Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Greyhawk Monsters: Briar Golem

Howdy Greyhawkers! Another new bit of content I'm trying out for GREYHAKWERY is some original (or so I think) 5E monsters. One thing that is nice about the most recent edition of D&D is how easy it is to create variations of existing monsters, and all you need is the core Monster Manual and an imagination. My motivation for this particular column is to come up with some creatures for places I regularly write about, Ull and the Sea Princes for example, but I imagine these creatures can be placed in any area of the Flanaess. Today's monster for example came to mind because of the Bramblewood Forest in Ket. One disclaimer before I get to it, this monster has not been play-tested or anything, I'm just throwing it out there. So, if someone has a tweak or fix, tell me in the comments. Now, onto the Briar Golem!

BRIAR GOLEM (5E)
The lesser-known briar golem is fashioned from an enormous mass of thorny brambles and vines. Vaguely appearing as a large humanoid shaped figure, this golem is often mistaken for a shambling mound. When moving, the briar golem shuffles and lurches across the ground, blending in with local foliage if motionless. Unlike other golems, the briar golem is capable of self-repair by drawing on vegetation around it, often leaving an area blighted after it moves on. Imbued with the spirit of an earth elemental, a briar golem that breaks free of its creator will remain motionless and brood, occasionally lashing out at anything that moves.

BRIAR GOLEM
Large construct, unaligned

Armor Class 12 (natural armor)
Hit Points 75 (9d8 + 44)
Speed 30 ft.

STR 17 (+3)
DEX 9 (-1)
CON 18 (+4)
INT 3 (-4)
WIS 8 (-1)
CHA 1 (-5)

Damage Immunities poison, psychic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical weapons that aren’t adamantine
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9
Language understands languages of its creator but can’t speak
Challenge 5 (1800 XP)
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9
Language understands languages of its creator but can’t speak
Challenge 5 (1800 XP)

Thorny Body. At the start of its turn, the briar golem deals 4 (2d4) piercing damage to any creature grappling it.

Regeneration. The briar golem regains 5 hit points at the start of its turn. If it takes cold, fire, or necrotic damage, this trait doesn’t function at the start of the briar golem’s next turn. The briar golem is destroyed if it starts its turn with 0 hit points and doesn’t regenerate.

Plant Camouflage. The briar golem has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks it makes in any terrain with ample obscuring plant life.

Immutable Form. The golem is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form.

Magic Resistance. The golem has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Magic Weapon. The golem’s weapon attacks are magical.

ACTIONS
Multiattack. The golem makes two slam attacks. If both attacks hit a Medium or smaller target, the target is grappled (escape DC 13), and the briar golem uses its Engulf on it.

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target, Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) piercing damage.

Engulf. The briar golem engulfs a Medium or smaller creature grappled by it. The engulfed target is restrained, and it must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw at the start of each of the golem’s turns or take 12 (2d8 + 3) piercing damage. If the golem moves, the engulfed target moves with it. The briar golem can have only one creature engulfed at a time.

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Sea Princes Nobles 576 CY - Prince Varek IV

Howdy Greyhawkers. Welcome to another installment of my Nobles of the Sea Princes (576 CY). If you haven't seen the previous post on Prince Jeon II of Monmurg, go back and check that out. This new post is b
y request. Much to my delight there has been a lot of interest in the community lately for Hold of the Sea Princes material. While Jeon appears in publication, his rival Prince Varek IV of Port Toli is wholly my creation. I hope you enjoy, and there is more to come!

His Exalted Highness, Prince Varek IV of Port Toli; Earl of Sasserine; Protector of Jeklea Bay; Lord of All the Jungles. (House Toli, Toli Armada, Fighter 7/ Rogue 10)
The Prince of Port Toli belongs to a very old house whose founders were slavers and cutthroat pirates. Since then, little has actually changed, though the fabulously wealthy Varek IV portrays himself to be regal as any king in the Flanaess. The prince is middle-aged with a distinctive mane of white hair though he is still quite robust, taking personal pride at his expertise with blades. Varek is a former captain and explorer of great renown. Now concerned with rulership of Port Toli, the prince still owns the warship Iron Trident, captained by his loyal son-in-law Jarrad of Poniard (Fighter 8). Varek IV spends most of his time ruling from his grand keep in Port Toli, one of the oldest Suloise constructions in all of the western Flanaess. Whether at home or abroad the prince is never without his personal guard, a dozen highly loyal, ruthlessly efficient killers. 
Politics and Intrigues:  Prince Varek supports a large family at his palace, and he is presently married to
Madelyne of Sulward (Rogue 5), an arranged marriage that sealed a treaty with the Lordship of the Isles. Varek is still bitter that his main rival, Prince Jeon II of House Rhola, allowed Sasserine to become an independent city. Ever since this loss by House Toli, and a recent attempt by Jeon to abolish slavery in the Hold, Varek has been in constant dispute with the Prince of Monmurg, no matter how trivial the matter. Meetings at the House of Peers are always fraught with tension when Varek attends. Indeed, he keeps his own constituent houses in line through a predictable mix of bribery and fear.  
The prince is often advised by the Archmage of the Sea Princes, Thelenkar the Gray (Wizard 18), whose talents are unmatched in the Hold. He is generally avoided by Varek however, due to a personal dislike of the mage since childhood. Despite this, the prince is unaware that the presence of Thelenkar has kept certain dangerous foreign agents from infiltrating his court.  
Prince Varek IV is a pivotal character to use for all levels of play in the Hold of the Sea Princes. He is central to much of the political theater of this setting, as well as his naval faction the Toli Armada. Port Toli is a major city in which to base nautical adventures involving piracy and exploration around the south seas or the jungles beyond. Prince Varek IV is a suitable patron for such amoral groups wanting to exploit the riches of these lands beyond the Flanaess.
House of Peers in the Sea Princes
The Hold of the Sea Princes comprises thirty domains, divided amongst a dozen noble houses. A few of these houses can trace their lineage back hundreds of years to the first Suel migrations, while most are merely fabricated hereditary titles of pirate captains who settled down a century ago. While the Hold is currently ruled by the Prince of Monmurg, the Prince of Port Toli has led the House of Peers for much of the Holds’ history. In political situations, the twelve houses are evenly divided between naval factions called the Princes’ Fleet and the Toli Armada. Those Sea Princes captains who choose to avoid house politics, nominally defer to a fleet named the Hold Flotilla in times of war.

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Sea Princes Nobles 576 CY - Prince Jeon II

Hey again Greyhawkers! Continuing on with the relaunch of GREYHAWKERY I have another new column that I'll regularly add to, and this one may be familiar to anyone who has downloaded and read Oerth Journal #32. The nobility of the Hold of the Sea Princes (576 CY) is something I have used extensively in my campaign, and I've made supporting political maps for in the past. Be sure to get these maps if you haven't already so you can track this column better. In this column, starting with the ruler of the Hold, Prince Jeon II, I am expanding on material already present in my OJ #32 article, as well as giving suggestions and scenarios for what these assorted nobles are best suited in your own Greyhawk campaign. Feel free to comment and offer your own insights to this project and enjoy!

His Royal Highness, Prince Jeon II of Monmurg; Ruler of the Azure Sea; Captain of all the Fleets; etc. (House Rhola, Prince’s Fleet, Fighter 17)
Prince Jeon II hails from a family who can trace their lineage back to heroes and kings from the earliest days of the Kingdom of Keoland. His great-grandfather and namesake Jeon I, famously died at the Battle of Jetsom Island aboard his legendary ship the Sea Prince. Jeon II has only ruled the Hold since 573 CY. Before the prince was elevated to the head of the House of Peers, he was an adventuring buccaneer who boastfully has sailed every sea in the Flanaess, and whose dalliances are the stuff of bardic song. In fact, foreign nobles from Rel Astra to Gradsul are known to winter in the Hold of the Sea Princes as guests of the famed Prince of Monmurg. Prince Jeon II is an ardent follower of Kelanen the Prince of Swords, and likewise he privately acts as a patron for aspiring adventurers.
Jeon’s mighty warship, the Azure Jewel stands as an imposing and inspiring symbol among the bustling harbor of Monmurg. The Prince’s palace in Monmurg is where the ruling House of Peers gather twice a year. Originally built by Keoland to pacify the pirates of Toli, this fortress overlooks the entire city and harbor. Inside its high buttressed walls is a veritable museum of Suel history; weapon displays, marble busts and statues of the Holds’ greatest heroes and captains line each hall.  
Politics and Intrigues: Jeon’s stance against slavery may have eased tensions with foes of the Hold like Yeomanry and Keoland, but his support in the House of Peers has suffered since he allowed Sasserine to become a free city in 575 CY. Traditionally, House Rhola’s main rival is House Toli. While the two princes are amicable in public, Prince Varek IV is constantly scheming to bring failure and scandal to Jeon. Commodore Oratero of Jetsom Isle is Jeon’s best friend and closest advisor. The two have endured many battles and duels over the years, forging an unbreakable bond. Jeon is notably the most eligible bachelor in the Sea Princes, and the fact he has no (known) heirs is the source of continual match-making efforts. 
Jeon II is a high-level NPC contact who can be used as the focal point for major political drama or even high-stakes naval warfare. He makes an excellent benefactor for dangerous missions on behalf of the Hold and House Rhola. Published examples are Jeon sending heroes to investigate deserted Sea Princes settlements in the Amedio, (Treasures of Greyhawk) and sending adventurers to acquire the ancestral Sword of the Dragon. (Treasures of Greyhawk)
House of Peers in the Sea Princes
The Hold of the Sea Princes comprises thirty domains, divided amongst a dozen noble houses. A few of these houses can trace their lineage back hundreds of years to the first Suel migrations, while most are merely fabricated hereditary titles of pirate captains who settled down a century ago. While the Hold is currently ruled by the Prince of Monmurg, the Prince of Port Toli has led the House of Peers for much of the Holds’ history. In political situations, the twelve houses are evenly divided between naval factions called the Princes’ Fleet and the Toli Armada. Those Sea Princes captains who choose to avoid house politics, nominally defer to a fleet named the Hold Flotilla in times of war.

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Ull: Land of a Thousand Villains - Nura bint Ramil

Welcome back Greyhawk faithful! Today is the start of another new blog column. This one is dedicated to the late Jason Zavoda, who would post NPCs and monsters on his blog Hall of the Mountain King. Jason is why I'm naming this series, Ull: Land of a Thousand Villains. My first post is on the alluringly deadly Nura bint Ramil. Originally an NPC from my own 2E home campaign, this villain first appeared in 2010 as my entry in Postfest XIV on Canonfire. Twelve years later it is time to re-examine this shady lady from Ull so she can be used in your own Greyhawk campaign. Enjoy!

"There are few sights in Ull rarer than a woman who wields power and wealth. In the seedy heights of Kester is one such woman, and though she is not a native of Ull, none dare contest her right to live and prosper in that harsh frontier land.”

Nura bint Ramil the Pit Mistress (human female, rogue 12)

   Nura bint Ramil arrived in the far-flung trade-town of Kester during the reign of Draske the Short in 581 CY, and she brought enough wealth and attitude to effectively buy her way into the upper echelon of Kester’s popular gladiatorial market. Her sudden fame, and influence was considered remarkable by locals, because in Ull a woman of any lineage has to be twice as ambitious and aggressive as her rivals. Nura bint Ramil operates from a walled compound on the edge of Kester, that includes holding pits and a training yard for her hand-picked stable of gladiators. Known across the region as the “Pit Mistress”, she is frequently found at Kester’s markets appraising new talent or at the Grand Pavilion by the fighting pits. placing bets with her fellow Pit Masters on their upcoming fights. Nura is always accompanied by a retinue of loyal eunuch bodyguards and other sycophant servants. Whispers tell that she also has a very powerful, but secret benefactor watching over her in return for some unknowable bargain. Indeed, no one in Ull seems to know Nura’s history, and the Pit Mistress does not tolerate personal questions about her past.


  
DM’s Background: Nura bint Ramil was born in 564 CY in the city of Sefmur in Tusmit. She is the daughter of a small-time guild thief named Nadira and the notorious assassin, Ramil the Serpent of Ceshra. Nura never knew her father, she was only a year-old when he was apprehended on a mission in Ket, never to be seen again. Nura grew up on the streets of Sefmur, running with a youth gang after she was abandoned by her mother at age eight. She faced the judgment of the qadi magistrates several times for pick pocketing and cut-pursing, spending her formative years in more than one detention house and finally as an indentured servant to a clothier. At the age of sixteen Nura caught the eye of a lieutenant in the Sefmur thieves guild named Mirak al-Massari, who often came to the clothier to have custom garments made. By chance one day, he saw young Nura casually concealing sewing needles, strong thread and even a pair of shears on her as she worked. Mirak watched her pocket these items from afar and was impressed with what he saw so he took her aside during a break. Nura was told she had special talents and that she was wasting her time here, so Mirak managed to get her released from the sweatshop after bribing the head seamstress with promises and fake jewelry.

   Sponsored by Mirak, Nura became a valued guild-thief in only a few years, concentrating on house burglaries at night, or bait and switch jobs during the day. One fateful night at the guild-house, she overheard talk about how she was the spitting image of her mother Nadira, who once spurned the Guildmaster’s advances and fell for a Ceshran assassin. Nura became obsessed with learning more about Ramil the Serpent, what happened to him, and even what kind of debts the guild may have owed him. A couple years later, her curiosity led to trouble when one day she broke into the Guildmaster’s chambers and found a journal. To her dismay, Nura discovered that the mission Ramil was sent to Ket on was in fact a set-up with the Ketite authorities by the jealous Guildmaster. Nura had just finished reading the account when Mirak, and the other senior lieutenants caught her in the act. Rather than kill Nura, the Guildmaster punished the daughter of Ramil by turning her over to Sefmur’s corrupt qadis, who were handsomely paid to convict her on false charges.

   Nura was sentenced and sold to an unscrupulous caravan master whose last recorded expedition was south through Ull toward the Dry Steppes. Istus intervened however, and the caravan was scattered by a freak dust storm that took the life of the caravan master and left everyone to survive on their own. Nura surprisingly turned up in Kester a week later, a free Baklunish woman again with new-found wealth to start her life over. While she now enjoys an extravagant career beyond her wildest dreams, Nura bint Ramil privately plots revenge for her father on the Sefmur thieves’ guild in the near future.

   Description: By all standards in the West, Nura is a comely individual, fit and youthful in appearance with lustrous black hair down to her waist. However, her severe hazel-colored eyes and harsh demeanor show what a rough life she has in fact lived. Nura is normally dressed in the finest robes and dresses that can be found in Kester, along with an endless assortment of veils and jeweled accessories won from bets with other Pit Masters or gifted from visiting merchants. When travelling outside the comforts of Kester through the rugged land of Ull, she dresses in leathers, a light cloak and often a heavy turban to disguise her appearance. Nura is highly proficient in many light weapons and will always have at least one blade hid on her during any given encounter. Since moving to Kester, Nura bint Ramil is not above the use of poisons. Her eclectic collection includes exotic poisons that can be delivered with a kiss or from her painted fingernails. Given her resources and contacts, any of the above items in her possession could be magical with an emphasis on worn protective devices. In certain dangerous situations, Nura may also have access to magical dusts, sands and possibly even a one-use item with the ability to summon an earth elemental.

   DM’s Campaign Notes: Nura bint Ramil was in fact rescued from the dust storm by the enigmatic necromancer Abi Dalzim, recently returned to the outskirts of Kester after his long banishment at the hands of his nemesis Alhamazad the Wise. Nura is completely in his thrall, secretly doing his bidding without fail, and fearing his omnipresent attention from the crumbled ruins of his tower in the Ulsprue foothills. When not tasked with some fell quest by her shrouded master, Nura is independent to pursue her own goals. This is an arrangement she freely chose, thus making her even more cunning than most would-be villains. Her position as a Pit Master in the lawless trade town of Kester makes her an excellent source for information or minor missions for Player Characters who don’t mind her shady nature. In the most extreme situation, she can even buy captured PCs and put them to work in Kester’s deadly fighting pits until they can win their freedom back.