Mud Bowl

Navigate the treacherous Mud Bowl in Pathfinder: Kingmaker. Learn how to survive the fog, defeat the Tendriculos, and collect the Black Rattlecaps for the Old Beldame.

Alright, so you've got an errand from the Old Beldame to grab some 'Mushrooms from the Mud Bowl.' To get there, you'll need to follow a specific path from the Wolf Lair: head Southeast, then Northeast, then West, then Northwest, and finally Southwest. Stick to that route and you'll arrive.

The first thing that's going to hit you is this gnarly fog. It's so thick, your characters will have to make a Fortitude save (DC 17) every single round. Fail it, and they'll become nauseated, which really messes with your ability to do anything. The good news? You can just wait it out. After a bit, your characters get used to it, and you can then safely grab those Black Rattlecap mushrooms scattered around.

Once you've dealt with the initial fog, head north. You'll spot the Black Rattlecaps you need for the Old Beldame. You're looking for ten of them, but watch out – this area is the hunting ground for a Tendriculos. This thing is a real pain, a shambler-like beast that patrols the middle of the map. It hits hard, dealing 20-30 damage per hit, and it gets multiple attacks each round. Even your best tanks might struggle if you're not prepared.

Pro Tip: Seriously, don't even think about fighting the Tendriculos without buffing your party. Spells like Haste are practically mandatory here. If you go in unprepared, you're going to have a very bad time. With proper buffs, though, you might just walk away from this fight without a scratch.

Smashing the Tendriculos nets you a ton of XP, probably more than it's worth compared to other tough enemies you've faced. Take the XP and enjoy the progress! You'll also be free to gather the Black Rattlecaps. There are fourteen scattered around, so you only need ten. Just grab what you need, and then head to the western edge of the map. Wade into the foul water there to find some loot: two Potions of Enlarge Person, a Potion of Blur, 89 Gold, and a Frost Battleaxe +1, among other less exciting items.

With your ten Black Rattlecaps secured, it's time to head back. You'll turn these in to the Old Beldame for your reward, which is 300 XP and 400 gold. You don't need to rush back immediately; you'll have another chance to visit her later, likely on your way to the Dwarven Ruins.