Powerful brandigs are among the greater dead, boasting superior reflexes and intelligence coupled with an uncanny ability to track their prey over great distances. These creatures are vaguely humanoid in appearance, though they have gray-green skin that drips fire and smoke, and their eyes burn with the soul of a dead spirit.
Brandigs are often generals with legions of ghouls and other horrifying lesser undead creatures under their command. They lead from the back with their devastating spells, yet are not to be trifled with in single combat. The armies of humans fear these undead creatures, and for good reason—many a ghost story has been told of a brandig whose armies rise from corpses almost as quickly as they can be put down.
Gald moved through the underbrush silently. He had tracked the beast for days, and he knew he was nearing its lair. The beast had proven to be quite clever, and had eluded capture for months, and that’s why he was here. People only summoned him to handle the most difficult of beasts.
Gald edged forward and spotted a patch of fur clinging to a bramble bush. Yep, this was definitely the right path. He paused to ensure he was still up-wind; it would do no good to sneak up on the beast if it smelled him coming.
Ahead, Gald spotted a clearing. Quietly, he drew his longsword and dagger—both alchemically silvered. All the better for bringing the beast down quickly. He crept up, careful not to make any noise, and peered through the underbrush.
“Don’t.” Turmish looked at him quizzically. “It’s only a decorated tree, Gavin. Besides I am hungry and that goose looks tasty.”
“Again. Don’t. You know how druids get all excited during the season, so don’t. I am not going to save you. That,“ Gavin pointed at the large fir tree decorated with tinsel and baubles, “is a trap. I can feel it in my bones.”
Druids are scary. Their dealings with the fickle fey and their strange seasonal rituals can cause a certain “wrongness” when and wherever they decide to build a trap. The decorated tree with goose guardian is a perennial druidic favorite. Any who near it must deal with its various ornamental and enchanting abilities.
Tinsel Tie Trap CR 3 Type magical; Perception DC 26; Disable Device DC 26 Trigger proximity; Reset automatic Effect tinsel touch (+10 melee, 2d6 slashing damage plus tinsel tie) Effect tinsel tie (gain the grappled condition; tinsel tie has a CMD of 20)
The tinsel is unnaturally strong. It has hardness 10 and 10 hp.
Ballistic Baubles Trap CR 3 Type magical; Perception DC 26; Disable Device DC 26 Trigger proximity; Reset automatic Effect ballistic baubles (+5 ranged touch, treat as a ray of frost spell plus boreal bind) Effect boreal bind (succeed on a DC 13 Fortitude save or 1d3 Dex damage)
Fey Fir CR 10 Type magical; Perception DC 34; Disable Device DC 34 Trigger proximity; Reset automatic Effect fey fir (treat as the sympathy spell, DC 23 Will save negates); multiple targets (all humans within 100 ft.)
Next Installment
What can Gavin do with a fishing rod, rusty spiked greaves, a swashbuckler’s hat and a hammock?
The Challenge
Name four adventuring items and receive a murderous trap in return.
During the Mage Wars, foolish wizards attempted to summon the Great Old One Tnkata, which was also called “The Eternal Hunger.” Tnkata, a mountain-sized mound of flesh surrounding a huge fanged maw, attempted to devour its summoners even before it fully emerged into Midgard. Desperate wizards sacrificed themselves to break the summoning and hurl the Hunger from Midgard. The resulting magical explosion ripped chunks from Tnkata’s flesh and scattered them across reality. These chunks retained a bit of the intellect and power of Tnkata and became the Flesh of Tnkata.
If you need a sword with a bit of lore and a decided preference for elves, Sarastra’s Shadow might be exactly what you’re looking for. Take a peek.
Sarastra’s Shadow
Aura strong illusion CL 18th
Slot none Weight 3 lbs.
Description
This minor artifact is a keen spellstoring holy frost longsword that has a blade that appears to be made of black ice. The wielder can also invoke the dancing, disruption, and ghost touch properties once per day, for 7 rounds each, but only one at a time. The legends say that Sarastra, the elven goddess of night and magic, created this powerful weapon to give to one of her champions, Erevan, when the various powers of the Eleven Hells were encroaching on territories she considered her own. He used it for centuries to battle her enemies, but the ghoul knights of Anu-Akma finally defeated him. The sword was lost, and it was last rumored to be hidden in the labyrinth of the king of the shadow elves.
