Cataclysmic Parable

* SC
* MiM

The **Cataclysmic Parable** is one of the boss of the campaign *Shattered Crowns*.

## Description

The Cataclysmic Parable is a gargantuan shark-like creature with wide jaws and has the same sharp, serrating teeth as its previous from was.

*Meaning in Madness*, EP 5*Shattered Crowns* S2, EP 8 (Artist)

## History

### *Meaning in Madness*

Everything in the dream could be corrupted, such as the The Oracle, who was dreaming at this moment. Already knowing death would face them, the TOPS party, along with the Silent Knight Nox, faced the Cataclysmic Parable. Because if they didn't, the creature would absorb The Oracle's sight. As such, Madd Morc held back the creature while the rest of the party rescued the Oracle's dream. In doing so, Madd Morc permanently scarred the creature's right eye, buying enough time for a Seven, a Linnorm, to come and hold back the creature.

### *Shattered Crowns*

The Cataclysmic Parable are summoned back into the dream realm after the party summoned the Soul of Tyre in the dream realm. He assaults the Lords of the Flowing Water, but they manage to resist his attacks. Then when reinforcement, Eustace, arrives, the creature attempted to traverse through the heavenly path in order to get to The Labyrinth, but Eustace quickly closes the path.

## Traits

* **Cunning**: This enemy uses the DM’s intelligence, and will not intentionally make mistakes.
* **Deadly**: This creature can inflict a large amount of front loaded damage, breaking the normal HP threshold set in place to prevent one shots, etc.
* **Devour**: This creature can consume a player character. Keeping it inside its stomach and potentially eating killed characters for potential powers/effects/healing.
* **Hopeless**: This is the highest form of Ruthless. This enemy will seek to set up situations to kill player characters, even as to go to great detriment to itself to kill a PC, and the deciding roll of their fate is not allowed to be modified in any way besides the base roll. (No Lucky/Inspiration/Etc.)
* **Magical Resistance**: At certain times this creature will be immune to magical effects, interference, or damage.
* **Martial Adept**: This enemy is a Martial Weapon Specialist, and can engage/be engaged in martial clashes.
* **Tier 3**: This creature has 3 initiatives.

## Abilities

The Cataclysmic Parable has three initiatives, Devour, Doom Say, and Dream Swim. Each initiative has its own abilities. After his Doom Say initiative is sealed, he rolled an additional initiative called Violet.

### Devour

* **Gnashing Teeth** - The Cataclysmic Parable attack a creature [d20+15] dealing [4d6+25] damage. A creature damaged by this attack may not move or teleport for 1 Round.
* **Raging Force** - The Cataclysmic Parable move through enemies, attacking them multiple times [d20+15], dealing [2d6+15] damage. If an attack misses, then the rest of the attacks stop. This movement does not provoke opportunity attack.
* **Shattering Tail** - Attack a creature [d20+15] dealing [3d6+25] damage. A creature struck by this must succeed DC 21 Constitution save or be stunned for 1 Round.
* **Umbral Silver** - This ability can only be activated at half health or lower. Whenever it is activated, this creature gains Haste and is able to make 2 attacks at once.
	+ Huck clashed and sealed this ability, but the Cataclysmic Parable uses Overwhelming Power to unseal it.
	+ This can be activated multiple times.
	+ Haste does not affect the clash.

### Doom Say

* **It Was Said** - A volunteering creature must make a Wisdom Saving throw. Regardless if they succeed, they gain a mark.
	+ Sealing this ability sealed this entire initiative.
* **They Heard** - The creature marked by It Was Said is suspended in stasis. It cannot take damage, take actions, or be healed. All other allies must make a DC 18 Constitution Saving throw; if they fail, they are marked.
* **But They Did Not Listen** - All creatures that were affected by They Heard and are marked have their current hit points lowered to match the lowest hit point person that is marked by They Heard.
* **Now They Suffer**

### Dream Swim

* **Malefic Sleep** - Target a creature, they must make a Wisdom Saving throw. If they fail, they go to sleep.
	+ Eustace did not fall asleep from this ability instead he enters a meditative stance. The dream state is where his potential lies. The wolves on his arms move on his accord. He enters the Waking Walker. He gains advantage and additional +7 to the clash. In addition, he gets to clash twice.
* **Murderous Dream** - An unconscious enemy is selected by the Cataclysmic Parable. After 1 Round, a copy of that creature is created. This copy uses all of that creature’s attacks, abilities, and effects. If this copy should die, the creature also dies.
* **Phantasmal Terrain** - This ability is only available at half health or lower. This creature may change the terrain of the Dream realm to suit its needs. The three terrains are the following: Ocean, Volcano, and Sky.
	+ **Volcano**: At the start of each enemy’s turn, they take a cumulative amount of fire damage. The fire damage starts at 5 and goes up by 5 every round. Flying is still affected by this.
* **Storm of Hate** - Summon a 100 feet radius around the Parable. Everyone caught in this radius must make a DC 19 Strength Saving throw or else be pulled closer to Parable by 30 feet. For each creature that is now adjacent to the Parable must make a DC 18 Constitution Saving throw or else be vulnerable to the Storm of Hate. Whenever the Parable would attack or deal damage to another creature, those vulnerable take the same damage.
	+ The Storm of Hate marks are spell-like effects and can be removed with Dispel Magic or anything that could dispel evil or curses.
	+ Removing the curse off of Guy removes the curse off of Huck.
	+ Secret Interaction: As Ikkar removes the curse, Ikkar may also attempt to drain the power of curses from the creature’s body. If they fail, terrible things will happen. If they succeed, Ikkar will be able to seal another one of Dream Swim’s abilities. The check is [d20+Caster Level+(Proficiency\*2)]. 19 was sufficient to succeed.

### Violet

* **Herald’s Surge** - Attack a creature with a beam of violet light. That creature must make a Constitution Saving throw or else take 100 damage. In addition, they have disadvantage on all death saving throws.
* **He Who Watches** - Target a creature. For the remainder of this battle, anything that creatures say, do, any abilities they use, and anything that creature references: The Herald will know and every Violet Servant will also know.
	+ Eustace is not able to do anything before this effect is removed by Seren.
	+ Sealing this ability sealed the entire initiative.
* **Overwhelming Power** - This creature heals for 500 hit points and may unseal one of its abilities. All enemies may choose to make a Saving throw of their choice. For each success, you reduce the healing of this ability by 100.

### Hidden

Abilities which names are not initially identified.

* **Minor Obliterate** - As a triggered action: If the Parable critically hits a creature, that creature may not heal for 1 Round.

### Additional Mechanics

The encounter had several additional mechanics including:

* Eustace
	+ Through the power of being a dream walker, Eustace on, Round 5, may be able to enter and assist the *Shattered Crowns* group.
* Seren
	+ Through using her psychic power, Seren clashes the Parable in a psychic clash. The Parable is stunned for 1 initiative and everyone gains inspiration. Eustace also regains his arms with the reference of Tane on them. Seren also removes the He Who Watches ability from Eustace.
* The Cataclysmic Parable is more weakened to attacks to its right eye.
	+ Called Shots to damage the eye are not possible except in a martial clash.
* Thunder/Sound Damage Taunt
	+ If enough Thunder Damage (10?) is dealt to this creature, it is taunted.
* Weakened State
	+ While the Parable is in its weakened state, it is vulnerable to all damage and has disadvantage in martial clashes.
* Initiative Sealing
	+ If enough abilities are sealed to the point that an Initiative is obsolete then that Initiative is sealed. In addition, each Initiative sealed will deal 1000 damage.

### Refraction Assistance

The *Shattered Crowns* group have refractions that they can call upon to assist them; granting boons, bonuses, and help depending on the refraction called.

#### MoonMoon

* Azolon Cal'telonis
	+ Dispel all enemy effects on the battlefield and everyone is healed for 70 hit points.
	+ In addition, the Parable goes into its weakened state.
* Dick Kickem
	+ Scrumpo is granted three attacks at advantage.
* Broderick
	+ Heals an ally with Paladin's feature of Lay on Hands. (Big Pipe) The paladin is counted as a level 8 (40 Hit Points).
	+ Scrumpo were given a smite in his next attack, which deals an extra 30 Radiant damage.

#### Ster

* Alexander Glenn
	+ Everyone is granted +30 Temporary Hit Points.
* Erin
	+ Deals [50d6] damage and stun an enemy for 1 Initiative.
* Rakath
	+ Guy is given [10d6] Sneak attack damage.

#### AdmiralBahroo

* Kyros Ignatior
	+ Choose an ally, that ally gains advantage to all melee attack rolls and +10 to damage rolls. This lasts for 1 Round. (Huck)

#### JoeZieja

* Kenku Lords
	+ Choose a single ally, should they suffer death, they will be revived at full hit points once. (Guy)

#### Octopimp

* Steel Soul
	+ Huckleberry are given 2 extra uses of Action Surge feature.

## External links

* Google Docs for the Cataclysmic Parable encounter, created by Morgeta