Dungeon 24: Heaven

I came in late to the party for Dungeon 23, and as a result, I decided to not participate. But with a new year, I have decided to try it out this time. I have been kicking around the idea of Heaven for a while now, and this is my motivation to actually get on the project and start building it out. I won't be making a post every day, but will instead document my rough notes on Twitter and then write up a proper post here on Mondays when I have something more substantial to share. 

For this initial post, I would like to set the groundwork for my sketched-out thoughts on the world, the rules underpinning the dungeon concept, and the local environs of Heaven and the city surrounding it, Ikuun.

The World

Everything that is known is situated within a hollow sphere. At the center of it burns the sun, providing light and heat for the world below. Fantastically huge sections of black fabric orbit the sun, blocking its light and providing a rolling reprieve to the world in the form of night. There are orbs that hang in the sky on their own path around the sun, known as the moons. And the fabric itself contains lights, emanated from the gravity-defying cities of some unknown people who live in eternal darkness. On a relatively flat plain or from a high vantage point one can see the entirety of the world around them, and nowhere is unknown.

Below the ground, in the deepest places of the world there exist solid metal surfaces that repel all attempts to breach them. Scholars have mapped these points and plotted them with regards to the sun and believe that this metallic membrane is the shell of the world. What lies beyond it no one can know, and many of those scholars believe that reality itself terminates at the shell.

Dungeons

A dungeon is created by the backlash of great trauma or suffering propagating through superspace, the psychic layer of reality where all minds meet. This trauma creates an open wound, which manifests in physical space as an anomalous location linked to the mind of its creator. The environs of the dungeon are set at the time of creation, the appearance and configuration of each dungeon is unique to the triggering event. Like any wound, the dungeon bleeds, drawing aether from superspace and leaking it into the physical world. The flow of aether lures out superspace thought-forms, manifesting as monsters to the eyes of humanity. These creatures come to the wounds for the sublimating aether, which they find intoxicating.

The aether bleed dissipates quickly, limiting how far the monsters can roam, but that range is generally sufficient to be a problem for humans, and so dungeon delvers seek to find the dungeon core and close the wounds to banish the monsters back to superspace. Dungeon cores have no consistent form, but any who see them immediately recognize them for what they are. To heal a dungeon a human must carry the core out, collapsing the structure and plugging the hole but leaving behind a scar in the form of a ruin, an echo of the dungeon that persists.

Dungeons are not without their upsides. As constructs of pure aether, they contain objects of incredible potential to magic-users. Treasures recovered from a dungeon can be broken down into raw aether, siphoned off to power greater magics, or form the core of an enchanted object that supplies its own power. These otherworldly items are of great value, and there exists an entire economic scheme devoted to plundering a dungeon for all it is worth before the core is finally claimed. Even then, some remain unhealed, as the monsters produced by a dungeon have value all their own. Their parts, if properly preserved, are used in various alchemies, cooking recipes and the creation of terrible hybrids that sell for fortunes to those with the means and need.

Heaven

The most majestic and terrible dungeon in existence, Heaven was formed from the trauma of a god tens of thousands of years ago. The god and their trauma are forgotten to history, but Heaven remains. The tower rises up above the clouds, high into the sky and piercing the sun itself. Sprouting from the scorched dust-dunes of the Pladimere Desert, Heaven can be seen from any point in the world with a view of the sky. Heaven’s construction, like most dungeons, obeys no rules, with some sections bulging out while others narrow down to almost nothing. Trees jut from the walls in places, others are pocked with crystal growths and flags of unknown nations fly from others, mere specks of color from the ground.

To those on the world below, the most important aspect of Heaven is the water. Water pours from different levels, from various different openings. The lowest outflow, issuing from the third floor, is what fills the basin around Heaven’s base and creates the First Oasis. This water supplies both the city of Ikuun and the Uundori River. More water pours from higher levels, but wind generally disperses it across the Pladimere and beyond, and rain falls from Heaven for hundreds of miles around the tower itself.

Heaven has not been explored to even the most minute degree. The lowest floors are the most well-known, with maps of them existing for those with the coin to pay. Most delvers enter through the ground floor, flush with the glittering oasis surrounding it, but entrances to higher levels exist, and every year daring inventors construct flying machines capable of reaching new heights. But monsters swarm to Heaven like nowhere else in the world, and what is known about those higher floors is hard-won and scarce. Most expeditions do not last very long, and the majority of them are quick and quiet, seeking only to plunder what treasures they can before escaping the ire of Heaven’s inhabitants.

Ikuun

The oldest city in the world, grand beyond measure, destroyed and rebuilt more times than anyone can say. The sprawl of Ikuun is centered on Heaven, occupying the banks of the First Oasis and snaking along the Uundori River for some distance. Even in the baking white dust of the Pladimere, the waters of Heaven provide sustenance for millions of people. Since the very beginning of recorded history, humans were drawn to Heaven, the sun-piercing pillar undeniable in its attraction. Mass migrations have occurred countless times, leading waves of humans to the base, the travel taking so long that those who began the trip were lost to time by those who finished. Hundreds of towns and cities were founded by these migrants along their trips, all a shadow of the splendor of Ikuun, blessed city at the foot of Heaven itself.

Water is the only thing that sustains human life in the Pladimere, and so Ikuun and its people are completely dependent on the water from Heaven’s third level. The First Oasis teems with fish and millennia have been spent channeling the fresh water into countless artificial rice paddies, greenhouses, hand-carved terrace farms and aquaculture arrays. On the opposite end of the spectrum, dust mites make up the rest of the Ikuunian diet, as the dunes teem with hordes of the knee-height arachnids, making them a plentiful source of sustenance.

Dust is the main problem in Ikuun, as the Pladimere is made up of nothing besides dust with the occasional raised rocky bed. Not sand, but instead the dust of life, made up of dead skin, hair and the feces of uncountable mites, the Pladimere is deadly beyond measure. A dust storm can clog the airways, coat the lungs and render anyone without sufficient protection unable to breathe in a few short minutes. Shifting and unstable, the dunes collapse regularly, and the sanitation forces of Ikuun are locked in an eternal battle with dustfalls. Protective clothing is always required in the city outside of the popular domes and covered streets where people can live without fear of a dust storm. While not carnivorous, mites are aggressive and those who stumble into alleys claimed by the animals are quickly torn to pieces.

Ikuun is where empires go to die, each one in turn believing that they will seize this jewel and hold onto it forever. Each time they have been wrong, but none have ever learned the lesson. Currently rulership falls to the Four Winds Alliance, a fraying union of three different nations and one government in exile that has relocated to Ikuun. After defeating the revolutionary forces that had wrested Ikuun from foreign control thirty years ago, this uneasy friendship has settled into bickering over who gets what from the divine city. The citizens of Ikuun are used to such matters, and life in the city goes on as it ever has, but beneath the surface those same defeated revolutionaries prepare to strike again, dreaming of a free Ikuun.

d8 Colorful Characters (With Disruptive Agendas) to Meet at a Baronic Birthday Bash

While doing prep work for my Lancer campaign, I found myself making up NPCs for a birthday gala for an aging Baronic noble where the players would be participating in a mech combat tournament. I planned for them to have some time at a banquet before the tournament and I was sure they would want to mix with the other hired help, and since I love randomness I took the NPCs and incorporated them into a table. The NPCs are not specific to my campaign and are intended to provide background color and disruption to the otherwise calm banquet. So I figured I would share them for anyone to use should you also find yourself running a high-society party scene in the Karrakin Trade Baronies.

d8	NPC
1	Benero Atula Jasik the Exiled. (They/them) As mysterious as any Voladore, Benero claims to have been cast out by their people. Despite this, they still refuse to divulge information about Voladore culture or technology, preferring to speak in riddles. Some whisper that they are in truth not actually a Voladore, but a human who stole or salvaged a Voladore suit and is conning their way into high Baronic society.
2	Dramo Halperin. (He/him) Stripped of their title of Sub-Baron, Dramo has been forced to apply their skills as a duelist in order to maintain some position in Baronic society. A master with the rapier and whip, he is riding high on a winning streak that could land him a position as a Baron’s bodyguard. He is looking for a fight to cement his position.
3	Ava Rezim. (They/them) The laid-back genius hacker of the minor House Rezim, Ava defies social conventions by mixing with the lower classes and disrespecting proper Baronic codes of dress and behavior. They’re looking for a good time and someone to swap stories with for the night before causing a scene that will further damage their House’s reputation. Pilots the Veteran Witch-class mech Heartbreaker.
4	Smirking Jaxor: (He/him) A retired knight of the Albatross, he has chosen to leave his makteba and come to the Baronies in search of unlikely heroes. He knows that some Baronics wish to do good, but are constrained by their society, and he seeks to give them a way out by joining the Albatross. He has identified a likely candidate here tonight and is attempting to evade their House guards to make his offer.
5	Dara. (She/her) At first an unassuming servant of the House, those who watch her closely will soon notice her many small acts of defiance. Rolling her eyes, mocking nobles behind their backs, and spitting in drinks. Dara hates her Baronic masters and rebels when she thinks no one is looking.
6	Ignatius Truck. (He/him) A free-spirited Baronic commoner elevated because of his incredible skills as a pilot. Serving as a House guard, he pilots the Veteran Cataphract-class mech Roadkill and is looking to go even faster. He’s set up a meeting with the agents of a rival House offering him an even speedier mech, and he’s entertaining the idea of defecting.
7	Edea Shorr. (She/her) The primary advisor to a largely irrelevant Sub-Baron. Edea is smart and professional and also a secret agent for Smith-Shimano Corpro. Years ago she assumed the identity of Edea Shorr by stealing her face and has been covertly gathering information on various Baronic Houses. Tonight she’s been instructed to burn her identity and assassinate a Baron or die trying.
8	Justice Markov. (He/him) An Adherent of RA who has come to spread the good word. Jovial and good-natured, but zealous about his belief that humanity should be subordinated to RA in all ways. Dressed in ostentatious black and neon yellow, wrapped in holographic chains and armed with endless digital screeds about his religious beliefs, he is here to infiltrate the computer systems and fill every screen and projector with pro-RA propaganda.

Creature Series 3: Gem Moth

Rare and prized creatures, gem moths glitter with jewel-encrusted chitin, their wings emblazoned with whorls of precious stones in bizarre and beautiful patterns. Their bodies reflect moonlight and send out colorful beams of light into the darkness, signaling hunters for miles around to their presence. No one who sees a gem moth will ever forget it, and those who can capture them are rewarded handsomely for their efforts

Born from eggs like any moth, their caterpillars instinctively seek out rock and stone, favoring those with high mineral deposits. Some aquatic larvae swim into silty water, filtering for the rich sediment found within. Terrestrial gem moth larvae secrete a powerful acid that is capable of melting even the hardest rock, which they then consume using a thick, flexible proboscis. These caterpillars are often dull gray or black in color to help them blend in with their rocky habitat, and have hook-like barbs in their feet that allow them to cling to sheer rock faces and cave ceilings. 

Gem moth caterpillars require no organic food to survive, as their internal biology is able to extract energy as a byproduct of their diet. Inside these larvae, the rock and mineral ingested is subjected to an intense reaction that breaks down and reconfigures its molecular structure, resulting in gemstones that are created over the course of the caterpillar’s year-long existence. Assuming that these larvae can obtain enough stone to fulfill their dietary needs, they will live out this period gorging themselves and molting repeatedly. There is no upper limit on a gem moth caterpillar’s size, with some of the largest reaching sixty centimeters.

Due to their esoteric biology, gem moth caterpillars face few natural predators, as they contain little in the way of protein. For the few hardy species that also exist primarily on inorganic material, they make for quite the meal, leading to them developing a variety of defenses. Their acid spittle can also be shunted through their exoskeleton, using body contractions and small tube-like protrusions to jet the acid out at high pressure over great distances. Some caterpillars have the ability to lock their body segments in place and become as hard as the stone they eat. Others have developed spines and spikes, while others have brightly colored bodies that warn predators of the powerful acid contained within them. A singular offshoot has even developed a very novel self-defense strategy: keeping their latest molting around like a suit of armor. When threatened, they expand rapidly and the molt shell explodes at high speeds like a bomb, leaving the caterpillar unharmed and ready to dash for safety.

After they have completed roughly a year of life in their larval stage, the gem moth caterpillars seek crevices where they can pupate, extruding a cocoon around themselves composed of pure gemstone. The gemstone in question is unique to the larva’s species, but they are often irregularly shaped like a raw stone. If held up to light, one can witness the process of pupation happening within. These gemstone cocoons can vary in size from three centimeters up to a record seventy centimeters. Once the moth has completed its transformation it easily cracks the stone open through an unknown process. During this period the stone becomes soft and pliable, only hardening again once the moth has exited it.

In their adult imago forms, the gem moths come in a striking variety of gemstone coverings. The most common are amethyst, citrine, emerald, ruby, sapphire, tanzanite and tourmaline. But all gemstones have gem moth equivalents, with diamond, opal, pearl and turquoise being the most prized. There is little consistency in body size with gem moths, even within the same species, as mass is dependent on the amount of stone they were able to consume as larvae, leading to all sizes of these magnificent creatures taking flight as soon as they are able.

As adults, gem moths have exceptionally long lifespans, living for decades or even centuries depending on their species. Their bodies, encrusted with gemstone and patterned into busy and beautiful designs, are exceptionally hard to damage and their natural agility in the air allows them to escape most forms of attack. They have few natural predators, leaving sentient beings as their primary hunters. No longer hungry for stone, gem moths consume a standard diet of plant nectar and spoiled fruit. The exception to this are gemstones of their type, which they seek out and consume with single-minded hunger. This is the only way for gem moths to increase in size as the gemstone mass is added to their own. Due to the rarity of gemstones, this does not lead to many large gem moths in general.

Due to their long lives and exceptional longevity, there is not much pressure on gem moths to reproduce rapidly. Every decade, during a conjunction of the moon and planets, there is a mating night for gem moths. They fly high into the night sky, catching the unique light of this night and forming a glittering swarm that looks to many like an aurora. After their mating is done, they scatter once more, with eggs being deposited in dark, secluded places. Parents do not remain to watch over their spawn, trusting them to get by on their own.

When natural death finally comes a gem moth, they prefer to alight on the ground itself, venturing out during the day as they so rarely do, seeking a sunny spot to breathe their last. After expiring, their organic components rapidly decay, leaving a pile of gemstones in this seemingly random spot. Many a fortune was built on the corpse of a gem moth found in a sunbeam on a pleasant day outside.

Gem moths avoid civilized areas out of more than a rudimentary fear of sapients. Artificial light plays hell with their navigation, causing them to become clumsy and uncoordinated. They can handle the light of a single fire or torch, but if they find themselves surrounded by several sources of artificial light they become frantic as their connection to the moon and stars is confused. In this state they fly into surfaces and can fall to the ground.

For all their defenses and nimbleness, gem moths are still brought down by hunters seeking to rip the gemstones from their bodies. There is a small but voracious industry of gem moth hunters that seek out the insects and employ various means to capture, kill and then strip them of their valuable carapaces. Such work takes a high degree of skill, a willingness to venture far from civilization, and a great deal of patience waiting for these elusive creatures to emerge from their hiding spots. To say nothing of the requirement to hunt at night, when other predatory creatures are far more likely to also be on the hunt.

Besides hunters, there are others who make use of gem moths in their own way. Foragers crawl deep into caves in search of their gemstone cocoons, which can be subjected to an alchemical process that breaks it down into jewelsilk, highly prized and valuable fabric material. Mages value gem moths for their ability to store magic, capturing them for use as ways to extend their power further. Crafters will pay handsomely for the fresh wings of a gem moth, as they can be treated with heat and pressure to preserve them as very sturdy surfaces for use as art pieces or armor.

Cultivation of the gem moth is difficult, as their eggs are nearly impossible to find and they only mate once a decade in a ritual that they will not perform if held in captivity. This has not stopped a rare few breeders from managing to build small domestication operations that largely rely on hunters bringing in new live specimens. Using arcane marking, these moth ranchers are able to keep track of their stock after the mating night, and can observe them closely enough to cultivate their eggs. This process is highly labor-intensive, and the competition is fierce. Assassinations, theft and sabotage are common among these groups, keeping the supply of steady jewelsilk low.

Gem Moth Caterpillar

AC 7 (12), HD 1+5 (9hp), Att None,  THACO 19, MV 30 (10’), SV D12, W13, P14, B15, S16,  ML 7, AL Neutral, XP 25, NA 1, TT None

• Defense: See the Caterpillar Defenses table.

Gem Moth

AC 3 (16), HD 3+6 (18hp), Att Bite x1 (2d6),  THACO 19, MV 150 (50’), SV D10, W12, P11, B13, S8,  ML 8, AL Neutral, XP 100, NA 1, TT L

• Attack: See the Gem Moth Attack table.

• Species: See the Species table.

Caterpillar Defenses

d6	Defense
1	Acid Spray: d6 acid damage to up to 3 creatures within 10’. If not scraped off, continues to inflict d6 damage/round. One use per day.
2	Harden: Becomes immune to slashing and piercing damage and loses movement speed.
3	Explode: 2d6 damage to all creatures within 15’. One use per day.
4	Camouflage: Becomes invisible so long as it remains attached to stone.
5	Bioluminescent Flash: All creatures within 20’ must save vs. wands or become blinded for 1 minute.
6	Spines: Creatures that touch or use unarmed attacks against the caterpillar take 1d6 piercing damage.

Gem Moth Attack

d6	Attack
1	Beams: 3 attacks against targets within 50’ for 2d6+2 fire damage.
2	Gem Dust: All creatures within 20’ save vs. breath or take 2d8 damage.
3	Rend: 3d4 damage. Shatters shields.
4	Buffet: All creatures within 10’ are pushed back 10’. Save vs. breath or be knocked down.
5	Razor Wings: 2d8 damage, inflicts 1d6 damage from bleeding every round until the wound is closed.
6	Hypnotic Pattern: All creatures within 20’ save vs. spells or become hypnotized for 1 minute. Hypnotized creatures cannot attack the gem moth and stand in place, transfixed.

Species

Roll d66

1		2		3
d6	Gem Type	d6	Gem Type	d6	Gem Type
1	Alexandrite	1	Amber	1	Amethyst
2	Azurite	2	Beryl	2	Bixbite
3	Garnet	3	Iolite	3	Jade
4	Morganite	4	Obsidian	4	Opal
5	Rose Quartz	5	Ruby	5	Sapphire
6	Tanzanite	6	Topaz	6	Tourmaline

4		5		6
d6	Gem Type	d6	Gem Type	d6	Gem Type
1	Ametrine	1	Andesine	1	Aquamarine
2	Citrine	2	Diamond	2	Emerald
3	Kunzite	3	Lapis Lazuli	3	Moonstone
4	Pearl	4	Peridot	4	Petalite
5	Spectrolite	5	Spinel	5	Sunstone
6	Turquoise	6	Zircon	6	Zoisite

Other Types

Great Gem Moth: Mutations have led to some gem moth larvae consuming truly incredible amounts of raw material, growing to immense sizes as a result. Anywhere from a meter to three meters in length, these cocoons disgorge gem moths of incredible size. These massive insects behave no differently from their normal brethren, and their mutation cannot be reliably passed on. Sightings of these creatures have mobilized cities, and their appearances have coincided with wars between vain states wishing to possess their precious bodies. The remnants of their cocoons alone have upended markets and crashed local economies.

AC 2 (17), HD 5+2 (22hp), Att Slash x1 (3d6) + Special,  THACO 17, MV 150 (50’), SV D10, W11, P11, B12, S8,  ML 8, AL Neutral, XP 150, NA 1, TT L x3

• Attack: See the Gem Moth Attack table. Roll twice.

• Species: See the Species table

Prismatis Majorae: Another rare mutation, these gem moths do not produce a single kind of gemstone, but several. As a result, their bodies are a tapestry of brilliant colors woven together into a unique pattern that dazzles the eye. They are also gifted with a reservoir of magical power which they deploy with a rudimentary intellect that operates solely in self-defense. Even more prized than normal gem moths, the prismatis majorae are sought after by collectors who wish to display their preserved bodies in full, and any damage to their carapace ruins their value to these highly-discerning clients. Luckily for most gem moth hunters, that still leaves them with a pile of valuable gemstones for their less picky buyers.

AC 3 (15), HD 4+6 (20hp), Att Bite x1 (2d6) + Special,  THACO 18, MV 150 (50’), SV D10, W12, P11, B13, S7,  ML 8, AL Neutral, XP 200, NA 1, TT L x2

• Attack: See the Gem Moth Attack table.

• Species: See the Species table. Roll 5 times.

• Spells: Magic Missile (2), Shield (2), Invisibility (1), Mirror Image (1),  Lightning Bolt (1)

Bloodmoth: An uncommon subspecies, these gem moths have developed a predatory behavior and an appetite for blood. This rich diet comes with another helpful adaptation: the ability to convert blood into more gemstone, adding to their mass. With the ability to grow larger, bloodmoths can predate upon bigger creatures, fueling even more growth. This leads to large and bloated bodies, distended abdomens swollen with gemstone shot through with streaks of stored blood. As valuable as any gem moth, the stones harvested from this species hold even more value to blood mages and less scrupulous alchemists, as their blood-filled gems can be used for esoteric dark rituals and concoctions. Hunters should beware, bloodmoths are every bit as nimble and hardy as their cousins, but also have razor-sharp talons and a bladed proboscis capable of punching through armor and draining a human dry in seconds.

AC 3 (15), HD 3+6 (18hp), Att Bite x1 (2d6 + Blood drain),  THACO 14, MV 150 (50’), SV D9, W11, P11, B12, S10,  ML 9, AL Neutral, XP 150, NA 1d4+1, TT L

• Blood drain: Upon a successful attack attaches to the victim and drains their blood: 1d3 automatic damage per round.

• Detaching: If the bloodmoth or victim dies.

• Attack: See the Gem Moth Attack table.

• Species: See the Species table

Gem Moth Lord: By far the rarest gem moth variety, these creatures are not a species or a mutation. Instead, they are the result of a gem moth caterpillar that feeds on stone that resonates with magical energy. This etheric suffusion results in a very different kind of reaction inside the caterpillar, leading to their metamorphosis into a gem moth lord. Taking on a humanoid form, tall and lithe with four arms and an extra set of wings, the lord is imbued with an alien intellect to match even the smartest among the sapients. Gifted with an innate talent at magic, gem moth lords quickly become fearsome creatures that evade detection and stay far away from civilization. Gem moths are drawn to lords, who can communicate with them and relay instructions that are far more complex than insects should normally understand. Highly protective of their subjects, gem moth lords pursue a vendetta against hunters. During the mating night, the lords, who are sterile themselves, take to the sky and protect the mating moths against hunters and predators.

AC 3 (15), HD 7+6 (34hp), Att Weapon x2 + Special,  THACO 13, MV 150 (50’), SV D9, W10, P14, B13, S6,  ML 10, AL Neutral, XP 500, NA 1, TT L

• Attack: See the Gem Moth Attack table. Roll twice.

• Species: See the Species table

• Spells: 1st Level (4), 2nd Level (4), 3rd Level (4), 4th Level (3), 5th Level (2)

Rumors and Talk

1. Gem moths can be confused by surrounding them with torches.

2. Some gem moth caterpillars will eat chicken eggs.*

3. Ground up gem moth carapace is a potent narcotic.*

4. The alchemical formula that creates jewelsilk is a jealously guarded trade secret.

5. Fried gem moth caterpillars are a delicacy.*

6. You should lock your gems inside a lead-lined box, gem moths can’t smell them inside.

7. People who get hypnotized by a gem moth see them in their dreams forever.

8. A gem moth wing is the sharpest blade in existence.*

        *False

Adventures

1. A gem moth has been sighted near the small town Coswall, causing a rush of adventurers and hunters. Overnight the village becomes a boomtown as everyone tries to cash in on the craze. While the hunt is on, a masked killer moves among the newcomers, picking them off in the dead of night.

2. The remains of a gem moth are found just off a path through a secluded valley. The two families who live there have gone to war over it, hiring mercenaries to help out with promises of jewels. Meanwhile, two scions from the opposing sides plot to steal the gems and elope.

3. The wizard Velshon the Wild has stumbled upon the secret lair of a gem moth lord deep in the mountains. He hires the party to go in, slay the lord and any gem moths as they can, promising them half of the gems as their reward. When they confront the lord, calling itself Glass-Eye, it implores them to leave it in peace and kill Velshon instead, offering to help them.

4. A circle of druids has made gem moth protection their mission and their philosophy is spreading. These druids and their followers stalk and battle gem moth hunters. A coalition of merchants have put together a reward for anyone who finds and kills the druid leadership.

Encounters

1. 1d8+2 bandits are fighting 1d6+1 gnolls for the corpse of a gem moth. Allying with either side will lead to them agreeing to split the gems. Negotiating a peace will lead to each side taking a third.

2. 1 dragon (of a type appropriate to the terrain) attempting to capture a great gem moth. Due to its preoccupation, it can easily be surprised.

3. The desiccated corpses of 3 oxen and 1 human. 1 bloodmoth rests nearby, ready to attack and drain anyone passing by.

4. A rare meeting between 2 gem moths of different species. An invisible stalker waits nearby to snatch both of them for its wizard master.

5. 3d4 gem moth hunters stand entranced in a clearing, staring up at the moon. A prismatis majorae has left them hypnotized and is fleeing the scene.

6. A pair of foragers with a gem moth cocoon are hiding from 2d6+2 nearby hobgoblins who are searching for them. 

Items

1. Jewelsilk Garment: Anything made from this glittering thread, colored according to the species of gem moth cocoon it was taken from, is considered extremely beautiful and highly valued. Wearers get +2 to the reaction roll and may, once per adventure, re-roll a failed Charisma check.

2. Glitterblade: A metal slashing or piercing weapon treated with dust from a gem moth that gives the surface a jewel-encrusted appearance. Counts as a magical weapon.

3. Mothspawn Acid: Bottled and highly potent corrosive liquid derived from gem moth caterpillars. Inflicts 2d6 damage per round until scraped off, but is most effective against stone. A bottle can eat through three meters of stone with a two-meter diameter.

4. Razordust: A bag of ground up jewels and carapace harvested from a gem moth. When thrown or blown it fills a 10’ space in front of the user. Those caught in this area must save vs. breath or take 2d6 damage. It also occludes the area, providing cover (-1) to those within and on either side from missile attacks.

5. Gemfinder Rods: A pair of gem moth antennae used in conjunction work like dowsing rods, leading the holder to any gems within 200’.

6. Nightsight Lenses: Glasses with thinly-cut gems from a gem moth. When worn, they allow the user to see perfectly in darkness. Additionally, they can see any gems up to 10’ inside a stone surface.

7. Glintrope: Woven from strands of jewelsilk, this beautiful cord is completely indestructible and can bear an unknown amount of weight. No one has ever tested its true capacity. 100’.

8. Mothlight: Taken from the relatively common rose quartz gem moth, this crystal can provide warm reddish light equivalent to a torch for up to 8 hours. It must then be left in a fire for an hour to recharge. Activates when shaken. Creatures that sleep in the light of this crystal regain an extra 1hp.

9. Mesmer Disc: A piece of gem moth wing, thinly preserved gemstone with an intricate pattern left upon it. Creatures that see the disc must save vs. wands or be stunned for 1 round. After performing this save, the creature cannot be affected again until it performs a rest.

10. Rockfeast: An alchemical solution derived from the digestive juices of the gem moth caterpillar. Allows one who ingests it to eat rocks for 1 week. A pound of rock or stone acts like a ration for the user.