Elder Brain Dragon
Harvesting Table
Instructions: Because this creature is an
Aberration, the player should roll a
Arcana Check using the DCs in the table below. On a success, the player is able to harvest the item. On a failure, the item cannot be harvested (either because the character is not skilled enough, or because the item is ruined). The DM should note that many of the items have an expiration, and can not be sold or used after the expiration has passed.
Type: Aberration
Skill: Arcana
DC
Item
Description
Value
Weight
Exp.
Crafting
DC:
10
ITEM:
Elder Brain Dragon Blood (9 vials)
DC:
10
The blood of an elder brain dragon resonates with psionic energy. The blood is extremely powerful, and valuable to alchemists and spellcasters.
VALUE:
30 gp
WEIGHT:
1lb.
EXPIRE:
7 days
DC:
10
ITEM:
Elder Brain Dragon Tentacles (large sack)
DC:
10
The tentacles of an elder brain dragon flow with psionic energy. Harvesting a tentacle intact, and with enough psionic power, can be difficult. An expert craftsman can stretch the tentacles and carefully comb them into long, thin fibers. These fibers are then soaked and treated with oils, making them useful filaments for creating ropes and whips, which may be easily enchanted.
VALUE:
300 gp
WEIGHT:
30lb.
EXPIRE:
2 days
CRAFT: Mind Whip +2 (HHH2)
DC:
15
ITEM:
Elder Brain Dragon White Matter
DC:
15
White matter is found in the deep tissue of the enormous brain that sits on the back of the elder brain dragon. Ripples of psionic energy flow through the tissue like electricity. Harvesting the tissue can be difficult, as it takes a great deal of dexterity and medical knowledge. Failing the DC check by 5 or more results in a backlash of psionic energy, sending out a wave of 4d6 psionic damage to every conscious creature in a 15-foot radius. The tissue is a psionic sponge, valued by spellcasters.
VALUE:
1000 gp
WEIGHT:
15lb.
EXPIRE:
2 days
CRAFT: Interrogator's Web (HHH2)
DC:
15
ITEM:
Elder Brain Dragon Brine (flask)
DC:
15
An elder brain dragon can exhale a briny stream of fluid, which containing hundreds
of mindflayer tadpoles. The brine can be used to create new mindflayers and is extremely dangerous, and forbidden in most kingdoms. The liquid is purchased by anyone studying mindflayers. It is also sought after by cults and evil leaders, especially those that seek to cause panic and chaos.
VALUE:
1500 gp
WEIGHT:
5lb.
EXPIRE:
14 days
DC:
20
ITEM:
Elder Brain Dragon Neural Core
DC:
20
An elder brain dragon's neural network is so prominent that they manifest as wiry tendrils that snake across the brain's gray matter, and branch outward throughout the dragon's body. These tendrils often lead to a large mass of neurons. Finding this fleshy ball of neural wires is difficult, as it is buried deep within the brain. The core is highly valued by artificers for electrical machinations, but also useful to researchers and spellcasters. Craftsmen can stretch the strands into thin, thread-like fibers that conduct electricity.
VALUE:
3000 gp
WEIGHT:
4lb.
EXPIRE:
2 days
DC:
25
ITEM:
Elder Brain Dragon Pineal Gland
DC:
25
The pineal gland is believed to be the heart of the elder brain dragon's psionic power. The gland is a pea-shaped mound of soft, maroon flesh, about the size of a basketball. The gland is a psionic focal point, and can be used to enhance psionic power.
VALUE:
6000 gp
WEIGHT:
4lb.
EXPIRE:
2 days
Most crafting items have an acronym associated with it, such as "DMG". These acronyms refer to specific guide books. For example, "DMG" refers to the "Dungeon Master's Guide". The acronyms for HHH, HHH2 and HHH3 refer to Hamund's Harvesting Handbook, a homebrew harvesting guide that offers a variety of homebrew (not official) magic items. To view and purchase Hamund's Harvesting Handbook,
click here.
Expiration
Many harvested goods will start to rot and decay after a period of time. Below is a quick overview of how we determine expiration dates, and is used as a guide for
most harvested items. Note: It is always up to the DM to decide on the exact expiration.
Item Type
Days
Explanation
Body Part
2 days
Flesh rots and decays quickly.
Body Part, Undead
7 days
Undead body parts are already rotting, so their usefulness can last a little longer than regular flesh (which becomes useless when it rots).
Bones
∞
Bones take a very long time to decay.
Feathers
∞
Feathers take a very long time to decay.
Ears
14 days
Ears are predominantly tough cartilage (soft bone). The skin around the ears rot quickly, but the ear remains intact for some time after.
Hair
∞
Hair takes a very long time to decay.
Head
3 days
Like other flesh, it rots and decays quickly, but lasts slightly longer
Hides/Pelts
10 days
Hides/Pelts must be treated and soaks in order to retain its usefulness.
Liquid, Vial (i.e. Blood)
7 days
If contained in a stoppered vial, most fluids have a longer shelf life. However, if exposed to air, it gets ruined VERY quickly.
Liquid, Vial (i.e. Slime)
14 days
Slimes and gels tend to have a longer shelf-life than other fluids. However, if exposed to air, it gets ruined VERY quickly.
Poisons
14 days
Most poisons are viable for about 2 week. However, each poison is different. In additions, proficiency with a poisoner's kit may allow assassins the ability to extend the shelf-life every few weeks (adding other ingredients to extend the poison's usefulness)
Tattoos/Marks
5 days
Usually a strip of skin, which can be preserved with some oil to last a little longer than other flesh.
Wings
7 days
While wings contain flesh, which rots quickly, the bones and leather/feather last much longer, making the wings usefulness last longers.
Elder Brain Dragon
Individual Treasure
1987 gp, 482 pp
Random Roll: d100 = 80
d100 |
cp |
sp |
ep |
gp |
pp |
01-15 |
cp:
— |
sp:
— |
ep:
2d6 x 1000 (7000) |
gp:
8d6 x 100 (2800) |
pp:
— |
16-55 |
cp:
— |
sp:
— |
ep:
— |
gp:
1d6 x 1000 (3500) |
pp:
1d6 x 100 (350) |
56-100 |
cp:
— |
sp:
— |
ep:
— |
gp:
1d6 x 1000 (3500) |
pp:
2d6 x 100 (700) |
Elder Brain Dragon
Treasure Hoard
Coins: 6062 gp, 834 pp
Art: 7 art objects worth 2500 gp each
[1 A necklace string of small pink pearls, 2 Platinum bracelet set with a sapphire, 2 Eye patch with a mock eye set in blue sapphire and moonstone, 1 Gold circlet set with four aquamarines, 1 Old masterpiece painting]Magic Items (3)
: [1 Hammer of Thunderbolts, 1 Ring of Spell Turning, 1 Armor +1 (scale mail)] Random Roll: d100 = 86
|
cp |
sp |
ep |
gp |
pp |
Coins |
cp:
— |
sp:
— |
ep:
— |
gp:
12d6 x 1000 (42,000) |
pp:
8d6 x 1000 (28,000) |
d100 |
Gems or Art Objects |
— |
01-02 |
Gems or Art Objects:
— |
—:
— |
03-05 |
Gems or Art Objects:
3d6 (10) 1,000 gp gems |
—:
Roll 1d8 times on Magic Item Table C |
06-08 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d10 (5) 2,500 gp art objects |
—:
Roll 1d8 times on Magic Item Table C |
09-11 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d4 (2) 7,500 gp art objects |
—:
Roll 1d8 times on Magic Item Table C |
12-14 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d8 (4) 5,000 gp gems |
—:
Roll 1d8 times on Magic Item Table C |
15-22 |
Gems or Art Objects:
3d6 (10) 1,000 gp gems |
—:
Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table D |
23-30 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d10 (5) 2,500 gp art objects |
—:
Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table D |
31-38 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d4 (2) 7,500 gp art objects |
—:
Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table D |
39-46 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d8 (4) 5,000 gp gems |
—:
Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table D |
47-52 |
Gems or Art Objects:
3d6 (10) 1,000 gp gems |
—:
Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table E |
53-58 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d10 (5) 2,500 gp art objects |
—:
Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table E |
59-63 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d4 (2) 7,500 gp art objects |
—:
Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table E |
64-68 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d8 (4) 5,000 gp gems |
—:
Roll 1d6 times on Magic Item Table E |
69 |
Gems or Art Objects:
3d6 (10) 1,000 gp gems |
—:
Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table G |
70 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d10 (5) 2,500 gp art objects |
—:
Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table G |
71 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d4 (2) 7,500 gp art objects |
—:
Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table G |
72 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d8 (4) 5,000 gp gems |
—:
Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table G |
73-74 |
Gems or Art Objects:
3d6 (10) 1,000 gp gems |
—:
Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table H |
75-76 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d10 (5) 2,500 gp art objects |
—:
Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table H |
77-78 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d4 (2) 7,500 gp art objects |
—:
Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table H |
79-80 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d8 (4) 5,000 gp gems |
—:
Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table H |
81-85 |
Gems or Art Objects:
3d6 (10) 1,000 gp gems |
—:
Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table I |
86-90 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d10 (5) 2,500 gp art objects |
—:
Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table I |
91-95 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d4 (2) 7,500 gp art objects |
—:
Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table I |
96-100 |
Gems or Art Objects:
1d8 (4) 5,000 gp gems |
—:
Roll 1d4 times on Magic Item Table I |
Elder Brain Dragon
Meat
The meat of many monsters is considered vile and distasteful. Monstrosities and aberrations, in particular, may have tainted blood or rancid tasting meat. Dungeon Master's discretion.
This creature produces 129 pieces of meat, weighing a total of 516 lbs.
Random Roll: 8d20 = 129
Gargantuan creatures produce 8d20 worth of meat.
The table below shows how much meat an
inexperienced butcher may be able to harvest from a creature, especially after a battle may have ruined some of the meat (i.e. burned, frozen, poisoned, etc.). If a
whole creature's carcass is brought to a butcher, the butcher may pay 4x the value rolled in the chart below for the carcass (if the butcher even WANTS this kind of creature - DM discretion). Of course, carrying a heavy carcass can be difficult, and the creature's bacteria that kept it alive will begin to ruin the meat, spoiling it within a day.
Beast Size |
DC |
Meat |
Weight (x4)† |
Expire ‡ |
Value (x2sp)⋆ |
Tiny |
DC:
5 |
Meat:
1 |
Weight (x4)†:
4 lb. |
Expire ‡:
1 day |
Value (x2sp)⋆:
2 sp |
Small |
DC:
5 |
Meat:
1d4 |
Weight (x4)†:
4-16 lb. |
Expire ‡:
1 day |
Value (x2sp)⋆:
2-8 sp |
Medium |
DC:
5 |
Meat:
2d6 |
Weight (x4)†:
8-48 lb. |
Expire ‡:
1 day |
Value (x2sp)⋆:
4-24 sp |
Large |
DC:
5 |
Meat:
6d6 |
Weight (x4)†:
24-144 lb. |
Expire ‡:
1 day |
Value (x2sp)⋆:
12-72 sp |
Huge |
DC:
5 |
Meat:
8d12 |
Weight (x4)†:
32-384 lb. |
Expire ‡:
1 day |
Value (x2sp)⋆:
16-192 sp |
Gargantuan |
DC:
5 |
Meat:
8d20 |
Weight (x4)†:
32-640 lb. |
Expire ‡:
1 day |
Value (x2sp)⋆:
16-320 sp |
† The weight of a raw piece of meat is 4 pounds. And one slab of meat (4 lbs.), can be used to make 1 dried ration (2 lbs.).
‡ Raw meat has a very short shelf-life, and will go bad within a day if it is not refridgerated or cured.
⋆ The table above uses a standard price of 5cp per pound for regular a piece of animal meat (such as cattle or deer). The value of meat can vary drastically, depending on the quality, rarity and the creature it is sourced from. For example, dragon meat could cost 10x more than standard livestock meat, while insect meat could cost only a copper or two per pound. A DM can decide if that is adequate, and if certain meat is worth more or less.
Meat and Creature Types
Some creature types have meat that is inedible (i.e udead), while others carry some sort of stygma (cannibalism, distasteful, unholy). For example, eating a
celestial may be considered a vile, unholy act; while eating a
monstrosity may be considered disgusting and distasteful; in addition,
giants are too similar to most medium-sized humanoids and are often considered inline with cannibalism. Of course, while buying meats with a stygma is forbidden and possibly illegal in most places, there are always people willing to buy illegal goods (although they may be hard to find).
Creature Type
Edible
Possible Stigma
Sellable
Celestial
Y
Cannibalism, Holy Creature
N
Fey
Y
Cannibalism, Worshipped
Some are inedible
Giant
Y
Cannibalism, Disgusting Creature
N
Monstrosity
*
Disgusting Creature
N
* Some monstrosities have meat that is edible (DM Discretion)
Eating Meat
Cooked meat can be eaten safely. Cooking meat requires a campfire or oven. Eating raw meat requires a DC 10 Constitution Check. A successful check results in a filling meal. A failure results in debilitating stomach cramps, causing 1 level of exhaustion (disadvantage on ability checks).
Drying Meat
The meat can be dried using salt, spices, heat and time.
Drying Method
Time
DC
Notes
Smoke Hut
2 days
7
Smoking must be maintained periodically (can't be left alone for days)
Sun
16 hours
15
Must be in direct sunlight, in over 85°F.
Set on a hot stone, or hanging from a rack.
Higher chance of spoiling.