Swollen plague zombie (Session 21)

Stub-class article · First seen: s21 · Last seen: s21
Swollen plague zombie (Session 21)
Portrait of Swollen plague zombie (Session 21).
Character
StatusDead
First seens21
Last seens21

The swollen plague zombie was one of the six undead sentries at the entrance of the ridge temple north of Greysmere in session 21, “a swollen body exhaling a yellow-green haze” [1]. Its poison cloud poisoned Father Thomas and Terry, and the DM ruled the poison “a plague” rather than a toxin; it lingered until session 22, when a second anti-toxin cleared it [35][27][41]. Hugo killed the zombie with a critical opportunity attack as it shambled towards Caelumn [37].

Overview

The swollen plague zombie stood among the six undead sentries at the entrance of the ridge temple, beside two corpses hauling ropes around a cracked statue [1]. The DM never named its type; “swollen plague zombie” is the wiki’s descriptive title, from the DM’s “swollen body” [1] and the “undead plague” it left behind [9]. At the table it was “the big guy” [13][14].

Appearance and demeanour

A bloated, giant body that exhaled a yellow-green haze [1]. When Hugo’s longsword opened its belly, “intestines and all kinds of filth” spilled out [15]. Terry called it “the king” and Hugo “the one with the crown on it” [16][17], but the DM’s only crown line is aimed at the burial-robed undead [18]. Which of the two wore the crown is unsettled, so the wiki gives it to neither (DM clarifications, 2026-09-27).

Abilities as played

  • Haze: a ten-foot radius of green and yellow gas that called for a Constitution save from anyone who walked through it [19][20][21].
  • Poison cloud: it “exhales a giant smoke cloud of poison” over three of the party. A failed Constitution save meant 18 poison damage and the poisoned condition, disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks; a success meant half damage [13][22][23][24].
  • Slams: two slams at Father Thomas in one turn, the second stopped by his Shield spell [25].
  • Toughness: two Magic Missile darts each forced a Constitution save, and it made both [26].
  • The plague: its poison did not end with its death. The DM ruled that it was “not a toxin per se. One might say it’s a plague”, that drinking an anti-toxin gave “a free re-roll with advantage” [27][28], and later that it allowed no healing [29].

Relationships

Disposition towards the party

Hostile: it moved up, breathed its cloud over three of the party and slammed at the nearest, then shambled towards Caelumn [13][33][34].

Notable quotes

“It’s not a toxin per se. One might say it’s a plague.” — Nick (DM), on the swollen zombie’s poison, [27]

History in the campaign

Session 21: The Hand That Points North

Main article: Session 21

At the temple entrance the swollen body breathed a poison cloud over Terry, Father Thomas and Hugo; Father Thomas failed his save and took 18 poison damage and the poisoned condition, and a save the DM had forgotten left Terry poisoned too [35][4]. Caelumn made it his main target with Fire Bolt and Magic Missile, but it stayed up through two Constitution saves [36][26]. In the third round it shambled towards Caelumn, and Hugo’s critical opportunity attack took off its head [37]. The poison outlived it: Father Thomas was still poisoned at the session’s pause [38][10].

Session 22: The Dragon in the Statue

Main article: Session 22

The plague carried over. The DM treated Terry as still poisoned [39][40], and when he tried to Second Wind he felt “necrotic poison spreading from your veins” and gained no healing: “not from this poison no” [29]. After the fight Hugo offered another anti-toxin, which the DM allowed to “redo the check”; Terry rolled 22 and the necrotic energies left his body, and Father Thomas then cleared it with another 22 [12].

Status

As of session 23. Dead, killed by Hugo in session 21 [17]. The plague it left was cleared in session 22, when a second anti-toxin let Terry and Father Thomas each re-save on a 22 [41].

See also

References

  1. ^ Session 21, line 797: Introduced among the temple sentries: "a swollen body exhaling a yellow-green haze".
  2. ^ Session 21, line 850-880: Caelumn walks through "the green and yellow gas cloud"; the haze is "a 10 feet radius".
  3. ^ Session 21, line 967-999: It "exhales a giant smoke cloud of poison"; 18 poison damage and the poison condition on a failed Constitution save.
  4. ^ Session 21, line 1030: A save the DM had forgotten: "Terry, you are poisoned.".
  5. ^ Session 21, line 1096-1106: Two slams at Father Thomas, one stopped by Shield; Hugo opens its belly.
  6. ^ Session 21, line 1142-1148: Two Magic Missile darts, a Constitution save after each, both made.
  7. ^ Session 21, line 1210-1214: Hugo's natural-20 opportunity attack cuts its head off as it runs towards Caelumn.
  8. ^ Session 21, line 1942-1944: The ruling: "it's not a toxin per se. One might say it's a plague."; anti-toxin gives "a free re-roll with advantage".
  9. ^ Session 21, line 1976: Terry, after the anti-toxin: "you managed to clear the undead plague from your system".
  10. ^ Session 21, line 2031: Father Thomas is still poisoned at the pause.
  11. ^ Session 22, line 1229-1232: Terry's Second Wind gives no healing: "not from this poison no".
  12. ^ Session 22, line 1711-1743: Another anti-toxin allows a re-save; Terry and Father Thomas each roll 22 and clear the plague.
  13. ^ Session 21, line 967: Inline citation.
  14. ^ Session 21, line 1028: Inline citation.
  15. ^ Session 21, line 1106: Inline citation.
  16. ^ Session 21, line 1027: Inline citation.
  17. ^ Session 21, line 1213: Inline citation.
  18. ^ Session 21, line 1235: Inline citation.
  19. ^ Session 21, line 850: Inline citation.
  20. ^ Session 21, line 869: Inline citation.
  21. ^ Session 21, line 880: Inline citation.
  22. ^ Session 21, line 979: Inline citation.
  23. ^ Session 21, line 991: Inline citation.
  24. ^ Session 21, line 999: Inline citation.
  25. ^ Session 21, line 1096-1100: Inline citation.
  26. ^ Session 21, line 1142: Inline citation.
  27. ^ Session 21, line 1942: Inline citation.
  28. ^ Session 21, line 1944: Inline citation.
  29. ^ Session 22, line 1230-1232: Inline citation.
  30. ^ Session 21, line 1286: Inline citation.
  31. ^ Session 21, line 1303: Inline citation.
  32. ^ Session 21, line 1972-1976: Inline citation.
  33. ^ Session 21, line 1096: Inline citation.
  34. ^ Session 21, line 1210: Inline citation.
  35. ^ Session 21, line 967-991: Inline citation.
  36. ^ Session 21, line 1028-1038: Inline citation.
  37. ^ Session 21, line 1210-1213: Inline citation.
  38. ^ Session 21, line 1404: Inline citation.
  39. ^ Session 22, line 145: Inline citation.
  40. ^ Session 22, line 1141: Inline citation.
  41. ^ Session 22, line 1730-1743: Inline citation.
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