Brinemaw Wyrm

Stub-class article · First seen: s17 · Last seen: s18
Brinemaw Wyrm
Brinemaw · the big serpent dragon thing · the giant worm
Brinemaw Wyrm — portrait.
Character
StatusDead
First seens17
Last seens18
FactionSapphire Sea fauna, Frost-zone creatures

The Brinemaw Wyrm was the largest of the three monster types in the s17-s18 cold-water reef-line encounter. Serpentine, with fins, capable of a frost-breath cone line attack, and Large per the DM’s mid-combat size correction [5]. Hugo called it “the big serpent, dragon, thing” [14], the DM described it as “the giant worm” [15], and Mike repeatedly referred to his Phantasmal Force target as “the big, big, big, big, big, big, big man” [4]. The Wyrm was the creature Mike trapped inside a 10-foot illusory lava cube via 2nd-level Phantasmal Force [6]; failed two consecutive Intelligence saves (10 in Round 1, 12 in Round 2) and stayed trapped into the s18 resumption. Killed on s18 round-3 continuation by Steven’s nat-20 dagger crit (sulfuric-flame-flavoured Pact of the Blade, [12] - DM kill-prompt: “that is barely enough damage to finish it off how do you want to do this” (Nick, [27].

Overview

The Brinemaw Wyrm is the boss-grade aquatic predator of the cold-water frost-zone in the southern stretch of the Sapphire Sea. It is the largest of the three new creature types in the s17 reef-line encounter (alongside the Reef Stalker and the Rimeclaw Skulker). Combat is ongoing at session end - initiative ran past time mid-Round 3 [13] and will resume in s18.

The Wyrm’s appearance is serpentine and finned, dragon-coded. Hugo described his attack target as “the big serpent, dragon, thing” [14], the DM described it as “the giant worm” pulling back from Hugo’s missed swing [15], and Mike’s Maximilian’s Earthen Grasp / Phantasmal Force pick referred to it as “the big, big, big, big, big, big, big man” [4]. The DM corrected the creature’s size from Huge to Large mid-fight at [5]. The creature has fins (“you see uh its fins kind of as it uh blasts you free straight in the face”, [16].

Combat profile (per s17 round 1-2)

  • Frost-breath line (recharge) - single-line cold AoE, 32 cold full / 16 on Dex save. Round 1’s breath caught Mike, Hugo, and Caelumn; the area attack also caught a water wolf in the chaos, showing little concern for lesser allies [17], and the wounded wolf set up Hugo’s Round-2 axe-throw kill. The water-wolf hit is a noted situational incident rather than a formal creature trait - the Wyrm has not been observed to spare or target allies as a rule. The DM did not narrate the recharge result for Round 2 [18]; the Wyrm did not use the breath in Round 2 because it spent its action trying to disbelieve Phantasmal Force instead.
  • Melee attacks - not yet observed in transcript (the Wyrm was trapped in Phantasmal Force before its melee profile could be established).

Status conditions inflicted on the Wyrm

Mike’s 2nd-level Phantasmal Force (2024-edition: 2d8 psychic per turn) constructed a 10-foot illusory cube of lava around the Wyrm. The Wyrm failed two Intelligence saves (a 10 in Round 1, a 12 in Round 2; [19], L1877-1881) and remains trapped at session end. The table’s reading: the Wyrm perceives itself surrounded by lava, including drips on its head; whether it counts as “blinded” for advantage-on-attacks against it was debated mid-fight [20] and the DM ruled advantage applies either way (“can’t see attacker”). Cumulative psychic damage: at least 26 (two 2d8 ticks) plus 4 force from Mike’s Booming Blade [21].

Distinguishing from the other two creature types

The s17 encounter introduced three new creature types plus a wolf pack. They are easy to conflate; the canonical distinctions:

  • Brinemaw Wyrm (this article): Large, serpentine, fins, frost-breath cone, the Phantasmal Force target. Hugo’s “big serpent dragon thing”.
  • Reef Stalker: Large monstrosity with “really powerful claws and bite attacks” (Mike’s History 16, [22]. Identified by Mike but not specifically pinned to one beat in the transcript (the History check identified “the creature that jumped on the skiff” - the encounter opens with a creature erupting from beneath the skiff knocking PCs prone, which Mike’s History calls a Reef Stalker).
  • Rimeclaw Skulker: Smaller, in the water, pokes head above water to fire ranged icicle-spit [23]. At least two were in play.
  • Water wolves: 3-4 quadrupedal swimmers on the deck with luminous purplish-blue blood.

Status as of session 17

Alive, trapped in Phantasmal Force lava-cube illusion, frost-breath recharge state unknown, accumulated psychic + force damage roughly 30 across two end-of-turn ticks plus Booming Blade. Combat resumes in s18.

Death (session 18)

The s17 cliffhanger resumed on s18 round-3 continuation. The Wyrm - still believing in the lava-cube illusion - panicked and moved to strike at the box wall, putting itself outside the Phantasmal Force radius [24]. Mike jumped into the water, the previous turn’s Booming Blade aftershock triggered for 1d8 thunder (Wis save 5, failed; [25], and Mike cast Command (“approach”) to pull the Wyrm back inside the illusion [26]. Caelumn opened with a 1st-level Witch Bolt for 20 damage and sustained concentration [10]. Terry hit twice with the Glass Sword for 14 total - the DM noted the damage was less than expected, implying the Wyrm has resistance to non-magical or non-silvered weapons [11]. Steven’s turn ended the encounter: a nat-20 dagger crit, sulfuric flame from his Pact of the Blade, the soul-essence narration the DM had been waiting for since s17 [12]. DM kill-prompt at [27]: “that is barely enough damage to finish it off how do you want to do this.”

Cumulative damage across s17 and s18 (approximate, since not all rolls were narrated):

  • s17: at least 26 psychic from two Phantasmal Force ticks; 4 force from Mike’s Booming Blade.
  • s18: 1d8 thunder (Booming Blade aftershock); 20 lightning (Caelumn’s Witch Bolt); 14 force or slashing (Terry’s Glass Sword); Steven’s crit damage finished it.

The DM’s closing line: “as the last shapes vanish beneath the reef, the water closes over it, and the frost still clings to the side of the skiff. However, it slowly melts as nature assumes its course” (Nick, [28]. The frost environmental effect dissipated; combat ended.

See also

References

  1. ^ Session 17, line 1568-1577 — Trigger - temperature drops, frost plates on the water, reef line, water erupts.
  2. ^ Session 17, line 1616-1617 — Hugo identifies his attack target as "the big serpent, dragon, thing"; DM describes it as "the giant worm".
  3. ^ Session 17, line 1619-1638 — Frost-breath line cone - 32 cold full / 16 half on Dex save; hits one of its own water-wolf allies for full damage.
  4. ^ Session 17, line 1658 — Mike's Phantasmal Force target - "the big, big, big, big, big, big, big man".
  5. ^ Session 17, line 1693-1696 — DM corrects creature size from Huge to Large.
  6. ^ Session 17, line 1697-1711 — Mike's 2nd-level Phantasmal Force lava-cube illusion - Wyrm fails Int save (10), takes 2d8 psychic.
  7. ^ Session 17, line 1877-1881 — Round 2 - Wyrm spends action trying to disbelieve Phantasmal Force; fails Int save again (12); takes another 2d8 psychic.
  8. ^ Session 18, line 119-126 — Combat resumes from s17 cliffhanger - Wyrm panics, tries to move outside the illusory box; still believing in the illusion.
  9. ^ Session 18, line 131-137 — Mike triggers residual Booming Blade tick (1d8 thunder, Wis save 5, failed); casts Command "approach" to pull the Wyrm back into the Phantasmal Force radius.
  10. ^ Session 18, line 139-143 — Caelumn opens with 1st-level Witch Bolt for 20 damage; sustains concentration.
  11. ^ Session 18, line 149-152 — Terry hits twice with the Glass Sword for 14 total; DM notes "slight damage to it however it's not as much as you'd think" - Wyrm appears resistant to non-magical/non-silvered.
  12. ^ Session 18, line 162-176 — **KILL** - Steven nat-20 dagger crit, sulfuric flame from Pact of the Blade, soul-essence narration. DM kill-prompt at L167: "that is barely enough damage to finish it off how do you want to do this." Body sinks; "as the last shapes vanish beneath the reef, the water closes over it" (L176)..
  13. ^ Session 17, line 1987 — Inline citation.
  14. ^ Session 17, line 1616 — Inline citation.
  15. ^ Session 17, line 1617 — Inline citation.
  16. ^ Session 17, line 1619 — Inline citation.
  17. ^ Session 17, line 1638 — Inline citation.
  18. ^ Session 17, line 1903-1905 — Inline citation.
  19. ^ Session 17, line 1707-1708 — Inline citation.
  20. ^ Session 17, line 1958-1975 — Inline citation.
  21. ^ Session 17, line 1916 — Inline citation.
  22. ^ Session 17, line 1599 — Inline citation.
  23. ^ Session 17, line 1604-1610 — Inline citation.
  24. ^ Session 18, line 126 — Inline citation.
  25. ^ Session 18, line 131-134 — Inline citation.
  26. ^ Session 18, line 135-137 — Inline citation.
  27. ^ Session 18, line 167 — Inline citation.
  28. ^ Session 18, line 176 — Inline citation.
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