Shade
Monster Junkie
Whispering Pine
Whispering Pines
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 10-100
ARMOR CLASS: 7
MOVE: Nil
HIT DICE: 1 per 2. height
% IN LAIR: 100%
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: Nil
DAMAGE/ATTACK: Nil
SPECIAL ATTACKS: None
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Whispering susurration
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 65%
INTELLIGENCE: Non-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L (10-100' tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/XP: Not applicable
High in certain mountainous regions, there grows a species of magical pines. Every branch grows perfectly straight and carries an inherent charm. Subsequently, magic-users and manufacturers of fine bows, clubs, staves, and arrows intended for enchantment search these forests for this valuable wood (300 gp per board foot). Druids bent on preserving these pines sometimes arrange for a treant (15% chance) to be located in or around a stand of the trees.
These trees do have their own special defenses. They can sense the presence of any blade within 50 yards, and begin a moderately loud susurration which resembles the sound of many voices whispering. A character encountering these trees must save vs. spells or be compelled to listen and attempt to hear what is being “said”. The spell can only be broken by removing the affected person outside of the effective radius of the spell (50 yards); otherwise, the victim starves to death in 5-20 days. Druids of 3rd level or higher are immune to the effects of the whispering. At 12th level, druids may communicate with the pines most of the time (70%), and thus learn the passage of creatures through the vicinity. However, this is like asking a question of a treant, as the answer may take a week to complete.
Once the trees begin their susurration, a charm plants spell is the only thing that can cause them to stop. In such an event, the entire stand makes its saving throw as a group rather than each individually. Only magical blades can fell these trees, and the lumber can be worked only with enchanted tools; likewise, the wood from whispering pines can only be burned by magical fire. If struck by any nonmagical blade, the trees regenerate instantly and the tool must save vs. disintegration. The wielder must also save vs. spells or be paralyzed for 1-4 rounds, after which he must save vs. spells at -5 or be enthralled by the whispering as above.
In the fall, some druids harvest the needles of the pines with silver hand sickles, while chanting special prayers to the gods of nature. To accomplish this, they trim the ends off the lower branches, dry them for 10 days, and pluck the needles from the boughs. Druids then use these needles to create a tea which offers a state of mind which has spell-like scrying abilities similar to those of a reflecting pool (of course, no pool of water is necessary for scrying while in this frame of mind). Anyone who attempts to harvest and use the needles without the sacred chants is stricken in 1-4 rounds after consuming the tea with severe cramps (as per the magic-user spell symbol of pain). Any weapon manufactured from the wood of the whispering pines is automatically +1 in value. Also, any wand, rod, or magical scepter has one extra charge or is 10% more effective.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #119 (1987).
For starters, I think these have too many monster traits to really be hazards. Thoughts?
Whispering Pines
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 10-100
ARMOR CLASS: 7
MOVE: Nil
HIT DICE: 1 per 2. height
% IN LAIR: 100%
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: Nil
DAMAGE/ATTACK: Nil
SPECIAL ATTACKS: None
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Whispering susurration
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 65%
INTELLIGENCE: Non-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L (10-100' tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/XP: Not applicable
High in certain mountainous regions, there grows a species of magical pines. Every branch grows perfectly straight and carries an inherent charm. Subsequently, magic-users and manufacturers of fine bows, clubs, staves, and arrows intended for enchantment search these forests for this valuable wood (300 gp per board foot). Druids bent on preserving these pines sometimes arrange for a treant (15% chance) to be located in or around a stand of the trees.
These trees do have their own special defenses. They can sense the presence of any blade within 50 yards, and begin a moderately loud susurration which resembles the sound of many voices whispering. A character encountering these trees must save vs. spells or be compelled to listen and attempt to hear what is being “said”. The spell can only be broken by removing the affected person outside of the effective radius of the spell (50 yards); otherwise, the victim starves to death in 5-20 days. Druids of 3rd level or higher are immune to the effects of the whispering. At 12th level, druids may communicate with the pines most of the time (70%), and thus learn the passage of creatures through the vicinity. However, this is like asking a question of a treant, as the answer may take a week to complete.
Once the trees begin their susurration, a charm plants spell is the only thing that can cause them to stop. In such an event, the entire stand makes its saving throw as a group rather than each individually. Only magical blades can fell these trees, and the lumber can be worked only with enchanted tools; likewise, the wood from whispering pines can only be burned by magical fire. If struck by any nonmagical blade, the trees regenerate instantly and the tool must save vs. disintegration. The wielder must also save vs. spells or be paralyzed for 1-4 rounds, after which he must save vs. spells at -5 or be enthralled by the whispering as above.
In the fall, some druids harvest the needles of the pines with silver hand sickles, while chanting special prayers to the gods of nature. To accomplish this, they trim the ends off the lower branches, dry them for 10 days, and pluck the needles from the boughs. Druids then use these needles to create a tea which offers a state of mind which has spell-like scrying abilities similar to those of a reflecting pool (of course, no pool of water is necessary for scrying while in this frame of mind). Anyone who attempts to harvest and use the needles without the sacred chants is stricken in 1-4 rounds after consuming the tea with severe cramps (as per the magic-user spell symbol of pain). Any weapon manufactured from the wood of the whispering pines is automatically +1 in value. Also, any wand, rod, or magical scepter has one extra charge or is 10% more effective.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #119 (1987).
For starters, I think these have too many monster traits to really be hazards. Thoughts?
