Cerulean Seas, The Azure Abyss

100 Pages·2013·5.51 MB·English

by  Choral Dragon

ALP-CS04:

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Role Playing Game Supplement
New Deep sea Guide for use with the Pathfinder® Roleplaying Game*
Written by Emily Ember Kubisz, Sam G. Hing, & Matthew Cicci
!
Credits

!
Lead Designer: Emily E. Kubisz
Artistic Director & Layout: Tim Adams
Authors: Emily Ember Kubisz, Sam G. Hing, & Matthew A. Cicci
Editing and Development: Ben Welsby, Jeffrey Turner & Steven O'Neal
Legal Consultant: Marcia McCarthy
Cover Artist: Fabio Porfidia; Interior Artists: Tim Adams, Ian Barker, Carl Beu, Caren Billings,
Adam Burnier, F. Drew Chandra, Collette Curran, Edyta Felcyn, Nicole Hansche, Johannes Holm,
Forrest Imel, Markus Juuso, Mathias Kollros, Emily Ember Kubisz, Setiawan Lee, Lynton Levengood,
Chan Tuck Lueng, MDA art, Chenthooran Nambiarooran, Emily Naviasky, Juan Novelletto, Fabio Porfidia,
Dylan J. Reader, Marissa Rivera, Cesar Sampedro, Dawne Stantien, Anna Susanne, Candis Swain,
Joanna Tsui, Justinas Vitkus, Dirk Wachsmuth, Vasilis Zikos

Special Thanks to Our Kickstarter Contributors: Adam Windsor, Andrew (ZenDragon), Andrew J. Hayford, Andrew Maizels, Ben Lash,
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Stephen Hutchison, Steven Vanderburg, Tetsubo, Tom Ladegard, Z. Daniel Esgate, & Zakharov "Zaksquatch" Sawyer

Additional Thanks: Team Draconis & Ofelia Jean Kubisz

Cerulean Seas The Azure Abyss © 2013 Alluria Publishing. All rights reserved.

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OPEN GAME LICENSE v 1.0a. Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
SYSTEM REFERENCE DOCUMENT. Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams,
based on material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

PATHFINDER RPG CORE RULEBOOK™, PATHFINDER RP G BESTIARY™, PATHFINDER RPG BESTIARY 2™, PATHFINDER RPG BESTIARY 3
™, PATHFINDER RPG ADVANCED PLAYER’S GUIDE™, PATHFINDER RPG BONUS BESTIARY™, PATHFINDER RPG GAMEMASTERY
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THE DEEP. Copyright 2003, Mystic Eye Games, LLC; Authors: Becky Glenn, Stefon Mears, Susannah Redelfs and Robin Wise.
CERULEAN SEAS CAMPAIGN SETTING, WAVES OF THOUGHT, INDIGO ICE. C opyright 2010-2013, Alluria Publishing. All rights reserved.
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TOME OF HORRORS. Copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Authors: Scott Greene, with Clark Peterson, Erica Balsley, Kevin
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2
Authors Contents
Sam G.
Hing

Chapter 1: The Underdeep 4 Chapter 5: Azure Abyss Setting 52
Preface ....................................................... 5 The Dark Trinity ....................................... 53
Introduction .............................................. 6 Other Racial Histories ............................. 56
Common Terms ........................................ 7 Languages of the Underdeep ................. 62
Environmental Basics .............................. 8 Underdeep Religions ............................... 62

Chapter 2: Deep Sea Races 14 Chapter 6: Deep Sea Bestiary 66

Aquatic Races Revisited .......................... 15 Introduction to Deep Sea Monsters ....... 67
Asterak ...................................................... 18 Creature Glyphs ....................................... 67
Dwarf, Austorian ..................................... 19 New Sea Monsters ................................... 68
Echin .......................................................... 20
Obitu, Aquatic .......................................... 21 Appendices 90
Oculus, Viden ........................................... 22
Appendix 1: Deep Sea Monsters ............ 91
Rusalka, Abyssal ...................................... 23
Appendix 2: Pronunciation Guide ......... 91
Underdeep half-races .............................. 24
Appendix 3: Index of Tables ................... 91
Vital Statistics ........................................... 25
Appendix 4: Art Index ............................. 92

Open Game License ................................. 93
Chapter 3: Deep Sea Classes 26
Special Thanks .......................................... 94
Existing Classes ........................................ 27 Cardstock Minis ....................................... 95
Angler ....................................................... 28 Index .......................................................... 96
Prestige classes ......................................... 33

Chapter 4: Deep-craft 42

Underdeep Materials ............................... 43
Weapons .................................................... 44
Feats ........................................................... 45
Underdeep Spells ..................................... 48
Underdeep Magic Items........................ 50

3
CCCChhhhaaaapppptttteeeerrrr 1111::::

The Hungry Darkness

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4
everal fathoms below
...

Where the light of sun will never shine, the sea shall also never know the warm embrace
of good or the security of peace. The cataclysms of the surface world are evident only in the
increase of life-sustaining ruin that rains down into our realm. Though we are envious of the
bounty of your sunlit kingdom, we know that it can never suit us. We are the creatures of
the eternal night, the horrors that you warn your children about, and the reason you fear the
shadows below. We are indeed vicious and you are wise to avoid these dismal places.
Even that which is frightening has much to fear. Our past is stained with eons of
bloodshed. Our legacy is that every race different from our own is either an enemy or a slave.
Our hatred does not stop there, however. Even among our own kind, clan wars clan and every
family has rivals that wish them dead. The treachery boils down as deep as the inky trenches
’
that we dwell in. One is not even safe from one s own offspring. Survival exists only for the
fittest and the smartest.
Our world, however, is not devoid of hope. If you allow your eyes to focus, you will see our
own unique starry night. Colors of an alien spectrum will dance before you in ghostly
radiance. Life, while hideous in form and function, still radiates a light that even those
accustomed to rainbow-licked reefs would find awe-inspiring. Just as we have beauty here, we
can also foster the forces of goodness and peace, sometimes in the most unlikely of situations.
A dimly shining example of this is the Dark Trinity.. The name itself stirs up a feeling
a dread, and what it represents is indeed terrifying. In the name of continued existence, lesser
factions of the deep drow, obitu, and oculus species forged an improbable alliance. Their
leaders, while maniacally evil in their own right, drafted a pact signed in blood and enforced
by demonic power (the concept of a simple treaty is a bit too weak for the likes of the
Underdeep). This pact forces those families and factions to coexist in some semblance of
peace, abolishes slavery for those sworn to uphold the agreement, and creates a unique
opportunity for the concept of community and cooperation to grow amid the darkest depths.
Of course, those in power are still driven by madness and ambition, and even the brightest
good deeds here seem shadowy by surface standards. Still, there is hope in our dark realm.
We do not hope as you do, for continued light, warmth, and well-being. Our dreams simply
yearn for brief motes of respite from an ever devouring darkness. We will undoubtedly fight
on, struggle against yet more unseen and unknown forces, just trying to survive the Azure
Abyss.
5
Introduction entirely one of treachery and greed. Certain deep
sea individuals, when given the opportunity, may
The Azure Abyss, the Underdeep, the inky
be capable of surprising acts of mercy and
wastes, and the midnight realm are but a few
generosity, and might even fight to maintain some
names afforded to those depths considered too
measure of home and community.
deep by the common races of the Cerulean Seas.
THE AZURE ABYSS works well as a stand-alone
Though these pitch-black depths comprise the vast
setting, an extension of the CERULEAN SEAS
majority of the endless sea, these realms have been
CAMPAIGN SETTING, or as a sourcebook for deep sea
labeled by most as unfathomable reaches. This
adventuring. Much like the subterranean realms of
tome intends to shed some light on these
other campaign worlds, this realm has a nefarious
mysterious waters, the creatures that live there,
reputation. While a campaign based around an evil
and the reasons why even the bravest of the
party is certainly an option here, we wanted to
surface realm fear diving too far down.
focus mainly on the light striving against the
The Underdeep is a world unto itself: vast and
darkness. The setting is certainly bleaker than the
impossibly flat abyssal plains; unbelievably titanic
others we have released, and would also serve you
mountain ranges; and steep, gaping trenches that
well if you are looking to add the element of horror
plunge countless miles. All of these awe-inspiring
to your underwater game.
features are nestled between a midnight expanse
Much like in the Cerulean Seas sourcebook, we
of water above and an endless labyrinth of tunnels
separated much of the campaign specific
below. Lit only by an abundant supply of
information into its own chapter. We wanted to
indigenous life, this world derives its energy not
keep the spirit of the campaign setting guide, in that
from the sun but from the fiery fury of the planet’s
it is also a helpful reference to undersea
core or debris from above. While the creatures that
adventuring. Even if the Gamemaster decides to use
live here are bountiful, they are dwarfed by the
his own world or an adaptation of ours, it would
great expanse of empty space surrounding them.
prove useful. The history of the realm has a strong
Each oasis of life struggles against the dark
presence but is not so closely tied to the crunch
oblivion on a daily basis.
presented that they cannot be easily separated.
In our own world, these realms are still mostly
Many will see this sourcebook as an opportunity
a mystery. Only a few short years ago we
to allow a bit of the Underdeep into more shallow
discovered amazing features such as black
waters. This is entirely possible, whether it be a
smokers and brine lakes, as well as the fantastic
peace-loving deep-drow escaping persecution or a
life forms that live near each. Just recently we
highly focused obitu vampire slayer, any of these
caught a glimpse of real-life monsters such as the
races or rules could be relocated to sunnier shores.
giant squid and discovered remarkable animals
There also comes a time in every aquatic
like the white-furred yeti crab, who thrive in
adventurer’s life when they simply must see what
temperatures that would melt lead. These are new
dwells in the darkness beneath their fins. This book
and cutting-edge discoveries, and we have yet to
will prove an invaluable resource to populate these
explore the vast majority of the deep sea. This
waters to the satisfaction (or perhaps demise) of
tome, the first of its kind, will attempt to
these curious explorers. New enemies, monsters,
incorporate these latest discoveries as well as build
terrain, and possibly even allies and treasure awaits
a complete realm of its own.
in the countless fathoms below.
In the fictional world of Cerulean Seas, those
Lastly, in true Allurian style, we present a
who dwell in the realms above seek to explore the
comprehensive deep sea bestiary. We were able to
world beneath, trade with its inhabitants, and
tap the genius of our two best monster makers, Sam
plunder the riches of its strange waters. For the
Hing (CREEPY CREATURES) and Mathew Cicci (FEY
very same reasons, some who dwell in the Azure
FOLIO) to bring you some truly fearsome fathomless
Abyss occasionally venture to the surface. The
foes that will add both terror and adventure to the
races of THE AZURE ABYSS are what most
crushing depths. Of course, we tied it all together
surface dwelling races would consider to be
with our award winning artists to bring you the
villainous or evil. While many are indeed the stuff
high quality material that you have come to expect
of nightmares, their story need not be
from Alluria Publishing.
6
Using This Book Buoyancy Units (bu.): These reflect an item’s
buoyancy and are described in the CERULEAN
This book is divided into six chapters with
SEAS CAMPAIGN SETTING.
several helpful appendices. The first chapter is a
Cerulean Seas: The known world which is
simple introduction designed to explain our
divided into nine sections (or seas).
design process, set the tone for the tome and
Cold Seep: A cold seep (sometimes called a
introduce some environmental basics such as
cold vent) is an area of the ocean floor where
climate, terrain and perils. Chapter two describes
hydrogen sulfide, methane and other
deep sea adaptations for a few Cerulean Seas core
hydrocarbon-rich fluid seepage occurs, often in
races, as well as six new races (asterak, austorian
the form of a brine pool.
dwarf, echinn, aquatic obitu, viden oculus, and
Deep Ice: This is also known as methane ice,
abyssal rusalka). Chapter three examines how
or methane clathrate. It occurs at moderate to
existing aquatic classes fit into an abyssal world
deep depths and plays a vital role in some
and presents a new class (the angler) as well as a
aglootech items.
trio of prestige classes. New materials,
Depth Tolerance: The maximum depth a
equipment, feats, spells and magic items are
creature can safely traverse. See the CERULEAN
outlined in chapter four. Chapter five offers
SEAS CAMPAIGN SETTING for more details.
details of the setting itself, including specific
Feykith: Any variety of water fey
racial histories and other such information. The
descendants, including rusalka, deep drow and
last chapter is a complete deep sea bestiary.
nixies.

Common Terms The Great Flood: A catastrophe that raised the
ocean level several hundred feet, drowning most
Words listed below are often referred to of the land and those that inhabited it. This
throughout THE AZURE ABYSS and are defined happened over five centuries ago.
here for clarification. More advanced definitions Merfolk: A creature with a humanoid torso
can be found either in the Cerulean Seas core and fish-like lower half. Nommos, seafolk and
rulebook, or later in this tome. asterak are all merfolk.
Aglootech: Complex devices typically Trueform: An intelligent species of non-
invented by aglooliks (who dwell in the polar humanoid form. Estrel (trueform starfish) and
regions of the realm) that mimic arcane effects by squibbons are trueforms. While not standard PC
using natural science. races, they do contribute to the overall society of
Anthromorph: A humanoid sea-animal. the setting.
Karkanaks and echinn are anthromorphs. Warp Pool: A naturally occurring mystical
Angler: A class that specializes in trapping gateway between two distant regions of the
and hunting its enemies. Underdeep. They appear as highly reflective
Black Smoker: A black smoker or sea vent is a brine pools. Most warp pools are unstable and
type of hydrothermal vent found on the seabed, temporary features.
typically in the abyssal and hadal zones. They Whirlpool (or Vortex): A specific
appear as black, chimney-like structures that emit environmental hazard that creates a funnel of
a cloud of black material. water and strong currents. Please refer to rules
The Bloody War: A war that ended over 400 presented in the CERULEAN SEAS CAMPAIGN
years ago between sahuagin and the good SETTING for more information.
denizens of the sea. White Smoker: White smoker vents emit
Brine Pool: A brine pool is a large area of lighter-hued minerals, such as those containing
brine on the ocean basin that often forms due to a barium, calcium, and silicon. These vents also
cold seep. These pools are bodies of water that tend to have lower temperature plumes
have a salinity three to five times greater than the than black smokers.
surrounding sea, and often appear as lakes of
water underneath the ocean. Larger brine pools
are known as brine lakes, and they will even
occasionally run in river-like formations known
as brine rivers.
7
Environmental Basics

Terrain
Climate
The deep sea has many types of terrain, each
Weather and temperature variations in the
with its own challenges and features. Aquatic
deep sea, unlike other regions of the ocean, is
versions of common terrains, such as deep caverns
primarily influenced by geological features such
as black smokers and cold seeps. Surface weather or towering mountains, exist here. Listed below are
has little or no effect on these waters, though a some examples that might be encountered in a deep
particularly powerful storm may result in larger sea setting.
accumulations of “marine snow,” a continuous
shower of mostly organic detritus falling from the ABYSSAL PLAINS
upper layers of the water column. An abyssal plain is an underwater plain on the
Aside from these features, the deep sea has a deep ocean floor. The majority (98%) are found in
relatively consistent environment when the abyssopelagic zones (depths between 10,000 and
compared to other oceanic regions. It is
20,000 feet). Abyssal plains cover more than 50% of
universally dark, under incredible pressure, and
the planet’s surface. They are among the flattest,
maintains a steady temperature between 32º and
smoothest and least explored regions in the world.
37º F (just above freezing). There are no seasonal
They are home to several invertebrates, rare fishes,
temperature changes, nor are there any annual
and a small number of sentient races including the
changes. No other habitat on the planet has such
echinn, benthic karkanak, and the estrel. Features
a constant temperature.
of the abyssal plains vary slightly, depending on if
Much of the Underdeep also occurs in a vast
subterranean network of caves and tunnels. they occur in abyssopelagic zones or the hadal zone
These expanses are more susceptible to geologic (depths of more than 3½ miles or 20,000 feet).
influence and therefore may harbor their own Table 1-1 describes in general terms how likely it
localized climate and weather-like features. Many is that a given square has a terrain element in it. It is
are typically warmer than the surrounding divided into the abyssopelagic and the hadal zone.
waters due to deep hydrothermal vents. Some, Note that these percentages (and those on other
known as cold caves, feature vast deposits of terrain tables) will often add up to more than 100%,
deep ice on their ceilings which often chill the
as many features may exist in the same square
water below standard freezing temperatures.
simultaneously.
Normal ice, however, does not typically

form under these extreme pressures.
8
TABLE 1-1: ABYSSAL PLAIN TERRAIN they are identical to brine pools found near cold
Abyssal Hadal seeps.
Feature Zone Zone
Ocean Trench: Occasionally, an abyssal plain
Cavern Entrance 1% 2%
will terminate in a gigantic chasm or oceanic trench.
Cleared Bedrock 5% 10%
These can span anywhere from a few feet to
Isolated Black Smoker 1% 2%
hundreds of miles across, and may be thousands of
Isolated Brine Pool 1% 2%
Loose Sediment 90% 85% feet deep. Often (especially in areas of thick
Ocean Trench 2% 0% sediment) there is a gradual slope before an abrupt

Quicksilt 2% 1% drop off.
Whale Fall 1% 1% Quicksilt: Quicksilt is formed in a process
similar to a brine pool. It almost always occurs in
Loose Sediment: The majority of the abyssal areas of deep sediment and is usually 1d10
plain is covered in thick layers of loose sediment squares long by 1d10 squares wide. Visually, it is
and is perfectly flat. This ooze-like mud can go indistinguishable from loose sediment terrain.
down several hundred, even thousands of feet However, after spending a round in direct contact
before terminating in hard volcanic bedrock. Any with this terrain feature, one notices the mud to
vigorous activity in a square containing loose be extremely sticky and much more permeable
sediment (including any sort of combat) will result than the surrounding sediment. At this point, the
in a cloud of murk encompassing the melee range of creature often realizes that he is not only stuck in
a creature one size category larger than the creature the quicksilt, but is rapidly being pulled down
that is disturbing the sediment. This murk obscures into it.
all vision and persists for 3d12 minutes after the Characters trapped in quicksilt may make a
activity ends. The sediment is fairly easy to dig DC 15 Escape Artist check in order to move 5 feet
through, though deep pits are prone to collapse. in any direction (up is usually the best choice).
Cavern Entrance: The Underdeep is riddled with Failing this check means the character cannot
subterranean passages, and the abyssal plains are move from his current location, and failing by 5
no exception. Entrances to these cave systems will or more means he will sink below the surface.
not exist in areas of loose sediment that is over 100 Characters submerged in quicksilt must hold
feet deep, though may reside at the bottom of their breath or they will suffocate.
quicksilt. The apertures vary in diameter from 1d12 haracters below the surface of quicksilt may
inches (10%), 1d6 feet (70%), 1d6 + 5 feet (15%), up burrow back to the surface with a successful
to 10d10 feet (5%). Escape Artist check (DC 15, +1 per consecutive
Cleared Bedrock: Certain small areas of abyssal round of being under the surface).
plains have been cleared of sediment by natural or Rescue: Pulling out a character trapped in
artificial means. They are typically level with the quicksilt can be difficult. A rescuer must swim
surrounding sediment, and are actually the tops of over the victim and make a DC 15 Strength check
buried seamounts and plateaus. The forces which to successfully pull the victim up. If the check
keep the area free of sediment (usually deep ocean succeeds, the victim is pulled 5 feet closer to
currents) have scoured the surface of the bedrock to safety. Alternatively, the rescuer can use a pole or
be flat and featureless. In some cases, these areas are a rope, though the victim must also succeed on
also perfectly smooth, and can be very difficult to DC 10 Strength check to hold on to this item. If
use as anchor points. the victim fails to hold on, he must make a DC 15
Isolated Black Smoker: Sometimes a lone Escape Artist check immediately to stay above
smoker chimney will work its way up through the the surface.
sediment, even if there are no other thermal vents Whale Fall: Whale fall refers to the fallen corpse
for hundreds of miles. These smokers seldom last of any Gargantuan or larger creature. Miniature
more than a couple of decades, and are statistically ecosystems will arise surrounding these corpses,
identical to those found near thermal vents. About from those feeding directly on the remains, to those
10% of these features are actually white smokers. preying on those who are feasting. These areas often
Isolated Brine Pool: Shallow brine pools can be have an increased amount of sea life, including
found scattered among the abyssal plains. These dangerous predators and voracious parasites.
pools are usually 10d10 feet in diameter and 1d10 The increased activity may last several years,
feet deep. They rarely provide enough nutrients to ending only when the bones have been
support a typical cold seep ecosystem. Otherwise, completely stripped of all their nutrients.
9