Episode 34: Crocodile

Edryk, Miria, and Kale face a terrifying onslaught on the dismal beaches of Abzû. This game sues the crocodile stats from Swords & Wizardry, It also delves pretty deep into the Dungeons & Dragons theory of the Soul that was made central to the concept of planar travel in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons starting later in the 1st edition and refined in the Planescape setting. I also wanted to share the Enuma Elish, if you want to read some ancient Mesopotamian myth. Roger Dean’s Cover for the first Asia album self-titled “Asia” was a huge inspiration for the setting of Abzu. I spent a great many hours staring at this album cover and listening to the record when I was a kid. In fact a great deal of the campaign aesthetics in – in my head at least – are inspired by Dean’s art. Roger Dean was a major influence on the aesthetics of the Psychedelic art and music movement and redefined what Fantasy looked like through the 60s and 70’s. I would be remiss if I didn’t send a link to his homepage where you can get prints of this truly amazing work. Abzu Random Encounter Table 3d6 category Encounter # Mein 3 Settlement Forlorn Camp* special Suffering 4 Settlement Duregar mining camp** special Feasting on HER flesh 5 Intelligent Scorpion Men 1d4 Worshipping HER 6 Intelligent Ixitchatil 2d10 Hunting 7 Intelligent Beast Men 3d10 Digging a burrow 8 Traveller Jaani 2d4 Lost 9 Traveller Night Hag 1 Performing Dark Rites 10 Monster Giant Scorpion 1d3 Frozen in despair 11 Monster Large Giant Centipede 1d6 Mating 12 Monster Crocodiles 2d6 Sleeping 14 Monster Sea Serpent 1 Exploring 14 Supernatural Larvae 3d10 Tormenting 15 Supernatural Shedu 1 Cultivating HER wisdom through alchemy 16 Supernatural Elsewhale 1 Desperately trying to get elsewhere 17 Atmospheric Tiamat Stirs*** n/a Going Mad 18 Atmospheric Storm m/a Grieving Notes *Forlorn Camp: a wretched set of huts of bone, skin, and scale overrun by wasp’s nests. Most inhabitants are dead, but 1d6 diseased and mad cultists linger. **Duregar Mining Camp: 2d10 Duregar oversee 5d20 beast-men slaves in mining scale and bone from Tiamat. ***Tiamat Stirs: The ground shakes and strange omens fill the sky before a deafening scream splits the sky. All creatures must save vs spells or be paralyzed with terror for 1d3 turns. Check for additional encounter. Voice Talent in this Episode: Owen Rideout as The Psisquid Music in this Episode “COMBAT: Classic Metal Chugga-Chugga” by Jon Cohen, used with permission. From the Free Music Archive: “King Edward” by Mr. Smith a CC-BY song released through the FMA From Pixabay: “Apex” by Alexander Nakarada “Scorched Fields” by Alexander Nakarada “Crossroads” by Alexander Nakarada “This Metal” by Mr. Claps “Melodic Metal” by Alex Koff “Powerful stylish rock” by Sound for You “Island of the Lost” by OB-LIX