Episode 34: Crocodile

April 11, 2026

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Edryk, Miria, and Kale face a terrifying onslaught on the dismal beaches of Abzû.

This game sues the crocodile stats from Swords & Wizardry, It also delves pretty deep into the Dungeons & Dragons theory of the Soul that was made central to the concept of planar travel in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons starting later in the 1st edition and refined in the Planescape setting.

I also wanted to share the Enuma Elish, if you want to read some ancient Mesopotamian myth.

Roger Dean’s Cover for the first Asia album self-titled “Asia” was a huge inspiration for the setting of Abzu. I spent a great many hours staring at this album cover and listening to the record when I was a kid. In fact a great deal of the campaign aesthetics in – in my head at least – are inspired by Dean’s art.

Roger Dean was a major influence on the aesthetics of the Psychedelic art and music movement and redefined what Fantasy looked like through the 60s and 70’s.

I would be remiss if I didn’t send a link to his homepage where you can get prints of this truly amazing work.

Abzu Random Encounter Table

3d6categoryEncounter#Mein
3SettlementForlorn Camp*specialSuffering
4SettlementDuregar mining camp**specialFeasting on HER flesh
5IntelligentScorpion Men1d4Worshipping HER
6IntelligentIxitchatil2d10Hunting
7IntelligentBeast Men3d10Digging a burrow
8TravellerJaani2d4Lost
9TravellerNight Hag1Performing Dark Rites
10MonsterGiant Scorpion1d3Frozen in despair
11MonsterLarge Giant Centipede1d6Mating
12MonsterCrocodiles2d6Sleeping
14MonsterSea Serpent1Exploring
14SupernaturalLarvae3d10Tormenting
15SupernaturalShedu1Cultivating HER wisdom through alchemy
16SupernaturalElsewhale1Desperately trying to get elsewhere
17AtmosphericTiamat Stirs***n/aGoing Mad
18AtmosphericStormm/aGrieving

Notes

*Forlorn Camp: a wretched set of huts of bone, skin, and scale overrun by wasp’s nests. Most inhabitants are dead, but 1d6 diseased and mad cultists linger.

**Duregar Mining Camp: 2d10 Duregar oversee 5d20 beast-men slaves in mining scale and bone from Tiamat.

***Tiamat Stirs: The ground shakes and strange omens fill the sky before a deafening scream splits the sky. All creatures must save vs spells or be paralyzed with terror for 1d3 turns. Check for additional encounter.

Voice Talent in this Episode:

Owen Rideout as The Psisquid

Music in this Episode

  • “COMBAT: Classic Metal Chugga-Chugga” by Jon Cohen, used with permission.

From the Free Music Archive:

  • “King Edward” by Mr. Smith a CC-BY song released through the FMA

From Pixabay:

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