
Episode 33: Abzu
From Swords Against Madness by Brian C. Rideout
March 21, 2026 · 28 min · Season 1 · Episode 33
About this episode
In this episode, Miria, Kale, and Edryk navigate the dangers of Abzû while encountering the Aurumvorax.
Miria, Kale, & Edryk cross the shimmering plane of Amber, and then into the darkness of Abzû, beset on all sides by monsters and mysteries. This episode includes a classic Dungeons & Dragons monster: the Aurumvorax, reproduced here based on the stats in the AD&D2e Monstrous Manual for Swords & Wizardry. I did take liberties with the speed of the aurumvorax to make it more of a threat and more weasel-like. Aurumvorax The Aurumvorax or gold-gorger is an eight-legged weasel-like creature about 12′ long. It can burrow through solid rock. The aurumvorax eats gold, which it processes in order to produce teeth, claws, and fur of naturally shaped gold, and its flesh is infused with the metal. Aurumvorax: HD : 12; AC : 0 [19]; Att : bite (2d4 + grab); SV : 3; Special : grab, bludgeoning resistance; MV : 24 or Burrow 3; AL : Neutrality; ML: 11; No. Appearing: 1; CL/XP : 15/5,800 Grab : When an Aurumvorax hits with its bite, its target must make a saving throw or be grabbed. Once an aurumvorax grabs a foe only death can make it let go. At the beginning of each round, the aurumvorax deals 8 bite damage automatically, anc makes 2d4 claw attacks on the target that deal…
People in this episode
Host: Brian C. Rideout
Topics covered
- Dungeons & Dragons
- fantasy creatures
- adventure
- monsters
- role-playing games
Keywords
- Aurumvorax
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Amber
- monsters
- role-playing
Mentioned in this episode
Products: Aurumvorax
Books & works: Swords & Wizardry, AD&D2e Monstrous Manual
More episodes of Swords Against Madness
- Episode 36: Detour · May 23, 2026 · 25 min
- Episode 35: A Gateway to the Stars · May 2, 2026 · 29 min
- Episode 34: Crocodile · April 11, 2026 · 28 min
- Episode 32: Cruel · February 28, 2026 · 35 min
- Episode 31: Where Time & Space Don’t Really Matter · January 31, 2026 · 29 min
- Episode 30: Strange Journeys · January 10, 2026 · 15 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Swords Against Madness podcast page.