Claesen Dunning, The Human Pudding
by Scott Stoecker- Index - Domains of Dread - Contribute -
| Hit Dice | 7d6+21 (31 hp) |
| Initiative | -2 (Dex), [+2 (Dex)] |
| Speed | 15 ft |
| AC | 13 (-2 Dex, +5 natural) [ 17 (+2 Dex, +5 natural)] |
| Attacks | Pussing attack +1; Melee +7; |
| Damage | Pudding 3d4; or By weapon +3; |
| Special Attacks | Pudding |
| Special Qualities | Cold Resistance 15, Lightning Resistance 15; |
| Saves | Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +5 |
| Abilities | Str 16, Dex 7 [15], Con 17, Int 3[14], Wis 5[12], Cha 5[9] |
| Skills | No info available |
| Feats | Alertness, Combat Casting, Dodge, Mobility |
2nd edition stats :
Claesen Dunning (hm bard): AC 7; MV 6; HD 7; hp 31; Str 16, Dex 7[15], Con 17, Int 3[14], Wis 5[12], Cha 5[9]; # AT 2; Dmg 3d4 or by weapon; AL N [NG]; SA Pudding, SD Resistance; THAC0 18 [16], Morale 12;
Bard skills : Claesen has lost access to his skills and spells.
Claesen’s skin is a mottled gray, which, if watched closely, seems to swirl ever so slightly. He dark gray eyes are distant, and do not focus on anything in particular. He is generally unkempt - his hair is often mussed, and his clothes are dirty and in disrepair. Occasionally, the carnival owners will throw him a new set of clothing, hoping he is aware enough to put them on - they will not go near him, as they have seen what happens to those who get too close. His skin has a slightly rubbery feel.
Claesen’s past is very different from his present. He was a bard, traveling the different towns to play his music, making a few coins whenever he could, and occasionally joining an adventuring band for a change of pace. It was just such an event that led him to his current situation.
Rumors of an ancient treasure lured the group to a series of caves high in the Balinoks. The caves were cold and damp, a thick mist hanging in the air from the warmer pools of water that were fed by underground springs. Vision became difficult, and the sounds of their footsteps echoing from the cave walls made navigation by sound unreliable. While not paying close enough attention to his surrounding, and relying on the confusing echoes of the caves, Claesen became separated from his comrades.
When the bard realized his predicament, he found himself is a small, round cave. The cave was dimly illuminated by a green fungus as the bottom of a pool of brown water. As Claesen leaned forward to look into the pool, a black pudding shot one of it’s buds forward, striking Claesen in the face. Though he struggled, the bard could not free himself from the pudding grasp, and he succumbed to the creature.
Through some mutation that the magical pool had made to the pudding, the creature did not kill it’s victim. Instead, it entered Claesen and, to some extent, began controlling him. His memory of his flight from the cave is patchy, a collection of images with no real connection, as is his every day existence. He does not know what fate befell his companions.
While wandering, Claesen encountered a carnival caravan. He did not look well, and he was approached by a pair of men from the carnival - one of the stage hands, and the carnival owner. The stage hand went to help Claesen, and the pudding shot forth from Claesen’s mouth, killing the stage hand. The carnival owner, seeing this find as a new act, had his other hands carefully subdue Claesen. He still remains with the carnival. For his act, the owner will have a member of the audience approach Cleasen, a piece of glass between the two. The pudding will shoot forward, but be unable to eat through the glass.
Claesen Dunning no longer has full control of his senses. He has moments of lucidity where he recalls who he is, and what had happened to him, but these are rare. For the most part, he stands still or ambles slowly about. The exact effect of the pudding on his system is unknown, but Claesen still eats and drinks, though he requires food only every other day.
If Claesen is thinking clearly, he can tell the tale of his situation. In the times when he is aware of his predicament, he desperately wants to be released from his torment. He will do anything to get the pudding out of his body.
Claesen remains passive for most of the time. However, if he is approached closely, the pudding inside of him will shoot forward from his mouth, striking a target within three feet. The attack does the 3-12 points of damage. The attack comes as if it were a three hit die creature, due to the puddings small size and limited area of attack.
Claesen has also gained some resistance to damage. His skin is tougher, giving him a bonus to his armor class. Also, he has gained some of the immunity that black puddings have to cold and lightning, having a magic resistance of 45% to both.
