Monster Showcase: The Nasenna (Old Ones)

Inspired by some stories by Robert E. Howard (some Conan, some Kull) I included "The Old Ones", a race of almost humans banished beneath the earth by humanity and the gods, when I ran the Return of the Trolls campaign.  The most noteable member of the Old Ones was the sorcerer "Horrible Cyrus" whose lair the party attacked on what seems to have been countless occassions before they killed him in an anti-climactic battle.

Since the Badlands campaign is set in the same place, and the players never stopped the Old Ones' overall plan, they had to return.  So, here is the full AD&D write-up for the Old Ones (or the Nasenna as they call themselves).

Nasenna (Old Ones)

Frequency:  Uncommon

No. Appearing:  40-240

Armor Class:  5 or 4 (superior bronze breastplate, with or without shield)

Move:  9”

Hit Dice: 2

%in Lair:  40%

Treasure Type: individuals M (x4), lair: G

No. of Attacks: 1

Damage/Attack: by weapon

Special Attacks: leader types

Special Defenses: none (vulnerable to iron)

Magic Resistance: standard

Intelligence: mean: average to very

Alignment: Chaotic

Size: M

           

            They Nasenna are distant cousins of mankind who once ruled over a mighty evil empire on earth, but were driven underground by man, at the instigation of certain ancient gods.   They have recently returned to the surface to inflict their genocidal revenge on humanity.   Nasenna are manlike in shape and size, but their skin is gray, their eyes are completely black.  Nasenna are hopelessly evil, aligned with Chaos and worship the foulest of demons.

Nasenna have an aversion to iron, and each time one is hit by an iron or steel weapon, he or she suffers an additional 1 point of damage.  As as a result of this trait, the Nasenna have become expert bronze-workers.  Their bronze breastplate, greaves and helmets are the equivalent in protection and weight to iron chainmail.    They are armed with a wide variety of high-quality bronze weaponry which can often be sold, used, for twice the price of a new, standard steel weapon, due to its fine appearance and craftsmanship.  A band of Nasenna warriors will typically be armed as follows:

25%:  breastplate and shield, sword

25%:  breastplate and shield, javelins and sword

25%:  breastplate, pole-arm or poleaxe and sword

25%:  breastplate, shield, battle axe, and sword

For every 40 Nasenna there is a leader with 4HD and a sorcerer (2HD and the spells of a 3^rd level magic-user).  For every 80 Nasenna, there is a captain with 6 HD, and for every 160 Nasenna there is a High Commander with 8 HD.

For every 50 Nasenna, there is a 25% chance that there is a master sorcerer with 5HD and the spells of a 7^th level magic-user.  For every 100 Nasenna, there is a 10% chance that there is a grand sorcerer with 8HD and the spells of a 12^th level magic-user. 

For every 80 Nasenna, there is a 10% chance that there is a Shadow Slayer of 2-8 HD(with the powers of an assassin and illusionist of the corresponding levels)

            Each Nasenna leader, captain, or high commander has a 10% chance per hit die of having a magic weapon, armor, shield, and/or potion (check each one).  Each Sorcerer, Master Sorcerer, or Grand Sorcerer has a 10% chance per hit die of having a wand, ring, scroll, potion, and/or miscellaneous magic item (check each one).  A Shadow Slayer has a 10% per HD chance of having a magic weapon, ring, miscellaneous magic item, and/or potion (check each one).

TYPE/HD	XP	TYPE/HD	XP
Warrior (2HD)	20+2/hp	Leader (4HD)	60+4/hp
Captain (6HD)	150+6/hp	High Commander (8HD)	375+10/hp
Sorcerer (2HD)	65+2/hp	Master Sorcerer (5HD)	165+5/hp
Grand Sorcerer (8HD)	650+10/hp	Shadow Slayer (2 HD)	65+2/hp
Shadow Slayer (3HD)	90+3/hp	Shadow Slayer (4 HD)	125+4/hp
Shadow Slayer (5HD)	165+5/hp	Shadow Slayer (6HD)	275+6/hp
Shadow Slayer (7HD)	400+8/hp	Shadow Slayer (8HD)	650+10/hp