This week on our series of Otari-themed blogs, we’re changing things up with a quick encounter that GMs can add to their Otari campaigns, whether they’re running the Pathfinder Beginner Box, Pathfinder Adventure: Troubles in Otari, or the forthcoming Abomination Vaults Adventure Path, or a campaign of their own creation! A small horde of goblin zombies might seem a strange fit for this peaceful coastal town, but readers of the ongoing novella, The Shroud of Four Silences, will see the connection. The circumstances leading to and developing from this encounter are left vague, but feel free to share how you plan to use it in the comments below!
Abandoned Shack — Moderate 1
This encounter takes place in or near an isolated shack by a weathered monument toppled long ago. A necromancer alchemist animated the bodies of four hapless goblins, stuffing their stomachs with alchemical supplies that detonate when they’re destroyed. The goblins are lurking in the shack to exterminate trespassers, or perhaps to protect some clue or treasure.
Pathfinder Flip Tiles: Forest Perils Expansion, cartography by Jason Engle
Creatures: The four goblin zombies moan and lurch out of the shack whenever a living creature approaches. They spread out and attack whichever foes are closest, fighting until destroyed in an alchemical explosion.
Goblin Zombies (4) — Creature 1
Uncommon, NE, Small, Mindless, Undead, Zombie
Perception +0; darkvision
Skills Acrobatics +3, Athletics +4
Str +3, Dex +2, Con +0, Int –5, Wis +0, Cha –2
Slow A goblin zombie is permanently slowed 1 and can’t use reactions.
AC 12; Fort +5; Ref +3; Will +3
HP 20, negative healing; Immunities death effects, disease, mental, paralyzed, poison, unconscious; Weaknesses positive 5, slashing 5
Alchemical Rupture When the goblin zombie is reduced to 0 Hit Points, an alchemical device jammed in its belly ruptures. Roll 1d4 and consult the following for the effect: 1 creatures in a 5-foot emanation take 1d3 persistent acid damage; 2 creatures in a 5-foot emanation take 1d4 fire damage (DC 16 basic Reflex save); 3 creatures in a 5-foot emanation take 1d4 poison damage (DC 16 basic Fortitude save); 4 smoke billows out in a 5-foot emanation for 1 round (creatures in that area are concealed, and all other creatures are concealed to them).
Speed 25 feetMelee [one-action] fist +7; Damage 1d6+3 bludgeoning plus Grab
Jaws [one-action] (attack); Requirement The goblin zombie has a creature grabbed or restrained; Effect The goblin zombie makes a jaws unarmed melee Strike against the grabbed or restrained creature with an attack modifier of +7 that deals 1d8+3 piercing damage.
Scaling This Encounter: This is a Moderate encounter for 1st-level heroes, or a Low encounter for 2nd-level heroes. To scale this encounter for higher-level parties, add more zombies or give them the Unkillable special ability, which raises their level by 1 (Pathfinder Bestiary 340).
Ron Lundeen
Developer
Pathfinder Encounter: We Be Zombies!
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
