Hi all!
I got roped into running our World Serpent Inn campaign again. Our next session is the Sunday after St. Patrick's Day, so I thought that could be a theme.
Obviously, a leprechaun will be involved. I made a CR 7 version of one.
I might use a banshee too. And probably sprites, too. Maybe. I'm also considering a fomorian, but they're CR 8.
Any other ideas? Sessions are usually around 6 hours long. The PCs turned 6th level last session, so they probably won't level up this session.
PCs are a human paladin (Oath of the Ancients), half-elf warlock Pact of the Fey with sprite familiar, Halfling shadow monk, and tiefling black draconic sorcerer.
Also, one player requested griffon-mounted aerial combat.
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Snakes.
Why did it have to be snakes?
Also, what is a nuckaevee?
I like the idea of animals.
I want to use fey because the Oath of the Ancients paladin has special abilities against them and fiends.
Found it on Wikipedia. Creepy as heck!
Why did it have to be snakes?
I hope you do know the stories about St. Patrick.
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I hope you do know the stories about Indiana Jones.
;-)
I hope you do know the stories about Indiana Jones.
;-)
I did get the reference. :)
I'd like to endorse quibblemuch's idea about using snakes (or snakefolk, maybe) and "driving them out". It's what St. Patrick is famous for, after all.
Addendum in case you want to go down the faerie path (be careful lest you lose you way) and stay somewhat authentic: the Nuckelavee is a mythic creature from the Orkney Islands, not Ireland.
The grumpy cobbler version of the Leprechaun is Irish, as are Bean sidhe, Leanan sidhe, Dullahan and Selkie.
I want to avoid using yuan-ti and their ilk because I'll be starting a new campaign pretty soon that will probably feature a lot of them.
I want to avoid using yuan-ti and their ilk because I'll be starting a new campaign pretty soon that will probably feature a lot of them.
Naga or Dragons come to mind as alternatives.
I might make homebrew monsters. I have an idea for a creature that looks like Zoom from "Flash" with six or seven slits for mouths, but with worms or little serpents sticking out of them.
Maybe it can even be super fast, like that snake-god/monster from that episode of Buffy that was summoned to track down Buffy.
That could be neat. Definitely going with evil serpentine fey. Not sure how naga it's going to be; they're generally S. Asian.
This centaur-like creature has a massive head with a single burning red eye, fin-like hooves, and massive claws that reach the ground. Foul mist spills from its fang-filled pig-like snout. It lacks skin, and black blood is visible pumping through its yellow veins.
Chaotic Evil Large Fey
AC: 17 (natural armor)
HP: 114 (12d10 + 48)
Speed: 60 ft., Swim 60 ft.
STR: 21 (+5), DEX: 16 (+3), CON: 19 (+4), INT: 6 (-2), WIS: 11 (+0), CHA: 8 (-1)
Damage Resistance: bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from non-magical weapons
Damage Immunities: poison
Condition Immunities: poisoned
Saving Throws: Con +7, Wis +3
Skills: Athletics +8, Perception +3
Senses: passive Perception 10
Languages: Abyssal, Aquan
Challenge: 7
Special Abilities:
Amphibious: The Nuckelavee can breathe air and water.
Famine Maker: The Nuckelavee exudes an aura that acts as control weather, always reducing the precipitation in the area of effect. Plants subjected to the aura for a week produce no flowers, fruit, or seeds for 1 year unless subjected to a plant growth spell. Beasts subjected to the aura must make a DC 11 Constitution save at the end of each long rest or gain one level of exhaustion.
Horrific Appearance: Any humanoid that starts its turn within 30 feet of the Nuckelavee and can see the Nuckelavee’s true form must make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, with disadvantage if the Nuckelavee is within line of sight, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the Nuckelavee’s Horrific Appearance for the next 24 hours. Unless the target is surprised or the revelation of the Nuckelavee’s true form is sudden, the target can avert its eyes and avoid making the initial saving throw. Until the start of its next turn, a creature that averts its eyes has disadvantage on attack rolls against the Nuckelavee.
Storm Wrath: The Nucelavee hates the rain. If caught in the open during the rain, it has disadvantage on ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws.
Underwater Transformation: When the Nuckelavee is submerged underwater, it transforms into another form, even more horrific than the form it assumes on land. It retains all of its base form’s abilities and statistics, except creatures subjected to its Horrific Appearance ability save with disadvantage. Creatures that view the submerged Nuckelavee must also make a DC 18 Intelligence saving throw or forget what the Nuckelavee’s submerged form looks like.
ACTIONS_______________________________
Multiattack: The Nuckelavee makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (3d10 + 5) piercing damage plus 9 (2d8) poison damage.
Claw: Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage.
Poison Breath (Recharge 5–6): The Nuckelavee exhales poisonous gas in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 35 (10d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Creatures that fail their saving throw also gain the poisoned condition for 1 minute. Plants in the area of the Nuckelavee’s breath weapon wither and do not bear flowers, fruit, or seeds for 1 year unless targeted with a plant growth spell.
Rampaging Plague: 1/day, the Nuckelavee can cast contagion, with a melee spell attack bonus of +3 and a Constitution saving throw DC of 11. Anyone who touches a creature infected by the Nuckelavee’s contagion spell must also make a Constitution saving throw or be infected too.
I think I might add an eyebeam to it, too. Similar to fire bolt, because I realize the combo of a fear effect and no ranged weapon means the monster is encouraging the PCs to snipe it to death.
Also, I think it could use some legendary actions. Maybe even lair or environmental effects.
I think the PCs are going to end up on a small island, see that it is infested with snakes, and then have to deal with a bunch monsters to change the circumstances.
For example, the snakes are thriving because Old Nick is affecting the weather (dry and hot). So they need to drive him off. But they might need to get a rain stick to weaken him, and they can get that from a leprechaun. Another monster might be the source of those snakes.
I kind of want it to be structured that A helps beating B, B helps beating C, C helps beating D, D helps beating A, and have the PCs either figure that out, or not.
I'm also thinking the rain stick could help with putting out wildfires caused by Old Nick's eyebeam, which I'm almost thinking of having summon a fire snake that does fire damage, then restrains its target and set the dry underbrush on fire.
Or instead of a rain stick, 3 or 4 runestones that can be combined for different effects. Like Water + Sky = Rain. Sky + Fire = Call Lightning.