The Flowing Death is one of the most feared monsters in all of Vallermoore's rivers and ocean, not because of the numbers of people it has killed directly, but because of the semi-starvation it's visits bring, and because it cannot be seen until it attacks it's prey.
Full Description
The factory owned by the Yocasta Company seemed a good idea-one that had a license to mass produce healing potions and certain other potions that would benifit everybody, until the accident. What happened is disputed, but somehow some water got into a vat of potion that reacted very badly. The fire that resulted burned for hours,pouring magical smoke into the air, destroying all the vats and pouring a ton of potion into the Chrysta river. People choked to death, or found their hands were now feet and their feet hands. Others fell in love with the wrong people, or went insane and ran about screaming. After a month the authorities thought they had sorted out the worst of the trouble, and then came the Flowing Death from the sea.
The first sign they noticed was that the fish swimming in the clear waters of the River Chrysta were turning to bones in front of their eyes. Boats had their fishing nets burnt and their wooden bottoms scorched or in fact holed, and those who could not quickly get to shore were themselves dissolved down to the bones.
A company of soldiers with crossbows were sent to deal with whatever the problem was, but when they shot into the water their arrows dissolved on contact and they caused the thing to rear out of the water and spit acid at them, blinding two of them.
It takes the shape of a huge jellyfish,the width of a large river and hundereds of feet long, but instead of tentacles it has a tail like that of a whale, and apart from it's numerous eyes, it is see-through. It has niether teeth or claws, instead, underneeth it's waterproof *skin* it is highly acidic.All it needs to do to get nutrents is to swim up a river or through the sea,with it's *mouth* open, dissolving and eating everything in it's path that cannot escape in time. Fish, shellfish,plants,swimming humans, every living thing in it's path is eaten. Time has changed it's colour to that of the water around it.
In a matter of days it can strip a whole river of all of it's animal and plant life and leave it lifeless, with dreadful affects on fishing vilages up and down the coast.
Additional Information
The Flowing Death can be hurt by normal weapons, even though they melt on impact,and magical weapons can hurt it without damage. Spells cast on it change into totally random magic because of what it is made of.
Scrolls
Twists, chapters, and details meant to stream with the submission — not general discussion.
No scrolls yet — leave one if you have a twist worth keeping.
Sign in to plant an idea scroll.
Enjoyed this? Sign in and cross blades for Cheka Man — five clashes, up to 25 XP.
Sign in to cross the blades.
Discussion
Reader talk, questions, and feedback — not scrolls.
No comments yet — be the first voice in the hall.
Sign in to join the discussion.
Retellings
No Retellings yet — the best compliment on the Citadel is a Retelling.
Bonds
Curated bonds across the Citadel — sign in to bind a bond. Kindred Favors are another thread in the same weave.
Links to this article 1
- The Giant Swans of Pier Point Cheka Man linked by Cheka Man
Use alongside
Submissions that pair well with this one at the table.
-
Sleigh of the Storm
Once a year, Father Olaf delivers presents to all the people of the world in one night.How does he do it? With the help of the Sleigh of the Storm, and the vita…
-
The Songpit
As you come near the Songpit, the sounds of sweet angelic bardic singing as if from heaven mix with the sounds of screams of agony. Your guard grins and turns t…
-
Sorcery Springs Geyser Basin
The Sorcery Springs Geyser Basin is a place of bubbling magical water, as every individual spring or pool has it's own magical power. It is a place of great won…
-
Queen Yocasta
Queen Yocasta was until recently, the very capable if autocratic ruler of Valermoore, but recently, she has changed. She is allways seen with a young woman, alw…
-
The Mad Queen and her Daughter
This is the tale of how Princess Amber liberated Vallermoore from it's mad Queen.
-
The Avenger
Queen Amber of Vallermoore was distressed by the number of amputations that were nescessary to deal with the crimewave after she came to power. So she ordered h…
Certainly an interesting idea, one that plays upon the common fear of pollution and the mistrust of industry. Such accidents, or 'accidents' could and certainly should appear in games after one fashion or another. While the spill need not be the direct effect of a magical potion factory, the effects could be the same.
What would happen if a town's water well was tainted with a Speak with animals potion? Would the locals make the connection of would there be a fad of Dr Doolittleism? Polymorphing potion? Fear potion to reduce the courage of obstinate villagers? The potential is endless!!!!
Now back the Flowing Death, the creature is certainly novel, what was it before being mutated? What happens if the PCs decide to use countermagic/antimagic against the beastie? Can wild magic spells or spells that contain wild magic be used against it?
The Flowing Death was a mixture of seperate potions, that mixed with algea and plankton,sunlight and water, and came to life.*Wild* magic might well disrupt it, or even kill it if it is powerul enough, whilst more focused spells will warp and might harm it or help it or ricochet back onto the PCs as something totally different.
I like, creepy as heck, and a good concept
A river flowing with random potions... yikes
Cheka- I think this one is my favorite of your subs to date! what a concept! It reads like a great B horror movie from the seventies, (complete with political commentary)and I mean that in a GOOD WAY! I can picture the trailer. A young couple is down by the river bathing in the moonlight, all set to get busy, when suddenly.....
I would mention the thinly veiled dangers of industry and pollution angle too, but Scrasamax beat me to it.
So how much 'damage' do you actually have to do to this thing to kill/dissolve it? and does it keep GROWING?
Really Good !! (If I had a HoH vote...oh well)
*hears the theme of Jaws(tm) in the background*
Weird and definitely dangerous. I also like that you can't at first see how big it is. Truly a monster.
Another way to kill it could be luring it into a lake or river arm and separate it from the rest of the river, then wait until it dries up or dies of hunger... or bomb it to death. Another good B-movie plan that can go horribly wrong.
(Oh, and right: did you call Hollywood already? They really need some inspiration. ;) )
Ahh..here's a fun one! BUMP.
Amazing what old subs you can find in the Random Submissions box. Good job on this one, though it seems like it might possibly have a bit more to be added.
Lookie here, nice creation Cheka.
I seem to remember that you had written a similarly spirited sub a few years later but yes, I like the mirroring of industrial pollution in this sub. A great water based monster like the others said.
'Don't go near the water!'
Simple but brutal. A nice little unnatural disaster.