The

The OBBOLOID or: Generation Tables for a Kindly Shape

You find the Obboloid resting deep within a vault. The Obboloid cannot speak, or communicate in any
It appears to be thousands of years more ancient helpful manner. It may harbour some ancient
than the structure around it, yet its position intelligence. Most likely it is simply a block of
within the layout - blocking the way forward - stone.
suggests the vault was not constructed with it in
mind. Curious. Depending on rolled behaviours, the Obboloid may
or may not be of use in combat. The only offensive
The Obboloid is a large, rectangular block of capability it displays is to very slowly pin and
stone. It has four tall faces, approximately 5 feet crush an enemy from above (very easily evaded). An
by 2.5 feet, with two square faces on the top and enemy will take a d4 of damage while pinned, which,
bottom. At least one side of the Obboloid bears if unable to free themselves, will rise to a d6,
some kind of decoration (see the Appearance table then d8, (and so on,) on subsequent combat rounds.
below).
The Obboloid cannot be
At the touch of a PC’s uncovered flesh, the Obboloid damaged by bullets or
will imprint upon them. Slowly and silently, it
begins to levitate a foot or so off the floor. It traditional weapons. It
will follow the Imprinted PC, bobbing along at a could theoretically be
comfortable distance (whatever that may be) for as destroyed by atomic
long as physically possible. If blocked by a door weaponry, but any blast
or wall, it begins an almost imperceptible powerful enough would
vibration, wearing down the obstruction - a also disintegrate any
process that may take days. This is, of course, treasures held inside.
unless a simpler path becomes available in the
meantime, in which case the Obboloid shall choose Finally, the Obboloid
the path of least resistance. harbours a secret
objective, known only
The Obboloid can comfortably carry one medium-sized to the GM or Referee
PC and continue floating. Two PCs and it will begin (see Completion) . .
to list towards the ground - three or more and it Once this requisite
will be unable to move. In this way, it could be is met, the Obboloid
used as a floating stepping stone to cross otherwise passes from this plane,
unassailable pits - if you can convince it to obey leaving behind .
your commands (which you probably cannot), or take a special gift . .
heed of your desperate pleas (this outcome is only (see Revelation).
marginally more likely).
 Appearance
[2]

Appearance
1 1 Side is Carved with Hungry Snakes
Symbols of
2 Eyes
3 Inhuman Skulls
4 2 Sides Dancing Men
are
5 Trees
6 Something like the Sun
7 3 Sides Painted with Something like the Moon
are Symbols of
8 Rain Clouds
9 Something like a Spider
10 Something like a Deer
11 4 Sides Open Palms
are
12 An Impossible Queen
13 Scorched with Something like a Bird
Symbols of
14 5 Sides Something like a Boar
15
are
Text in an Unknown
The Obboloid (Extraplanar Masonry)
Language
Level Armour Morale Group Size
16 Increasingly Intricate N/A ?? No 1
Patterns within Patterns
Attacks: Slow Crush (DEX save to avoid) - target is slowly pinned
17 6 Sides Jewelled with A Blazing Flame by the Obboloid. (d4) of crushing damage, increasing dice size to
are Symbols of (d6), then (d8), etc, on subsequent turns. (Target makes STR save
18 A Woolly Beast upon a on each of their turns to squirm free)
Throne
19 Gilded with Unknown Star-Systems Notes: Did you know the Obboloid has a soundtrack? Because the
Symbols of Obboloid totally has a soundtrack! Search: ‘V-Sides: The Obboloid’
by Out On Our Own on Bandcamp.
20 A Great Disaster
 BEHAVIOURS
[3]

BEHAVIOURS
1 The Obboloid The Obboloid is courteous. It will never be the first to enter a doorway in the presence of another PC or NPC.
exhibits One of
the following When licked, the Obboloid tastes like sweet, sharp berries.
2 Perhaps it might be possible to gain some sustenance this way,but surely not much.
behaviours -
The Obboloid is diligent. It will gently nudge those it feels are resting too long,
3 and will make whatever noise it can to wake the party as soon as the sun begins to rise.

The Obboloid holds disdain for certain words, and mutes them in its presence.
4 Even when screaming these words, only silence is heard within 20 feet of the Obboloid.

During rainfall, the Obboloid shelters a small patch of dry earth directly below it. Once the rain ceases,
5 the Obboloid begins to precipitate from its bottom face, lasting the same length of time as the original storm

The Obboloid values manners above all.

6 It will block the path of those it deems impertinent until it receives an apology deemed sufficient.

7 The Obboloid The Obboloid holds fierce hatred for spheres, and will crush anything spherical to dust by vibrating on top of it.
exhibits Two of
the following The Obboloid is possessive. It grows jealous of any NPC who appears to hold the Imprinted PC’s attention,
8 physically inserting itself into conversations if it feels ignored.
behaviours -
Though it never eats, the Obboloid is a keen amateur chef, and likes to be present whenever preparing a meal.
9 It is especially good at grinding flours, tenderising meats, and cracking eggs.

The Obboloid holds great reverence for right-angles.

10 It will gently touch one of its own corners against all right-angles it encounters - a delicate kiss between shapes.

The Obboloid is an artist. It will attempt to convey simple forms by holding itself at an angle, and dragging a low corner through
11 the desert sands. Its works are mostly crude, colossal stick figures.

The Obboloid is sociable. It will approach other obelisks, monoliths, and monuments at great speed,
12 somewhat dejected when it fails to elicit a response.

The Obboloid is fascinated by birds. It becomes easily distracted in their presence,

13 and will often hover to a height above the clouds, to observe them from a distance.

14 The Obboloid The Obboloid enjoys a swim, cannon-balling into deep pools, happily splashing in shallower waters.
exhibits Three of
15 the following The Obboloid fears cats, and trembles when confronted with them.
behaviours -
16 The Obboloid has an affinity for music, spinning slowly and joyfully in the presence of rhythms.

The Obboloid is a coward. At the first sign of combat it drops like a stone, playing dead, and serving only as cover.
17 After the dust settles it sheepishly returns to hovering.

18 The Obboloid appears nocturnal, becoming sluggish and disoriented during daylight, and highly animated when the stars are out.

The Obboloid finds the colour purple to be a great source of mirth.

19 It shudders with silent laughter, transfixed in purple’s ridiculous presence.

The Obboloid is principled. It will thwart the party’s attempts to commit robbery, unjust damage, or arson;
20 knocking things from hands and blocking paths if necessary. It is indifferent to murder.
 Completion
[4]
(A super-objective kept secret from the players)

Completion
1 The Obboloid has saved the life of the Imprinted PC.
2 The Imprinted PC has displayed their absolute loyalty to the Obboloid on three separate occasions.
3 The Obboloid touches the edge of the Sea of Songs.
4 The Obboloid has felt the worship and adoration of a crowd, or been present for a parade in its
(or the party’s) honour.
5 The Imprinted PC has said “what” 100 times.
6 The Obboloid reaches the peak of the Wall, and has looked down at all below it.
7 The Obboloid feels snow for the first time.
8 The Obboloid falls in love.
9 The Imprinted PC has committed separate acts of greed, wrath, and selfishness in the presence of the Obboloid.
10 The Obboloid is struck by lightning.
11 The Obboloid has had sufficient time to wallow in the Ikor Quag.
12 The Obboloid absorbs 400 hours of sunlight.
13 A bird builds a nest on the top face of the Obboloid. In time the eggs hatch, the young grow. Once they are old
enough to fly, the requisite is complete.
14 The Obboloid has witnessed what it deems to be the full spectrum of emotion on the faces of biological beings.

15 Urth completes one full solar orbit from the point at which the Imprinted PC first touched the Obboloid.

16 The Imprinted PC has committed separate acts of mercy, charity, and patience in the presence of the Obboloid.

17 The party survives 17 separate combat encounters in the presence of the Obboloid.
18 The Obboloid has met another of its kind.

19 The Obboloid has come to understand its place in the universe.

20 The Imprinted PC dies.
 Revelation
[5]

Revelation
1 Smooth Pebbles An item the PCs thought lost

2 Psychoactive Dust A Sandwurm Egg

3 Aquarium Gravel A Skull adorned with Triregnum - on closer inspection, not

two separate objects, but one continuous.

4 Liquid Droplets that fall upwards A Thumb-Sized Infant Obboloid (roll new appearance &
behaviours, matures to full-size in 2d10 days)
5 Blue Butterflies

6 Burrowing Worms (harmless) A Strange Musical Instrument (adv. on all PSY rolls while
playing)

7 Burrowing Worms (aggressive) An Autarch’s Sash; a circular strip of nanofiber fabric -

a supercomputer in a garment (+3 to INT while wearing)
8 Glass Marbles
Once the
9 requisite is Palm-sized Carvings of the Crunk’s Lusty Blade; A crude sword of scarred metal, with
met, the Imprinted PC’s Face revealing a handle of soft, rubbery fungus. (Medium size, d10+d6
Obboloid - damage)
shatters
10 into - Tiny Cubes A Mummified Waterfowl; bestowed with jewels and treasures

11 Bone Fragments A Hypergeometric Locket (roll new Mystic Gift when

shattered)
12 Dodecahedrons

13 Biodegradable Confetti A Perfect Copy of the Imprinted PC (conscious)

14 Viscous Sludge

15 Perfumed Leaves A Perfect Copy of the Imprinted PC (braindead)

16 Translucent Feathers

17 Rolling Smoke An Exotica*

18 Dancing Embers

19 Stale Cereal

20 Packaging Peanuts
[6]

Writing,
Illustration,
& Design
Lewis Garvey
Music
Out On Our Own
Editing
Billie Holland

Special Thanks to
Ellie & Billie
for listening to me talk
about the ins and outs of a big
stone block at great, great length.
Created for the Vaults of Vaarn Summer Game Jam ‘22. Vaults of Vaarn created by Leo Hunt.
The rules & text of ‘The Obboloid’ are released under a
Creative Commons 4.0 Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Fonts used: ‘Wichita’ by Studio Aurora (creativemarket.com) and ‘PT Mono’
Brushes/Textures/Design Elements from True Grit Texture Supply Co., (for the most part).
Illustrations drawn on Procreate for the iPad pro.