Elminster's Ecologies (AD&D 2nd Ed Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms)

290 Pages·1994·8.58 MB·English

by  James Butler

Explorer(cid:146)s Manual
Table of Contents Credits
Design: Rick Swan, Monte Cook,
Introductory Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Excerpts from An Investigation into Eric Haddock, Anthony Pryor
the Natural Systems of Organisms Editing: James Butler and Karen S. Boomgarden
Typography: Nancy J. Kerkstra
and Their Surroundings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Production: Paul Hanchette and Dave Conant
Encounter Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
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Introductory Remarks
ow that bottle ought to hold thee Do I know why thou(cid:146)ve come? Listen, youngster.
for a time. Now, settle down! I know why a snappersaw turns green in a rain-
Don’t get they antennae in an storm. I know the names of the meanest dog in
uproar (cid:151) and do stop screeching at Shadowdale and the last 20 people she bit. Of
me. course I know why thou(cid:146)ve come.
Uh, excuse me? Elminster? You read my mind! Your magic is strong!
Huh? Oh, sorry. I didn(cid:146)t see thee. Elminster, aye, That it is. But, er, actually thy mother told me
that(cid:146)s me. Well, don(cid:146)t stand there gawking. Come thou were coming. I ran into her last week when I
in, come in. Just don(cid:146)t get too close to this table. was buying eggs at Bestil(cid:146)s farm. She told me her
And stand clear of the bottle. oldest child was itching to see the world. She says
Why? It(cid:146)s only a cockroach. thou know the ways of people(cid:151)at least enough to
A cockroach? A cockroach? Not hardly. Looks get by(cid:151)but thou art somewhat ignorant of the
like thou arrived just in time. ways of the wilderness.
You know why I(cid:146)ve come? Now take my great-nephew. Very brave, but a little
1
are a hard worker and as sharp as a slaad(cid:146)s tooth. She
says thou art good with a sword. Thou can read a map
and hast mastered a language or two. And thou hast
sense enough not to shake hands with a revenant. But
if thou plan(cid:146)st to go tromping through the wilderness
and expect to get home in one piece, thou need(cid:146)st to
know thine animals. And I(cid:146)ve got some books around
here(cid:151)some- place(cid:151)that(cid:146)ll teach thee all about the
natural order.
The natural order?
There(cid:146)s a reason why corn doesn(cid:146)t grow in the
Great Glacier, and why polar bears don(cid:146)t live in the
Desertsmouth Mountains. The world is designed so
that every organism has its own place and its own
role. A balance exists between all living things and
their surroundings. Put simply, everything affects
everything else.
Is that important to know?
It is if thou want to live to have grandchildren.
empty in the attic, if thou gets my drift. If he had come Come over here(cid:151)careful of the bottle!(cid:151)and take
to me before he tried to net that thing in the jar over a peek out the window.
there . . . well, that(cid:146)s another story for another time. See the old man pushing the wheelbarrow? The one
What(cid:146)s wrong, child? Are thou deaf? I said come with his arm in a sling? That(cid:146)s Fletcher Bockmann, a
in! Take a seat and make thyself comfortable. Move good wheat farmer, but a poor student of nature. A
those books off the bench. giant raven mauled him, nearly ripped his arm from its
That gray book(cid:146)s on fire! socket. Ravens are docile for the most part, but
What gray book? Oh, that gray book. It always Fletcher didn(cid:146)t know they get grumpy this time of the
smokes a little. Just pick it up(cid:151)carefully!(cid:151)and set year when they(cid:146)re looking for girlfriends.
it by those herb barrels. Does that answer thy question?
There thou go. Now, where were we? Ah, yes. A Give me the books.
restless youth, eager to make thy mark. I know the Keep thy trousers on. Thou remindest me of the
type. Thou has heard stories about the Thunder ranger who thought he could make friends with a
Peaks and the Farsea Marshes, but thou wants to hydra because he was sure a couple of the heads
see for thyself if the stories are true. Mind if I ask of would like him. They liked him, all right. They
thine intentions? Once I get thee educated, what liked his arms, legs, toes . . . So sit still and listen.
are thy plans? Explorer? Tracker? Trader? The books won(cid:146)t be of much use if thou knowest
I haven(cid:146)t made up my mind. not what thou read(cid:146)st. And I haven(cid:146)t the time or
Treasure hunter? the patience to explain every line.
Could we proceed? Sorry . . .
Hmph. I see thou could use some manners, too. But That(cid:146)s better.
don(cid:146)t count on Elminster to teach thee everything. First of all, there are nine books. I wrote only the
Where were we? Ah, yes. Thy mother tells me thou first, which accounts for the variation in styles and
2
approaches. The authors, however, are experts, as each This concerns monsters(cid:151)the magical ones, the
has studied a particular region in depth. Since all of brutish ones, the ones thou want not to mess with.
them are friends and colleagues, I can vouch for the Thou will learn their activity patterns: when they
accuracy of their information. But be forewarned that migrate, when they hibernate, when they(cid:146)re in the
personal prejudices may sometimes color the facts. mood to snack on strangers. Thou will learn how
Bryn Ohme, for instance, the gentleman responsible they interact with other creatures in the region,
for the book on the settled lands, thinks the world who they terrorize and who they fear, who they eat
revolves around farming. As a result, Bryn looks at the and who eats them. Why do they live where they
natural order from an agriculturalist(cid:146)s point of view, do? Are they territorial? How do they behave dur-
and his work reflects his bias. Note, too, that the ing mating season? What do they think of humans?
authors acquired their information from many sources, In short, thou will learn what makes these creatures
including direct observation, local legends, ranger important to the region(cid:146)s natural order, and what
reports, and bits of gossip. For this reason, contradic- thou need to do to get along with them.
tions may exist between authors(cid:146) versions of an identi- Of course, not every entry will address all these
cal phenomenon. Where such contradictions occur, questions. Some information isn(cid:146)t especially impor-
assume the truth lies somewhere in the middle. tant, some simply isn(cid:146)t known. And the books don(cid:146)t
Ultimately, thine own experiences will verify or discuss every single monster in the region. There
disprove the authors(cid:146) conclusions. While I had nei- wasn(cid:146)t enough room for all of them, so I told the
ther the time nor the inclination to rewrite my co- authors to pick and choose, concentrating on the
authors(cid:146) efforts, I insisted that each follow the same most important, most unusual, most dangerous.
format for the convenience of the reader. They Finally, each book ends with a few rumors about
complied, for the most part. So, with the exception the area. Most are from reliable sources, some are
of this book(cid:151)which I(cid:146)ll discuss in a moment(cid:151)the educated guesses, the rest may be just good stories.
volumes comprise these sections. Are they all true? Are any of them true? Who(cid:146)s to
Each opens with an autobiographical note, say? Find thou the answers, and let me know.
explaining the author(cid:146)s background and credentials, So there it is. I(cid:146)ll fetch the proper books if thou
and what prompted him or her to write about that tell(cid:146)st me where thou want to go.
particular area. I encouraged them to say whatever Everywhere.
they wanted here, within reason. The only one who Everywhere? I don(cid:146)t have a book for that.
gave me any trouble was Lyra Sunrose. She included Ever seen an amphisbaena? It(cid:146)s a serpent with
a lot of flowery reminiscences about an(cid:151)er(cid:151)alleged two heads, one on each end. If one head wants to
relationship with me. I cut out most of that claptrap crawl into a cornfield and hunt mice, and the other
to spare her embarrassment. wants to crawl up an oak tree to chew on sparrows,
Next comes an overview of the area, a general know thou what happens? It goes nowhere. It just
discussion of the geography and the climate, and a writhes on the ground and ties itself into a knot.
look at points of interest. Suppose we try this. I(cid:146)ll tell thee the regions cov-
Following the overview is a look at the area(cid:146)s com- ered in each book, and maybe that(cid:146)ll aid thee in
mon flora and fauna(cid:151)trees, flowers, birds, and beasts. making up thy mind. Now pay attention.
Of course, even though they(cid:146)re common, they can still Book One: An Investigation into the Natural
be nasty. One bumblebee might not be too trouble- Systems of Organisms and Their Surroundings.
some, but I(cid:146)d hate to run into a hundred. That(cid:146)s mine. I(cid:146)m not quite finished yet(cid:151)perfection
The next section I consider the most critical. takes time, know thou that!(cid:151)but when it(cid:146)s done it
3
will be the definitive treatise on the science of nat- natives. In this instance, the native include a wide
ural order. The information I(cid:146)ve gathered applies to variety of animals and monsters, some of them less
the entire world, not just a particular region. than ecstatic about having humans for neighbors.
Book Two: Cormanthor. Cormanthor, also That(cid:146)s it. So, tell me(cid:151)where dost thou want to go?
known as the elven woods, was perhaps the mighti- I(cid:146)m not sure. . . .
est elven kingdom of all time. The book isn(cid:146)t con- Still not sure? I think thou(cid:146)ve some amphisbaena
cerned with the elves, but rather the forest itself blood in thee, my friend.
and the wildlife that lives there(cid:151)some of it mighty Here(cid:146)s an idea. Take the whole stack. Begin with
wild indeed. This is probably the most complex my book, An Investigation into the Natural Systems of
natural system discussed in the books, as it com- Organisms and Their Surroundings. In it, thou will find
prises not only the forests (several of them, in fact), concepts that apply to all regions discussed in the
but also the ruins of Myth Drannor. The magic of subsequent volumes. It will give thee a foundation for
Myth Drannor has had powerful effects on the understanding what the other authors have to say.
elven woods, some good, most bad. I(cid:146)ve marked the relevant passages.
Book Three: Anauroch. Anauroch, the Great After thou have finished, go on to any of the
Desert, is dry, desolate, and deadly. A steppeland other books that strike thy fancy. Thou need not
where water is more precious than diamonds, a cool read them in order. Thou need not read them all.
day as rare as an educated orc. Concentrate on whatever looks interesting. How
Book Four: The Storm Horns and the Thunder does that sound?
Peaks. These are two of the world(cid:146)s most formida- Great. I(cid:146)ll do it. But may I ask a question first?
ble mountain ranges. Nearly impenetrable, home to Of course.
vultures, desperadoes, and dragons. The weather What about the cockroach?
here is nearly as treacherous as the peaks them- The cockroach? I told thee, that(cid:146)s no cockroach!
selves, with pounding windstorms strong enough to Come over here. Take thou a good look. Does
level the tallest trees and blizzards that can dump that look like a cockroach(cid:146)s head?
ten feet of snow in an hour(cid:146)s time. It looks like a skull.
Book Five: The Cormyrean Marshes. Marshlands That, my friend, is a lichling, one of the world(cid:146)s
and swamps of staggering size, a haven for snakes, a most loathsome creatures. It has the body of an
nightmare for men. Hot, humid, and miserable. insect, the head of a human skull, and the disposi-
Book Six: The Stonelands and the Goblin tion of a rattlesnake. Hear it hissing? If thou ever
Marches. A pair of desolate plains, the first a see one of these in thy kitchen, pack thy bags.
dried-out dust bowl, the second a boulder-strewn This particular specimen was crawling around the
wasteland. Both are crawling with monsters. Flour Pot, one of Shadowdale(cid:146)s finest bakeries. My
Book Seven: The Sea of Fallen Stars. A coastal nephew, who fancies himself a great collector, tried to
locale, rife with creatures of the land and water. catch it with a net. It went straight for his throat. By
Book Eight: The Great Gray Land of Thar. the time I arrived, it had nearly separated his head
Hast thou a heavy coat? This is a bitterly cold step- from his neck. I(cid:146)m planning to study it for a time, then
peland where the temperatures sink low enough to send it on a one-way trip down Mount Bandalin.
freeze thine eyeballs. The volcano?
Book Nine: The Settled Lands. This covers the Thou knowest thy geography, at least.
farmlands of Cormyr, Sembia, and the Dalelands, How did a lichling get into a bakery?
where humans attempt to live in harmony with the Keep reading. Thou will find out.
4
Excerpts from
An Investigation into the
Natural Systems of Organisms
and Their Surroundings
by Elminster of Shadowdale
Diversity
refers to the area(cid:146)s largest and most vicious carni-
vores; (cid:147)Minor meat eaters(cid:148) are smaller and less
TT
he world is vast and varied, comprising tower- aggressive. The parenthetical entries indicate repre-
ing mountains, dense jungles, and sprawling sentative species of a typical jungle environment.
seas. There are regions so cold that their snow
never melts, others so hot that their rain turns to Major meat eaters
steam as it touches the ground. (couatl)
*
It is this variety of environments that accounts for
the variety of life. In my travels I have noted 73 dis- Minor meat eaters
tinct types of pine trees, from the blue snowwood of (weasel)
*
the Great Glacier to the locust needle of the Pirate
Isles. I estimate the number of fishes at well over five Plant eaters
thousand. The number of insect species likely (chipmunk)
*
exceeds the number of grains of sand on the shores of
Dragon Reach. Vegetation
Every environment, no matter how hostile to (acorn)
humankind, is compatible with some form of life.
The diversity and adaptability of organisms are For more precision, meat eaters can be subdi-
staggering. . . . vided into major (couatl), intermediate (carnivo-
rous ape), and minor (weasel) categories. Further
Consumption Chains subdivisions are possible.
This consumption chain model can help deter-
OO
rganisms occupying a particular environment mine which species dominate their environment.
can be arranged in a chain according to what Generally, the higher an organism on the chain,
they consume. The dragon eats the boar, the boar the more freedom of movement it enjoys, and the
eats the black snake, the black snake eats the field more of a threat it poses to the organisms below it.
mouse. Much can be learned about an organism(cid:146)s In this example, the couatl dominates the weasel,
role in its environment by determining its place in the chipmunk fears the meat eaters above it.
the consumption chain. Some organisms may not fit neatly into this
In most natural environments, organisms can be model. Technically, an omnivore belongs to both
assigned to the following hierarchy. The * should the meat-eating and plant-eating categories. Spe-
be read as (cid:147)consume,(cid:148) as in (cid:147)plant eaters consume cial abilities(cid:151)such as magical powers(cid:151)and high
vegetation.(cid:148) The (cid:147)Major meat eaters(cid:148) category intelligence can effectively move an organism into
5
a higher category. It could be argued, for instance, the more of its kind there will be. Vegetation essen-
that humans dominate any environment they tially supports the entire food chain; if too few
inhabit. Still, when trying to understand how a plants are available, eventually the herbivores will
creature fares in relation to its neighbors, this die out, leaving the omnivores and carnivores
model can be a useful tool. nothing to eat. Most natural systems, then, contain
A second type of consumption chain ranks more plants than herbivores, more herbivores than
organisms by quantity. The > symbol should be read omnivores, and more omnivores than carnivores. A
as (cid:147)is greater than,(cid:148) as in (cid:147)the number of plants is traveler investigating a region that supports only a
greater than the number of animals.(cid:148) handful of herbivorous species can expect to
encounter even fewer omnivorous species. Con-
Number of plants versely, if a large variety of carnivores are present,
(wild flowers, grass) the traveler can expect to find a greater number of
> omnivores.
Number of herbivores Two cases merit special attention: the matter
(deer, baboons) eater (such as the galeb duhr, which eats only
> rocks) and the energy eater (like the eyewing,
Number of omnivores which presumably subsists on magical energy). On
(opossums, giant slugs) a consumption chain, matter and energy eaters
> have about the same status as plants. Just as an oak
Number of carnivores tree absorbs minerals from the ground, so does a
(tigers, crocodiles) galeb duhr feast on the stones of the earth. As a
daisy is nourished by the sunlight, an eyewing
The model helps us assess the general size of pop- draws sustenance from the energy around it.
ulations. The higher an organism is on the chain, But unlike plants, the galeb duhr and the eyew-
ing are rarely eaten by other creatures. The avail-
ability of rocks and energy, not the presence of
predators, regulates their populations. An envi-
ronment where all matter emanates magic(cid:151)
rumored in certain alternate planes of
existence(cid:151)could theoretically sustain an infinite
number of eyewings. A frightening thought,
indeed . . .
Population ControL
II
n addition to consumption chains, nature has a
variety of other methods for regulating popula-
tions. Some examples follow.
Suppression
Many organisms, plants in particular, have devel-
oped ways to inhibit the growth of their own off-
6
spring. The mature retch plant produces pepperlike weeks and longed for company. As a youth, I had
dust on its leaves, which washes off into the sur- raised rabbits as pets and knew them to be amiable,
rounding soil. The dust poisons most retch if somewhat dispassionate, companions. Through-
seedlings in the area, reducing competition for out the day, I had noticed dozens of red-furred rab-
nutrients and water. bits frolicking in the underbrush. I decided to
befriend one.
Competition
I spotted a suitable specimen, a handsome buck
In general, two species depending on an identical with a powder puff tail and bright green eyes. I
food source cannot inhabit the same environment extended my hand, palm open, so as not to frighten
indefinitely. Eventually, one species comes to him. To my surprise, he cawed like a crow, stood
dominate, usually by sheer number, and forces the erect, then bounded away on his hind legs.
other to vacate or become extinct. Occasionally, That night, I pondered my experience with this
the less populous species will adapt by changing unusual hare. I concluded that my failure to make
its diet. Thousands of years ago, a species of umber contact was entirely my own fault, the result of
hulks and a strain of fire toads competed for false assumptions. There and then, I began to for-
ankheg larvae in the caverns beneath Giantspire mulate what I call the Rules of the Rabbit, general
Mountains. As the umber hulk population principles applicable to all creatures of the wild,
swelled, consuming virtually all the larvae, the fire animals and monsters alike. A traveler would do
toads adapted by learning to eat beetles and other well to remember these principles when encounter-
insects. No longer competitors, both species con- ing creatures outside his homeland.
tinue to thrive in the area.
Rule One
Seasonal Cycles
A rabbit isn(cid:146)t always a rabbit. That is, a rabbit from
Climate changes regulate certain populations on a one region doesn(cid:146)t necessarily behave like a rabbit
cyclical basis. Springtime in the Duskwood pro- from another, even though they may look alike. I
duces an abundance of ash wheat, which results in discovered a rabbit in the Hullack Forest that
a population explosion of badger mice (rodents the sleeps on its back, its feet straight in the air. A
size of small badgers). The increased number of species from Harrowdale can rotate its eyes in
badger mice gives puff adders more to eat. By the opposite directions. I have heard of a rabbit from
end of summer the following year, the puff adder Brynwood that not only whistles like a canary, but
population peaks, increasing competition for the can be taught an impressive repertoire of tunes. A
badger mice. A harsh winter invariably takes its toll hippogriff from the Dragonspine Mountains may
on the puff adders, and the population shrinks. be docile, even passive, while his cousin from
When spring arrives, the ash wheat grows, the bad- Ring(cid:146)s Reach may be quick to take offense. It is
ger mouse population swells, and the adders begin often impossible to make these distinctions from
to multiply. casual observations. As in the case of the
excitable hippogriff, experience can be a cruel
Rules of the Rabbit teacher.
The physical form of an animal can also vary
YY
ears ago, I undertook an expedition into the dramatically from region to region. The pseudo-
forests near Myth Drannor. I had not seen a dragon presents a striking example, evidenced by
human face(cid:151)or a face remotely human(cid:151)in several the sketches elsewhere in this chapter. All variants
7
exhibit virtually identical mannerisms and atti- actually seen a rabbit at the beach, it wouldn(cid:146)t sur-
tudes. They differ only in appearance. prise me if I did. Though most animals are associ-
ated with specific habitats, they can turn up
Rule Two
virtually anywhere. Colleagues have told me of gib-
A rabbit doesn(cid:146)t want to be rich. Foolish is the trav- berlings that live in crude houseboats on the Lake
eler who assumes that all creatures share his of Dragons, and I have it on good authority that a
motives and emotions. A squirrel may covet a silver rare species of couatl nests in the mountains of
bracelet, but only because it admires the sparkling Anauroch.
metal, not because it desires wealth or wants to Some use the phrase wandering monsters to
impress its companions. Who would doubt that a describe creatures encountered in unusual locales or
crocodile basking in the sun feels pleasure? But it those who have strayed from their lairs for no
seems unlikely that a crocodile experiences passion apparent purpose. The reasons for this wanderlust,
or pity. Ah ankheg cannot be stirred to sentiment. however, are many and diverse. A roving gorgon
A gelatinous cube will not respond to flattery. may be attempting to expand its territory. An urge
Observing, experimenting, and perusing schol- to explore may motivate a curious bullywug. Male
arly texts are valid ways to learn the nuances of ani- leucrotta have been known to journey hundreds of
mal behavior. But wondering how a man would act miles to locate a suitable mate. In any case, travel-
in a similar situation is rarely the best approach. ers are advised to approach all such wandering
monsters with caution; whatever their purpose,
Rule Three
these creatures may not take kindly to human
A rabbit doesn(cid:146)t always stay put. Though I(cid:146)ve never interference.
8
Encounter Tables
Rimwoods Encounters
he following pages contain tables
relevant to each book in this d20 Roll Encounter
boxed set. Note that each section 1-3 Insect (roll 1d6: 1 = giant ant, 2 =
is color-coded to match the book bumblebee, 3 = giant hornet, 4 =
to which it refers, for ease of refer- assassin bug, 5 = giant wasp, 6 = giant
ence. The DM may use the tables to generate ran- horsefly)
dom encounters, or to give players an idea of the 4 Herd animal (roll 1d4: 1 = deer, 2 =
diversity of species in each region. The tables are by sheep, 3 = wild cattle, 4 = antelope)
no means complete. DMs should feel free to supple- 5 Wild dog
ment them with appropriate species from other 6 Wolf
AD&Dfi products or creatures of their own design. 7 Rat (roll 1d4: 1-3 = normal, 4 =
The MONSTROUS MANUAL(cid:153) accessory and vari- giant)
ous MONSTROUS COMPENDIUMfi accessories serve as 8 Leucrotta
the primary sources for the tables; DMs should refer 9 Fyrefly swarm
to these volumes for statistics and behavioral infor- 10 Unusual vegetation (roll on or choose
mation. Creatures(cid:146) treasure, if any, is left to the from Unusual Vegetation table)
DM(cid:146)s discretion. 11-14 Small mammal (roll on or choose from
Small Mammal table)
Cormanthor
15-17 Avian (roll on or choose from Avians
table)
SS
ee Cormanthor for the definitions of rimwoods, 18-19 Midwoods creature (roll on or choose
midwoods, and starwoods. That booklet also from Midwoods Encounters table)
contains important information about the creatures 20 DM(cid:146)s Special (roll on or choose from
listed in italics. DM(cid:146)s Choice: Special Monsters table)
The DM(cid:146)s Choice: Special Monsters table
includes exceptionally dangerous or unusual crea-
tures. The Small Mammals and Avians tables might
be useful when player characters forage for food.
The Aquatic Monsters table covers the Ashaba
River, the Elvenflow, Lake Sember, and all other
bodies of water in Cormanthor.
When determining the number of creatures
appearing in an encounter, the DM should consider
the size and strength of the party, and proceed
accordingly.
9