Crypt Spawn

Crypt Spawn are native creatures to the Plane of Darkness and are summoned servants of the Darklords.

Traits

An illustration of Crypt Spawn is available in Shadow on the Sand, §223.

They are slimy creatures were shaped like a human brain with black bat-wings, suckers and skeletal appendages trailing their flying forms. They have toothless mouths yet they could suck the soul from a mortal by gripping their flesh. More Crypt Spawn could always be summoned at will by their masters when in short supply. They are hideous as they are powerful and are often used to guard Darklord chambers tombs and treasures. Darklords can use a flood of crypt spawn to attack and overwhelm an enemy or set a plague of them upon a land to despoil livestock and crops and create mayhem.

In the gamebooks

Crypt Spawn are encountered prior to the final fights in the gamebooks. They serve as the "meat shield" defences of the Darklords and within the Plane of Darkness.

Shadow on the Sand

Archlord Haakon summons Crypt Spawn if Lone Wolf possesses the Sommerswerd and attempts to retrieve it after Haakon separates him from the blade with a fireball of blue flame.

Crypt Spawn
Combat Skill 24, Endurance 40
↪Shadow on the Sand: §223

This leads into a fight with Archlord Haakon himself.

If Lone Wolf does not possess the Sommerswerd, or does but does not attempt to retrieve it, a Dhorgaan is fought instead. This is an easier fight.

Dhorgaan
Combat Skill 20, Endurance 40
↪Shadow on the Sand: §253

A Jewelled Mace adds +5 to the player's Combat Skill for this battle. This also avoids fighting Haakon directly, but correct choices must be made to avoid instant death.

The Masters of Darkness

Darklord Kraagenskûl summons a flood of Crypt Spawn to attack Lone Wolf prior to their fight. If Lone Wolf uses the Dagger of Vashna, however, this fight can be avoided, as the Crypt Spawn recognise the power behind the Dagger. Otherwise, the Crypt Spawn Flood is fought, although subsequent events against Darklord Kraagenskûl depend on whether the Sommerswerd was used or not, and how long the fight takes if so.

Crypt Spawn Flood
Combat Skill 30, Endurance 36
↪The Masters of Darkness: §57/§109

If Lone Wolf used the Sommerswerd in this fight, Kraagenskûl recognises who the player is (as they are wearing a Drakkar disguise), and attempts to contact Archlord Gnaag. If the fight against the Crypt Spawn Flood took four rounds or more, this eventually leads to instant death, as Gnaag sends reinforcements. If the fight takes three rounds or less, Lone Wolf is still forced to throw the Sommerswerd at Kraagenskûl's back to prevent this contact. If this roll fails, this also fails to prevent contact, also leading to death. Otherwise, the Sommerswerd shears off Kraagenskûl's hand, preventing contact, and the two fight.

The Legacy of Vashna

Crypt Spawn are encountered if Lone Wolf is unable to retrieve the Deathstaff before the Shamath Automatons, then attempts to evade the combat, and does not possess Telegnosis at Sun Lord nor Kai-alchemy.

Crypt Spawn
Combat Skill 43, Endurance 35
↪The Legacy of Vashna: §232

The player's Combat Skill is reduced by 4 as the player is sinking into the cavern floor. However, since the player is in the Plane of Darkness, the Project Aon errata suggests that the Sommerswerd grants a +4 Combat Skill bonus, per Dawn of the Dragons.

Wolf's Bane

In Dazganon, Alyss will shield the Moonstone and tell Lone Wolf to flee. Then, depending on the actions of the player:

• Lone Wolf obeys
• Lone Wolf stands and fights

In both cases, if Lone Wolf survives, he flees through the Shadow Gate back to Magnamund, leaving Alyss alone in Dazganon. Rescuing her and the Moonstone is the plot of the next book, The Curse of Naar.

Lone Wolf obeys

If Lone Wolf possesses the Sommerswerd, a Crypt Spawn Horde is fought:

Crypt Spawn Horde
Combat Skill 50, Endurance 40
↪Wolf's Bane: §3

Otherwise, a weaker form of the Crypt Spawn is fought:

Crypt Spawn Horde
Combat Skill 50, Endurance 36
↪Wolf's Bane: §123

Lone Wolf stands and fights

If Lone Wolf possesses the Sommerswerd, Cryopedeans block his path. Fighting them head-on as a horde is as follows:

Cryopedeans
Combat Skill 45, Endurance 40
↪Wolf's Bane: §201

Lone Wolf can also evade, for a weaker fight against only two:

2 Cryopedeans
Combat Skill 38, Endurance 32
↪Wolf's Bane: §162

If Lone Wolf does not possess the Sommerswerd, a Crypt Spawn Horde is fought instead. This fight is the same as the non-fleeing variation above.

Crypt Spawn Horde
Combat Skill 50, Endurance 36
↪Wolf's Bane: §147

However, Lone Wolf must then fight two Cryopedeans as well, afterwards.

2 Cryopedeans
Combat Skill 38, Endurance 32
↪Wolf's Bane: §111