Watching Bigfoot this morning made me think of this oldie and how much it freaked me out as a kid.
This movie typifies the later 70s, post Exorcist, mood of American Horror. Lots of psychic phenomena, some satanism, and if you can work in Native American or Eastern mysticism all the better.
Tony Curtis is great as a fake psychic and tarot card reader that gets pulled into the drama around a tumor growing on his ex-girlfriend's, Susan Strasberg's, back. X-rays show the tumor to look like a rapidly growing fetus.
Karen (Strasberg) goes to see Harry (Curtis) the day before her surgery (and they drink a lot of wine before hand). Harry does a tarot card reading for her and they all come up the same (the tower, the moon, the devil, and death).
That night Karen mutters something in her sleep in a language that Harry doesn't understand (he thinks it is Swahili).
Karen goes into surgery but the doctors are prevented from cutting into the tumor. At the same time, Harry's psychic ability becomes real. They take part in a séance and learn about the Manitou. They go and see Dr. Snow (Burgess Meredith in a surprise role) and learn more.
The contact a Native American Shaman played by the always amazing Michael Ansara (Kang of Star Trek and Kane of Buck Rogers) and learn that this tumor is really the ancient Shaman Misquamacus. At one point Misquamacus tells John Singing Rock (Ansara) not to help them. I was half-hoping he would stand up and tell them "you are on your own white people."
Misquamacus is born (I seem to recall it being scarier in 78) but is held in place at first by John's circle.
The "demons" summoned by Misquamacus are quite cool. They have a sort of Lovecraft/August Derleth quality to them. They are even called "the great old ones." In the end, the evil spirits are destroyed by computers, manifesting as laser blasts from a naked Karen. Lest we forget this was the 70s.
This really is a cut above my normal fare in terms of acting ability even if the story is a little silly.
First, there is a wealth of material in Native American folklore that I just have not explored and honestly, I am just not even remotely familiar or even qualified to write about them despite all the stories I have read or watched over the years.
I'd love to get more of this sort of thing for my Valhalla, AK game. While the Bigfoot stuff from earlier today went on the silly side, this would be more of the horror side of things.
I talked about this movie back in June. So I added it to my Amazon watchlist. And then I forgot about it. I decided to pull it up for today.
This one can only be described as Previously Watched. I think I might have watched it a few dozen times back when my family got Showtime back when it was new to our town. Not a bad choice though for my first re-watch of the season.
The movie is a pseudo-documentary about the "North American Wildlife Research" group taking a group into British Columbia. It had the same feel of a lot of pseudo-documentaries on various "alternative science" that were popular in the late 70s.
Watching it then, when I was about 10 or so, it seemed like the real deal. Watching it now? Yeah, I am a little embarrassed I was taken in.
The movie is not great, or even good, but it was a good distraction. And for a G-rated movie it has some scares in it. I still remember that howl of the Bigfoots.
It is not a stretch of the imagination at all to consider this movie the "Event Zero" of what became my Valhalla, AK game. Of course, the sasquatch in Valhalla is a bit different than this one.
In a normal NIGHT SHIFT game, the Sasquatch would be more of a threat, like this movie. In my Valhalla, AK game...well the sasquatch was more of a nuisance.
Every night the townspeople of Valhalla would be awoken by the sounds of moose braying in the night followed by the unholy sound of something else. I would play the sasquatch sounds at this point. The old locals of course know this is a sasquatch. So the PCs investigate, expecting to find dead moose. They don't find any at all. Quite the opposite really, they find all these female moose just hanging about this one strange clearing. Turns out that there is a young male sasquatch, a teen really, and has been having sex with the female moose (mooses, moosen, miice?) after the sun goes down. The townsfolk have been hearing his amorous escapades. The adventure resolves when they can lure the sasquatch back to his own people.
A bit silly? Yes. A bit ribald? Sure. But that is exactly the sort of thing I want to happen in Valhalla, AK.
We continue this first full week of October with full witch classes from the DMSGuild.
I grabbed this one because I rather liked the cover. Let's hope the text can live up to my expectations. For those following, I have set up some rules for myself that you can see here.
This PDF is listed as 9 pages, but the revised PDF is actually 13. There is a cover page, but the rest is content. Unlike many of the other products on DMSGuild this one has it's own style of layout. In truth, it is a nice change of pace.
We get all the expected elements for a full class for 5e; level advancement charts, quick builds, as well class and spell information. This witch is a Wisdom caster.
A couple of things stick out. One, this witch needs a special sort of spell focus known as a Staff of Hexes. Without it she can't cast spells. Also this witch has something called "Magicka" points. So a little different than other casters.
The archetypes or subclasses for this witch are called different "Wonders"; ie "Wonder of the Grimoire", "Wonder of the Cauldron", "Wonder of Voodoo", "Curse of the Hag" (not Wonder of the Hag), "Wonder of the Hedge Witch", "Wonder of the White Witch", and "Wonder of Prophecy". While I am not overly fond of the name I do like what they do. I think I would have gone with "Path of the ..." myself.
The archetypes seem well balanced and thought out.
There is a spell list, but no new spells. There is no art, save for the cover.
This is another PWYW item with a suggestion of $2.00.
The layout is crisp and very utilitarian. It doesn't scream "Witch" to me, nor does it feel "D&D." Although it is attractive and very functional.
I certainly would try a couple of these archetypes/subclasses out. Some interesting ideas.
I am sure I had seen this one. But like SO MANY Italian, French and Spanish horror films from the late 60s and early 70s plots, scenes and even whole movies were recycled. I mean this one even has the same music as "The Night She Rose From the Grave" which I am getting too later and is on the same DVD as this movie. Though that could even be because of the disk.
This movie has been known as "Malenka", "Fangs of the Living Dead" and "The Vampire's Niece" with various dates between 1968 and 1969.
Anyway, this one features Anita Ekberg, so that is a good reason to check it out.
The movie starts with a nice creepy, "Dracula's Guest", feel to it. Sylvia Morel (Ekberg) learns she has inherited a fortune, a castle, and a new title. Julián Ugarte plays the Count, Sylvia's uncle, Count Walbrooke. Sylvia becomes the Harker stand-in and Walbrooke is Dracula.
I think I was getting this one confused with the Thirst from 1979. But while the beginnings are similar, they become quite different movies. This movie was the obvious prototype for Satan's Slave (also known as Evil Heritage) in 1976 and many Franco movies like A Virgin Among the Living Dead (1973).
We learn that Sylvia's grandmother was burned at the stake as a witch and she was able to turn her children into vampires.
The basic story cleaves very, very close to the Dracula tale. So nothing really new here.
Until the end, and there is a neat little twist. It really saved the movie for me.
So many of these movies have old cursed families with a suspension of witchcraft and vampirism.
I think what I need, both for NIGHT SHIFT and maybe even my various witch books is a family of witches, in decay, whose members become vampires after death. Not all are powerful vampires, some are little more than ghouls really, but a few. Take notes from the Karnsteins and movies like this.
In some ways the Montblancs in NIGHT SHIFT's "Ordinary World" can cover this. Maybe this is a direction I could take them. The American Montblancs are an old family, but the European Montblancs are ancient and maybe a little more evil. Combine this with my Byleth idea from last week.
Maybe that is how I separate them, the American Montblancs are featured in NIGHT SHIFT but the "European" Montblancs would be featured in my Witch books for Basic-era. I would need to have a map for the run down, but still better than anywhere you have lived, Château Montblanc.
Tonight is the premiere of the FINAL season of Supernatural. I can't believe it.
With the Supernatural RPG out of print, NIGHT SHIFT is the best choice for playing a Supernatural-style game, where the PCs are largely normal people fighting against something far beyond their own power levels.
So this seems like a perfect time to bring back my favorite show that never was, Wayward Sisters!
Note: If Jody is the mom, then Donna is the fun aunt.
Annie Jones
3rd Level Survivor/1st level Sage, Human
Strength: 12 (0)
Dexterity: 12 (0)
Constitution: 15 (+1)
Intelligence: 15 (+1) s
Wisdom: 16 (+2) s
Charisma: 15 (+1) P
HP: 19 (3d4+1d6)
AC: 9
Fate Points: 1d6
Check Bonus (P/S/T): +3/+2/0
Melee bonus: +0 (+1) Ranged bonus: +0 (+1)
Saves: +3 to death saves
Special Abilities: Open locks 35%, Bypass traps 30%, Sleight of Hand 40%, Move Silently 40%, Hide in Shadows 30%, Climb 75%, Danger Sense 50%, Perceptive 50%, Sneak Attack x2, Read Languages 80%, Lore 25% (special bouns +5% for vampire lore)
Skills: Medicine (Int), Science (Int), Notice (Wis), Deceive (Cha)
Languages: English, Spanish
Notes: Use to be "bait" for a vampire family and was a vampire once. Now she is a nurse. Of all the Wayward Sisters Annie/Anne/Alex wants to have a "normal" life the most.
Claire Novak
1st Level Theosophist/3rd Level Survivor, Human
Strength: 12 (0) s
Dexterity: 13 (+1) P
Constitution: 15 (+1) s
Intelligence: 15 (1)
Wisdom: 14 (+1)
Charisma: 14 (+1)
HP: 22 (1d6+3d4)
AC: 8
Fate Points: 1d6
Check Bonus (P/S/T): +3/+2/0 Melee bonus: +0 (+1) Ranged bonus: +0 (+1)
Saves: +3 to all wisdom saves
Special Abilities: See Dead People, Turn Undead, Protection from Undead, Open locks 35%, Bypass traps 30%, Sleight of Hand 40%, Move Silently 40%, Hide in Shadows 30%, Climb 75%, Danger Sense 50%, Perceptive 50%, Sneak Attack x2, Read Languages 80%, Lore 25% (special bouns +5% for angelic lore)
Notes: She Began as a theosophist due to her religious background and her ability to be a perfect angelic vessel for Castiel. Was a werewolf once. She is in love with Kaia. She is the one Wayward Sister that is most like the Winchesters.
Patience Turner
3rd Level Psychic, Human
Strength: 12 (0)
Dexterity: 14 (+1)
Constitution: 14 (+1)
Intelligence: 18 (+3) P
Wisdom: 16 (+2) s
Charisma: 17 (+2) s
Notes: Kaia is a Dream Walker which can be covered by the Psychic class. Her stint in the "Bad Place" gave her a level of Survivor. Kaia is also a former drug user to keep herself from dreaming. She is in love with Claire. #dreamhunter.
Episodes/Adventures would have to be named after rocks songs by women-fronted bands; like Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Halestorm (naturally), The Pretty Reckless, Doro, Garbage, and Lacuna Coil. Taking a page from Supernatural music would have to play an important role. Come to think of it, you could just use my Daughters of Darkness playlist. At 39 songs, that's 3 "seasons" of 13 "episodes" each. I love it when a plan comes together.
This PDF was 17 pages when I first downloaded it. It grew to 29 sometime between then and now. The PDF is full color and sells for $5.00 suggested PWYW.
The cover is fantastic and the artist, Diana Nock, is credited. So far this is very good.
The table of contents is hyperlinked. It looks like some great content inside too. Witches are called the "Acolytes of the First Magic" next to the art of their iconic witch Nathilda Pickingill and her familiar Malefelies. She wears a proper witches hat, carries a proper witches broom (with a dream catcher no less), and her hooded cloak is clasped shut with a triple goddess symbol.
At this point, I feel like I am being flirted with.
There is a full 20 level Witch progression table. A note about Gender. Even the 20th level power is "Grand Old Wytch." I guess "Grand Olde Wytch" was a step too far. This witch is an "Intelligence" caster.
There are rules for Ritual Casting in line with D&D 5's ritual casting. Rules on familiars (with great art) INCLUDING backgrounds for familiars! How great is that?
If Pathfinder witches get Hexes then these witches get Jinxes. Ok, I like that. Magical powers for potions and brooms.
Sub-classes are known as Covens (perfect) and there are Covens of the Dark Moon, Full Moon, Half Moon, Crescent Moon, and. There is even a Coven of the Eclipse and a Coven of the Lost Moon. There is even a sidebar about what to do if your moons on your world are different. Ok, now I feel positively flirted with and I am beginning to blush.
There is a very extensive list of Witch Spells from various sources and 12 new spells. There is even guidance on which of these new spells can be used by other classes.
All in all, this is one of the best Witch Class books I have seen on DMSGuild so far. A significant cut above the rest. I would happily play one of these witches.
I am a sucker for a weird Klaus Kinski movie. The trouble with this one was that he really wasn't in it much nor very central to the plot.
We watch the disjointed (and told in weird flashback) events of the life and death and life of Greta. She is dead and mourned by her brother Franz. We later learn that Franz used to abuse and rape Greta till she ran off with a mysterious Dr. von Ravensbrück. Then we jump to a scene where Greta is in a coach accident. Her driver is killed and she is rescued by a young married couple, Walter and Eva. Greta has no memory and is soon living with, and having sex with, Walter and Eva.
Klaus Kinski comes in as their doctor and he sees an amulet on Eva's neck that perplexes him. He goes off to run experiments on corpses. Meanwhile, Gertrude is bothered by Greta and keeps seeing Greta's rapey brother in hallucinations.
Gertrude eventually flees the house but is shot in the face by someone she knows but we never see.
Later Eva finally gets jealous of the sex Walter is having with Greta (she wants her to herself) and seals Greta up in a vault The Cask of Amontillado style. Of and around this time Kinski's Dr. Sturges has revealed that Greta's amulet is a formula for bringing the dead back to life. He succeeds but is killed by someone soon after.
A few weeks later the search for Greta is winding down and Eva and Walter throw a party. At the party, Eva sees Greta and chases her throughout the house. Greta's face is young one moment and a corpse-like visage the next. Greta kills Eva, but no one sees her do it.
Greta goes on to kill Walter, Walter's father who was...wait for it...Dr. von Ravensbrück! We learn then that Greta was pregnant with Dr. von Ravensbrück's child but she died in childbirth. The whole thing was witnessed by Gertrude!
Rapey Franz then brought her back to life, but she kills him. She also kills the butler of the von Ravensbrück's just because she can.
We see Greta in the end. I guess she must be immortal now.
Not a bad flick, but very disjointed. Ewa Aulin as Greta is great to look at, but she isn't much of an actress. Granted my copy is dubbed, so it is harder to tell. Klaus Kinski is his typical weird-ass self.
Woman with amnesia is found, either by the characters or people they know. Turns out she is a reanimated corpse intent on killing everyone that was responsible for her death.
What separates this from say the plot of "The Crow"? Well, in this case, she is killing everyone even remotely associated with her death whether they had an active role or not. So less "The Crow" and more "Dr. Phibes."
