The **folio of unpredictable magical effects** is a captivating artifact that is said to hold within its pages a multitude of unpredictable magical abilities. It is rumored to have been created by a powerful sorcerer centuries ago, and its exact origins and purpose remain shrouded in mystery. The folio itself is a beautifully crafted tome, its pages made from an unknown material that seems to shimmer with an otherworldly glow. The pages are filled with intricate symbols, sigils, and incantations, all written in a language that is ancient and arcane, making it difficult to decipher for all but the most seasoned spellcasters. When a person opens the folio, they are met with a dazzling array of magical effects that can range from the mundane to the extraordinary. These effects can be both beneficial and detrimental, making it an unpredictable and potentially dangerous artifact to wield.
An extraplanar creature that can not normally be detected, the trilloch lived on the waning life-force of dying creatures. Detect magic can reveal the creature, and dispel magic, banish, exorcism, or a cleric’s ability to turn the unholy may drive it away. No other magic has any effect on a trilloch, so far as is known, and no weapon can harm it.
Normally, tiraphegs avoid other creatures, but their behavior can be unpredictable and it has been known for a tirapheg to attack a party of adventurers for no apparent reason. A faulty memory, a mispronounced word, a lacking material component, an imprecise motion were all things which could cause the spell to go awry in various ways leading to sometimes amusing sometimes calamitous effect.
These effects can be both beneficial and detrimental, making it an unpredictable and potentially dangerous artifact to wield. Some of the recorded effects of the folio include the ability to heal wounds instantly, create illusions that can fool even the most astute observer, and conjure elements such as fire and ice at will. On the other hand, the folio has also been known to cause uncontrollable fits of laughter, transform the user into a small woodland creature, or even summon terrifying monsters that wreak havoc on their surroundings.
Raven Crowking's Nest
Every monster ever devised, in the Fiend Folio or not, is somebody’s favorite monster. This time out, we are doing two monsters which I don’t believe that I have ever used. Surely, though, they were someone’s favorites, and if you have ever put them to good use, please share in the comments!
The Tirapheg is difficult to describe, but as it is not automatically hostile, it could be a fairly interesting encounter. Slow-moving eaters of decomposing meat, they might be used as an encounter simply to heighten the weirdness of an area. At seven feet tall, their looming forms will certainly seem eerie. But what if they were taller? Hence, the Giant Tirapheg entry! Because, why not?
The Trilloch is just another way to make standard encounters more interesting, like a wandering living curse, and a creature you cannot affect with weapons or spells doesn’t need a statblock. I did include a Move speed because characters or monsters might find a way to outrun the thing. Save modifiers are included in case it needs to save to avoid being forced away. Dungeon Crawl Classics is a different beast than Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, and this is also reflected in the write-up.
There are only two more blog posts to get through the letter “T” – next up are the Trolls!
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Tirapheg: Init +3; Atk Spike +3 melee (1d4 plus power of three) or claw +3 melee (1d4 plus strangle); AC 10; HD 2d8; MV 10’; Act 3d20; SP Infravision 30’, power of three, strangle, mirror image; SV Fort +3, Ref +0, Will +3; AL C.
Giant Tirapheg: Init +3; Atk Spike +3 melee (1d6 plus power of three) or claw +3 melee (1d6 plus strangle); AC 13; HD 6d8; MV 20’; Act 3d24; SP Infravision 60’, power of three, strangle, mirror image, crits using Crit Table G; SV Fort +6, Ref +3, Will +6; AL C.
The tirapheg is strange indeed – a naked and hairless tripedal hermaphrodite, of generally humanoid shape, and seven feet tall. The creature has three heads of which the outer two are featureless. The middle head has three large, deeply-inset eyes, two to the front and one to the rear. It has ear-like organs on each side of the central head, but its mouth is located on its torso.
Tiraphegs have three arms. Two are jointed at the shoulders so that they can attack to the rear as easily as to the front, terminating in six-inch long spikes. The third arm, emerging from the center of the chest, ends in a three-fingered hand. Of the creature's three legs, the outer two end in stumps while the central one has three unusually long and strong toes. The creature’s mouth is below its central arm.
Above the mouth are three tentacles, each three inches long, which writhe continuously but which have no obvious function.
Tiraphegs can only attack targets in front of them with their central arms. If the creature hits the same target with both spikes, and it can bring its central arm to bear, it gains the power of three – its central arm automatically hits. This arm grabs its victim around the neck and strangles for automatic damage each round, although a victim can free themselves with an opposed Strength check vs. +3.
When it wishes to retreat from a combat, a tirapheg can create a mirror image effect without spending an Action Die. There is a blinding flash (creatures within 30’ must succeed in a DC 13 Reflex save or be blinded and confused for 1 round), and two illusory projections are created (as result 16-19 on the mirror image spell, page 183 of the core rulebook).
Tiraphegs eat carrion, and seem to show a greater preference to meat the more decomposed it is. Normally, tiraphegs avoid other creatures, but their behavior can be unpredictable and it has been known for a tirapheg to attack a party of adventurers for no apparent reason. Usually, they are encountered singly, but trios are also possible, and it is thought that three must come together for the creatures to reproduce (although this is mere speculation, as the creatures seem to have no means of reproduction). They do not speak, and are seemingly no more intelligent than animals.
The giant tirapheg is very much like its smaller kin, but it is 14 feet tall, and uses Crit Table G. The opposed Strength check to break a giant tirapheg’s strangle is against +6.
An extraplanar creature that can not normally be detected, the trilloch lived on the waning life-force of dying creatures. Detect magic can reveal the creature, and dispel magic, banish, exorcism, or a cleric’s ability to turn the unholy may drive it away. No other magic has any effect on a trilloch, so far as is known, and no weapon can harm it.
All melee attacks within 100’ of a trilloch are at +1 to hit, do +1 damage, and have their critical range increased by +1 (so that most creatures crit on a 19-20). The creature can also influence the behavior of unintelligent monsters, making them twice as aggressive. Trillochs accompany large, powerful monsters, thriving on the huge amounts of life-force released by their victims. If a trilloch’s “host” is killed, the trilloch attaches itself to the victor until driven off or until another, even more powerful creature, kills its new host. At that point, it transfers to the new creature.
A trilloch can fly noncorporeally with a 40’ Move speed, and has a +6 bonus to saves.
There are only two more blog posts to get through the letter “T” – next up are the Trolls!
The folio's effects seem to be activated either by a touch or through spoken incantations, although these methods can vary depending on the specific spell contained within its pages. Some spells require complex rituals or sacrifices, while others can be activated with a simple flick of the wrist. Due to its unpredictable nature, the folio of unpredictable magical effects has fallen into the hands of few individuals throughout history. Some have sought to use its powers for nefarious purposes, while others have attempted to harness its magic for the greater good. However, the folio's true power and purpose remain a mystery, leaving many to wonder if it is merely a tool of chaos or if it holds the key to unlocking untold wonders of the arcane arts. In conclusion, the folio of unpredictable magical effects is a captivating artifact that is as enigmatic as it is powerful. Its unpredictable nature and wide range of magical abilities make it both a fascination and a danger to those who possess it. Whether it is a force for good or evil is uncertain, but its potential to reshape the world of magic cannot be denied..
Reviews for "From Chaos to Control: Mastering the Folio of Unpredictable Magical Effects"
- Samantha - 1 star
I was really disappointed with the "Folio of unpredictable magical effects". I expected it to be full of intriguing and exciting spells, but instead, it was just a collection of random and confusing incantations. The effects were truly unpredictable, but not in a good way. Most of them were useless or even dangerous. Overall, I found it to be a complete waste of my money.
- James - 2 stars
The "Folio of unpredictable magical effects" sounded like a great addition to my collection of spell books, but it turned out to be quite underwhelming. The effects described in the book were indeed unpredictable, but they were also unreliable and inconsistent. On several occasions, I tried to use the spells during crucial moments, only to have them backfire or produce lackluster results. It was frustrating and made me lose confidence in the book's contents. I would not recommend it to serious practitioners of magic.
- Emily - 3 stars
I was initially intrigued by the concept of the "Folio of unpredictable magical effects", but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. While the unpredictable nature of the spells was indeed interesting, the lack of proper instructions and explanations made it difficult to fully understand and utilize them effectively. Additionally, the effects were often very subtle or insignificant, making it hard to justify the effort and risk involved in casting them. It was an interesting concept, but ultimately, it fell short for me.