Help with Xen'drik [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help with Xen'drik [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
GMSteve
10-11-04, 08:17 AM I will be guiding my Players in 6 days (real time when the next game is) - and need some help on what kind of creatures one would find in Xen'drik, and what kind you would not find there. Nothing really in the EBCS on this, other than maybe Giants (too powerful for them right now) and Drow.

I got a handle on how I will handle the dark elves, but need to understand what sort of beasties and other humanoids I might find there?

I don't really think that I will have the standard gobos and orcs there?

But could see tribes of Kobolds (I think they get everywhere), and maybe having ogres (regressed giants) but what kind of strange monsters and other creatures do you think would be there - wyvern? Since the dragons did wipe the giants out?

I was thinking of having either lizardmen or bullywogs to the picture (or maybe even grippi from the latest dragon).

Any other ideas - any help would be appreciated - just for info - I only currently have access to MM (none of the others).

It seems that most of my "monsters" seem to be of the reptillian kind? Do you think that will be a problem?

Any ideas of any creatures from the Dream Plane left around? If so what?
xcorvis
10-11-04, 11:18 AM There's certainly nothing wrong with having a lot of reptiles and reptilian humanoids there. Don't forget the Yuan-ti, though they may be a little to tough. Grippli are a good choice for a friendly tribe, but they could make fun enemies as well.

While a lot of Xen'drik is jungle, it's not 100%. There are mountains, plains, swamps, deserts, etc, which means there's a lot more potential for critters. I think dire animals and vermin might be a nice touch. There are also a lot of different ape-like creatures in the monster manuals.

For intelligent creatures, you could always drop in a savage tribe of humanoids that were originally from somewhere else and got shipwrecked. Maybe a tribe of humans and 1/2 drow (due to interbreeding - possibly forced). Or maybe they've been there a really long time and have adapted. A tribe of savage goblins might be appropriate. They have artifacts dating from the Empire (can't recall the name) and are descended from a lost colony.
ENHenry
10-11-04, 11:28 AM In addition to the scorpion-obsessed drow (don't forget to include Scorpion-Driders in the mountains, but that's just my personal preference), forget ogres and just go straight to regressed hill giants in jungle-mound cities, or have them living in gigantic redwood tree-cities if that imagery appeals to you. Add in dire versions of everything possible (ants, rats, bats, birds, ticks), and be sure to spread around the occasional magnificent treasure or two, to remind them why they are still coming back to this exotic hell.
Just another user
10-11-04, 03:40 PM A low level party in Xen'drik could meet a tribe of relatives of this creature (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20041001b&page=3) from Shining South.

plus I think everything is fair game as long as is big, ugly and/or nasty.

Giant insects are always a lot of fun (and are very pulpish, IMO) and molds, slimes, fungi... if they go in the jungle at least.

maybe this serie of articles (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/bs/20040523a) could give you some ideas.
Saurenda
10-11-04, 07:05 PM A group of savage giants, if not an Eldritch giant lurking around might make the players squirm.

For the most part andy jungle encounter will do, and wild animals about in Xen drik. So long as the party travels by day and not at night, things should be ok. You may want to lower the encounter down during the day since Drow and most stalking animals are nocturnal.

Within the temples is a differetn story, throwing all kinds of constructs in thier may be good encounters, as sort of guardians of warforged components and such.

A beast dragon might be nice, since Dragons frequented the island once, and having a savage version of a draogn with cold and lit breath is nice.

Rakshasas. They will have thier warriors, not to mention the news types lurking in places here as well, not to mention temples dedicated to sun and moons perhaps? Playing off of aztec culture and similar encounters like reptiles is a very good idea as other suggested.

I tend to go for a very heavy native culture and a nomadic tribe of Drow, but whatever you like will work. Make sure everything in the forrest is dense and nosiy though, -2 to spot and listen checks.
Splendide
10-11-04, 08:59 PM A team of unlicensed dragonshard hunters that don't want other people knowing about their stash...that the PCs are unwittingly approaching.

A minotaur monk on a spiritual quest as a trick encounter - the PCs are likely to attack regardless.

Heaps of horrid lizards would be good also. Yeah....horrid lizards.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
GMSteve 10-11-04, 08:17 AM	I will be guiding my Players in 6 days (real time when the next game is) - and need some help on what kind of creatures one would find in Xen'drik, and what kind you would not find there. Nothing really in the EBCS on this, other than maybe Giants (too powerful for them right now) and Drow. I got a handle on how I will handle the dark elves, but need to understand what sort of beasties and other humanoids I might find there? I don't really think that I will have the standard gobos and orcs there? But could see tribes of Kobolds (I think they get everywhere), and maybe having ogres (regressed giants) but what kind of strange monsters and other creatures do you think would be there - wyvern? Since the dragons did wipe the giants out? I was thinking of having either lizardmen or bullywogs to the picture (or maybe even grippi from the latest dragon). Any other ideas - any help would be appreciated - just for info - I only currently have access to MM (none of the others). It seems that most of my "monsters" seem to be of the reptillian kind? Do you think that will be a problem? Any ideas of any creatures from the Dream Plane left around? If so what?
xcorvis 10-11-04, 11:18 AM	There's certainly nothing wrong with having a lot of reptiles and reptilian humanoids there. Don't forget the Yuan-ti, though they may be a little to tough. Grippli are a good choice for a friendly tribe, but they could make fun enemies as well. While a lot of Xen'drik is jungle, it's not 100%. There are mountains, plains, swamps, deserts, etc, which means there's a lot more potential for critters. I think dire animals and vermin might be a nice touch. There are also a lot of different ape-like creatures in the monster manuals. For intelligent creatures, you could always drop in a savage tribe of humanoids that were originally from somewhere else and got shipwrecked. Maybe a tribe of humans and 1/2 drow (due to interbreeding - possibly forced). Or maybe they've been there a really long time and have adapted. A tribe of savage goblins might be appropriate. They have artifacts dating from the Empire (can't recall the name) and are descended from a lost colony.
ENHenry 10-11-04, 11:28 AM	In addition to the scorpion-obsessed drow (don't forget to include Scorpion-Driders in the mountains, but that's just my personal preference), forget ogres and just go straight to regressed hill giants in jungle-mound cities, or have them living in gigantic redwood tree-cities if that imagery appeals to you. Add in dire versions of everything possible (ants, rats, bats, birds, ticks), and be sure to spread around the occasional magnificent treasure or two, to remind them why they are still coming back to this exotic hell.
Just another user 10-11-04, 03:40 PM	A low level party in Xen'drik could meet a tribe of relatives of this creature (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20041001b&page=3) from Shining South. plus I think everything is fair game as long as is big, ugly and/or nasty. Giant insects are always a lot of fun (and are very pulpish, IMO) and molds, slimes, fungi... if they go in the jungle at least. maybe this serie of articles (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/bs/20040523a) could give you some ideas.
Saurenda 10-11-04, 07:05 PM	A group of savage giants, if not an Eldritch giant lurking around might make the players squirm. For the most part andy jungle encounter will do, and wild animals about in Xen drik. So long as the party travels by day and not at night, things should be ok. You may want to lower the encounter down during the day since Drow and most stalking animals are nocturnal. Within the temples is a differetn story, throwing all kinds of constructs in thier may be good encounters, as sort of guardians of warforged components and such. A beast dragon might be nice, since Dragons frequented the island once, and having a savage version of a draogn with cold and lit breath is nice. Rakshasas. They will have thier warriors, not to mention the news types lurking in places here as well, not to mention temples dedicated to sun and moons perhaps? Playing off of aztec culture and similar encounters like reptiles is a very good idea as other suggested. I tend to go for a very heavy native culture and a nomadic tribe of Drow, but whatever you like will work. Make sure everything in the forrest is dense and nosiy though, -2 to spot and listen checks.
Splendide 10-11-04, 08:59 PM	A team of unlicensed dragonshard hunters that don't want other people knowing about their stash...that the PCs are unwittingly approaching. A minotaur monk on a spiritual quest as a trick encounter - the PCs are likely to attack regardless. Heaps of horrid lizards would be good also. Yeah....horrid lizards.