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Message: <blockquote data-quote="der_kluge" data-source="post: 3028248" data-attributes="member: 945">10. Bubble ChamberArea 10 is two areas – the dark, underwater sections surrounding the “bubble” chamber, and the chamber itself.  Anyone with time on their hands (or magically imbued with the power to breathe underwater) can find 2pp, 13gp, 17sp and 32cp scattered all about this chamber on the cavern floor (assuming they have some source of light). These are coins that have, at one time or another, wedged themselves into one of the dragon’s scales, and then were deposited here. Aside from this, there is nothing of interest or value in the submerged portion of this chamber.The current here is negligible, and swimming through the cavern is not terribly difficult. The biggest hazard is the sheer size of the cavern, so swimming it’s length with one breathe is the most difficult task, unless one happens upon the opening in the top of the chamber.The “bubble” chamber here contains a Will-O’-Wisp – a bizarre creature who feeds on panic and horror. He’s found the perfect home. But how the Will-O’-Wisp came to be here is a bit of a curiosity. The Will-O’-Wisp didn’t happen upon this place accidentally, he was led here - or rather it followed Artix here. (Artix is the younger of the two dragons who reside in area 11.) The Will-O’-Wisp (or Zxyquzh, as his friends call him) (pronounced just as it’s written) will light up, inviting anyone to come join him in the chamber – if he sees anyone swimming around in the chamber (Spot +20). Zxyquzh has no interest in combat, and anyone swimming around here is usually accompanied by an ample amount of fear and panic, which strengthens Zxyquzh considerably. Zxyquzh will happily illuminate the cavern and then relish in his new found source of food as the PC swims into the “safe” enclave of the bubble chamber.Zxyquzh will automatically illuminate the chamber should anyone enter that he hadn’t previously spotted. The bones are victims of Artix’s tactics in the past. Here victims reside until they are too weak to fight, and Artix comes back later to finish them off. Amidst these bones one will find shreddings that once were clothes. The bones all having numerous claw and bite scratches on them, providing a clue to their victim’s fate.The scythe is another matter entirely, and it is this scythe that the Will-O’-Wisp is tied to, and the main reason why Zxyquzh is here. Zxyquzh is tied to this weapon, which also carries a name – Argox the Pained. Artix would add this scythe to their normal dragon horde, but he fears the weapon greatly, and wants nothing to do with it.Argox, the Pained: +3 Keen Scythe; AL CN; Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 14; Speech, 120 ft. vision and hearing; Ego score 14.    Lesser Powers: Item has 10 ranks in Intimidate, Item casts Aid on wielder 3/day (CL 3).    Special Purpose: Defeat/slay dragons.    Dedicated Power: Wielder gets a +2 luck bonus on attacks, saves, and checks.    Personality: Argox was once the simple tool of a peasant by the same name who happily worked his fields day after day to support his family. Then one fateful day a red dragon flew over his fields while he was working – torched his house and ate his family. Argox was so filled with rage that from that moment on he vowed to hunt down and kill all dragons. He set out on his quest and as his anger grew, so did his weapon, who constantly was responsible for slaying monster after monster from Argox’s built up anger. But Argox never lost sight of his quest and he eventually found that red dragon and slew it, and countless other dragons as well. Colors are irrelevant for Argox, and alignment is meaningless – if it’s a dragon, it must die.    At some point in history, a Will-O’-Wisp by the name of Zxyquzh came into contact with Argox and his scythe. He found so much pain and death built up into the weapon that all other food sources seemed largely irrelevant. It has followed Argox ever since.    Argox begrudingly tolerates Zxyquzh and the two have become a somewhat unlikely couple. The two have even been known to carry on lengthy conversations about previous owners, exploits, and the various dragons that they have encountered. Individuals who pick up Argox, and are not chaotic neutral will incur temporary negative levels for as long as they continue to wield the weapon. See the rules in Core rulebook #3 on intelligent items.Zxyquzh, advanced Will-O’-WispSize/Type:          Small Aberration (Air)Hit Dice:          13d8 (58 hp)Initiative:          +14Speed:              Fly 50 ft. (perfect) (10 squares)Armor Class:          30 (+1 size, +10 Dex, +9 deflection), touch 30, flat-footed 21Base Attack/Grapple:      +6/-3Attack:          Shock +17 melee touch (2d8 electricity)Full Attack:          Shock +17 melee touch (2d8 electricity)Space/Reach:          5 ft./5 ft. Special Qualities:         Darkvision 60 ft., immunity to magic, natural invisibilitySaves:              Fort +3, Ref +13, Will +11Abilities:          Str 1, Dex 30, Con 10, Int 15, Wis 16, Cha 12Skills:              Bluff +17 (+2 Persuasive), Diplomacy +5, Disguise +1 (+3 acting), Intimidate +6 (Persuasive), Listen +20, Search +17, Spot +20, Survival +5 (+7 following tracks)Feats:              Alertness, Blind-Fight, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Persuasive, Weapon FinesseChallenge Rating:         7Alignment:          chaotic neutralZxyquzh is a Will-O’-Wisp not unlike any other Will-O’-Wisp. The major exception is that Zxyquzh has been around Argox long enough that he’s become less chaotic evil, and is now more chaotic neutral. He loves pain and anguish and relishes in the moments when he enters town or enters an establishment where people fear his presence. He will always go where Argox goes. Argox tolerates Zxyquzh’s presence. The two have become somewhat unlikely friends over the course of the last 100 or so years that they’ve been together. Zxyquzh and Argox have been in the dragon cave for about 15 years so far, and while Zxyquzh is happy in his home, Argox wants nothing more than to slay the dragons who live near him.Immunity to Magic (Ex): Zxyquzh is immune to most spells or spell-like abilities that allow spell resistance, except magic missile and maze.Natural Invisibility (Ex): Zxyquzh can extinguish its glow, effectively becoming invisible as the spell.Zxyquzh’s TacticsZxyquzh is really only interested in feeding off the pain and anguish of others, and the scythe that he’s discovered is the best source of it he’s ever found. Zxyquzh. He has absolutely no desire to leave, and will even go so far as to beg a PC who has other plans for him. He is a coward by his nature, and will only attack in the most dire of circumstances, choosing to flee or hide if those options are available to him. The one exception to this is during a battle with dragons. Argox usually coaxes Zxyquzh out of his normal complacent state into battle when dragons are being fought. Zxyquzh will usually attack dragons, but only dragons, and even then he will often run to hide every other round.Contributed by: Curtis "der_kluge" Bennett</blockquote>

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