Request for some Ideas (my players please avoid)

[WizarDru]

OK, folks, I'm looking for some ideas for some nasty monsters and creepy environmental designs for my next couple of sessions.


Specifically, I'm looking for creatures that are either Undead, Aquatic...or better, a combination of the two. I'm looking to find a way to incorporate underdark elements, as well, including the drow and kuo-toa.

Currently, I've got an idea for a sort of bone shard sea anonome with long legs constructed for arm and elbow bones, that can move underwater or on land like the martian tri-pods, and are able to shoot their spiny needles to attack, among other things.

The main requirements are that they are disturbing, frankily. The party that this is for is a 23rd level party, so I'm not worried about power. I don't need stat-blocks (although if you feel so inclined, I won't argue), but ideas are what I need.

Any thoughts?

If you need more details, sing out.

 

[BSF]

Are you looking for creatures that create atmosphere, or bonified challenges for the party?

I'll let this one cook in the back of my brain and see if anything freaky jumps out at me.

 

[The_Universe]

here's the deal--there's essentially nothing more monstrous (to my mind) than an octopus or squid. I mean, the things are so *alien* compared to nearly everything else on earth in terms of structure, shape, movement, etc. I think if you describe these tentacled horrors in detail without coming out and telling your players what they are, you could seriously creep them out. They *push* themselves through water with an alien grace, but on land they'd have to *Pull* their bulbous, misshappen bodies across the land with curling, grasping boneless limbs, leaving trails of ichor in their wake...

And, if you were to make such a thing *undead* they would essentially be totally amphibious--if they don't need to breathe at all, then it doesn't matter if they have gills or lungs, or whatever.

 

[Savage Wombat]

I haven't had a chance to stat it out yet, but one of the creepiest things I've seen lately is the lanternfish from Finding Nemo. Huge, devouring shark-thing with bulbous, blank eyes and fangs longer than it's mouth - and this powerful light/lure that draws you helplessly towards its maw...

 

[WizarDru]

Are you looking for creatures that create atmosphere, or bonified challenges for the party?

I'll let this one cook in the back of my brain and see if anything freaky jumps out at me.

Both. Sooner or later, the party will have to crash a meeting by one of their campaign-long baddies at something akin to a 'summit of evil'. Think Yalta, but underwater, with undead. Sort of.

Anyhow, I'm looking for a little from column A, and a little from column B. The trick is what The_Universe just hit upon: the summit is going to be underwater because the BBEG is undead, and he doesn't care. In fact, to him, it's a security measure. At the same time, the party is highly effective against undead...and I don't want the characters who aren't as effective as undead to be out-of-the-loop for every battle, so I don't want pure undead all the time. (mind you, the rogue has a feat or two and some weapons for just such an occasion....they've known that battles against hordes of undead would be coming, too).

Universe, that's a great idea, but I've just used Nifft's kraken about two sessions ago, and I don't want to throw another squidie/octopus thing against them, per se....but the undead octopus on land image....that's a keeper.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Don't know if you plan on having the party actually *in* the water, but I once acheived a near TPK with a ghostly Portugese man'o'war. It was virtually invisible in the water, paralyzing touch attacks, grappling, almost impossible to cut your way out of....

Would have gotten them all but the damn paladin didn't want to ditch the plate armor and so stayed back to guard the camp. I'll post the stats when I get home if you're interested.

**edit** Apparently they will be in the water. Simultaneous post.

 

[Barmy Gith]

Well, I'd have to say the creepiest organisms that come from our oceans IMHO fall into two categories...

Deep Sea Creatures, such as the afore mentioned lantern fish. They appear bizzare, oddly shaped, blind and can be accompanied by almost mesmerizing light displays. My particular candidate from this category for creepy would likely be the hagfish. They have a great RPG name, are nasty looking, and have some rather disgusting habits, since they are basically deep sea scavengers. For an RPG monster I'd likely make it a giant-sized ravenous undead creature that uses a bizarre set of light organs running along it's decaying frame to perform some nasty magic.

Invertebrates, such as the afore mentioned octopus. However, more specifically, consider invertebrate plankotn. There are some strange looking planktonic forms, and in fact it is my understanding that part of the concept design for the famous "Aliens" came from body plans of amphipods, a common type of plankton. My candidate for this would be a Chaetognath. They are voracious planktonic predators, and let me tell you that if a giant version of them existed I doubt I'd ever go swimming.

Well, hope that provides some inspiration.

 

[Stormborn]

Maybe the reason that the BBEG (a mind-flayer lich perhaps) wants the summit to be underwater is not simply for secrurity's sake. Maybe its near the ancient city where he was born, sunk beneath the waves long ago by a long dead army of righteousness in a only partially succesful attempt to stop him. When things go against him he will raise the nearly infinite numbers of dead in the city to fight for him. Did I mention that the city also houses a temple with a portal to a demiplane of aquatic hell? From which he can call upon the might of a fiendish collasal squid, all squaminous and deadly, the avatar of his ancient god.

Even if you have already established an origin for your BBEG you could always say "No, this is where he came from before that."

 

[WizarDru]

My candidate for this would be a Chaetognath. They are voracious planktonic predators, and let me tell you that if a giant version of them existed I doubt I'd ever go swimming

Oh yeah, that'll work.

Man, that is creepy.

The Man of War is another really good one. This is great stuff, guys. This is exactly why I put up requests like this. Awesome.

 

[Asmor]

Perhaps not quite so much on the creepy side, but you could rework the lantern/angler fish for an adventurer...

"You see something half buried in mud gleaming from the small amount of light that pierces the water. It appears to be made of a silvery metal."

"As you approach it, something in the ocean floor around you stirs. Powerful tentacles shoot out and grasp at you."

Oh, and of course, when one is going for creepy and undead, one can never leave out zombie children. Not neccessarily an encounter, just something to get them in the mood.

"You hear a muffled crying. Looking over the ridge you see, of all things, a young boy sitting on a rock with his head buried in his arms. Golden locks sway subtly in the water. As he lifts his head up, you notice tiny fish taking nibbles at the small, meaty chunks of flesh still stuck to his skull, and a hermit crab appears to have taken up residence in his left eye socket. He stares intently at you and asks sobbingly, 'Have you seen my mommy?'"