Exemplars of Evil

ENCOUNTER 4-3
T
HE HOLD OF MADNESS
Encounter Level 10
SETUP
On one of Gnash’s many adventures, he discovered a
strange, rubbery egg. Believing it was a gift from his insane
master, he placed it in the ship’s hold. To his surprise, the
egg hatched, revealing an otherworldly creature. The thing
grew rapidly, and seemed content in the hold as long as
it ate regularly. Lately, more and more water has collected
in the hold, bringing with it various parasites (including
bloodbloaters) that thrive in the stagnant pool. The kython
tolerates the cold, fetid water for now, but if the level rises
much higher, it is certain to break free.
Disturbances such as combat or flashy spellcasting (lightning
bolts and the like) send the kython (K) scuttling into
the shadows and cause the bloodbloaters (B) to quiver.
If any PCs on the lower deck peer down through the
trapdoor, read:
The stench from what looks like a half-flooded
cargo hold is overpowering. In the square of
light cast by the open trapdoor, you can see the
ribs of the ship sticking up out of the dark
water. A pale, wrinkled human hand floats
on the oily surface.
If the PCs descend, read:
The hold is dark, and the light from above does
little to illuminate your surroundings. The thighdeep
water is cold, black, and greasy. Down here,
the foul odor is so strong that you find yourself
breathing as little as possible.
If the PCs have a light source or use darkvision, read:
Something massive stirs and splashes toward the
aft, unfolding itself to reveal a vaguely humanoid
creature armored in chitin plates. Its enormous
oblong head splits, showing multiple rows of
teeth webbed with thick strings of drool. The
creature hisses, then surges through the water
toward you.
78
The Thing in the Hold CR 9
hp 209 (22 HD)
Male advanced adult kython BoVD
NE Large aberration
Init +7; Senses blindsight 60 ft.; Listen +12, Spot +2
Languages Abyssal, Infernal
AC 23, touch 11, flat-footed 24; Dodge, Mobility
(–1 size, +2 Dex, +12 natural)
Immune acid, cold
Resist electricity 20, fire 20
Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +15
Speed 45 ft. (9 squares); Spring Attack
Melee bite +23 (4d6+8/19–20 plus poison) and
3 claws +22 each (2d6+4) and
claw +22 (2d6+4 plus mucus pod)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +16; Grp +28
Atk Options Cleave, Power Attack, mucus pod, poison
(Fort DC 21, 1d6 Str/1d6 Str)
Abilities Str 27, Dex 14, Con 20, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 11
Feats Cleave, Dash, Dodge, Improved Critical (bite),
Improved Initiative B , Mobility, Multiattack B , Power
Attack, Spring Attack, Weapon Focus (claw)
Skills Escape Artist +13, Hide +14, Jump +12, Listen +12,
Move Silently +17, Spot +2, Use Rope +2 (+4 bindings)
Mucus Pod (Ex) A target struck by a kython’s fourth claw
attack is sprayed by yellow mucus from a pod on the
creature’s arm. The target must succeed on a DC 26
Reflex save or become entangled for 1d6+4 rounds.
Alcohol dissolves the entangling mucus.
7 Bloodbloaters FF CR 1
hp 22 each (2 HD)
N Medium ooze (aquatic, swarm)
Init +1; Senses blindsight 60 ft.; Listen –5, Spot –5
Languages none
AC 11, touch 11, flat-footed 10
(+1 Dex)
Immune critical hits, flanking, mind-affecting spells,
weapon damage, single-target spells, vision-based
effects, poison, sleep, paralysis, polymorph, stunning
Fort +6, Ref +1, Will –5
Weakness vulnerability to area spells and fire
Speed 5 ft. (1 square), swim 30 ft.
Melee swarm (1d6 plus 1 Str)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Base Atk +1; Grp +1
Atk Options blood drain
Special Actions distraction
Abilities Str 10, Dex 13, Con 22, Int —, Wis 1, Cha 1
SQ amphibious, ooze traits (MM 313), swarm traits (MM 315)
Feats —
Skills Listen –5, Spot –5, Swim +8
Blood Drain (Ex) In each round when a bloodbloater swarm
deals at least 1 point of damage to a target, it also
drains blood and causes 1 point of Strength damage.
Distraction (Ex) Any PC who begins his turn with a swarm
in his square must make a successful DC 17 Fortitude
save or be nauseated for 1 round. Spellcasting or
concentrating on spells requires a successful
Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level). Using skills
involving patience and concentration requires a DC 20
Concentration check.