Karnathanus [Carnage]. Male red great wyrm, ruthless demeanor. Co 13, Ph 68, In 18 (324), Es 18 (324), Dmg +50, Def -35, also buffet, charge, dive attack, dragonawe, dragon breath, mysticism (necromancy), sorcery (geomancy, pyromancy, electromancy), swallow whole, and swoop.
Akon de-Taras eyed the scarlet mist suspiciously. Over
the course of the past five hours, the strange fog had advanced upon the
Mithas coastline, overtaking several fishing vessels and shrouding them
from view. Even now, it crept through the cluttered streets of Nethosak,
swallowing building after building. Minotaurs are known to fear very few
things, but clearly, the perplexing, red mist gave even the most stalwart
of Akon's fellow citizens of the Empire pause.
Fingering his well-worn battle axe absently, reassuringly, Akon
once again attempted to penetrate the cloudy, vermilion mass before him.
There! For the barest fraction of a moment, the young minotaur
spied a winged shape flitting about within the thick fog, as scarlet as
its surroundings. A bird? No, it was far too large to be any of the
seabirds Akon was familiar with. Perhaps it was one of the kyrie, the
hated avian enemies of the minotaurs. The very thought of a bird-man
flying above Nethosak brought a bestial growl to Akon's lips, his grip
tightening angrily upon the haft of his axe.
Then, suddenly, the world went mad.
All around Akon, scores of minotaurs halted in their steps, their
faces twisted, battle-fury gleaming in their feverish eyes. A seasoned
fisherman turned and clubbed his neighbor in the stomach with a gaff. A
youth grabbed his mother by the horns and smashed her snout into a nearby
wall. A guard grasped a female by the throat and snapped her neck, only
to be savagely cut down by his partner. An elderly matron launched
herself at a man, biting and tearing at his face, while crushing a child
under her hooves. One audacious warrior even charged Akon, hoping to
gore the young minotaur on his foot-long horns. Akon quickly sidestepped
the rampaging combatant and thrust his axe into his aggressor's back.
All around him, minotaurs raged and fought, killing and mutilating.
Chaos ruled.
And above it all, as if presiding over the havoc, the reptilian
visage of an immense red dragon cackled in sadistic glee, claws
outstretched and cradling a huge, multicolored crystal.
It was the coming of the Crimson Madness.
Approximately three years after Malystryx razed Kendermore and
incited the Dragon Purge, another huge red flew to Ansalon from across
the Corrain Ocean. This wyrm, known as Karnathanus (male red great wyrm,
ruthless demeanor), veered away from Malys's realm in the Dairly Plains
and journeyed instead toward the islands of Mithas and Kothas. His rage
scorched across the minotaur cities, their audacious inhabitants fighting
vainly for their lives. In the end, however, the dragon, called Carnage
by men, soon grew bored with the intrepid race and their unattractive
land, and so he moved to the more inviting island of Karthay. This
territory was vastly more mountainous than the minotaur isles, and
therefore more appealing to the huge wyrm. He easily slew the small red
who had already claimed residence, but to his vexation, Carnage found
Karthay to be only sparsely occupied by tribes of barbarians, who died
instantly by the dragon's flames. To this wyrm, slaves are a necessity,
even if their purpose is only that of entertainment.
Carnage brooded over the problem for several months, then flew to
Mithas for a rendezvous with the Emperor of the Minotaur Empire, Chot
Es-Kalin. He informed Chot, on no uncertain terms, that he was the true
master of the realm. As such, Karnathanus demanded tribute, in the form
of minotaur slaves. Fearful for the survival of the Empire, Chot was
only too happy to comply.
Now, the great red relaxes within his smoky mountain lair,
confident in the fact that he is the master of his world. Periodically,
he may make a blazing pass over a city or village, or devour the crew of
a passing ship, but all in all, Carnage's ‘subjects' see very little of
him. What little they do see, however, is unsettling; Carnage roots out
all rebels to his oppression, and their public executions are horrifying
to say the least. All of the minotaurs, Chot Es-Kalin included, are now
firmly convinced that the dragon is completely insane.
Indeed, he is worthy of the moniker "Garaukailes," or in the
minotaur dialect, "the Crimson Madness."
Description
The massive red Karnathanus is easily larger than most dragon lords, stretching about three hundred and thirty feet from nose to tail. His crocodilian head alone almost thirty feet in length, and his four hundred and twenty foot wingspan blots out the sun with a dark cloud of red. Carnage's vermilion scales are resistant to all of the rigors of nature and fire, as well as most weapons of the mortals. The most menacing feature of this red wyrm, however, are his coal-black eyes, devoid of any shred of mercy or compassion. One can find himself trapped within the dark pools, drowning in despair and hopelessness.
Desires
Carnage desires to become so great and so powerful that all of
the peoples of Krynn will tremble in fear at the very mention of his
name. Unlike Malys, who wishes to be worshiped by her subjects,
Karnathanus yearns to kill and bring death to all of Ansalon. Though
quite devious, this wyrm prefers the wild chaos of impulse to the
tediousness of actual planning and scheming. He has little patience for
complex strategy, relying on his primal instincts and brute strength to
triumph in battle. It is this bloodlust that drives almost all of his
thoughts.
The key focus of Carnage's plan for the domination of Ansalon is
his Dragonjewel. He believes that by feeding more souls to the crystal,
he can further increase its power, thereby increasing his own. Though he
has yet to discover the gem's true intent, Karnathanus knows that the
Dragonjewel is his instrument to defeating the Overlords. Fortunately
for the rest of Krynn, Karnathanus rarely finds the time to plan an
assault on the continent of Ansalon (probably due to his distaste for
scheming).
Aside from combat, only voracious gorging, cruel torture, and
sweltering magma baths help soothe his restless spirit, though nothing
can equal the pleasure Carnage derives from battle frenzy. This red also
enjoys invoking the dark magic of necromancy to raise skeletons from the
dead, especially those of his overworked minotaur slaves.
Fears
Karnathanus fears very little, if he fears anything at all.
Certainly, the minotaurs and mariners of the Blood Sea Isles are of
little consequence to him, and even great Malystryx would hesitate upon
beholding his terrible visage twisted in battle-rage, he believes. In
his opinion, the Dragon Overlords would be wise to avoid his territory if
they value their lives.
Of course, Carnage's lack of concern for his safety has largely
to do with his inflated ego and simple ignorance, if not blatant
insanity. It is highly probable that Malys and the other Overlords have
not engaged him in battle because they have yet to notice his presence on
his remote isle. However, even if the Great Dragons decided to launch an
attack on his domain, he would defend his realm with just as much
ferocity and with as little anxiety as if he were stomping ants who had
the nerve to bite him. His most dangerous aspect is that death holds no
fear to him; maniacal Karnathanus considers himself invulnerable.
Lair
Darkspire, the largest (but not quite tallest) mountain in the Worldscap Mountain range, is the site of Carnage's lair. The peak is so named for the charred black stone that characterizes the dormant volcano (though, rather recently, Carnage has been able to well up rivers of lava from the mountain's base). Even before reaching the mountain, explorers meet resistance in the form of carnivorous apes. Karnathanus recruited several war bands of the voracious brutes, which ceaselessly patrol the perimeter of his mountain, attacking (and usually devouring) any intruders. As if to add insult to injury, many of the apes carry finely crafted weapons, given to them by their lord. A single war band usually consists of four to six individuals.
The western face of this mountain resembles the visage of a macabre skull, with a rounded summit and three large vents arranged in a rough downward-pointing triangle. Only flying creatures or those with incredible climbing ability may reach the crevices. Even so, the openings are guarded by three inconspicuous yet deadly sentinels: gargoyles. If any one of the creatures is disturbed, the other two quickly fly to its aid.
The three tunnels eventually meet at a central chamber, which
Carnage hollowed through the use of his extensive magical powers. In
this chamber, the red keeps most of his treasure horde, consisting of
gold, steel, and platinum coins, precious stones, and various magical
weapons and items. Karnathanus delights in burying himself in his mounds
of riches and sleeping for days. Amid the heaps of wealth, huge piles of
bleached bones and skulls serve as grotesque trophies and add a sinister
element to this palatial hall.
The cavern also happens to be the main shaft of the dormant
volcano. Thousands of feet above the treasure-laden floor, the crater of
the mountain yawns, like a window to the sky. Karnathanus usually enters
and exits through this passage.
Twenty-odd passageways, large enough to grant access to the
enormous dragon, detach from the far wall of this chamber and meander
into confusing labyrinth. Some lead to magma pools of varying size in
the depths of the mountain, whereas others to quarries where slaves are
busily mining for ore and excavating new tunnels. At least one reveals
Carnage's true treasure, his precious Dragonjewel. At each junction in
the maze, as well as all entrances within the lair, are at least two
undead minotaur sentries who guard the corridors against slave escapes
and unwanted visitors.
Features of the Realm
As it is, Karthay is perhaps one of the more desolate places upon
Krynn. The Wordscap Mountains harbor nearly the same amount of volcanoes
as the Khalkists, though most of them are long extinct. The
rain-forested mountain range covers the entire northern half of the
island, while the other half is mostly rocky hills, rolling steppes, or
barren scrub land. Karthay Bay is deep enough in the south to serve as
home to many creatures, some as dangerous as kraken, but the floor
quickly rises as the bay reaches the mountains to the north.
Along the southern coast of Karthay rest several ancient ruins
that date back to before the first Cataclysm. These crumbling sites are
actually the remains of Istar's northernmost settlements, when the bygone
empire and the kingdom of Karthay were embroiled in an trading war.
Since few explorers have dared chart the cursed island, most of the
treasures from that antiquated era are still present, magical or
otherwise. Carnage himself occasionally sends slaves to rummage amid the
ruins, in hopes of adding to his already vast treasure horde. As of yet,
Carnage's servants have only explored about forty percent of the decaying
areas.
Through the chaotic powers of his Dragonjewel, Carnage seems to
have been able to replicate the abilities of the Overlords' skull totems
(albeit to a much lesser extent). He has made lava flow from Darkspire
Mountain once again, forming a ‘moat' around the ridge. Karnathanus has
tried to increase the area of the effect, but has met with failure every
time (he believes that the Dragonjewel requires more souls to gain more
power).
Though technically Karnathanus doesn't own Mithas or Kothas, he
is a powerful influence upon the leaders of the minotaur isles. Chot
knows that keeping Carnage satisfied is in the Empire's best interests,
and will do all that is necessary to fulfill the great wyrm's demands.
Feeding Priorities
The diet of this ravenous wyrm consists primarily of raw meat. Karnathanus will eat anything, though he usually disdains from carrion. Mountain goats, grazing cattle, and even the occasional wayward ship crew, dwarf kraken, or minotaur slave are what Carnage feeds on most. The small populations of rocs and giant eagles in the eastern Worldscap Mountains also provide him with the rare delicacy of poultry. Nonetheless, just about anything he comes upon outside his lair that moves will suffice as food (this includes dragons and foolhardy dragonslayers).
Minions
Such as it is, very few reds would dare serve under a wyrm as
maniacal (and cannibalistic) as Karnathanus. Furthermore, all intruders
are received with savage attacks, no matter what their motives.
Every so often, Carnage ferries to Karthay a couple dozen
minotaur slaves from Mithas as tribute for not burning the populous
nation to its foundations. The great dragon drives these laborers until
they drop or until he becomes hungry (many of the workers imagine suicide
a much better fate). He usually uses what is left of the bodies to
enlarge his undead army, already several hundred strong. The slaves are
contained in separate chambers to avoid unpleasant revolts. The slaves
are fed well, though they don't know that their food is comprised of the
bodies of their fellows.
One minotaur slave, Akon de-Taras (minotaur adult male,
aggressive demeanor, Adventurer), proved to be far more sadistic than
Carnage had expected from the race. The red now uses him as his
lieutenant, though he is ever vigilant to remind Akon of what little
stands between the minotaur and his lord's lunch should he ever displease
the dragon. As proof of this, the warrior's left arm, bitten off by his
hungry master, was magically replaced with a huge, double-bladed axe. In
some ways, the minotaur is even more powerful than before. He also
serves as Carnage's official emissary (and assassin) to the Minotaur
Empire. As per his higher status, Akon has his own quarters within
Darkspire.
Somehow, Carnage has been able to communicate with the numerous clans of carnivorous apes that dwell upon the isle of Karthay. In doing so, he grasped the opportunity to forge an alliance between himself and the ravenous beasts. In return for allowing them to live and providing them with weapons, the ape clans ferociously guard the outskirts of his lair. Leading the clans is a huge male known as Lord Silverback, whose intelligence was enhanced by the turbulant magics of the Dragonjewel.
History of the Dragonjewel
Most do not realize that Karnathanus was quite sane (for
a red dragon) before he ventured to Ansalon. As he flew across the
Northern Corrain Ocean, he happened to spot a gleaming object in the sea.
The object turned out to be an immense, polychromatic gem which seemed
to change shape even as he watched. The crystal was held by a small
islet, which also altered in sync with the gem, changing from liquid
magma to a forested island, from a sandy beach to a frigid iceberg.
The gem was, in actuality, a shard of the Graygem of Gargath,
which was destroyed when Palin and Usha Majere banished Chaos from Krynn.
Many pieces of the magical stone were swept up into the sky to become
stars, but some fell back to the world of Krynn to menace its peoples
once more. The Dragonjewel was one such shard.
This particular crystal has the unique ability to instill madness
and bloodlust in those around it. Though the effect is temporary, its
victims remain thus as long as they remain in its corrupting presence.
Another strange power of the Dragonjewel is its mysterious ‘Chaos
Plague.' Very little is known about the nature of the Plague, only that
its random effects are much more hazardous than the madness.
Carnage quickly learned of the jewel's powers during the Dragon
Purge. Once he had defeated an enemy, he could siphon the unfortunate
wyrm's life force into the gem, thereby increasing the Dragonjewel's
power. when he finally settled on Karthay, he delighted in watching the
minotaurs butcher one another while under the effects of the gem.
Sometimes, the slain humanoids would rise again as zombies to continue
the fight. Many minotaurs call this malady, ‘the Crimson Madness' after
Carnage himself.
The so-called ‘Chaos Plague' also provided an unexpected
diversion for Carnage. Even from far away Karthay, its effects are felt
on Mithas, northern Kothas, and the nearby pirate kingdom of Saifhum.
The chaotic backlash from the gem has increased the number of birth
abnormalities, crippling and fatal diseases, and, perhaps the worst of
all, above-average undead activity in the islands. Whole villages and
towns have been wiped out by the undead from their contiguous graveyards.
Needless to say, these gruesome occurrences have only served to heighten
Karnathanus's perverse enjoyment.
SAGA Rules for the Dragonjewel
While within 500 yards of the Dragonjewel, each hero and
character must make a average Spirit action to counteract the gem's
madness effect. If successful, the hero or character must make another
such action for every hour her or she remains within the Dragonjewel's
range. If he/she fails, the hero or character loses all control over
his/her thoughts and actions, consequently attacking allies, performing
heinous acts (perhaps attempting to break an item the party has fought
long and hard for), and generally acting like a demon from the Abyss.
This effects remains for about two hours after the hero or character has
left the gem's range. If a the action results in a mishap, the hero or
character acts as described above, only for a day after the party has
left the Dragonjewel's sphere of influence (restraints may be in order).
Actually touching the Dragonjewel should be a vindicating affair.
The tumultuous chaos magic residing in the gem is very capable killing
even the most stout hero. Physically handling the Dragonjewel (striking
it with a weapon does not count) calls for a daunting Spirit action. If
the hero or character is successful, he/she receives 4 points of damage
and instantly releases the gem. Failure causes the hero or character to
suffer 8 damage points and slip into a semi-catatonic state for two days,
during which he/she receives fiery visions of death and destruction, of
what would have happened if the All-Father won the Chaos War. If a
mishap occurs, the hero or character becomes possessed by the
Dragonjewel's magic, turning upon his/her companions in a frenzy. He/she
remains this way until the madness is dispelled by a powerful healing or
mentalism spell (at least 12 points, before adjustments for range and
invocation time, and must overcome an opposition score equal to the
victim's Presence score). If the spell utilizes both the healing and
mentalism spheres, then the opposition score is halved (rounding up).
Even after mystic healing, the hero or character finds his/her Nature
score increased by one point as permanent evidence of the Dragonjewel's
devastating powers.
Though Carnage isn't aware of this fact, the Dragonjewel has been
gradually wearing away his sanity from the moment he picked it from he
ocean. He is as much its slave as the minotaurs are his. As each day
passes, he grows more and more animalistic, his rage cultivating into an
almost elemental extreme. Though dragon firmly believes that the
Dragonjewel is his key to triumph, it just may be the major factor in his
downfall. So much of Karnathanus's life force has been consumed by the
crystal that, if it were to be destroyed, his power would be
significantly diminished, perhaps to the point of death.
If the heroes decide to destroy the Dragonjewel (they can't do
anything else with it, really), several things should be noted. First,
the crystal cannot be harmed by normal weapons, no matter how sharp. The
gem can withstand 30 damage points dealt to it by magical weapons or
spells (except when using spells, the artifact has a defense rating of -8
and an opposition score of 5). Attack actions made using magical weapons
are at least challenging and face an opposition score of 10. Divination
spells cast upon the Dragonjewel fill the caster's mind with visions like
those described above, rendering him/her helpless for a number of minutes
equal to his/her Reason score taken from 11 (11 - Re = Minutes). The
problem is that since the gem has consumed much of Carnage's soul, any
attack or spell cast upon it immediately alerts him to the heroes
presence (it may seem that the Dragonjewel is indeed a sentient artifact,
calling to its 'master' for help). It is up to the Narrator to decide
how much time the heroes have to destroy the Dragonjewel before
Karnathanus returns, though I think that 10 to 30 minutes is about enough
time, if the heroes hurry. If the dragon is already in his lair when the
heroes come upon the gem, it is highly unlikely that they would survive
any attempt to destroy the crystal.
