Dungeon Crawl Classics - Terror of The Stratosfiend - Cycle of The Snake-Wolf
Dungeon Crawl Classics - Terror of The Stratosfiend - Cycle of The Snake-Wolf
Dungeon Crawl Classics - Terror of The Stratosfiend - Cycle of The Snake-Wolf
This product is based on the Dungeon Crawl Classics Role Playing Game,
published by Goodman Games. This product is published under license.
Dungeon Crawl Classics and DCC RPG are trademarks of Goodman Games. All
rights reserved. For additional information, visit www.goodman- games.com or
contact [email protected].
2
2
Credits
Writing, Layout - Sean Richer.
Cover - James Everett Jackson
Editing - Jert Crader
Development- Tristian LaFollette
Special Thanks + Additional Development-
Another Eye - Kap
Additional Images used under license from Shutterstock.com:
Toms Z, Ana Gram, FedBul, Jakub Krechowicz, Anna Zheludkova
/Shutterstock.com
Contents
Trinkets of the Shattered Woods.Woods.................................................. 2
These Damned Bones.
Bones...........................................................................4
......................................................................... 4
Rites of Bone and ESSENCE.
ESSENCE............................................................ 5
Armaments of the Gods...............................................................................
Gods............................................................................... 5
Essence Drain....................................................................................................
Drain.................................................................................................... 6
Of Gargantuan Trees.
Trees............................................................................. 7
Snake-Wolf Cycling Ritual (Level 8 Ritual). Ritual).............................. 8
Ritualistic Collapse.
Collapse................................................................................ 10
Stratos-Bone Truncheon (1d16 damage)..........................................
damage).......................................... 10
Were-Snake-Wolf Binding Malevolence.
Malevolence............................................. 10
Scorched Bone Sarsaparilla.
Sarsaparilla.......................................................................11
..................................................................... 11
Council of the Snake-Wolf, a Deities.
Deities..........................................12
........................................12
Lay on Hands ..................................................................................................
..................................................................................................12
12
Spellburn................................................................................................................12
Spellburn .............................................................................................................12
Patron Taint.......................................................................................................
Taint.......................................................................................................12 12
Divine Favors....................................................................................................
Favors....................................................................................................13 13
Cleric of the Council Titles. Titles........................................................................13
......................................................................13
Canticles................................................................................................................13
Canticles .............................................................................................................13
Curse of the Cosmic Wasting. Wasting......................................................... 14
Carousing in the Shattered Woods. Woods...............................................15
.............................................15
Rumours in the Shattered Woods.................................................
Woods.................................................16 16
OGL................................................................................................................
OGL ................................................................................................................16
16
333
These Damned Bones
Deep in the Shattered Woods, figures frolic across the trees, lit only by a
glowing, growing fire. In the embers rest the bones of a faithful guardian, upon
a sassafras spike hang the skulls of the fallen observers.
Each of these was provided by a different villager, who hid it with their life.
I know fear, for my village is forfeit. The witch coerces the flames into a
whirlwind, and the hiss and crackle of wood is heard, sour, tinged by a snarl.
It warps and ripples, a tear forming, and out pour the jaws of a wolf and the
scales of a snake.
The distant chorus of the terrified villagers rises as they run, stumbling through
the brush.
The Devourer is upon me. Six brutes with blades approach, gazes thickening.
In the darkness their hunters nock arrows, and with a TWANG let fly. The
fusilade strikes the witch, and a howl bursts forth… followed by screams.
The air sizzles, more Snake-Wolves appearing in the flames. The fire is alive!
Everything is burning! The village falls, as do the aggressors.
I am Stratosfiend.
I am the Guardian.
4
4
Rites of Bone
and ESSENCE
The Stratosfiend bones are life;
marrow is the ESSENCE. So long as
it has not been drained, its innate power
can be drawn upon. When the Essence is
gone, the bone is useless and dead weight.
Whenever you collect a full set of Stratosfiend parts, make a Luck check.
On failure the parts coalesce and the husk reanimates. It is rumoured that
Stratosfiend serve no masters.
NSRH (Necrotic Stratosfiend Reanimated Husk): Init -10; Atk rending tentacle
+7 melee (1d12+3) or decaying beam +3 missile fire (1d6+2, 30’);
AC 18; HD 10d12; MV 30’; Act 3d20; SP undead traits, decay ( DC 14 Fort
save or -1 Stamina, healed normally); SV Fort +10, Ref +2, Will +10; AL C.
555
Essence Drain
Make a DC 10 ESSENCE
Drain check. This manifests as
the bearer channeling their weakest
attribute as the ESSENCE lashes away at
their soul.
Weapons and armor made from Stratosfiend bones can be used for ESSENCE
activation. It is an affront to all clerical deities— any partaking gain 1d3
disapproval whenever they call upon the power.
Essence Result
Die
1 Sign of the Wolf: +1 Luck.
2 Rapid Divination: +1d6 to next Skill Check.
3 Sna-Communicate: a 2-headed snake bites you and target. You’re
able to communicate telepathically for 1d4 turns.
4 Hiss-Howl: all within 40’ make a DC 12 Will save or cower in fear for
2 rounds.
5 Venom Burst: all within 30’ take 1d4 poison damage/round for 1d6
rounds. Make a DC 12 Fort save for immunity.
6 Python Constrict: target must make a DC 16 Ref save or is
immediately restrained for 1d3 rounds by a spectral scion.
7 Sign of the Snake: +1d4 Luck.
8 Cosmic Maw: wolf jaws +8 melee (2d8), snap onto adjacent target.
9 Hydraulic Viper Onslaught: make an immediate +5 melee (1d16)
attack against a target up to 60’ away.
10 Teleport Strike: teleport to target, up to 100’. Target is -5 AC to
your next attack.
6
6
Of Gargantuan Trees
The ritual requires a branch or piece of the Goliath Sassafras. Unfortunately
for those in the shattered woods, all Goliath Sassafras has been animated as
dryads (likely due to the drop). There is no way to just "saw" a branch off; in
this case it is likely be a limb or appendage.
Rumour says their skin, when peeled and applied to human flesh, bonds
permanently, endowing +1 AC. They say flesh needs to breathe, though...
Goliath Dryad: Init +10; Atk bite +4 melee (1d12+6) or +9 vicious sap rip
(1d6+2); AC 18; HD 10d12; MV 30’; Act 1d20; SP tree stride,
fire weakness; SV Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +4; AL N.
Tree Stride: passes through trees as though they were normal terrain.
Fire Weakness: takes 2x damage from fire, flame, and heat sources.
By force? Good luck. By trade? The Dryads gladly offer one of their limbs
if one of flesh is offered, for they all want flesh and blood; to become or
consume (no judgement).
It is after all..…
FAIR TRADE*
*It is up to the Judge to determine how this loss manifests. If the limb isn’t
used for the ritual it may be burned as an additional sacrifice for any spell,
adding its Resilience to the spell check.
777
Snake-Wolf
Cycling Ritual
(Level 8 Ritual)
• A chaotic, last ditch effort
spell serving more as diversion than
protection. All perish after it is cast—it is a
fool’s spell.
Casting Time: 1d3 turns
Duration: until the bonfire goes out (1d12 turns).
Requirements: all pieces are consumed entirely by the ritual.
• A tended bonfire.
• Skeletal pieces (up to a full skeleton): add ESSENCE die for
each piece. Bones given willingly are ESSENCE +1d.
• Branch of Goliath Sassafras: add its Resilience Die.
• Flesh Sacrifice (requires at least 5 points of spellburn).
Spell Result
Check
1 Lost, failure and localized drop. The cosmos bends and rips. All within
60’ take 1d3 greater corruption results. The bones fuse and escape
into the darkness from whence they came.
2-19 Lost. Failure. All within 60’ take minor corruption as the spirit of the
deceased Stratosfiend lashes out, digging its spectral tentacles.
20-25 Failure, but not lost. Fetid laughter is heard as bones rattle.
26-27 Flaming effigy of the deceased Stratosfiend animates, dealing 1
damage/round to all within 60’ of the bonfire.
28-34 Scream-Hiss of the Snake-Wolf is heard as psionic flames deal 1d3
damage/round to all within 100’ of the bonfire.
35-41 The nearest entity is dragged into the bonfire by spectral tentacles
and suffers 1d10 damage/round until it escapes (DC 16 Ref save).
42-49 A flaming maw drags 1d4 entities into the bonfire. They suffer 1d12
damage/round until they escape (DC 18 Ref save).
50-58 The bonfire rages as it summons a Snake-Wolf Scion.
59-66 Bone shards spray from the fire. 1d3 Snake-Wolf Scions.
67-69 The heat mirage bursts and summons 1d6 Snake-Wolf Scions.
70+ Hissing permeates the skull of everyone within 200’ as 1d12 Snake-
Wolf Scions are summoned.
8
8
Snake-Wolf Scion: Init +8;
Atk bite +6 melee (1d8+4)
or +2 tail whip (1d4+2); AC 16;
HD 6d8; MV 40’ (flight); Act 1d30;
SP vomit gas, swallow whole, scream-hiss,
constrict;SV Fort +6, Ref +10, Will +6; AL C.
Vomit Gas: spits a 15’ cloud of gas. Those passing through or starting or
stopping their turn within suffer 1d6 points of damage, and must make a DC
14 Fort save or start throwing up.
Swallow Whole: whenever a critical hit is scored during a bite, the target is
swallowed whole. It must deal 20 hp to be vomited back up.
Constrict: targets make a DC 14 Ref save when tail whipped. On failure they
are restrained. Each turn the scion may make an extra action against them
(DC 16 Ref save to break free).
1d4 Variation
1 Poisonous Spots: deals 1d3 damage whenever touched, including when
attacked in melee and when constricting a victim.
2 Quill Spray: may deal 1d6 damage to all within 10’ as an action. DC 14 Ref
save for half damage.
3 Wolf Space: teleports instead of flying. Targets have -2 AC immediately
after it appears.
4 Omni-Sentience: can communicate in all languages and with all machines.
999
Ritualistic Collapse
Whenever witnessing a flame being lit they must make a DC 12 Will save or
transform as below.
Transformed Form: they gain +2 AC and recover 1 hp/round. They revert back
to human (or initial form) after 1 turn.
10
10
Scorched Bone
Sarsaparilla
This potent beverage, extracted
from the bones, can imbue strange
powers and connections with bizarre
ancestry. The bones must have ESSENCE
remaining, and must have been used in the
Cycling ritual before they can be rendered . This
distilling process permanently destroys the bones used.
There is only enough for one serving per bone.
Once prepared, roll for Cosmic Ancestor Effect*, take 1d3 permanent Stamina
damage and fully heal HP. The Ancestor stays with you until dispelled or
banished. If removed forcibly, lose 1d3 Personality and Stamina permanently.
*Judge determines how the cosmic ancestor manifests itself to the characters.
It is always a Stratosfiend Magistrate, and only speaks Greater Stratsofiend.
1111
11
Council of the
Snake-Wolf,
a Deities
In deep fear-space roils a commune-nest
of Snake-Wolves—they are legion. It is a primal
energy that gnashes at all seeking wisdom, and
constricts all who dare leave. Not even those using the
summoning rituals are foolish enough to devote themselves
to the commune. The devout embody CHAOS and use SLASHING
weapons. PREY are unholy.
Lay on Hands
When a priest of these beliefs successfully casts lay on hands, roll 1d3.
1d3 Result
1 fangs grow in the mouth of the target
2 target’s skin turns to scales
3 target blinks in and out of reality at
random.
Spellburn
Those craving the guidance of the Council often wish they hadn’t.
Roll 1d3 to course with the Wolves.
1d3 Result
1 Skin tears off from phantom mastication, manifesting as attribute loss.
2 Lets forth a howling-hiss (DC 13 Will save or-2 Init to all in earshot).
3 Teleports to a random location within 60’.
Patron Taint
The blessings of the Snake Wolf are three-fold.
Roll 1d3 to see how you’re touched.
1d3 Result
1 Neck grows longer and scaly, like a serpent. +1’ height, +1 initiative.
2 Jaw grows larger. Gain 1d3 bite attack. Damage +1d each result.
3 Burns with a green flame. Lights +10’ area and -1 stealth per result.
12
12
Divine Favors
Wolfen Fervor: +1d12 bonus to hit and damage on next attack after critical hit.
Canticles
Level 2: STRATOS-Sense
You’re innately able to find Stratosfiend within the plane, if you know what
you’re looking for. +1d to searching, tracking and hunting them. You also learn
Greater or Lesser Stratosfiend.
Level 3: Self-Cycling
You immediately reanimate in the Were-Snake-Wolf form with only 1d4 hp.
Your targets are randomly selected until at 1/2 HP. 1/month.
1313
13
Curse of the Cosmic Wasting
This curse is carried by the witches and shamans
wandering the Shattered Woods. It is reserved for those
deserting instead of staying and fighting, as a diversion for the
weak and the child who must escape.
The dramatic irony is that only those cursed by this hex may learn to bestow it.
Curse: roll for a new Stigmatic Manifestation daily. Cannot heal attributes until
curse is lifted.
Remedy: you must give your life defending a village (be reduced to 0 HP).
14
14
Carousing in the Shattered Woods
It’s not safe in these woods; I wouldn’t go looking for anything… Nothing
wants to be found. Spend 1d4 Luck and 1d24 hours to wander these strange,
hallowed woods and gain 1d4 XP. Roll 1d4.
1d4 Result
1 Bonfire Smoldering: you stumble across a rumbling fire, almost out or
almost started... +1d4 xp and then...
(1) You
(1) You find a Stratos-bone truncheon inhabited by 1d4 ghosts. The
ensuing psychic combat leaves you wounded with 1d4 hp remaining,
and causes 2 permanent Personality damage. Gain 4d4 xp.
(2) A
(2) A wild cleric tends the flame. Wounded, they hand you a random
bone… You’re sucked into the flames and awake with your
possessions incinerated and left with only 2 hp. Gain 3d4 xp.
(3) A set of full plate armor, reinforced by hand bones, lays in the
flames. Pulling it out, you feel your soul saw in half and lose 1
Stamina permanently. Gain 2d4 xp.
(4) A Scion escapes from the burning heap, embedding itself into your
spine. Lose 1d3 Agility and gain 1d3 Strength and 1d3 Stamina
permanently. Gain 1d4 xp.
2 Weapon-Satellites Falling to Earth: the skies blink with a putrid miasma
of light. Gain 1d4 xp as the shine inhabits you. No one believes you.
(1) Wreckage
(1) Wreckage from the fallen core reveals a Reaper Onslaught Pistol
(2d6 damage). Gain 1 xp.
(2) A
(2) A crate with 1d4 weeks of provisions and 5d10 gp. Gain 1 xp.
(3) Strange
Strange glyphs alight as you touch them. Metallic bat wings of metal
and wire and piston burst from your spine. Gain Flight (MV 20’)
and 1d4 xp.
(4) Warning
Warning blips go off as a targeting reticule spins on your person.
In 1d3 days a laser volley from the bat nebula blasts your position.
Gain 2d4 xp. All targets within the area take 4d6 damage, DC 18
Ref save for half.
3 IX-777 Training Exercise: a trio of Fear-Engines opens fire on you
with their “Instruments.” Suffer 2d3 Personality damage (recovers as
normal). You awaken in a ditch. Black lightning courses through your
skin. Deal +1d3 damage to anything you touch. Gain 2d4 xp.
4 Pterodactyl Eggs: a cache of 1d3 eggs. 100 gp each. Gain 1 xp / egg.
1515
15
Rumours in the Shattered Woods
1d6 Rumour
1 Not even the Stratosfiend venture in these woods.
2 Charred bone tea grants the gifts of the Wolf.
3 Otherworldly giants used to stalk these woods.
4 There exists a creature both Snake and Wolf.
5 A bonfire is the sign of a village lost.
6 The trees in these woods are not what they seem.
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