Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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Rigel blinks and squints as the initial pain of the mental connection dulls into an throbbing headache and he says, "The guardian is speaking in my head. They've seen Carp. They scared him off . They say they were put here to guard items from the forge. Any ideas on that Gundren?" Addressing the guardian, Rigel lowered his weapon and says "We are the Phandalin Five. If it wouldn't inconvenience you, might we speak aloud so my companions may join? We have been sent on a quest by the current residents of Phandelin to locate this forge and all that remains. But we would NEVER remove an item without permission. Along the way we encountered a much larger problem. I should warn you that a sorceress named Isolde is running about and she would not offer the same respect in regards to your charge. She intends to imprison that child for a crime he has yet to nor may commit. We intend to stop her. So if you don't mind we'll be on our way." Rigel follows Marcons lead and moves slowly towards the front door.
**This Space for Rent**
Hearing no response immediately from, Rigel pauses for a second and diverts his eyes to miner dwarf who and the others see him standing arms at his sides, and mouth agape. His weapons clang to the ground and he stumbles forward a few steps in the direction of the items perched on the shelves behind the miniature beholder. "That...that...no, it can't be...", he stutters.
The floating creature communicates to Rigel once again: "I'm afraid I can only communicate this way," it says inside the ranger's mind, "...but I can speak to everyone at once, if that is easier. But I should warn the dwarven wizard there....he's getting a little too close to the treasure for my comfort..."
"By the GODS, it's...Lightbringer and Dragonguard!" Gundren exclaims. On the worktable behind the floating creature are the last items the creature was charged to protect: A mace is shaped like a sunburst and made of solid brass, glowing as bright as a torch. The other item is a breastplate with a gold dragon motif worked into its design. (OOC: option for a History check here on these items.)
Rigel breaks off his retreat to the door and quickly heads off the dwarf. "Easy there, we will need permission for that." He continues to talk to Gundren in a softer voice, "What do you know of this charter? Is there anyway we could make ourselves a part if it since we hail from Phandelever as well?" Turning back to the floater he say, " Excuse me a moment while I correct my companions behavior. We may be able to convince you of our worthiness but first we must confer." Not sure what good it will do consider the telepathic nature of the encounter, but Rigel motions the others into a huddle. I don't know about the rest of you but I have my suspicion that the charred mess around us was this one's fault and I don't feel like BBQ today so let's be wary okay? What do we know about the charter and these weapons?"
**This Space for Rent**
Gundren reluctantly accedes to Rigel's attempt to coerce him away from the obviously fantastical mace and breastplate, but never takes his eyes off the items. "The, uh...the....the members of the Phandelver's Pact are codified in dwarven script...in fact, it be much of what was chiseled onto them walls in the furnace room. And our names ain't there...lest, none of yers...." says the dwarf.
"Ahem," asserts the floating creature, refusing to be ignored by Rigel's huddle: "I don't shoot fireballs, which as you have correctly surmised was the cause of the damage here. I can do confusion, paralysis, fear and wounding rays...and I'll bite if I have to. Oh...and I can also create food and water, but I rarely use that spell in a fight. But I can! And I have! One well placed cupcake and you'll be wiping icing out of your eyes for at least a minute or two. How else do you think the orc shaman that set this place on fire became blinded in the first place, hmm?"
Gundren addresses Rigel's question about the magic items: "Lightbringer was, er IS a magical mace made in these very halls for a cleric of Lathander. The other'n is Dragonguard...created for a human hero of Neverwinter name o' Tergon. Both mighty powerful and fine examples of the kind o' stuff this place is capable of producing."
Ronk hunches over, leaning on his spear to listen to Gundren, but then perks up, turning to the... Floaty. "Wait... Cupcakes?"
"How do they c..call you?" Asks Garet politely using voice. Ad the same time trying to understand if the monster can also read all their minds
Arcana tryin to understand the magical nature and powers of the "beholder-ish" 20
Garet ponders over the floating being before them and though he has never seen one up close, the goddess Meilikki "whispers" into the cleric's subconscious, producing a wealth of information about the creature.
WHAT GARET KNOWS:
This being is a spectator, a lesser type of beholder summoned from another plane of existence by a magical ritual, the components of which include four beholder eyestalks that are consumed by the ritual’s magic. Appropriately, a spectator has four eyestalks, two on each side of the wide eye at the center of its four-foot diameter body.
A summoned spectator guards a location or a treasure of its summoner’s choice for 101 years, allowing no creature but its summoner to enter the area or access the item, unless the summoner instructed otherwise. If the item is stolen or destroyed before the years have all passed, a summoned spectator vanishes. It otherwise never abandons its post.
Though it can speak, a spectator communicates primarily by way of telepathy. It is civil while on guard, openly discussing its orders and its summoner. However, even a brief conversation with a spectator is enough to reveal quirks in its personality brought on by its years of isolation. It might invent imaginary enemies, refer to itself in the third person, or try to adopt the voice of its summoner. Like any beholder, a spectator views itself as the epitome of its kind, and it has an intense hatred of other spectators. If two spectators encounter one another, they almost always fight to the death.
When a spectator has fulfilled its service, it is free to do as it pleases. Many take up residence in the places they previously guarded, especially if their summoners have died. With the spectator’s loss of purpose, the flickers of madness it displayed during its servitude flourish.
"M..master b..beholder" starts Garet and he points other to stay calm "We are just v..visitors. Not b..burglars of any k..kind" he gives dwarves hard look knowing they greedy.
"Could you t..tell us about your c...contract that b..binds you and your s..summoners a little?"
Having only returned as far as the storage room before hearing Gundren's exclaimation, Marcon sighed, pondered for a moment, and then started to turn back. But by then by the sounds of it Rigel had things covered, so... he sighed and made his way back to the entryway between storage and workshop, leaned against the frame, and with arms crossed opted to observe and wait. For now.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Vanzaren whistles, "That's actually a really impressive use of a spell I'll write that down for later."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"I to would like to know more about this contract. For example what happens if the other party no longer exists then what becomes of the items you were in charge of?" asks Rigel. He casts a sidelong glance and slight nod at Garet to indicate he thinks he knows where the Furbolg is going with this line of questioning.
**This Space for Rent**
The spectator burbles a little as it stumbles over producing an answer. "Ah, hmm...no one's ever asked me that before and not sure why you'd want to know, but sure ok. Mage-master Bingwhittem Brightnose, Fourth Assistant Scholar to the Clerk of the Phandelver Booster Club Secretary summoned me here and gave me these instructions: 'Floaty,' he said - he calls me Floaty, even though that's not my real name, but...an accurate moniker, if nothing else, 'Floaty, stay here in the Forge of Souls and guard all the stuff we put on these shelves. Don't let anyone take anything unless they give you the password, which is password.' He gave me no additional instructions, so essentially the terms of my service extend in perpetuity. It's a lot better than my previous job as a rat-catcher at Candlekeep. Technically, I didn't catch rats since I used my fear ray to scare them off, but they seemed pleased with my performance. Would you like to know the details of that service contract as well?"
Ronk whispers to the others. "Did they just say that the password is 'password'?"
"Oh master f..Floatsy you are really the g..great..." Garet pauses for few seconds "well you are great" he finishes the sentence. "I am a..afraid t..that p..Phandelver b..Booster c..Club stopped o..operating. U..unfortunately that m..might a..affect your contract".
Garet thinks for a moment
"But we all h..here see what a good g..guard you are we c...could give you very good r...references for your future employer" After another short pause "Or even b..better. You c..could become our g..guide. YES! WE WILL HIRE YOU!" waiting for its reaction "We may even n..know the p..password"
Marcon raises a brow at Garet's suggestion. But after a few moments of rubbing his chin and pontificating over it, even he couldn't help but seem to grudgingly agree in a grunt and half nod. He then looks over to Rockseeker brother's, curious to see their take on the situation, as well as that of Sildar for that matter. If none of them appeared particularly thrilled at the idea, then he'd furrow his brow in consternation and get lost among the weeds of his own thoughts.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Floaty burbles: "I'll keep that mind, but uh, I kind of have to stick to contract as originally expressed by Magemaster Brightnose - only he can dismiss me from my obligation. Even if I wanted to leave - and it is rather boring around here, at least until recently - I can't...if I break the contract I'll get poofed back to the the Abyss and the folks there are not as nice as the ones here. But hey, if you can get ol' Brightnose to let me go and you have the ability to conjure me as your servant, well I guess I'd be compelled to do whatever service it is I am bound to perform. I'm mostly good at rat-scaring and guarding stuff. Not sure how good of a tour guide I would be around here since I've never even left this room. Ooooh....what's out there? Is it like a forest or something? Or maybe a tavern full of bards and drunks?"
"P...please describe i..in details how d..does Magemaster Brightnose look. Maybe we w..will f..find him. Do you need him here or o.****y p..password?"
Says Garet after longer pause
The spectator thinks on it, for a moment. His large central eye blinks a few times while his smaller eye stalks turn towards one another as if conferring among themselves on the answer to Garet's question. "Very.....gnome-y," he says, but can immediately tell by the look on the faces of the humanoids surrounding him that this was perhaps not the precise description he thought it was. One of the eye stalks curls inwards as if it was whispering something to Floaty, who then adds: "Oh, and his nose shines bright light....I'm told he once used the wrong material components when attempting to cast a continual flame spell and now....well let's just say he'll never need to spend money on lamp oil. But he's very sensitive about it and pretends that it's just a normal nose. If you ask him about it, he'll swear up and down that you're hallucinating. Poor guy."
"Yes t..this one. He t..told us you are of d..duty and gave us password"
Finishes Garet feeling he is going to lose his calm soon
Deception 11
Floaty studies Garet for a moment, as if judging the merits of the firbolg's statement
Insight: 21