Monstrous Mondays: The Five Spirits of the Grimorium Verum

I have been on a months-long Occult D&D research project, looking for ways to add more occultism and ritual magic to my OSR/AD&D games. One thing that came up in my research was the Grimorium Verum^[1][2], or the True Grimoire. Within were five demons, or spirits, that were associated with malefic witchcraft. There are a lot more of these (18 in total), but these are the five I am focusing on now.

Now, seeing how I have a lot of demons already, I thought it might be interesting to try and make this pentad into something else.

The Five Spirits of the Grimorium Verum

Surgat, Frimost, Silcharde, Bechard, and Guland

In the Grimorium Verum, these spirits are not “princes of Hell” but operational tutelary spirits, meaning they are summoned for specific types of magical work. They have jobs to do. They form a functional unit often referred to by occultists as the Five Servitors. They are not demons or devils, and fall outside of the hierarchies and power struggles of the creatures of the lower planes.  

Each can act as a witch's or warlock's patron, but most often they are used in conjunction with the others. Even witches and warlocks with other patrons can summon these spirits.

Summoning these spirits is not an evil act in itself. However, the knowledge and power gained are often used for evil purposes; aka Maleficia.

Their common traits:

• All five are primarily invoked in witchcraft rituals, not theological demonology.
• Their powers correspond to typical maleficia: seduction, storms, deception, disease, and unbinding.
• They act as tutelary spirits, entities who “teach a witch how to do” the thing they themselves embody.
• They are not rivals; they form a loose cohort, each governing one sphere of maleficia.
• In folklore, they sometimes appear as a witch’s familiars in spirit form, each taking animal shapes (goat, wolf, owl, rat, or snake).

Surgat

Title: The Opener of All Locks

Sphere: Unlocking, unbinding, access, paths

Witchcraft Role: Patron of spell-breaking, opening portals, bypassing barriers

Typical Animal Form: Owl

Surgat is invoked when a witch needs to:

• Open a locked door (physical or magical)
• Break an enchantment
• Cross a boundary normally forbidden
• Find a hidden path or secret entrance

In folklore he is “the spirit who removes obstacles,” but at a price. Symbolically, Surgat represents the act of transgression, and witches petition him when attempting forbidden travel, escape, or the violation of taboo spaces.

Relationship to the others:

He begins the process. Surgat opens the way so the others may act.

Frimost

Title: The Seducer and Subduer

Sphere: Love philtres, lust, domination

Witchcraft Role: Glamours, charms, influence, the bending of hearts

Typical Animal Form: Goat

Frimost is associated with:

• Causing love, lust, obsession
• Enthralling a target
• Empowering erotic magic
• Creating magical bonds between partners (consensual or not in medieval texts)

Witches call on Frimost when they wish to bend or sway another’s will through desire. He is also linked to glamour magic in some French folk traditions.

Relationship to the others:

He acts within the opening created by Surgat, influencing those who stand in the witch’s path.

Silcharde

Title: The Fraudulent Spirit

Sphere: Trickery, lies, deception, invisibility

Witchcraft Role: Glamours, illusions, shape-altering, persuasive lies

Typical Animal Form: Snake

Silcharde teaches witches:

• How to deceive others
• How to lie convincingly
• How to cloak their activities
• How to create false images, ghostly lights, or illusions

He is the classic witch-trickster spirit and the likely origin of the folklore that witches could “bewitch sight.”

Relationship to the others:

He ensures the witch’s actions remain concealed, while Frimost affects minds and Surgat opens doors.

Bechard

Title: The Lord of Storms and Tempests

Sphere: Weather magic, thunder, whirlwinds, destructive forces of nature

Witchcraft Role: Storm-raising, blighting crops, harvest magic

Typical Animal Form: Wolf

Bechard rules:

• Tempests and whirlwinds
• Thunder and lightning
• Weather harmful to crops
• Illness brought by bad winds

He is central to early-modern accusations of witches causing hailstorms and destroying harvests.

Relationship to the others:

Bechard is invoked when the witch wants direct malefic harm done after the others have prepared the way.

Guland

Title: The Bringer of Disease

Sphere: Sickness, fever, wasting illness

Witchcraft Role: Malediction, curses, bodily harm

Typical Animal Form: Rat

Guland is invoked to:

• Cast wasting diseases
• Aggravate fevers
• Harm livestock
• Create curses that manifest physically

He is the most feared of the five, and his powers are the source for the old belief that witches could “blight by touch.”

Relationship to the others:

Guland is the finishing blow, the result of the process begun by Surgat and supported by the other three.

--

In my notes, I wrote "like the Cult of Skaro" from Doctor Who. Five elite demons/tutelary spirits/cthonic spirits that exsist outside of the hierarchies of demons/devils and yet serve and are served by all. They are evil, I would like to think of them as demonized gods or spirits. 

I thought about doing stats for them, and even began Surgat's, but ultimately I decided not to do them. Why? Well, these are not combat creatures; they are forces. Given their command of magic, I can see each having multiple ways to kill characters instantly and even more ways just to avoid combat altogether. So, combat stats seem rather pointless to be honest. 

If you must, then they should be between 22 and 25 HD at the very least. 

Now to work them into regular rotation in my games.

Monstrous Tuesdays: The Chenoo

 Little delay today. Had internet issues off and on AND the first measurable snowfall here in Chicago. I am sure these are not related. 

My wife and I have been watching the AMC series "Dark Winds." It is based on the books by Tony Hillerman about Navajo Tribal police. It is a police procedural, but but set in the 1970s and has unique issues of its own due to the interactions between the various law enforcement entities (tribal police, sheriff, border patrol, FBI) and the Navajo culture. It also features quite a bit of dialogue in Diné, the language of the Diné/Navajo people. It is really good, and maybe just a little depressing at times. 

I have mentioned before that I have always had a fascination with Dickson Mounds and Cahokia Mounds, as well as the Kaskaskia peoples. Many of the indigenous names, or their French or English derivatives, still name many places here that I am familiar with.

When the first snow falls in Chicago, local mainstay WXRT-FM always plays Frank Zappa's "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow."  Well. I wanted to do a snow monster for today AND also do something from Native American lore. I really didn't want to do another Wendigo (as much as I enjoy them), but thankfully I found a monster that fits my needs.

Drawing of a Chenoo

Chenoo

Undead Spirit of Hunger and Greed

FREQUENCY: Very Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1 (unique) or 1–3
ARMOR CLASS: 2
MOVE: 9"/24" (fly)
HIT DICE: 7+7
% IN LAIR: 30%
TREASURE TYPE: D (in life, hoarded)
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 (touch or bite)
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2–8 plus special
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Energy drain, cold aura, wail of hunger
SPECIAL DEFENSES: +1 or better weapon to hit, immune to charm, sleep, hold, and cold
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 25%
INTELLIGENCE: Average (8–10)
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Evil
SIZE: L (9–10' tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
LEVEL/XP VALUE: VII / 1,200 + 10/hp

A Chenoo is the cursed spirit of a mortal who refused charity in life. Greedy, proud, and cold-hearted, they hoarded food and wealth while others starved. When they died, their souls were claimed by the cold hunger they had unleashed upon others. Now they appear as towering, frost-covered corpses with sunken features and teeth of ice, eyes glowing pale. Their presence chills the air, and their howls echo the cries of the starving.

A Chenoo attacks living beings out of an insatiable envy of warmth and sustenance. Its icy touch drains one energy level per hit, and any creature slain by this attack becomes a frozen corpse that will rise as a lesser Chenoo (4+4 HD) within a day unless blessed or burned.

Their aura radiates a 10’ cold zone, dealing 1–4 points of cold damage per round to all within range (save vs. spell for half).

Once per night, the Chenoo may utter a Wail of Hunger, a keening cry that forces all living creatures within 60’ to make a saving throw vs. spells or be overcome with magical hunger and weakness, reducing Strength and Constitution by –2 for 1d4 turns. Those who die under this curse are said to have their souls devoured, leaving behind a husk of snow and bone.

Solitary spirits, chenoo are found in frozen forests, desolate mountains, or abandoned villages where famine once struck. They remember their mortal lives dimly, clutching at phantom possessions and muttering about stolen food or ungrateful neighbors. Some witches claim that a chenoo’s curse can be undone if the spirit is offered a feast and genuine forgiveness, but few have survived to confirm it.

These undead creatures do not eat, yet they hunger eternally. They despise the living, especially those who share food or generosity, as such kindness burns them like holy fire. Their presence can blight the land for miles, causing game to vanish and winter to linger unnaturally long.

Chenoo are turned as Spectres. Lesser chenoo are turned as wraiths.

Monstrous Mondays: The Ankou, Harvest Spirit of the Dead

 Today is the first day of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. Yesterday we all piled into the Honda Odyssey and partook in our family tradition of hitting the apple orchards in the northern part of the state.  We also still have a bunch of tomatoes and hot peppers in the backyard to harvest. It is our modern harvest celebration.  So to celebrate the second of three harvest celebrations, Lughnasadh, Mabon, and Samhain, here is a monster associated with them.

The Ankou

(Spirit of the Harvest Dead, Servant of Death)

Frequency: Very Rare
No. Appearing: 1
Armor Class: 1
Move: 12"
Hit Dice: 8+8
% in Lair: 30%
Treasure Type: None
No. of Attacks: 1 (scythe)
Damage/Attack: 2–12 (plus special)
Special Attacks: Wither, death strike, aura of dread
Special Defenses: +1 or better weapon to hit; immune to sleep, charm, and hold spells; turned as spectre
Magic Resistance: Standard
Intelligence: Average (10)
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Size: M (man-sized, gaunt)
Psionic Ability: Nil
Level/XP Value: VIII/2,800 + 12/hp

The Ankou is a dreaded harvest revenant, said to be either the spirit of a cruel farmer cursed to reap souls, or a servant of Death itself. It appears only during the great harvest festivals of Lughnasadh, Mabon, and Samhain. At dusk, it is a fleeting shadow on the fields, but by night, it roams openly: a skeletal figure in ragged peasant garb, a wide-brimmed hat casting a shadow over its skull-like face. Within its eye sockets, cold points of balefire burn.

The Ankou carries a great mowing scythe, which functions as a Sword of Nine Lives Stealing. On a natural roll of 20, the victim must save vs. death magic or perish instantly, their soul cut down like wheat at harvest.

The Ankou fights as a skilled reaper, striking once per round with its enchanted scythe. It can also call upon its powers of decay:

•     Wither Crops & Beasts: Once per night, the Ankou may extend its hand toward a field or herd within 6". Crops blight instantly, and livestock sicken. This ability can affect up to 1 acre per HD of the Ankou. No saving throw is allowed for plants or animals, although magical herds (such as pegasi and unicorns) may save against spells to resist.
  
  
•     Aura of Dread: Any creature within 30' must save vs. spells or suffer a –2 penalty on attack rolls and morale. This is not cumulative with a fear effect but is constant while the Ankou is visible.
  
  
•     Death Strike: On a critical hit (natural 20), see above. The scythe of the Ankou is part of it's existence. If the Ankou is destroyed, the scythe is also destroyed. 

The Ankou may be turned as a spectre, though it will often resist by summoning a cold wind and vanishing into shadow.

The Ankou wanders the fields and barrows of rural lands, sometimes seen by day as a distant silhouette, always acting by night. Peasants leave offerings of bread, cider, or the last sheaf of wheat to appease it. If ignored, it will strike at fields and flocks, leaving ruin in its wake.

Witches sometimes whisper that the Ankou is not a true undead but a manifestation of the dying year itself. Its role is to ensure that the harvest is paid for in blood and that the cycle of death and rebirth continues.

The Ankou cannot be permanently slain by weapons or spells. If destroyed, its form reconstitutes at the next Lughnasadh, unless a Remove Curse or Exorcism is performed at its lair (usually a barrow mound, gallows tree, or abandoned farmhouse).

It is believed there is never more than one Ankou per land, and that each year’s harvest binds a different soul into the role, chosen from the cruel or the damned. Some claim that those who die alone at harvest are most likely to become Ankou. The Ankou disappears after Samhain, not to return till next year.

--

Been wanting to do this guy for years. This came out of a conversation that none of the Halloween scarecrows we saw were scary enough. 

#RPGaDay2025 Day 7 Journey

"Not all journeys begin on roads. Some start on broomsticks, others in dreams, or through a mirror no one else sees."

 - From the Journal of Larina Nix

A few days back, I talked about the Tavern as the iconic adventuring location, maybe as famous as the dungeon itself. But that’s only one, very early stop on the Journey. Capital J.

When I think of the Journey for characters, I can’t help but go full myth-nerd and drift back to Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces and the whole Hero’s Journey structure. That moment of Departure, when the character leaves the known world behind and enters the realm of magic, danger, and transformation? That’s the real start of the story. Not the tavern. Not the rumors. Not the first goblin in a dark hallway. But that choice, that first real step.

Now, for most D&D-style characters, that might be heading off with sword and/or spellbook, saying goodbye to the family farm, or signing on for a job in a shady city.

But for witches? It’s a little different.

Their journeys often begin in the unknown. It’s not “go out and find magic.” It’s “magic came calling, and now you’re part of it whether you like it or not.” It starts when the moon speaks. When the cat stares too long. When you dream of fire and wake with cinders in your hair. When you start to understand what the crows are saying.

Larina’s journey didn’t begin on a trail or caravan road. It began the moment she heard the voice of the Goddess, when she could see ghosts, and when she stepped behind her grandmother’s mirror and realized she could see her own reflection walking away.

That moment, the crossing of the first threshold, is crucial. And in gaming terms, it’s one of the most rewarding to roleplay, even if most of the time we skip right past it with a background paragraph.

But what if we didn’t?

What if we slowed down and let that Journey take shape in play? What if we saw the moment a young hedge witch received her first vision, or a would-be warlock stood at the edge of the Standing Stones, whispering a name they don’t remember learning?

Journeys matter. Not just because they get you from Level 1 to 20, but because they reveal who your character is, and what they’re willing to become.

And for witches, that journey never truly ends. It just spirals onward, like a sigil carved in bone, leading deeper into the mystery.

For witches I replace the circle of the Monomyth with the Spiral Dance.  

I'll come back to this more. 

Questions

When. Proud. Adventure.

When was my proudest moment in an adventure? So many, really. When my kids discovered the plot concocted by the demons to kill all the gods of the sun to invade the world. When they killed Strahd. When *I* killed Strahd nearly 30 years prior to that. When running Ghosts of Albion Blight and one group REALLY embraced their roles as the Protectors of Ériu. It's why I keep dong this!

https://www.autocratik.com/ • https://www.castingshadowsblog.com/

Witchcraft Wednesday: The (Second) Return of Rhiannon and Briana Highstar

 I was doing some cleaning in my office yesterday. Partially cleaning, partially avoiding work, but also gathering up everything I had been working on for the last few years (spoiler, it has been 5 years of solid work and 12 total of "picking at it") for this new project I playing around with. I have been thinking I need some good examples of an Archwitch and a Witch Priestess. When in a stack of characters, I found my versions of Grenda's, witches Briana Highstar and Rhiannon. 

They are both featured in my new The Left Hand Path - The Diabolic & Demonic Witchcraft Traditions, as "Basic-era" Witches of the Diabolic and Malefic traditions, respectively. Both are listed as 8th-level Witches. But I was thinking, what if I "advanced" them? And by that, I mean move them over to Advanced D&D and have them take my new Advanced classes. I mentioned a while back that they did not know each other, but in my AD&D game, I am thinking they met up and decided to form a coven. 

While covens are typically made up of the same traditions, they don't have to be. I have even talked about a "Grand Coven" that includes witches, warlocks, and other members. This marks the beginning of their Grand Coven, dedicated to evil. Since I have already decided that they are in my Forgotten Realms game there is no reason why they can't meet up with my other witches Moria and Amaranth. Though neither of them are exactly evil, they are different kinds of "hellspawn."

This will give me more chances to pleytest these new classes. I think one change I am making, if these Advanced Classes are taken after 7th level, the witch still gets their 6th level Occult Power.  It didn't dawn on my until last night while working up their new sheets that an Advanced class is a good way to bring a "Basic" character over to AD&D. For example, with this idea I could make a Paladin or Ranger an Advanced class, starting off as a fighter first. I'll have to play around with this idea. 

In the meantime, here are Briana Highstar and Rhiannon again, with their new classes in place.

Briana Highstar
Human Female

Archwitch 8th level
Diabolic Tradition
Patron: Mephistopheles
Alignment: Lawful Evil

STR: 12 
INT: 17 
WIS: 15
DEX: 16
CON: 13
CHA: 17

Paralyze/Poison: 11
Petrification/Polymorph: 11
Rod, Staff, or Wands: 12
Breath Weapon: 14
Spells: 13

AC: 5 (Leather +2)
HP: 24
To Hit AC 0: 18

Weapon: Whip
Armor: Leather +2

Occult Powers
Familiar: Cat 
Minor: Evil's Touch

Spells
First Level: Burning Hands, Charm Person, Far Sight, Sonic Blast, Spirit Dart
Second Level: Burning Gaze, ESP, Grasp of the Endless War, Invisibility, Suggestion
Third Level: Bestow Curse, Dispel Magic, Scry
Fourth Level: Arcane Eye, Divination, Phantom Lacerations

Hair: Black
Eyes: Grey
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 136 lbs

Languages: Common, LE, Elvish, Goblin, Diabolic, Abyssal, Giant, Orc

Rhiannon
Human Female

Witch Priestess 8th Level
Malefic Tradition (Previously Craft of the Wise)
Patron: Ereshkigal
Alignment: Neutral Evil

STR: 11
INT: 17 
WIS: 17
DEX: 16
CON: 15
CHA: 16

Paralyze/Poison: 11
Petrification/Polymorph: 11
Rod, Staff, or Wands: 12
Breath Weapon: 14
Spells: 13

AC: 5
HP: 32
To Hit AC 0: 18

Weapon: Dagger of Venom
Armor: Leather

Occult Powers
Familiar: Mourning Dove
Minor: Impure Touch

Spells
First Level: Blight Growth, Charm Person, Chill of Death, Sleep, Touch of Suggestion
Second Level: Agony, Beastform, Disfiguring Touch, Evil Eye, Protective Penumbra
Third Level: Bestow Curse, Bleed for Your Master, Scry
Fourth Level: Fangs of the Strix, Spirtual Dagger 

Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5'1"
Weight: 114 lbs

--

OGL Section 15: COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Character Clip Art & Color Customizing Studio Copyright 2002, Elmore Productions, Inc.; Authors Larry Elmore and Ken Whitman, Art and illustrations by Larry Elmore.

--

So obviously Rhiannon forms this coven and become the high priestess of it. Briana provides the "great work" they all must do. What is that? No idea yet. 

I would love to include Amaranth in this, but I tend to refer to her as a "cotton candy Tiefling" that is she is light, fluffy and sweet. At least that is how I have presented her in The Witch - Book of Shadows for ShadowDark. Still, the prospect of her joining this coven is a fun one. Maybe something happens to make her choose to embrace her evil side? I wonder what it will be?

I also need to figure out what sort of Grand Coven would have both Ereshkigal and Mephistopheles (and maybe even Lilith) as patrons? The intersection of these two (three), witchcraft mythology-wise is Astaroth (by way of Sumeria to Astarte), which I do like as an option. And their coven needs a name. I have wanted to use Astaroth more. Maybe I can bring in Babylon into this too!

Character Creation Challenge: Damelon Myrildean

 I am not sure how many old players had generational characters, but Grenda and I certainly did. This stack of characters I have were not sorted by date and certainly not by family. So, finding Adnerg's grandson here is kind of neat.

Damelon Myrildean was not just a wizard; he was an avatar of fire. He was trapped on the Elemental plane of Fire for a number of years. Yeah, he was part of the "lost son" cliché, but here I am embracing the clichés.  Which is fun, because Damelon was not much like his grandsire, but he was who you called when you absolutely needed everything burned from orbit.

Damelon is also one of the first characters I have detailed here from "Rivendell." Not the "Rivendell" but the city he created while we were in High School. It was part of our great city project, the Urban Survival Guide.

He did rename the city later to "Riddleholm." 

Damelon also seems to be somewhat influenced by Elric, with his Strength and Constitution scores of 3/18. Again, I am not 100% sure what was happening here, but I like it.

Damelon Myrildean

Class: Sorcerer
Level: 18
Species: Human
Alignment: Twilight Neutral
Background: Scholarly

Abilities
Strength: 3 (-3) / 18 (+3)     
Agility: 17 (+2)     
Toughness: 3 (-3) / 18 (+3)
Intelligence: 18 (+3)  
Wits: 17 (+2) 
Persona: 17 (+2) 

Fate Points: 1d12
Defense Value: 3
Vitality: 40 (d4)
Degeneracy: 3
Corruption: 1

Check Bonus (A/N/D): +8/+6/+4
Melee Bonus: +3 (base)
Ranged Bonus: +3 (base)
Spell Attack Bonus: +9
Saves: +4 vs magic attacks and area effects

Arcane Powers
Astral Projection, Polymath, Shapeshifting, Wild Form

Spells
1st level (5+2): Arcane Darts, Black Flames, Gout of Flame, Mystical Senses, Restore Vitality, Flame Ray (Chill Ray), Phantom Lights
2nd level (5): Conjure Flame, Eternal Flame, Heat Metal, Invoke Fear, Vampiric Augmentation
3rd level (5): Blinding Speed, Concussive Blast, Conjure Fireworks, Dark Lightning, Protection against Energy 
4th level (4): Conjure Fire, Globe of Daylight, Improved Invisibility, Metamorphosis
5th level (4): Blight, Elemental Wall, Summon Elemental, Telekinesis
6th level (4): Disintegrate, Evaporation, Envoke Weather, Instant Death
7th level (3): Ball of Sunshine, Drain Life, Wave of Mutilation
8th level (3): Mind Shield, Snuff Life, Summon Other
9th level (2): Feedback Barrier, Orb of Imprisonment

Heroic Touchstones
Level 1: First level spell
Level 3: Additional first-level spell 
Level 5: Aspect control: fire
Level 7: Additional mode of movement: fly
Level 9: Magic recovery
Level 11: Conjure element: Fire
Level 13: Aspect: Fire
Level 15: Metamorphosis: Fire
Level 17: Divine Aura: Fire

Heroic (Divine) Archetype: Magic/Fire

Gear
Dagger, staff

You can get the Wasted Lands RPG and the NIGHT SHIFT RPG at Elf Lair Games.

Character Creation Challenge: Tanith Winters for Wasted Lands

 It's still cold outside. So another winter-themed character is needed, and nothing is more winter than the Winters family of witches and my current character, Tanith Winters.

Tanith is a great character to test for Wasted Lands. For starters, I have been playing her in both D&D/OSR clones and for three editions of Hyperborea. I also have used her in NIGHT SHIFT as part of the modern versions of the Winters family.

Wasted Lands and Hyperborea have similar DNA and can be used to play very similar sorts of games. The biggest difference between them setting-wise is that the Wasted Lands takes place in the distant past, and Hyperborea is in the far future.

Both games are solid in their Old-School sensibilities and feel. Both games are a lot of fun for that Dark Fantasy mixed with horror overtones with more than a little influences of Howard, Lovecraft, and Smith. 

Tanith Winters

Class: Witch (Sorcerer) 
Level: 12
Species: Human (Hyperborean)
Alignment: Neutral
Background: Barbarian

Abilities
Strength: 10 (+0) 
Agility: 12 (+0) 
Toughness: 14 (+1) N 
Intelligence: 16 (+2) N
Wits: 12 (+0) 
Persona: 16 (+2) A

Fate Points: 1d10
Defense Value: 5
Vitality: 53
Degeneracy: 0
Corruption: 0

Check Bonus (A/N/D): +5/+3/+2
Melee Bonus: +1 (base) 
Ranged Bonus: +1 (base)
Spell Attack: +6
Saves: +5 to Spells and Magical effects (Sorcerer), +2 to Toughness saves (Barbarian), +1 to Cold (Touchstone)

Sorceress Abilities
Arcana, Arcane Powers (4): Familiar: Owl Psychic Power: Cryokinesis, Enhanced Senses, Supernatural Senses

Sorceress Spells
First Level: Arcane Darts, Chill, Protection from Good/Evil, Armor of Ice
Second Level: Create Wated, Cool Metal, Lock, Unlock
Third Level: Slow, Dark Lightning, Dispel Magic, Curse 
Fourth Level: Control Tempature, Life Drain, Control Ice
Fifth Level: Blight, Elemental Wall
Sixth Level: Invoke Weather, Disentergrate

Heroic/Divine Touchstones
1st Level: +1 Saves vs. Cold
2nd Level: +1 attacks w/ Cold
3rd Level: Magical Recovery
4th Level: Defense Cold
5th Level Ray: Ray of Cold
6th Level: Cold Immunity

Heroic (Divine) Archetype: Winter

Familiar: Snowy Owl, "Beira."

Gear
Cloak of Winter

Wasted Lands & Hyperborea

Both the Wasted Lands and Hyperborea scratch a similar itch for me. I would have to say that I can play many similar games with both games. The tenor is different enough that playing the same sorts of adventures do feel different.

I'd love to try out a set of adventures, maybe even featuring the Winters family, in both Wasted Lands and then millions of years later in Hyperborea. 

Character wise, this version of Tanith is great. Hyperborea has a few more choices in spells than Wasted Lands, but there is also a big difference in size of the rule books. Granted, the spells are also largely interchangeable.  

Links

• Tanith,  Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea 2nd Ed stats
• Tanith, Hyperborea 3rd Ed stats
• Tanith, NIGHT SHIFT stats

You can get the Wasted Lands RPG and the NIGHT SHIFT RPG at Elf Lair Games.

D&DGII The Black Forest Mythos: The Mother Goddesses Herde Oberin, Mutter Natur and Großmutter

Three more Goddesses today for my Black Forest Mythos. All are "mother" Goddesses and have quite a lot of control. Herde Oberin is the wife of Unser Vater and represents the home and hearth. She has aspects of Juno/Hera and Frigg as well as Hestia. Mutter Natur, or "Mother Nature" is the anthropomorphized Nature.  The last is Großmutter or "Grandmother", who is Gaia in the Greek myths. She is the mother of the Gods but is also the mother of many of the other creatures in these myths, including the Álfar.  

I am undecided whether Großmutter and Mutter Natur are not aspects of the same goddess. Often times you see gods and goddesses getting reduced as the pantheons age.  BUT also you see gods and goddesses splitting off.  In this case, I am keeping them separate for now but keeping in mind they might in fact be the same being.  Mutter Natur could be an aspect of Großmutter that is in an easier-to-understand concept for these people.

Herde Oberin

Herde Oberin is the wife of Unser Vater and one of the trinity of Goddesses which includes Liebhaberin the Maiden and Helga the Crone.  She represents the Mother aspect of the trinity and is the protector of the home and hearth and the family.  She is responsible for all things that happen within the home.  Unser Vater may be the chieftain of the gods, but in the home, her word is law. Spells and prayers to protect a home or children always invoke her name.

She combines aspects of Frigg/Frigga, Hera/Juno, and Hestia. She is not a jealous sort as is Hera/Juno because she is the regal queen who knows how to get what she wants/needs through her own power. 

HERDE OBERIN (Queen of the Gods)
Greater Goddess

ARMOR CLASS: 1
MOVE: 12" 
HIT POINTS: 350
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 3d8
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Magic
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Commanding Presence
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 75%

SIZE: M (5' 6")
ALIGNMENT: Lawful Good
WORSHIPER'S ALIGN: All (mostly Good)
SYMBOL: Distaff
PLANE: Himmel

CLERIC/DRUID: 20th level Cleric
FIGHTER: Nil
MAGIC-USER/ILLUSIONIST: Nil
THIEF/ASSASSIN: Nil
MONK/BARD: Nil
WITCH/WARLOCK: Nile
PSIONIC ABILITY: II
S: 15 I:20 W: 23 D: 20 C: 20 CH:25

Herde Oberin is the Queen of the Gods, wife to Unser Vater, and mother to many of the younger gods. She is the rule of the home and hearth where her word is law. She provides order and calmness to the gods and their dealings. She is the peacemaker between the gods, but they all fear her wrath. 

She prefers not to attack anyone, god or mortal, but when threatened, she can. She can cast any cleric spell at the 20th level of ability. She also wields a distaff that she can use to strike anyone for 3d7 hp of damage. Within her home on Himmel she also has a Commanding Presence. She can speak and any mortal who hears her will obey. Gods and other divine beings are allowed a saving throw. Undead, constructs and other creatures normally immune to the effects of mind-affecting magic are destroyed when she uses her commanding voice.  Likewise, she can use any Power Word spell once per day.

Herde Oberin is part of a Trinity of Goddess who see the well-being of mortals from birth to death. Liebhaberin the Maiden sees life begin, Herde Oberin the Mother sees life grow and flourish, and Helga the Crone sees life end and takes the souls beyond.  In this manner, they interact with the Fata Norne.

Animal: Dog or cat
Rainment: (Head) circlet or crown (Body) Simple garments
Color(s): White, 
Holy Days: Summer and Winter Solstices
Sacrifices: A small bit of food and drink left out at night
Place of Worship: The home

Mutter Natur

The Goddess of Nature and the Earth. She is the Mother of Ôstara, and she holds the same place in these myths as Demeter/Ceres. Likewise she has a mystery cult dedicated to her as Demeter did with the Eleusinian Mysteries. From the Germanic/Norse people she takes on aspects of Frigg (like Herde Oberin) but also of Woden/Odin due to her mystery cult. As Odin knew many secrets, so too does Mutter Natur. 

Mutter Natur is the goddess that druids would worship. Her mystery cult is comprised of a type of early European Celtic type of Druid adapted from the La Tène culture of Europe.

MUTTER NATUR (Goddess of Earth and Nature)
Greater Goddess

ARMOR CLASS: 1
MOVE: 18" / 24"
HIT POINTS: 300
NO. OF ATTACKS: See below
DAMAGE/ATTACK: See below
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Blight/Bless
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Blight/Bless
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 60%

SIZE: M (6' 1")
ALIGNMENT: Neutral 
WORSHIPER'S ALIGN: All (Farmers, Druids, Mystery Cultists)
SYMBOL: A circle
PLANE: Prime Material

CLERIC/DRUID: 25th level Druid
FIGHTER: Nil
MAGIC-USER/ILLUSIONIST: Nil
THIEF/ASSASSIN: Nil
MONK/BARD: Nil
WITCH/WARLOCK: Nil
PSIONIC ABILITY: II
S: 11 I:20 W: 24 D: 25 C: 20 CH:20

Mutter Natur is the Goddess of the Earth, Nature, and all growing things. If Herde Oberin is the Goddess of Domestic life then Mutter Natur is the Goddess of all things wild. She is the daughter of Großmutter and the mother of Ôstara. She waxes and wanes with the seasons. 

She does not attack, but she can summon any weather of her choosing to hinder or even destroy anyone that would cause her harm. This can include spells like Gust of Wind or Lightning Bolt. She can also cast spells as a Druid of the 25th level.  At her choosing, she can also have a continuous Blight or Bless aura about her that extends to 60'.

Mutter Natur has a mystery cult. This cult resembles the practice of Druids and Shamans. Here, great secrets are revealed to the members and only the members.  To divulge these secrets results in a loss of all status and power. Some even say that the Earth itself will open up and swallow anyone before they can reveal these secrets. To date no one knows what these secrets are outside of her cult and none within will risk her wrath.

Animal: All
Rainment: (Head) circlet of flowers in the spring, leaves in the fall (Body) Simple garments
Color(s): Green
Holy Days: Equinoxes
Sacrifices: Animal sacrifice at the Equinoxes. Animals are then eaten by congregants.
Place of Worship: Any open space

Großmutter

While she is called Grandmother, she is more appropriately the mother of the Gods,  Die Hüne, and many of the other creatures in this myth. She is equal to the Greek Gaia and the ancient Tiamat. Her brother/husband/lover Großvater is destroyed by their son Vater Hüne to make the night sky. Großvater is equal to Uranus/Ouranos in Greek and Roman myth and Ymir in Norse.

GROẞMUTTER (Goddess of Creation)

Intermediate Goddess

ARMOR CLASS: NA
MOVE: NA
HIT POINTS: Infinite
NO. OF ATTACKS: NA
DAMAGE/ATTACK: NA
SPECIAL ATTACKS: NA
SPECIAL DEFENSES: NA
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 100%

SIZE: Varies
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
WORSHIPER'S ALIGN: None
SYMBOL: Infinity sign
PLANE: All

CLERIC/DRUID: Nil
FIGHTER: Nil
MAGIC-USER/ILLUSIONIST: Nil
THIEF/ASSASSIN: Nil
MONK/BARD: Nil
WITCH/WARLOCK: Nil
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
S: - I: - W: - D: - C: - CH: - 

Großmutter is the creatrix goddess and has no physical form save for all the Earth people walk on. She can communicate to others via dreams or other sending. It is said she can talk directly to gods, but her voice would destroy any others that hear it.

It is believed that Mutter Natur may be her aspect in an anthropomorphic form, and this is one of the many secrets learned in her secret Mystery cult.

--

Links

• One Man's God Special: Syncretism Part 3, the Roman-Norse Pantheon
• My overview and rules for these postings
• Unser Vater, Father of the Gods
• Sisters of the Dawn, Liebhaberin and Ôstara

This is another post for my RPG Blog Carnival Horrors, Gods, and Monsters.

#RPGaDay2023 Favourite Con MODULE / ONE-SHOT

 My favorite Con Module or One Shot? Well, there are two, but that one I'll save for later this week.

The first one was when I ran Ghosts of Albion: Blight at ENWorld's Chicago Game Day at Games Plus a few years ago. I had a player who was WAY into his role-playing the ghost of Lord Byron. He really made the adventure come alive for everyone.

I am a lot grayer but also a LOT thinner now.

We all really had a great time, and I loved how well the adventure came together and how much fun everyone seemed to have had. 

Thinking about this makes me realize how much I miss playing Ghosts of Albion and Victorian Era games. 

Larina Nichols for Amazing Adventures

I have some projects going on right now that I am trying to get organized for my big Christmas break this year.  I am planning on burying myself in writing. So I am finding bits of text here, and some ideas there, and I have not even gone through my bookmarks* yet.

(*I scribble ideas on bookmarks while I read. Habit from my undergrad days.)

A couple came to me more or less at the same time.  The first was more details on what I am doing with the various incarnations of my iconic witch Larina. The other was some notes about an Amazing Adventures street-level supers game I keep batting around in my notes.  Since the new printing of Amazing Adventures (well, new printing and reorganized material) is now up on Indiegogo I thought, let's clean up one stack of notes with a post. 

The Game: Amazing Adventures

I have always been rather fond of Amazing Adventures. It is a modern version of Castles & Crusades and with the 2nd printing, the rules cleave much closer to the C&C SIEGE Engine rules. My understanding is that this new printing (a bit like a 2.5) is even closer. So close that the three books of Castles & Crusades are called "The Three Sisters" and the new three books for Amazing Adventures are called "The Three Brothers." Three brothers and three sisters? That sounds like my family. 

If you like modern games then this is a great time to get into Amazing Adventures. Especially if you are a fan of Castles & Crusades.

The Character: Larina Nichols

One thing that I do with my Larina is to have different versions of her in different games. These are truly different versions of the same character in the multiverse but connected a bit like the Eternal Champion.  These are my worlds, I get to do these things. The GREAT thing about Amazing Adventures is that it IS so much like Castles & Crusades I can make moving between a modern world and a fantasy world much easier. If I can do that with her, you can do it with any character.

Also for me, there is this notion of adventures connected by places or people and displaced in time. This would be my trilogy of adventures "All Souls Night," "Blight," and "The Dark Druid" dealing with D&D-like fantasy, Victorian-age Gothic horror, and modern supernatural respectively. Larina, or someone like her, would be there in all three, reincarnated each time to deal with the threat of the Dark Druid.

But before I can do that right, I have to make sure I can move characters, or their other incarnations, to each time.  Here is my Drosophila melanogaster for these experiments.

Larina Nichols

19th Level Witch (Arcanist)
Race: Human

Strength: 10 (0)
Dexterity: 11 (0)
Constitution: 13 (+1) P
Intelligence: 17 (+2) 
Wisdom: 17 (+2) P
Charisma: 18 (+3) P

Hit Points: 79
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
AC: 10 
BtH: +4
MEP: 226

Primary Spellcasting Attribute: Charisma

Sanity (SAN): 90 (Max), 75 (Current)

Fate Points: 6

Fate Die: 1d12

Languages: English, Latin, Gaelic, Greek, Russian (native language is English)
Background: Scholar (Librarian)
Skills: Mythology (Celtic, Norse)

Traits: Spellgifted (Enchantments/Charms)

Powers
Familiar: Cotton Ball
Spellcasting

Spells
Cantrips: (9) Arcane Mark, Dancing Lights, Detect Illusion, Detect Magic, Light, Magical Aura, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Stun
First: (5+1) Color Spray, Command, Darkness, Identity, Shield, Sleep
Second: (5+1) Alter Self, Blur, Burning Hands, Hold Person, Pyrotechnics, Scare
Third: (4+1) Aid, Blink, Nondetection, Remove Curse, Tongues
Fourth: (4) Dispel Magic, Emotion, Phantasmal Killer, Seeming
Fifth: (4) Feeblemind, Mass Suggestion, Projection, True Seeing
Sixth: (3) Mislead, Veil, Wind Walk
Seventh: (3) Prismatic Spray, Teleport without Error, Word of Recall
Eighth: (3)  Antipathy, Prismatic Wall
Ninth: (2) Astral Projection

That went pretty fast really. Like creating an AD&D 1st Character.  In fact, that should really be the main reason to check this game out; how close it is to AD&D. 

In truth, that was a LOT of fun to do. Makes me realize how much I miss playing C&C and AD&D too.

So everyone get in on that Indiegogo campaign so others can see just how much fun this game really is. 

Motherland: Fort Salem Season 2 and NIGHTSHIFT

Last year's big surprise hit for me was Motherland Fort Salem and Season 2 starts tonight!

And I can't wait!

The show gave us a very different sort of Army and a different sort of witches.  Now with Season 2 we have two different witch factions (the Army and the Spree) and an ancient group of Witch Hunters called The Camarilla.  I am also looking forward to learning more about the "Mother Language" that witches can speak called Méníshè.  Reminds me of what was trying to be done with Inha as a witch language. 

If this all sounds like a great RPG setting, you are right! This is a fantastic setting for NIGHT SHIFT.

I am stating up the characters up to the end of Season 1, but not including the game-changing season finale.

Raelle Collar
(Taylor Hickson)

5th level Witch

Base Abilities
Strength: 12 (0)
Dexterity: 13 (+1)
Constitution: 15 (+1) s
Intelligence: 12 (0) s
Wisdom: 13 (+1) P
Charisma: 15 (+1) 

HP: 19  (5d4) +5
AC: 6 combat armor
Fate Points: 1d10

Check Bonus (P/S/T): +3/+2/+1
Melee bonus: +1  Ranged bonus: +2
Saves: +4 against spells and magical effects
Arcana: Innate Magic: Wind Shear (1d6 per level of witch)

Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Blue

Spells
1st level: Cure Light Wounds, Sleep, Wind Strike* (treat as an air-based magic missile)
2nd level: Continual Flame, Levitate
3rd level: Cure Disease

Raelle lived in the part of American known as the Chippewa Cession where the Indigenous Tribal Federations are.  She is a healer of great power like her mother was.  Her mother was reported dead by the Army and Raelle blames the Army and Gen. Bellweather in particular.  She doesn't want to be there and her plan was to get enlisted in the infantry and get killed as soon as possible.  Her attitude earned her the nickname "shitbird" from Abby.

Raelle attitude changed when she met and fell in love with fellow cadet Scylla Ramshorn.

Abigail Bellweather
(Ashley Williams)

5th level Witch

Base Abilities
Strength: 12 (0) s
Dexterity: 11 (0)
Constitution: 13 (+1)
Intelligence: 14 (+1) s
Wisdom: 11 (0)
Charisma: 17 (+2) P

HP: 18 (5d4) +5
AC: 6 combat armor
Fate Points: 1d10

Check Bonus (P/S/T): +3/+2/+1
Melee bonus: +1  Ranged bonus: +1
Saves: +4 against spells and magical effects
Arcana: Innate Magic: Wind Shear (1d6 per level of witch)

Hair: Dark Brown
Eyes: Brown

Spells
1st level: Detect Snares & Pits, Obscurement, Wind Strike* (treat as an air-based magic missile)
2nd level: Levitate, Suggestion
3rd level: Curse

Abigail "Abby" Bellweather, of the East Coast Bellweathers, is the leader of the Bellweather Unit.  She starts out in the show as an arrogant, if even spoiled, girl of privilege. By the end of the series, she is the leader she was born to be.  Even her rivalries with Raelle and fellow East Coast witch Libba Swythe become something different as she accepts the responsibility of what being a soldier-witch means.

Tally Craven
(Jessica Sutton)

5th level Witch

Base Abilities
Strength: 11 (0)
Dexterity: 13 (+1) 
Constitution: 14 (+1) 
Intelligence: 13 (+1) s
Wisdom: 14 (+1) P
Charisma: 16 (+2) s

HP: 18 (5d4) +5
AC: 6 combat armor
Fate Points: 1d10

Check Bonus (P/S/T): +3/+2/+1
Melee bonus: +1  Ranged bonus: +2
Saves: +4 against spells and magical effects
Arcana: Innate Magic: Wind Shear (1d6 per level of witch)

Hair: Red
Eyes: Brown

Spells
1st level: Detect Evil, Detect Magic, Wind Strike* (treat as an air-based magic missile)
2nd level: Knock, Levitate
3rd level: Clairvoyance

Tally comes from the depleted Craven line. All her aunts had gone to fight in the Army and they all died.  She is the last of her line. She lived in the Matrifocal Allotment near Sacramento, California. She had not even seen a male until she answered her call of duty, an action her mother strongly wished her not to do.  Her power is to "see." She can detect disguised and hidden objects or people and might be one of the most powerful seers to come up in the ranks in a long time.

Tally is a sweet girl who loves with all her heart because that is what she knows.  She is fiercely loyal to her Unit.

Scylla Ramshorn
(Amalia Holm)

6th level Witch

Base Abilities
Strength: 11 (0)
Dexterity: 13 (+1) 
Constitution: 16 (+2) 
Intelligence: 14 (+1) s
Wisdom: 13 (+1) s
Charisma: 18 (+3) P

HP: 27 (6d4) +12
AC: 6 combat armor
Fate Points: 1d10

Check Bonus (P/S/T): +4/+2/+1
Melee bonus: +1  Ranged bonus: +2
Saves: +4 against spells and magical effects
Arcana: Innate Magic: Wind Shear (1d6 per level of witch)

Hair: Dark Brown
Eyes: Blue

Spells
1st level: Deathwatch, Obscurement, Wind Strike* (treat as an air-based magic missile)
2nd level: Levitate, Phantasmal Image, Suggestion
3rd level: Animate Dead, Speak with Dead

Scylla is a "Necro" or a Necromancer.  Because their power makes others uneasy they are quartered in a different part of the base. We learn that Scylla's parents were killed when she was young.   She meets and falls in love with Raelle.  Later we find out she is part of the terrorist organization known as The Spree, responsible for hundreds of deaths across the country.  Her job was to recruit Raelle, but she actually fell in love with her.

General Sarah Alder
(Lyne Renee)

20th level Witch

Base Abilities
Strength: 13 (+1) 
Dexterity: 14 (+1) 
Constitution: 20 (+4) 
Intelligence: 17 (+2) s
Wisdom: 16 (+2) s
Charisma: 20 (+4) P

HP: 123 (10d4+18) +80
AC: 6 combat armor
Fate Points: 1d10

Check Bonus (P/S/T): +8/+5/+3
Melee bonus: +7  Ranged bonus: +7
Saves: +8 against spells and magical effects
Arcana: Innate Magic: Wind Shear (1d6 per level of witch), Telepathic Transmission, Arcane Bonds (Biddies) 

Hair: Black
Eyes: Blue

Spells
1st level: Command, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Magic, Inflict Light Wounds, Protection from Evil, Wind Strike* (treat as an air-based magic missile)
2nd level: Cause Fear, Continual Flame, Lesser Restoration, Levitate, Suggestion
3rd level: Clairvoyance, Curse, Haste, Protection from Evil 10', Unholy Blight
4th level: Arcane Eye, Confusion, Hallucinatory Terrain, Phantasmal Killer, Restoration. 
5th level: Cloudkill, Commune, Domination, Telekinesis
6th level: Control Weather, Disintegrate, Feeblemind, Slay Living
7th level: Death Aura, Veneration, Wave of Mutilation, Windershins Dance
8th level: Antipathy/Sympathy, Damning Stare, Discern Location, Wail of the Banshee
9th level: Astral Projection, Breath of the Goddess, Mystic Barrier

"Honor me, make a place for me and my kind and we will win your wars."
- General Sarah Alder to Massachusetts Bay Militia, Say the Words. 

Sarah Alder was a survivor of the witch hunts of the 16th and 17th Centuries. She rallied her fellow witches at Salem, Massachusetts and presented the new government with a deal. Save us and we will fight your wars.  The US Government and the Witches have been allies ever since.  

Sarah maintains her youth with her select group of "biddies" or women that have sacrificed their own youth so she may remain forever young.  The biddies and Alder are all connected, much in the way a witch and familiar might be.  Thus Sarah can call on greater magics than her already high level has access to.

Sergeant Anacostia Quartermain
(Demetria McKinney)

10th level Witch

Base Abilities
Strength: 16 (+2) s
Dexterity: 17 (+2) 
Constitution: 16 (+2) 
Intelligence: 13 (+1) 
Wisdom: 15 (+1) P
Charisma: 16 (+2) s

HP: 45 (10d4) +20
AC: 6 combat armor
Fate Points: 1d10

Check Bonus (P/S/T): +5/+3/+2
Melee bonus: +4  Ranged bonus: +4
Saves: +5 against spells and magical effects
Arcana: Innate Magic: Wind Shear (1d6 per level of witch), Telepathic Transmission

Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown

Spells
1st level: Command, Inflict Light Wounds, Sleep, Wind Strike* (treat as an air-based magic missile)
2nd level: ESP, Levitate, Phantasmal Image, Suggestion
3rd level: Clairvoyance, Dispel Magic, Protection from Evil 10'
4th level: Arcane Eye, Phantasmal Killer, Produce Fire
5th level: Harm, Telekinesis

Staff Sergeant Anacostia Quartermain serves as the sergeant for the Bellweather Unit.  She is absolutely loyal to General Alder but also cares a great deal for the girls in her unit. 

She is a highly trained combat witch.

--

Motherland: Fort Salem would be an excellent setting, aka "Night World" for NIGHT SHIFT.  I am hoping to learn more about the witch hunters in the Camarilla this season and I hope Tally will be OK, and what ever happened to Rae and Abby.

Get NIGHT SHIFT here:

• Print copy from Elf Lair Games
• PDF from DriveThruRPG

Character Creation Challenge: BX RPG

I am posting this at the end of the month instead of the first (new month, new character) since April will be full of monsters.  But in a way, today's character is a monster in his own right.

Last month I posted the stats for Twill Topknot and before that Sarana, the first main NPCs of my War of the Witch Queens campaign.   While I have plenty more NPCs to figure out and stat up, there is one that I do need to do and figure out how he did it.  That NPC is Kelek the Cruel.

I have talked about good (evil) old Kelek in the past and I think stating him out is a good idea. He has his origins in Basic/Expert D&D, Quest for the Heartstone and The Shady Dragon Inn, so Basic-era is the obvious choice.  More so since he is my Big Bad for War of the Witch Queens.

One of the things I want to do with this is pick and choose from various RPG/OSR systems.  I did Old School Essentials with Twill.  While that doesn't mean I can't reuse it, but I would like to see what is out there. I also need to figure out what sort of "magic-user" old Kelek is since I also have that choice.

Much like what I have done with Skylla (with whom he has a history with) I took her Magic-user and tried her out as a witch in various OSR style games. If she is a witch, then what is Kelek?  

He is a type of wizard to be sure.  He learned his magic, so a warlock or a sorcerer (as defined by D&D 3 to 5) is fun, but not really who he is. I need some class that also has the ability to cast gates, maybe even a way to summon a minor demon or two. But not someone interested in controlling undead. Most importantly I need someone that would be able to kill a Witch Queen.  

We know from Kelek's history that he wants some form of immortality or mastery over life and death.  To me that says Necromancer.  But I am kinda bored with necromancers.  I mean I have done necromancers so many times.  BUT this group has never gone up against one of my necromancers before.  Eric over at Swords & Stitchery also talks about Kelek and even has him becoming a lich. Eric usually has very good ideas, so I am inclined to take this as a vote towards Necromancer. 

So if it is a necromancer, then which one?

The Basic Fantasy one is nice, but not really powerful enough for what I need.  The necromancer from Adventures Dark & Deep is good. Has a lot of potential but still not exactly what I want. Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea also has a great necromancer, but the spell list is not 100% where I want it. Magical Theorems & Dark Pacts are getting much closer, as is Gavin's Theorems and Thaumaturgy. The one that feels the closest is the one from the BX RPG.

I reviewed the BX RPG a while back and have been wanting to do something more with it. 

If he is my big bad for War of the Witch Queens then I am going to take advantage of BX RPGs 1-20 level spread and make him 15th level.

Get your own Kelek the Crue from HeroForge

Kelek the Cruel
Male Human (mostly) Necromancer, 15th level, Chaotic Evil

Strength: 15
Intelligence: 15
Wisdom: 13
Dexterity: 11
Constitution: 14
Charisma: 7

HD: 9d4 +6 (+9)
hp: 40

AC: 0 (Bracers AC 1, Ring of Protection +!)
Base THAC0: 14

Saving Throws (+1 for magic, +1 ring)
Paralyzation: 8
Petrification: 8
Wands: 9
Breath Weapon: 11
Spells: 8

Weapons
Dagger +1
Staff of Striking
Wand of Cold

Spells
First level: Read Magic, Sleep, Necrotic Shield, Fear, Hold Portal, Read Languages
Second level: Hold Person, Knock, Mirror Image, Wizard Lock, Necrotic Touch, Blight
Third level: Fly, Haste, Death Purge, Clairvoyance, Necrotic Blast, Dispel Magic
Fourth level: Dimension Door, Polymorph Other, Necrotic Strike, Wizard Eye, Confusion
Fifth level: Plane of Death, Magic Jar, Teleport, Life Drain
Sixth level: Abyssal Flame, Anti-Magic Shell, Death Spell
Seventh level: Astral Spell, Instant Summons
Eighth level: Clone, Gate

Scrolls*
First level: Chill Touch
Second level: Choke, Speak with the Dead
Third level: Skull Sight, Unhallow
Fourth level: Charm Monster
Fifth level: Death Spell
Sixth level: Knowledge of Life
Seventh level: Summon Demon
Eighth level: Symbol (Pain)

Height: 5'11"
Weight: 156 lbs
Age: 55

*The spells from scrolls are Necromancer spells from Theorems and Thaumaturgy. I am likely to give him other necromancer scrolls from the other necromancers out there. 

I also say mostly human since I consider Kelek to have a bit of orc in his line somewhere.  This explains his high strength and constitution, his low charisma, his pointed ears, oddly shaped head in some depictions of him.  He can also speak orc and hangs out with Zarak all the time. 

Kelek also has a large warg he rides like a horse.  In typical D&D cartoon fashion, his name is just Warg.

Kelek on Warg from HeroForge

Yeah, I have a lot of plans for this guy. 

Now I need to figure out how he killed the Queen of Witches to get us all in the current problems we are in.

Character Creation Challenge: Chill 3rd Edition

Jumping WAY ahead to the future today; at least in terms of the Dark Ages, to the magic time of the 1970s!  All my campaigns share a link in one way or another.  Adventures like "All Souls Night" may start with D&D or other FRPG, they eventually make their way to "Blight" (Ghosts of Albion) and "The Dark Druid" (Buffy).  Spirit of '76 is another good example.  It begins, oddly enough, in 1976 and with Chill.

The Game: Chill 3rd Edition

Spend any time here and you know I am very fond of Chill.  The first edition from Pacesetter came out of Minnesota. Second Edition from Mayfair was right here in the Chicago burbs.  Chill is Midwestern horror.  Not East Coast horror with it's ancient houses and older bloodlines. Not West Coast horror with new-wave vampires. Nor is it Southern Gothic, while very enjoyable, is not the same. 

No Chill is backwoods horror. Old decrepit house horror. Horror found on darkened roads between small towns. The horror I grew up with.  

My campaign for Chill was/is my Spirit of '76 game.  It was designed as a Chill mini-campaign over 4 days.  It was built up while I was playing a lot of WitchCraft and Buffy.  The idea was that supernatural occurrences, once rare, were picking up in intensity and frequency the closer we got to the new Millennium. This would later change to 2012 and then 2018 as real-time overtook these "future" events.  You can see some of that in my "Generation HEX" Nightworld in NIGHT SHIFT.   Originally this was going to be for Chill 2nd Edition, but even that time got away from me so now it is for 3rd Edition.  Thankfully the narrative in the new game follows the one I was creating.

The Character: Megan O'Kelly

"Megan" began as "Stephanie" in an older game back when "Spirit of '76" was "Summer of Love" and taking place in 1968.  I wanted to keep Stephanie where she was but I wanted to do the Summer of 1976 instead, so Megan was "born."   She is a young grad student at UC-Berkeley. I imagined her with long straight hair and wearing bell-bottoms.  Something of a post-hippie 70s girl.  She called herself a "Craft worker" or a "cleanser" but never a "witch."  Her inspirations come from the Eric Clapton song "Bellbottom Blues" and Eliza Roberts from Animal House.  I changed the character because I wanted to bring in an older Stephanie at some point but I never did.

Megan is assigned to SAVE in 1976 to help a small band of operatives investigating the rise of supernatural occurrences in the South West to the Deep South.

Megan O'Kelly 
SAVE Operative

Attributes (80 pt build)
Agility AGL 50
Strength STR 40
Stamina STA 45

Focus FOC 60
Personality PSY 50
Willpower WRP 55

Dexterity DEX 40
Perception PCN 70
Reflexes REF 55

Sensing the Unknown STU 14

Skills (Specializations)
Movement (T) 50, Long Distance (E)
Prowess (T) 40
Close Quarters Combat 23

Research (T) 60, Academic (E), Occult (B)
Communication (T) 50
Interview 28

Fieldcraft 20
Investigation 35
Ranged Weapons 28

Edges and Drawbacks
Attractive (2), Highly Attuned (1), Naïve (-2)

The Art
Protective School
Disrupt
Sphere of Protection (E), Mental Shield (B)

Sensing School
Clairvoyant (E)

Drive
To Know the Truth

So Megan is a recent UC Berkeley grad.  She is a clairvoyant and specializes in seeing ghosts and putting spirits to rest.  Her background is psych grad student so her academics are already at Expert (but not yet Master) and she ran track in High School, so she has some athletics, but not a lot. She is still a bit naïve about the world around her but she is not stupid. 

Third Edition Chill is really better at PCs learning "The Art" (magic) than previous editions, so I think this version really works out much better than previous incarnations of Megan/Stephanie.