Xanathar, Beholder Crime Lord

[Judd]

In the sewers of Waterdeep is a Beholder Crime Lord by the name of Xanathar. He is building up a thieves' guild bit by bit, as the former guild was driven south years ago.

He's got a bookkeeper, a mercenary captain thug, a one-eyed dwarf and a drow spy as his crew. He's a Tom Waits song written by Gary Gygax. He's Keyser Soje with eye stalks.

http://githyankidiaspora.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/tsr9213-waterdeep-and-the-north.jpg

Yes, the drow spy is serving up some roast (http://githyankidiaspora.wordpress.com/2010/06/18/reading-waterdeep-and-the-north/). I dunno, man.

The crew are easy enough to burn up, the Drow will just be an elf with dark elf LP's.

I might burn up his Intellect Devourers in this thread too.

What are the Beholder eye stalks' powers?

I'm trying to piece this together from memory, here:

The central eye is an anti-magic field, maybe a + to any casting or sorcery ob's based on the Beholder's Will.
Telekinesis: Can use to Throw/Push/Lock as per a B6 Power.
Disintegrate: This feels like a Dick Move waiting to happen.

Wait, here's a list of 'em. (http://www.r4bid.net/LoreWeaver/MonsterBeholder)


Eye 1. charm person (range 120’; B39)
Eye 2. charm monster(range 120’; X13)
Eye 3. sleep (range 240’; B40)
Eye 4. telekinesis(range 120’, up to 5,00(cn weight)
Eye 5. flesh to stone* (range 120’; X16)
Eye 6. disintegrate (range 60‘; X16)
Eye 7. cause fear* (range 120’; X5)
Eye 8. slow* (range 240’; X12)
Eye 9. cause serious wounds* (range 60’; X7)
Eye 10. death spell (range 240’; X16)


Hm. Lots of these can map directly to spells. That'll work. I'll look at the Character Burner's spell list when I get home, whip out the MoBu and start burning this up.

Ideas welcomed.

[Steerpike]

Fuseboy did a neat BW Beholder that would make a good baseline for some ideas:

http://www.burningwheel.org/forum/showthread.php?9021-Tyrant

- Colin

[Sam W]

Maybe the central eye bestows the Eldtritch Sink trait on anyone caught in its path? I seem to remember the central eye negating the other eye stalks.

[Judd]

Fuseboy did a neat BW Beholder that would make a good baseline for some ideas:

http://www.burningwheel.org/forum/showthread.php?9021-Tyrant

- Colin

This is splendid. Thanks, Colin.



Maybe the central eye bestows the Eldtritch Sink trait on anyone caught in its path? I seem to remember the central eye negating the other eye stalks.

Good call. Thanks.

[Dwight]

Yes, the drow spy is serving up some roast (http://githyankidiaspora.wordpress.com/2010/06/18/reading-waterdeep-and-the-north/).

... and milk! Definitely not kosher.


Disintegrate: This feels like a Dick Move waiting to happen.

Yeah, and the Death Spell might be a bit much, too. Just keep it to a shorter list that charms (the spell that boosts social ability with your new found friend), cause a Steel check (in place of Slow), telekinesis (use the creature's Will for the Power), fear (there is a Trait for that), and a laserbeam damage. That's plenty. Not sure you need to assign to individual stalks? Just give a list and say it comes from the stocks.

[Paul B]

Who knew? Maybe the drow have exclusive access to that powerful and versatile skill: Deli-wise.

[Judd]

Yeah, and the Death Spell might be a bit much, too. Just keep it to a shorter list that charms (the spell that boosts social ability with your new found friend), cause a Steel check (in place of Slow), telekinesis (use the creature's Will for the Power), fear (there is a Trait for that), and a laserbeam damage. That's plenty. Not sure you need to assign to individual stalks? Just give a list and say it comes from the stocks.

Yeah, that was my line of thinking too. The Death and/or Disentigrate might just be some variance on Emperor's Hand, perhaps. Again, I need to look over the spell.



Who knew? Maybe the drow have exclusive access to that powerful and versatile skill: Deli-wise.

That picture has been in front of me for decades and it wasn't until last week that I noticed she was cutting meat. Apparently, she was getting good for the Beholder's pets.

[Daniel H.]

Disintegrate: This feels like a Dick Move waiting to happen.
What if it only could affect non-living material? One of my favorite bits of the beholder write-up is how they carve out their weird, geometric, vertical lairs with the disintegrate eye.

On a separate note, I love the idea of building game elements out of art, rather than text. I could have made a great Planescape campaign out of the pictures on the supplements, which never delivered with their written content.

[Judd]

What if it only could affect non-living material? One of my favorite bits of the beholder write-up is how they carve out their weird, geometric, vertical lairs with the disintegrate eye.

On a separate note, I love the idea of building game elements out of art, rather than text. I could have made a great Planescape campaign out of the pictures on the supplements, which never delivered with their written content.

I really like how the written material in W&tN is pretty damned vague, inspiring rather than informing. The art was depicting what was in the book in a neat way (pot roast aside).

I like the idea of the disintegrate effecting non-living material. Though again, it could be a dick move for folks who have lots of Resource Points spent on knick-knacks. I'll run it by Aaron and Pete, see how they feel about it.

[stormsweeper]

You have to appreciate the Crumb-style build on her, though, even if she is daintily feeding a beholder.

[Judd]

You have to appreciate the Crumb-style build on her, though, even if she is daintily feeding a beholder.

I hear-tell from a reliable source who spoke to the artist before he passed away that she was cutting the meat for his pets.

I have burned up the crew and had a blast doing so. I'll post them up once I get a moment and start Monster Burning the Eye Tyrant Criminal after that with the wonderful tyrant as a guide.

[Paul B]

The pets? But they're ... intellectual devourers. They devour intellect, not pot roast!

Although I've known some folks with the intellect of a pot roast.

[zabieru]

What, like you've never eaten anything of near-zero nutritional value just because it tasted good.

[Judd]

Also, in the tank behind the Beholder was a meat-eating beastie that was cut out of the picture due to space issues.

[Kublai]

Why can't you keep the Slow spell? Make it tax Speed or ::gasp:: Reflexes!

[Judd]

Alright, thinking about those eye stalks:

Charm Person/Charm Monster: Arcane Kindness

Definitely going with Thor's suggestions:

What if you made the numbing rays work akin to the spell Lights of St. Andrew or Emperor's Hand?

You can actually model most of the various eye rays with spells. Here are some suggestions:
Fire Ray = Fire Breath (pg. 177)
Fear Ray = The Fear (pg. 177)
Sleep Ray = Sarch's Glare (pg. 183)
Hold Ray = Choking Hand (pg. 174)
Petrifying Ray = Delirium Tremens (pg. 175)
Withering Ray = Parching Wind of the Burning Desert (http://burningwheel.org/wiki/index.php?title=Parching_Wind_of_the_Burning_Deser t)
Death Ray = Abhorred Shears of Atropos (http://burningwheel.org/wiki/index.php?title=Abhorred_Shears_of_Atropos)

Disintegrate: Here's the one I want to put by my players. The Disintegrate ray only effects inanimate objects. It is an Perception vs. Speed test vs. the player whose object they are trying to effect and then a roll on the DOF.

1-2, a part of the scenery is gone, GM's choice.
3, 4, 5, an item is gone, Player's Choice
6, an item is gone, GM's choice.

Winning by +3 successes allows the Beholder Crime Lord to bump the DOF by one spot, up or down.
Fight!: Longest, Slow. R&C: 1D/2D, 100 paces.

If a player gets in close to the Beholder Crime Lord, they can declare themselves underneath it, and thus not able to be targeted by any eye stalk effects but in Optimal distance of the Beholder's Lunging Jaws.

Some questions:

Should the rays have their own consistent numbers or should they have the numbers of the spells upon which they are based?

The act of evading the eye's effects or getting out of the radius of the central eye as a Perception vs. Speed roll...is that a tacky affectation that goes against the spirit of the rules or is it kosher, do ya think?


I am thinking of taking the traits from the Tyrant whole hog with a few more skills added:

Waterdeep Crime-wise G3, Waterdeep Sewer-wise G3, Architect G4

The part I'd really want to okay with my players is the disintegrate eye stalk, as okaying the new monster is part of the burning process. Pete gave his thumbs up and knowing Aaron, I bet he'd be down with it. We'll discuss it before play begins. Honestly, this critter isn't the center-piece of the campaign, I just wanted to try out some AD&D-inspired Monster Burning before the campaign begins.

Thanks to the glorious online character burner, I have the crew all but burned up. I need to write up beliefs, add weapons and spend their RPS, then I'll post them up.

I'll make up some simple rules for the Intellect Devourers and Xanathar's burgeoning crime family will be complete. Thanks for the help and feedback so far, folks.

[Jimbozig]

Have you looked at the Mars' Glare spell in the wiki? It's for destroying inanimate objects (weapons in particular) and might be adapted easily to become disintegrate ray.

[Judd]

Have you looked at the Mars' Glare spell in the wiki? It's for destroying inanimate objects (weapons in particular) and might be adapted easily to become disintegrate ray.

That is really cool.

Thanks, good call.

http://www.burningwheel.org/wiki/index.php?title=Mars%27_Glare

For my own reference.

[Paul B]

Also, in the tank behind the Beholder was a meat-eating beastie that was cut out of the picture due to space issues.

You have a staggeringly complete grasp of this one bit of art. Do you have a link to the full piece? I have to wonder what else is going on outside the frame.

[Judd]

You have a staggeringly complete grasp of this one bit of art. Do you have a link to the full piece? I have to wonder what else is going on outside the frame.

I don't have a full link to the full piece.

It fascinates/upsets me that the Drow has been serving pot roast right in front of me for decades and I never noticed. So, I e-mailed lotsa folks and asked some questions.

[Dwight]

It is one of those things that is so crazy that your brain 'corrects' your eyes by editing it out.

[Sam W]

Is it a Keith Parkinson painting?

Maybe give the jaws the ability to lock and strike at the same time(crushing jaws I think), to really make someone think twice about getting on the inside?

[Trithemius]

Maybe give the jaws the ability to lock and strike at the same time(crushing jaws I think), to really make someone think twice about getting on the inside?

I think this is a great idea since it gives people a downside for getting our of Range 'n' Cover as soon as possible.
That being said it's probably best to just run for it.


Which reminds me - what kind of positioning dice would all these nifty eye-rays give Xanathar? Is it by spell or a general rating?

[Judd]

Thanks for all of the great ideas, folks. I have spent the last few days moving the last remaining things out of my former apartment and cleaning up the joint. I hope to have Xanathar written up with many, many of these suggestions in the next few days.


Is it a Keith Parkinson painting?

Maybe give the jaws the ability to lock and strike at the same time(crushing jaws I think), to really make someone think twice about getting on the inside?


Yes, Keith Parkinson.

Crushing jaws is a great idea.



That being said it's probably best to just run for it.


Which reminds me - what kind of positioning dice would all these nifty eye-rays give Xanathar? Is it by spell or a general rating?

Yeah, he is going to be a terror.

I reckon I will look over the spells and figure out a general rating, rather than go spell-by-spell.

I am trying to figure out what these guy's scripting is going to look like on paper and I can't quite do it yet; it hasn't taken shape in my noggin yet.

[cathexis]

Aren't pretty much all spells considered Longest and/or "Oh shit, it's a great bow" for purposes of positioning?

[Judd]

Aren't pretty much all spells considered Longest and/or "Oh shit, it's a great bow" for purposes of positioning?

That sounds right to me, though I don't have my book on me and I don't think I have ever had a Range and Cover with spells. Bummer!

[Trithemius]

That sounds right to me, though I don't have my book on me and I don't think I have ever had a Range and Cover with spells. Bummer!

I thought some of the standard Sorcery spells had more dice - I've mostly played with Art Magic (we were BE fiends before MaBu came out) though so I am not 100% on that.

How does Xanathar work out which eye to zap with? Whatever it likes? Random tables ala AD&D? Some kind of "cool off"/"recharge and re-acquire" actions?

[Judd]

I thought some of the standard Sorcery spells had more dice - I've mostly played with Art Magic (we were BE fiends before MaBu came out) though so I am not 100% on that.

How does Xanathar work out which eye to zap with? Whatever it likes? Random tables ala AD&D? Some kind of "cool off"/"recharge and re-acquire" actions?

Is that how the Beholder works in D&D or was it a matter of GM choice in order to make the best tactical choice?

I reckonit'll be whatever it likes, making smart decisions as fits a crime lord-to-be monster-floating-head thing.

[Trithemius]

Is that how the Beholder works in D&D or was it a matter of GM choice in order to make the best tactical choice?

I reckonit'll be whatever it likes, making smart decisions as fits a crime lord-to-be monster-floating-head thing.

ISTR that it could bring "some determined number" of eyes to bear on a target. So that it got to use something other than deathray deathray deathray. It has been a really long time though so this could have been a house-rule "innovation" peculiar to the Antipodes.

Choosing makes sense to me - although it should probably require some actions to 'lock on' in Fight! just like other missile weapons.

[Soloswolf]

Yeah, in 1st Ed. the number of eyes that could be brought to bear was most often the main eye + 1-4 others depending on facing, terrain, etc.

I'd say choosing makes the most sense by far, and maybe add in an acquire action? (Or maybe since he's long in the tooth he has a trait that let's him acquire and cast in the same action?)

As far as dice for positioning, it depends on the particulars of the spell. The range is typically 2-5D, though some may have as few as 1D, or upwards of 12D.

[Judd]

Yeah, in 1st Ed. the number of eyes that could be brought to bear was most often the main eye + 1-4 others depending on facing, terrain, etc.

I'd say choosing makes the most sense by far, and maybe add in an acquire action? (Or maybe since he's long in the tooth he has a trait that let's him acquire and cast in the same action?)

As far as dice for positioning, it depends on the particulars of the spell. The range is typically 2-5D, though some may have as few as 1D, or upwards of 12D.

I reckon what I'll do is go with numbers so that the eye stalks' beams are all the same (casting ob, range dice, etc) but with the effects based on the spells Thor mentioned above. I hope to have it posted up tonight or tomorrow, depending on how the house cleaning goes tonight.

[Judd]

First draft, thoughts and opinions appreciated.

Xanathar
Beholder Crime Lord

There has not been a thieves' guild in Waterdeep since the Shadow Thieves were driven out of the city years ago. But something stirs in the sewers, an eye tyrant, a beast from the Underdark that has made its home under the City of Splendor. Xanathar is not leading his crew like a thieves' guild would normally operate thus they are slipping under the radar of the authorities, slowly building up their power among the criminal underworld.

Wi: B6 Pe: G6 Ag: B2 Sp: B4 Po: B6 Fo: B8 Hea: B9 Ref: B4 MW: B13
Ste: G6 Hes: 4 Ref: B4 Hea: B9
PTGS Su:B5 Li:B9 Mi:B10 Se:B11 Tr:B12 MW:B13

Skills
Stealthy B4 (6), Observation G6, Lunging Bite B5, Eye Stalk Ray B6, Sorcery B4, Ugly Truth G4, Oratory G5, Intimidation G5, Read G4, Composition G5, Sorcerer-wise G4, Estate Management B5, Waterdeep Crime-wise G3, Waterdeep Sewer-wise G3, Architect G4

Traits
Massive Floating Sphere, Floats Silently, Faceted Carapace, Monstrous Eye, Eldritch Gaze, Eye Stalks, Night-Eyed, Lunging Jaws, Crushing Jaws, Dreadful, Gifted, Cruel, Insecure

Instincts

* I1
* I2
* I3

Beliefs

* B1
* B2
* B3

Massive Floating Sphere (Dt)
An armless, legless sphere. Sprint multiplier 2x. The Tyrant's low agility does not count against it for purposes of incapacitation from injuries.

Floats Silently (C-O)
Xanathar glides above the ground in complete silence. Call-on for Stealth.

Faceted Carapace (Dt)
The Beholder's thick, scaly hide protects as plate mail.

Monstrous Eye (Dt)
A midi wound delivered to the monstrous eye will injure the eye and force it closed. (It costs 2 successes to move a hit to the eye). The rubbery cartilage of the eye protects as leather armour.

Eldritch Gaze (Dt)
Owing to an ancient pact, no magic or enchantment may operate under the gaze of the Tyrant's monstrous eye. Spellcastings and sustained spells fail harmlessly. Acts of Faith are unaffected.

Eye Stalks (Dt)
Seven sinuous eye stalks emerge from the upper carapace of the Tyrant, allowing it to see in every direction. It costs 1 success to move a hit to the eye stalks. Each light wound to the eye stalks severs one. (They regrow at a rate of one per month.) As long as the Tyrant has three or more eye stalks, it may script Assess or Acquire as tandem actions.

Fire Ray = Fire Breath (pg. 177)
Fear Ray = The Fear (pg. 177)
Sleep Ray = Sarch's Glare (pg. 183)
Hold Ray = Choking Hand (pg. 174)
Petrifying Ray = Delirium Tremens (pg. 175)
Withering Ray = Parching Wind of the Burning Desert
Death Ray = Abhorred Shears of Atropos

Fire Breath: 3 actions, Ob 3^
The Fear: 1 action, Ob 3
Sarch's Glare: 4 actions, Ob 1+Will/Forte
Choking Hand: 4 actions, Ob 3^
Delirium Tremens: 3 actions, Ob Target's Forte

Fight!: Longest, Slow. R&C: 1D/2D, 100 paces. spell effects, as per spell.

Night-Eyed (Dt)
Sees perfectly in total darkness; +1 Ob in bright light.

Lunging Jaws (Dt)
When it bites, the Tyrant's upper and lower jaws are propelled forward by great bands of muscle. IMS 4/8/12, VA 2, Fast, Short.

Crushing Jaws (Dt)
The great jaws of the Beholder can lock and strike at the same time.

[Soloswolf]

What does his 'Eye Stalk Ray B6' mean/refer to? Doesn't he just use sorcery+will?

Do Elven songs function while he still has his eye?

Does his body get 5D for plated mail, or 6D due to it being his torso? (Are any monsters given this 'torso die' when they are protected by natural armor?)

Does a wound greater than a light take more than one stalk off?

I think this guy is super cool! A great merging of an old foe from D+D and the trait system (among other things, of course) I'm psyched to see him in play.

[Judd]

Great questions.


What does his 'Eye Stalk Ray B6' mean/refer to? Doesn't he just use sorcery+will?

Good call. I will nix that.


Do Elven songs function while he still has his eye?

No, I think they would not.


Does his body get 5D for plated mail, or 6D due to it being his torso? (Are any monsters given this 'torso die' when they are protected by natural armor?)

No torso bonus for big floating sphere/heads, I think.


Does a wound greater than a light take more than one stalk off?

No, I'd think not.


I think this guy is super cool! A great merging of an old foe from D+D and the trait system (among other things, of course) I'm psyched to see him in play.

Thanks, Aaron, as you will be at the table with him, I'm glad he's coming along.

[Stigg]

I have read this and declare it: SEXY!

[Thor]

Looks pretty cool Judd! I have a few questions though:

What's with the Stealthy B4 (6)? I don't see any traits that add dice to its Stealthy.

What's the justification for all the gray Will-based skills? It's cool if you've got a reason, just wondering what it is.

With the Gray Perception, its Sorcery and Estate Management skills should also be Gray, unless you have a specific reason not to make them so.

With only a Speed B4 and a x2 Speed multiplier, your gang is going to outposition this guy something fierce. It's a cool weakness, and a good reason for him to keep bodyguards around despite his vicious powers, but just be aware of it.

Does his Eldritch Gaze also deactivate enchanted items? What about items enchanted with Faith spells? I would want an Eldritch Shield amulet or a Spell-Breaker amulet to face this guy!

[Judd]

What's with the Stealthy B4 (6)? I don't see any traits that add dice to its Stealthy.

Huh, I reckoned since it floated...it does have that call-on trait for Stealth, as he/it does float.


What's the justification for all the gray Will-based skills? It's cool if you've got a reason, just wondering what it is.

No, the Tyrant I based this one had a gray will and I nixed it. Those are remnants of a past beast. Thanks for the catch.


With the Gray Perception, its Sorcery and Estate Management skills should also be Gray, unless you have a specific reason not to make them so.

Nope, good call.


With only a Speed B4 and a x2 Speed multiplier, your gang is going to outposition this guy something fierce. It's a cool weakness, and a good reason for him to keep bodyguards around despite his vicious powers, but just be aware of it.

Yeah, I like that too. I will be aware. Again, good catch. One of the players, Aaron, has a history of killing these monsters I go to the trouble of burning up. Bastard!


Does his Eldritch Gaze also deactivate enchanted items? What about items enchanted with Faith spells? I would want an Eldritch Shield amulet or a Spell-Breaker amulet to face this guy!

Items...yes...faith-based items...no.

[Soloswolf]

One of the players, Aaron, has a history of killing these monsters I go to the trouble of burning up. Bastard!

Who, me? :D

I don't know that this beholder is a villain we kill. Not that he doesn't merit it in some ways, but I think we thwart this one, not kill him. We'll see.

[Stigg]

I have to agree with Aaron here. I think the Beholder is too juicy a foil not to leave alive. Kind of our Moriarty. The Xanathar needs to be around for this.