CSI: Sharn (Help create 100 corpses)

[Fedifensor]

For me, a table of 100 corpses is less useful than an 'idea generator'. Make a few rolls to get a general description of the scene, then let me flesh it out on my own.

For example...

Race (d10): Human: 1-3, Elf: 4, Dwarf: 5, Gnome: 6, Halfling: 7, Mixed-breed (Half-Elf or Half-Orc): 8, Eberron-specific race (Changeling/Kalashar/Shifter/Warforged): 9, Exotic race: 10

Possessions (d10): Nothing (nude): 1, Looted (nothing valuable remaining): 2-5, Poor (unlooted, but only a few coins/ragged clothes/etc): 6, Working-class: 7-8, Merchant: 9, Noble: 10.

Apparent Manner of Death (d10): Natural Causes: 1, Mugging (knife/club wounds): 2-4, Combat (swords/maces/other 'warrior' weapons): 5-6, Poison: 7, Magic: 8, Accident: 9, Exotic (unusual means of demise) 10.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Meh, random tables of that sort have never enchanted me. (And I have made more than a few of them myself.) Using a description to springboard a plotline from is more fun. (Even I ignored the tables I had spent so much time working on...)

108.) It was the smell that was noticed first, seeping out of the cracks in the poorly constructed brick wall, a mixture of putresence and souring wine. When the workmen cleared away the bricks the corpse was lying in a heap just beyond the wall, fingernails torn in a desperate attempt to claw free from this living tomb. A stout casque, its top removed occupies the furthest corner of the chamber, two tankards lie on the floor, their dregs spilling across the stones. A comfortable chair completes the ensemble...

The Auld Grump

 

[Jesus_marley]

109. The corpse is that of an Elven youth. He has been stripped to the waist and has been cut open lengthwise from his throat to his belt. His insides have been completely removedand are nowhere to be found. Any inspection of his extremities will reveal extensive bruising at the wrists and ankles. A silver ring with an oak leaf seal is on the middle finger of his left hand.

110. The corpse is lying facedown and is still warm. A stiletto protrudes from the base of the victims skull. His right hand and left foot have been severed. The stumps have been cauterized. He has a full money pouch containing 81 silver and 5 gold coins, yet he is dressed like a beggar.

 

[shilsen]

For me, a table of 100 corpses is less useful than an 'idea generator'.

Maybe it's just me, but reading just a few of the entries posted on this thread generated a lot of ideas for me, and far more than I can ever use in an entire campaign. Very nice work, folks

 

[GreyShadow]

112. The body of a fit middle aged human male is spreadeagled 15 feet up a wall. He appears to have been pushed into the wall by great force, except that the body seems remarkably intact.

 

[blargney the second]

I started my current campaign like this:

113. (PCs make DC 15 Listen check to hear someone screaming, result of 20 or more lets them know that it's above them.)

A body SLAMS into the ground beside their campfire, splattering blood and viscera across the clearing. (Reflex save to avoid being covered in it, which requires a Fort save to avoid being nauseated.) When the body impacts the ground, a flood of water is released then magically shrivels up into a golf-ball sized pellet. A split second later, a small sword shatters as it hits the ground, releasing a cloud of greenish vapour, and a distinctly evil-looking head with wings appears. (Roll for initiative, monkey boys!)

-blarg

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Hmmmm, 111 is missing, so...

111.) There should be a body here, you were told that there was a body here, but all that is there now is a pool of blood already turning black. And a trail as though the body has been dragged from the pool, leading straight up the wall to the roof...

The Auld Grump

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Liiiiiiiive!

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

112) 8 bodies are arranged in a circle, alternating head-in and head-out. Anyone with 5 or more ranks in Survival can immediately tell that the head-out bodies are aligned with the cardinal points of the compass (N, E, S, W), while the head-in bodies are aligned with the intermediate points of the compass (NE, SE, SW, NW).

Anyone capable of seeing magical auras (via detect magic or the like) can see a snake-like aura winding it's way through the bodies clockwise - out the head of one, into the feet of the next, out of its head, etc., forming a somewhat lopsided cross.

The aura is strong transmutation and weak conjuration, and will persist for two hours, or until a body is moved from its place in the circle, at which point the aura will fade within 5 rounds.

The bodies are all of young, relatively attractive, elven women.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

113) The body is still warm and smoldering. A dried green substance leaks from the orifices and wounds sustained instead of blood. Upon further examination, the substance is discovered to be green slime, cooked by an intense heat. The victim was turning into green slime from the inside out before apparently being attacked and eventually being the subject of some sort of heat or fire-based spell. There are no other signs of green slime in the vicinity.