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Message: <blockquote data-quote="(un)reason" data-source="post: 9359095" data-attributes="member: 27780">Dungeon/Polyhedron Issue 98/157: May 2003part 2/8Side Treks - Gluttony: J. Bradley Schell has another vaguely vice themed adventure for us. A cleric of Wee Jas has formed an alliance with a group of Rasts. He provides intel on good targets and buffs, watches their backs while they feed and in return gets the bloodless bodies they leave behind to animate as zombies. Win-win. The fact that bloodless bodies that later rise as undead is more associated with vampires also means heroes trying to stop the problem may well prepare the wrong equipment and be caught off guard. So you get to wander around several farms, dealing with not just human zombies, but also zombie sheep, cows, pigs, etc, plus some living wolves just for variety. Eventually you’ll find the Rast lair, which will be a somewhat tougher fight. (but still less so than vampires) Slightly longer than the average side trek, but still probably won’t fill a whole session, this is another competent but unexceptional starter who’s main selling point is combining monsters you might not think to put together yourself. I guess they have been doing articles on that in Dragon as well so it’s on their minds lately. Nodwick is snatched by the Rasts while the rest of the group isn’t looking, making their speculation about the culprits wander even further into conspiracy theory nonsense. Side Treks - Wings, Spikes, and Teeth: We have a second side trek in a row following exactly the same formula, although this one does have the potential for slightly more interesting roleplaying. An ageing manticore lost control of his pride and decided better to be a big fish in a small pond than completely alone, so he took over a pride of regular lions. They’re not that happy about this, particularly the former dominant male who’s now being used as a whipping boy, but what can you do? It’s his job to lead you guys into an ambush, which he’ll do reluctantly. However, if any of the PC’s can talk to the animals and think to do so it won’t be that hard to get him to explain the situation, giving you a chance to turn the tables. Of course if you don’t it’s just another straightforward wandering monster encounter, but it’s nice that they put that backstory depth in there and give you the chance to use your powers creatively to resolve this with fewer deaths. Slightly higher marks than the previous side trek, but still in the competent but unexceptional level that doesn’t leave me with much to say overall.</blockquote>

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