Bhargest attack! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bhargest attack! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Skritz_the_Lizardmen
03-05-08, 07:29 PM After hacking their way trough a good old classic dungeon, my player left the town alogn with a ranger NPC. They arrived in a village. A ruined village and people where killed by a trio of Bhargest!

Of course, my player DON'T know what these thing are. The only survivor mentionned "a big goblin-wolf monster". Now, they think they are fighting a werewolf-goblin. They encountered one of the Bhargest in wolf form and it ran away..

Now, I was wondering how to continue the whole thing. I was thinking leaving the Bhargest trio as a presence. When they travel around, they find more and more dead people. Not to mentiont hose who where eaten...

So, should i keep the Bhargest in the shadow, like a lurking presence?
GeminiDreams
03-05-08, 07:33 PM Umm... So shouldn't these guys be Greater Barghest's in awhile from all the devouring? As per:

When a barghest slays a humanoid opponent, it can feed on the corpse, devouring both flesh and life force, as a full-round action. Feeding destroys the victim’s body and prevents any form of raising or resurrection that requires part of the corpse. There is a 50% chance that a wish, miracle, or true resurrection spell can restore a devoured victim to life. Check once for each destroyed creature. If the check fails, the creature cannot be brought back to life by mortal magic.

A barghest advances in Hit Dice by consuming corpses in this fashion. For every three suitable corpses a barghest devours, it gains 1 Hit Die, and its Strength, Constitution, and natural armor increase by +1. Its attack bonus and saves improve as normal for an outsider of its Hit Dice, and it gains skill points, feats, and ability score improvements normally.

The barghest only advances by consuming the corpses of creatures whose Hit Dice or levels are equal to or greater than its own current total. A barghest that reaches 9 Hit Dice through feeding immediately becomes a greater barghest upon completion of the act.

And shouldn't they also start becoming ridiculously powerful?
EscherEnigma
03-05-08, 08:14 PM Umm... So shouldn't these guys be Greater Barghest's in awhile from all the devouring?
Eh, only if they devour powerful people. If they're mostly feasting on peasents and the likes, then for the most part they wont gain any HD. Of course, since they occasionally *might* get a powerful corpse... gives good justification to increase the HD along with the party.

Back to the original poster.

I would say that unless they start looking for the murderers, that the barghest will just kind of remain in the background. keep leaving hints that suggest they're still around, but either until you want to use them as a main plot element, or the heroes hunt them down, they can safely remain in the background. And hey, if they get too presumptuous with that whole raise dead bit, you can have the barghests sneak in and eat their friend's corpse before the cleric casts the spell in the morning. I'm sure THAT'LL get the party after 'em.
Olween
03-05-08, 09:00 PM Yeah, if the Barghbest is combing the countryside and attacking small towns within, it is believable for it never to find anybody higher than level 2 or maybe 3.

Anyway... Maybe they can find another killing site, then a survival check let them find a track of prints and, if they follow it, they discover a spot at which the prints transform from wolf into something else.
In fact, probably, after the first time, they would look for prints each time they happen into a killing site and follow them. Changing the type of secondary print first time, the Barghest change from wolf to goblin; the second time into an orc will give them a clue that there is something morwe than just a werewolf going on...
Cartigan
03-05-08, 09:06 PM Umm... So shouldn't these guys be Greater Barghest's in awhile from all the devouring? As per:

When a barghest slays a humanoid opponent, it can feed on the corpse, devouring both flesh and life force, as a full-round action. Feeding destroys the victim’s body and prevents any form of raising or resurrection that requires part of the corpse. There is a 50% chance that a wish, miracle, or true resurrection spell can restore a devoured victim to life. Check once for each destroyed creature. If the check fails, the creature cannot be brought back to life by mortal magic.

A barghest advances in Hit Dice by consuming corpses in this fashion. For every three suitable corpses a barghest devours, it gains 1 Hit Die, and its Strength, Constitution, and natural armor increase by +1. Its attack bonus and saves improve as normal for an outsider of its Hit Dice, and it gains skill points, feats, and ability score improvements normally.

The barghest only advances by consuming the corpses of creatures whose Hit Dice or levels are equal to or greater than its own current total. A barghest that reaches 9 Hit Dice through feeding immediately becomes a greater barghest upon completion of the act.

And shouldn't they also start becoming ridiculously powerful?

The key is The barghest only advances by consuming the corpses of creatures whose Hit Dice or levels are equal to or greater than its own current total. A barghest that reaches 9 Hit Dice through feeding immediately becomes a greater barghest upon completion of the act.
Where are you going to find level 8 commoners?
GeminiDreams
03-05-08, 10:09 PM The key is
Where are you going to find level 8 commoners?

True enough about the Hit Dice part. I guess how I was reading it, it was more like if the combined level of all devoured corpses was greater than or equal to... blah blah blah. You get the picture.

I guess the stat bonuses only come into play when they eat three level 8 commoners then?
steventirey1985
03-05-08, 11:02 PM Where are you going to find level 8 commoners?

Well, according to the DMG on creating towns (page 130), any small city (population 5000-12000) will have 2 commoners of at least 10th level, but normally around 2 of 16th level.

The average hamlet (population 80-400) will have an 8th level commoner.

Also, the average thorp (population 20-80) will have a 7th level commoner. So finding an 8th level commoner is actually pretty easy.

(And as a side note, the average metropolis will have 4 22nd level commoners.)
iserith
03-05-08, 11:11 PM Yes, leave them as a lurking presence. Increase their hit dice and/or give them templates and class levels as the PCs advance. If the PCs take an active interest and come up with good plans to track down the beasts and deal with them, set up an awesome adventure or set-piece encounter to reward the players for dealing with a good subplot of the campaign.
Cartigan
03-06-08, 01:12 AM Well, according to the DMG on creating towns (page 130), any small city (population 5000-12000) will have 2 commoners of at least 10th level, but normally around 2 of 16th level.

The average hamlet (population 80-400) will have an 8th level commoner.

Also, the average thorp (population 20-80) will have a 7th level commoner. So finding an 8th level commoner is actually pretty easy.

(And as a side note, the average metropolis will have 4 22nd level commoners.)
So if the Barghest consumes the souls of every person in a small city, hamlet, thorp and metropolis, he will gain 2HD :rolleyes:
Now he only has to consume another small city in order to become a greater barghest.
NordicBirch
03-06-08, 03:58 AM Maybe the Barghests already ate enough that low level commoners won't sate their appetite and their rampaging changes tune? First there were whole villages slaughtered and then more like assassinations of single important (or otherwise powerful looking) individuals. The Barghests don't automatically know whether or not they've chosen a high enough level victim so you can choose how fast they advance irregardless of how many mayors and old tavernkeepers they eat.
Dash Branaghan
03-06-08, 07:21 AM Best question to ask here, at least IMO...

Why are the Barghests doing this? Are they trying to advance in Hit Dice, or do they just like the fear and taste of peasantry?

*chuckle* You know, you could always mess with the PCs by having them find bags of seasoning among the corpses...you know, make the peasants go down easier.

Anyway, back to the point...

If the Barghests are doing it to gain power, then it stands to reason that attacking the party at night and munching on them (start with the Ranger NPC of course) might be a way to gain in HD and make the jump to Greater Barghest.

Alternatively, with the peasantry dead, they can follow the PCs and keep an eye on them as the PCs will probably head to another village - and if they've discussed this openly among themselves (ie. let's go to another town this way), then the Barghests have a new feeding trough (complete with whatever level commoner happens to be there).

The best part is if the PCs can be given a mission in this town/village only to come back and find that everyone is dead again (with packets of seasoning by the corpses again). Man, will the look on their faces be priceless...

Oooh...added thought here - have them come across a wandering gypsy who claims something they have recently found is cursed and carries a demon spirit that is seeking revenge...and that it is this spirit that is killing everyone the PCs come to...

Then have the Barghests eat him later.

*wants to watch Ghost and the Darkness again now*
Skritz_the_Lizardmen
03-06-08, 09:50 AM Best question to ask here, at least IMO...

Why are the Barghests doing this? Are they trying to advance in Hit Dice, or do they just like the fear and taste of peasantry?

Both reason..they try to find some powerfull person to eat (so far they are unsuccesfull) AND the trio just like to go on random killing spree to spread fear...

Bhargest grow more powerfull if they eat powerfull people, right? The PC are not super-strong but still stronger than peasant.
Most are around level 4 or 5. They are 6, if i count the Npc. Maybe the Bhargest want THEM, to grow powerfull very quickly? So they will keep on tracking the PC..:devil:

I mean, c'mon! Eating level 1 peasant won't make them very powerfull. In fact, can they even know if they killed a person who is strong enough?
Dash Branaghan
03-06-08, 06:46 PM I mean, c'mon! Eating level 1 peasant won't make them very powerfull. In fact, can they even know if they killed a person who is strong enough?

Yep. As soon as they eat him, they'll know.

There is nothing to say you can't have a Barghest with class levels (can you say Evil Ranger?) or items that allow them to detect the life force of an enemy.

That said, if the PCs aren't powerful enough yet, they are the closest thing to improving in power that the Barghests have seen, but they still need to grow stronger. So what you might consider doing with the Barghests is have them "arrange" for combat for the PCs in multiple ways in preparation for the feast.

As Jimbo in the Simpsons says, "How can I clean this pot if you keep pouring meat tenderizer all over me?" It will be interesting if the PCs wind up doing tasks solely for the purpose of being eaten later.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Skritz_the_Lizardmen 03-05-08, 07:29 PM	After hacking their way trough a good old classic dungeon, my player left the town alogn with a ranger NPC. They arrived in a village. A ruined village and people where killed by a trio of Bhargest! Of course, my player DON'T know what these thing are. The only survivor mentionned "a big goblin-wolf monster". Now, they think they are fighting a werewolf-goblin. They encountered one of the Bhargest in wolf form and it ran away.. Now, I was wondering how to continue the whole thing. I was thinking leaving the Bhargest trio as a presence. When they travel around, they find more and more dead people. Not to mentiont hose who where eaten... So, should i keep the Bhargest in the shadow, like a lurking presence?
GeminiDreams 03-05-08, 07:33 PM	Umm... So shouldn't these guys be Greater Barghest's in awhile from all the devouring? As per: When a barghest slays a humanoid opponent, it can feed on the corpse, devouring both flesh and life force, as a full-round action. Feeding destroys the victim’s body and prevents any form of raising or resurrection that requires part of the corpse. There is a 50% chance that a wish, miracle, or true resurrection spell can restore a devoured victim to life. Check once for each destroyed creature. If the check fails, the creature cannot be brought back to life by mortal magic. A barghest advances in Hit Dice by consuming corpses in this fashion. For every three suitable corpses a barghest devours, it gains 1 Hit Die, and its Strength, Constitution, and natural armor increase by +1. Its attack bonus and saves improve as normal for an outsider of its Hit Dice, and it gains skill points, feats, and ability score improvements normally. The barghest only advances by consuming the corpses of creatures whose Hit Dice or levels are equal to or greater than its own current total. A barghest that reaches 9 Hit Dice through feeding immediately becomes a greater barghest upon completion of the act. And shouldn't they also start becoming ridiculously powerful?
EscherEnigma 03-05-08, 08:14 PM	Umm... So shouldn't these guys be Greater Barghest's in awhile from all the devouring? Eh, only if they devour powerful people. If they're mostly feasting on peasents and the likes, then for the most part they wont gain any HD. Of course, since they occasionally might get a powerful corpse... gives good justification to increase the HD along with the party. Back to the original poster. I would say that unless they start looking for the murderers, that the barghest will just kind of remain in the background. keep leaving hints that suggest they're still around, but either until you want to use them as a main plot element, or the heroes hunt them down, they can safely remain in the background. And hey, if they get too presumptuous with that whole raise dead bit, you can have the barghests sneak in and eat their friend's corpse before the cleric casts the spell in the morning. I'm sure THAT'LL get the party after 'em.
Olween 03-05-08, 09:00 PM	Yeah, if the Barghbest is combing the countryside and attacking small towns within, it is believable for it never to find anybody higher than level 2 or maybe 3. Anyway... Maybe they can find another killing site, then a survival check let them find a track of prints and, if they follow it, they discover a spot at which the prints transform from wolf into something else. In fact, probably, after the first time, they would look for prints each time they happen into a killing site and follow them. Changing the type of secondary print first time, the Barghest change from wolf to goblin; the second time into an orc will give them a clue that there is something morwe than just a werewolf going on...
Cartigan 03-05-08, 09:06 PM	Umm... So shouldn't these guys be Greater Barghest's in awhile from all the devouring? As per: When a barghest slays a humanoid opponent, it can feed on the corpse, devouring both flesh and life force, as a full-round action. Feeding destroys the victim’s body and prevents any form of raising or resurrection that requires part of the corpse. There is a 50% chance that a wish, miracle, or true resurrection spell can restore a devoured victim to life. Check once for each destroyed creature. If the check fails, the creature cannot be brought back to life by mortal magic. A barghest advances in Hit Dice by consuming corpses in this fashion. For every three suitable corpses a barghest devours, it gains 1 Hit Die, and its Strength, Constitution, and natural armor increase by +1. Its attack bonus and saves improve as normal for an outsider of its Hit Dice, and it gains skill points, feats, and ability score improvements normally. The barghest only advances by consuming the corpses of creatures whose Hit Dice or levels are equal to or greater than its own current total. A barghest that reaches 9 Hit Dice through feeding immediately becomes a greater barghest upon completion of the act. And shouldn't they also start becoming ridiculously powerful? The key is The barghest only advances by consuming the corpses of creatures whose Hit Dice or levels are equal to or greater than its own current total. A barghest that reaches 9 Hit Dice through feeding immediately becomes a greater barghest upon completion of the act. Where are you going to find level 8 commoners?
GeminiDreams 03-05-08, 10:09 PM	The key is Where are you going to find level 8 commoners? True enough about the Hit Dice part. I guess how I was reading it, it was more like if the combined level of all devoured corpses was greater than or equal to... blah blah blah. You get the picture. I guess the stat bonuses only come into play when they eat three level 8 commoners then?
steventirey1985 03-05-08, 11:02 PM	Where are you going to find level 8 commoners? Well, according to the DMG on creating towns (page 130), any small city (population 5000-12000) will have 2 commoners of at least 10th level, but normally around 2 of 16th level. The average hamlet (population 80-400) will have an 8th level commoner. Also, the average thorp (population 20-80) will have a 7th level commoner. So finding an 8th level commoner is actually pretty easy. (And as a side note, the average metropolis will have 4 22nd level commoners.)
iserith 03-05-08, 11:11 PM	Yes, leave them as a lurking presence. Increase their hit dice and/or give them templates and class levels as the PCs advance. If the PCs take an active interest and come up with good plans to track down the beasts and deal with them, set up an awesome adventure or set-piece encounter to reward the players for dealing with a good subplot of the campaign.
Cartigan 03-06-08, 01:12 AM	Well, according to the DMG on creating towns (page 130), any small city (population 5000-12000) will have 2 commoners of at least 10th level, but normally around 2 of 16th level. The average hamlet (population 80-400) will have an 8th level commoner. Also, the average thorp (population 20-80) will have a 7th level commoner. So finding an 8th level commoner is actually pretty easy. (And as a side note, the average metropolis will have 4 22nd level commoners.) So if the Barghest consumes the souls of every person in a small city, hamlet, thorp and metropolis, he will gain 2HD :rolleyes: Now he only has to consume another small city in order to become a greater barghest.
NordicBirch 03-06-08, 03:58 AM	Maybe the Barghests already ate enough that low level commoners won't sate their appetite and their rampaging changes tune? First there were whole villages slaughtered and then more like assassinations of single important (or otherwise powerful looking) individuals. The Barghests don't automatically know whether or not they've chosen a high enough level victim so you can choose how fast they advance irregardless of how many mayors and old tavernkeepers they eat.
Dash Branaghan 03-06-08, 07:21 AM	Best question to ask here, at least IMO... Why are the Barghests doing this? Are they trying to advance in Hit Dice, or do they just like the fear and taste of peasantry? chuckle You know, you could always mess with the PCs by having them find bags of seasoning among the corpses...you know, make the peasants go down easier. Anyway, back to the point... If the Barghests are doing it to gain power, then it stands to reason that attacking the party at night and munching on them (start with the Ranger NPC of course) might be a way to gain in HD and make the jump to Greater Barghest. Alternatively, with the peasantry dead, they can follow the PCs and keep an eye on them as the PCs will probably head to another village - and if they've discussed this openly among themselves (ie. let's go to another town this way), then the Barghests have a new feeding trough (complete with whatever level commoner happens to be there). The best part is if the PCs can be given a mission in this town/village only to come back and find that everyone is dead again (with packets of seasoning by the corpses again). Man, will the look on their faces be priceless... Oooh...added thought here - have them come across a wandering gypsy who claims something they have recently found is cursed and carries a demon spirit that is seeking revenge...and that it is this spirit that is killing everyone the PCs come to... Then have the Barghests eat him later. wants to watch Ghost and the Darkness again now
Skritz_the_Lizardmen 03-06-08, 09:50 AM	Best question to ask here, at least IMO... Why are the Barghests doing this? Are they trying to advance in Hit Dice, or do they just like the fear and taste of peasantry? Both reason..they try to find some powerfull person to eat (so far they are unsuccesfull) AND the trio just like to go on random killing spree to spread fear... Bhargest grow more powerfull if they eat powerfull people, right? The PC are not super-strong but still stronger than peasant. Most are around level 4 or 5. They are 6, if i count the Npc. Maybe the Bhargest want THEM, to grow powerfull very quickly? So they will keep on tracking the PC..:devil: I mean, c'mon! Eating level 1 peasant won't make them very powerfull. In fact, can they even know if they killed a person who is strong enough?
Dash Branaghan 03-06-08, 06:46 PM	I mean, c'mon! Eating level 1 peasant won't make them very powerfull. In fact, can they even know if they killed a person who is strong enough? Yep. As soon as they eat him, they'll know. There is nothing to say you can't have a Barghest with class levels (can you say Evil Ranger?) or items that allow them to detect the life force of an enemy. That said, if the PCs aren't powerful enough yet, they are the closest thing to improving in power that the Barghests have seen, but they still need to grow stronger. So what you might consider doing with the Barghests is have them "arrange" for combat for the PCs in multiple ways in preparation for the feast. As Jimbo in the Simpsons says, "How can I clean this pot if you keep pouring meat tenderizer all over me?" It will be interesting if the PCs wind up doing tasks solely for the purpose of being eaten later.