Koi Pond
RoomDCC 103 · p.4
Open source p.4Area 1-2 – Koi Pond
A broad, graveled area surrounds a pond ringed by large, irregular river stones. Cattails rise in patches along the edges of the pond, and water lilies float on its surface. Beyond the pond rise steep cliffs, and two paths exit to the northeast and northwest.
A giant silver carp about 8 feet long with a thick body and a whiskered face, swims below the surface of the pond. The creature is a godling trapped in a koi fish’s body. When the PCs approach the pond, it breaches the surface before speaking to them.
Suddenly, a large fish erupts from the pond. Resting its bulk upon the river stones, it proclaims, “Oh, pilgrims of Narafaltha! You face dangers unknown and deadly! If you would have a boon to aid you in your trials, then release me from this mortal shell!”
The koi attacks the nearest PC immediately. They must slay it in combat to receive its boon. The creature can leap out of the pond but moves slowly on land.
The koi recognizes the PCs as descendants of Narafaltha’s folk but doesn’t know much about what’s outside of the pond. If they kill the koi, its departing spirit reveals the presence of several sacred items in the bottom of its pond and tells them that the pond connects to a drainpipe leading toward a spring under the manor. It fades away after imparting this information.
A successful search of the pond (DC 10 Intelligence check) finds one of the following items (at judge’s discretion). Surviving characters may search one time each.
1. A belt of golden links bearing 3 charms sacred to the goddess. Removing and breaking a charm grants Narafaltha’s faithful + to any roll except for divine aid.
2. The bronze sickle of the high priestess.
3. Golden blood bowl graven with symbols of the goddess (worth 100 gp)
4. A book of thin bronze leaves recording the holy days and rites of Narafaltha in Old Common.
5. A spiked rod made of thorn wands braided together.
The rod grants a cleric of Narafaltha to spell checks and can be used as a club ( damage) to hit and damage.
A drainpipe connects the pond to the cistern in area 3-3. Only the lower end is submerged but reaching the pipe to the cistern requires swimming to reach an airspace (DC 13 Fortitude or Willpower save). If failed, the PC begins drowning (- Stamina loss until death at 0 Stamina).
Koi Fish (1): Init + 1; Atk bite melee (special); Crit special; AC 13; HD ; hp 24; MV 10’, 30’ swim; Act ; SP on a successful attack, swallows target whole; SV Fort , Ref , Will ; AL L.
The creature is a hard-scaled koi about 8 feet long. Each successful bite swallows the target whole. The victims disappear into a pocket dimension inside a bottle hidden deep in a desert, lost to the sands of time.