Villains' Lorebook.pdf - Department of Political Science

Ice Spire ogres are very well adapted to surviving in
their frigid, treacherous environment. When operating
in their home terrain, these ogres receive a +2
bonus to their surprise rolls. Further, Ice Spire ogres
also have 30% chance to move silently, as per the
thief’s ability, in their native lands.
To those Ice Spire ogres who worship the fiend
Baphomet, he grants the ability to enter a state of
killing frenzy the ogres refer to as the Blood Dance.
While in this strange state, the ogres receive an additional
+2 bonus to both attack and damage rolls,
and always fight to the death. When in this frenzied
rage, the ogres also have their hit points drop to -10
before they fall (though suffering any damage that
takes them below 0 hp will kill the ogres after the
frenzy passes). Only victory or death can quench the
fire of the Blood Dance. Once the Blood Dance begins,
its infernal frenzy lasts for 2d10 rounds. Most
Ice Spire ogres have no foreknowledge of when the
Blood Dance will strike, although it’s likely that the
tribe’s shamans know in advance, or they may even
play an active part in beseeching their god to bestow
his bloody “blessing.”
Habitat/Society: Most of the Ice Spire ogres live
in a vast network of caves and caverns located high
in the Ice Spire mountains. This range lies south of
the Great Glacier, north of Citadel Adbar, east of the
Coldwood, and west of Anauroch. Access to the cavem
network is gained by way of a series of stairs and
ladders (giant-sized, of course, which will cause problems
for any of the smaller PC races who try ascending
them), strategically located to be easily defensible.
In other words, many ascents all lead to a single
entrance to the caves proper, allowing the ogres to
concentrate their defenses at that cave opening.
A thick, choking mist from vents deep within
these caves permeates the entirety of the network.
This mist causes nausea in all who are unaccustomed
to it. Any who encounter this mist must save vs. poison
or suffer a -3 penalty on all attack rolls for 1d3
turns. Ice Spire ogres are adept at moving and fighting
in this mist, however, and gain a +4 bonus to surprise
rolls and a 50% chance to move silently or hide
in shadows (as per the thief’s abilities) when within
the mist.
The ogres that inhabit this network worship
Vaprak the Destroyer, the great ogre god. They’ve
also followed the instructions of Lanaxis, the Twilight
Spirit, in the past.
Another tribe of Ice Spire ogres lives in the region.
Calling itself the Dour Fissure, it also reveres
Baphomet. This is the only tribe that possesses the
above-described Blood Dance ritual ability.
Shaman: An Ice Spire ogre shaman has the standard
abilities for one of his race, and the abilities of a
priest. If six or more Ice Spire ogres are encountered,
they are accompanied by a 3rd-level priest. If 16 or
more are met, their shaman is 5th-level priest.
For those DMs who wish to give non-PC races a
different feel, Ice Spire ogre shamans could use the
rules from the Shaman AD&D game accessory. Use
the tribal shaman template in this case.
Chieftain: If 16 or more ogres are encountered,
they are led by an ogre chieftain. A chieftain is a
9HD monster with AC 3 and THAC0 11 (9). He inflicts
2d8+7 points of damage, or by weapon +7.
Ecology: Ice Spire ogres are low on the totem pole
of giants and giant-kin in the Ice Spires region. They
keep herds of krotter, a large, yaklike cattle, for food,
clothing, and milk. They also raid and pillage to add
to their larders and to increase their reputations.
They’ve also been known to hire themselves out as
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