Kressa Bonedaughter

Kressa Bonedaughter is a member of the Cult of Myrkul in the sanctum north of the Barracks in the Mind Flayer Colony.

“	Kressa the Myrkulite necromancer patched you together... You were a tadpoled wreck down in this fleshpit. Nearly dead, head half-caved in. She said you were the first ever tadpoling victim. You're either one-in-a-million unlucky, or someone hated those stinking guts of yours to do such filthy work. Bloody vengeance seems appropriate.	„
	— Quest journal entry after speaking with Kressa

Overview

Background

Kressa is a Myrkulite necromancer working under  Balthazar, performing research and experiments on tadpolled victims in the Mind Flayer Colony. When met, she is rallying her fellow cultists,  Hairy Henry,  Ironfinger and  Maghtew Budj. She provides the Myrkul's Gift buff.

Involvement

When approached by the party at the barracks, Kressa surmises that, because they are wandering around despite there being an active evacuation order from  Ketheric Thorm, the party must be the attackers they were warned about. Unless a Deception dialogue option is chosen, combat starts. Otherwise, Kressa and her fellow cultists disperse towards their rooms in the barracks. When spoken to again, she can give characters the  Myrkul's Gift buff as well.

The Dark Urge

If the Dark Urge is chosen as Origin, Kressa instead recognizes the player character and reminisces about how the Urge used to be a captive at the colony before they were shipped away. She had found the Dark Urge close to death at this very sanctum, after they had been infected with a tadpole and opened them up endlessly for her research on the mind flayer parasites, thereby implying that the Urge was the very first tadpole victim. She displays an attachment to The Dark Urge because of a resilience that no other victim in the colony demonstrated. She inevitably attacks once this dialogue is concluded.

The Dark Urge can pretend they are still docile but continuing the charade ends in combat with the added detriment of not getting any of the above exposition:

• [PERFORMANCE] Play dumb - let her belive you lost your wits along with your memory. (DC 10)

After the battle, the Dark Urge remembers they were in the colony on their own business before someone ambushed them and left them to their fate.

Unlike the Zealots, Adepts, and other members of the Cult of the Absolute, it appears Kressa and the other Mistresses of Souls are fully aware of what the Absolute is and the religious hoax they are perpetrating. This greater understanding (and accompanying disdain) is shared by the other high-ranking Myrkulite necromancers serving  Ketheric Thorm, with Kressa bemoaning the weak servility of the infected she is presented with, and  Balthazar using the player character's worm-infested status as an expletive.

Combat

Attacks and actions

 Bone Chill ()

Damage: 1~8

1d8⁠Necrotic

Prevent the target from healing until your next turn. The target cannot help  Downed characters. An undead target receives  Disadvantage on  Attack Rolls.

 Range: 18 m (60 ft)

 Concussive Smash ()   –  Myrkulite Scourge

Damage: 3~15

1d8 + 1⁠Bludgeoning

+ 1d6⁠Necrotic

Hit an enemy with all your might to deal damage and possibly  Daze them.

 CON Save

 Range: Normal weapon range

 Recharge: Short rest

 Fireball ( + )

Damage: 8~48

8d6⁠Fire

Shoot a bright flame from your fingers that explodes upon contact, torching everything in the vicinity for 8d6⁠⁠Fire damage.

 DEX Save

 Range: 18 m (60 ft)

 Incubate Death ()

Damage: 6~27

3d8 + 3⁠Necrotic

Spawn a skeletal involucre. After 1 turn, the involucre explodes, dealing 3d8Necrotic damage and birthing a necromite.

 DEX Save

 Range: 24 m (80 ft)

 Main Hand Attack ()   –  Myrkulite Scourge

Damage: 3~15

1d8 + 1⁠Bludgeoning

+ 1d6⁠Necrotic

Make a melee attack with your equipped weapon.

 Melee: 1.5 m (5 ft)

 Misty Step ( + )

Surrounded by silver mist, you teleport to an unoccupied space you can see.

 Range: 18 m (60 ft)

 Tenacity ()   –  Myrkulite Scourge

Damage

⁠Bludgeoning

When you miss an attack, deal ⁠Bludgeoning damage equal to your Strength modifier anyway (minimum of 1).

 Weakening Strike ()   –  Myrkulite Scourge

Damage: 3~6

1d4 + 2⁠Weapon

Target an enemy's hands with a non-lethal attack and possibly inflict  Weak Grip.

Creatures without weapons can't have Weak Grip.

 STR Save

 Range: Normal weapon range

 Recharge: Short rest

Tactician

 Shield ( + )

When you are about to be hit by an enemy, use your Reaction to increase your  Armour Class by 5. You also take no damage from  Magic Missile. These effects last until the start of your next turn.

 Range: Self

Allies

•  Hairy Henry
•  Ironfinger
•  Maghtew Budj

Loot

• Myrkulite Scourge

Related literature

• Clasped Book (Moonrise Towers)
• Journal of Magthew Budj
• Kressa's Notes
• Letter from Ironfinger
• Mistress of Souls' Research Log

Related quests

• ⁠Open Your Scars