I've done a few reviews of past offerings, and I have found things to enjoy and to use at the game table in every issue thus far. I don't think that is going to change soon! These really are well-written, professional-grade zines, and I hope you will support them.
Ostrich Skeleton: Init +2; Atk kick +1 melee (1d6+1); AC 12; HD 2d6; MV 50’; Act 1d20; SP un-dead, half damage from cutting and piercing weapons; SV Fort +3; Ref +3; Will -2; AL C.
For some reason, ostrich skeletons are attracted to picnickers and love to disrupt joyful outings of all types.
Bag of the Fates
This pouch is found with an assortment of small stones within, each associated with good or bad luck. Larger stones are typically indicative of greater variations in luck.
This object is represented by a dice bag with a random assortment of dice therein. The owning player may choose to select a single die and roll it when the judge requires any roll. The result is added to the die roll as if it were spent Luck, although thieves and halflings gain no special bonus and this bonus cannot be spent to help the rolls of an ally (as with halflings, fleeting luck, or similar).
Once the owning player has gained a positive modifier, the judge may require that they select another die at any time and roll it, subtracting the result from a selected roll. The judge may continue requiring that the player select a die until the penalty equals or surpasses the previous bonus. At this time, selection again becomes the player's choice, and the die becomes a bonus until the player has again received more bonuses than penalties (the bag confers a bonus whenever the bonuses and penalties are in balance).
Only one draw can be made per roll, whether as a bonus or penalty, and the Bag of the Fates disappears once the last die is drawn, regardless of where the ledger stands.
Note that the player drawing from the Bag of Fate need not draw dice randomly; they may attempt to "game fortune" if they choose by selected larger or smaller dice on specific rolls. It is recommended that the judge keep track of the current tally of bonuses to penalties.
Something similar to the lovely dice bag pictured here is available to order from Vault 0. The embroidered raven design can be purchased; the "Crowking" with the crown was created as a unique artifact!
When I was in the US last month, I picked up some awesome metal business cards from The Rusted Wyrm. Mostly, they just looked too cool to pass up. The picture really doesn't do them justice.
(You can see the sculpture in action if you follow the link above!)
Full Disclosure: Rusted Wyrm is owned by my brother-in-law. A stand-up guy, and one I am happy to suppport!
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This is a bit of a longer post, but the goal is to finish off creature conversions from the Hawkmoon role-playing game. Again, I am finding creatures which the 1e Fiend Folio seems to pay homage to. The stenchrunner is very different in some ways to the witherstench, but I would think the latter was inspired by the former. Similarly, the swampsnapper may well have provided the inspiration for the bonesnapper.
As always, I am adjusting material to meet DCC’s design, and using the Hawkmoon bestiary, rather then the original source material, as the basis of statistics.
Sea Dragon
Sea Dragon: Init +0; Atk claw +10 melee (1d8) or bite +10 melee (1d12) or tail lash +10 melee (1d20) or wing buffet +10 melee (2d12); AC 23; HD 8d12; MV 60’ or fly 120’ or swim 120’; Act 4d20; SV Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +8; AL N.
Although not true dragons, sea dragons are fearsome foes which are formidable on land, in water, and in the air. They serve the Runestaff, but are themselves thoroughly evil, and sometimes attack coastal settlements. Luckily, they are also weaker than true dragons, and lack both breath weapon and spells.
Stenchrunner
Stenchrunner:
Init +0; Atk bite +0 melee (1d6) or claw +2 melee (1d4); AC 12; HD 2d8;
MV 30’ or climb 30’; Act 2d20; SP stench, stealth +4; SV Fort +2, Ref +0, Will
+0; AL C.
Stenchrunners are nocturnal baboon-like creatures with toothed bird-like beaks and long cat-like claws. They inhabit ruined cities, where they stealthily stalk and ambush prey. Their oily fur gives off a nauseating reek, and any other creature within 10’ of a stenchrunner takes an automatic -2 penalty to attack rolls, AC, and spell checks as a result, unless they have no sense of smell. When stenchrunners attack, they emit a horrible hissing sound.
Swampsnapper
Swampsnapper: Init +4;
Atk bite +2 melee (1d8) or claw +3 melee (1d4); AC 14; HD 4d8; MV 30’ or or
swim 30’; Act 2d20; SP stealth +10, leap; SV Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +0; AL C.
These fast-breeding marshland creatures have alligator-like snouts and squat, heavily bristled bodies. They can leap up to 10’ as part of a move, using their muscular legs for power and their long thick tails for balance. They vary greatly in color, but all can hide in marshy environments and move stealthily, often sneaking up and leaping upon prey. They lay heaps of eggs in mud nests, which hatch into young capable of hunting in 1d3 weeks.
Swampsnappers are evil-tempered, and once they have set their mind on eating a particular creature, nothing short of death can change it. Some magic, such as charm person and forget, may dull this instinct for a while, but never permanently. Luckily, swampsnappers are extremely stupid.
War Jaguar
War Jaguar: Init +4;
Atk bite +7 melee (1d10+3) or claws +4 melee (1d5+3) or tail lash +3 melee
(1d6); AC 16; HD 6d8; MV 40’ or climb 20’ or swim 30’; Act 3d20; SP rake,
stealthy (+6 to surprise), tracking; SV Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +5; AL N.
War jaguars are enormous creatures with heads as large as those of oxen. Their backs are lined with a foot-high row of yellow spines, running down to their barb-tipped tails. Bred long ago in Asia Communista, they are incapable of breeding, but their natural lifespans are millennia long. Although magic may give limited control over these vicious animals, hungry war jaguars will sometimes attack their handlers and trainers when using more conventional methods.
Wraith-Folk of Soryandum
Wraith-Folk: Init +4;
Atk none; AC 10; HD 1d6; MV fly 30’ or swim 30’; Act 1d20; SP immaterial,
carry, hide +10, ESP; SV Fort +0; Ref +4; Will +8; AL N.
Similar to the Great Good Ones, the Wraith-folk also gave up corporeal existence to survive the Tragic Millennium. They are immaterial, and therefore immune to most attacks, although some forms of magical energy may harm them at the judge’s discretion. They are able to carry creatures up to human-sized individually (or larger as a group) while flying or moving through water. Because they exist in another dimension, they are difficult to see and can hide very easily. They have a limited form of ESP, by reading mental vibrations, which allows them to discern intentions and to tell friends from foes.
The Wraith-folk have no effective attacks, although they can give guidance and instruction to those they deem friends. Before they transferred to the other dimension, the Wraith-folk stored a great number of artifacts in a cavern outside Soryandum, guarded by the machine beast, which must be outwitted or otherwise dealt with before items can be removed. At the judge’s discretion, these artifacts may be technological in nature, magical, or some combination of the two.
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Looking at the Hawkmoon RPG, it is pretty clear that, while some stats scale along the same lines as Dungeons & Dragons (at it appeared at the time) or Dungeon Crawl Classics, the correspondence is not always “1 to 1”. Ultimately, it has to be our goal to make material usable for the game we are playing. In this case, I am adjusting material to meet DCC’s design, and that requires interpretation of the source material.
That the ocean ghouls use rapiers is interesting, because one would assume such weapons wouldn’t survive long immersed in salty ocean water. These rapiers are probably made of an unusual metal, and so would be of potential interest to elves. Although DCC doesn’t include the rapier as a standard weapon, I just gave it damage akin to a short sword.
Out of the Hawkmoon bestiary, the octiguana is my favorite creature, for reasons even I cannot explain. Maybe it’s just how easily I could see including them in almost any adventure. It may be my inherent cruelty as a judge, because I can easily see a PC foregoing attacks to escape the creature’s many arms, as more arms grip them and the creature gets ever-greater bonuses to its bite attacks.
Mountain
Giant
Mountain Giant
(8’ tall, 900 lbs.): Init +0; Atk huge club +10 melee (2d6+6) or hurled
stone +5 ranged (1d8+4, range 60’) or huge bow +5 ranged (1d6+4, range
200’/500’/1,500’); AC 14; HD 5d10; MV 30’; Act 1d20; SV Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +5;
AL C.
Oladahn: Init +2;
Atk longsword +5 melee (1d8+1) or short sword +5 melee (1d6+1) or dagger +5
melee (1d4+1) or longbow +6 ranged (1d6); AC 14; HD 3d10+6; hp 26; MV 30’; Act
1d20; SP stealth +4, climb sheer surfaces +5; SV Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +6; AL N.
Mountain giants are mutant humans found in the Bulgar Mountains. They are very broad, and covered in wiry hair of any color natural to their base human stock. Their appetites are immense, and they practice cannibalism – going even so far as to eat weaker members of their own families when nothing better is available.
Oladahn, one of Hawkmoon’s companions, is a mountain giant who suffered a pituitary defect preventing him from growing beyond human size and strength. He fled the mountains to avoid being eaten by his Uncle Barkyou. Shorter than average for a human, Oladahn has rusty brown fur and wears leather armor.
Mountain giants from the Fiend Folio seem to be unrelated.
Ocean Ghoul
Ocean Ghoul:
Init +0; Atk rapier +2 melee (1d6) or bite +0 melee (1d3); AC 12; HD 1d6;
MV 30’ or swim 50’; Act 1d20; SP water dependency; SV Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +0;
AL C.
These vile aquatic humanoids have webbed hands and feet and long tadpole-like tails. Their rubbery skin is a sickly blue-white hue, and their sharp-toothed mouths stretch nearly from ear to ear. They are found in shallow waters around reefs and rocky outcroppings, usually only attacking small vessels with raiding parties of 3d6 members. However, sometimes multiple bands work together to attack larger ships.
Ocean ghouls cannot live more than a few hours outside of water, and they dislike bright sunlight.
Octiguana
Octiguana: Init -2;
Atk bite +3 melee (3d4) or arm +5 melee (1d4 plus hold, up to 10’ away) or
tongue +8 ranged (hold and pull, range 30’); AC 15; HD 3d8; MV 40’ or climb 20’
or swim 30’; Act 2d20; SP arm attacks, hold, pull; SV Fort +2, Ref -2, Will -2;
AL N.
Temple
Octiguana: Init +0; Atk bite +1 melee (3d4) or arm +3 melee (1d3 plus
hold, up to 5’ away) or tongue +8 ranged (hold and pull, range 20’); AC 14; HD
1d8; MV 40’ or climb 20’ or swim 30’; Act 2d20; SP arm attacks, hold, pull; SV
Fort +1, Ref -1, Will +0; AL N.
These creatures are large black lizards with a collar of eight octopus-like arms around their necks. Each round, an octiguana can attack using 1d4 of these arms (as separate attacks) using a single action die. These arms grip opponents, making them easier to bite (+2 per arm), and can be escaped with a DC 14 Strength check per arm. Victims gain one free Strength check per round, but may use their action dice to secure more.
The octiguana’s tongue attack does no damage, but pulls its victim to the octiguana, allowing a free bite attack with a +2 bonus. The tongue can be severed with 10 hp damage, but any damage to its tongue causes the creature to release and retract its tongue, which it will not use again until healed. The tongue’s grip otherwise requires a DC 30 Strength check to break.
Smaller octiguanas have been bred for centuries in the blood pool of the Temple of Batach Gerandium, with stats as indicated above. Both types are carnivorous, and nearly always hungry.
Pteroon
Pteroon: Init +6;
Atk bite +2 melee (1d6) or claw +4 melee (1d4) or wing buffet +5 melee (1d3) or
shriek; AC 14; HD 2d8; MV fly 40’; Act 2d20; SP shriek (Fort DC 15 or be
stunned and unable to act for 1 round, 30’ cone with 30’ base), stop to eat; SV
Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +0; AL C.
Genetically altered bats native to Persia, these black creatures have long arms and bony claws in addition to their wings. Once a bat has killed a target, it must make a DC 10 Will save for each additional target it kills, or it stops to eat for 2d6 minutes or until interrupted. A body eaten by a pteroon without interruption cannot be recovered (rolled over), even if some remains are left. It the pteroon is slain or driven off, though, there is a chance that by some lucky miracle the fallen adventurer survived (as per normal rules).
These creatures stink of old blood and decaying flesh.
See also Doombat.
Looking at the Hawkmoon RPG, it is pretty clear that, while some stats scale along the same lines as Dungeons & Dragons (at it appeared at the time) or Dungeon Crawl Classics, the correspondence is not always “1 to 1”. Ultimately, it has to be our goal to make material usable for the game we are playing. In this case, I am adjusting material to meet DCC’s design, and that requires interpretation of the source material.
Not everything in Hawkmoon requires a full statblock, or even a standard statblock. Some things just require the judge to have rules available for their effects. The Mesmerose in this post, and the Jeebies in the last, are good examples of this. Otherwise, these statistics are based almost entirely on Hawkmoon, which means that there might be some differences between them and the original Tragic Millennium stories. If a creature appears in Hawkmoon (or Stormbringer, when I get to it) that also appears in the Deities & Demigods tome, I will either do a separate conversion, or note that the source material doesn’t differ enough to make a separate conversion worthwhile.
The
Machine-Beast
Machine-Beast: Init +0;
Atk talon +8 melee (2d10) or bite +6 melee (2d10) or tail lash +6 melee (1d10)
or crush +2 melee (5d10); AC 20; HD 12d12; hp 88; MV 40’; Act 3d20; SP construct,
DR 20, sharp weapon-breaking plating, crush; SV Fort +12, Ref +4, Will +0; AL N.
“It crouched on metal
feet, towering over them, its multi-colored scales half-blinding them. The
length of its back, save for its neck, was a mass of knife-sharp horns. It had
a body fashioned … like an ape’s, with short hind legs and long forelegs,
ending in hands of taloned metal. Its eyes were multifaceted like a fly’s, and
its snout was full of razor-sharp metal teeth.”
- THE MAD GOD’S AMULET
There is only one Machine-Beast, which guards Soryandum, attacking anything entering the cavern except the Wraith-folk. A creation of the Wraith-folk of Soryandum, placed to protect their artifacts from outsiders, it can presumably be repaired by the Wraith-folk through proxies, so even though Hawkmoon rendered the creature blind when he encountered it, that may no longer be the case. Moreover, the mechanism itself may have some self-repair function which, over time, “heals” whatever damage it takes.
The metal plating of the machine-beast makes it difficult to damage. It subtracts the first 20 points of damage from any successful attack against it, regardless of the source. Worse, anyone who makes a successful melee attack against the machine-beast must roll a Reflex save, with varying effects based on the result: (5 or less) non-magical weapon shattered plus 1d8 damage from sharp protuberances, (6-10) 1d6 damage from knife-sharp horns, or (11+) no effect.
The machine-beast’s crush attack uses all of its action dice, but attacks all targets in a 15’ radius up to 20’ away from the machine-beast’s starting location. The machine-beast leaps into the air, attempting to land on its victim(s). It’s half-blinding scales make it more difficult to hit, and are already factored into the creature’s Armor Class. Although a construct, critical hits and mighty deeds can damage its functioning.
Mesmerose
Brilliant flowers made from what appears to be rainbow-hued crystal, these plants enthrall those who see them and fail to make a DC 15 Will save. Enthralled creatures can do nothing other than gaze upon the flower until they die of hunger and thirst or another creature intervenes (by pulling the victim away, interrupting their vision, etc.). A new save is required each time a mesmerose is glimpsed. In addition from offering some protection from being eaten themselves, this defense utilizes the creatures destroyed through privation as fertilizer when they decompose.
Intelligent creatures aware of the presence of mesmerose bushes may use them to capture intruders, although they run the same risk should they accidently glance at the plants themselves.
Minim
Minim: Init +2;
Atk miniature spear +0 melee (1d3-2, minimum 0); AC 14; HD 1 hp; MV 20’; Act 1d16;
SV Fort -4; Ref +4; Will -4; AL N.
Minim
swarm: Init +2; Atk swarming spears and bites +2 melee (1d3); AC 16;
HD 3d8; MV 20’; Act special; SP swarm traits; SV Fort +4, Ref +8, Will +0; AL
N.
Hairy mutant humans with completely hairless heads, minims live in the ruins of Yei. They have neither language nor culture, and are not normally dangerous. Minims may watch intruders from behind cover, but these shy creatures do nothing else unless compelled to by magic or super-science. In this case, or if somehow otherwise provoked, they attack en masse as a swarm.
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Not everything in Hawkmoon requires a full statblock, or even a standard statblock. Some things just require the judge to have rules available for their effects. The Jeebies in this post are a good example of this. For those who are interested, statistics for giant flamingos appear in the Cyclopedia of Common Animals Volume F. Although these are not specifically avian denizens of the Tragic Millennium, they are definitely a nod thereunto. There is also a mural in Through the Cotillion of Hours which references giant flamingos, and this is the reason why.
These statistics are based almost entirely on Hawkmoon, which means that there might be some differences between them and the original Tragic Millennium stories. If a creature appears in Hawkmoon (or Stormbringer, when I get to it) that also appears in the Deities & Demigods tome, I will either do a separate conversion, or note that the source material doesn’t differ enough to make a separate conversion worthwhile. I have yet to do these conversions for my Patreon, so they won't appear in this blog until sometime next year.
Charki
Charki: Init +0;
Atk mental rays (madness) or tentacle +8 melee (1d6 plus life force drain); AC 12;
HD 6d12; MV 30’; Act (1d6+1)d20; SP mental rays, variable tentacle attacks,
life force drain, healed by electricity, immortal; SV Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +8;
AL C.
The immortal charki resemble gigantic angleworms with stone-grey skin, from which protrude masses of tentacles and other strange protuberances. The faces upon their pulsating heads are a parody of human features, grinning idiotic grins.
Charki can emit mental rays in a 300-foot range. All non-charki in this range must succeed in a DC 5 Will save or suffer madness, seeing friend as foe and directing all attacks against allies. This save must be rolled each round until either the victim is beyond the range of these mental rays, or they roll either a natural “1” or “20”. If they roll a natural “1” they remain affected for the next 1d6 turns with no additional save. If they roll a natural “20” they are immune for the next 24 hours, and do not need to roll additional saves.
In addition, a charki can attack with 1d6 tentacles each round. On a successful hit, the charki drains life force from the target, who must succeed in a DC 10 Fort save or take 1d3 points of attribute damage. Randomly determine which attribute each point is taken from.
These creatures were created long ago by the scientist Zhenadar-vron-Kensai, and are effectively immortal. If reduced to 0 hp and their bodies are not utterly destroyed, they merely remain dormant until regenerated by the passage of long years. In addition to consuming the life force from living creatures, the charki feed off of electricity, and are healed instead of harmed by electrical attacks. They usually travel in groups of 2d6 individuals.
Great Good
One
Great Good
One: Init +4; Atk sleepsong (DC 15 Will or sleep for 2d6 hours);
AC 10; HD 1d6; MV fly 30’; Act 1d20; SP sleepsong, immaterial, carry; SV Fort +0;
Ref +4; Will +8; AL N.
The Great Good Ones were once mortal humans who have become energy beings due to a scientific discovery made at the onset of the Tragic Millennium. They now serve and protect the Runestaff and its spirit, Jehamiah Cohnahlias. They appear as colored shadows, and can grow or shrink at will, to be smaller than a halfling or as large as a giant. They communicate through song.
The Great Good Ones are now immaterial, and are immune to most attacks, although some forms of magical energy may harm them at the judge’s discretion. They are able to make creatures fall asleep through their singing (DC 15 Will or sleep 2d6 hours), and can carry creatures up to human-sized individually (or larger as a group). Those who seem to carry ill intent are put to sleep and moved outside the Great Good One’s home in Dnark. Those who seem to be of goodwill are taken to the hospitable Jehamiah.
Jeebie
Jeebies are dandelion-like plants whose stalks terminate in eye-like structures rather than flowers. They are mobile, and can crawl along the ground at MV 1’. If any creature comes within view, the jeebies freeze in place, merely watching with their eyestalk-blossoms…although they move closer if a creature looks away, freezing in place again if observed.
Jeebies grow in herd-like patches of hundreds of plants. They have no attack, and are not dangerous. They may be unsettling, however.
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These statistics are based almost entirely on Hawkmoon, which means that there might be some differences between them and the original Tragic Millennium stories. If a creature appears in Hawkmoon (or Stormbringer, when I get to it) that also appears in the Deities & Demigods tome, I will either do a separate conversion, or note that the source material doesn’t differ enough to make a separate conversion worthwhile.
Baragoon
Baragoon: Init +0;
Atk talon +6 melee (1d4+4) or bite +4 melee (1d6+4); AC 15; HD 2d8; MV 30’ or
swim 30’; Act 2d20; SP camouflage +10, gibbering; SV Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +6;
AL C.
Also known as marsh gibberers, there were once many of these creatures in the Kamarg swamps, although Count Brass and his men have reduced their numbers significantly. Baragoon are ambush predators, which rise gibbering from the wetlands, flailing their talons. Those who fail a DC 15 Will save are frozen in horror, and unable to act on the first non-surprise round of combat.
These creatures were once human, transformed into their monstrous shapes by hideous magic and/or blasphemous science. They are 8 feet high and very broad, with bile-colored flesh. They can slither along at their full Move so as to remain hidden until ready to leap onto their prey. These sadistic creatures will consume the limbs of a still-living victim if they are given the chance. Their talons are as hard as steel.
(As an aside, it very much seems to me that the Babbler from the 1st Edition Fiend Folio was directly inspired by this monster.)
Bloodseeker
Bloodseeker: Init +2;
Atk bite +0 melee (1d3 plus blood drain and mutant rabies); AC 8; HD 1d3; MV 30’
or burrow 10’; Act 1d20; SP surprise, latch, blood drain, mutant rabies; SV
Fort -2; Ref +0; Will -4; AL C.
Inhabiting ancient ruins, cave systems, and gullies, these creatures lie in wait, burrowing upward to attack victims. Those who fail a DC 15 Intelligence check in the first round of combat are surprised (elves gain a +4 bonus to this check due to their heightened senses).
When a bloodseeker successfully bites a victim, it latches on and begins to drain blood at a rate of 1d3 Strength damage per round. It can be removed with an opposed Strength check (vs. +2), a successful Mighty Deed, or by killing the creature. Bloodseekers carry a mutated form of rabies. Victims of their bite attacks must succeed on a DC 12 Fort save or die in 1d4 weeks if not otherwise cured.
The monsters themselves have lean, sinewy bodies, naked leathery hides, and huge bony claws. Their faces resemble a cross between a pug dog’s and a bat’s, with razor-sharp chisel-like teeth. Although nocturnal by choice, they are in no way harmed or impaired by sunlight. Bloodseeker colonies number 2d100 creatures on average, making them a serious threat wherever they are found.
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Because I have converted Hawkmoon creatures, but not those from Stormbringer yet, for my Patreon, you will be seeing those here first. Stormbringer conversions will hit the Patreon later this year, with them being reposted to this blog sometime next year.
If there ever is an Eternal Champion DCC Boxed Set, I would expect the team at Goodman Games to do what they have done for all literary conversions to this point - go through the actual works in question and convert from primary sources. In that event, while having an extra set of statistics for, say, vampire trees might be useful to the harried judge, the official conversions in the boxed set should be closer to the original author's true intent.
Vampire Trees
Vampire
Tree Leaf: Init +0; Atk touch +8 melee (attach and blood drain); AC 11;
HD 2 hp; MV fly 30’; Act 1d16; SP attach, blood drain (1d4 Stamina damage, Fort
DC 12 for half); SV Fort -4, Ref +6, Will +0; AL N.
These appear to be natural trees of other kind, but are possessed of a low, evil intelligence. When creatures approach within 50 feet, they release 1d10 leaves, which seem to drift downward as do leaves everywhere. When they come in contact with a body, the leaves attach themselves. The following round, they drain blood from their victims, at a rate of 1d4 Stamina damage per round (Fort DC 12 for half), until their victim is drained of blood, moves more than 360 feet from the parent tree, or they are forcibly detached. Surviving leaves return the their parent tree to feed it with their victim’s blood.
A vampire tree can only control 10 leaves at a time, but its supply of replacement leaves is effectively limitless. They take twice normal damage from fire and fire-based attacks, and consequently fear flames.
Vulture
Lion
These huge creatures were created by the Melnibonéans from the raw fibers Chaos itself. They appear as enormous lions, 10 feet tall at the shoulder, with the head and talons of vultures. In Limbo, they hunt in prides of 3d4 members. Summoned to the Fields We Know, they are fierce combatants, but the summoner must succeed in an additional DC 15 Intelligence check to command these creatures. Failure means they turn on their summoner, killing them if possible. If their summoner is slain, the powers of Chaos return the vulture lions to Limbo. When a vulture lion is slain, the Chaos bound within it unravels – creatures within 30’ must succeed in a Luck check or suffer a random corruption effect. Roll 1d10 modified by Luck: (3 or less) Greater Corruption, (4-6) Major Corruption, (7 or more) Minor Corruption.
Whether or not they are completely accurate to Moorcock’s writing, the D&DG entries were flavorful enough to pique my interest when the book came out. I actually made use of some of the creatures therein (both in this section and in others) when populating my AD&D 1e adventures. Not too many, of course, because of their general power level and extraplanar nature (often), but enough sprinkled here and there to make them felt in the world. I disguised and recast gods as well, creating worlds with what one player described as “a sense of brooding doom”.
Back in those days, I bought into Gary Gygax’s spiel about using only “official” AD&D products and my own work. As my series of conversion posts show, I eventually realized that was nothing more than a sales pitch keeping me away from other fantastic resources. When I am finished, I will also convert creatures from the Hawkmoon and Stormbringer games, eventually to post them here.
Nihrain
Horse
Nihrain
Horse: Init +4; Atk hoof +5 melee (1d4+2); AC 22; HD 7d8; MV 70’;
Act 1d20; SP planar shift, endurance, immunity to fear; SV Fort +6, Ref +7,
Will +5; AL N.
These horses from Nihrain belong to the Ten Who Sleep in the Mountain of Fire, and their use may be gifted to those mortals in direct service to the primary forces of Neutrality. They appear as great black stallions, but are not fully within our own plane of existence. As a consequence, any successful attack against one passes through it harmlessly 25% of the time (a successful Mighty Deed or a spent point of Luck can negate this miss chance). In addition, because its hooves interact with the stuff of its own plane, a Nihrain horse can appear to travel over both water and land in the Fields We Know, and fly over chasms and other impediments in our world with ease.
The horses of Nihrain are immune to fear, and never make morale checks. They have a fantastic level of endurance, and can move at full speed for 48 hours without requiring a rest. This doesn’t prevent their riders from being fatigued by sustained riding, however.
Oonai: Init +0;
Atk variable +12 melee (1d10 or variable); AC 20; HD 10d10; MV 30’
or variable;
Act up to 3d20; SP shape-changing; SV Fort +8; Ref +8; Will +8; AL C.
Not to be confused with the lovely and terrible city of lutes and dancing beyond the Karthian hills, the oonai are natural shape-changers which can take the form of any beast or monster of 10 Hit Dice or lower. Regardless of their form, they can use any of the new form’s non-magical powers or attacks, and have up to three action dice. Regardless of form, their AC does not change. An oonai can change shape only once a round, and doing so uses an action die.
It is recommended that the judge know the attacks, move, and special powers of several potential shapes that the creature might use. To make the judge’s life easier, however, a base move of 30’ and a base damage of 1d10 are suggested.
Oonai are reasonably intelligent, and can be bargained with. Despite this, when in combat they always attack singularly, with the most powerful oonai attacking first. No one knows what their actual form looks like, if indeed they have one.
Quaolnargn
Quaolnargn
(Type III Demon): Init +5; Atk claw +8 melee (1d4+2) or bite +6 melee
(1d8+2 plus soul drain); AC 15; HD 7d12; hp 38; MV 30’; Act 2d20; SP demon
traits, soul drain (Will DC 19 for half), immunity to petrifaction and
polymorph, crit 18-20; SV Fort +8; Ref +7; Will +8; AL C.
Quaolnargn is an enormous and loathsome toad-like demon with slimy claws. Like all Type III demons, it has 60’ infravision, can communicate through speech or telepathy, and can cast darkness (with a +12 bonus to the spell check). Quaolnargn is immune to weapons of less than +2 enchantment or natural attacks from creatures of 5 Hit Dice or less, and takes half-damage from fire, acid, cold, electricity, and gas. I can teleport back to its native hell, or to any point on the plane it occupies, as long as not bound or otherwise summoned. In addition to those standard demonic powers, it is immune to petrifaction and attempts to polymorph or otherwise change its form.
When Quaolnargn succeeds with a bite attack, it drains the soul of its victim, doing 1d4 points of Strength damage and draining XP by 1d8 points (Will DC 19 for half). Drained XP cannot make a victim lose a level, but must be made up before any new level is gained. If either XP of Strength reaches 0 from this effect, the victim is irrevocable dead, its soul consumed by Quaolnargn. So powerful is this effect that, if the demon is successfully attacked with a soul-consuming weapon or spell, the attack affect the wielder/caster rather than the demon, and the demon gains any benefits the caster/wielder would normally receive.
If the demon is slain, driven off, or otherwise prevented from completely draining a victim, the victim regains lost Strength and XP at a rate of 1d4 points each per turn.
“It did not eat flesh
and it did not drink blood. It fed on the minds and souls of adult men and
women. Occasionally, as an appetizer, it enjoyed the morsels, the sweetmeats as
it were, of the innocent life-force which it sucked from children. It ignored
animals since there was not enough awareness in an animal to savour. The
creature was, for all its alien stupidity, a gourmet and a connoisseur.”
- Michael Moorcock, The Bane of the Black Sword
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When I am finished, I will eventually convert creatures from the Hawkmoon and Stormbringer games.
It strikes me that this is a good time to discuss why I am doing this at all. Like other conversions that have appeared in this blog, this is a reminder that conversion isn't really all that difficult. Part art, part science, there is no "right" way or "wrong" way to convert things. The Conversion Crawl Classes posts are the same - I am trying to encourage the Gentle Reader to not only convert material to Dungeon Crawl Classics, but also to share with the wider community!
In the end, though, there is also a hope that some of this material gets used in your home game. If you do use it, please let me know! It helps motivate me to keep putting stuff out there!
Mist Giant
Mist giants are vast four-armed beings comprised of living, semi-sold mist. They have shapeless heads, yellow eyes, and their lower body is a snake-like mass well suited to slithering over the tops of bogs and water. The creature is hard to see in fogs or mist, and is capable of moving soundlessly. Because its body is only semi-solid, it takes half damage from non-magical weapons.
Mordagz
Mordaga
(22’ tall, 10,000 lbs): Init +3; Atk sword +22 melee (6d6+6); AC 21; HD 16d10;
hp 80; MV 40’; Act 1d24; SP Shield of
Chaos, sacred trust, fated death, crit on a 20-24; SV Fort +12; Ref +4;
Will +8; AL C.
Mordaga the Sad Giant (called Mordagz in the Deities & Demigods Cyclopedia) was once a Lord of Chaos. It is difficult to imagine the crimes he committed against his fellow gods, but as punishment for his defiance against other, more powerful, Lords of Chaos, he was cast out and made mortal. He now guards and protects the Shield of Chaos as his sacred trust, and no force can part him from the Shield or force him to give it up as long as he lives.
Although now mortal, Mordaga is fated to be slain by one of four men who come to take the Shield from him. As a result, whenever he is down to his last 10 hp (or lower) the Lords of Chaos always whisk him (and the Shield) away, and if reduced to 0 hp he always recovers. In the works of Michael Moorcock, the only men who could permanently slay Mordaga were Elric, Moonglum, Rackhir, and Dyvim Slorm, although the judge may rule otherwise.
Mordaga gains all the benefits of the Shield of Chaos while alive (see below).
Shield of Chaos
Also known as the Shield of the Sad Giant, this round shield is 5’ in diameter I made from silvery-green metal. It bears the device of the eight-pointed arrow of Chaos, radiating out in amber from the Shield’s central boss. Although created by Mordaga when he was still a Chaos Lord of the Higher Worlds, the Shield was created to protect him in his rebellion against his fellow gods, and is sovereign against the powers of Chaos.
The Shield of Chaos grants a +5 bonus to AC (already calculated into Mordaga’s stats). In addition, each round the wielder may direct it to a single quarter. Attacks from the quarter, whether physical, magical, or otherwise, cannot harm the Shield’s bearer if they come from a chaotic creature or source. Unless surrounded by enemies, the wielder can freely move the Shield to counter foes.
The wielder of the Shield cannot be transformed or warped by the power of Chaos. Further, the touch of the Shield undoes any existing transformation. In addition, any Chaos Lord or chaotic demon struck by the Shield (or even coming into contact with it) takes 3d20 damage. Mordaga himself was immune to this last power when he was a Lord of Chaos.
The Shield of Chaos is an Object of Power. Anyone bearing it for over 3 months (except its creator) loses 1 point of Luck per month so long as the Shield is retained. Worse, powerful creatures, wizards, and agents of both Law and Chaos continually seek to recover the Shield for their own ends.
Myyrrhn
Despite their hawkish (but human-looking) faces and avian wings (which span 10 feet) the Winged Folk of the land of Myyrrhn are said to have evolved from the clakars. These people enjoy fighting, and in particular fighting from the air where they have an advantage. If wounded to 5 hp or less, individual Winged Folk seek to escape by flight, leaving their comrades to cover their escape and continue the battle.
A typical warband of the Winged Folk numbers 3d10 members. They generally use longswords (1d8 damage), but may use spears (1d8 damage), javelins (1d6 damage, ranged) or other weapons. Their hereditary enemies are a race of giant owls, which we might as well also supply stats for:
Giant Owls of Myyrrhn: Init +3; Atk claw +7 melee (1d6) or bite +2 melee (1d8); AC 15; HD 4d10; MV 10’ or fly 70’; Act 2d20; SP keen senses, silent flight; SV Fort +3; Ref +5; Will +1; AL N.
These intelligent owls are nocturnal, with a height of 9 feet and a wingspan of 20 feet. They are often solitary, or found only in small groups, which gives the Winged Folk some advantage against them.
I've already done Hawkmoon conversions on my Patreon, but have not addressed Stormbringer there yet, so those (Stormbringer) creature conversions won't be available here until some time in 2025.
Elenoin
Elenoin: Init +3;
Atk two-handed sword +3 melee (1d10+2) or bite +0 melee (1d3); AC 14; HD 3d10;
MV 30’; Act 1d20; SP: 25% magic resistance, multiversal travel, immune to fear,
hereditary enemies; SV Fort +3; Ref +4; Will +7; AL N.
The hordes of the Elenoin traverse the multiverse, hunting and fighting their hereditary enemies, the Grahluk (see below). They appear as beautiful naked red-haired women, with shark-like teeth, made hideous by their obvious insanity and fury. They are immune to fear, and never need to make morale checks. Spells and non-permanent magics have a 25% chance of being dispelled immediately upon contact with the Elenoin (doing no damage).
Grahluk
Grahluk: Init +0;
Atk rope net +3 melee (entangle) or fist +5 melee (1d4+5) or rope whip +5 melee
(10’ range, 1d6+5); AC 19; HD 4d8; MV 40’; Act 1d20; SP: entangle (DC 15 Reflex
negates, DC 15 Strength or Agility check to escape, cumulative -2 penalty to
escape checks per round spent entangled), 95% magic resistance, multiversal
travel, hereditary enemies; SV Fort +7; Ref +2; Will +6; AL N.
Grahluks are not very intelligent, and may be tricked by cunning PCs. They use nets, shields, and ropes of tremendous strength and mass as whips. Those successfully hit with a Grahluk net must succeed in a DC 15 Reflex save or become entangled. Entangled creatures may attempt a DC 15 Strength or Agility check to escape, but suffer a cumulative -2 penalty to escape checks per round spent entangled until they are unable to escape. If deprived of its shield, a Grahluk’s AC is reduced to 18.
Like the Elenoin, Grahluks have some mysterious means of traveling the multiverse, and do so in bands of 4d20 to hunt and kill the Elenoin. It cannot be overstated how deep the enmity between the Elenoin and Grahluks runs. The only goal a Grahluk has in life is the killing of Elenoin, or death on an Elenoin blade. After defeating them in any battle, Grahluks use their hereditary enemy’s swords to kill themselves as well.
Kelmain
These savage creatures hail from that Limbo which lies beyond the World’s Edge. They are golden-skinned humanoids, appearing to be carved out of rock, with square eye sockets. They wear angular golden-colored armor and fight with gold-colored swords of some unknown metal from far Limbo. This is neither steel nor iron, and elves can use it without penalty. Kelmain troops may have other weapons, and know how to construct and use various siege engines and other engines of war.
The Kelmain do not speak any known language, and if summoned they will keep whatever land they have fought over, if at all possible. A Kelmain fighting force consists of 10 to 10,000 individuals, depending upon their summoner’s power and desires, and the discretion of the judge.
For every 10 individuals, one will be a leader-type with +1 Hit Die. For every 50 individuals, one will have +2 Hit Dice and +1 to all attacks. For every 250 troops, one will have +3 Hit Dice, +2 to all attacks, and +1 to damage and all saves. For every 1,000 individuals, one will have +4 Hit Dice, +3 to all attacks, and +2 to damage and all saves. For every 5,000 troops, one will have +5 Hit Dice and +3 to all attacks, damage, and saves. Finally, if a full 10,000 Kelmain appear, they will be led by a warlord with 8 Hit Dice, and a +4 bonus to all attack rolls, damage, and saves.
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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
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
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.
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