SANDPUFFER (from The Halls Untoward)

All Monster Names and Descriptions are taken from The Halls Untoward by Michael Prescott et. al. which is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC license v4.0

All Monster Stat Blocks and Attack Descriptions are copyright Craig Atkins 2022.

SANDPUFFER (The Halls Untoward YZE Bestiary) 

The Sandpuffer is a slurry of sand, mud, and sewage from a bygone age. It consumes sand greedily through its pores, growing  larger with each grotesque intake. Anyone disturbing it will be blasted violently with a spout of sand strong enough to rend flesh from bone. After a volley, it will dwindle and retreat. Weapons  do half damage to the Sandpuffer. Lightning turns it to glass. It is vulnerable to water when it dwindles, which will dissolve it. If  dissolved, it bears a precious crystal gizzard.

Designers note: this was another tricky one as the description is quite brief, and the main creature description leaves out some wordy details that are present in the room description (see room 44). I was desperately trying not to turn it into the sand man from Spiderman 3 but I did have to be creative to get the number of attacks up to six. If you have any thoughts on the attacks please leave comments below.

ATTRIBUTES

STRENGTH 6 to 50 (see below), AGILITY 4

MOVEMENT: 2

ARMOR RATING: 0 (weapons do half damage)

DWINDLING: If the Sandpuffer is reduced to a STRENGTH of 3 or less it will immediately move swiftly as a small sandstorm, leaving the current zone to seek more sand to absorb from a nearby area. A bucket of water thrown at a Sandpuffer in this state will dissolve it completely.

SAND GLUTTEN: The Sandpuffer absorbs sand and grit from the local environment, growing as it does so, increasing its STRENGTH by D6 at the start of each round as it does so. Each SAND BLAST! attack it carries out uses up the newly acquired sand, reducing its STRENGTH by 2 for each blast attempted.

MONSTER ATTACKS

D6	ATTACK
1	SAND BLAST!  The Sandpuffer attacks one adventurer within SHORT range with a powerful blast of abrasive sand. Make an attack using ten Base Dice and Weapon Damage 2 (stab wound). The victim is also knocked prone. This attack can be parried with a shield.
2	SHARED SPACE! The Sandpuffer moves suddenly to occupy the same space as one adventurer within NEAR range, engulfing their victim in sand and mud. The adventurer must succeed at a Move skill check or be forced to resist the effects of DROWNING, and be trapped inside the creature until they succeed at a Move skill test.
3	SOMETHING IN THE EYES! A stream of gritty sand pours forth from the Sandpuffer, targeting the fragile eyes of one adventurer within NEAR range. Make an attack using eight Base Dice and Weapon Damage 2 (stab wound). If the victim fails a Move skill check, their eyes are sprayed with stinging sand, making it impossible to see. For D6 rounds the adventurer must act as if in DARKNESS. This attack can be parried with a shield.
4	STUCK IN THE MUD! Ancient sewage seeps from the creature, under and over the feet of an unlucky adventurer within ARM'S LENGTH. Make an attack using seven Base Dice opposed by the adventurer's Move Skill. If the adventurer fails they are caught by the putrid sludge and held fast, unable to make Slow Actions until they BREAK FREE by succeeding at a Might skill check. Also, due to the ancient stench, the adventurer immediately suffers 1 point of damage to EMPATHY and the same each round until free.
5	SAND FALL! The creature rears up and then fully collapses over one adventurer within NEAR range, battering them with sand and congealed mud. Make an attack using eight Base Dice and Weapon Damage 1 (blunt force). This attack can be parried with a shield. If the creature has more than 12 STRENGTH, they can fall on up to 3 adventurers and cover all in choking sand. Anyone victim hit also begins to DROWN until they break free.
6	GLEAMING DISPLAY! As the Sand Puffer absorbs the sand from the surrounding area and grows to an impressive size (over 25 STRENGTH), the static charge built within it creates a sparkling and mesmerizing display of coruscating light patterns, which suddenly turns sinister as the creature begins to move towards any adventurers between it and the exit. Make a fear attack using eight Base Dice. It will travel through them in its next turn, if they are unable or unwilling to move aside.

All Monster Names and Descriptions are taken from The Halls Untoward by Michael Prescott et. al. which is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC license v4.0

All Monster Stat Blocks and Attack Descriptions are copyright Craig Atkins 2022.

ROCK WORMS (from The Halls Untoward)

All Monster Names and Descriptions are taken from The Halls Untoward by Michael Prescott et. al. which is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC license v4.0

All Monster Stat Blocks and Attack Descriptions are copyright Craig Atkins 2022.

ROCK WORMS (The Halls Untoward YZE Bestiary) 

One to two feet in length, these worms burrow through rock at a glacial pace. Flesh provides less resistance, and an unwary travelled can quickly vanish if caught in the path of a migrating knot.

Designers note: A very brief description and not much else included in the dungeon about these creatures. It make sense to have them as a swarm, as they are relatively small but I need to take into account that they chew through rock. The attacks are limited as they are more a nuisance than a threat.

ATTRIBUTES

STRENGTH 4-14, AGILITY 1

MOVEMENT: 1

ARMOR RATING: -

KNOT: Rock Worms attack as a group, their strength is equal to the number of worms in the current knot. A single attack can't inflict more than 1 point of damage to the knot of worms.

BITE: Base Dice equal to current STRENGTH, Weapon Damage 1 (slash wound)

All Monster Names and Descriptions are taken from The Halls Untoward by Michael Prescott et. al. which is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC license v4.0

All Monster Stat Blocks and Attack Descriptions are copyright Craig Atkins 2022.

PSEUDOSCION (from The Halls Untoward)

All Monster Names and Descriptions are taken from The Halls Untoward by Michael Prescott et. al. which is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC license v4.0

All Monster Stat Blocks and Attack Descriptions are copyright Craig Atkins 2022.

PSEUDOSCION (The Halls Untoward YZE Bestiary) 

The pseudoscions created by the apparatus in Room 63 are somewhere between homunculi and children. They appear as humanoids with black eyes, skin like clay, and a prehensile tentacle  sprouting from each shoulder-blade. Their facial features bear an  unmistakable resemblance to their blood “parent.”

Pseudoscions  start off as infants, but age at the rate of one year per hour - so  after ten hours, a pseudoscion looks like a ten-year-old. They  must eat an enormous meal of red meat at the five hour mark and  every ten hours thereafter, or perish. It will die after 80 hours of old age. If the parent is around at the birth, the pseudoscion  imprints and reacts much like a normal child. If born alone,  the pseudoscion will hunt for its parent, as well as for food.

If treated badly, the pseudoscion will be a relentless foe for its brief life. If treated like a son or daughter, the pseudoscion can be a useful ally, generally fighting loyally and ferociously once it is  old enough to do so. It will go through a rebellious, questioning phase around 15 hours, and after 65 hours or so it will need to be taken care of in its old age.

Designer's note: This was a lot of fun to work on. You will see the attacks have followed a pattern that matches the maturity of the pseudoscion, as it matures some attacks may become more suitable than others but all should be useable at all stages of its life cycle. I picture these like baby/teenage Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy, but that is just my interpretation the original designer may have had something different in mind. The one attack that felt out of place a bit was the tentacle attack, but as they have them it made sense to use them.

ATTRIBUTES

STRENGTH 1 to 6, AGILITY 4, WITS 1  to 4, EMPATHY 1 to 4

SKILLS: Melee 2

MOVEMENT: 2

ARMOR RATING: 2 (clay skin)

RAPID AGING: Due to the pseudoscions rapid growth their STRENGTH, WITS and EMPATHY attributes all start at 1. Their STRENGTH attribute increases by 1 every three hours, to a maximum of 6 (15 hrs old). WITS and EMPATHY each increase by 1 every 20 hours, to a maximum of 5 (80 hrs old).

OLD AGE: After 65 hours of life a pseudoscions STRENGTH and AGILITY attributes drop by 1, and then reduce by 1 every 5 hours thereafter. At 80 years of age the psuedoscion lives no more.

RANDOM PSEUDOSCION: To randomly determine a pseudoscion's age roll D8 -1 for the tens and then roll a D10 for the units (10 counts as 0). From there you can work out the attributes. (eg. the D8 rolls a 4, that means the creature is in its 30s (4-1), the D10 rolls a 5. They are 35 with a STREGTH of 6, AGILITY 4, WITS and EMPATHY are both 2.

MONSTER ATTACKS

D6	ATTACK
1	ANKLE BITER! The juvenile pseudoscion rushes across the ground and bites one adventurer within NEAR range with its forming clay teeth. Make an attack using five Base Dice and Weapon Damage 1 (slash wound).
2	TEMPER TANTRUM! The growing pseudoscion allows all of its frustration to rise to the surface, it balls its fist, stamps its feet and lets out a piercing and continuous cry. This immediately disturbs any adventurer within SHORT range, causing a fear attack using seven Base Dice.
3	DON'T THROW THAT! The naughty pseudoscion grabs the nearest available object and whilst letting out a screaming giggle, throws it at one adventurer within NEAR range. Make an attack using six Base Dice and Weapon Damage 1 (blunt force). This attack can be parried with a shield.
4	CALM DOWN! The pseudoscion targets one adventurer within ARM'S LENGTH with their hormonal rage, and with a frustrated grunt starts to pummel their unlucky target with ferocious punches and kicks. Make three attacks using six Base Dice and Weapon Damage 1 (blunt force). These attacks can be parried with a shield.
5	SOLID PUNCH! The growing pseudoscion plants its two feet squarely on the ground and puts all of its strength into a solid punch, targeting one adventurer within ARM'S LENGTH. Make an attack using eight Base Dice and Weapon Damage 2 (blunt force). This attack can be parried.
6	TENTACLE STRIKE! The pseudoscion strikes out with its two prehensile tentacles, violently stabbing up to two adventures within ARM'S LENGTH. Make an attack using eight Base Dice and Weapon Damage 1 (stab wound). If there is only one target, they are unfortunately targeted twice.

All Monster Names and Descriptions are taken from The Halls Untoward by Michael Prescott et. al. which is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC license v4.0

All Monster Stat Blocks and Attack Descriptions are copyright Craig Atkins 2022.

DUNGEON BARNACLE/CIRRIPEDE (from The Halls Untoward)

All Monster Names and Descriptions are taken from The Halls Untoward by Michael Prescott et. al. which is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC license v4.0

All Monster Stat Blocks and Attack Descriptions are copyright Craig Atkins 2022.

DUNGEON BARNACLE/CIRRIPEDE (The Halls Untoward YZE Bestiary) 

Dungeon Barnacles, or Cirripedes, are cave/ underdark/ under world/ underwhathaveyou creatures that ooze a mild form of acid.  They use this acid to dig into stone and rock, where they shut themselves off from the world with a stone gate. If something passes by, they open up this gate and attack it with tentacles,  attempting to strangle or bash it to death, before dragging it inside where it can be digested (they dissolve food outside the body before absorbing nutrients through the skin). 

If a Cirripede is killed and dragged out of its hole, it is up to the  GM to describe what it looks like. Every Cirripede looks different,  as they grow flesh reactively to what portions of stone are dissolved first (in many ways, they are more like plants than animals). 

“Larval” Cirripedes are grown in clutches of eggs (worth a pretty  penny to alchemists or wizards, if you feel like rewarding the  players for the kill) in their parent’s folds. They are asexual, and  upon birth drag themselves not too far away like octopi stranded  on land, where they find soft stone and dissolve their way into it.  Young Cirripedes eat rats, bats, and other little beasts – adult  ones will sometimes survive for months slowly dissolving and  eating the single corpse of something larger, like a Cave Troll or  Giant Spider. 

Designer Note: It was quite tricky coming up with six full attacks for this creature as it seemed limited to mainly just using tentacles, which have been explored a lot in the Servants of Memory book. Hopefully I have made the attacks interesting and fun for GMs to throw at players. I also didn't want the creature to be too powerful as I see this as more of just a nuisance for adventurers instead of a major threat.

ATTRIBUTES

STRENGTH 12 + D6+4 (tentacles), AGILITY 1

SKILLS: Stealth 8

MOVEMENT: 1

ARMOR RATING: 8 (stone protection)

ACIDIC SKIN: The main body of the Cirripede is coated in a mild acid. If touched by naked flesh this will immediately cause 1 point of damage (non-typical).

HIDDEN: A Cirripede is always considered hidden until they attack, and always get a surprise attack in the first round of combat.

SELF-PRESERVATION: If the Cirripde takes more than half its STRENGTH in damage it will retreat into its hole, sealing itself in. The only way to then attack this creature would be to destroy the barrier it has constructed in front of it. TENTACLE WEAKNESS: Although the main body of the Cirripede is protected by a rock gate, their tentacles are somewhat fragile and only have a light covering of stone as protection. Targeting a tentacle directly has a -2 penalty to hit but their Armour Rating drops to 3. Each Tentacle takes a maximum of 1 damage and then is removed. If all tentacles are removed the Cirrepede will spit acid (see below) and will retreat behind its stone protection.

MONSTER ATTACKS

D6	ATTACK
1	TENTACLE BASH!  A prehensile tentacle flexes and then pummels one adventurer within NEAR range. Make an attack using seven Base Dice and Weapon Damage 1 (blunt force). If the victim is hit they are knocked prone.
2	SUBMISSION STRANGLE! A single tentacle snakes out to wrap around the throat of one adventurer within NEAR range. Make an attack using six Base Dice and Weapon Damage 1 (blunt force). If hit, the victim is GRAPPLED and takes 1 point of damage each round until they BREAK FREE.
3	PICK N MIX FRENZY! A flurry of tentacles burst forth, frantically slapping any adventurer within ARM'S LENGTH. Make an attack using five Base Dice and Weapon Damage 1 (blunt force).
4	STINGING STONE! Using the tips of its tentacles the Cirripede flings small splinters of stone in all direction, striking anyone within NEAR RANGE. Make an attack using five Base Dice and Weapon Damage 1 (stab wound). This attack can only be parried by a shield. Due to having to protect their eyes rom the stone splinters, all adventurers within range suffer a -2 penalty to their next attacks.
5	TENTACLE TRIP! A searching tentacle wraps around the ankles of an adventurer within NEAR range, then they have their feet pulled out from under them. Make an attack using six Base Dice, damaging AGILITY. If hit, the unlucky visit is also knocked prone and takes 1 point of damage to STRENGTH (blunt force).
6	ACID DEFENCE! If the stone protection in front of the Cirripede has been broken by adventurers, as a last ditch defense, the creature will spit a nasty gobbet of acid at anyone within ARM'S LENGTH. Make an attack using four Base Dice and Weapon Damage 1 (non-typical), the acid will continue to cause 1 point of damage for D3 rounds.

All Monster Names and Descriptions are taken from The Halls Untoward by Michael Prescott et. al. which is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC license v4.0

All Monster Stat Blocks and Attack Descriptions are copyright Craig Atkins 2022.

DREAD REAVERS (from The Halls Untoward)

All Monster Names and Descriptions are taken from The Halls Untoward by Michael Prescott et. al. which is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC license v4.0

All Monster Stat Blocks and Attack Descriptions are copyright Craig Atkins 2022.

DREAD REAVERS (The Halls Untoward YZE Bestiary) 

These monsters are semi-corporeal wraith-like creatures that are drawn to the warmth of mortal beings. These creatures are souls who have been twisted by the vile and illegal magics harnessed by the evil cabal of wizards. They will claw at mortals or try to suck the warmth out of them. Creatures without flesh or heat, such as constructs and undead will be ignored by a Dread Reaver. 

ATTRIBUTES

STRENGTH 12, AGILITY 4, WITS 4, EMPATHY 3

MOVEMENT: 1

ARMOR RATING: Dread Reavers are incorporeal and can only be hurt by fire or magic. If defeated they will return in a Quarter Day unless banished with the PURGE UNDEAD spell.

INCORPOREAL: As an incorporeal being a Dread Reaver can move through any obstacle unimpeded.

MONSTER ATTACKS

D6	ATTACK
1	CLAW STRIKE! A ghostly hand reaches out, its wicked claws piecing the flesh of one victim within ARM'S LENGTH. Make an attack using nine Base Dice and Weapon Damage 2 (stab wound).
2	COLD CARESS! With a seemingly loving caress the Dread Reaver places its hands on the face of an adventurer within ARM'S LENGTH, leaning in it begins to inhale the warm breath and soul of its victim. Make an attack using eight Base Dice and Weapon Damage 1 (non-typical). The victim is also GRAPPLED and becomes COLD, taking one point of damage each subsequent round until the BREAK FREE.
3	SOUL SEARCHING! The horrific countenance of the Dread Reaver stares straight into the soul of one unlucky adventurer within NEAR range. Make a fear attack using eight Base Dice,
4	PASSING THROUGH! The Dread Reaver's incorporeal form passes through one adventurer within NEAR range, infusing its victim with the chill of their undead existence. Make an attack using eight Base Dice, damaging EMPATHY and immediately making the victim COLD.
5	MANIC STRIKE! The Dread Reaver's pent up aggression explodes in a violent display of slashing claws, striking at up to three adventurers within ARM'S LENGTH. Make an attack using seven Base Dice and Weapon Damage 1 (slash wound)
6	SCREAM OF THE DEAD! A demented scream resonates from deep within the Dread Reaver, the terrible sound haunting all adventurers within SHORT range. Each adventurer suffers a fear attack with six Base Dice.

All Monster Names and Descriptions are taken from The Halls Untoward by Michael Prescott et. al. which is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC license v4.0

All Monster Stat Blocks and Attack Descriptions are copyright Craig Atkins 2022.

DEEP-SHRIMP (from The Halls Untoward)

 All Monster Names and Descriptions are taken from The Halls Untoward by Michael Prescott et. al. which is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC license v4.0

All Monster Stat Blocks and Attack Descriptions are copyright Craig Atkins 2022.

DEEP-SHRIMP - (The Halls Untoward YZE Bestiary)

Adult deep-shrimp are of a similar size to a large dog. While usually willing to communicate with land-creatures via their  native telepathy, they will sometimes attack with their long crab-like pincers. Capable of breathing outside water, they can also ‘hop’ while on land, somewhat like fleas. Physical attacks are usually preceded by dazzling mental fireworks. Monastic deep shrimp have honed these abilities further, and are often powerful  mind-benders.  

Juvenile deep-shrimp are largely harmless to human-sized  creatures, and will use their telepathy to distract attackers before escaping. They lack their seniors’ endurance on land, and will expire in minutes without water. 

ADULT DEEP-SHRIMP ATTRIBUTES:

STRENGTH 6, AGILITY 4, WITS 3, EMPATHY 3

SKILLS: Melee 3, Endurance 2, Manipulation 3

MOVEMENT: 2 (Hop)

ARMOR RATING: 4 (Shell)

TELEPATHY: Deep-Shrimp can communicate directly with the minds of any sentient creature within LONG range.

AIR AND WATER BREATHER: Adult Deep-Shrimp can breath equally well on land and in water.

*for Monastic Deep-Shrimp increase all attributes by 1 and increase all Base Dice in the attack table below by 2.

MONSTER ATTACKS

D6	ATTACK
1	MENTAL FIREWORKS! A disorientating kaleidoscope of sound and colour explodes within the minds of all adventurers within SHORT range. Make an attack using five Base Dice, damaging WITS and AGILITY.
2	PINCER MOVE! One of the Deep-Shrimp's oversized pincers reaches for an adventurer within NEAR range, attempting to slice through flesh and bone. Make an attack with 6 Base Dice and Weapon Damage 2 (slash wound). This attack can be parried.
3	SHRIMP HOPPER! The Deep-Shrimp leaps high, coming down hard to land on one adventurer within SHORT range. Make an attack with six Base Dice and Weapon Damage 1 (blunt force). If the target is hit they are knocked prone and GRAPPLED.
4	CHITIN BANG, BANG! The Deep-Shrimp bang their hard pincers together in a display of aggression, demonstrating their strength and power. All adventurers within SHORT range suffer a fear attack using 5 base dice. Increase this by one dice for every Deep-Shrimp that joins in.
5	TASTING MORSELS! With surprising speed the Deep-Shrimp takes an opportunistic bite out of one adventurer within ARM'S LENGTH. Make an attack using seven Base Dice and Weapon Damage 1 (slash wound)
6	DEFENSIVE DANCE! The Deep-Shrimp goes all out to defend itself, blocking with its pincers or moving swiftly to avoid being hit. Until the Deep-Shrimp's next action all attacks against it suffer a -2 penalty.

*for Monastic Deep-Shrimp replace the DEFENSIVE DANCE! attack with the following attack:

6

PASSIVE OBSERVER! The Deep-Shrimp invades the minds of all adventurers within SHORT range, projecting feelings of calm and apathy. Make an attack using seven Base Dice, opposed by the adventurers'' EMPATHY. If the attack succeeds, the adventurer stops what they are doing to just stand and stare, unable to act for a number of rounds equal to the number of uncancelled successes.

All Monster Names and Descriptions are taken from The Halls Untoward by Michael Prescott et. al. which is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC license v4.0

All Monster Stat Blocks and Attack Descriptions are copyright Craig Atkins 2022.