Episode 18: Alien

Miria and Edryk face a terrifying trap and life-altering choices push on to the deepest chambers of the Fane of the All-Knowing.

In this episode Miria and Edryk narrowly escape a trap that borrows its inspiration from the AD&D2e spell Maximillian’s Stony Grasp, and the D&D3e spell Stone Fist that evolved from it. I discuss spells – and getting them wrong in the episode.

Warning: Spoilers ahead

Miria and Edryk encounter the being known as the All-Knowing, which is an extradimensional intelligence.

The voice of the All-knowing is provided by Jon Cohen of Tale of the Manticore, one of the first Solo Semi-Actual-Play podcasts, and one of the biggest inspirations for Swords Against Madness. You can hear Tale of the Manticore wherever you get your pdcasts, and check out his official website here. And hear the trailer for Tale of the Manticore here:

The All-Knowing

• Hit Dice: 10
• Armor Class: 3
• Attack: Chaos Beam (1d10)
• Saving Throw: 5
• Special: Correspond, Time Warp, Reality Vulnerability
• Move: Fly 24
• Alignment: Chaotic
• Morale: 11
• Int: 20
• No. Appearing: 1
• Challenge Level / XP: 13 / 3,900

The All-Knowing is a projection of an intelligence from a higher quantum state that has spent aeons trying to understand three-dimensional beings that can move only one way through time. It has spent centuries the prisoner of the Trassi.

Correspond: The All-Knowing can possess a living being that is capable of casting Magic-User Spells, An unwilling being may make two saving throws, if they succeed one, they take 2d10 damage but repel the All-knowing (the head explodes if this damage kills them.) If they succeed both they repel the All-Knowing and take no damage.

A being that is possessed by the All-knowing may communicate with it telepathically. If it tries to direct their actions, they may make a save to resist. While possessed by the All-knowing they may use its Chaos Ray attack, regenerate 1 hp per round, and are immune to and cured of all diseases and poison, thanks to the All-Knowing’s ability to manipulate their body. Neither they nor the All-Knowing may use its Time Warp abilities during this time.

If the All-Knowing’s vessel is killed it is immediately forced to take its physical form and takes