Café de Nuit

Teravala wrote: Fri Jan 16, 2026 8:38 pm The Gaz II says that there is a lake in Kartakass that supposedly has a scaled creature in it. "S" speaks to a fisherman who claims to have travelled up the Nharov river to see the lake, and that if his tale is true, the lake houses a scaly creature that attempted to slaughter his whole crew. Is there a definitive creature there, or is this just an adventure seed? If there isn't a particular creature the devs had in mind when writing this, what kind of scaly beast would you fine folks toss in that lake?

brothersale wrote: Sat Jan 17, 2026 6:34 pm i believe its an adventure seed, probably indicating a reaver and a nod to the creature of the black lagoon

TheArcaneWeirdo wrote: Sat Jan 17, 2026 5:22 pmYou said 'rumours of monster in the lake', I heard Loch Ness. (Sorry.)
Urban fantasy usually interprets the Loch Ness monster as a giant kelpie, I think.
The 5e SRD has a kelpie, but it's medium and CR 2.
Now how do we make a gigantic version of it?

Mephisto of the FoS wrote: Sun Jan 18, 2026 1:47 pm

TheArcaneWeirdo wrote: Sat Jan 17, 2026 5:22 pmYou said 'rumours of monster in the lake', I heard Loch Ness. (Sorry.)
Urban fantasy usually interprets the Loch Ness monster as a giant kelpie, I think.
The 5e SRD has a kelpie, but it's medium and CR 2.
Now how do we make a gigantic version of it?

There is already a Loch Ness monster in Ravenloft, Aggie (Forlorn). No it is not a kelpie.

Teravala wrote: Sun Jan 18, 2026 6:00 pm

Mephisto of the FoS wrote: Sun Jan 18, 2026 1:47 pm

TheArcaneWeirdo wrote: Sat Jan 17, 2026 5:22 pmYou said 'rumours of monster in the lake', I heard Loch Ness. (Sorry.)
Urban fantasy usually interprets the Loch Ness monster as a giant kelpie, I think.
The 5e SRD has a kelpie, but it's medium and CR 2.
Now how do we make a gigantic version of it?

There is already a Loch Ness monster in Ravenloft, Aggie (Forlorn). No it is not a kelpie.

Do you think it is a Reaver then? Or do you know what it is supposed to be?

Baron Von Stanton wrote: Sun Jan 18, 2026 6:10 pm

Teravala wrote: Sun Jan 18, 2026 6:00 pm

Mephisto of the FoS wrote: Sun Jan 18, 2026 1:47 pm
There is already a Loch Ness monster in Ravenloft, Aggie (Forlorn). No it is not a kelpie.

Do you think it is a Reaver then? Or do you know what it is supposed to be?

The cover art depicts her as an undead plesiosaur, as per 20th Century style "swan-necked dragon" restorations

alhoon wrote: Sun Jan 18, 2026 8:04 pm Well, I would guess there are more than one creatures in lakes... What I mean is that by no means limit yourself to one biggie per lake; a large lake (large is subjective - believability is key here, not exactly realism) could have more than one monsters that avoid each other and stay at their corners.
Remember: Ravenloft is an artificial world, so it should feel artificial at some point. The "something's wrong..." thing that one can't place his finger on. The "How this lake supports two CR7 monsters?" is a good take. As is "We killed the monster now we can safely fish in the la... oh, crap!"

alhoon wrote: Sun Jan 18, 2026 8:04 pm Well, I would guess there are more than one creatures in lakes... What I mean is that by no means limit yourself to one biggie per lake; a large lake (large is subjective - believability is key here, not exactly realism) could have more than one monsters that avoid each other and stay at their corners.
Remember: Ravenloft is an artificial world, so it should feel artificial at some point. The "something's wrong..." thing that one can't place his finger on. The "How this lake supports two CR7 monsters?" is a good take. As is "We killed the monster now we can safely fish in the la... oh, crap!"

Teravala wrote: Mon Jan 19, 2026 4:10 pm

alhoon wrote: Sun Jan 18, 2026 8:04 pm Well, I would guess there are more than one creatures in lakes... What I mean is that by no means limit yourself to one biggie per lake; a large lake (large is subjective - believability is key here, not exactly realism) could have more than one monsters that avoid each other and stay at their corners.
Remember: Ravenloft is an artificial world, so it should feel artificial at some point. The "something's wrong..." thing that one can't place his finger on. The "How this lake supports two CR7 monsters?" is a good take. As is "We killed the monster now we can safely fish in the la... oh, crap!"

You're absolutely right, I was more just curious if the developers had any particular creature in mind when they wrote this, and if anyone knew what it might be.

Mephisto of the FoS wrote: Tue Jan 20, 2026 3:30 am

Teravala wrote: Mon Jan 19, 2026 4:10 pm

alhoon wrote: Sun Jan 18, 2026 8:04 pm Well, I would guess there are more than one creatures in lakes... What I mean is that by no means limit yourself to one biggie per lake; a large lake (large is subjective - believability is key here, not exactly realism) could have more than one monsters that avoid each other and stay at their corners.
Remember: Ravenloft is an artificial world, so it should feel artificial at some point. The "something's wrong..." thing that one can't place his finger on. The "How this lake supports two CR7 monsters?" is a good take. As is "We killed the monster now we can safely fish in the la... oh, crap!"

You're absolutely right, I was more just curious if the developers had any particular creature in mind when they wrote this, and if anyone knew what it might be.

A reaver sounds reasonable (as it hasn't to be a large scaly monster) and appropriate for lower level adventures.

"From time to time, a reaver would be exiled from its group, usually due to failing some important task. These outcasts would leave the ocean behind and find a freshwater river or lake to take up a solitary existence preying on settlements otherwise far removed from the usual reaver habitats."

TheArcaneWeirdo wrote: Tue Jan 20, 2026 12:31 pm

Mephisto of the FoS wrote: Tue Jan 20, 2026 3:30 am "From time to time, a reaver would be exiled from its group, usually due to failing some important task. These outcasts would leave the ocean behind and find a freshwater river or lake to take up a solitary existence preying on settlements otherwise far removed from the usual reaver habitats."

Interesting!
Now I'm trying to think what sort of task it failed. Given Kartakass' theme, I'd like it to be music-related - maybe an important show that was ruined because of a mistake it made (forgetting to bring equipment, blacking out in front of the crowd...) - but how musical are reavers usually?