Cauldron-Born Zombies [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cauldron-Born Zombies [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Zalek
02-19-06, 08:17 PM Im starting a compaign and everything and all my normal players are requesting we fight something more powerful than my zombies that i normally put out to kill them. So they asked for cauldron-born zombies I have heard of them but i have no stats for them. anyone know which book or where i could find that information?
Delvesdeep
02-19-06, 09:07 PM So they are asking you what they want to fight...? Doesn't this take a bit of the surprize out of the game?

Players - 'First we want to fight a zombie, then an orc and then a gaint toad'

DM - 'But your 10th levels!'

Players - 'Oh and could you stick in a Holy Avenger, Staff of the Power and...'

I'm sure this isn't what's really going on but you get my point. I have never heard of a Cauldron-Zombie. Are you sure they aren't just pulling you leg?

Why do you need a zombie specifically? Would another type of powerful undead better suit ie ghoul, wight, wraith, spectre, vampire etc

If you just really want to find out about this specific undead (assuming there is one written somewhere that matches the name that is) then I can't help you. If on the other hand you want some help with an encounter, future battle or player problems;) then post back and I (and many others) will give you a hand.

As to the Cauldron-Zombie....sorry, you're on you own.
Zalek
02-19-06, 09:12 PM i heard of them and they said they were tired of my nomral beefed up uber zombies of doom and destruction with 235 health and an ac of 30 on a lvl 15 campaign no no i think there well justified Im told i make things way to hard... well if youve never heard of them they probably dont exist ill just give em a lich to deal with....mwahahahahahaha
(note)
one guy was always asking me to put in a miniature dimensional hole(think thats what there called correct me please if im wrong) or something and he put it in his bag...seeing by the fact i was allready ****** off at him and his only actual bag was a bag of holding lets just say he ripped a hole in the dimension and killed him self and everyone around him
Lord Morridin
02-19-06, 10:45 PM Actually, there is something about a 'cauldron-zombie' in the latest dragon magazine. It is based on the Black Cauldron book. You might want to check it out.
MazrimTaem
02-20-06, 11:53 AM Ahh...Cauldron Born, I haven't heard that name in a long time. But having passed a Knowledge Religion check I have the following information:

The Cauldron-Born takes its name from the unstoppable zombies of Irish myth

Is also a type of Mech in in battle tech

But your player is most likely refering to "The Black Cauldron" by Lloyd Alexender. I read and enjoyed this book as a child. It is a continuation of the chronicles of Prydain.

This book should not take too long to read as I said it is a childs book. or If you like I can just tell you the gist of Cauldron born.
MazrimTaem
02-20-06, 12:12 PM Spoiler...............

Last chance............

O'kay then. The cauldron born are an unkillable zombie. The don't hurt, bleed, slow or die under any circumstances. They have dead white eyes. They also have a little more life in'em than the typical zombie. I would take away the "just a single action" of normal zombies.
Thier only weakness is if the cauldron that created them is destroyed they are destroyed. Your players are going to know this having read the book so I suggest this:

Unleash the cauldron born (make them very tough), make getting to and destroying the cauldron extremely difficult, toss in a devious trick when they do. Have the cauldron born harasses them at every turn as they have, for some reason, angered the Horned King. When they cry in terror and grief tell them it's what they asked for and must be resolved before the campaign progresses or ends.

That should stop any further dictation of your game by the players
ThePrivateer
02-20-06, 01:38 PM They must be referring to the Cauldron Born template for undead in the latest Dragon Magazine, 340. It's based on the Black Cauldron, and allows a necromancer to make obscene numbers of powerful (but firmly in the "minion" category) undead so long as they do not go more than 50 miles from the cauldron. Spiffy, but I didn't like the saves against fear (I think) they trigger -- IMO, minions shouldn't have abilities that come into play immediately when they begin combat, so my players don't have to make fifty saves when the come against an army of them :P
pres_man
02-20-06, 01:56 PM O'kay then. The cauldron born are an unkillable zombie. The don't hurt, bleed, slow or die under any circumstances. They have dead white eyes. They also have a little more life in'em than the typical zombie. I would take away the "just a single action" of normal zombies.
They are weakened by getting too far from the evil lands for too long.

Thier only weakness is if the cauldron that created them is destroyed they are destroyed. Your players are going to know this having read the book so I suggest this:
Actually this is incorrect. The cauldron was destroyed early (book 2 out of 5 I believe) on in the series of books, yet the cauldron born were around up until the end (finally destroyed in book 5). All destroying the cauldron did was make it impossible to make more. The cauldron born were destroyed when one of them was stabbed with the magic sword in the book.
MazrimTaem
02-20-06, 03:59 PM They are weakened by getting too far from the evil lands for too long.

Actually this is incorrect. The cauldron was destroyed early (book 2 out of 5 I believe) on in the series of books, yet the cauldron born were around up until the end (finally destroyed in book 5). All destroying the cauldron did was make it impossible to make more. The cauldron born were destroyed when one of them was stabbed with the magic sword in the book.

I stand corrected, no excuses.
fridaymorteum
02-20-06, 04:10 PM Im starting a compaign and everything and all my normal players are requesting we fight something more powerful than my zombies that i normally put out to kill them. So they asked for cauldron-born zombies I have heard of them but i have no stats for them. anyone know which book or where i could find that information?

I don't have stats, but the book they come from is Lloyd Alexander's "The Prydian Chronicles", a series of fantasy books, of which the Cauldron-Born are a part.
Check 'em out, they're really good.

However, you could make up your own stats. Give them higher HP, more damage with hits, and a greater Critical...upgrade Str. and make them look different, and have them created differently (your own magical item - a cauldron that makes zombies...!), etc.

c'mon - you're a DM - just make it up.
RequiemOfReason
02-20-06, 05:07 PM Also, the Book of Vile Darkness has a giant cauldron that can be used to make zombies.
Feeb
02-20-06, 05:33 PM While the short article in Dragon did present some interesting templates and fluff, I'd probably be a bit leery of putting an artifact of the Cauldron's power in my game.
Zalek
02-20-06, 06:25 PM OoOOoOOOOOOoOOooOooOooOooOOo im drooling at the thought of how hard i can make this......yes..YES....YES ill have an ancient red dragon blocking the way to the cauldron and ill have them be lvl 10...man im evil. get around that you stupid tiefling rogue!
~edit~
book sounds intresting where could i find it? online. pm me please
speeblefreak
02-20-06, 06:47 PM i heard of them and they said they were tired of my nomral beefed up uber zombies of doom and destruction with 235 health and an ac of 30 on a lvl 15 campaign no no i think there well justified Im told i make things way to hard... well if youve never heard of them they probably dont exist ill just give em a lich to deal with....mwahahahahahaha
(note)
one guy was always asking me to put in a miniature dimensional hole(think thats what there called correct me please if im wrong) or something and he put it in his bag...seeing by the fact i was allready ****** off at him and his only actual bag was a bag of holding lets just say he ripped a hole in the dimension and killed him self and everyone around him

AUGH! MY EYES! NOOOO! :gah:
Marvos
02-20-06, 07:15 PM There's a big cauldron in Vile Darkness that creates zombies. I use this in my campaign. Now I don't know about "cauldron born" zombies, but in my campaign, any undead created by industrial means (there are undead factories everywhere) is stronger, faster, harder to turn etc.
Lord Gwydion
02-20-06, 08:14 PM Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles are available from Amazon, Borders, or any decent online bookseller. The titles are:
The Book of Three
The Black Cauldron
The Castle of Lyr
Taran Wanderer
The High King
There's also a collection of short stories called The Foundling.

The magic cauldron in the series (and the one apparently in the BoVD) is taken from Irish myth. The Irish magical cauldron could restore dead people to life just by throwing them in, but those who returned lost the power of speech so that they could not tell the living about what the afterlife was like.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Zalek 02-19-06, 08:17 PM	Im starting a compaign and everything and all my normal players are requesting we fight something more powerful than my zombies that i normally put out to kill them. So they asked for cauldron-born zombies I have heard of them but i have no stats for them. anyone know which book or where i could find that information?
Delvesdeep 02-19-06, 09:07 PM	So they are asking you what they want to fight...? Doesn't this take a bit of the surprize out of the game? Players - 'First we want to fight a zombie, then an orc and then a gaint toad' DM - 'But your 10th levels!' Players - 'Oh and could you stick in a Holy Avenger, Staff of the Power and...' I'm sure this isn't what's really going on but you get my point. I have never heard of a Cauldron-Zombie. Are you sure they aren't just pulling you leg? Why do you need a zombie specifically? Would another type of powerful undead better suit ie ghoul, wight, wraith, spectre, vampire etc If you just really want to find out about this specific undead (assuming there is one written somewhere that matches the name that is) then I can't help you. If on the other hand you want some help with an encounter, future battle or player problems;) then post back and I (and many others) will give you a hand. As to the Cauldron-Zombie....sorry, you're on you own.
Zalek 02-19-06, 09:12 PM	i heard of them and they said they were tired of my nomral beefed up uber zombies of doom and destruction with 235 health and an ac of 30 on a lvl 15 campaign no no i think there well justified Im told i make things way to hard... well if youve never heard of them they probably dont exist ill just give em a lich to deal with....mwahahahahahaha (note) one guy was always asking me to put in a miniature dimensional hole(think thats what there called correct me please if im wrong) or something and he put it in his bag...seeing by the fact i was allready ****** off at him and his only actual bag was a bag of holding lets just say he ripped a hole in the dimension and killed him self and everyone around him
Lord Morridin 02-19-06, 10:45 PM	Actually, there is something about a 'cauldron-zombie' in the latest dragon magazine. It is based on the Black Cauldron book. You might want to check it out.
MazrimTaem 02-20-06, 11:53 AM	Ahh...Cauldron Born, I haven't heard that name in a long time. But having passed a Knowledge Religion check I have the following information: The Cauldron-Born takes its name from the unstoppable zombies of Irish myth Is also a type of Mech in in battle tech But your player is most likely refering to "The Black Cauldron" by Lloyd Alexender. I read and enjoyed this book as a child. It is a continuation of the chronicles of Prydain. This book should not take too long to read as I said it is a childs book. or If you like I can just tell you the gist of Cauldron born.
MazrimTaem 02-20-06, 12:12 PM	Spoiler............... Last chance............ O'kay then. The cauldron born are an unkillable zombie. The don't hurt, bleed, slow or die under any circumstances. They have dead white eyes. They also have a little more life in'em than the typical zombie. I would take away the "just a single action" of normal zombies. Thier only weakness is if the cauldron that created them is destroyed they are destroyed. Your players are going to know this having read the book so I suggest this: Unleash the cauldron born (make them very tough), make getting to and destroying the cauldron extremely difficult, toss in a devious trick when they do. Have the cauldron born harasses them at every turn as they have, for some reason, angered the Horned King. When they cry in terror and grief tell them it's what they asked for and must be resolved before the campaign progresses or ends. That should stop any further dictation of your game by the players
ThePrivateer 02-20-06, 01:38 PM	They must be referring to the Cauldron Born template for undead in the latest Dragon Magazine, 340. It's based on the Black Cauldron, and allows a necromancer to make obscene numbers of powerful (but firmly in the "minion" category) undead so long as they do not go more than 50 miles from the cauldron. Spiffy, but I didn't like the saves against fear (I think) they trigger -- IMO, minions shouldn't have abilities that come into play immediately when they begin combat, so my players don't have to make fifty saves when the come against an army of them :P
pres_man 02-20-06, 01:56 PM	O'kay then. The cauldron born are an unkillable zombie. The don't hurt, bleed, slow or die under any circumstances. They have dead white eyes. They also have a little more life in'em than the typical zombie. I would take away the "just a single action" of normal zombies. They are weakened by getting too far from the evil lands for too long. Thier only weakness is if the cauldron that created them is destroyed they are destroyed. Your players are going to know this having read the book so I suggest this: Actually this is incorrect. The cauldron was destroyed early (book 2 out of 5 I believe) on in the series of books, yet the cauldron born were around up until the end (finally destroyed in book 5). All destroying the cauldron did was make it impossible to make more. The cauldron born were destroyed when one of them was stabbed with the magic sword in the book.
MazrimTaem 02-20-06, 03:59 PM	They are weakened by getting too far from the evil lands for too long. Actually this is incorrect. The cauldron was destroyed early (book 2 out of 5 I believe) on in the series of books, yet the cauldron born were around up until the end (finally destroyed in book 5). All destroying the cauldron did was make it impossible to make more. The cauldron born were destroyed when one of them was stabbed with the magic sword in the book. I stand corrected, no excuses.
fridaymorteum 02-20-06, 04:10 PM	Im starting a compaign and everything and all my normal players are requesting we fight something more powerful than my zombies that i normally put out to kill them. So they asked for cauldron-born zombies I have heard of them but i have no stats for them. anyone know which book or where i could find that information? I don't have stats, but the book they come from is Lloyd Alexander's "The Prydian Chronicles", a series of fantasy books, of which the Cauldron-Born are a part. Check 'em out, they're really good. However, you could make up your own stats. Give them higher HP, more damage with hits, and a greater Critical...upgrade Str. and make them look different, and have them created differently (your own magical item - a cauldron that makes zombies...!), etc. c'mon - you're a DM - just make it up.
RequiemOfReason 02-20-06, 05:07 PM	Also, the Book of Vile Darkness has a giant cauldron that can be used to make zombies.
Feeb 02-20-06, 05:33 PM	While the short article in Dragon did present some interesting templates and fluff, I'd probably be a bit leery of putting an artifact of the Cauldron's power in my game.
Zalek 02-20-06, 06:25 PM	OoOOoOOOOOOoOOooOooOooOooOOo im drooling at the thought of how hard i can make this......yes..YES....YES ill have an ancient red dragon blocking the way to the cauldron and ill have them be lvl 10...man im evil. get around that you stupid tiefling rogue! ~edit~ book sounds intresting where could i find it? online. pm me please
speeblefreak 02-20-06, 06:47 PM	i heard of them and they said they were tired of my nomral beefed up uber zombies of doom and destruction with 235 health and an ac of 30 on a lvl 15 campaign no no i think there well justified Im told i make things way to hard... well if youve never heard of them they probably dont exist ill just give em a lich to deal with....mwahahahahahaha (note) one guy was always asking me to put in a miniature dimensional hole(think thats what there called correct me please if im wrong) or something and he put it in his bag...seeing by the fact i was allready ****** off at him and his only actual bag was a bag of holding lets just say he ripped a hole in the dimension and killed him self and everyone around him AUGH! MY EYES! NOOOO! :gah:
Marvos 02-20-06, 07:15 PM	There's a big cauldron in Vile Darkness that creates zombies. I use this in my campaign. Now I don't know about "cauldron born" zombies, but in my campaign, any undead created by industrial means (there are undead factories everywhere) is stronger, faster, harder to turn etc.
Lord Gwydion 02-20-06, 08:14 PM	Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles are available from Amazon, Borders, or any decent online bookseller. The titles are: The Book of Three The Black Cauldron The Castle of Lyr Taran Wanderer The High King There's also a collection of short stories called The Foundling. The magic cauldron in the series (and the one apparently in the BoVD) is taken from Irish myth. The Irish magical cauldron could restore dead people to life just by throwing them in, but those who returned lost the power of speech so that they could not tell the living about what the afterlife was like.