Author: Inti Navia

“Stone World: an island as deadly as it is mysterious. Sitting off the coast of Sehrabadd, it holds the title of none having set foot on its shores to tell the tale. However, one part of the island set its foot on the mainland. Yesterday turned out to be a nightmare for the residents of Kerakith, as a renegade school of laserfish from the island wreaked havoc on the city’s waterways. One citizen claimed: ‘All I saw was a flash of bright light, then I smelled my own charred skin.’” Thumbleberry Thunkin, reporter.

When thinking of monsters that would fit on a prehistoric island, dinosaurs and giant versions of existing beasts were the easy picks. But what really stuck with us was something much less serious, at least initially. What screams classic RPG more than a giant catfish shooting lasers and hoisting itself out of the water to attack players? And thus, the laserfish was born.

When designing a monster that was originally a silly idea, it can be easy to focus too much on the “comedy” of the creature without putting enough thought into making sure it’s still engaging when it comes to actually playing the game. While the laserfish is definitely a little foolish, it’s no joke in combat, especially with numbers.

Rather than the lasers being just a gimmick, the entire stat block revolves around them. While the damage and ability to hit characters at range is certainly nice, the biggest positive of Eye Laser is its second effect: causing targets to burn. 

Beyond the little bit of damage that burning can cause, the flames are merely fuel for the Bonus Action Scarf Down the Scorched, which gives the fish not only a way to better incorporate its Bite, but also allows for a quick burst of movement. The laserfish can jump up to 50 feet toward a burning creature and make a bite attack, dragging anything that it hits as the beast continues moving. An unlucky character could find themselves pushed into laserfish-infested waters if things don’t go their way.

The laserfish isn’t a complicated monster, nor is it exceptionally threatening with just a description, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be challenging in the right scenario. Hopefully, you enjoy the laserfish and use it as proof that even silly monsters can be deadly if you want them to be. All it takes is a little outside-the-box thinking.

By Ivo Hoying

Epigraph by Inti Navia

Need An Adventure?

Using the magical art from Aaron Miller, Goodberry Press is proud to present One-Page Wonders. If you need a quick encounter to play with your friends, using the terrifying creatures from the depths of Goodberry Press, you’ve come to the right place. So unfurl your scrolls, blow the dust from your tomes, and clatter your swords on the floor, because you’re about to face Voro, THE CAT OF CHAOS! 

This short encounter is intended for characters of 14th level, and takes place within the depths of The Golden City of Sehrann. High Magistrate Delinos was last seen screaming and running out of her tower in the center of the vast city. In an interview with The Goodberry Gazette, her secretary stated that she refuses to leave her home in the countryside, saying something evil lurks within her tower. The city needs the leadership of Delinos, and her secretary is offering a 500 gp reward to any adventurer who enters the tower and deals with whatever threat lurks inside. 

A strange magic has hatched inside Delinos’s once-timid cat Voro, warping and twisting him into a creature of chaos. He rules her study room at the top of the 200-foot tower with an iron fist, and will attack any creature that enters the circular 60-foot-wide space. The ceiling reaches 20 feet high, lit by natural lighting from the wide windows. 

Bookshelves cover every inch of the sandstone walls. Arching windows occupy three sides of the room, overlooking the sprawling desert city below. A rich wooden desk sits on the far end of the room, piled with papers and letters. Books, papers, chairs, and other items have been strewn across the space. Claw marks streak the carpet and tapestries. A feline growl emanates from behind the maze of shelves, and groping, fleshy tentacles feel their way around a pile of books. Voro the cat has found you! 

Voro, Cat of Chaos will not hesitate to kill anything that enters his domain. After defeating him, a green, primordial energy will sap out of the cat, removing its twisted features and returning it to its normal feline state. A low laughter will thunder in the sky, before disappearing. Delinos will pay you your reward, and the city will resume its normal state of governance. After that day, however, a sense of unease will hang over Sehrann. What was behind the energy, and will it return?