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The Dark Woods is a Role-Playing Game where players take on the role of monsters and battle each other. The Dark Woods does not have a "game master." The players are divided into two teams of sorcerers - intelligent monsters who become more powerful by defeating enemies. The teams take turns moving on the map and playing the enemies that the other team encounters. | The Dark Woods is a Role-Playing Game where players take on the role of monsters and battle each other. The Dark Woods does not have a "game master." The players are divided into two teams of sorcerers - intelligent monsters who become more powerful by defeating enemies. The teams take turns moving on the map and playing the enemies that the other team encounters. | ||
− | The Dark Woods is licensed under the | + | === History & License === |
+ | The Dark Woods as a project started around 1994 by the team of developers now known as the [http://gameartsguild.com Game Arts Guild]. (It was the project that spun off the [http://gameartsguild.com/squawk/ Squawk Role-Playing Game]. The original copyright is held by Benjamin Galbraith and Seth Galbraith of the Game Arts Guild.) The Dark Woods is now licensed under the [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/ Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike license]. This license applies to art, rules, written content, other content, etc. | ||
− | + | The Dark Woods is part of the [[Ancient_And_Deadly | Ancient and Deadly]] multiverse, but it is also a stand-alone player vs. player (GMless) Role-Playing Game. | |
− | == Setting == | + | === Setting === |
− | The Dark Woods is a foreboding place full of monsters and violence | + | The Dark Woods is a dangerous foreboding place full of monsters and violence. It appears to be an endless forest in a permanent state of twilight, and has many mysterious ancient ruins. The Dark Woods is a nexus that connects many other worlds together. (This entire collection of worlds and universes is called the "Ancient and Deadly" setting, or A&D for short.) |
− | The Dark Woods is rife with mystical power called | + | The Dark Woods is rife with mystical power called "essence." The higher up on the food chain a creature is, the more essence it accumulates. Intelligent creatures who intentionally use essence to become more powerful are called "Sorcerers." (Sorcerers from The Dark Woods are sometimes more specifically called "Cannibal Sorcerers" by outsiders.) Sorcerers come in many unique forms, and can even be in the shape of known types of monsters. |
[[Image:SorcerersBigTheDarkWoods.png|550px]] | [[Image:SorcerersBigTheDarkWoods.png|550px]] | ||
− | The Dark Woods is | + | The Dark Woods is currently ruled by the powerful six-legged dragon sorcerer Kaizen. Most sorcerers either support the known ruler of The Dark Woods, or are involved in plots to overthrow that ruler. |
− | + | Besides other groups of sorcerers, the biggest threat to sorcerers is the monster-hating Order of Thanatos and the beaked humanoid colos they have intentionally placed in The Dark Woods as an invasive species, in order to try to kill off the sorcerers: | |
+ | |||
+ | "The Order of Thanatos has long recognized The Dark Woods to be a center of great evil amonst the many worlds that this place creeps into. The Order of Thanatos brought us colos here generations ago, because of our fast reproductive-cycles and pack-hunting instincts. The Dark Woods is deadly, but the our home world had been just as hostile in it's own Triassic way, until we colos overwhelmed that savagery using only bronze age weapons and technology. The Order of Thanatos converted some us to their cause, and those colos were sent to colonize The Dark Woods in an attempt to tame it as well. The part of The Dark Woods conquered by the decedents of those colos is now called "colo country" by those of us who dwell here. Know two things for certain. First venturing beyond the borders of Colo Country is a journey into the land of nightmares, and should only be done with careful military planning. Second, if you meet sorcerers, destroying those blights-on-reality is your duty, cause, and reason for existence; we are the angels sent to destroy these demons in their own hell!" ''- Ruben the Crusader Monk'' (from an academy lecture a few weeks before his disappearance.)'' | ||
[[Image:TheDarkWoodsColoDuck.png|250px]] | [[Image:TheDarkWoodsColoDuck.png|250px]] | ||
− | + | The most common intelligent creature in The Dark Woods is the colo. Colos come from a world like Earth's Triassic period. There they thrived as their homeworld's foremost predator, having a strong pack hunting instinct. These bird-like humanoids reproduce faster than humans, but have a naturally shorter life span than humans. Colo cultures tend to be focused on heroic accomplishments, often in the form of collecting impressive hunting trophies. | |
− | + | Colos were intentionally introduced to The Dark Woods by the Order of Thanatos. This ancient order wished to end the practice of sorcery in The Dark Woods. The colos they brought were indoctrinated and trained by the order, so that most of the Colos claim the Order of Thanatos as their religion. | |
− | + | Most of colo society in The Dark Woods is focused on a crusade to hunt and destroy all the sorcerers in The Dark Woods. These colos live in forts filled with many large families. The social structure is miltaristic, with each fort being led by a "captain" and his many "officers." (Many a sorcerer have commented that colos "taste like chicken," but many more have found themselves overwhelmed and executed by colos.) | |
− | + | == Rules Summary == | |
− | + | The Dark Woods uses the [[Scratch | Scratch Role-Playing System]] for its combat and character creation rules. See the Scratch Role-Playing System chapter for the complete rules. | |
− | [[ | ||
− | + | {{:Scratch:Summary}} | |
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== Form Teams == | == Form Teams == | ||
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At least one of your PCs is completely obsessed with mastering the darkest arts, willing to take on any rival power to demonstrate his/her/it's supremacy. The other PCs either share his interests or accommodate him out of fear of what he might do if angered. | At least one of your PCs is completely obsessed with mastering the darkest arts, willing to take on any rival power to demonstrate his/her/it's supremacy. The other PCs either share his interests or accommodate him out of fear of what he might do if angered. | ||
− | Whenever your PCs encounter | + | Whenever your PCs encounter Hungry Ghouls, you can choose to fight the Hungry Ghouls as normal, or instead have the Hungry Ghouls immediately attack the other team. |
=== Raiders === | === Raiders === | ||
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== Make PCs == | == Make PCs == | ||
− | Every player has one personally designed character called a "PC" (or "player character.") This PC feeds on the essence of his fallen foes to become more powerful, technically making it a sorcerer. The antagonist in "The Fall of the Blackmanes" (who is known as The Old Crow in this game,) is one example of a very experienced sorcerer in The Dark Woods. However, these kind of sorcerers can take almost any form. A sorcerer could be a mighty warrior, a dragon, some other dangerous monster, or even something more subtle. | + | Every player has one personally designed character called a "PC" (or "player character.") This PC feeds on the essence of his fallen foes to become more powerful, technically making it a sorcerer. The antagonist in "The Fall of the Blackmanes" (who is known as The Old Crow in this game,) is one example of a very experienced sorcerer in The Dark Woods. However, these kind of sorcerers can take almost any form. A sorcerer could be a mighty warrior, a dragon, some other dangerous monster, or even something more subtle. Players should use their imagination, and use the [[Scratch | Scratch Role-Playing System]] (see Basic Rules) to make a sorcerer with a maximum ability level of 5 and a maximum total ability level of 12. |
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | Players should use their imagination, and use the [[Scratch | Scratch Role-Playing System]] (see Basic Rules) to make a sorcerer with a maximum | ||
Name:_______________________________ Description:_______________________ | Name:_______________________________ Description:_______________________ | ||
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Here are some questions to answer when making a good character description of a sorcerer: How does your PC feed on the essence of a fallen foe? (Does your PC use fangs to "suck their blood," make a soup out of them in a large black cauldron, use a talisman to absorb their aura, or some other sinister technique?) What is it about your PC that makes it have the abilities it does? What is the origin of your PC? What shape does your PC have now? How does your PC defend itself? What is your PC's personality like? What equipment does your PC use on a regular basis? | Here are some questions to answer when making a good character description of a sorcerer: How does your PC feed on the essence of a fallen foe? (Does your PC use fangs to "suck their blood," make a soup out of them in a large black cauldron, use a talisman to absorb their aura, or some other sinister technique?) What is it about your PC that makes it have the abilities it does? What is the origin of your PC? What shape does your PC have now? How does your PC defend itself? What is your PC's personality like? What equipment does your PC use on a regular basis? | ||
− | [[Image: | + | [[Image:TheDarkWoodsCatfishman.png|300px]] |
− | === | + | == Example PCs == |
− | |||
− | |||
− | + | Brimstone (13 agility, 10 intelligence, 13 strength, 2 stamina) is a colo sorcerer turned winged fire-breathing dragon, looking to take the throne for herself. She absorbs essence by swallowing her opponents whole when possible, and in pieces when not. | |
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
2 blasting: fire-breathing | 2 blasting: fire-breathing | ||
− | + | 2 wrestling: huge, natural weapons | |
3 flying: winged | 3 flying: winged | ||
− | + | 5 toughness: as big as a horse and growing fast | |
− | |||
+ | Henry (12 agility, 10 intelligence, 11 strength, 1 stamina) is a human hunter from another world, looking for challenging game. He is armed with a powerful hunting rifle. Eager to try exotic foods, he absorbs essence by roasting meat over open flames, with a new wolf-like disregard for the etiquette he had once mastered on his homeworld. | ||
− | + | 2 detection: experienced hunter, new wolf-like senses | |
− | + | 1 stealth: new wolf-like instincts | |
− | + | 3 shooting: long range rifle with scope, | |
− | + | 3 knockout: from-hip shots at specific organs, new wolf-like reflexes | |
3 toughness: normal human size | 3 toughness: normal human size | ||
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− | Katzenjammer (12 agility, | + | Katzenjammer (12 agility, 10 intelligence, 13 strength, 2 stamina) is the six-limbed dragon son of Kaizen, who is plotting to take Kaizen's throne. Inhales the smoke of his burning foes to absorb their essence. |
2 stealth: trickster | 2 stealth: trickster | ||
− | + | 3 wrestling: deceptive self-defense | |
− | |||
− | 3 wrestling: deceptive self defense | ||
3 shooting: fire ball | 3 shooting: fire ball | ||
− | + | 4 toughness: big | |
− | Necro (11 agility, | + | Necro (11 agility, 14 intelligence, 10 strength, 1 stamina) is a morlock sorcerer turned evil mage, bent on mastering the power of The Dark Woods. He absorbs the essence of his fallen enemies by looking into their eyes as they die. |
1 acrobatics: former 3 dimensional lifestyle | 1 acrobatics: former 3 dimensional lifestyle | ||
− | + | 4 blasting: chain lighting attack | |
− | + | 4 command: 2 zombies | |
3 toughness: human sized | 3 toughness: human sized | ||
− | Necro's Zombie (10 agility, 10 intelligence, | + | Necro's Zombie (10 agility, 10 intelligence, 11 strength, 0 stamina) |
− | + | 1 toughness: unmotivated, slow, and easy to topple | |
1 wrestling: dog-pile overwhelm | 1 wrestling: dog-pile overwhelm | ||
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− | Talonis ( | + | Talonis (13 agility, 10 intelligence, 12 strength, 2 stamina) is a colo sorcerer turned gryphon, looking to be involved in whatever new dynasty takes over The Dark Woods next. He tears out and devours the hearts of his fallen foes in order to absorb their essence. |
− | + | 3 flying: winged | |
− | + | 5 fighting: talons, beak, claws, experienced brawler | |
− | + | 4 toughness: as big as a horse | |
− | Wanderlust ( | + | Wanderlust (10 agility, 12 intelligence, 12 strength, 2 stamina) is a dryad sorcerer looking to take control of The Dark Woods for the dryads. He buries remains of his foes and ponders the meaning of their life in order to absorb their essence. |
− | 2 healing: tentacle | + | 2 healing: tentacle-injecting a blood-sap parasite-stimulant |
− | 2 | + | 2 detection: one with nature |
− | + | 2 wrestling: tangle-vine Tai Chi | |
− | + | 1 knockout: mallet fist | |
− | + | 5 toughness: larger than human, protective bark | |
== Map == | == Map == | ||
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If "random encounter" is called for, roll a 20 sided dice to see which of the following encounters happens (never do the same encounter twice in a row for each team - if the team did the roll encounter the as their last combat-encounter, then roll again): | If "random encounter" is called for, roll a 20 sided dice to see which of the following encounters happens (never do the same encounter twice in a row for each team - if the team did the roll encounter the as their last combat-encounter, then roll again): | ||
− | 1: | + | 1: The Old Crow |
2-4: Colos | 2-4: Colos | ||
− | 5 | + | 5: Satyrs |
− | |||
− | |||
− | + | 6: Gryphons | |
− | + | 7-8: Boggarts | |
− | + | 9: Wraiths | |
− | + | 10-12: Dryads | |
− | 15: | + | 13-15: Ghouls |
− | 16 | + | 16: Morlocks |
− | 19: | + | 17-19: Seekers |
− | 20: | + | 20: Wargs |
=== Team vs. Team === | === Team vs. Team === | ||
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=== Boggarts === | === Boggarts === | ||
− | + | Boggarts are malevolent faerie folk with a taste for the property and discomfort of others, using fearsome trickery to exact their twisted will. They appear as dwarf humanoids, covered in monkey like fur and who's grin reveal vampire like fangs. | |
+ | |||
+ | Boggart Robbers jump the PCs in an attempt to steal their equipment. | ||
− | Boggart Robbers (15 agility, 10 intelligence, | + | [[Image:TheDarkWoodsBoggart.png|200px]] |
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Boggart Robbers (15 agility, 10 intelligence, 15 strength, 1 stamina) | ||
5 stealth: silent, almost invisible | 5 stealth: silent, almost invisible | ||
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5 wrestling: clever fighting style that ties up opponents | 5 wrestling: clever fighting style that ties up opponents | ||
− | + | 2 toughness: small stature | |
+ | === Colos === | ||
+ | Heavily armored and well trained Colo Crusaders on a routine patrol notice the PCs, and attack in righteous fury they assume your PCs are involved in sorcery. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:ColoScowlTheDarkWoods.jpg|120px|left]] [[Image:ColoHeadTheDarkWoods.png|200px]] | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | Colo Crusaders ( | + | Colo Crusaders (11 agility, 10 intelligence, 13 strength, 2 stamina) |
− | + | 1 stealth: hunting experience | |
− | + | 2 fighting: close range weapons | |
2 shooting: hunting weapons | 2 shooting: hunting weapons | ||
5 toughness: well armored and conditioned soldiers | 5 toughness: well armored and conditioned soldiers | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Crocodiles, Large === | ||
+ | Large crocodiles are armored archosaurs that live mainly in water. If the big reptiles can drag a character back into the water they will hold the character under until he drowns. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:CrocodileAncientAndDeadly.jpg|400px]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | Large crocodiles (11 agility, 10 intelligence, 13 strength, 3 stamina) | ||
+ | |||
+ | 3 wrestling: bite and twist | ||
+ | |||
+ | 2 swimming: amphibious lifestyle | ||
+ | |||
+ | 1 stealth: keen senses and experienced hunters | ||
+ | |||
+ | 5 toughness: large, strong, natural armor | ||
=== Crocodragon === | === Crocodragon === | ||
− | + | Crocodragon are swamp-dwellers. Although longer than a crocodile, the crocodragon is considered a relatively small dragon. | |
[[Image:Crocodragon.png|250px]] | [[Image:Crocodragon.png|250px]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | A Hungry Crocodragon has been stalking the PCs and attacks. | ||
Hungry Crocodragon (13 agility, 10 intelligence, 13 strength, 2 stamina) | Hungry Crocodragon (13 agility, 10 intelligence, 13 strength, 2 stamina) | ||
− | + | 3 swimming: amphibious lifestyle | |
− | + | 2 wrestling: python fighting style | |
3 stealth: clever hunters | 3 stealth: clever hunters | ||
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4 toughness: larger than humans | 4 toughness: larger than humans | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | + | === Dragon, Giant Flying === | |
+ | Some sorcerers use the essence to make powerful pets. One example of this are dragon trainers. | ||
− | + | [[Image:GiantDragonTheDarkWoods.png|350px|Left]] [[Image:TheDarkWoodsDragonRider.png|90px]] | |
− | + | Dragon trainers are violently alarmed that the PCs are searching for Kaizen's Lair. They send a single giant flying dragon to destroy the PCs. | |
− | + | The PCs can avoid combat with the giant flying dragon if every member of the party successfully makes a flying, acrobatics, or swimming check of 12. | |
− | + | Giant Flying Dragon (7 stamina, 13 agility, 10 intelligence, 22 strength) | |
− | 4 | + | 4 knockout: giant talons |
− | + | 2 wrestling: huge | |
3 flying: winged | 3 flying: winged | ||
− | + | 14 toughness: larger than elephants, extensive natural armor | |
− | |||
− | + | Human Dragon Trainer (12 agility, 12 intelligence, 11 strength, 1 stamina) | |
− | + | 1 shooting: lite firearms | |
− | + | 2 healing: combat veteranary | |
− | + | 2 acrobatics: hanging-on at high-velocity | |
− | + | 3 toughness: human sized | |
=== Dryads === | === Dryads === | ||
− | + | Walking, talking plant-hybrid humanoids have been found in The Dark Woods called Dryads. The dryads are covered in protective bark, have long noses, have two arms and long torsos, and walk on two legs. The dryads are fast healers, and consider themselves to be guardians of The Dark Woods. The dryad culture is the only culture void of taboos against sorcery in The Dark Woods. Dryad sorcerers have been known to take the form of hulking trolls or walking tentacled trees. | |
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:Mmf-wood-troll.jpg|150px]] | ||
− | Dryad Druids (13 agility, 10 intelligence, | + | Dryad Druids ambush the PCs after overhearing the PCs environmentally unsound plans for The Dark Woods once they have taken the reigns from Kaizen. |
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Dryad Druids (13 agility, 10 intelligence, 14 strength, 3 stamina) | ||
3 stealth: one with nature | 3 stealth: one with nature | ||
− | + | 2 wrestling: tangle-vine Tai Chi | |
− | + | 1 knockout: mallet fist | |
6 toughness: larger than human, protective bark | 6 toughness: larger than human, protective bark | ||
+ | |||
=== Ghouls === | === Ghouls === | ||
− | Hungry Ghouls from a fallen world have wandered | + | Ghouls are undead who develop grotesque mutations. They can absorb the aggressive and defensive characteristics of whatever they eat. Unlike the Sorcerers of The Dark Woods, ghouls can absorb abilities and features from creatures that have no magical essence. (See Sorcerer.) It is thought that the ghouls are from the outbreak that destroyed the home world of the Order of Thanatos, and that the order believes that somehow the ghouls and the essence of The Dark Woods are related. Creatures killed by ghouls often rise as ghouls themselves if they have not been eaten. |
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:GhoulCrawlingTheDarkWoods.png|170px|left]] [[Image:GhoulTheDarkWoods.png|150px]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | Hungry Ghouls from a fallen world have wandered into this one in search of flesh, and attack the PCs in ravenous desperation. | ||
+ | |||
− | Hungry Ghouls (10 agility, 10 intelligence, | + | Hungry Ghouls (10 agility, 10 intelligence, 12 strength, 2 stamina) |
− | + | 1 wrestling: zombie stalling | |
− | + | 2 fighting: mutant appendedges | |
− | + | 4 toughness: hard to kill | |
− | |||
− | |||
− | + | === Gryphons === | |
− | + | Gryphons combine the wings, head and talons of an gigantic eagle combined with the body and four legs of a lion. | |
− | + | ||
− | + | Gryphons of The Dark Woods are often colo sorcerors who have acquired attributes of big cats and predatory birds on their way toward becoming dragons. This type of gryphon sometimes have unusual features like stripes, spots, leathery bat wings or feathered tails. | |
− | |||
− | + | [[Image:WildGryphonTheDarkWoods.png|400px]] | |
− | + | Guardian Gryphons attack when the PCs get too close to an ancient tomb they are protecting. | |
− | |||
− | 3 | + | Guardian Gryphons (13 agility, 10 intelligence, 13 strength, 3 stamina) |
− | + | 3 flying: winged | |
− | + | 3 fighting: talons, beak, claws, natural brawlers | |
+ | |||
+ | 5 toughness: as big as a horse | ||
=== Kaizen === | === Kaizen === | ||
− | + | Dragons come in many shapes and sizes. In The Dark Woods, many dragons are sorcerers who have twisted their bodies into the form of a dragon to maximize their power. Kaizen was born a strider, and evolved himself into his current six-legged dragon form through practicing sorcery for many years. | |
− | + | [[Image:KaizenTheDarkWoods.png|450px]] | |
− | + | The first your team encounters Kaizen, he will try to make a deal with you. For joining his side, Kaizen will bestow magical power on your team (worth one ability level in any one ability, for each character on your team.) In exchange for this, your starts on their original starting position on their next turn, as your team has made a pact with Kaizen to never return unless he summons you. | |
− | + | The second time that team encounters Kaizen, or the first time your team encounters Kaizen if your team refuses to join his side, Kaizen and his body guards will attack your team. | |
+ | |||
+ | Kaizen is large, armored, fast, extremely clever, and has a fiery breath weapon. He feeds on essence by inhaling the smoke from his victims burning corpses. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Kaizen (15 agility, 14 intelligence, 17 strength, 4 stamina) | ||
+ | |||
+ | 4 detection: master trickster | ||
− | + | 5 acrobatics: gravity-defying dexterity | |
− | + | 4 blasting: exploding fire-ball breath-weapon | |
− | + | 2 knockout: giant tail slap | |
− | + | 9 toughness: elephant sized | |
− | |||
− | + | Kaizen is protected by strider mercenaries. Striders are bipedal canine lagomorphs. They have long floppy ears and short snouts with ape-like lips, and have a low center of gravity. Because striders crave competition and glory, and have a strong natural instinct for loyalty, they are often employed as mercenaries. | |
− | [[Image: | + | [[Image:Mmf-seuss-boxer.jpg|140px|left]] [[Image:Mmf-seuss-chainmail.jpg|120px]] |
− | + | Strider Mercenaries (13 agility, 10 intelligence, 12 strength, 2 stamina) | |
− | + | 3 quickness: natural runners, well conditioned | |
− | + | 3 fighting: midevil weapons, mercenary combat experience | |
− | + | 1 shooting: light weight crossbows | |
− | 4 toughness: | + | 4 toughness: well conditioned and well armored |
=== Morlocks === | === Morlocks === | ||
− | Concerned that | + | Morlocks are subterranean humanoids with large dark eyes and pale, yellowish or gray skin. They are mostly or entirely bald and have tiny ears and flat noses. Morlocks evolved from humans before discovering the Dark Woods, while exploring time and space. Morlocks are excellent climbers. Sorcerers that were once morlocks often have telekinetic powers that allow them to levitate things, climb on ceilings or leap unnaturally high. |
+ | |||
+ | Morlock settlements are always found underground, and are often organized into industrial communes called "unions." Some settlements have been discovered that have been ruled by sorcerers, generally referred to as "Morlock Cults." | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:TheDarkWoodsMorlockScary.png|150px|left]] [[Image:TheDarkWoodsMorlockBoxer.png|120px]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | Concerned that your PCs might be speculating on the value of their property, Morlock Underminers attack using acrobatic rope techniques and pick-axes. | ||
+ | |||
− | Morlock Underminers (13 agility, 10 intelligence, | + | Morlock Underminers (13 agility, 10 intelligence, 11 strength, 1 stamina) |
− | 3 acrobatics: | + | 3 acrobatics: 3 dimensional lifestyle |
− | + | 2 blasting: mining explosive experts | |
2 wrestling: skilled with climbing ropes | 2 wrestling: skilled with climbing ropes | ||
− | + | 3 toughness: human sized | |
=== Nagas === | === Nagas === | ||
− | + | Nagas are serpentine creatures with a humanoid head, arms and upper body attached to the lower body and tail of a very large snake. They specialize in paralyzing their opponents with venom. Nagas are descendants of human treasure hunters who settled in The Dark Woods, who over generations have been warped by the essence. Nagas scavenge The Dark Woods seeking treasure to horde, and get violently territorial about ruins they think hold valuable secrets. | |
− | + | [[Image:Mmf-serpent-man.jpg|250px]] | |
− | + | The PCs are ambushed by Naga Bandits interested in any artifacts the PCs may have found in their travels. | |
− | |||
− | + | Naga Bandits (12 agility, 10 intelligence, 11 strength, 1 stamina) | |
− | + | 3 knockout: natural poison | |
+ | |||
+ | 2 steatlh: reptillian patience | ||
+ | |||
+ | 1 fighting: poison hand to hand weapons | ||
3 toughness: human sized | 3 toughness: human sized | ||
+ | |||
=== The Old Crow === | === The Old Crow === | ||
− | The Old Crow was one of the original Blackmanes | + | The Old Crow is a former female colo zealot of the Order of Thanatos. She was one of the original Blackmanes. (The Blackmanes were one of the tribes converted to the Order of Thanatos back on the colo home world.) She was an accomplished hunter and researcher. Her research led her to dabble in sorcery, which eventually consumed all of her research activities, and then eventually turned her into becomming a sorcerer herself. Hundreds of years later, she is one of the most feared sorcerer amongst the colos in The Dark Woods, as she dares to incur on their territory and feed directly on their population. |
− | The | + | [[Image:The old crow 002 2 small.png|400px]] |
− | |||
− | The Old Crow ( | + | The Old Crow (14 agility, 14 intelligence, 15 strength, 3 stamina) |
− | 5 wrestling: | + | 5 wrestling: is supernaturally fast and strong |
− | + | 2 knockout: conceals an executioner's axe as her primary self-defense weapon | |
− | + | 4 stalking: an expert illusionist, terrifying and intimidating her enemies. She wears a large dark cloak and robes, and emits a mysterious dark fog around her person, making it more difficult to attack her. | |
− | + | 4 acrobatics: She has evolved to have distinctly crow-like features, with her fore arms having large black feathers giving them a wing-like appearance. These psuedo-wings help her manipulate the dark fog that surrounds her. | |
7 toughness: is supernaturally fast and strong | 7 toughness: is supernaturally fast and strong | ||
− | Attack Crow Swarms (14 agility, 10 intelligence, 12 strength, 2 stamina) | + | She is accompanied by Attack-Crow Swarms. |
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Attack-Crow Swarms (14 agility, 10 intelligence, 12 strength, 2 stamina) | ||
− | + | 1 blasting: fall on opponents like rain | |
− | 4 flying: winged | + | 4 flying: winged |
− | + | 4 toughness: many individual crows | |
− | If the Old Crow is defeated, she explodes into black smoke and disappears. The Old Crow absorbs the | + | If the Old Crow is defeated, she explodes into black smoke and disappears. Unlike Kaizen, she can't be permanently defeated by the PCs. (If she were to become the ruler of The Dark Woods, she would take a more material, mortal form in order to maintain her position. She does not seem to be hunting Kaizen yet, focusing primarily on other sorcerers and colos.) The Old Crow absorbs the essense of her fallen prey by draining the victim's blood into rose bushes, and then eating the roses. Her roses can move very quickly from place to place, emerging from the ground just as she is preparing to feed. If the PCs can defeat her, they can feed on her roses which will in turn give them essence. |
=== Satyrs === | === Satyrs === | ||
− | Satyr | + | Satyrs come from a world where mammal life evolved differently from Earth's. |
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:TheDarkWoodsSatyrKneeling.png|200px|left]] [[Image:TheDarkWoodsSatyrRunning.png|180px]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | Satyr Bounty Hunters confront you because an old enemy has placed a price on your head. | ||
+ | |||
Satyr Bounty Hunters (14 agility, 10 intelligence, 12 strength, 2 stamina) | Satyr Bounty Hunters (14 agility, 10 intelligence, 12 strength, 2 stamina) | ||
− | + | 3 fighting: horns, hoofs, blades and temper | |
4 quickness: natural sprinters | 4 quickness: natural sprinters | ||
− | + | 4 toughness: good conditioning, lite armor | |
=== Seekers === | === Seekers === | ||
− | + | The seekers come from a swampy world of giant insects with an atmosphere stiflingly rich in oxygen. Seekers walk on two legs, have wickedly sharp tails, are mostly covered in exoskeletal armor, and have elongated heads, 3 eyes and four arms. Seeker technology avoids volatile chemistry and fire, and specializes in medicine, biochemistry, and preserving knowledge. | |
− | Seeker | + | Seekers hatch from egg clutches numbering in the hundreds, and seekers are under pressure to make a name for themselves as individuals. Seeker culture is highly intellectual, and seekers are constantly exploring to find new knowledge to bring home to their hive. Seekers are constantly taking samples and notes, making observations from afar, and conducting impromptu interviews when appropriate for their studies. Sorcerers tendency towards developing unique anatomy is of particular interest to seeker abductors. Seekers have been known to take temporary captives simply to observe their behavior, to murder and preserve intelligent specimens with no warning, or to join causes simply for the opportunity to study a group from the inside. |
− | + | Seekers do not have significant permanent settlements in The Dark Woods, but frequently study The Dark Woods in depth, and use The Dark Woods to access the numerous worlds The Dark Woods is connected to. | |
− | + | [[Image:SeekerArmoredTheDarkWoods.png|180px|left]] [[Image:SeekerFaceTheDarkWoods.png|270px]] | |
− | + | Well armed Seeker Abductors have not seen all of your PC's specific anatomy before, and wish to collect you as samples to be studied on their home world. | |
− | |||
− | + | Seeker Abductors (2 stamina, 11 agility, 12 intelligence, 13 strength) | |
− | |||
− | + | 3 fighting: nasty natural weapons, kidnapping technique | |
− | + | 1 stealth: hunting experience | |
− | + | 2 detection: 3 eyes, animal-psychology expert | |
− | + | 5 toughness: exoskeleton | |
− | |||
=== Varana === | === Varana === | ||
− | + | Varana descended from human treasure hunters who established permanent settlements in The Dark Woods. Over the generations the essence of The Dark Woods has transformed them into a race of lizard men. Varana scavenge The Dark Woods seeking treasure to horde, and even get violently territorial about ruins they think hold particularly valuable secrets. They have a venomous bite that they have been known to use as a weapon of last resort. | |
− | + | [[Image:TheDarkWoodsVaranaTailless.png|280px|left]] [[Image:Mmf-reptilian-plate.jpg|150px]] | |
− | + | The PCs are ambushed by Varana Guardians who suspect the PCs of trying to find ruins they are protecting. | |
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Varana Guardians (13 agility, 10 intelligence, 11 strength, 1 stamina) | ||
+ | |||
+ | 1 knockout: poison bite | ||
3 stealth: reptillian patience | 3 stealth: reptillian patience | ||
Line 570: | Line 553: | ||
2 fighting: hand to hand weapons | 2 fighting: hand to hand weapons | ||
− | + | 3 toughness: human sized | |
=== Wargs === | === Wargs === | ||
− | Warg Hunters are out looking for food, and | + | One common way for humanoids to adapt to the hostile environment of The Dark Woods is to become more wolf like. Most of these "wargs" are usually hard to kill, have enhanced natural senses, have sharp fangs and claws and enhanced strength. |
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:Mmf-werewolf3b.jpg|250px|left]] [[Image:Mmf-werewolf4.jpg|200px]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | Warg Hunters are out looking for food, and your PCs are the least threatening prey they have seen all day. | ||
+ | |||
Warg Hunters (12 agility, 12 intelligence, 12 strength, 2 stamina) | Warg Hunters (12 agility, 12 intelligence, 12 strength, 2 stamina) | ||
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2 quickness: sprinting | 2 quickness: sprinting | ||
− | + | 3 fighting: nasty teath and claws, group attacks | |
+ | |||
+ | 4 toughness: hard to kill | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
− | |||
=== Wraiths === | === Wraiths === | ||
− | + | One of the many problems the Order of Thanatos has with The Dark Woods is that it is huanted by wraiths. Wraiths are otherwordly supernatural creatures, supposedly created by the angel of death. Wraiths seem to have mortal origins, in that each wraith has a recolection of having had a mortal life in it's past. | |
+ | |||
+ | Under normal circumstances wraiths have ghost-like existence, unable to easily manipulate the physical world. However the essence of The Dark Woods causes them to condense, solidify, and become physically powerful. Wraiths are found in many shapes, ranging from apparently normal mortals to ghoulish skeletal monstrocities. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Pious wraiths worship the angel of death and follow the religous code described by scriptures attributed to this being. This code suggest that wraiths should be the only immortals, and other creatures with unnatural longevity should fall before them. Wraiths generally prefer weapons that have symbolic relevance to this philosophy, especially sacrificial knives, sickles, and cythes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:TheDarkWoodsAngel.png|300px]] | ||
− | Harvesters (12 agility, 12 intelligence, 12 strength, 2 stamina) | + | Harvesters (12 agility, 12 intelligence, 12 strength, 2 stamina) are religously devout wraiths, with no tollerance towards the foul sorcery of the PCs. They are armed with large razor-sharp ceremonial daggers, wear dark ceremonial cloaks, and have a gruesome skeletal appearance. |
2 healing: hold the power of life and death | 2 healing: hold the power of life and death | ||
Line 594: | Line 591: | ||
2 flying: winged | 2 flying: winged | ||
− | + | 3 fighting: razor-sharp daggers, swooping attacks | |
− | + | 4 toughness: bony skeletal exterior and thick robes | |
==Scratch Role-Playing System== | ==Scratch Role-Playing System== |