Elder Evils

CHAPTER 7
RAGNORRA
102
Atk Options Combat Reflexes, Improved Bull Rush, Improved
Disarm, Power Attack, Stunning Fist 18/day (DC
25), flurry of blows, ki strike (adamantine, lawful, magic)
Special Actions abundant step 1/day (as dimension door, CL
8th), quivering palm 1/week (DC 25), wholeness of body
(heal 34/day)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 17th):
1/day—true strike
Combat Gear Gutterang, ring of Locari’s mouth (ventriloquism
at will, 65-ft. range; DC 14), ring of regeneration
Abilities Str 14, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 24, Cha 8
SQ slow fall 80 ft., timeless body
Feats Apostate B , Combat Reflexes B , Deformity (face) B ,
Dodge, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Disarm B , Improved
Unarmed Strike B , Lightning Reflexes, Mobility,
Power Attack, Spring Attack, Stunning Fist B , Vile Ki
Strike B , Willing Deformity B
Skills Balance +27, Climb +12, Diplomacy +9 (+11 against evil
creatures), Hide +13, Intimidate +4, Jump +34, Listen +17,
Move Silently +13, Spot +17, Survival +9, Tumble +25
Possessions combat gear plus monk’s belt
THE HEART
OF THE CRATER
The tactical encounters in this chapter occur after Ragnorra
has plummeted to earth in the campaign world. At the center
of a 30-mile-wide pit of scalded wasteland lie her remains.
The heart of the crater is shattered by cracks and fissures, and
walls of obsidian have been thrown up by the impact.
Corrupted life is already teeming here, impossibly springing
from the seared rock. This is the sign of things to come:
Ragnorra’s new world order.
KEY FEATURES
Ragnorra has started the process of regrowth, during which
she will increase from her current Gargantuan fragment to
a monstrosity a mile or more across.
The Neurotangle
The visible evidence of Ragnorra’s growth is the neurotangle,
a thick canopy of twisted, thorny fibers blanketing the crater.
This network extends Ragnorra’s senses and grows thicker
as she regains her strength.
The neurotangle canopy forms a dome rising about 80 feet
above the crater. It is at least 30 feet thick, extending to the
floor in many places, and it spreads out past the crater edges
in a thin mat. At the heart of the crater, it forms a ceiling
resting on the obsidian walls caused by Ragnorra’s impact.
An eerie twilight fills the space beneath the canopy, whose
matted fibers block many of the sun’s rays. Treat this condition
as shadowy illumination (PH 164).
The Worldskin
Ragnorra is corrupting the essence of the world’s life. All
living things eventually become connected to her through a
massive network known as the worldskin. Pulsing veins run
through the earth, branching neural fibers lace the skies, and
gelatinous tendrils arc through the oceans. Cysts, abscesses,
spores and tumors dot this foul growth, extensions of the
elder evil’s power that create a variety of magical effects.
Because Ragnorra smashed into the world only recently,
the skin has not spread very far yet. The membrane stretches
across the crater floor, and the elder evil can activate any
feature on its surface if she feels threatened. The PCs must
contend with its many hazards in addition to Ragnorra, who
lurks at its heart. She is unlikely to take notice of them unless
they enter her lair (see encounter 7–3). However, her guardian
progeny can also activate the skin’s features and regenerate
them for repeated use.
The features of the worldskin cover its surface thickly; the
encounter maps show specific growths. Unless otherwise
specified, all effects produced by the worldskin are spell-like
abilities and use the effective caster level of the activating
creature. They require a standard action to activate.
Bioenergy Cyst: Hard, mineral-laced mounds jut from
the surface, thrumming with energy. On activation, a cyst
generates a line of lightning between itself and another cyst
within 100 feet, dealing 10d6 points of electricity damage. A
successful Reflex save halves the damage (DC 13 + activating
creature’s Cha or Int modifier, whichever is higher).
Alternatively, a single cyst can be activated to create a fi r e
seeds effect as the spell (four grenades, 5d6 fire damage each;
pqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqrs
GUTTERANG
Price: Minor artifact
Body Slot: Ring
Caster Level: 20th
Aura: Strong; (DC 25) abjuration
Activation: See text
Weight: —
This glittering crystal band is much wider than a typical ring. Its
substance seems unearthly.
Now Gutterang attempts to keep Irthicax Vane alive and
uncorrupted by the touch of Ragnorra. It tries to preserve a link
to his lost world by reminding the monk of his honorable past.
The artifact believes that reclaiming their world from Ragnorra’s
corruption is still possible, with Vane as the catalyst. Though
such a hope seems impossible, the former weird’s powers of
healing and guidance offer at least a chance.
Gutterang is an intelligent ring of protection +5 that has the
following special abilities.
Alignment LG.
Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 17; Speech, telepathy; 120-ft. darkvision
and hearing.
Ego 17.
Lesser Powers cure moderate wounds 3/day, deathwatch at
will, 10 ranks in Diplomacy.
Greater Power haste 3/day.
Prerequisites: Minor artifact.
Cost to Create: Minor artifact.
Gutterang was once an elemental weird (MM2 90) that resided
on Irthicax Vane’s lost homeworld. Through intricate ritual
and arcane craft, it was bound in a crystalline ring to be Vane’s
constant guide, freed from the limitation of its elemental pool.
However, it was greatly weakened by the process and is no
longer able to survive outside its glittering prison.
pqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqrs