Let’s Convert the Melnibonéan Mythos: Assassinator of the Gods, Clakar, and Dharzi Hunting Dog

I was lucky enough to obtain the original TSR version of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Deities & Demigods Cyclopedia. Which meant that I received access to three entries which were missing from later printings: the Cthulhu Mythos, The Melnibonéan Mythos, and the Nehwon Mythos. Well, DCC has covered Cthulhu and Nehwon extremely well, but I have always had a soft spot for the creatures found in the Melnibonéan section. So I am going to convert them here for Dungeon Crawl Classics!

Converting the characters and deities/powers is somewhat beyond the scope of what I am doing here, as this would require numerous patron write-ups. These are very much based off the D&DG write-ups, and as such may not be 100% consistent with the Michael Moorcock source material.

This was published on my Patreon first, a little more than six months ago, to give the good people there a little extra value for their support. There are other posts which have followed the same general format. including the last three Conversion Crawl Classes posts.

Assassinator of the Gods

Assassinator of the Gods: Init +5; Atk talon +9 melee (2d20); AC 18; HD 11d10+40; hp 100; MV 30’ or fly 60’; Act 2d20; SP: Foul weapons (50% chance), magic resistance +10, crit as demon (DN/1d12); SV Fort +15; Ref +9; Will +20; AL C.

This horrible and unique creature is sent by the gods and Powers of Chaos to slay those which have earned their special enmity. The Assassinator appears as a nine-foot-tall feathered humanoid with a 50-foot wingspan.

There is a 50% chance that any melee attack made against the Assassinator does no damage, as the weapon is instead fouled in the creature’s wings. A Mighty Deed of 4+ can reduce this chance to 25%, and 6+ can negate it entirely.

When spells are used against the Assassinator, they are automatically counter-spelled with a +10 bonus to the spell check by the creature’s magic resistance. This can reduce or negate a spell, but does unleashes no spell of its own, and does not require any action on the part of the Assassinator. This is resolved as a spell duel, and the Assassinator’s magic resistance may result in a phlogiston disturbance as normal.

The Assassinator of the Gods is a terrible creature capable of inflicting grievous damage on its targets. The judge is advised to use the creature with caution.

Clakar

Clakar: Init +0; Atk claw +5 melee (1d8+2) or bite +4 melee (1d4+4); AC 16; HD 4d8; MV 20’ or fly 40’; Act 2d20; SP: Rend or bite, immune to fear, never surprised, +5 bonus to saves vs. magic; SV Fort +8; Ref +6; Will +4; AL C.

These degenerate leathery-winged apes stand eight feet tall and have prominent long fangs. Primeval ancestors of the Winged Men of Myyrrhn, clakars are often used as guards despite their chaotic nature, If both claws hit the same opponent, a clakar can either rend the opponent for an automatic 1d8 damage or attempt a free bite attack.

Clakar cannot be surprised, even by hidden or invisible foes, and they are immune to fear. Thankfully, these creatures are neither intelligent nor disciplined, a fact which opponents may use to their advantage.

Dharzi Hunting Dog

Dharzi Hunting Dog: Init +3; Atk claw +4 melee (1d4) or bite +2 melee (1d6); AC 16; HD 3d8; MV 40’; Act 3d20; SP Tracking; SV Fort +2; Ref +2; Will +2; AL N.

Creations of the non-human Dharzi, through their pacts with the Beast Lords, these creatures have the hind legs and body of a wolfhound and the talons and head of a giant hawk, standing five feet high at the shoulder. In the time of Elric and Moonglum, the Dharzi had been extinct for ten centuries, and the last of their hunting dogs was thought to have died a thousand years ago. Still, there may be some plane, world, or secluded land where these things yet live to trouble those who encounter them.

Dharzi hunting dogs hunt in packs of 3d4 creatures. They are able to follow tracks and scents even a week later, regardless of conditions, attacking with both claws and a bite once they run prey down. Although their form may seem monstrous, they are creations of the Beast Lords, and are normal animals for the purposes of spells such as animal summoning.