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The Swaying Bridge and Hollow Tree

One of the optional encounters in the Forest of Decay.


The Swaying Bridge and Hollow Tree

A clearly dead tree that somehow still has green leaves it the extremes of its branches hangs over the chasm, its dead arms hanging in webs which stretch over to the golden rooftop of the pagoda. 

The tree is hollow, but still grows in the strange atmosphere hereabouts. A hollow space links form a 2’ wide crawl-hole at the base, rising upwards via an 8’ wide tunnel one hundred feet to another opening (this one 10 feet wide) accessing the web, which stretches across to the pagoda roof (Area #H17). The kumo call this access the swaying bridge. A black jade spider lurks within the hollow trunk, waiting for victims to pounce on, allowing only kumo and their kin access. 

Originally a pure jade guardian for the Pagoda the jade construct slowly become corrupted by the Shadowland influence of the Five Storms in the pagoda becoming aggressive.

Tactics

During Combat The black jade spider uses the narrow hollow space to keep attackers facing it to the minimum possible. 

Morale The black jade spider retreats twenty feet each time it looses 20 Hit Points, until it reaches the outside of the tree, which it tries to make its escape down.

BLACK JADE SPIDER

Large construct, chaotic neutral

Armor Class 17 (natural armor) 

Hit Points 250

Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

22 (+6) 9 (-1) 20 (+5) 3 (-4) 11 (+0) 1 (-5)

Damage Immunities Poison, Psychic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks that aren’t Adamantine

Condition Immunities CharmedExhaustionFrightenedParalyzedPetrifiedPoisoned

Senses Darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10

Languages Understands Common but can’t speak 

Challenge 10 (5,900 XP)

Immutable Form. The black jade spider is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form.

Magic Resistance. The black jade spider has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Jade Weapons. The black jade spider’s weapon attacks are both magical and jade.

 

Actions

Multiattack. The black jade spider makes two slam attacks with its mandibles.

Leg Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (3d8 + 6) piercing damage.

Death Drop (1/Day). If the spider drops from at least 10 feet of height it may use this action to use leg slam three times.  The target must make a DC 17 Strength or be knocked prone. The spider then rolls to hit for each attack individually.  If it has surprise all attacks hits.

Slow (Recharge 5–6). The black jade spider targets one or more creatures it can see within 10 feet of it. Each target must make a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw against this magic. On a failed save, a target can’t use reactions, its speed is halved, and it can’t make more than one attack on its turn. In addition, the target can take either an action or a bonus action on its turn, not both. These effects last for 1 minute. A target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

 

Treasure

The component parts of a jade spider are worth a small fortune – 10,000 sen.  However, due to the corrupted nature of the jade in a black jade spider the value of the usable jade is 1d4 x 1,000 sen.

 

Posted in 5e, Dungeons & Dragons, Oriental Adventures, The Divine Heir and the Jade Regent, The Forest of Spirits

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