto a beautiful pond. The walls are log and the
floor is hardwood. A window to the south looks out into a
well-manicured garden. Standing motionless at the table is a
beautiful female human with long black hair and dark brown
eyes. She seems to be ready to cut bread on the table. She appears pregnant.
Any character succeeding on a Basic (TC 5) Wisdom check notices
that she looks frozen in place. Such a character also notices that the
fire in the fireplace and the landscapes visible through the north and
south windows seem frozen in place. Any character explicitly attempting to disbelieve the illusions may roll a Will save. An Exceptional (TC
20) Will save is required; however, a discretionary bonus may apply.
It becomes obvious that this section is not a cottage, but in fact more
rooms cut from stone.
Only one check (and perhaps one save) per character is allowed before
a fight breaks out. This fight is almost immediate and thus no true
exploration of the room has commenced.
Encounter: The permanent illusion spell requires the caster to concentrate. When concentration ceases, the illusion freezes. Arteks last command to the zombie was to remain in place. This fact, coupled with the
restrictions of the illusion spells, has created the snapshot being viewed
by the PCs. Immediately after the Wisdom checks (and perhaps Will
saves) are rolled, read the following:
Suddenly, a zombie rushes out of the body of the young female, leaving an impression of the pregnant female standing
still in space, as this monster rushes forward.

The Shattered Academy

The zombie attacks as a normal zombie, lurching at the nearest PC.

This is a surprise round. The next round, roll initiative and proceed
normally.
Zombie (65 XP): HD 2 (13 hp); AC 12; SV F +6/R +5/W --; #AT
1/1, slam +2 (1d8+3, +5 init); SZ M; MV 30; AL N; ML n/a; Str 13,
Dex 12, Con --, Int --, Wis 8, Cha --.
SPECIAL immunity to cold, sleep spells, charm spells and hold spells;
infravision 60; vulnerable to holy water (2d4 damage per vial).
ITEMS wedding ring (magical ghost link).
The Manifestation of the Ghosts: All the ghosts surround the room
during the PCs fight with the zombie Arlene. Once the PCs destroy
the zombie, Artek floats forward and retrieves from the fallen zombie
the soul of his wife (which looks exactly like the illusion). A thick ethereal strand connects the wifes soul to the wedding ring. In fact, a cord
extends from every ghost to the ring. At that point, it should be clear
that the ring is the issue. (If not, the ghosts gesture to the ring.) One
bludgeon destroys the ring in a blinding flash. The ghosts then smile
and slowly recede into nothingness. During their departure, the young
and caring face of Lincoln can be seen smiling and thanking the PC.

Once the ring is destroyed and the ghosts find peace, the PCs may
travel back to Rassach and claim their 82 gold. (If they deny the reward, award each PC an additional 50 XP.) Mabel and Ivy express their
appreciation with a high level of emotion. The two excuse themselves
soon thereafter to begin life anew.
The shattered academy can be converted into a base of operations. In
exchange for a small quarterly tax, a local lord could certainly provide
a deed to the abandoned property. The position of the academy on a
cleared hill provides a defensible position assisted by the 360-degree
second floor vantage, and the dungeon rooms could prove quite useful.
Katia, our vampiric femme fatale, is yours to control if she lives. She
harbored no love for her spawn at the academy and exacts no immediate revenge on the PCs. She could periodically stalk the PCs or boldly
present herself as an interesting NPC (or villain) someday.
The PCs, in any case, are now free to hit the road. A road, no doubt,
to adventure

The wall to Area 17 then converts to an active passwall, which will allow one-way travel back to Area 17 whenever the party is ready.
21. Study
This small study has a corner fireplace, a large chair and a
bookcase. Curtains are drawn in front of a window on the
northern wall.
The fireplace is empty. The chair is covered in a thick layer of dust.
The bookcase, equally covered in dust, contains the following books:
Arteks necromantic journal (worth 100 gp); Spell books for every necromancy spell from Level 1 through 5 (5 books total, worth 100 gp
per level, and usable to learn spells); manuals of necromantic spellcraft
(10 books total, each worth 20 gp); anatomy books (total worth 8 gp);
manuals on illusionary spellcraft (5 books total, each worth 15 gp);
and a few ritual books of dark arts (2 books total, each worth 25 gp).
22. Bedchamber
The contents of this small, well-acquainted bedchamber are
covered in a thick layer of dust. Everything seems so still and
undisturbed.
There is a bed, wardrobe and two bureaus here, all cramping the space.
The drawers contain all manner of casual to formal clothing for a female. The wardrobe contains the same for a male, along with an old
wizards robe of antiquated fashion.
Dust practically hides a painting on the wall above the bed. It is of
Arlene and Artek on the day of their marriage.
The PCs find nothing else of value here.

Concluding the Adventure

227

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