S Is for Splenetic
splenetic: (adj.) bad-tempered; spiteful
Everyone who has ever been in love has had this thought, but most reject it. They dismiss this thought as dangerous or wrong or unnecessary. A few, however, embrace this thought. They nurture it and let it grow until it takes on a life of its own.
“What is this thought?” you ask.
It is this: If I can’t have you, no one can.
And when this thought takes on a life of its down, a vishindo is born.
Vishindos serve Moannah*, the Goddess of Desire, and they exist to fulfill the twisted thought that creates them. These creatures appear as coal-black pudgy, diminutive humanoids with oversized heads, bulging eyes, and paw-like hands and feet. About the size of a human infant, a vishindo moves slowly but with great stealth. Furthermore, it crawls up walls and across ceilings as easily as it skulks along the ground.
In its natural form, a vishindo is hardly a physical threat. It can, however, become a 4-foot-diameter spider. In this form, gains a tough exoskeleton and a venomous bite. In its natural form, a vishindo has a dangerous magical ability. It sneaks into the presence of its sleeping victim, and then it haunts the victims dreams in an invisible, ethereal state. The victim suffers tormenting dreams that wreak havoc on the victim’s health. The victim loses 1d4 Constitution points upon waking.
Vishindo
Hit Dice: 2+2
Armor Class: 8 [11] (6 [13] in spider form)
Attacks: Bite (1d6 + poison) (in spider form only)
Special: Dream haunting (in vishindo form only), poison (+1 save or die), spider form, surprise opponents on a 1-5
Move: 6 (18 in spider form)
Saving Throw: 16
Alignment: Chaos
Number Encountered: 1
Challenge Level/XP: 7/600
* Moannah, the Goddess of Desire, she who gently kindles the embers of desire, nurturing the warmth of wanting. She adds fuel to the fire, stoking it with jealousy, greed, and obsession. She turns desire into an all-consuming fire.
