Spes Magna Games

When I last posted about our The Kids’ Game campaign using Savage Worlds Deluxe Edition, I explained how fantasy heroes Foxglove, Dark Halo, and Haldir aren’t really Foxglove, Dark Halo, and Haldir. They’re really rather ordinary middle school students from Miami, Florida, who have found themselves thrust into a strange fantasy world in which they become heroic members of the Guard.

In our two most recent sessions, the kids returned to Miami, arriving at the school playground just a few hours after they were transported to the fantasic world of Aysle. There they met Carlos (played by guest star Alex). The kids evaded the police, who were looking for the allegedly missing children. Bit by bit, the kids pieced together what had happened since the strange attack on Old Man Sutherland’s home.

According to the news, Sutherland was in the hospital in serious but stable condition. He was being watched by the police, and was accused of being some sort of money launderer for a drug cartel. The attack on his home was perpetrated by drug dealers. The children were wanted for questioning as witnesses. The children also heard about a homeless man killed in a state beach park. Supposedly he’d been killed by an alligator, but the children recognized his picture: He was the spitting image of the corrupt constable from Aysle.

During the two sessions over which events played out, Mario outsmarted a police detective during an interrogation as Mario’s house. Mario also deduced that the detective knew details about the attack on Sutherland’s home that only someone who was there would know. The other kids, with the help of Carlos’s mother, determined that some sort of frog-spirit was responsible for the homeless man’s death.

The kids went to the park, meeting up with Carlos’s uncle and his motorcycle gang. The kids partied a bit, and Ganke decided he really wanted to be a biker. The kids also found the stone tip from a crude spear, which, thanks to strange “bleed over” from their Aysle personae, they recognized as belonging to a bullywug hunter.

Somehow a monster from Aysle got sucked into Miami’s reality when the children returned.

The kids returned to the park at night. They did battle with a pack of killer frogs, and then hopped on their bikes and pedalled like crazy when the bullywug hunter and more killer frogs showed up. In the high speed chase-slash-fight, the kids defeated the frogs and killed the bullywug.

The session ended with the kids studying Sutherland’s home-made rulebook more closely. They learned that there are several different realms. In each realm, evil forces seek dominance with the ultimate goal of gaining sufficient power to invade Earth by means of interdimensional bridges. The key to these bridges? Something called the Possibility Chalice. The next clue to the Chalice’s location seems to be in the two-fisted, pulp realm of the Nile Empire.

And so the kids sat down to make up new characters in order to jump to a new universe.

Bullywug Hunter (Wild Card)

Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d4, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills: Climbing d6, Fighting d6, Stealth d6, Throwing d6
Pace: 6
Parry: 5
Toughness: 5
Special Abilities:

Javelin: STR + d6.

Amphibious: Breathe air and water. Pace 8 in water.

Frog Commander: May share Bennies with amphibians under its command.

Jump: Leap 1d6″ to gain +2 to attack and damage.

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I’m back to selling a few gaming items via ebay. If you’re interested, check these out, and maybe even put in a bid.

Heroes of Olympus: A Task Force Role Playing Game was published as a boxed set in 1981. Conceived and written by B. Dennis “Chariot of” Sustare, this unusual game combines fantasy roleplaying in mythical Greece with squad level wargaming action. This game was (at least) almost unique among roleplaying games of the time.

I wrote Path of Legend for the Dawnforge: Crucible of Legend campaign setting published by Fantasy Flight Games using the d20 System. This adventure was designed to introduce players to Dawnforge. According to the front cover, it is a “Legendary Quest in the World of Dawnforge”. According to the back cover, “The adventure leads new heroes from 1st to 5th level, and also offers them the chance to earn their first legend point. The adventure provides a compelling mix of location and event-based encounters, and rewards roleplaying and puzzle-solving as well as combat.”

Tags: ebay, monsters, Savage Wednesday, Savage Worlds, The Kids' Game

Today, the Tuesday Terror returns with a vengeance.

The mirror ghost (also called Bloody Mary) seeks to visit terrible vengeance on the living, but it is seldom encountered, as it exists in Vioo, the barren, dark realm that exists on the other side of mirrors and mirror-like surfaces (which form the only passages through which light passes into Vioo). The mirror ghost can only affect the Material Realm when summoned.

Mirror Ghost
Medium undead, any evil

Armor Class 12
Hit Points 82 (15d8+15)
Speed 0 ft., fly 45 ft. (hover)

STR 8 (-1), DEX 15 (+2), CON 12 (+1), INT 12 (+1), WIS 14 (+2), CHA 19 (+4)

Damage Resistances acid, fire, lightning, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities cold, necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages any languages it knew in life
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)

Conditional Invisibility. On the Material Plane, the mirror ghost is invisible except for its reflection. A creature can target the mirror ghost via its reflection, but ranged attacks made this way have disadvantage.

Incorporeal Movement. The mirror ghost can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.

Mirror Sight. The mirror ghost can see 60 feet into the Material Plane when it is in Vioo, and vice versa.

Mirror Travel. Once summoned the Material Plane, the mirror ghost, on its turn, can use 10 feet of its movement to step magically into one reflective surface within its reach and emerge from a second reflective surface within 60 feet of the first reflective surface, appearing in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the second reflective surface. Both surfaces must be Small or larger.

Actions

Withering Touch. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (4d6+4) necrotic damage.

Bane (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The mirror ghost can curse up to three creatures of its choice that it can see within 30 feet. Each creature must make DC 16 Charisma saving throw. For 1 minute whenever a target that fails this saving throw makes an attack roll or a saving throw, the target must roll a d4 and subtract the number rolled from the attack roll or saving throw.

Summoning Chant (Recharge 6). While in Vioo, the mirror ghost can compel a living creature that sees its own reflection from no farther away than 60 feet and behind which the mirror ghost hides. The creature must succeed on a DC 16 Charisma saving throw or be rooted to the spot and compelled to say the mirror ghost’s name once per turn for three turns. During this time, the creature is restrained. At the start of the creature’s turn, it must use its bonus action to speak aloud the mirror ghost’s name. The target can repeat the saving throw with disadvantage at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. The target is immune to this mirror ghost’s Summoning Chant for 24 hours after succeeding on the saving throw. The mirror ghost can enter the Material Plane on its turn after the third time its name is spoken by a creature. The mirror ghost can remain on the Material Plane for no more than 24 hours.

Tags: 5E D&D, monsters, Tuesday Terror

Well, I’ve not done a very good job keeping up with this blog, my writing, et cetera, over the past two or so weeks. Not sure why. No excuses. Here I go again.

First up is a magic item inspired by The Moody Blues, probably the first prog rock band. The song is “Candle of Life” from To Our Children’s Children’s Children.

“Something you can’t hide says you’re lonely. / Hidden deep inside of you, only / It’s there for you to see. Take a look and be. / Burn slowly, the candle of life.”

Candle of Life: A candle of life is a magical taper that bolsters the life force of the one who lights it. The candle illuminates a 15-foot radius, and it will burn for 4 hours. It is possible to extinguish the candle by typical means, but it can be placed in a lantern or otherwise sheltered to protect it from drafts, et cetera. While the candle burns, the one who lit it must remain within the its radius of illumination to gain the following benefits. The user regenerates 1 hit point per turn so long as he or she is not dead. The user gains a +4 bonus to saving throws against disease, death magic, energy drain, poison, and aging. If one of these effects would not allow a saving throw, the candle‘s user is entitled to a saving throw, but with no special bonus.

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Next up, how about a new monster by a talented artist? Visit this site and check out a few creatures created by Lukaz Jaskolski. The monster below is inspired by his bug horror entitled “Predator Creature 1”. Enjoy!

Mortid
Frequency: Rare
No. Appearing: 1-6
Armor Class: 2
Move: 15″
Hit Dice: 8+8
% in Lair: 40%
Treasure Type: J-N, Q (x2)
No. of Attacks: 5
Damage/Attack: 1-6/1-6/2-5/2-5/1-4
Special Attacks: See below
Special Defenses: See below
Magic Resistance: Standard
Intelligence: Average
Alignment: Chaotic evil
Size: M
Psionic Ability: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
Level/XP Value: VII/2,200 + 12/hp

The mortid is a horrific undead creature with a thick carapace and a skull-like visage. It scuttles about on four legs, and it attacks with its four claw-like appendages and its jagged teeth. Like most undead, the mortid hates the living, especially all types of elves.

This monster is stealthy and expert at camoflauge. It surprises prey on a roll of 1-4 (out of 6). The mortid can leap 3″ upon prey in order to attack. Its upper limbs strike with scimitar-like blades. Its lower striking appendages are blunter but still effective weapons. The mortid’s bite is not especially strong, but it has a powerful negative force that drains 1 life energy level from the victim, complete with corresponding losses in hit dice, ability level, attack level, et cetera.

The mortid is affected only by magical weapons. It regenerates at a rate of 3 hit points per melee round, but is destroyed if brought to 0 hit points. Sleep, charm, and hold spells do not affect the mortid. Neither does poison or paralysis, and it takes only half damage from spells based on cold or electricity.

Holy water splashed upon the mortid causes 2-7 hit points of damage per vial-full that strikes the monster. A cleric can turn the mortid as if it were a vampire.

Any elf drained of all life energy by the mortid becomes a half-strength mortid under the control of its slayer. This transformation takes place 1 day after the elf is buried, but only if the elf is buried. If the mortid which slew the elf is itself killed, the mortids created by it become free-willed monsters.

Tags: AD&D, magic items, monsters, prog rock, ThursdAD&D

This week’s Tuesday Terror can be viewed with caution by clicking on the monster’s name below. The illustrator is Bobby Rebholz. Check out his ArtStation portfolio. His style and subject matter reminds me a bit of Wayne Barlowe.

The karphanoid is a huge creature with stilt-like legs, a short body, and a long whip-like tail. It appears to be a monstrous combination of insect and reptile. Aggressive and predatory, the karphanoid feeds on blood, draining it from its prey by means of a spiked proboscis.

Karphanoid
Huge monstrosity, unaligned

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 85 (9d12+27)
Speed 45 ft.

STR 21 (+5), DEX 11 (+1), CON 17 (+3), INT 2 (-4), WIS 12 (+1), CHA 7 (-2)

Saving Throws CON +6
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages —
Challenge 5 (1,100 XP)

Keen Sight. The karphanoid has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Actions

Multiattack. The karphanoid makes three attacks with its stomp, its tentacle or its blood drain, and its tail.

Stomp. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 23 (4d8+5) bludgeoning damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8+5) bludgeoning damage plus 9 (2d8) piercing damage. If the target is Large or smaller, it is grappled (escape DC 15) and restrained until the grapple ends, and the karphanoid cannot use its tentacle against another target.

Blood Drain. At the start of each of the karphanoid’s turns, it drains blood from a creature grappled by the karphanoid’s tentacle. The target loses 17 (5d4+5) hit points due to blood loss.

Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 27 (5d8+5) bludgeoning damage.

Tags: 5E D&D, monsters, Tuesday Terror

This week’s Tuesday Terror isn’t really a terror. Dan May is an artist who has created a “Gentle Creatures” series of paintings. Take some time to browse through the galleries on his site and blog.

Many of Mr. May’s pieces feature humanoid creatures, horned and with small eyes, whatever other facial features they might have lost in soft fur. These creatures vary in size, ranging from what looks to be small child to ponderous giant. In almost all of the pieces, these creatures appear gentle, thoughtful, even contemplative, but there is also a protective, mentoring dimension to several of Mr. May’s pieces that makes me wonder how such a beast may act when what it loves is threatened.

The kruhafifa live in deep forests and rugged hills. They seldom interact with creatures other than beasts or fey, although stories of lost children being led back to civilization by a kruhafifa have been told for generations. These gentle beasts forage for fruits, nuts, and roots, and they avoid confrontation whenever possible.

Kruhafifa
Medium fey, neutral good

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 114 (12d8+60)
Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft.

STR 19 (+4), DEX 12 (+1), CON 21 (+5), INT 7 (-2), WIS 14 (+2), CHA 12 (+1)

Skills Insight +4, Perception +4
Damage Resistances cold
Senses darkvision 90 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Sylvan, speak with animals always active
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

Beast Friend. Unaligned beasts never attack the kruhafifa unless magically controlled or the kruhafifa attacks the beast. A magically controlled beast compelled to attack the kruhafifa must make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the beast must choose a new target or lose the attack.

Charge. If the kruhafifa moves at least 15 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a ram attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 5 (2d4) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Magic Resistance. The kruhafifa has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Size Alteration. As a bonus action, the kruhafifa can grow larger or smaller for 1 minute. Everything the kruhafifa is wearing and carrying changes size with it. Any item dropped by the kruhafifa returns to normal size at once.

When the kruhafifa enlarges, its size doubles in all dimensions, and its weight is multiplied by eight. This growth increases its size by one category. If there isn’t enough room for the kruhafifa to double its size, the kruhafifa the maximum possible size in the space available. Until the effect ends, the kruhafifa has advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws. The kruhafifa’s weapons also grow to match its new size. While these weapons are enlarged, the kruhafifa’s attacks with them deal 1d4 extra damage.

When the kruhafifa reduces, its size is halved in all dimensions, and its weight is reduced to one-eighth of normal. This reduction decreases its size by one category. Until the effect ends, the kruhafifa has disadvantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws. The kruhafifa’s weapons also shrink to match its new size. While these weapons are reduced, the kruhafifa’s attacks with them deal 1d4 less damage (this can’t reduce the damage below 1).

Actions

Multiattack. The kruhafifa makes two slam attacks or one ram attack.

Ram. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d4+4) bludgeoning damage.

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) bludgeoning damage.

Tags: 5E D&D, monsters, Tuesday Terror