The Creature of Lake Morkendre

[Teravala]

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?

[TheArcaneWeirdo]

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?

You 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?

[brothersale]

i believe its an adventure seed, probably indicating a reaver and a nod to the creature of the black lagoon

[Teravala]

i believe its an adventure seed, probably indicating a reaver and a nod to the creature of the black lagoon

That would make sense. The top creature in my head was a kelpie, though I don't believe they are traditionally depicted with scales.

[Mephisto of the FoS]

You 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.

[Mistmaster]

Well there is also the Avanc in Lake Kronov (Or in Tepest, if you read my works.)

[Teravala]

You 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]

You 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?

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

[Teravala]

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

Yeah that's the one they were talking about in Forlorn. I means what is the creature in the Kartakass lake?

[alhoon]

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!"

[TheArcaneWeirdo]

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!"

Agreed.

[Teravala]

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]

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]

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."

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?

[Mephisto of the FoS]

"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?

Reavers are found in the Sea of Sorrows, for one to be found in an inland lake, it must have been exiled from its school (in the Sea of Sorrows).

Reavers tended to gather in schools like fish, of a dozen or so individuals. Territorial in the extreme, they often regarded any settlements near their lairs as intrusions upon their territory, regardless of whether or not those settlements predated the lair's establishment. Any such 'intrusions' were rewarded with night-raids on the settlement, with each of these raids marked by violent acts of terror against a specific household. They did this hoping to drive off the inhabitants from the lands that bordered on the reavers' ocean realm.