Elder Evils

ENCOUNTER 7-3
110
V
ILE HOME
Encounter Level 20
SETUP
As the PCs approach the heart of the crater, Ragnorra
becomes increasingly aware of them and accelerates the
process of healing and transformation. She is now on the
verge of assuming her True Mother form, which will take
the reshaping of the world to the next stage.
Ragnorra’s lair is more brightly lit than the rest of the
heart of the crater. The neurotangle above sparkles and
flares with corrupt positive energy. Connecting it to the
worldskin is a cable of flesh as thick as a tree trunk: the
True Mother chord.
If the PCs have tamed Two-and-a-Half-Brains (see encounter
7–2), they can convince her to burrow into Ragnorra’s
lair. The tunnel emerges at the point labeled 1 on the
encounter map. The players place their miniatures in the
squares surrounding the tunnel opening. In this case,
no blistered souls have spawned at the locations labeled
3 and 4, since Ragnorra (R) has not yet noticed the PCs’
approach. Any blistered souls that the PCs did not destroy
in encounter 7–1 are in the area labeled 2 on the map and
are not immediately visible.
If the PCs arrive from the south or east, the players
place their miniatures within 10 feet of the appropriate
entrance. One blistered soul has spawned at the location
labeled 3; an additional blistered soul starts at location 4
if the PCs have arrived here after encounter 7–2.
You might wish to mark the various worldskin features
with coins: Heads indicates a growth ready for use, and
tails marks one that must be regenerated. Remove coins
from features that are destroyed.
When the players have finished arranging their miniatures,
place the appropriate blistered souls on the
map and read:
A massive cable is rooted in the fleshy surface,
glinting with crystal and metallic fibers. Midway
between the floor and the neurotangle canopy
above, beams of light burst from its twined strands,
hinting at the gargantuan powers flowing through
the whole of the chord.
An enormous, sluglike being glides serenely along
the mottled floor, brilliant sparkles of light
reflecting from its gooey surface. It turns toward
you with a sound like a thousand bows drawn too
tight. In its midsection, translucent flesh reveals
tumors and organs grotesquely arranged in the
image of a peacefully dreaming face. Through your
mind echo terrible screams of past violence,
impossibly woven into words: “Welcome home,
children.”
Blistered Soul CR 15
hp 187 each (22 HD)
See page 106 for statistics.
Ragnorra CR 19
hp 576 (48 HD); DR 15/epic
See page 99 for statistics.
TACTICS
Ragnorra is preparing for the next stage of her regrowth.
She moves toward the True Mother chord to finish her
preparations, rolling like a wave of sludge over spawn,
worldskin features, and PCs with equal unconcern.
If the PCs deal damage to Ragnorra, she does not retaliate
directly at first; instead, she births aberrations from a
nearby spawning spore and regenerates it. After 2 rounds,
she directly attacks PCs who damaged her, striking and
making use of worldskin features as appropriate.
Blistered Souls: Any blistered souls that were spawned
in response to the PCs’ intrusion (at locations 3 and 4)
attempt to defend Ragnorra. They activate worldskin features
to support other blistered souls in combat.
Blistered souls that escaped here from encounter 7–1
remain hidden in the corner labeled 2 and use their regenerate
worldskin ability to heal and support Ragnorra and
the others.
Irthicax Vane: Even if the PCs persuade Vane to their
cause, the monk will not engage Ragnorra. However, he
does attack blistered souls, distracting his target and preventing
it from activating worldskin features. If Ragnorra
transforms into her True Mother form, Vane immediately
attempts to flee through the eastern entrance.
Two-and-a-Half-Brains: The bulette does not want to be
here and would rather not fight. The PCs can make Diplomacy
checks to direct her to attack worldskin features,
but otherwise she is content to huddle in her tunnel.
CONCLUSION
After 9 rounds, or after Ragnorra has been reduced to 200
hit points or fewer, whichever comes first, she transfers
her life energy into her True Mother form.
Thick, twisting strands descend from the neurotangle,
closing access to the eastern and southern entrances. If
Two-and-a-Half-Brains has burrowed into the area, the
tunnel opening is not affected.
When Ragnorra assumes her True Mother form,
remove her figure from the map and read:
With the sound of soft leather shredding,
Ragnorra’s skin unfolds like a blooming flower.
Fountaining ichor spills to the floor, but, rather
than spreading, it zips to the roots of the great cable
and is instantly absorbed.