Tag: Mark Tygart

Arcane Ooze (Solitary, Large, Amorphous)

Acid Grab (d10 damage) 16 HP 0 Armor

Special Qualities: Arcane spells heal

Arcane Oozes resemble giant pale purple amoebas.Any arcane spell cast that causes damage is automatically absorbed to heal 1 point for every point of damage otherwise done. Cleric, bard and other”non arcane” spells affect the ooze normally. Arcane oozes are immune to poison, sleep effects and paralysis.

Instinct: Consume the arcane

Pursue

Devour

Ambush

Dungeon World Monster Conversions: Yoon-Suin

Crab Person Slave

Group

Claws (d8 damage)

6 HP

3 armor

Close

Special Qualities: Slave

Lowest of all in the Yellow City are the crab-people, who live outside the city in the mangroves and the rocks called the Topaz Islands, and are not permitted to enter the city proper except in servitude. They are barely intelligent things, but strong and tough, and they are sometimes forced to do manual labour or simple tasks, on pain of death or torture and for scant reward. They are undoubtedly unfortunate and pathetic beings, very meek of character, though the people of the city think of them as the reincarnated souls of criminals and breakers of taboo, and deserving of their miserable lot. They do not generally have names, though those in employment are often daubed with paint to signify who is their master.

Instinct: Obey

Serve

Defend

Endure

Slug Person Aristocrat

Group, Magical, Intelligent

Magical Bolt (d10 damage)

6 HP

0 armor

Close, Near

Special Qualities: Aristocrat of the Yellow City, Slimy, Scholar

In Yoon-Suin’s Yellow City’s highest strata are the slug-people, the race who built the city’s first buildings, founded its great civilisation, and who have lived there since, they say, the dawn of time. They alone are permitted to own fixed property, to import and export goods, and to attend many of the city’s libraries, archives and madrassas. They are a pompous and effete people, fascinated by clothes and fashions and the decoration of their own appearances, though they love learning and study and pursuits scientific, aesthetic and sorcerous.

Instinct: Punish lesser beings

Command

Summon Crab Person Slaves

Cast Spells

Check it out: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/144820/YoonSuin?term=Yoon+&test_epoch=0

And listen to the reviews on The Fear of a Black Dragon Podcast: http://www.gauntlet-rpg.com/fear-of-a-black-dragon

http://www.gauntlet-rpg.com/fear-of-a-black-dragon

Kitsune of Japanese Myth

For +Andrea Parducci

KITSUNE

Solitary, Stealthy, Intelligent, Hoarder

Talons (w[2d8] damage) 12 HP, 0 armor

Close

Special Qualities: Shapeshifter, Illusionist, Trickster Guardian

Kitsune is the Japanese word for the fox. Foxes are a common subject of Japanese folklore; in English, kitsune refers to them in this context. Stories depict them as intelligent beings and as possessing paranormal abilities that increase with their age and wisdom. According to Yōkai folklore, all foxes have the ability to shape shift into human form. While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability to trick others— as foxes in folklore often do— other stories portray them as faithful guardians, friends, lovers, and wives. Foxes and humans lived close together in ancient Japan; this companionship gave rise to legends about the creatures. Kitsune have become closely associated with Inari, a Shinto kami or spirit, and serve as its messengers. This role has reinforced the fox’s supernatural significance. The more tails a kitsune has—they may have as many as nine—the older, wiser, and more powerful it is. Because of their potential power and influence, some people make sacrifices to them as to a deity. Conversely foxes were often seen as “witch animals”, especially during the superstitious Edo period (1603–1867), and were goblins who could not be trusted (similar to some badgers and cats).

Instinct: Cast Illusions

Pretends to be human

Shape shifter

Be resourceful for evil or good

Monsters from Japanese Mythology

For +Preston Cooper

GASHADOKURO

Solitary, Large, Amorphous

Talons (d10+2 damage) 16 HP 4 armor

Forceful

Special Qualities: Damaged only by magic or magic weapons, Undead

The Gashadokuro are undead that take the form of giant skeletons and are fifteen times taller than an average person, said to be created from the amassed bones of people who died of starvation or in battle, without being buried. These monsters roam after midnight, grabbing lone travelers and biting off their heads to drink their spraying blood. There is a way to know of their approach, as the victim would hear the sound of loud ringing in the ear. The Gashadokuro are said to possess the powers of indestructibility; though Shinto charms are said to ward them off. Instinct: Consume the Living

• Hide from the Sun

• Haunt battlefields

• Patrol unholy graves

JUBOKKO

Large, Stealthy, Amorphous

Blood Drain (d6 damage) 14 HP 2 armor

Near

Special Qualities: Undead, Leaves act as bandages

According to Japanese folklore, it appears in former battlefields where many people have died, and its appearance does not differ that much from ordinary trees. Since it becomes an undead tree by sucking up large quantities of blood from the dead, it lives on human blood. When a human being happens to pass by, it supposedly captures the victim and, changing its branches into the shape of a tube, sucks the blood out of the victim. A Jubokko that sucks life out of human beings in such a way is said to always maintain a fresh appearance. When a Jubokko is cut, blood trickles out. It is said that a Jubokko’s leaves could heal and decontaminate an injured person. Instinct: Drain the living

• Consume Life

• Ambush

• Haunt

KAPPA

Small, Stealthy, Intelligent

(d8 damage) 3 HP 2 armor

Close

Special Qualities: Aquatic

The kappa is typically depicted as roughly humanoid in form and about the size of a child. Its scaly reptilian skin ranges in color from green to yellow or blue. Kappa supposedly inhabits the ponds and rivers of Japan, and has various features to aid them in this environment, such as webbed hands and feet. They are sometimes said to smell like fish and they can swim like them. The expression kappa no kawa nagare (“a kappa drowning in a river”) conveys the idea that even experts make mistakes. Although their appearance varies from region to region, the most consistent features are a beak, a shell, and a plate (sara), a flat hairless region on the top of the head that is always wet, and that is regarded as the source of the kappa’s power. Kappas are usually seen as mischievous troublemakers or trickster figures. Their pranks range from the relatively innocent, such as looking up women’s kimonos, to the malevolent, such as drowning people and animals, kidnaps children, raping women and at times eating human flesh. Folk beliefs claim the cucumber as their traditional favorite meal. Kappa may also be related to the Kelpie of Scotland and the Neck of Scandinavia. Like the Japanese description of the beast, in Scandinavian lore this beast is infamous for kidnapping and drowning people as well as horses. The Siyokoy of the Philippine islands is also known for kidnapping children by the water’s edge. Instinct:Harm

• Mislead

• Drown innocents

• Devour children

ONI

Solitary, Large

Iron Club Smash (b[2d10] damage) 16 HP 0 armor

Near

Special Qualities: Repelled by holly and monkey statutes

Oni (鬼) are a kind of yōkai, or supernatural ogre, or trolls in Japanese folklore. They are popular characters in Japanese art, literature, and theatre. Depictions of oni vary widely but usually portray them as hideous, gigantic ogre-like creatures with sharp claws, wild hair, and two long horns growing from their heads. They are humanoid for the most part, but occasionally, they are shown with unnatural features such as odd numbers of eyes or extra fingers and toes. Their skin may be any number of colors, but red and blue are particularly common. They are often depicted wearing tiger-skin loincloths and carrying iron clubs called kanabō (金棒). This image leads to the expression “oni with an iron club” (鬼に金棒 oni-ni-kanabō), that is, to be invincible or undefeatable. It can also be used in the sense of “strong beyond strong”, or having one’s natural quality enhanced or supplemented by the use of some tool. In addition to this, it can mean to go overboard, or be unnecessarily strong or powerful. In more recent times, oni have lost some of their original wickedness and sometimes take on a more protective function. Men in oni costumes often lead Japanese parades to ward off any bad luck, for example. Japanese buildings sometimes include oni-faced roof tiles called onigawara (鬼瓦), which are thought to ward away bad luck, much like gargoyles in Western tradition.

Instinct: Smash

• Devour

• Doom

• Destroy

TENGU

Group, Small, Intelligent, Construct

Talons (d8 damage) 6 HP 0 armor

Close

Special Qualities: Cursed Buddhist priests, Flight

Tengu are impish Japanese mountain goblins that play tricks on people, featured in countless folktales and considered purely evil until about the 14th century. They were originally depicted as birdlike, with wings and beaks, though now the beak is often replaced with a comically large nose. They are known to lead people away from Buddhism, tie priests to tall trees and towers, start fires in temples, and kidnap children. Many legends say the tengu were hypocritical priests who must now live the rest of their lives as mountain goblins as punishment. Locals made offerings to the tengu to avoid their mischief, and there are still festivals in Japan dedicated to them today.

Instinct: Subvert Buddhists

• Make Mischief

• Trick

• Mock Buddhism