Friday, February 6, 2015

Strange Brew: Art and Updates

Strange Brew is moving along.  Not as fast as I would have liked, but it is getting there.  Magic items are taking a lot longer than I anticipated.

But I do want to share a new piece of art from Jacob Blackmon.
My iconic Larina in flight.


I really love this one!

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Ghosts of Albion: Ur-hag

She came to me in a dream.  

I could tell by her voice that she was of regal bearing and intelligence, but at first I could not see her.  I was looking out over a darkend grey and cold plain.  In the far distance I saw mountains; mountains I know I had never beheld before with mortal eyes yet no less real.  In the sky above flew beasts, for that was the only world for them.  They appeared as mad paintings of Hieronymus Bosch, a mass of flying, winged semi-human creatures.  Their appearance was as women, save shamefully unclothed, though it was difficult to see this from the filth that covered them.  The smell was worse than any charnel house I could recall; the decay of death, the reek of excrement and the sour odour of unwashed sweaty bodies.   Their hair was wild. Their teeth were long, yellowed and many were broken.  This is how I knew I was still in the dream. Such details would have escaped me given their distance. In truth, I wanted to be no closer to these hideous creatures.  Their eyes burned red like coals of hellfire.

I watched as they flew and they attacked and ate other beasts in sky.  They were aware of me and my companion, but made no move towards us.

"What are they?" I asked and I turned to meet my unseen companion.  To my shock she appeared as they did, save she was not a filthy degenerate creature, but a woman of regal bearing. She had the same clawed hands, the same large bat-like wings and most horribly the same eyes.

"They are Ur-hags." she had said.  "They are my sisters."

- From the Journal of Tamara Swift.

Ur-Hag

The Urhags are found in two basic varieties, the Degenerate and the far less common Noble.

The Degenerate Ur-hag appears to be a hideously ugly humanoid woman. She appears naked, but covered in filth, with long clawed fingers, wild hair and inhumanly long feet and toes. What is the most curious feature of the ur-hag are her large bat-like wings.  One is immediately reminded of a harpy; which scholars also claim are an offspring of this creature.  The ur-hag does not speak, but only screams and shrieks.  The ur-hag can attack with a claw/claw/bite routine which is their most typical attack.  They are also surrounded by a horrible stench. Characters within 10' of the Ur-hag must make a Constitution test at at least 2 Success Levels or suffer a -2 on all attacks against the creature.
The ur-hag may also cast spells as a witch with Magic 2.  Spells that attack and due damage are preferred over all others.
Ur-hags are immune to all cold-based effects and are immune to cold and cold based spells. Dengerate ur-hags are carnivorous and their preferred  source of meat is humanoid flesh.  They are able to enter the dreams of people sleeping in their territories; usually within 300 yards.  Through this special attack the ur-hag will Charm a sleeping male into breeding with them. Once complete the ur-hag will then wake thee male to kill and eat him.  They prefer to wake their victims because they enjoy hear the sounds of their screams.  Within 3 months the ur-hag will lay a leathery egg in which a juvenile ur-hag will emerge. The new ur-hag will not expect any care or succor from her mother; in fact the mother is just as likely to eat her offspring as she did her offspring's father.

Unisystem / Ghosts of Albion
Name: Ur-hag (degenerate)
Motivation: cause chaos, despair and feed on mortals
Creature Type: Faerie
Attributes: Str 5, Dex 6, Con 5, Int 4, Per 3, Will 6
Ability Scores: Muscle 16, Combat 19, Brains 14
Life Points: 66
Drama Points: 2
Special Abilities: Attractiveness –5, Increased Life Points, Faerie, Innate Magic

Manoeuvres
Name Score Damage Notes
Bite 21 24 Must grapple first; no defence action
Claw 19 16 Two attacks per Turn
Grapple 21 — Resisted by dodge

Spellcasting 16 Varies By spell
Deflect 16 — Magic defence action; deflects spells 45º
Lesser Sensing 15 — Notice magical effects, nature, or possession

Noble Ur-Hag

The Noble ur-hag is a different creature, though no less evil.  Like the degenerate ur-hag, the noble appears to be a winged woman with long taloned hands and feet.  Noble ur-hags also have horns growing from their heads that often causes them to be mistaken for some sort succubus or other demonic creature.  While not demonic, the noble ur-hag is still quite evil.  While the degenerate ur-hag is hideous and covered in filth, the noble ur-hag is regal, attractive and clothed in only the fines wares. Her features are sharp and possibly indicate a relationship to the fae that other, more common hags, share.   The noble ur-hag can be harmed by iron in the same fashion that fae are; iron weapons cause +2 damage and +1 to hit.
The noble ur-hags can cast spells as a witch of Magic level 4.
While the degenerate ur-hag is indiscriminate about her choice of mating partners, the noble ur-hag prefers only the finest quality human males.  Also noble ur-hags do not always eat the men the lay with.  Some preferring to return to the same male time and time again as instinct drives them to reproduce.

Noble Ur-hags use the same stats as do the Degenerate Ur-Hags save they have Attractiveness +1 and Magic 4.  The Noble Ur-Hag also has the following magical manoeuvres.

Manoeuvres
Name Score Damage Notes
Spellcasting 17 Varies By spell
Deflect 17 — Magic defence action; deflects spells 45º
Lesser Sensing 16 — Notice magical effects, nature, or possession
Hold 16 — Magic defence action; delays spell
Volley 11 — Magic defence action; returns spell to caster
Dispel 14 — Magic defence action; dispels spell

Additionally the Noble Ur-Hag can choose demonic or fae powers.  Many posses Glamour and Grand Glamour.  A Noble Ur-Hag is capable of interacting in society, however her mannerisms will seem a bit aloof and more prone to violence than that of mankind.  The Degenerate Ur-Hag, even if glamoured by another, cannon interact in even the roughest society.

There is no known spell to summon these creatures and they only live in the shadowy borderlands where Dream, Shadow and Faerie are known to intersect.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

White Dwarf Wednesday: Monster Index

Here is a list of the monsters featured in White Dwarf from Issue #1 (really #2) to Issue #75.

Enough here for you to make your own Fiend Folio II if you wanted, though some of the monsters are a little lame.  But I bet with some editing, and some imagination even the Yelg or Winter Kobold would be fine.

NameIssue / Date
Acrophid#46 Oct 1983
Akresh#48 Dec 1983
Algroths#56 Aug 1984
Amorph#48 Dec 1983
Anak#49 Jan 1984
Antmen#37 Jan 1983
Anubi#29 Feb/Mar 1982
Aphrodite's Nemesis#73 Jan 1986
Archeults#58 Oct 1984
Argorian Wormkin.#29 Feb/Mar 1982
Armbane Bug#61 Jan 1985
Army Wasps#73 Jan 1986
Asrai#26 Aug/Sept 1981
Assassin Bug#12 April/May 1979
B'Krath#48 Dec 1983
Banshee#07 June / July 1978
Banth#05 February / March 1978
Bean-Nighe#38 Feb 1983
Beggar-Louse - Giant#35 Nov 1982
Beggar-Louse - Marsh#35 Nov 1982
Beggar-Louse - Normal#35 Nov 1982
Beggar-Louse - Sand#35 Nov 1982
Beholder Variants#05 February / March 1978
Berbalang#11 Feb/March 1979
Birch Spirit#28 Dec 1981/Jan 1982
Black Annis.#38 Feb 1983
Black Leech#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Black Monk#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1979
Black Orc#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Black Unicorn#28 Dec 1981/Jan 1982
Blackling#44 Aug 1983
Blink Skeleton#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Blood Spore#60 Dec 1984
Bloodhawk#02 Aug / Sept 1977
Blue Horror #06 April / May 1978
Bodach#17 Feb/March 1980
Bogle#38 Feb 1983
Bogy#05 February / March 1978
Bonacon#24 April/May 1981
Bonesnapper#06 April / May 1978
Bragger#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Brain Sucker#25 June/July 1981
Brother of the Pine#21 Oct/Nov 1980
Brothers of the Pine#75 Mar 1986
Bug Rider#43 July 1983
Buggane (Minor Demon)#56 Aug 1984
Bush Cat#60 Dec 1984
Buzzbug#61 Jan 1985
Cactus Cat #64 April 1985
Capricorn#22 Dec 1980/Jan 1981
Caraxe#61 Jan 1985
Carbuncle#08 Aug/Sept 1978
Carnivores#05 February / March 1978
Cauldron-Born#20 Aug/Sept 1980
Cavewight#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Chameliad#28 Dec 1981/Jan 1982
Chthon#21 Oct/Nov 1980
Chun.#58 Oct 1984
Cloocicus Simbiocicus#08 Aug/Sept 1978
Coffer Corpse#08 Aug/Sept 1978
Cold Beast#27 Oct/Nov 1981
Couerl#18 April/May 1980
Cramesha#63 March 1985
Creeper#20 Aug/Sept 1980
Crestcat#37 Jan 1983
Crimson Carpet#46 Oct 1983
Crystal Golem#22 Dec 1980/Jan 1981
Cyborg#05 February / March 1978
Cyclops#05 February / March 1978
Cynopard#05 February / March 1978
Dahdi#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Dame Verte#46 Oct 1983
Daoine Sidhe#31 June/July 1982
Dark Bat#35 Nov 1982
Darkhawk#19 June/July 1980
Death Snake#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Demon Wolf#48 Dec 1983
Demons#05 February / March 1978
Dendridi#31 June/July 1982
Deodand#58 Oct 1984
Desert Orc#64 April 1985
Desert Raider#12 April/May 1979
Devil Dog#11 Feb/March 1979
Diabolo#47 Nov 1983
Disenchanter#06 April / May 1978
Dokon#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Doombat#13 June/July 1979
Doombat#24 April/May 1981
Dragon Dog#15 Oct/Nov 1979
Dragon spider#06 April / May 1978
Dragon Warrior#21 Oct/Nov 1980
Drainwing.#49 Jan 1984
Dream Demon#25 June/July 1981
Driver Ant#28 Dec 1981/Jan 1982
Droll#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Duergar#38 Feb 1983
Dune Stalker#02 Aug / Sept 1977
Dungeon Master#24 April/May 1981
Eastern Skeleton#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Elemental, Dust#45 Sept 1983
Elemental, Heat#45 Sept 1983
Elemental, Ice#45 Sept 1983
Elemental, Vapour#45 Sept 1983
Embertree#34 Oct 1982
Empipath#19 June/July 1980
Energy Cyclone#14 Aug/Sept 1979
Enslaver#21 Oct/Nov 1980
Evil Cormorant#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Eye Killer #07 June / July 1978
Familiar#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Fay Stirge#38 Feb 1983
Fiend#06 April / May 1978
Fire Tongue#45 Sept 1983
Fire-Flower#75 Mar 1986
Firvulag#51 March 1984
Flame Beetle#61 Jan 1985
Flyguard#23 Feb/Mar 1981
Flying Fish#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Flymage#23 Feb/Mar 1981
Flyman#23 Feb/Mar 1981
Flyman Artisan#23 Feb/Mar 1981
Flyman Drone#23 Feb/Mar 1981
Flyman Warrior#23 Feb/Mar 1981
Forest Giant #26 Aug/Sept 1981
Forest-Brethren#57 Sept 1984
Frog Folk#20 Aug/Sept 1980
Frost Vampire#57 Sept 1984
Fuzzy#05 February / March 1978
Gachragar#66 June 1985
Gazer #14 Aug/Sept 1979
Ghayrog.#57 Sept 1984
Ghralthi#37 Jan 1983
Giant Bloodworm#12 April/May 1979
Giant Caterpillar#02 Aug / Sept 1977
Giant Mole#33 Sept 1982
Giant Mosquito#61 Jan 1985
Giant Moth#49 Jan 1984
Giant Praying Mantis#49 Jan 1984
Giant Sandcrab#29 Feb/Mar 1982
Giant Wood Ant#34 Oct 1982
Githyanki#12 April/May 1979
Glitch#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Gluey #07 June / July 1978
Gnaw Bug#61 Jan 1985
Goldeater#05 February / March 1978
Golden Beetle#49 Jan 1984
Goldfinger#34 Oct 1982
Goom#17 Feb/March 1980
Greater Raven#32 Aug 1982
Green Gremlin#18 April/May 1980
Green Salamander#66 June 1985
Green Worm#17 Feb/March 1980
Greenman#27 Oct/Nov 1981
Grell#12 April/May 1979
Gremkin, Black#53 May 1984
Gremkin, Green#53 May 1984
Gremkin, Red#53 May 1984
Gremlin#05 February / March 1978
Gremlin#48 Dec 1983
Gremlins #39 Mar 1983
Grey Dominator.#52 April 1984
Grey Sqaarg#21 Oct/Nov 1980
Grimp.#33 Sept 1982
Gromit#47 Nov 1983
Gu'en-Deeko#18 April/May 1980
Guardian#25 June/July 1981
Guardian Skeleton#24 April/May 1981
Guardians of the City#50 February 1984
Gurgotch#14 Aug/Sept 1979
Gwillion#63 March 1985
Gwyllion#38 Feb 1983
Heat Monster#15 Oct/Nov 1979
Heat Skeleton#17 Feb/March 1980
Helgost.#60 Dec 1984
Hjort#57 Sept 1984
Hook Horror#12 April/May 1979
Hound of Kerenos#18 April/May 1980
Howler#51 March 1984
Hsiao#30 April/May 1982
Ibem#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Ice Maiden#14 Aug/Sept 1979
Igni Beetle#61 Jan 1985
Imorph#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Imp, Fire#13 June/July 1979
Imp, Molten#13 June/July 1979
Imp, Smoke#13 June/July 1979
Imp, Steam#13 June/July 1979
Imps#05 February / March 1978
Incubus#25 June/July 1981
Incubus/Succubus#48 Dec 1983
Inverse Monster#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Iron Demon#05 February / March 1978
Iron Pig#12 April/May 1979
Ivyix#46 Oct 1983
Javukchari#37 Jan 1983
Jugger#06 April / May 1978
Kail#29 Feb/Mar 1982
Krowk#47 Nov 1983
Kzin#05 February / March 1978
Lapidan#11 Feb/March 1979
Lashbriar#66 June 1985
Lauren#11 Feb/March 1979
Leanan-Sidhe#31 June/July 1982
Leechweed#75 Mar 1986
Lich-King#43 July 1983
Living Wall #07 June / July 1978
Llort#24 April/May 1981
Loculi#36 Dec 1982
Longhorned Murderer#06 April / May 1978
Lorelei Willow#31 June/July 1982
Magmite#56 Aug 1984
Man Scorpion#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Mandrake Person#18 April/May 1980
Manta#05 February / March 1978
Mara.#32 Aug 1982
Marsh-Wiggle#52 April 1984
Melodemon#20 Aug/Sept 1980
Mephit, Ice#56 Aug 1984
Metamorph#57 Sept 1984
Miceman#21 Oct/Nov 1980
Milead Bug#61 Jan 1985
Mimble#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Mind Drain#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Mind Shadow#56 Aug 1984
Mindweb#14 Aug/Sept 1979
Minidrag#30 April/May 1982
Mite#06 April / May 1978
Mobil Diss#05 February / March 1978
Morbe#34 Oct 1982
Morghiss#24 April/May 1981
Mud-Men#56 Aug 1984
Muryan#30 April/May 1982
Nandie#18 April/May 1980
Nandie-Bear#18 April/May 1980
Nasnas#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Nazgul#32 Aug 1982
Necrophidius #07 June / July 1978
Needleman#06 April / May 1978
Night Rider#17 Feb/March 1980
Nightling#32 Aug 1982
Nightmare#48 Dec 1983
Nilbog #06 April / May 1978
Ning#02 Aug / Sept 1977
Noegyth Nibin#65 May 1985
Northfly#23 Feb/Mar 1981
Ogress#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Oozing Jelly#75 Mar 1986
Pazuzu#48 Dec 1983
Pebble Gnome#15 Oct/Nov 1979
Pelgrane#58 Oct 1984
Phooka#38 Feb 1983
Phung#18 April/May 1980
Pine Tree Spirit#62 Feb 1985
Plantman#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Plentyn Nos#53 May 1984
Porphyr#48 Dec 1983
Psi-mule#33 Sept 1982
Psitan #33 Sept 1982
Psychic Vampire#71 Nov 1985
Puffball Plant, The#46 Oct 1983
Qothe#32 Aug 1982
Quetzl#73 Jan 1986
Ralkan#28 Dec 1981/Jan 1982
Raver#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Redcap#38 Feb 1983
Rock Beast#08 Aug/Sept 1978
Rok-or#56 Aug 1984
Rover#07 June / July 1978
Rult#48 Dec 1983
Rusalka#34 Oct 1982
Russian Doll Monster#15 Oct/Nov 1979
Sand Demon#45 Sept 1983
Sand Golem#64 April 1985
Sand Sniper.#64 April 1985
Sandfly#23 Feb/Mar 1981
Sandman#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Sea Dragon#57 Sept 1984
Seareach Giant#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Servant of the Flame#45 Sept 1983
Shadow Dancer#18 April/May 1980
Shadow Demon#13 June/July 1979
Shadow Goblin#26 Aug/Sept 1981
Shapeling#54 June 1984
Sheet Phantom#11 Feb/March 1979
Shim-Shari#29 Feb/Mar 1982
Silent Hater#66 June 1985
Skandar#57 Sept 1984
Skullcatcher#49 Jan 1984
Slime Beast#20 Aug/Sept 1980
Smoke Creature#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Smoke Demon#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Snaga Orc#53 May 1984
Soldier Orc#53 May 1984
Spice Worm#17 Feb/March 1980
Spider Dragon#52 April 1984
Spidron#35 Nov 1982
Spikehead#27 Oct/Nov 1981
Spinescale#02 Aug / Sept 1977
Spook#11 Feb/March 1979
Spriggan#38 Feb 1983
Sprite Knight#30 April/May 1982
Squonk #07 June / July 1978
Sraim#48 Dec 1983
Stagweed#75 Mar 1986
Stair Stalker#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Stalker#48 Dec 1983
Steely#05 February / March 1978
Stinger Bug#61 Jan 1985
Stinwicodech#08 Aug/Sept 1978
Stirge Demon#30 April/May 1982
Stong Toad#66 June 1985
Storm Demon#48 Dec 1983
Stormbiter#19 June/July 1980
Striding Murderer #06 April / May 1978
Surrogate#54 June 1984
Susurrus#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Svart#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Swamp Lurker#66 June 1985
Tacharanid#15 Oct/Nov 1979
Tali Monster#24 April/May 1981
Tanu#51 March 1984
Tenser Beast#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Terithran#13 June/July 1979
Termagant#06 April / May 1978
The Great Hunter#59 Nov 1984
The Reaver#59 Nov 1984
Three-Headed Skrat#12 April/May 1979
Threep#05 February / March 1978
Throat Leech#06 April / May 1978
Time Freezer#15 Oct/Nov 1979
Todal#24 April/May 1981
Tribe of the Stone#11 Feb/March 1979
Trist#47 Nov 1983
Trollkin#47 Nov 1983
Tunnel Crawler#60 Dec 1984
Turlung#08 Aug/Sept 1978
Tween#08 Aug/Sept 1978
Typo#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Umpleby#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Unborn#34 Oct 1982
Undead Horse#19 June/July 1980
Undead Rat - Skeletal Rat#35 Nov 1982
Undead Rat - Zombie Rat#35 Nov 1982
Ungoliant - Queen of the Spiders#22 Dec 1980/Jan 1981
Ur-Vile#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Urchin#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Uruk Orc#53 May 1984
Vampire Bat#73 Jan 1986
Vampire Wolf (Coacula)#30 April/May 1982
Vanith-Vadiren#43 July 1983
Vily#46 Oct 1983
Volt #07 June / July 1978
Vroon#57 Sept 1984
Warlock Cat#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Water Leaper#20 Aug/Sept 1980
Weed Delver#37 Jan 1983
Werefox#19 June/July 1980
Weresnake#30 April/May 1982
Whipper#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Whippersnapper#52 April 1984
Whirler#08 Aug/Sept 1978
Whispering Tongue#28 Dec 1981/Jan 1982
White Ape#27 Oct/Nov 1981
White Hart, The#63 March 1985
Winged Beast#32 Aug 1982
Winter Kobold#26 Aug/Sept 1981
Wirrn#27 Oct/Nov 1981
Withera #07 June / July 1978
Witherstench#11 Feb/March 1979
Witherweed#07 June / July 1978
Wodennian#44 Aug 1983
Wohk (Anthony Bufton)#44 Aug 1983
Wood Skeleton#53 May 1984
Wood-Demons#49 Jan 1984
Woods Vampire#61 Jan 1985
Wraith-Warrior#34 Oct 1982
Wrecker#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Wyrmlet#32 Aug 1982
Yelg#44 Aug 1983
Zirosownee (Two-Headed Eagle)#63 March 1985
Zwergind#53 May 1984
Zytra, Lord of the Mind Flayers#33 Sept 1982