A Interlude in a Monster Write Up

[geeman]

OK, I just wanted to share a moment here with everyone. I`m writing up a

BR monster, the premise of which is that insects from the Shadow World

called gloomflies (a kind of anti-firefly that exudes a small aura of

darkness) can form themselves into a swarm creating a hive mind. Because

gloomflies lay their eggs in putrefying corpses the big priority of the

swarm is to find dead bodies to "impregnate" with larvae. Once so infested

a corpse can then be animated as a zombie by the hive mind of the swarm

which also controls the maggots. However, the zombies that are so animated

aren`t truly undead, so I need to note that they cannot be turned or

rebuked, nor are they affected by holy water. Therefore, I wrote the

following text in the monster description for a gloomfly zombie:



"Gloomfly zombies are not undead. They are corpses animated by an

infestation of writhing gloomfly maggots under the control of a gloomfly

swarm`s hive mind."



Now, immediately after writing that second sentence I was struck by how...

well, bizarre a thing it is to actually put into words, let alone write

down into a format that I fully intend to share with as many people as

possible.



G

[RaspK_FOG]

Err... I will argue your point here: this reminds me of earlier editions where something was exactly like this but not quite, a common method to make sure that the players were always on their toes...

First of all, have you worked out the mechanics on how the gloomflies affect their environment? Any statistics available?

What I visualised when you described them is a 5-foot area of effect that is sapped of light; this would drop illumination to shadowy illumination if under bright light, otherwise it would be an area of murky, impenetrable darkness. Neither darkvision nor low-light vision should penetrate it...

Is that how you have it in your mind or not?

Being able to produce a Darkness effect at will as if they were objects seems also viable, but you could tell us what you have in mind first.

In any case, if it anything near these, my first suggestion is you either turn the zombies to undead or vermin.

[geeman]

At 11:51 PM 3/25/2005 +0100, RaspK_FOG wrote:



>I will argue your point here: this reminds me of earlier editions where

>something was exactly like this but not quite, a common method to make

>sure that the players were always on their toes...



Is that a previous edition dynamic? I still do it all the time....



Anyway, keeping players on their toes is one side benefit of the issue. In

this case, the justification for making the zombies _not_ undead

("unundead"?) really came about as part of the process of writing up the

description, and the zombie animation was the result of the introductory

text that I started writing up after I wrote the stats for the swarm

itself. At first it was merely going to be a "swarm with darkness effect"

but after scribbling up some notes the zombies got added.



Since neither the maggots nor the insects that spawned them can be turned

and they don`t actually employ an animate dead spell (they merely work the

body like a marionette) it didn`t seem sensible that one should be able

turn the animated corpse. (There`s another one of those sentences again....)



>First of all, have you worked out the mechanics on how the gloomflies

>affect their environment? Any statistics available?

>

>What I visualised when you described them is a 5-foot area of effect that

>is sapped of light; this would drop illumination to shadowy illumination

>if under bright light, otherwise it would be an area of murky,

>impenetrable darkness. Neither darkvision nor low-light vision should

>penetrate it...

>

>Is that how you have it in your mind or not?

>

>Being able to produce a Darkness effect at will as if they were objects

>seems also viable, but you could tell us what you have in mind first.



I`m still writing up the description and other stats, so I haven`t worked

it out yet other than to describe the darkness effect in the introductory

section of the write up:



"At first I did not understand what it was that I was seeing, for it seemed

like a shadow that flew along the ground like some black fog. It was not

until I saw the pale corpses that shambled along behind that it dawned upon

me what it was that I was witnessing, and I admit that in my horror I did

not immediately call out. Precious seconds passed as that fetid cloud made

its way into the graveyard followed by the putrid and crumbling flesh of

the zombies."



At present, though, I was thinking of making the ability equivalent to a

Darkness spell within the squares occupied by the swarm or 5` beyond the

edges of the swarm (10` x 10`) for a total of a 20` x 20` area.



I`ll go ahead and post the description when I get it finished.



Gary

[geeman]

OK, here`s the first draft of the write up for this beastie:





Gloomfly



It was twilight and I was watching the last rays of light dwindle away in

the west when I saw the plague ridden filth heading towards the

cemetery. At first I did not understand what it was that I was seeing, for

it seemed like a shadow that flew along the ground like some black fog. It

was not until I saw the pale corpses that shambled along behind that it

dawned upon me what it was that I was witnessing, and I admit that in my

horror I did not immediately call out. Precious seconds passed as that

unholy cloud made its way into the graveyard followed by the putrid and

crumbling flesh of the zombies.



I had heard tales about the last infestation that had occurred, the havoc

wreaked by these vermin that was only surpassed by the desecration they

wreaked upon our most holy of places and upon the bodies of our honored

dead. I had been told of the horrible plagues of gloomflies that sometimes

darkened the land. I had prayed that I might never witness such a thing in

person, but as I saw the rotting bodies of the zombies begin to dig into

the sod at the foot of the graves I was certain that my prayers had gone

unanswered.



I admit, I did not call out a warning to wake my brothers in the abbey so

much as they rushed to see what it was that was the source of the screaming.



--oooOooo--



Gloomflies are insects from the Shadow World that, when gathered into a

swarm, have a collective intelligence.



Gloomflies lay their eggs in rancid conditions, preferably the putrid flesh

of corpses that have been dead for some time. Normally, gloomflies breed

at a rate not unlike that of ordinary insects, but when they infest the

body of a human their breeding cycle increases dramatically. As their

breeding cycle increases in a human corpse gloomflies begin to swarm, and

when the body is consumed the swarm must move on to find new breeding material.



Gloomfly swarms can be very dangerous, for it does not take long for the

rudimentary intelligence of the hive mind to realize that if there are not

enough corpses available for reproduction purposes then some can always be

created from the local population. In general, however, gloomfly swarms

prefer corpses that they do not have to endanger themselves to

create. Rotting flesh is preferable to newly killed flesh, so graveyards

and offal pits are often their favored breeding grounds.



As gloomfly eggs hatch they turn the body they inhabit into a writhing mass

of maggots. In a human corpse gloomfly maggots breed so quickly that soon

the body is filled with them and the body is animated as a zombie under the

control of the collective hive mind of its "parent" gloomfly swarm. The

rudimentary intelligence of the swarm then uses the zombie for defense and

as labor in its efforts to locate more putrid flesh into which the

gloomflies can lay more eggs.



Large infestations of gloomflies are rare in the Shadow World. The

carnivores of that world rarely leave behind enough carrion to result in a

large swarm. Upon occasion, however, swarms will appear and seek to assure

their numbers by locating additional corpses upon which to spawn.



Gloomfly infestation of the daylight world is similarly rare for they do

not appear to thrive in a world of light and warmth. In winter months,

however, some gloomflies have been known to somehow pass through one of the

veils between the worlds by accidentally being carried across by some

adventurer. If able to find a nesting place for their larvae gloomflies

can reproduce rapidly.



Gloomfly, swarm

Diminutive Magical Beast (Extraplaner-Shadow World, Swarm)

Hit Dice: 10d10+10 (65 hp)

Initiative: +5

Speed: 5 ft. (1 squares), fly 30 ft.

AC: 19 (+4 size, +5 dex) touch 19, flat-footed 14

Base Attack/Grapple: +10/-

Attack: Swarm (2d6)

Full Attack: Swarm (2d6)

Face/Reach: 10 ft./0 ft.

Special Attacks: Animate Zombie, Darkness, Distraction

Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., hive mind, immune to weapon

damage, swarm traits

Saves: Fort +8, Ref +12, Will +3

Abilities: Str 1, Dex 20, Con 12, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 9

Skills: Listen +10, Spot +10

Feats: -

Environment: Shadow World

Organization: Solitary, cloud (2-5 swarms) or plague (7-12 swarms)

Challenge Rating: 6

Treasure: None

Alignment: Chaotic evil

Advancement: None

Level Adjustment: -



A hissing sound accompanies the approach of this unearthly fog of

darkness. Weird, black insects fly in and out of the cloud, each

surrounded by a thin aura of darkness that radiates about a foot from its

body. The massing of these creatures results in an impenetrable shadow.



Gloomflies are insects from the Shadow World that exude a dim aura of

darkness. When gathered into a swarm their combined connection to the

twilight world creates a dark intelligence that directs the hive to achieve

particular goals. For the most part these goals are made up of acquiring

new corpses into which the hive can lay eggs.



COMBAT

A gloomfly swarm does not attack the living unless provoked as long as

there are fresh human corpses for it to infest. Once the supply of the

dead is exhausted, however, the rudimentary intelligence of the swarm will

realize that living humans can be turned into hosts for their eggs with a

little effort and the hunt for victims will begin.



In combat the swarm seeks to envelop its opponents, doing 2d6 damage to

creature whose space it occupies at the end of its move.



Animate Zombie (Su): The day after a gloomfly swarm lays its eggs in the

putrifying flesh of a dead human body the corpse is animated by the maggots

that infest it as a zombie under the control of the gloomfly swarm. The

swarm then directs the zombie to perform physical labor, such as digging up

graves to provide additional corpses for the swarm to use as food for more

maggots.



Corpses begin to be consumed by the gloomfly maggots soon after they are

animated. Each day after the first the zombie loses 1 hp until its skin

finally bursts and the corpse falls completely apart two weeks later,

spawning another gloomfly swarm. A zombie "killed" by some means can still

spawn a gloomfly swarm. In order to prevent a swarm from emerging the

corpse must be purified using a Remove Disease or Heal spell. Burning will

also destroy the infestation.



Though there is no limit to the number of zombies a swarm can control at

once it takes one hour for a swarm to lay enough eggs in a corpse to

animate it, and the zombies begin to deteriorate rapidly. See the Gloomfly

zombie description below.



Darkness (Ex): A gloomfly swarm radiates an aura of darkness 10` from the

center of the cloud or in a 20` x 20` area. This effect otherwise conforms

to the effects of the Darkness spell.



Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins its turn with a swarm in

its square must make a DC 15 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1

round. The save DC is constitution based.

[geeman]

Here`s the slightly tweaked write up for the zombies animated by a gloomfly

swarm. They are very similar to regular zombies, but with a couple of

tweaks to denote the differences.





Gloomfly Zombie

Medium Construct

Hit Dice: 2d10+3 (14 hp)

Initiative: +0

Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares; can`t run)

AC: 19 (+4 size, +5 dex) touch 19, flat-footed 14

Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+2

Attack: Slam +? (1d6+1)

Full Attack: Slam +? (1d6+1)

Face/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.

Special Attacks: -

Special Qualities: Construct traits, Hardness 5/slashing, darkvision 60

ft., low-light vision

Saves: Fort +?, Ref +?, Will +?

Abilities: Str 12, Dex 10, Con -, Int -, Wis 1, Cha 1

Skills: -

Feats: Toughness

Environment: Shadow World

Organization: Any

Challenge Rating: 1/2

Treasure: None

Alignment: Always neutral

Advancement: -

Level Adjustment: -



Thick with writhing maggots, this shambling corpse wreaks of death.



Gloomfly zombies are not undead. They are corpses animated by an

infestation of writhing gloomfly maggots under the control of a gloomfly

swarm`s hive mind. Because they are not undead they cannot be turned or

rebuked by clerics, nor are they vulnerable to holy water.



Because of the maggot infestation consuming it from within a gloomfly

zombie begins to suffer damage. Every day after it is created it loses 1

hp. Eventually, the zombie will be reduced to 0 hit points at which time

it will simply fall apart and the gloomfly swarm will have to find another

body to infest, animate and consume.



Once it reaches half its starting hit points a gloomfly swarm will usually

order a zombie to hide in some secluded place, attacking only those who act

so as to disturb the gestation period.



COMBAT

A gloomfly zombie obeys the commands of its parent swarm. They fight with

a slam attack when so commanded.



Disease (Ex): Rotting and filled with vermin, the touch of a gloomfly

zombie exposes the target to Filth Fever: Fortitude DC 12, incubation

period 1d3 days, damage 1d3 Dex and 1d3 Con. The save DC is constitution based.

[RaspK_FOG]

Change: "I admit, I did not call out a warning to wake my brothers in the abbey so much as they rushed to see what it was that was the source of the screaming." to "I admit, I did not call out a warning to wake my brothers in the abbey so much as they rushed to see what was the source of the screaming."

Change: "As their breeding cycle increases in a human corpse gloomflies begin to swarm, and when the body is consumed the swarm must move on to find new breeding material." to "As their breeding (rate?) increases (or, "breeding cycle speeds up?") in a human corpse, gloomflies begin to swarm and, when the body is consumed, the swarm must move on to find new breeding material."

----
Animate Zombie (Su): The day after a gloomfly swarm lays its eggs in the putrifying flesh of a dead human body the corpse is animated by the maggots that infest it as a zombie under the control of the gloomfly swarm. The swarm then directs the zombie to perform physical labor, such as digging up graves to provide additional corpses for the swarm to use as food for more maggots.

Corpses begin to be consumed by the gloomfly maggots soon after they are animated. Each day after the first the zombie loses 1 hp until its skin finally bursts and the corpse falls completely apart two weeks later, spawning another gloomfly swarm. A zombie "killed" by some means can still spawn a gloomfly swarm. In order to prevent a swarm from emerging the corpse must be purified using a Remove Disease or Heal spell. Burning will also destroy the infestation.

Though there is no limit to the number of zombies a swarm can control at once it takes one hour for a swarm to lay enough eggs in a corpse to animate it, and the zombies begin to deteriorate rapidly. See the Gloomfly zombie description below.
---

There should be a limit to the number of "zombies" the maggots can control; however, I strongly suggest you change your mind regarding what these "zombies" are: so far, they are "zombies" but not undead... Not good, if you catch my drift: insofar it sounds more like you want to trick your players into wracking their brains as to for what reason these zombies are not subject to turning than having a good reason for them to be not undead, even if that is not the case!

All in all, I suggest you first write up a template or something that somehow places these "zombies" somewhere along any axis (animated object seems the most appropriate). [MOSTLY taken care of, as I see...]

Furthermore, make sure that the loss of 1 hp each day really and actually makes a "zombie" collapse within 2 weeks. This means that your zombies should have 16 hp, since a Cerilian week has 8 days, not 7.

[Lee]

In a message dated 3/26/05 12:19:29 AM Eastern Standard Time,

geeman@SOFTHOME.NET writes:



<< Gloomfly Zombie

Medium Construct

Special Qualities: Construct traits, Hardness 5/slashing, darkvision 60

ft., low-light vision >>



I think you mean `Damage resistance 5/slashing` here?

Also, you mentioned earlier that they try to avoid sunlight, does that

need to be added somewhere?



Going back to your original post, yes, this is a creepy concept.



Lee.

[geeman]

At 05:23 PM 3/28/2005 -0500, Lee wrote:



><< Gloomfly Zombie Medium Construct

> Special Qualities: Construct traits, Hardness 5/slashing, darkvision 60

> ft., low-light vision >>

>

>I think you mean `Damage resistance 5/slashing` here?



Right, my mistake. In coming up with the stats for these things I decided

to make them somewhere between animated objects and regular, undead

zombies. Hence, the confused vocabulary.



>Also, you mentioned earlier that they try to avoid sunlight, does that

>need to be added somewhere?



I think that`s a good idea. When writing up the monster description I put

that in there in order to rationalize why such a swarm would not have bred

its way across the continent without any restrictions rather than describe

an actual game mechanical effect, but on reflection I think having

something like that in there makes sense.



Gary

[RaspK_FOG]

I just realised that myconid sovereigns do something similar to what you described; just use the stats for zombies but retain the creature&#39;s original type (this "zombie" template does not change the creature&#39;s type) and, thus, are not able to be turned...

Change from this point onward as you like; I apologise for not noticing it earlier.

[geeman]

At 12:20 AM 6/17/2005 +0200, A_dark wrote:

>Can a wizard not abide by the oaths, even if he has not sworn them? In
>other words, if an Anuirean mage visits khinasi and he`s LG and does
>nothing to violate the oath (he doesn`t talk to the dead, he doesn`t
>disobey his master, he doesn`t kill other mages unless instructed to do so
>by his liege etc etc etc), would he then need to get killed?
>
>IMHO, no. The oath compels someone to kill a mage who actually violates
>the law. Killing them for simply not swearing them is not compelling by
>the oath itself. (you are however, compelled by the khinasi states laws to
>go and swear the oath. imho Quirad al-Dinn must die, not because the oath
>compels other mages to go kill him, but because all of the khinasi states
>have sentenced him to death for not swearing the oath and because all the
>Avani paladins are given this quest by their temples and because the High
>Priest of Rilni simply says so)

The relevant Oath here reads: "To destroy any wielder of true magic who
does not abide by these oaths." That language could be interpreted in
several ways. For instance, there is no obligation to the Oath swearer to
actively seek out and destroy those who have not themselves sworn the
Oaths, nor does it outright say that those who have not sworn the Oaths
cannot, despite the fact that they are under no obligation, still abide by
them and avoid being destroyed by those who have. Only those who actually
break the Oaths must be destroyed, and I`d even suggest that even though
wizards, magicians and sorcerers might have magical ways of getting
information, they aren`t going to know that a particular wielder of true
magic might have broken one of the Oaths at some point if that person was
not in his/er presence when they did so.

So, on the whole, I think the aforementioned contrasting of the Oaths with
the alignment of those who have sworn them would be applicable to a certain
extent to this kind of situation as well. That is, those who are lawful
might see it as their duty to seek out such violators, the chaotic feel
substantially less obliged and might be inclined to interpret the process
differently, etc.

Furthermore, the Oaths themselves represent an ethical system. There will
be individuals of any alignment who take certain aspects of it more or less
seriously than others. One character, regardless of his alignment might
find the Oath regarding preserving and protecting all knowledge as a
personal crusade and seek to kill those who attempt to destroy an ancient
scroll. Any of the Oaths might have people who adhere to them more
stringently than the magical geas of having sworn the Oaths might oblige
him, so there`s no reason why in your example the Anuirean spellcaster
might not run into a "zealot" who finds his status as someone who has not
taken the Oaths to be "blasphemy" and seek to either convert him/er (by
getting him to make the pilgrimage) or destroy him.

Gary