Read as literature J. Eric Holmes'
novella The Maze of Peril is fairly awful, but a read of the
book as a window into the pulpy, exuberant kitchen-sink D&D of
that good doctor it is supremely enjoyable. One of my favorite
sections of the book occurs in a large underworld lake dominated by a
pyramid-temple of Dagon.
After the protagonists loot the fishy
demonic temple, they are confronted...
“Out of the black waters of the
underground lake rose a triangular dorsal fin. The creature would
have been immediately recognizable as a huge shark except for the
thick muscular arms and hands with which it drew itself up upon the
rocks. As the entire body became visible, the startled adventurers
could see humanoid legs and bare feet supporting the fish-like tail.”
Totemic beast cults—and their
shape-shifting devotees--have run old in the Hill Cantons history, so
I knew I had to have one for my campaign. Thus was born Andimachus,
the wereshark cousin-antagonist of the resident godling of the
Slumbering Ursine Dunes, the Master. Following are the stats I did
for that game (he has been dispatched in a near-thing by the players
long ago).
|
|
No. Enc.: |
1d4 (1d4) |
Alignment: |
Chaotic (Evil) |
Movement: |
120’ (on land)/180' (water) |
Armor Class: |
3
|
Hit Dice: |
6 |
Attacks: |
2 (bite, clawed arms)
|
Damage: |
2d6, 1d4, 1d4 |
Save: |
F6 |
Morale: |
10 |
XP: |
1,000 |
Old salts will tell you of the subtle
signs of the human-formed wereshark: a slight greyness of skin, a
deadened, hard cast to the eye, a hint of razor among the teeth, a
tendency to take positions in the banking guilds.
The monsterish version is inescapable
obvious, rearing a full 8-foot tall with the pronounced snout of a
shark, sharp-toothed grin, dorsal fin and muscular clawed arms. They
are as fleet in the water as their fishy brethren. In this form they
can only be harmed by silver or magical weapons.
Despite their bestial rapaciousness
weresharks are drawn to soft luxuries in their off hours. Treasure
hoards inevitably will take the form of soft, exquisitely-woven
silks, velvet cushions, choice wines, fine silver dinnerware, and the
like as opposed to straight cash.
Those unfortunates bitten by the
wereshark will themselves become victim to lycanthropy on a 30%
chance (remove curse to lift). On a full moon—at high tide—there
is a 90% chance that the victim will transform into his new form and
seek out others of his kind in the murky depths.
Oh for the full moon and a high tide - that's a whole other campaign opening up...
ReplyDeleteNice Cake. Somehow I imagine if you get bit by a wereshark you are thrilled not to be luncheon meat.
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing is that I spaced the whole it'll turn you were-loco rule when I ran it. A shame since a couple of the PCs got themselves bit (snd nearly killed).
DeleteAlways liked a bit of Holmes wereshark. :)
ReplyDelete