Foot of the Mountain Adventures has made maps for many Best Left Buried adventures. He has a cool Patreon page upon which he shares spells, monsters and play reports mostly connected to his 1st Edition campaign. Recently he walked me through his spell research mini-game which successfully turns the 1e research rules into something more fun and engaging for both player and GM.
It was, therefore, very exciting to hear that Pat had made a few monsters which he thought would slot nicely into PARIAH .
DISCLAIMER: I AM A PATRON OF FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES!
Dave Kendall's illustration for Laird Barron's story Blackwood's Baby |
(Pat: I omitted the German names for setting reasons: when you stat them for 1e, I shall link back here and in a new post!).
The original encounters are written up here:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/three-woodland-45467940
Original text by Pat Eyler; original text amended and augmented with permission.
- It will call the Retinue of the Wasted Dead or a Greater Wasted Kill (d6 1-4 the retinue, 5-6 a greater dead) which will arrive in 1d3+2 combat rounds.
- Opponents within 200’ will take 2d4 damage and be struck with Fear (see below).
Fear
- Runs away until they are at a 200' distance before hiding. Once hidden, they may make a further save to see if they are willing to return (see below).
- Freezes to the spot as though paralysed. They may do nothing until the subsequent round when they may make a save the following round to shake free.
- Fights the fear, taking 1d6 CHA damage to "tough it out". They may make a save on the following round to see if they have overcome their fear.
- Spirit protection: can only be harmed by metal or enchanted weapons; other spirits or magical invocations. It cannot be charmed or controlled by means of mortal enchantments. Its body cannot be occupied by a spirit-touched.
- Cold bite of death: Any successful piercing/slashing attack (such as a bit, claw or gore) does [damage die] on first round, then automatically inflicts [smaller die] on subsequent rounds until the die depletes.
- Morale: Is 12. It will follow whatever instructions it is given by The Once Hunted, regardless of its own safety.
- Mind: human level intelligence.
* A successful bite attack does 1d10 damage. Lingering pain and cold means it does 1d8 damage on the next round, 1d6 2 rounds later, 1d4 damage 3 rounds later and then, one round after that, 1d2 damage. These wounds stack.
** can only be harmed by metal or enchanted weapons; other spirits or magical invocations. It cannot be charmed or controlled by means of mortal enchantments. Its body cannot be occupied by a spirit-touched.
* * *
The whole ensemble is meant to be a nightmare for pariahs of all ages: this is not an encounter that they'll likely overcome by attacking head on. Even if slain the spirit will flee to the Realm of the Dead for 8d8 days before returning to its original range.
The best possible outcome would be to enter into a covenant whereby the spirit will not attack members of the pariah band who fully honour its presence as they pass through its territory (GENIUS LOCI POST IN THE WORKS), perhaps also insisting that no hunting of game is performed by loyal bands in its territory, or at the very least, any game taken is afforded elaborate funerary rites to compensate for the wanton acts of previous hunters.
Even if this does not occur, clever pariahs escaping with their lives might be able to use this creature as a future trap for their enemies, perhaps by leading them on a hunting expedition into its territory (and filling their ears with beeswax before that ghostly bugle call resounds).
Thanks Pat, these were great. please let me know when you deliver the full 1e write-ups for these magnificent beasts! In the meantime, please check out his stuff at:
https://www.patreon.com/mountainfoot/posts
Order a nice print edition of PARIAH here from SOUL MUPPET:
https://soulmuppet-store.co.uk/products/pariah-volume-1
If you're low on funds, why not grab a free PDF?
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/327711/PARIAH--ART-FREE-EDITION
These are tremendous! Thank you for translating them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing and then reading them!
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