Dragon #345

[sckeener]

Seconded. The mythology in this article stands shoulder-to-shoulder with any real-world mythology. You managed to turn the big, ugly lummox into a tragic antihero. The memories of the obyrith soothing his rage was inspired.

Bonus points for including Baba Yaga.

I had a wonderful time describing the story to my girlfriend over the cell phone. I basically read the whole thing to her. That story was inspired....

 

[Mr.Black]

The Kostchtchie article is inspiring and gives the malformed demon a real sense of history. He's a pitiful, truely evil beast, yet his story does hit a nerve because he was spurned for his appearance.

When reading this article I kept thinking that Kostchtchie should don a hockey mask and get some creepy theme music.

I like the Mahawan. It's about time that we got a cold demon. I just wish it didn't look so much like a vrock (there are lots of other shapes that can be used).

Great issue!

 

[James Jacobs]

Thanks for the kind words, everyone!

As for the mavawhan's shape... as I posted on another thread, my personal theory of the tanar'ri is that they're manifestations of humanity's (or humanoids in general) failings: cruelty and evil shaped by the raw chaos and vile intelligence of the Abyss. As a result, you can expect most all of the tanar'ri in Demonomicon articles to be humanoid, which means they'll all look similar on some level.

That said, there does need to be more loumaras and obyriths, and they're by no means limited in shape. You can expect more of these demonic races to appear in future Demonomicons, that's for sure...

 

[Mr.Black]

Hey James, I have a question on the Mavawhan:

In the AC section, it's listed that it has "50% miss chance," but there is no description for this ability. Does it have something like displacement?

It's telekinesis ability should have a DC of 18 based on a 17 charisma.

Hopefully it can make it into a future Monster Manual one day.

 

[Zarnam]

Mr. Black...is it possible to post Kostchtchie's hd, size and strength, since I do not have the Dragon on my desk yet...and propably not 'til next week

 

[Mr.Black]

He's a big guy: size of a storm giant, 30HD, and with a +17 strength modifier.

 

[Zarnam]

Hmm.... That's TOUGH !!

From a good source I also heard that he can Rage like a Barbarian (FC! web enchancement), is that true ?? Can he go Grater Rage ??

 

[Alzrius]

Hmm.... That's TOUGH !!

From a good source I also heard that he can Rage like a Barbarian (FC! web enchancement), is that true ?? Can he go Grater Rage ??

Yep. Once per day, he can (greater) rage, gaining a +6 to Str and Con, and a +3 to Will saves, with only a -2 penalty to AC. His rage lasts for two minutes (20 rounds), and he can enter it as an immediate action. He's not fatigued when it ends.

 

[James Jacobs]

Hey James, I have a question on the Mavawhan:

In the AC section, it's listed that it has "50% miss chance," but there is no description for this ability. Does it have something like displacement?

It's telekinesis ability should have a DC of 18 based on a 17 charisma.

Hopefully it can make it into a future Monster Manual one day.

That 50% miss chance is an error. I'm not sure where it came from. Just ignore it.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I got this issue last night and just finished reading the Kostchtchie article. Fantastic. Just the kind of article I'd hoped for. Lots of adventure and campaign seeds.

Was the Baba Yaga mention something that came from Russian legend/mythology? That is, are there Russian tales in which Baba Yaga and Kostchtchie interact?

And will we get a Baba Yaga article anytime soon...?