Elder Evils

FEATURES OF THE AREA
The battlefield includes a number of areas affected by the swirling
random energy of the level. These zones are columns of water
that extend from the top of the battlefield to the bottom and
affect any individuals moving through them regardless of their
relative depth. They can also be moved by the DM to present the
party with greater challenges, if a character is leaving the battlefield
too quickly or is otherwise having too easy a time of it. The
aspects of the Leviathan are immune to the zones’ effects.
Creatures: The water seems alive with many different small
creatures—iridescent glowing shrimp, tiny jellyfish, spiralshaped
worms, and fluttering fan-shaped creatures. They are
harmless but numerous enough to cling to anyone who enters,
slowing movement and obscuring vision. A character must attempt
a DC 24 Reflex save. On a failure, the PC is blinded and
moves at half speed for 1 round. On a success, the PC takes a
–1 penalty on all rolls and checks for 1 round.
Turbulence: This water swirls about madly; anyone entering
the zone must make a DC 22 Reflex save or be flung 1d6×10
feet in a random direction.
Thick Zone: The water here is thick and sluggish, so moving
through this area is like swimming through pudding. A character
entering one of these zones must stop and can move no farther
in this round. In the following round he must make a DC 12
Strength check to leave the thick zone and even then can move
at only half speed in that round. On a failure, the character is
stuck and cannot move, but can take any other action.
Chaos Effects: These columns contain concentrated chaos
energy and cause a single random effect to anyone entering
them. These effects are in addition to any rolled on the random
table above.
d% Effect
01–20 4d4 random energy damage (Fort DC 20 half)
21–35 Paralyzed for 1d4 rounds (Fort DC 20 negates)
36–50 Horrid wilting (DC 18)
51–75 4d8 random energy damage (Fort DC 22 half)
76–85 Scintillating pattern (DC 18)
86–95 4d12 random energy damage (Fort DC 24 half)
95–100 2d4 spell levels restored as if not cast or
4d6 hit points healed
ENCOUNTER 5-2
mass of displaced water now rushes over you as a
great form appears nearby. A massive serpentine
creature slides ponderously through the water
toward you.
TACTICS
Two aspects of the Leviathan attack the PCs to keep them
apart and prevent them from leaving the encounter area.
Only two aspects of the Leviathan appear at first. If the party
is having too easy a time, add one or two more aspects.
The aspects attempt to use their chaotic surge ability
to incapacitate the PCs, then swallow whole any helpless
victims (freedom of movement will not aid paralyzed or unconscious
PCs against grapple checks).
The aspects continue to pursue the PCs if they move out
of the runic zones. If the characters can reach the exits, the
aspects break off pursuit.
As the battle goes on, random chaotic events take place,
making the PCs’ escape even harder. Every 1d4 rounds, a
new random condition affects everyone on the battlefield
except the aspects of the Leviathan. Roll on the table below
to determine the effect. Individual effects (such as energy
damage, shaken, and so on) must be determined for each
character separately. General effects (darkness, antimagic
fi e l d , and the like) affect the entire encounter area. All effects
last for 1 round unless otherwise indicated.
d% Effect
01–05 DC 20 Reflex save or character can move at
only half speed
06–15 DC 20 Will save or character can take only single
action (move or attack)
16–25 2d6 random energy damage (Fort DC 20 half)
26–30 4d6 random energy damage (Fort DC 20 half)
31–35 DC 20 Will save or character is confused
36–45 DC 20 Fortitude save or character is dazzled
46–50 DC 20 Fortitude save or character is sickened
51–60 DC 20 Reflex save or character is shaken
61–70 DC 20 Fortitude save or character is nauseated
71–75 DC 20 Reflex save or character is moved
1d6×10 feet in a random direction
76–80 Area affected by nonmagical darkness
81–87 Area affected as if by obscuring mist
88–94 Area affected as if by antimagic field
95–100 Area affected as if by sound burst
CONCLUSION
The fight ends when the party either kills the aspects or escapes
from the level. The unusual conditions and the fact that the PCs
had to start the fight separated add to the difficulty, and you can
award up to 1,000 bonus XP for surviving the encounter.
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