The Reliquary

Carnivorous Flying Fish

Well, just to get this category on the board, here’s an encounter with an original monster from my “Crusaders Gauntlet” C&C module.
The rain relents beyond the headland and the Bonnie Breeze sails into a fine, balmy day, early in the morning. The sun is bright, only infrequently challenged by clouds, now too timid to be more than wisps veiling the brilliant orb. The wind is brisk, the crew tight and the marines sharp as you sail into the Amber Sea. Omens are so favorable and conditions so fine that even the most devoted land-lubbering dwarf could begin to relax. Captain Capps has given you free run of his ship with the caveat that only two of you are allowed on the bridge at one time. You discover a massive hold below with ships stores and foodstuffs, plus farming implements for trade. The crew’s quarters and mess are also below. Topside aft, is the bridge and helm, along with the ballista, atop the captain’s cabin, officers’ quarters and wardroom or officers’ mess. On the forecastle (foc’sle), is the catapult, with your quarters directly below. The main deck spans between fore and aft superstructures, mainmast amidships with a mizzen, or after mast. The carrack is manned by thirty crew, plus four slaves, three officers besides the midshipman and twenty marines with two officers. The first mate is “Toppy” Patchett, a human, second mate is Bale Corder, a half-orc of imposing mien. The marines are led by Captain Skyle Talon, a half-elf, assisted by Lieutenant Katarenna Turmer, a dark-complexioned amazon of a woman.

Watches are on a four-shift rotation with one shift off (five altogether) for both crew and marines. Roll for a change in the weather between every meal. *Once inland waters are reached, weather changes need only be checked daily. Encounters are set, but weather may delay the vessel.

WEATHER CHANGES, d10
1-5 Stiff breeze, calm seas
6-7 High winds, choppy seas; no delay, but characters must save vs. poison (+0) to prevent seasickness and total incapacitation
8 Winds unfavorable, tacking causes delay
9 Vicious storm, driving rain, shifting winds; save vs. falling overboard (special), a roll of one indicates failure
10 The doldrums, no wind
If an 8, 9 or 10 are rolled for any two periods in the open sea, the ship is delayed a day. *Of course, each such result after reaching the gulf will cause a delay, as well.

CARNIVOROUS FLYING FISH

NO. APPEARING: 40-400
SIZE: Small
HD: 1 (d6) –2 hit points (minimum of 1)
MOVE: 60 ft. (swim), 20 ft. (glide)
AC: 14/10 (see below)
ATTACKS: Bite (1)
SPECIAL: None
SAVES: P
INT: Animal
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
TYPE: Animal
TREASURE: n/a
XP: 8 +1/HP ea.

Carnivorous Flying Fish hunt the seas for warm-blooded meat, preying on vessels large and small. They attack in schools, launching themselves out of the water to glide over ship decks snagging a chunk of sailor while gliding by. Each individual may attack, only every other round, because of the need to reposition after every attack. They glide faster than a normal man can walk and are AC 14 in the air. If one is hit and misses its save, it is knocked to the deck and is thereafter AC 10. Not included in the stats, a CFF can flop 1’ a round to wriggle itself over the side of a ship to escape certain death. Each school has a certain range and a ship will not be followed beyond a distance of 20 miles. A ship, of course, may enter a range on a tangent and not sail through the entire 40-mile extent. Once out of the range, attacks will cease.

Each character will be attacked once per round (the school surrounds the ship) until they kill 15 (150+ xp) of these little monsters, the remainder being dealt with by the crew and marines.