“ A group that wished to be 'ever-living' instead was cursed with 'never-dying'. Thier flesh rotted and fell fromthier bones but still they lived on. Now as skeletons they continue thier quest to remove thier curse. As skeletons they differ in that they do not need controlled or summoned. They are fully fledged NPCs with drives or ideas of thier own. Stabbing and slashing weapons would not affect them.”
“ Actually a real-world fungus, just heard about it. A fungus that tastes well and all, no ill effects. UNLESS you consume some beverage, even 3 (three) days after eating it. Then you become really sick, pains, vomiting, all the fancy stuff. Was really used to cure alcoholism. May be a joke or to make sure the heroes spend their time focused on the mission.”
“ Dust Elemental
https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=1594
At the corner of air and earth elemental planes resides the dust Elemental, a growing threat to Parisia. With it's powerful choking attack, this creature is a threat to the city. More and more of them are appearing in town, spawned from the many dust devils, a frequent foe of the party, they come in size from 3 HD to 20 HD. Why are there so many? Why in the city?”