| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I want to incorporate a monster for protection of a prison colony on a bay in my homebrew. The basic idea is that the town has been wiped out three times by a dragon, lizardfolk, etc, and are looking for a monster they can control to help even the odds.
I used the map of Stillsquall from "Box of Flumph"/Dungeon 118 to build the town, and the warden has no moral qualms of enslaving good or evil creatures for his purposes.
Any suggestions?
Gargoyles would be my first thought, but any construct would do too. Perhaps there is or was a wizard in the town that provides/ed one or more for protection
Guardian daemons are an easy and obvious choice.
The last town wizard met his death in the last dragon attack, and the apprentice left to fill his shoes is based on Filge from Age of Worms, so not much help from the local wizards.
I also want to use the dragon as the big, high-level adventure in the end of the campaign.
I'll have to look into Guardian Daemons and constructs, though...
Also, are there any adventures/modules out there that incorporate a good town monster guardian I could use for inspiration?
I would think there would be an old Dungeon Magazine adventure with a town guardian.
I like stone golems. You could have a statue of Jayne.
SGH
|
The Golem of Prague is a classic legend about a monster being used to defend a community.
Stolen from the Wikipedia article:
The Emperor begged Rabbi Loew to destroy the Golem, promising to stop the persecution of the Jews. To deactivate the Golem, the rabbi rubbed out the first letter of the word "emet" (truth or reality) from the creature's forehead leaving the Hebrew word "met", meaning dead. The Golem's body was stored in the attic genizah of the Old New Synagogue, where it would be restored to life again if needed. According to legend, the body of Rabbi Loew's Golem still lies in the synagogue's attic.
Another thing you might try is a gray render. Renders have a strange habit of getting attached to individual creatures and defending them to the death. It might be a gray render "adopted" someone from the village and, over time, became the village guardian by proxy. Think of Meansonofab&~%! from Fallout: New Vegas, if you're familiar with him. Bascially, he's a super mutant who became a community's protector after tracking down the human who tried to buy his freedom from a bunch of people who had captured and abused him.
One other thing you might try is a Zeitgeist from the Cityscape book. The zeitgeist is a fey creature that is literally the embodiment of a city's spirit. When they choose to appear, they borrow bits of the buildings, streets or whatever else is around and form a composite giant capable of terrible destruction.
I had a town whose walls were regularly patrolled by a pair of iron golems. Obviously, it was a powerful town with a lot of resources, and it was a high-level adventure.
Going through the dead wizard's notes, his apprentice finds the True Name of a devil or two...
|
An outsider might adopt such a community in an attempt to garner more of their souls for its respective outer plane.
A devil would be the most intuitive sort of creature to attempt this, but there's nothing preventing a demon, daemon, angel, archon, azata, etc. to take on this role, in an attempt to turn the entire town towards it's respective ethical / moral bent, and gin up worship of it's own celestial/fiendish patron.
A powerful outsider that happens to have a vested interest in this specific area (bones of it's last high priest interred here, a buried gate to plane X, holy ground, much of the community is *very* distantly related to it as it once dallied with some mortals in the area and left behind it's seed, or even *was* once a mortal in this area) would be even more appropriate.
A weaker outsider, like a lantern archon (who is 'stuck' on the material plane, due to some mishap), would make for an interesting choice.
A local community of 'monsters' might also have a vested interest in keeping the village intact, for whatever reason.
Perhaps the fey of the local woods are just as sick of dragon rampages or local humanoid warbands roaming around burning down their forest as the human villagers are, and are willing to make some sort of loose alliance to work together against such threats, in exchange the humans not logging in certain sections of woodland, etc.
Even something as outre as a mated pair of wyverns, who very much don't want a dragon moving into their territory, and equally don't want some orc warchief deciding it would be cool to snatch their babies away to make into an exotic warmount, could find it tactically advantageous to show up when the village is being attacked and wreak some havoc on the attackers, not so much because they want to 'save the village' as they want to get in some good 'at the worst possible time' surprise attacks on a foe they aren't powerful enough (or brave enough) to face on their own. They might be all evil and savage or whatever, but they have an Int score of 7 (average, which means some might be smarter), which is more than some PCs, and significantly more than an Int 2 wolf, which lives or dies by that sort of 'bite when the back is turned' tactical thinking.
The worst sorts of 'allies' would be will-o-the-wisps, who might fight cheerily alongside human villagers to repel a dragon that is intent on burning the entire village to the ground. The will-o-the-wisps regard the village as their all-you-can-eat-fear-buffet, and will repel the dragon, so long he seems intent on *killing everyone.*
But they'll just as fast turn on the villagers if it looks like they are going to kill the dragon. It's in the best interest of the eaters-of-fear if the villagers don't get a morale-boosting victory, and live in perpetual dread of the dragon's return...
A few Otyughs in the sewers won't hurt. And the Ghosts of fallen defenders from the last attacks might lend a hand again - and wouldn't even need to be Evil.
If you go with Golems, make sure they have some sort of a "kill switch" for when they go berserk.
Dire Skunk.
Going through the dead wizard's notes, his apprentice finds the True Name of a devil or two...
Or elemental.
Their is a 3.5 spell called "Genus Loci" or somthing simlilar. It was only about 30', but you could expand that to cover the town. Essentially you have an invisible/etheral elemental wandering around until it.s needed. Perhaps more than one if you can cast the spell yourself. ;-)
Of course you could outsource to lower level adventurers.
|
|
How tough a dragon is it that's attacking the town? Do you have a Hit Dice or CR range you're looking for for this guardian beast? It might be useful to know what sort of load this creature has to shoulder. Lizardfolk could probably be deterred by a CR 5-9 creature depending on how many lizards there are and if they have class levels. The dragon could be anywhere on the map.
You could always drop the Foo template on any suitably large animal as well. Maybe the colonists locate a set of Dire Ape statues in a nearby ruin they cart off to the prison and adopt as mascots only to have the things spring to life the next time monsters attack?
How tough a dragon is it that's attacking the town? Do you have a Hit Dice or CR range you're looking for for this guardian beast?
I'm thinking something on the level of a CR 5-7.. like a dire griffon.
The dire apes idea is appealing...
Dire Skunk.
There is so much I could do with a dire skunk! If I don't use dire skunk for a town guardian, one is definitely going in one of the local kobold lairs.
How about a metallic dragon similar to the Silver Dragon in Dragonlance? Attached in some way to a resident or the rulership emotionally.
Any of the more dangerous intelligent monsters could be enlisted to defend against attack for a high price. Imagine a Beholder as the High Marshall. Of course, it would scheme to take complete control over time.
A family of Mimics that have been well fed and cared for? Bad guys come in and get attacked by spires and weather vanes and lampposts?
"A typical mimic has a volume of 150 cubic feet (5 feet by 5 feet by 6 feet) and weighs about 900 pounds. Legends and tales speak of mimics of much greater sizes, with the ability to assume the form of houses, ships, or entire dungeon complexes that they festoon with treasure (both real and false) to lure unsuspecting food within."
How's that for a idea to protect a city. Make one whole new wall out of one and seriously screw with bad guys.
Can't believe I forgot my favorite:
An Awakened banyan tree.
They're huge, aerial root-system trees; tend to grow in formations resembling galleries/walls naturally. An Awakened version could deliberately grow into an outer wall (wooden, of course) that reaches out and grapples the nasty dragon out of the air.
And you don't need catapults, because the tree can chuck boulders all day long. (Had a spelljamming vessel grown out of one of these, once. Ah, those were the days.)
A big one could give a dragon a run for its money, especially with monk and/or sorcerer levels.
An Awakened banyan tree.
What an awesome idea! I'm definitely going to use this as well.
I saw the True name of an outsider bit, and got the idea of having the True names of two high level Angels, Archons, or some powerful Good outsiders.
Make a deal with a Devil wherein the devil gets one of the true names in exchange for binding one of the Good outsiders to guard the city. The caster is using forces by far above his power to control, but using so many outside influences to get an advantage that it's possible. SO they have an enslaved angel bound by a devil.
Or get a lower level Devil to get a higher level one to do the binding, and offer up a bunch of souls in addition to the name of the Good Outsider
Make a deal with Shadows would be legit.
Dragon's have nothing vs touch attacks. 10 intelligent Shadows could take down a dragon.... and then make him a shadow dragon. Ohh snap!
Can't believe I forgot my favorite:
An Awakened banyan tree.
They're huge, aerial root-system trees; tend to grow in formations resembling galleries/walls naturally. An Awakened version could deliberately grow into an outer wall (wooden, of course) that reaches out and grapples the nasty dragon out of the air.
And you don't need catapults, because the tree can chuck boulders all day long. (Had a spelljamming vessel grown out of one of these, once. Ah, those were the days.)
A big one could give a dragon a run for its money, especially with monk and/or sorcerer levels.
Love it. Stealing.
Naga's / Mummies / Sphinxes / Demodands & Gargoyles make perfect guards and guardians.
Maybe a combination of Quickwood, Hangman Tree and the new headfruit tree from Jades Regent 6?
One thing, don't use Stone Golems they are so boring for guardians, if you use a golem at least make it a war/cannon golem, fossil golem or Clockwork Golem.
Hmmn, and Awakened Assassin Vines make excellent patrol critters, to go with the banyan.
Glad you guys like it, it is one of my favorite things to do with the Awaken spell.
A few caryatid columns (B3) can make interesting guards (I've found they're surprisingly tough for CR3 monsters).
Foo creatures (B3) also tend to work thematically as guardians, and you can get them in various CRs since it's a template.
Owlbears (B1) are classic guard monsters of course.
Elementals and golems can both work well.
A werebear (B2) can be a cool guard.
And lastly from me, an odd, but near guard monster I'm a fan of is the Scarecrow (B2).
There are, of course, the kami. Their entire existence is focused on protecting their ward, whatever it is. It could be something in the town or the town itself. They're native outsiders from B3.
|
|
A huge, heavily weathered statue of a lion-like beast rests covered in creeping vines and the dust of ages on a nearby hilltop. The people of the prison colony cower in their homes under the assault of a powerful dragon and its lizardfolk followers until a young woman slips out through the forest, stands before the ancient statue and begins to sing!
XP 51,200
NG Huge Outsider (good, augmented)
Init +8; Senses low-light vision, darkvision 60ft., scent; Perception +20
DEFENSE
AC 21, touch 12, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +9 natural, –2 size)
hp 220 (16d10+160)
Fort +19, Ref +14, Will +11
Defensive Abilities DR 10/bludgeoning, paired protectors, stony defense 16/day
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft.
Melee bite +29 (2d8+22 plus grab), 2 claws +30 (2d6+22)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks spells, pounce, rake (2 claws +30, 2d6+22)
Spells Known (CL 10th; Concentration +19)
5th (3/day) Shout (DC19)
4th (5/day) Cure Critical Wounds (DC18,) Divine Power
3rd (7/day) Haste, Protection from Energy, Clairaudience/Clairvoyance
2nd (7/day) Scorching Ray, See Invisibility, Blur
1st (7/day) Jump, Protection from Evil, Ear-Piercing Scream (DC14,) Expeditious Retreat, Divine Favor
0 – Stabilize, Resistance, Dancing Lights, Guidance, Detect Magic, Purify Food and Drink, Detect Poison, Guidance, Virtue
STATISTICS
Str 41, Dex 19, Con 29, Int 20, Wis 18, Cha 16
Base Atk +16; CMB +33 (+37 grapple); CMD 37 (41 vs. trip)
Feats Improved Initiative, Run, Skill Focus (Perception), Weapon Focus (claw,) Weapon Focus (bite,) Improved Natural Attack (claw,) Improved Natural Attack (bite,) Toughness, Iron Will (b,), Eschew Material Components (b)
Skills Acrobatics +22 (+26 jumping,) Climb +26, Knowledge (history) +19, Knowledge (nobility) +19, Knowledge (local) +16, Knowledge (planes) +19, Perception +21, Sense Motive +18, Spellcraft +19, Stealth +18 (+22 in undergrowth) Swim +26; Racial Modifiers +4 Acrobatics, +4 Stealth (+8 in undergrowth)
Languages Celestial, Common, Draconic, Terran, Sylvan, Auran, Giant
Defensive Abilities:
Paired Protectors (Su): When two or more foo creatures are within 30 feet of one another, they both gain the benefit of a protection from evil spell. The caster level of this protection from evil effect is equal to the highest Hit Dice of the affected foo creatures. This effect can be dispelled, but if it is, a foo creature can reactivate it as a swift action.
Stony Defense (Su): A number of times per day equal to its Hit Dice, a foo creature can harden its skin to unyielding stone as an immediate action. It gains hardness 8 until the end of its next turn, but its speed is reduced by 10 feet for the same duration.
Wow! Way cool Imperial Foo Lion! The foo template is new to me.
1) The Blind Sisters, a nymph paladin and medusa ranger that have taken the village under their wing. Both wear blindfolds at all times to protect the villagers from their own powerful gaze attacks but remove the blindfolds in the heat of battle where they fight in perfect back-to-back symmitry.
2) A group of phase spider inquisitors that protect the village but not the residents. They serve an unknown power that seems benevolent at first but takes on a more sinister air as the mostly unseen protectors, watching from the ethereal plane, begin to abduct townsfolk as punishment for abstract and confusing infractions.
3) Fey that previously served as unseen helpers of local craftsmen have realized that they are the only hope for their home, the village they share with the large folk. Picture the elves for the "The Elves and the Cobbler" marching off to war with tiny pitchforks and torches...and powerful fey magic.
4) The half-fiend offspring of the very dragon that is attacking the town as come back to redeem himself. Somehow, the naturally evil mix of fiend and dragon blood combined to create a creature of compassion and kind-hearted (or simply out to spite and seek revenge on their parent).
Could probably keep going but there's some ideas.
A baby Bandersnatch that is all grown up, it was tamed by a little girl who's a bit of a "fluffy tamer". For bonus points, she calls if Fluffy or Cupcake.
Watching Alice in Wonderland was actually the genesis of this thread. I thought that Red Queen was on to something with the Bandersnatch and others at her beck and call.
Spoiler:1) The Blind Sisters, a nymph paladin and medusa ranger that have taken the village under their wing. Both wear blindfolds at all times to protect the villagers from their own powerful gaze attacks but remove the blindfolds in the heat of battle where they fight in perfect back-to-back symmitry.2) A group of phase spider inquisitors that protect the village but not the residents. They serve an unknown power that seems benevolent at first but takes on a more sinister air as the mostly unseen protectors, watching from the ethereal plane, begin to abduct townsfolk as punishment for abstract and confusing infractions.
3) Fey that previously served as unseen helpers of local craftsmen have realized that they are the only hope for their home, the village they share with the large folk. Picture the elves for the "The Elves and the Cobbler" marching off to war with tiny pitchforks and torches...and powerful fey magic.
4) The half-fiend offspring of the very dragon that is attacking the town as come back to redeem himself. Somehow, the naturally evil mix of fiend and dragon blood combined to create a creature of compassion and kind-hearted (or simply out to spite and seek revenge on their parent).
Could probably keep going but there's some ideas.
You should write side treks! Any of these would make a great adventure in Kobold Quarterly, in my opinion. The phase spiders are my favorite - Would make a great follow adventure to "Siege of the Spider Eaters" - one of my favorite Dungeon Adventures. "Arianne's Guardians" maybe...
