Northwind - Monsters & Treasures

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Woe unto he who stumbles into the Hanging City, invited or by chance, for suspended among the twisted trees of the Nazharrow Wood is the Thrice Damned City of Spiders, Apollyon. The abominable masters of this nightmarish city are the intelligent and telepathic Giant Spiders of Apollyon, most of which are as competent at spell-casting as any human or elf. The city itself is only rarely open to visitation, and then by invitation only; but of those bold or fool-hearty enough to enter, great treasures and seldom seen horror soaked splendors await.


It is said the Spiders have the souls of artists being lead by madly twisted and screaming muses, and without a doubt, their architecture, completely spun from their swollen night-shaded bodies, reflects this interpretation. Up and down are relative terms when describing a simple tavern setting, for all sides of the room are utilized, including the bar, which serves up the finest fermented elfsblood in silk-spun capsules. For those poor visitors unable to climb in such an establishment, there is almost certain to be a hospitably willing octi-legged patron willing to assist – either up close and personal or by way of hoisting the hapless guest up with her spinnerets …


Apollyon's biggest export is, as one might imagine, fine silks. Nearly all silk products, from ropes to robes, in the Northwind region may trace their origin to the Hanging City. Their closest ally and strongest trading partners are of the city of Carnage (KAR-naj,) home of the Soft Ones, a mysterious and otherworldly race of beings, mute, magical, and telepathic, not unlike the Spiders themselves. The Soft Ones are known throughout the region as vaguely humanoid public relations and mercantile representatives of the Spiders and their wares (They are also known for their practice of 'sporcery,' a fusion of chaos magics and alchemy not widely understood, but that is another days topic …) The Soft Ones supposedly have an arrangement with the Spiders trading live souls for silks, but these rumors are only founded upon the Soft Ones very public embrace of slavery and the worst fears of the unknowable.

AC4, HD7, 1-6 bite/poison, Spell usage, Psi Ability 50, Attack/Defence Modes=All

The Spiders of Appolyon are the stuff of nightmares; Intelligent Telepathic Giant Spiders that can cast spells as any variant of magic use known to man or elf.

Their poison does not cause immediate death, only a paralytic state, as the Spider routinely eat their food while alive and thinking - the better to telepathically savour the terror as they drain the fluids from their prey.

Of course, like The Soft Ones, the Spiders cannot actually speak, communicating directly to one another and the world at large through their mental prowess. They cast spells through a complex method of Eurythmancy known as The Signing of Yuggoth, a talents taught to them long ago by the denizens of that place.

The Spiders put their silk to an array of uses such as drag-lines - helping another spider who might have the misfortune of falling from a perilous height, wrapping up food, wrapping up themselves as a form of clothing, ballooning flight, carrying messages over distance by way of vibrations in the web or Thrumming, bungee cord, diving bells for water spiders, fishing rods for fishing spiders, and trapdoors for Trapdoor Spiders.

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Caps of Red, Blood and Dread ...

Redcaps; a common scourge of the Wilderlands preying on travellers, adventurers and caravans alike. These diminutive terrors are best known for their blood-lust fueled rages and vicious tenacity.

While often referred to as goblins, this is not an entirely accurate classification, as they are in fact related closer to Gnomish blood, than to Fae-folk. The Bardic College of Northwind has on record a tale that further defines the Redcap as a Fae-cursed clan of Gnomes that were among the first of fell creatures to welcome the Black Mother of the Night to these lands and that she rewarded their faith with a lust of blood and battle.

Redcaps are extremely fond of their silvered halberds as a means of maximizing their damage potential in combat and as a means of making up for their small stature. As a whole, the race is gifted with almost supernatural quickness, which is often times supplemented by magical iron boots of speed – most often times a gift from fae-hating witches among their numbers who take perverse glee at the thought of stamped upon faeries.

A Redcap's blood-lust should never be underestimated, for the creatures will become twice as hostile and thrice as cunning with even the smallest drop spilled. Fresh blood invigorates a Redcap with speed and ferocity. The mere application of blood to a Redcap's skin is sufficient enough to enliven it such and the ritualistic practice of dipping their woolen caps in blood and gore finds its origin here from which their namesake is also derived.

While wildly prolific in the Northwind region, Redcaps have no nation to speak of and collect themselves in various tribes. Cooperation among these tribes is limited, largely in part from the Redcap's hateful disposition towards outsiders. This hate sometimes even manifests itself within a tribe, and inter-tribal murder is somewhat common and even cannibalism isn't unheard of among them.

Both The Merchant's Guild and The Council of Northwind have petitioned the Overlord to action over the growing Redcap threat to inter-county and international trade. As such, a regional bounty of 2 Silver Wyverns have been placed upon each head collected from a Redcap, regulated and collectable through the office of The Adventuring Guild of Northwind.

AC7, HD1, 1-6 Silvered Halberd, Bloodlust

Redcaps appear as sturdy, but diminutive old men with red eyes, taloned hands, and large sharpened teeth. They commonly wear red caps and bear a pikestaff in one hand. They are said to haunt ruined castles, deep dark dungeons, and abandoned homes. Redcaps are known to murder travellers who stray from their homes at night and dye their caps in their victim's blood.

Redcaps must kill regularly, for if the blood staining their caps dries out, they die. They will seek out victims - animal or man - in their constant thirst for blood, and upon the first drop attained in combat, they enter a blood frenzy, giving them two attacks per round at a +1 to hit for every wound they inflict in a given melee.

Redcaps are very quick, due to their iron-shod boots. Outrunning a Redcap is virtually impossible, unless in possession of Boots of Speed.

Interestingly enough, they may be turned by Priests of the Church of Northwind.

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Sleestakks

AC7, HD3, 1-6 Light Crossbows, Spears, & Stone Axes.

Sleestakks are nocturnal reptilian humanoids that dwell in remains of a once advanced technological or mystical civilization. They are a bit dim and are usually armed with Light Crossbows with a pathetic range of as follows: 1"/2"/3." They seldom surprise anyone because of the noisy hissing they make when excited. They do not like to operate in bright light and will flee areas of all but the mildest illumination.


Trow

AC3, HD3, 1-6 teeth and claws, Special: Regenerate, Bite.

Trow are man-eating nocturnal earth dwellers with razor sharp teeth and claws that can slash and bite through steel. They will eat absolutely anything, from blood to metal, but their hunger for manflesh is legendary.They are inclined to be short of stature, terribly ugly, deviantly cunning.

In combat, a Trow may full well bite off an appendage as a Sword of Sharpness, and bite a weapon in half - magical or not - on a roll of natural 20.

Trow regenerate at the alarming rate of 4 HP per round one round after the wound was made. Damage done by Silver or blessed weapons does not regenerate.

They can be turned by Clerics of Northwind as Wights.

Daylight will turn these foul creatures to stone - no save.


Ghul

AC3, HD3-5, 1-6 Claw and Bite, Special: Infravision 90', Spider Climb, Spell Usage, Immune to Non Magical Fire.

A Ghul is a minor Demon addicted to the reprehensible habit of devouring the dead. Ghuls (masculine) and Ghulah (feminine) gather near graves, cemetaries, and tombs. It is also apparent that they dwell in desolate places where they attack unsuspecting travellers who might mistake them for fellow travellers and are lead to their doom.

Being minor demonic entities rather than undead (Due to a pact between Orcus and Glazya,) Ghuls are turned by clerics of Northwind as Wraiths and are immune to the effects of Non Magical Fire. Ghuls can climb walls at will and frequently do so in combat to ambush or evade opponents. They also cast spells as a 3rd-5th level Magic User.

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The Apes of Zolanti

Far to the South of the Northwind region come the Ape-men. What is actually known of them is little, but adventurers, sages and merchants alike have reported the following. The Apes encountered in these Northern lands come in two types; sly merchants bartering a superior metal known as Zolanti Steel in the Bazaars of the City State, and what may be described as adventuring groups that are hostile to men. They are often referred to as Ape-men due to their high intelligence, speaking a number of languages and mastering various degrees of magic. These Ape Wizards have been seen in close proximity to Stonehell and the mountains of The Barrier Peak. They are usually accompanied by large Gorilla-like soldiers, whose savage brutality is said to be a horror to behold.

While the motivations of the merchants may be easily ciphered, The motives of the adventuring Apes is somewhat a mystery. Why travel to these Northernmost territories? Is it merely gold that motivates them, or are they searching for something more eldritch, and perhaps more sinister?

[robkuntz]

All very creative material!

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Thanks, Rob!