Dying Earth Monsters Part I - Chun The Unavoidable

     Those of us who have played D&D owe a huge, incalculable debt to Jack Vance. Not only did he give us the magic system which underpins the majority of spell systems which exist within various editions, derivatives and versions of the game, he helped calcify the image of the typical adventurer in the form of Cugel the Clever and Liane the Wayfarer: Shiftless, mercenary and more than willing to rob their erstwhile employers if they failed to pay up.

     I'll get to the foes which vexed Cugel in a future post in this series, but today I wanted to go over my absolute favorite antagonist featured in the series and murderer of Liane, Chun the Unavoidable. Chun is simply put, creepy as all get out. Just look at this quote:

“The old man stood by another corpse with eye-sockets bereft and bloody. "This one came four days ago, and he met Chun the Unavoidable . . . And over there behind the arch is still, a great warrior in cloison armor. And there—and there—" he pointed, pointed. "And there—and there—like crushed flies."”

     He's one of the few creatures upon the Dying Earth that seems to give Wizards (the usual antagonists for the setting) pause, to the point that an assembled group of them make themselves scarce as soon as he is brought up. Chun lives among the rubble of the Place of Whispers, in the Old Town north of the city of Kaiin. There is a paucity of description or backstory on Chun (part of his appeal) and so I will simply post the full extent of what is given of him in the narrative:

“Over his shiny black back he wore a robe of eyeballs threaded on silk.” 

"And behind came Chun, running like a dog." 

     That's all we get. What is given a little more detail are his abilities, which imbue him with the ability not only to pursue any like Liane who dare to steal from him, but to follow them directly into extra-dimensional spaces crafted by magic:

"He (Liane) turned into an archway, pulled his bronze ring over his head, down to his feet. He stepped through, brought the ring up inside the darkness. Sanctuary. He was alone in a dark magic space, vanished from earthly gaze and knowledge. Brooding silence, dead space ...

He felt a stir behind him, a breath of air. At his elbow a voice said, "I am Chun the Unavoidable.""

     So Liane gets his eyes torn out and Chun adds them to his cloak and Lith gets a few more threads for her tapestry. Let's make him so that he can try to tear your PC's eyes out!

B/X Stats

HD: 17 (HP 102)

Armor: as Plate

Move: 30'; if pursuing see Special

Attacks: 2 Claws, 1d8+6

Special: Chun is resistant to all forms of magic and possesses True Sight. Instead of moving, Chun is able to move at the same speed of an unfriendly creature near to him, plus an additional 5'. Chun is always aware of the location of his quarry, even across differing dimensions, further, Chun may enter the Ethereal or Astral as long as he is in pursuit of a target, and may also enter spaces such as Tiny Huts, Portable Holes, Rope Tricks or similar effects.

5th Edition Stats

Medium Monstrosity, Chaotic Evil

Armor Class: 20 (natural armor)

Hit Points: 198 (18d8+54)

Speed: 30ft* (see The Unavoidable)

Abilities: Str: 20 (+5), Dex: 18 (+4), Con: 16 (+3), Int: 13 (+1), Wis: 18 (+4) Cha: 5 (-3)

Saving Throws: Str + 9, Wis +8

Skills: Athletics +10, Perception +9, Stealth +9

Damage Resistances: bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from nonmagical attacks.

Condition Immunities: Exhausted, Fatigued, Paralyzed, Stunned.

Senses: Truesight 60ft, Passive Perception 19

Languages: Common

Challenge: 14 (11,500 XP) 

Magic Resistance. Chun has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

The Unavoidable. Chun always knows the direction and distance to any quarry he may target, regardless of which planes they are on. While in pursuit of his quarry Chun's speed is always the same as his target's +5'. If his quarry moves in a fashion which he is not able to match (such as teleporting or flying) Chun will simply move tirelessly towards them at a Dash until he catches up. Chun may enter spaces such as Tiny Huts or the extradimensional spaces made by Rope Trick and other similar spells or effects.

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Chun fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.

Innate Spellcasting. Chun's spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 12). Chun can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: Blink
3/day: Plane Shift (self only)

Actions

Multiattack. Chun can either make two Unavoidable Strikes or one Unavoidable Strike and one Eye Pluck.

Unavoidable Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: automatic hit, reach 5ft., Hit: 16 slashing damage.

Eye Pluck. Melee Weapon Attack +9, reach 5ft., Hit: 1d6+5. Chun attempts to claw out one of his opponent's eyes to add to his cloak. This attack may only be used on prone creatures. A creature hit must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or lose an eye.

Legendary Actions

Chun can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Chun regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

Pursue. Chun takes the Dash action.

Stalk (2 actions). Chun uses the Hide action.

Overpower (2 actions). Chun makes an Unavoidable Strike, the target must make a DC 16 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.


Art by: Chun the Unavoidable by Nulsh, Chun the Unavoidable by M.Rasheed

Hey, what's with this weird book?

          Ancient tomes, codices, scrolls & tablets filled with lore ranging from the mundane to the obscure, seemingly as likely to elucidate as they are to blast one's mind into tatters. They lay in forgotten sepulchers, scrawled upon the walls of oubliettes, crammed into the shelves of mad wizards or held within the holds of temples by wary folk dedicated to safeguarding them. They are coveted by seekers of arcane knowledge, those who wish to protect the world from THAT WHICH IT WAS NOT MEANT TO KNOW, and fools who seek to unleash what lies within for their own ends. People will kill to defend or to steal them with equal ferocity, sometimes without even truly understanding what they're struggling so mightily to possess.

          These books can range hugely in how important they are to a campaign, from being something that the players must be forced to find and then consult to defeat an enemy, to be safeguarded or destroyed to keep it from rivals, pay back a debt, or to simply steal to plunder for arcane knowledge or to make a ridiculous sum of money. It is important to recall how rare books before the modern era were, with a single volume being the result of years of effort on the part of the author who penned it, or the scribe who would later have to re-copy it.

          To use this table, roll 5d8 and then resolve any relevant 1d4 rolls may be attached to that result

d8	Who Authored it?
1	Precursors or the inhabitants of a previous reality.
2	The work of a deity, saint or otherwise somehow divine in origin.
3	A powerful mage or other form of spell caster.
4	An aberration such as a(n)...1: Illithid, 2: Aboleth, 3: Neogi, 4: Beholder.
5	An outsider such as a(n)...1: Celestial, 2: Fiend, 3: Elemental/Genie, 4: Fae, or someone possessed by one.
6	The culmination of the efforts of generations of scholars.
7	Author was taken by a eerie mood and wrote the work in a fortnight.
8	It merely appeared one day, fully formed.

d8	What Form Does it Take?
1	Tablets made of...1: Stone/Clay, 2: Metal, 3: Wax, 4: Wood.
2	Tome bound in...1: Leather, 2: Metal, 3: Ivory, 4: Loose Sheaves.
3	Scroll crafted of...1: Paper, 2: Hides, 3: Leaves, 4: Cloth.
4	Graffiti, Scrawling or Runes etched onto a...1: Structure, 2: Natural Feature, 3: Path or Road, 4: Cave.
5	Tangles of intricate ropes and beads in a language that may not still be known. May be read in the dark.
6	A puzzle box or similar device. The secrets within are whispered into the mind of those who solve it.
7	Scrimshawed upon the bones of a(n)...1: Humanoid, 2: Outsider, 3: Aberration, 4: Monster. May be read in the dark.
8	Woven into the fabric of a(n)...1: Article of clothing, 2: Tapestry, 3: Blanket/Quilt, 4: Tent/Yurt

d8	What Kind of Lore is Inside?
1	The true names of...1: Celestials, 2: Fiends, 3: Genies, 4: Fae.
2	Exhaustively indexed knowledge on an extremely niche topic such as Elven Architecture or Goblin Poetry. Worth a small amount to most, but a huge sum to the right collector.
3	A creeping form of madness which provides insight into the world. In exchange for losing one's mind permanently, the bearer of the work may ask it questions and gain answers 1d6 times per day as if they were using the spells Find the Path, Augury, Identify or Clairaudience.
4	A compendium covering the habits and weaknesses of...1: Outsiders, 2: Aberrations, 3: Magical Creatures, 4: Undead.
5	The true and secret history of a...1: Major empire, 2: Noble family, 3: Trade league, 4: Faith/Cult.
6	Prophecies relating to the...1: End of the world, 2: Death of a deity, 3: Fall or destruction of a major empire, 4: Death of a famous figure, such as a warlord or archmage.
7	Insight into a complicated and fraught magical process such as...1: Summoning outsiders, 2: Alchemy, 3: Reviving the dead, 4: Creating constructs such as golems.
8	Detailed accounting ledgers of a...1: Trade league, 2: Noble family, 3: Guild, 4: Town/City Council.

d8	Is it Trapped or have Guardians?
1	Animates a mouth upon its surface and bites those who try to read it without the proper password. 1d6+3 Bludgeoning damage. Bites again every 2d10 rounds.
2	Lets out a blood-curdling scream and flies away at 60' turn if read anywhere except...1: Under the stars, 2: Within a chamber with no natural light, 3: Upon unworked earth, 4: A place of spiritual significance.
3	Locked. If an attempt is made to force it open it begins to weep gallons upon gallons of...1: Blood, 2: Ink, 3: Water, 4: Ichor.
4	The work is a keystone or plug of sorts, if removed or reproduced then...1: The area containing the work shakes itself to bits in 1d6 minutes, 2: Undead begin to appear around where the work is held, 3: Animals of all stripes become hostile to whomever bears it, 4: Bad luck follows the bearer, the referee may impose disadvantage on 1d2 rolls per day at their discretion.
5	A cult or religious order is dedicated to safeguarding the work in some way. If it is stolen of copied without consent then they will surely seek to rectify the situation.
6	Magically bound to defend the work in some way until their destruction, the guardian takes the form of a(n)...1: Powerful undead creature, 2: Outsider, 3: Monster, 4: Construct.
7	Only certain type of folk are able to read the work, it is gibberish to everyone but...1: Non-spellcasters, 2: Followers of an obscure faith, 3: The mad, 4: Someone who has never taken a life.
8	The work itself is famous. While there is no one specifically looking for it, the very news of it changing hands may attract unwanted attention to those who now have it.

Magical Dog Breeds

          Our oldest companion, the Dog. In our reality we have a dizzying amount of land races which have been developed over the millennium to keep us company and aid us in the world. Why would a fantasy or sci-fi setting be any different? This table contains 20 breeds of various strange and magical canine companions for use in D&D/OSR. The region names are derived from my home brew setting.

Breed	Description
Volmusian Ember Hair	A breed derived from fire elemental stock, bred by druids as attack animals. Fiery red hair, maned, with a sturdy frame and short snout. 1d3 Fire damage/round if within 5ft and the dog dislikes you.
Mutt of Tindalos	Possessed of the blood of creatures which exist outside of space-time; this canine does not move, it simply stutters & teleports up to 40ft in a round instead. They are off-putting creatures, emaciated and long-limbed with greenish-grey fur.
Hemohound	Descended from the hounds owned by vampires. Sable-furred, with crimson eyes and bodies built for pursuit. Hemohounds feed on blood, and biting living creatures heals them. Each successful bite restores 1 HP to the dog.
Cerberusid	Smuggled out from Hades itself, these stocky, well-muscled and snub nosed dogs have multiple heads for observing the comings and goings of the dead. Advantage on anything to do with multi-tasking or perception. Roll 1d6 - 1-3: 2 heads, 4-6: 3 heads.
Dorician Pale Dog	Developed by fakirs for the purposes of curing diseases, these wane and mangy beasts are capable of taking diseases into themselves by licking the afflicted and transferring them to another through the means of coughing or sneezing fits.
Dolchean Mole-hound	A strange breed of canine developed by dwarves to help them guard their subterranean farms. Mole-hounds have short white fur, huge reflective eyes, and massive paws. These dogs can burrow and dig at half the speed at which they can run.
Sivardian Chaser	These huge, grey-furred, and wolf like dogs were bred by Hobgoblins to keep pace with and flush out their traditional Centaur rivals. Chasers move 20ft faster a round than a typical canine.
Phantom Cur	Cultivated from canines repeatedly revived through necromantic means, these eerie hounds outwardly seem like normal members of their species, but they often go minutes without breathing or days without blinking. Their own proximity to death allows them to sense and affect incorporeal beings.
Spell Terrier	Developed by generations of spell-casters to be the ideal Familiar, spell terriers are small enough to be carried on one's person and are possessed of luxurious hair suitable for petting. Spell Terriers can identify and retrieve spell components and magical items.
Witcher Spaniel	A dog bred by mage-hunters to help them identify their targets. These spaniels are tall and long-bodied, with short dark coats and pointed features. Witchers can sense the presence of magic, and will growl when a spell is used in their presence.
Ceirwannian Hunting Hound	Graceful and sleek of profile, these shaggy-haired hunting dogs are a traditional companion of elvish rangers, and are used to help their owners harry prey. Ceirwannians gain advantage on all rolls relating to stealth or ambush.
Splay-toed Goblin Dog	Long of limb and short-furred with large digit pads, these dogs are used by Goblins as both draft and riding animals. Their feet allow them to easily bound and scurry up the broken terrain and caves in which their masters make their homes. Splay-toes ignore the effects of difficult terrain and climb half as their movement speed.
Chardonian Water Spaniel	Savior of pirates and sailors the world over, Chardonian are mid-sized short-haired dogs which come in a variety of blues. Fiercely loyal, these dogs are trained to retrieve folk thrown overboard during sea voyages. Chardonian have been interbred with water elementals, and they may breathe underwater and swim as quickly as they run.
Drowish Oozehound	Bizarre and terrifying creatures designed by the dark elves as guardians for their slave pens. These beasts tend towards bright and playful personalities, their fur replaced by semi-translucent globules of tar like ichor. A bite (or nuzzle) from an Oozehound necessitates a strength check to escape.
Saoghal Cultivated Dog	A servant dog bred by the nobility to be a gentleman's best friend, these beautiful beasts move with the poise and elegance of an aristocrat. Their long fur is kinked into tight spools which must be brushed daily to keep from knotting. Saoghals are incredibly intelligent, watching those that treat with their owners carefully, barking or growling when they suspect that lies are being told.
Doppeldachshund	Originally the product of a now obscure and likely mad arch-mage, this breed of dog is now chiefly treasured by cheap side shows and thieves. Doppeldachshund are able to briefly alter their form into that of other animals of their own approximate size. They can maintain an alternate form for only ten minutes before shifting back.
Corantinian War Dog	Chosen from the fiercest and largest stock by generations of crusaders to foster a gargantuan canine which rivals a small pony in size. Corantinians have thick coats of white fur which braid themselves into thick protective cords as the dog matures. Corantinians have an extra Hit Die than a typical canine.
Troll-blooded Laika	This particular land race was developed by goblinoid tribes to aid them in their hunts and raids. Interbred with regenerating creatures, these dogs are utterly fearless and unflinchingly loyal. They are a mid-sized breed and of average build, but they are terribly ugly, covered in patches of uneven and wart-ridden fur. Troll-blooded Laika regenerate 1/HP a turn. Laika eat double the amount of a typical dog.
Poison Dart Dog	Inspired by the similarly named amphibian, a group of shaman deep within the jungles of Auyyuah have bred a line of canines capable of producing and expelling poisons. These dogs can at will exude a class 'M' poison. They are hairless and sleek creatures, with slick patches where the poison naturally pools.
Platinum Retreiver	An offshoot of common hunting dogs, these somewhat dopey and friendly beasts can detect the presence of precious metals up to 60' away.

Myconids of the Mushroom Forest

Area: Amanitan Tunnels

Unsafe, Blighted, Possession (Bright White Circle) Monsters (Amanitan Myconids),

The first sign that one has entered the Amanitan Tunnels is the smell. They reek horribly of decay and fried radishes. As one advances the air becomes dense with a white, soot-like mold which coats everything, causing visitors to cough and hack, their mucous membranes going into high panic as their bodies try in vain to keep the toxic spores out of their lungs. Travel further and the place grows thick with ankle to knee-high mushrooms, snowy white in coloration, which send out clouds of the mold if kicked or jostled. That's where the Amanitans live, little squat things on small and ungainly legs. They have distant and placid looking expressions, their faces shadowed by their broad caps which send off little puffs of white whenever they move too quickly. There are corpses everywhere, from wild animals to intelligent beings like Rathbuni & Svirfneblin, all with masses of mushrooms bursting from their fallen bodies. The putrefying fluids make the ground into a slick mess of rot and bare rock. As myconids go the Amanitans are quite friendly, in spite of the abattoir-like appearance of their home. They are unable to individually communicate, given that they lack mouths, but the spores they give off eventually begin to penetrate the mind of the afflicted, and the voices of the members of the Bright White Circle can be heard if guests stay long enough. Amanitan's high and piping voices come in the form of intrusive thoughts. The mushrooms are chatty little conversationalists, always curious about the various goings on of the world surrounding their tunnels, surrounding outsiders to pepper them with questions. They grill their visitors for as long as they can, trying to keep them in the white clouds, keeping them breathing deeply until their liver and kidneys begin to fail, followed quickly by the rest of their organs. They'll apologize extensively for the jaundice that their guests are experiencing, even as they glom themselves upon them, dragging them down to the ground once they inevitably try to escape. The myconids of the Bright White Circle are always interested in expanding the size of their colony and they need a constant stream of corpses to continue those plans. They are terrible fighters, but there are thousands of them and if roused they pour forth in a seemingly endless stream to pummel with tiny fists, trusting in the efficacy of their spores to take their opponents down. They fight without regards to their own safety, dog-piling upon and rubbing themselves against opponents even as they are slashed and hacked to bits. Once they've killed their foes, they drag the dead back to their abode and expand it just a little bit further. The Amanitan Tunnels are a few days east of Stilty Town in Ingram's Tangle, and only a day and a half underground.

• In practical terms the spores of the Amanitan Tunnels necessitate a save against Poison or Constitution for every half-hour of exposure. Failure deals 1d4-1 Constitution damage, which does not recover until the victim is exposed to healing magic or away from the spores for at least 24 hours.

• The Amanitans generally stay out of politics and trade. They want for little beyond more fodder for their mushrooms. They are unconcerned with the Chorus, their vacuous minds give them resistance against all psychic powers.

• While fatal in large doses, Amanitan fungus can also be used as a means to create a drug which confers resistance to psychic attacks and induces a feeling of mild euphoria.

Area: Cortinarian Reaches

Unsafe, Possession (Red Heap Circle), Monsters (Myconids),

The abode of the other major Myrconid settlement of the Mushroom Forest, the Cortinarian Reaches are significantly less hazardous and inimical to life as those of their Amanitan cousins. Cortinarian Myconids of the Red Heap Circle are nearly as powerful psychically as the Chittering Chorus, but unlike the cranium rats their powers are only functional near large growths of those of their kind currently in the non-motile stage of their life cycle. While this limitation forces them into a defensive posture, the caves which make up their homes are essentially impregnable unless their adversaries manage to destroy large sections of fungus all while being unceasingly attacked by the Red Heap myconids. The myconids are made up of thick, crimson tubules bound together in tangled jumbles which extend in long and unbroken growths throughout the cave system. The caves are eerily silent, offering little more than the sound of trickling water and the occasional moan of a dying victim or the echoing foot steps from a myconid patrol. Proximity to the tunnels by most beings causes headaches, nosebleeds and blurred vision. Venturing deeper results in a sensation of being constantly under observation, eventually climaxing in the ability to hear the collective mind of the Circle. The myconids themselves could easily be mistaken for outgrowths of the tubules that they nest in, generally preferring not to move until they're forced to defend them homes. They stand nearly waist-high, but they often crouch or sag, which makes them seem smaller. They are fairly quick however, able to scamper along the ground with their many tubes acting as a mass of legs or to even wield simple equipment such as spears or picks. The mind of the Red Heap is of course focused on propagating itself further, but beyond that it's something of a plotter. Information, rumors, gossip, anything that it can use to try and swing the balance of power towards itself is interest. Places outside of its home are only notable insomuch as the effect they have upon it, otherwise they are seen as mere trivia. If invaders have enough information that interests it then they're allowed to leave. If they don't, they're simply commanded to stay, a command backed up by the mystical might of their collective mind. Affected individuals simply sit down and wait until thirst or starvation takes them. Those who repeatedly come to the Red Heap with useful knowledge are rewarded lavishly. Envoys and diplomats come back and forth from the Cortinarian Reaches in a steady drip, coming to treat with the circle or leaving on errands from the collective mind to the rest of the region. In both personal and political dealings the Red Heap Circle is conservative, risk-averse and unwilling to commit to conflict unless victory is nearly assured. The Red Heap and the Cortinarian Reaches are located a day and a half under the eastern bank of the Golden Road River, a day's west of Clotaire's Tomb. 

• The collective has no use for riches, but they have piles of coin, gems and more from lifetimes of capturing outsiders. The hoard is equivalent to thousands of GP, but unfortunately for any would-be plunderers it is kept in a cavern situated deep within Red Heap Circle's territory.

• Large climate events such as major cave-ins, Purple Worm attacks and volcanic eruptions preoccupy the Circle's collective mind. They are always trying to start new colonies, but are hampered by the fact that they inevitably began to separate from the collective consciousness.

• While the Amanitans have little to nothing to fear from the Cortinarians, the Red Heaps have done their absolute best to keep the Bright Whites from settling near them, wisely concluding that they could do little to stop them.

The Devourer - LotFP Custom Class

The Devourer

          Hunger is ever present. We need to consume to survive, to nourish our minds and bodies. We kill animals, sometimes brutally, to feed ourselves; a river of blood with a bed of bones sustains civilization. But what if the target of our hunger was something too terrible to countenance? Devourers are those folk who have been saddled with such a terrible burden: every one of their sorry lot is in some way anthropophagic, whether it be a hunger for human flesh, blood, or carrion, they must in some way eat other sapient beings to continue existing themselves. Any ethical standards typically vanish in short order in the face of such odious appetites.

          Often called Ghouls, Vampires, or Wendigo, many have been cursed in some way, or infected with some repugnant disease. Devourers find themselves at the absolute brink of any society, civilized or savage. Most try to hide what they are, leading double lives as seemingly average members of a community or tribe, eating only when they absolutely must. Others hold no such pretenses, becoming predators in the wilderness, feasting upon unwary travelers. Their need for flesh alienates them to almost everyone, but their frightening comestible requirements can often be ignored (at least temporarily) by the desperate and the unscrupulous, taking advantage of the Devourer's potent abilities while doing their utmost to forget the terrible costs.

Level	Experience	HP	Paralyze	Poison	Breath	Device	Magic	Hunger	Consumptions
1	0	1d6	13	15	15	13	16	12	1
2	2,000	1d6	13	15	15	13	16	12	1
3	4,000	1d6	13	15	15	13	16	12	1
4	8,000	1d6	13	13	13	11	14	12	1
5	16,000	1d6	11	13	13	11	14	11	2
6	32,000	1d6	11	13	13	11	14	11	2
7	64,000	1d6	11	9	9	9	12	11	2
8	128,000	1d6	11	9	9	9	12	11	2
9	256,000	1d6	9	9	9	9	12	10	3
10	384,000	+2*	9	7	7	7	10	10	3
11	512,000	+2*	9	7	7	7	10	10	3
12	640,000	+2*	9	7	7	7	10	10	3
13	768,000	+2*	6	5	5	5	8	9	4
14	896,000	+2*	6	5	5	5	8	9	4
15+	+128,000/lvl	+2*	6	5	5	5	8	9	4

*Constitution modifiers no longer apply

B/X & OSE Rules

Requirements	None
Prime Requisite	DEX
Hit Dice	d6
Thac0 Tables	As rogue
Maximum Level	14
Armor	Any, including shields
Weapons	Any
Languages	Alignment, Common

          Devourers can see in the dark as Dwarves or Elves. Though shackled with an eternal hunger, Devourers do not age or have any other dietary needs. They also increase their unarmed damage from a d2 to a d4, representing the vicious claws or teeth that they need to consume their victims.

          The ability which defines Devourers is known as Hunger and it takes the form of two parts, the Hunger Gauge & Consumptions.

          The Hunger Gauge has six levels: Starving, Ravenous, Hungry, Peckish, Sated and Gorged. Each of the different levels gives the Devourer a set of effects depending on which level they are currently on. Each day a Devourer must make a save against their own Hunger, if they fail they drop down an additional level, i.e. from Hungry to Ravenous. When the Devourer hits Starving and they fail their hunger save, they roll their HD against themselves as damage instead of dropping down a level, if they survive they must make another check the following day unless they've managed to feed. At character creation Devourers start at Sated and must select whether they feed on blood or flesh. Feeding upon flesh results in the death of the intelligent creature being fed upon, the wounds are simply too great to feasibly survive in most settings. Dead or rotted flesh provides sustenance at half the rate that fresh meat does. Being fed upon for one's blood results in a cumulative -2 Constitution penalty and a save vs Poison to not catch a virulent disease, this penalty persists until they have taken to bed for at least a week. The Referee may rule that certain creatures are large enough that they may provide more than one hunger level worth of sustenance or that others may prove insufficient. 

Hunger Level	Effect
Starving	+3 to Initiative, +3 to Damage rolls, -1 to Attack rolls.
Ravenous	+2 to Initiative, +2 to Damage rolls.
Hungry	+1 to Initiative, + 1 to Attack rolls, +1 to Damage rolls.
Peckish	+1 to Initiative, + 1 to Attack rolls, +1 to Damage rolls.
Sated	+1 to Attack rolls, +1 to Reaction rolls
Gorged	+1 to Attack rolls, +2 to Reaction rolls

          The second part to the Devourer's abilities are known as Consumptions, which are enhancements or abilities fueled by their Hunger Levels on a one to one basis, no hunger save is made, they are simply spent. Spending hunger levels does not require an action, but Devourers can only spend them on their turn. They also cannot spend more hunger than their Constitution modifier in a single turn, or use a Consumption multiple times unless stipulated. Consumptions fade at the end of combat, or after ten minutes if used outside of it.

Consumption of the...	Effect
Mighty	Augment your Strength a number of points equal to 1/3 of your level, minimum 1. This Consumption may be used multiple times in a combat.
Agile	Enhance your Dexterity equal to 1/3 of your level, minimum 1. This Consumption may be used multiple times in a combat.
Resilient	Gain damage resistance equal to 1/3 of your level, minimum 1.
Fleet	Add your level to your movement speed. Double your jumping and leaping distances.
Everlasting	Regain 1d4+1 HP. This HP may take you over your maximum, any excess fades at the end of combat. This Consumption may be used multiple times in a combat.
Skinchanger	Transform into a carnivorous creature a number of times per day equal to 1/3 of your HD, plus your Charisma modifier, minimum 1.
Changeling	Take upon the visage of the last intelligent being that you fed upon.
Necroscope	You may see and interact with ghosts, spirits and other intangible beings.
Stalker	You may hear through doors and thin walls, and may notice hidden doors as an Elf of your level.
Predator	Your unnerving gaze can hold others in place. A number of times per day equal to 1/3 of your level, minimum 1, you may force a creature to make a save vs Paralysis or be unable to move until attacked or otherwise harmed.

Subdimensions & Where to Find Them.

The multiverse is filled with extra dimensional spaces, pocket planes, temporal knots and astral prisons. It is as if reality itself is porous and blurred, with the surrounding spheres of existence constantly trying to invade the prime material. These numerous spaces have sprung into being by various means, whether through the power of the arcane or divine, or simply through strange quirks of circumstance. For every time capsule or treasure room, there is an oubliette containing some mind-bending horror or cursed artifact. Those who probe these places do so at their own peril.

GMs who wish to throw one of these place together on the fly can simply roll 6d8, then d4s for each of the sub-results - the size table does not have sub-results. Please note that some of these combinations are quite dire, or nearly impossible to escape without some sort of telegraphing on the GM's part.

d8	How do you get in?
1	Sacrifice: 1 - Blood, 2 - Life, 3 - Wealth, 4 - Food/Drink.
2	Stars are Right: 1 - Solstice, 2 - Eclipse (any kind), 3 - No Moon, 4 - Full Moon.
3	Time: 1 - Daybreak, 2 - Noon, 3 - Sunset, 4 - Midnight.
4	Weather: 1 - Clear & Sunny, 2 - Windy & Raining, 3 - Snowing, 4 - Drought.
5	Feeling: 1 - Hate, 2 - Love, 3 - Fear, 4 - Pride.
6	Song: 1 - Local nursery rhyme, 2 - Bawdy tavern tune, 3 - Local dirge, 4 - Love song from a far away land.
7	Ritual: 1 - Worship, 2 - Combat, 3 - Lovemaking, 4 - Bargain.
8	Test: 1 - Puzzle, 2 - Faith, 3 - Riddle, 4 - Skill.

d8	What or Who is inside?
1	Prisoner: 1 - Outsider, 2 - Great Old One, 3 - Hero, 4 - Deity.
2	Treasure: 1 - Wealth, 2 - Arms & Armor, 3 - Books & Scrolls, 4 - Fine Art
3	Artifact: 1 - Guarded by a powerful creature, 2 - Surrounded by arcane and mechanical traps, 3 - Locked behind a devilish puzzle, 4 - Laying in the open.
4	Tomb: 1 - Memorial to a dead god, 2 - Monument to a vanished culture, 3 - Grave site of a powerful culture hero, 4 - Ossuary of dishonored dead.
5	Abandoned: 1 - No trace of anything, 2 - Signs of a violent struggle, 3 - Dusty and desiccated remains, 4 - Fresh & bloody corpses.
6	Community: 1 - Scholar's retreat, 2 - Precursors, 3 - Religious Sect, 4 - Squatters.
7	Threat: 1 - Powerful, hard to kill beast, 2 - Dangerous spell or magic, 3 - Alien invasion force, 4 - Deadly disease or virus.
8	Portal to another place or time: 1 - Future, 2 - Past, 3 - Somewhere nearby, 4 - Somewhere far away.

d8	What is the environment like?
1	Natural Terrain: 1 - Mountains, 2 - Forest/Jungle, 3 - Desert, 4 - Wetlands.
2	Fractured: 1 - Temporal Distortions, 2 - Floating chunks of land, 3 - Flatland, 4 - Ghost world, overlaid with reality.
3	Subterranean: 1 - Caves, 2 - Worked stone halls, 3 - Volcanic tunnels, 4 - Hollow Earth; roll again on this table and use another result.
4	Elemental: 1 - Air, 2 - Earth, 3 - Fire, 4 - Water.
5	Alien: 1 - Barren rock, 2 - Gas Giant, 3 - Space station, 4 - Comet.
6	Structure: 1 - Tent, 2 - Castle, 3 - Wooden abode, 4 - Skyscraper.
7	Void: 1 - White and featureless, 2 - Black and featureless, 3 - Unending and gloomy fog, 4 - Endless reflections of whatever is already inside.
8	Vehicle: 1 - A Cart or Caravan, 2 - Boat or Ship, 3 - Spaceship, 4 - Airship or some other flying contraption.

d8	Who or What made it?
1	Eldritch: 1 - A Wizard did it, 2 - Experiment gone awry, 3 - Psionics, 4 - Repeated plane shifting.
2	Cult: 1 - Long since vanished, 2 - Still active and defending the area, 3 - Forgot about their own creation, 4 - Actively trying to destroy the portal.
3	Deity, who is: 1 - Still active and watching the area, 2 - Alive, but has forgotten their creation, 3 - Long vanished, 4 - Dead, murdered by their enemies.
4	Precursor race, who are now: 1 - Long dead, 2 - Devolved into savagery, 3 - Nomads, barely clinging on, 4 - In some kind of stasis nearby.
5	Outsider: 1 - Celestial, 2 - Fiend, 3 - Great Old One, 4 - Interdimensional invaders
6	Natural: 1 - Leyline, 2 - Conjunction of the spheres, 3 - Overlaid with Astral location, 4 - Left over from Creation.
7	Technology: 1 - Crashed space ship, 2 - Long forgotten artifice, 3 - Byproduct of some strange engine, 4 - Experimental device.
8	Catastrophe: 1 - Battle, 2 - Death of a powerful Outsider/Deity/Magic-User, 3 - Destruction of an Artifact, 4 - Weapon of terrible power.

d8	How do you get out?
1	Song: 1 - Local nursery rhyme, 2 - Bawdy tavern tune, 3 - Local Dirge, 4 - Love song from a far away land.
2	Sacrifice: 1 - Blood, 2 - Life, 3 - Wealth, 4 - Food/Drink.
3	Feeling: 1 - Hate, 2 - Love, 3 - Fear, 4 - Pride.
4	Test: 1 - Puzzle, 2 - Faith, 3 - Riddle, 4 - Skill.
5	Ritual: 1 - Worship, 2 - Combat, 3 - Lovemaking, 4 - Bargain.
6	Fasting: 1 - Food, 2 - Sleep, 3 - Sex, 4 - Drink.
7	Relinquishment: 1 - Anything gained inside, 2 - Carried clothing, 3 - Any food or drink, 4 - Knowledge, in the form of a journal or log.
8	Magic: 1 - Casting a resonant spell, 2 - Praying to an appropriate deity, 3 - Death or destruction of an inhabitant or local object, 4 - Asking for permission from the plane itself.

d8	How big is it?
1	Fairly tiny, a couple of rooms
2	A small house, three or four rooms.
3	Huge house, eight or nine rooms.
4	Mansion, a dozen rooms.
5	Small building, a couple of blocks.
6	County fair or estate.
7	A country or small kingdom.
8	Small continent.

Druids of the Rainwood

History

Once the westernmost edge of the Nameless Empire, the huge expanse of forest now known as the Rainwood was in ancient times the abode of the phlegmatic Stone Giants. Longest lived of their species, Stone Giants also had a stronger tendency towards construction than their kin. As a result the Rainwood is littered with the ruins of monuments, temples and civic buildings that have stood the test of time admirably. When the Nameless Empire was riven apart by civil war and eventually collapsed, the former slaves of the giants, as well as new immigrants to the area, moved in to the region. The newly freed or settled population consisted primarily of Gnolls, Goblins, Humans & Ogres, but even without the Giants they still had to contend with the ferocious creatures which inhabited the primeval forest. Unable to defend themselves with simple strength of arms, the migrants were increasingly forced to rely on the influence of priests of nature to act as intermediaries between their fragile lives and the powerful beasts of the Rainwood. Over the years this reliance grew into dependence and finally after centuries, dominance. The Druids of the Rainwood as they are now exist as a caste above the hierarchies of tribe, clan or sept. They transcend not only blood or family ties, but species as well. Anyone can be selected for Initiation into a Circle on a senior Druid’s order, and oftentimes those orders are used to force compliance from ruling elites, fearful that their children or family may be selected as a form of reprisal.

Originally all of the Druids of the Rainwood were under the influence of the great Lindwurm Hysan, but as the Wurm grew more withdrawn and secretive over the centuries, the Circles factionalized. The split was driven by the question of how to deal with the unsteady and tottering march off innovation. New methods of Magic had been developed that didn't require obeisance to the Old Ways, new forging and construction techniques meant that the beasts and trees of the forest could be beaten back with torch, axe and wall. Those who had been closest to Hysan took the hardest line, perceiving any progress more complex than knapping to be a potential threat; those further from the Worm's influence saw that the wind was shifting, accepting the transition from sole domitor to merely first among equals; a third and final faction split from the liberal after a time, made up of those disillusioned by the wars and destruction wrought by civilization, but unwilling to embrace the reactionary mindset of the Forest Dragon's disciples. In the present day the three factions making up Old Way worshippers are largely at permanent odds with one another in spite of sharing cultural and historical roots. Circles of different factions fight one another ferociously, seeing one another as rivals for the population of the forest. In spite of this all of the factions maintain relatively similar traditions, the most important being Relinquishment and Stewardship. Relinquishment means to give up one’s family ties, name and any history you may have had before joining the circle. New names are bestowed by the initiate’s mentor and are generally drawn from the natural world. Stewardship refers to an oath that the Druid must take upon completion of their training, they pledge to either shepherd a group of animals or intelligent beings, or a particular natural formation such as a sacred grove or body of water.  

The Moderate Circle

The largest faction of Old Way worshipers currently, the Urtdane or Moderates, have largely ceded their old role as direct leaders of communities, instead becoming something more akin to advisers or guides to the forest people that they once dominated. Moderates prefer to Steward intelligent beings and exist largely in symbiosis with the communities around them, the members of the community provide food, recruits and shelter for the Druids, the Druids deal with outside threats both natural and supernatural, making sure that the community can continue to provide for them. Druids are generally seen as a caste apart from the settlement that they protect - they are not outsiders, but neither are they full members of the community. Moderates prefer to focus on peaceful or otherwise diplomatic methods to solve potential conflicts from within or without. They use their abilities to forge pacts or placate angry spirits and fae rather than enslaving or annihilating them, and they generally do not foster or summon creatures such as Elementals long-term, only using such fearsome creations in defense of their charges. This is not to say that the Moderates are weak or prone to showing their bellies, they are just as capable of violence or engaging in practices such as the sacrifice of intelligent beings, but rather that they wish to cultivate their communities to the best of their ability. Happy, healthy and well-adjusted tribals make the best recruits.

The Crestfallen Circle

The newest and smallest of the three Druid factions, the Crestfallen, or Hulfeir, broke from the Moderates after a string of failures to keep several local communities from warring with one another consumed the region in a generation of small-scale raiding and tribal warfare. The Crestfallen believe that the Druids lost their chance to influence the fate of the Rainwood when they eased their grip in ages past and that it is nearly impossible to recover it. Instead of focusing on what they see as the unobtainable, they are determined to maintain what power they do have by any means possible. Crestfallen Druids are relentless in their attacks upon interlopers or any trying to develop the forest further. Loggers, merchants and surveyors are especially disliked and are usually dispatched in bloody rituals if captured, their bodies left hanging from trees as warnings to any who would support them. Tribes associated with the Crestfallen tend to avoid established areas or communities, preferring to exist on the margins of society than risk being corrupted by its indolence. Hostile fae and elementals are the Crestfallen’s bread and butter and they delight in using the spirits of the forest to demolish their enemies. Crestfallen prefer to Steward large natural features such as a particular tree or geological formation; individual tribes are less important to them. Most of their recruits are drawn from disillusioned members of the Moderate or Lindwurm circles.

The Lindwurm’s Circle

Focused and violent, the faction “led” by the reclusive Hysan are closer to a terrorist organization than a religious one. Known as Wurmsdane in the druidic tongue, members of the Lindwurm’s faction are frightful figures to the denizens of the forest. They dress in hides and barely worked cloth and cover themselves in grisly trophies from their fallen enemies. Their actions are calculated to cause as much fear and anxiety as possible, to cow the tribes they have dominated and to cause their enemies to hesitate to fight them. They refuse to balk from any course, but due to their small numbers they are cognizant of the fact that they must be wary of over committing with direct attacks. Summoned creatures, bound fae and terror weapons like the Baitan are preferred, allowing them to wield outsized influence in spite of their size. But that is not enough, and with the help of Hysan they have weaponized many diseases and toxins, magical or otherwise. They eagerly spread these afflictions among the tribes and peoples of their foes, destabilizing them with Lycanthropy or poisoning their wells or livestock. Zealotry of this caliber is not easy to cultivate, new members are generally orphans from tribes destroyed by the Wurmsdane or tribes with a long history of involvement with the Circle. Dominated tribes are not allowed anything more complicated than flint and fire, innovation is discouraged and dogmatism towards the Old Ways is fostered. Thankfully for the folk of the Rainwood, the preferred Stewardship of the Lindwurm’s Circle are animals and natural features. These tend to be some of the most dangerous animals or areas in the forest, the better to turn against those who would oppose them.