A living wall [Archive] - Wizards Community

A living wall [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Phantom Lord
01-12-05, 06:43 PM My wife (a.k.a. co-DM) and I were sitting around making up new monsters the other day, and this one came up. I was wondering if you guys had any added ideas or suggestions about it. Or maybe some stats - I'm still trying to cook up some good stats.

In my homebrew world, there is an evil kingdom (Stygia) surrounded by a ghastly stone wall. This wall, built by hundreds of slaves, is mortared together by the ground bones of sentient creatures (a.k.a. members of the core races). After construction of the wall was completed, the slaves were tied atop the wall, and systematically bled unto death. With the aid of some heavy necromantic spells, the lich-lord :devil: of the land gave a semblance of undeath to the wall, which proceeded to drink the blood that was spilled upon it. The wall itself is a construct, but imbued with the tortured spirits of all the slaves that were killed there. :plotting:

The wall exudes a poisonous fog to a distance of 50' on the outside face of the wall. It is also imbued with the ability to control the thorned vines that cover it. The vines function pretty much as assassin vines, but inflict 1d6 points of damage per round for each vine that a character is grappled by. The vines grab characters, and then attempt to hold them atop the wall and bleed their victims to death. The wall, in turn, greedily drinks the blood that is showered upon it.

Also, when anyone attempts to scale the wall, the eerie wail of a thousand tortured souls fills the air, and is heard up to 3 miles away. That way, any attempt at either sneaking into or escaping from Stygia is known.:evillaugh

Anyway, what consequences should there be for the wall being 'fed' the blood of victims? Should there be any mechanical difference, or should it just be flavor text? Should the wall have any other special abilities?

If anybody has ideas and wishes to share them I would appreciate it!
Rapida
01-12-05, 06:55 PM I guess you could make them harder to ressurect.
Phantom Lord
01-12-05, 08:27 PM Sounds like a plan...resurrection takes a miracle or wish. Also, tell me what you think of this: the poison that the wall exudes is inhalation-based, with a Fortitude DC 21, inflicts 1d6 STR damage initially, and thins the blood as a secondary effect. While the blood is thus afflicted, any wounds dealt to the victim bleed continuously, dealing 1 point of damage per round per wound, until magically healed or stopped with a heal check DC 15.
Elthbert
01-12-05, 09:49 PM Man that is pretty harsh for a wall how about just making the raise dead ineffective or even resurrection, but 5000 xp to raise someone is pretty harsh. While I like the poison I thinkthe DC is pretty high is this kingdom supposed to be nigh impossable to escape or enter? If you expect any group under about 8th level to be able to leave or enter I would lower the save, the wounding effect combined with the "assasssin vines" is going to just ruin a group of melee characters day.
Obscure One
01-12-05, 10:56 PM Sounds really cool, and this idea of seing a Crimson Death lurking around in that poisonus fog just popped in my head. I think that the poisonus fog should cause con dmg, as if the wall was sucking the blood from it's victims draining their life force (1d4 per round, inhilation based like Phantom Lord suggested, and similarly cured magically or by a DC 15 heal check). The Crimson Death would serve as a neat little scavenger feeding on the blood that the wall spills and can't reach to drink, just an idea to combine some exisiting monsters in with the creation to blend it in a bit.
Soel Griffin
01-13-05, 05:42 AM There was a Living Wall in 2nd ed AD&D, but yours is much better.
Chazmon
01-13-05, 09:52 AM There was a Living Wall in 2nd ed AD&D, but yours is much better.

you are refering to the good old wailing wall this does bear some resemblence to it. It does sound a little overkill tho
The screaming early warning system is cool tho

Chazmon
Vharuck
01-13-05, 06:20 PM I'd say that a wall drinking a persons blood is no different than a vampire's feeding (except for the raised as a zombie part, though if I were a lich that would be cool to expand my undead army).
Phantom Lord
01-15-05, 09:33 AM So, about a DC 18, and only 1d4 STR initial damage? And it's probably a bit more fair to say that a True Resurrect could bring a victim back. Also, there is a 50% chance that the victim's body comes back as undead (not sure what type yet) after 1d4 minutes to serve in the ranks of the lich's army.

Now, what about a challenge rating? My guess would be a 5 or 6. Perhaps that's a bit low, though.

And yes, it is supposed to be pretty hard to get into or out of this place except by well-guarded paths.

By the way, thank you guys for all the help.
Blakk_Magemaster
01-15-05, 10:24 AM It looks fine and I love the flavor. I don't think it should have intelligence, more like an undead then something actually living. Not too sure about stats but the CR looks to me like it should be 10 or 11. NIce job.
Elthbert
01-15-05, 12:58 PM I think 1d4 strength and a dc of 18 is better, as for challenge rating can the wall be breached? if it is indestructable and one has to go over it then I would say you have a CR f about 9if you can pull up a catapult and breach it maybr a 7 or 8. It is a really cool Idea, I'm glad we could help.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Phantom Lord 01-12-05, 06:43 PM	My wife (a.k.a. co-DM) and I were sitting around making up new monsters the other day, and this one came up. I was wondering if you guys had any added ideas or suggestions about it. Or maybe some stats - I'm still trying to cook up some good stats. In my homebrew world, there is an evil kingdom (Stygia) surrounded by a ghastly stone wall. This wall, built by hundreds of slaves, is mortared together by the ground bones of sentient creatures (a.k.a. members of the core races). After construction of the wall was completed, the slaves were tied atop the wall, and systematically bled unto death. With the aid of some heavy necromantic spells, the lich-lord :devil: of the land gave a semblance of undeath to the wall, which proceeded to drink the blood that was spilled upon it. The wall itself is a construct, but imbued with the tortured spirits of all the slaves that were killed there. :plotting: The wall exudes a poisonous fog to a distance of 50' on the outside face of the wall. It is also imbued with the ability to control the thorned vines that cover it. The vines function pretty much as assassin vines, but inflict 1d6 points of damage per round for each vine that a character is grappled by. The vines grab characters, and then attempt to hold them atop the wall and bleed their victims to death. The wall, in turn, greedily drinks the blood that is showered upon it. Also, when anyone attempts to scale the wall, the eerie wail of a thousand tortured souls fills the air, and is heard up to 3 miles away. That way, any attempt at either sneaking into or escaping from Stygia is known.:evillaugh Anyway, what consequences should there be for the wall being 'fed' the blood of victims? Should there be any mechanical difference, or should it just be flavor text? Should the wall have any other special abilities? If anybody has ideas and wishes to share them I would appreciate it!
Rapida 01-12-05, 06:55 PM	I guess you could make them harder to ressurect.
Phantom Lord 01-12-05, 08:27 PM	Sounds like a plan...resurrection takes a miracle or wish. Also, tell me what you think of this: the poison that the wall exudes is inhalation-based, with a Fortitude DC 21, inflicts 1d6 STR damage initially, and thins the blood as a secondary effect. While the blood is thus afflicted, any wounds dealt to the victim bleed continuously, dealing 1 point of damage per round per wound, until magically healed or stopped with a heal check DC 15.
Elthbert 01-12-05, 09:49 PM	Man that is pretty harsh for a wall how about just making the raise dead ineffective or even resurrection, but 5000 xp to raise someone is pretty harsh. While I like the poison I thinkthe DC is pretty high is this kingdom supposed to be nigh impossable to escape or enter? If you expect any group under about 8th level to be able to leave or enter I would lower the save, the wounding effect combined with the "assasssin vines" is going to just ruin a group of melee characters day.
Obscure One 01-12-05, 10:56 PM	Sounds really cool, and this idea of seing a Crimson Death lurking around in that poisonus fog just popped in my head. I think that the poisonus fog should cause con dmg, as if the wall was sucking the blood from it's victims draining their life force (1d4 per round, inhilation based like Phantom Lord suggested, and similarly cured magically or by a DC 15 heal check). The Crimson Death would serve as a neat little scavenger feeding on the blood that the wall spills and can't reach to drink, just an idea to combine some exisiting monsters in with the creation to blend it in a bit.
Soel Griffin 01-13-05, 05:42 AM	There was a Living Wall in 2nd ed AD&D, but yours is much better.
Chazmon 01-13-05, 09:52 AM	There was a Living Wall in 2nd ed AD&D, but yours is much better. you are refering to the good old wailing wall this does bear some resemblence to it. It does sound a little overkill tho The screaming early warning system is cool tho Chazmon
Vharuck 01-13-05, 06:20 PM	I'd say that a wall drinking a persons blood is no different than a vampire's feeding (except for the raised as a zombie part, though if I were a lich that would be cool to expand my undead army).
Phantom Lord 01-15-05, 09:33 AM	So, about a DC 18, and only 1d4 STR initial damage? And it's probably a bit more fair to say that a True Resurrect could bring a victim back. Also, there is a 50% chance that the victim's body comes back as undead (not sure what type yet) after 1d4 minutes to serve in the ranks of the lich's army. Now, what about a challenge rating? My guess would be a 5 or 6. Perhaps that's a bit low, though. And yes, it is supposed to be pretty hard to get into or out of this place except by well-guarded paths. By the way, thank you guys for all the help.
Blakk_Magemaster 01-15-05, 10:24 AM	It looks fine and I love the flavor. I don't think it should have intelligence, more like an undead then something actually living. Not too sure about stats but the CR looks to me like it should be 10 or 11. NIce job.
Elthbert 01-15-05, 12:58 PM	I think 1d4 strength and a dc of 18 is better, as for challenge rating can the wall be breached? if it is indestructable and one has to go over it then I would say you have a CR f about 9if you can pull up a catapult and breach it maybr a 7 or 8. It is a really cool Idea, I'm glad we could help.