GM Guide

Richard Pett’s Crooked City

GM Guide Frog God

Games
203
 Richard Pett’s Crooked City

GM Guide
Credits
Author Editors Interior Art
Richard Pett Skeeter Green, Jeff Harkness, Colin Chan, Mike Chaney, Carolus
Jeffrey Swank, and Krista Webb Clusius, Steve Ellis, Peter Fairfax,
Additional Design Layout and Graphic Design Felipe Gaona, R.P. Gauccius,
Pete Pollard, Alistair Rigg, Jeffrey Charles A. Wright Brian LeBlanc, Eric Lofgren, Olaus
Swank, and Greg A. Vaughan Magnus, Chris McFann,Terry Pavlet,
Fifth Edition Adaptation/Conversion Richard Pett, Nate Pride, Richard
Lead Developer Matt Finch, Edwin Nagy, Thomas, Giovanni Andrea Vavassore,
Greg A. Vaughan Patrick N. Pilgrim, Michael G. Potter, Tyler Walpole, and Richard Yardly
Anthony Pryor and Peter Short
Developers
Matthew J. Finch, Skeeter Green, Front Cover Art Photography
David Landry, John Ling, Alistair Artem Shukaev Richard Pett
Rigg, and Jeffrey Swank
Cartography
Producer Robert Altbauer
Bill Webb

Special Thanks
I’m indebted to the Paizo Community for their endless encouragement, feedback and suggestions over many
years. Their ideas, enthusiasm and involvement is more than just useful, it’s inspirational. I’m particularly grateful
to James Jacobs for adding his twisted spices to many of my adventures, to Erik Mona for laughing at the Devil
Box and being a fine fellow, to Wes, James, Jason and Rob and to Wolfgang Baur for being such a splendid man
to work for.

This setting is dedicated to Geoff Tew, a damn fine thief whose spirit still graces our gaming table and whose
favourite character still walks these streets.

“In order to know virtue, we must first acquaint ourselves with vice.”

Quotations except as noted otherwise are from the Marquis de Sade (1740–1814)
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
FROG GOD GAMES IS
CEO Creative Director: Art Director Customer Service Manager
Bill Webb Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charles A. Wright Krista Webb
Greg A. Vaughan
Creative Director: Developers Zach of All Trades
Swords & Wizardry Frog V John Ling and Zach Glazar
Matthew J. Finch Patrick Pilgrim Patrick N. Pilgrim
Espieglerie
Skeeter Green
©2017 Frog God Games. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the written permission of the publisher is expressly
forbidden. Frog God Games and the Frog God Games logo is a trademark of Frog God Games. All characters, names, places,
items, art and text herein are copyrighted by Frog God Games, Inc. The mention of or reference to any company or product in
these pages is not a challenge to the trademark or copyright concerned.
Product Identity: The following items are hereby identified as Frog God Games LLC’s Product Identity, as defined in the
Open Game License version 1.0a, Section 1(e), and are not Open Game Content: product and product line names, logos
and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures; characters; stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements,
Adventures dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and
graphic, photographic and other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments,
Worth personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical
Winning or supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly
Frog identified as Product Identity. Previously released Open Game Content is excluded from the above list.

God
Games

Other Products from Frog God Games

You can find these product lines and more at our website, froggodgames.com, and on the shelves of many retail game stores.
Superscripts indicate the available game systems: “PF” means the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, “5e” means Fifth Edition,
and “S&W” means Swords & Wizardry. If there is no superscript it means that it is not specific to a single rule system.
GENERAL RESOURCES LL2: The Lost City of Barakus PF, S&W
LL3: Sword of Air PF, S&W
Swords & Wizardry Complete S&W LL4: Cults of the Sundered Kingdoms PF, S&W
The Tome of Horrors Complete PF, S&W LL5: Borderland Provinces 5e, PF, S&W
Tome of Horrors 4 PF, S&W LL6: The Northlands Saga Complete PF, S&W
Tome of Adventure Design LL7: The Blight 5e, PF, S&W
Monstrosities S&W LL8: Bard’s Gate 5e, PF, S&W
Bill Webb’s Book of Dirty Tricks LL9: Adventures in the Borderland Provinces 5e, PF, S&W
Razor Coast: Fire as She Bears PF
Book of Lost Spells 5e, PF
Fifth Edition Foes 5e QUESTS OF DOOM
The Tome of Blighted Horrors 5e, PF, S&W
Quests of Doom (Vol. 1) 5e
Book of Alchemy* 5e, PF, S&W
Quests of Doom (Vol. 2) 5e
Quests of Doom (includes the 5e Vol. 1 and 2, but for PF
THE LOST LANDS
and S&W only) PF, S&W
Rappan Athuk PF, S&W Quests of Doom 2 5e
Rappan Athuk Expansions Vol. I PF, S&W Quests of Doom 3 5e, S&W
The Slumbering Tsar Saga PF, S&W Quests of Doom 4* 5e, PF, S&W
The Black Monastery PF, S&W
Cyclopean Deeps Vol. I PF, S&W PERILOUS VISTAS
Cyclopean Deeps Vol. II PF, S&W
Razor Coast PF, S&W Dead Man’s Chest PF
Razor Coast: Heart of the Razor PF, S&W Dunes of Desolation PF
Razor Coast: Freebooter’s Guide to the Razor Coast PF, S&W Fields of Blood PF
LL0: The Lost Lands Campaign Setting* 5e, PF, S&W Mountains of Madness PF
LL1: Stoneheart Valley PF, S&W Marshes of Malice PF
* (forthcoming from Frog God Games)

2
 GM Guide

Table of Contents
The Blight GM Guide............................................................................................................Pg. 8
For the Players..............................................................................................................Pg. 9
New Racial Traits........................................................................................................Pg. 10
Dwarves............................................................................................................Pg. 10
Elves.................................................................................................................Pg. 10
Gnomes.............................................................................................................Pg. 11
Half-Elves.........................................................................................................Pg. 11
Half-Orcs..........................................................................................................Pg. 11
Halflings............................................................................................................Pg. 11
Humans.............................................................................................................Pg. 12
New Racial Subtypes..................................................................................................Pg. 12
Dwarf, Street.....................................................................................................Pg. 12
Elf, Primitive.....................................................................................................Pg. 13
Gnome, Tradelord.............................................................................................Pg. 14
Half-Orc, Shadowlamp.....................................................................................Pg. 15
Halfling, Gypsy-Soul........................................................................................Pg. 16
Human, Blighted...............................................................................................Pg. 17
New Races ..................................................................................................................Pg. 18
Briny.................................................................................................................Pg. 18
Coprophagi (Roachfolk)...................................................................................Pg. 19
Night-Slug.........................................................................................................Pg. 20
Swyne...............................................................................................................Pg. 22
Blight Backgrounds.....................................................................................................Pg. 22
Optional Blight Character Quirks...............................................................................Pg. 26
New Equipment .........................................................................................................Pg. 27
Weapons of the Blight.......................................................................................Pg. 27
Adventuring Gear.............................................................................................Pg. 30
Tools and Skill Kits...........................................................................................Pg. 30
Animals, Mounts, and Related Gear.................................................................Pg. 31
Transport...........................................................................................................Pg. 31
Clothing............................................................................................................Pg. 32
Personal Grooming and Accessories................................................................Pg. 32
Food and Drink.................................................................................................Pg. 33
Drugs.................................................................................................................Pg. 33
Insectum............................................................................................................Pg. 33
Poisons..............................................................................................................Pg. 34
Lifestyle Expenses............................................................................................Pg. 35
For the GM..................................................................................................................Pg. 38
Bringing the Blight to Life...............................................................................Pg. 39
The Flavour of the Blight.................................................................................Pg. 40
3
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Castes................................................................................................................Pg. 42
Duels.................................................................................................................Pg. 43
Enemies.............................................................................................................Pg. 44
Fads of the Blight..............................................................................................Pg. 44
Clubs, Guilds, Cults and Gangs........................................................................Pg. 45
Clubs........................................................................................................Pg. 45
Guilds.......................................................................................................Pg. 47
Cults and Gangs.......................................................................................Pg. 50
The Four Great Families..........................................................................Pg. 51
Magic................................................................................................................Pg. 52
Personal Goals..................................................................................................Pg. 53
Power................................................................................................................Pg. 54
Relationships as Rewards.................................................................................Pg. 55
Technology & Firearms....................................................................................Pg. 55
The Undead, the Broken, the Made, and the Unliving.....................................Pg. 56
The Weight of the Law.....................................................................................Pg. 56
True Gods of the Blight....................................................................................Pg. 57
Baphomet.................................................................................................Pg. 57
Brine.........................................................................................................Pg. 58
Father Canker...........................................................................................Pg. 58
Geryon......................................................................................................Pg. 58
Jubilex......................................................................................................Pg. 59
Lord Shingles...........................................................................................Pg. 60
Lucifer......................................................................................................Pg. 60
Mammon..................................................................................................Pg. 63
Mithras.....................................................................................................Pg. 63
Mother Grace...........................................................................................Pg. 63
Papyri.......................................................................................................Pg. 64
Sister Shadows.........................................................................................Pg. 64
The Ash Queen.........................................................................................Pg. 66
The Horseman..........................................................................................Pg. 66
The Gods of the Swyne............................................................................Pg. 66
Twisted Campaigns...........................................................................................Pg. 67
Vermin of the Blight.........................................................................................Pg. 67
Blight Adventures.............................................................................................Pg. 68
Between.......................................................................................................................Pg. 70
Of Curious Mirrors...........................................................................................Pg. 71
A Between Empire............................................................................................Pg. 71
The Illuminati and Between Companies...........................................................Pg. 72
Outposts and Colonies..............................................................................Pg. 73
Betweenlands....................................................................................................Pg. 73
The Unsea.........................................................................................................Pg. 78
Sailing the Unsea..............................................................................................Pg. 80
Tales of the Unsea....................................................................................Pg. 81
Unsea Weather..........................................................................................Pg. 81
4
 GM Guide
Navigating the Unsea...............................................................................Pg. 82
Unsea Equipment.....................................................................................Pg. 82
Unsea Menagerie......................................................................................Pg. 83
Through the Glass Darkly: GMing Between....................................................Pg. 85
Travel By Magic.......................................................................................Pg. 85
The Mirror Voyager: What Between is Like............................................Pg. 85
Tragedies of Between...............................................................................Pg. 86
The Blight Bestiary.....................................................................................................Pg. 88
Things: The Creatures of Castorhage..........................................................................Pg. 89
Animals................................... Pg. 89 Cave Fisher........................... Pg. 108 Girallodile............................. Pg. 126
Dark Fey.................................. Pg. 89 Chaos Beast........................... Pg. 109 Gloom Crawler...................... Pg. 127
Inhabitants of the Lyme.......... Pg. 89 Child of Folly........................ Pg. 109 Golem, Lesser Flesh.............. Pg. 127
Monsters Unique Child of the Forest Golem, Wood........................ Pg. 128
to the Blight............................ Pg. 90 (Verdigris Forest)...................Pg. 110 Grand Justice Ashleia............ Pg. 128
Pestilences and Parasites......... Pg. 90 Coffer Corpse.........................Pg. 110 Grand Justice Braken............ Pg. 129
Scrimshaw Gargoyles............. Pg. 90 Crathog...................................Pg. 110 Grand Justice Korsk.............. Pg. 129
Shapechangers......................... Pg. 90 Crirge.....................................Pg. 111 Gremlin................................. Pg. 129
Spiders.................................... Pg. 90 Crown Prince Clovis..............Pg. 112 Gryph.................................... Pg. 130
Stitched Things....................... Pg. 90 Crown Prince Hazards................................. Pg. 130
The Tome of Horrors Justice Cornlord.....................Pg. 112 Blight.................................... Pg. 131
Complete Creatures................. Pg. 90 Crown Prince Rorth...............Pg. 113 Derange.............................. Pg. 131
Unliving and Undying Alchymic Dark Creeper..........................Pg. 113 Dislocating Larvae............. Pg. 131
Creatures................................. Pg. 91 Dark Stalker...........................Pg. 113 Second-Head Fluke............ Pg. 131
Alchymic Creature Demoriel................................Pg. 114 Herald at the Threshold......... Pg. 132
(template)................................ Pg. 91 Denizens of Leng...................Pg. 114 Hyme..................................... Pg. 132
Abigail..................................... Pg. 92 Devil, Hellsoker.....................Pg. 115 Iron Cobra............................. Pg. 133
Algernon Alfonce Leptonia..... Pg. 93 Devil, Lilin.............................Pg. 115 Ivor Grast.............................. Pg. 134
Annalise Grast......................... Pg. 93 Diseased Vampire...................Pg. 116 Ivy......................................... Pg. 134
Aranea..................................... Pg. 94 Dog, Fighting (Blight-Bull)...Pg. 117 Jacob Moil............................. Pg. 134
Ashen Angler.......................... Pg. 94 Dog, Fighting (Pit-Mastiff)....Pg. 117 Justice Alfor Quent............... Pg. 135
Beautiful, the........................... Pg. 95 Dog, Riding............................Pg. 117 Justice Anisse Capprico........ Pg. 135
Belabra (Tangler).................... Pg. 96 Duke Malice...........................Pg. 118 Justice Blackbriar.................. Pg. 136
Beltane.................................... Pg. 96 Duke Taim..............................Pg. 118 Justice Burr........................... Pg. 136
Between Creature (template).. Pg. 97 Eleanor Shank........................Pg. 118 Justice Lucrezia
Between-Cat............................ Pg. 99 Electric Eel.............................Pg. 119 Elisabeth Sullage................... Pg. 136
Betwen Gargoyle.................... Pg. 99 Elemental, Ragefire................Pg. 119 Justice Mallam Fetter............ Pg. 137
Between Peacock Enoch Nettle.......................... Pg. 120 Justice Scapegrace Wrye....... Pg. 137
(Nightmare Choir)................. Pg. 100 Fanged Sea Serpent............... Pg. 120 Justice Shank......................... Pg. 137
Bileborn................................. Pg. 101 Father Gromwell................... Pg. 120 Justice Skathen Skalpeen...... Pg. 138
Blight Ape............................. Pg. 102 Fleshgine............................... Pg. 121 Justice Spent Sullyce ............ Pg. 138
Blight Cockerel..................... Pg. 102 Dungier’s Buggy................... Pg. 121 Justice The Eyes of Fate....... Pg. 138
Blight Monkey...................... Pg. 103 Hobbreth’s Justice Weld Shortstone I...... Pg. 139
Blinding Crow....................... Pg. 104 Mighty Pump No. 87............ Pg. 123 Kraken Tentacle Segment..... Pg. 139
Body Snatcher....................... Pg. 104 Macabre Lift.......................... Pg. 123 Lady Elaine of Aldwark........ Pg. 139
Brain Rat............................... Pg. 105 Gable Hate-Owl.................... Pg. 124 Lady Grey............................. Pg. 140
Broken Creature (template)... Pg. 106 Gargoyles.............................. Pg. 124 Lesser Blight Vampire........... Pg. 140
Broken Fey............................ Pg. 106 Gargoyle, Four-Armed.......... Pg. 124 Long Luct.............................. Pg. 141
Canary................................... Pg. 106 Gargoyle, Margoyle.............. Pg. 125 Lord Benedict Morel............. Pg. 141
Caryatid Column................... Pg. 107 Gargoyle, Scrimshaw............ Pg. 125 Lord Justice Mordent Knap.. Pg. 141
Caul Cuckoo.......................... Pg. 107 Ghoul Pig.............................. Pg. 126 Lord of Many Faces, the....... Pg. 142
Caul Cuckoo Syre................. Pg. 108 Giant Owlbear....................... Pg. 126
5
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Lord Paladin-Ocularis Princess Rebecca Zombie Horse........................ Pg. 174
Thornrage.............................. Pg. 142 of Mourney............................ Pg. 158 Common NPCs..................... Pg. 174
Lirker in Desolation, the....... Pg. 142 Prophet Adam, the................. Pg. 158 Agent of Good....................... Pg. 174
Luther.................................... Pg. 143 Queen Alice........................... Pg. 159 Apprentice Mage................... Pg. 174
Lyme Angler.......................... Pg. 143 Rachel Birch.......................... Pg. 159 Arcane Assassin.................... Pg. 175
Lyme Walrus......................... Pg. 144 Sallow Ashenly..................... Pg. 159 Ascetic................................... Pg. 175
Malevolent Box Fish............. Pg. 145 Scythe Tree........................... Pg. 160 Burglar.................................. Pg. 175
Mantis-Thing from Between.Pg. 145 Skin Stitcher.......................... Pg. 160 Captain.................................. Pg. 176
Mar-eel.................................. Pg. 146 Skulk..................................... Pg. 160 Deathmage............................ Pg. 176
Marren Grast......................... Pg. 146 Skum..................................... Pg. 161 Duellist.................................. Pg. 176
Marrow.................................. Pg. 147 Slithering Horror................... Pg. 161 Elder Witch........................... Pg. 176
Master Luther Gable............. Pg. 147 Song of Sorrrows and Foulgard................................ Pg. 177
Misery, the............................. Pg. 148 the Echoes of Suffering......... Pg. 161 Frenzied Berserker................ Pg. 177
Mite....................................... Pg. 148 Sough-Eel.............................. Pg. 162 Grandmaster Spy................... Pg. 177
Mocking Gull........................ Pg. 148 Spider, Chymic...................... Pg. 163 Hierophant............................. Pg. 178
Mongrelman.......................... Pg. 149 Spider, Gable......................... Pg. 164 High Priest............................ Pg. 178
Moon Angel.......................... Pg. 149 Spite-Waif............................. Pg. 166 Initiate Witch......................... Pg. 178
Morlock................................. Pg. 150 Sprat...................................... Pg. 167 Inquisitor............................... Pg. 179
N’gathau................................ Pg. 150 Stricken Child, the................ Pg. 167 Inspector of the Watch.......... Pg. 179
Naga, Blight.......................... Pg. 151 Thing in the Cellar, the......... Pg. 167 Knight of Renown................. Pg. 179
Necrophidius......................... Pg. 152 Thing That Was Once Master Assassin..................... Pg. 180
Night-Slug............................. Pg. 153 Rachel Birch, the................... Pg. 168 Master Spy............................ Pg. 180
Paradigm of Bondage, the..... Pg. 154 Thorny................................... Pg. 168 Minstrel................................. Pg. 180
Paradign of Mockery, the...... Pg. 154 Threnody............................... Pg. 168 Phantasmagist....................... Pg. 181
Paradigm of Offal, the........... Pg. 155 Vargouille.............................. Pg. 169 Seer....................................... Pg. 181
Pit Pony................................. Pg. 155 Wallow-Whale...................... Pg. 170 Sneakthief............................. Pg. 181
Princess Alexandra, Watch Commander Summoner............................. Pg. 181
the Unseen Princess.............. Pg. 155 Kevel Durmas....................... Pg. 171 Talimancer............................. Pg. 182
Princess Eleanor.................... Pg. 156 Watchful Child, the............... Pg. 171 Transmogrifier....................... Pg. 182
Princess Genéve.................... Pg. 157 Wererat Leader...................... Pg. 171 Vicar...................................... Pg. 182
Princess Lenora..................... Pg. 157 Whale, Between.................... Pg. 172 Warden.................................. Pg. 183
Princess Lilly........................ Pg. 157 Wolf, Ghoul........................... Pg. 173 Witch..................................... Pg. 183
Princess Mercy...................... Pg. 158 Woerm................................... Pg. 173

Appendices................................................................................................................Pg. 184
Appendix A: Useful Lists...............................................................................Pg. 185
100 Sights on the Street..........................................................................Pg. 185
100 Echoes of Between..........................................................................Pg. 186
100 Freakshow Exhibits.........................................................................Pg. 187
100 Strange Shops and Markets.............................................................Pg. 188
100 Street Traders..................................................................................Pg. 189
20 Blight Locals.....................................................................................Pg. 190
Appendix B: A Blight Lexicon.......................................................................Pg. 193
Appendix C: Sample Encounters in the Blight...............................................Pg. 194
Appendix D: New Magic of the Blight...........................................................Pg. 197
Legal Appendix..................................................................................................................Pg. 200

6
GM Guide

7
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City

The Blight
GM Guide

“… You’ve just entered the wrong side of town …”

8
 GM Guide

For the Players

A stitched thing shambles through the night, the smog of the Canker who ply their trade in the dark. Both avoid the rooftops where ancient
caressing it. Hooded and covered, the thing’s head is too large for its body, scrimshaw gargoyles call to each other in haunting song. No one climbs to
and it has to lean frequently against the dirt-smeared brick embankments meet the scrimshaw; no one dares.
of Sister Lyme and suck in air through broken lips. A stench like rotting The figure passes a burnt-out pawnshop and is ignored by a young
vegetables and sugar surrounds it. People move by in the smog, quietly and couple in a doorway; seeing only each other, one of the figures has two
nervously going about their business. Occasionally, a cockroach crunches mouths full of jutting yellow teeth. The other, possibly a man, is dead,
under their feet. Some travellers are rich enough to have linkboys, and a only alchemy keeps his wan body upright. He appears to be ignoring the
ghastly yellow pallor surrounds the conspirators as they flit like will-o’- prostitute’s shortcomings, or perhaps is paying for them.
wisps through the poison air of the street. At last the stitched thing reaches its destination, a crooked house lit
The silence is suddenly stabbed by the sound of a carriage clattering by the distant lights of the Great Fayre and the peculiar cutting beam of
along the cobbles — a child’s nightmare pulls the carriage yet no one Hobbington’s Lamp — the greatest of sea lanterns. Now hobbling down
seems to notice; it gulps the air as it lurches by — a slick black thing the stairs, it gives a secret knock and is allowed into the alchymic opium
that hobbles spastically yet with great purpose. Unseen within, a naga den. Entering, it sees something in the mirror opposite, but the thing it sees
pulls at a hookah, her arcane limbs fidgeting nervous. She is reading an is not its own reflection, and as it watches the shadow moves out of the
ancient cabalistic work that details a ragefire elemental, a hateful thing looking glass and into the room. The hooded figure bows, and hands over
of such fury that it can consume cities. The naga smiles and blows out a package to the mirror dweller, who smiles crookedly and moves into the
a crimson smoke-ring as she puzzles this new weapon that has fallen, city night, drawing a shining meat-cleaver as it does so. Singing a nursery
or rather been dropped, into her presence. The naga bangs upon the rhyme under its breath, it breaks into a skip.
roof of the carriage for the driver to speed on, and within moments, the Outside, countless other stories are taking place; misery and joy,
streets are quiet again. and lust and sin abound here. This is their home; this is home to
The hooded thing staggers on, beneath towering walls and sloping gables many, many things …”
where great spiders crawl, the arachnids cowering from the spider-catchers

9
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
The Blight is vast; it is mad and random and teeming with life. Each of “subraces” of old. This approach was held by Necromancer Games
doorway conceals a secret, every window a longing, every roof a hope and during its years releasing 3.0/3.5 materials and has been carried through by
fear. A million faces stare from its broken soul. Each face hides a story. the Frogs as well, most recently with the release of LL8: Bard’s Gate and
In the appendices, you’ll find a printable player’s introduction to the its (re)introduction of the street dwarf racial subtypes. It appears again in
Blight, its characters, streets and horrors. In essence, the Blight is a dark the shortly forthcoming Mountains of Madness with the mountain dwarf
urban horror fantasy setting that can be used either on its own, or mingled racial subtype. The latest iteration of the world’s most popular fantasy
with other areas of your GM’s campaign world. roleplaying game has returned to the more traditional use of “subrace”.
Many different races can trace their lineage back centuries in the Blight, However, for consistency between past and future products, we have
and these Blight versions of standard races have developed their own opted to continue using racial subtype to represent a subrace.
unique abilities, contacts, and skills. In such a vast city, no guide can ever Below you will find new, completely optional, racial traits and subtypes
be considered entirely comprehensive, but here is a selection of new races that can be used to add flavour and a distinctly Blight-like feel to your
and racial subtypes of the more established races commonly encountered. characters. Some of these are intended to replace existing racial traits
All the standard fantasy role-playing races may be met in the streets of and others can be used independently of existing traits. And as with all
Castorhage, but their environment may change local characters, as a dwarf things Frog God Games provides, these rules are here for you to pick
living in the arctic or an elf living on a coral reef would change, but they and choose as you please and as best suit your game. If you prefer to use
are still unmistakably elves and dwarves. the standard nomenclature regarding subraces, then drop the use of racial
Races presented hereafter represent Castorhage variations upon the subtypes and go with subraces. As always, make of it what you will.
core races, as well as new potential character races — derro, briny,
coprophagi, night-slugs, and swyne. Racial subtypes of each of the core
races are also presented. These subtypes are those that exist in addition to Dwarven Optional Racial Traits
the standard core races; they have unique abilities due to their exposure Dwarven characters that start in or near the Blight may not exhibit the same
and background in relation to the Great City. traits that are traditionally associated with dwarves (as presented in the game
Do not limit your choice to standard races; a party of ghoul characters manual). Some of the new traits may list a specific trait that it is intended to
make an excellent change of pace. Skum and wererats also make interesting replace, while others do not. For those that do specify which trait it would
variations upon character races and enable you to develop a whole new replace you should work with your GM to determine the best fit for the game.
skill set and viewpoint for your characters. Your GM will always point The following racial traits may be selected instead of the standard
you in the direction she wishes her campaign to go, but do not be afraid dwarven racial traits:
to make suggestions. The Blight is, after all, a city of a million stories … Blight  Builder. Street dwarves in the Blight are especially talented
builders and crafters. You gain expertise with the artisan’s tools of your
choice. Pick one from: smith tool’s, brewer’s supplies, mason’s tools. This
replaces the Tool Proficiency trait.
City Races Blight Enmity. Street dwarves have redirected traditional dwarven
enmities against creatures that are specific to the Blight. Choose one type of
The information given below could be useful in any urban creature: Between creatures, constructs, lycanthropes, or undead (choose
setting. Races in the game manual of the world’s most popular a single type). When tracking this type of creature, you have advantage
roleplaying game are a good starting point for variations based on Wisdom (Survival) checks and on Intelligence checks to recall details
upon background, environment and attitude, and these are as about the creature. If that creature speaks a specific language, you also
numerous as campaign worlds they live in. learn that language when declaring your enmity to the creature.
Thinking about the environment that races come from can be a City Sharp. Some Blight dwarves have very strong ties to the city. You
fun addition to any gaming session — consider a race of dwarves have advantage on Blight-related Intelligence (History) checks and on
that has lived far below the city in an area of the Underneath that Charisma (Persuasion) checks to gather information within the Blight.
has not been discovered until now. Perhaps greedy miners have Trade Expert. Some Blight dwarves are descended from families
followed a vein of silver down into the vast caverns beneath with a focus on a skilled trade. In matters of trade, you are considered an
Castorhage, or maybe one of the pits has opened up somewhere in expert, allowing you to add two times your proficiency bonus to Charisma
the city and the dwarves see the sun for the first time. Do the blind (Persuasion) checks when trading with others.
dwarves flee from the warmth or worship it? How do they react to
the noise of the city and how do the locals react to them? Are they
convenient monsters in the game of some local Streetclerk, or are
they taken as freaks to Festival to be displayed and mocked for the
Elves
delectation of the populace? Perhaps the dwarves are amazingly
skilled artisans who begin work in secret for some unprincipled Elven Optional Racial Traits
cad who kidnaps some of their number to ensure compliance. Elven characters that start in or near the Blight may not exhibit the same
Perhaps the characters come upon an escapee one night being traits that are traditionally associated with elves (as presented in the game
chased by constables who claim the blind dwarf is a killer … manual). Some of the new traits may list a specific trait that it is intended
to replace, while others do not. For those that do specify which trait it
would replace you should work with your GM to determine the best fit
for the game.

New Racial Traits The following racial traits may be selected instead of the standard elven
racial traits:
Artistic Devotion.  The Blight can transform elves of an artistic nature into
A curious aspect of life in the Blight is that it subtly, over generations, obsessive practitioners, forever seeking the perfect expression of their form.
moulds its inhabitants, exaggerating the effects on their physicalities and You gain proficiency with one of the following: an instrument of your choice,
mentalities of the ways in which they apply themselves within its confines. calligrapher’s supplies, cartographer’s tools, cook’s utensils, glassblower’s
For example, descendants of labourers are, on average, noticeably more tools, jeweller’s tools, painter’s supplies, or woodcarver’s tools.
hulking and brutish than their forebears, and descendants of scholars have, Fey Talent. Some Blight elves find that a talent for music, song,
on average, wider eyes and larger craniums. dance, or some other form of entertainment runs in their blood. You gain
Frog God Games — as a champion of old-school games — has proficiency in one of the following skills: Acrobatics, Performance, or
taken for its cue on the use of racial subtypes the same approach as was Sleight of Hand.
used in 3.0/3.5 and earlier iterations of the world’s most popular fantasy Immersive Memory. Some Blight elves are easily immersed within the
roleplaying game with a more traditional method more akin to the concept memories of their ancient race and its history and experiences. You have

10
 GM Guide
advantage on Intelligence (History) checks related to Castorhage and the Blight, is intended to replace, while others do not. For those that do specify which
the history of your race and the major events that your ancestors experienced. trait it would replace you should work with your GM to determine the best
Social Spirit. An inner radiance seems to shine bright in some Blight fit for the game.
elves, positively influencing those with whom they interact. You have The following racial traits may be selected instead of the standard half-
advantage on Charisma (Deception) checks for any lie you tell. elf racial traits:
Emotionally Remote. Torn between two worlds, some Blight half-
elves have grown emotionally distant to those around them. You have
Gnomes advantage on saving throws against being compelled against your will
(such as the Command spell).
Racial Ambiguity. The Blight suppresses the elven appearance of some
Blight Optional Racial Traits half-elves, allowing them to pass more easily as a different race while
Gnomish characters that start in or near the Blight may not exhibit the same emphasising a talent for assuming alternative identities. You are proficient
traits that are traditionally associated with gnomes (as presented in the game with a disguise kit and you have advantage on ability checks that would
manual). Some of the new traits may list a specific trait that it is intended to expose your identity while you are disguised.
replace, while others do not. For those that do specify which trait it would
replace you should work with your GM to determine the best fit for the game.
The following racial traits may be selected instead of the standard
gnome racial traits:
Half-Orcs
Alchemy Fiend. The Blight elevates some gnomes’ obsession with
alchemy into incredible talent. You are proficient with alchemist’s Blight Optional Racial Traits
supplies. Crafting alchemical creations takes half the time and materials Half-orc characters that start in or near the Blight may not exhibit the
cost 10% less than market value (crafting and downtime activities are same traits that are traditionally associated with half-orcs (as presented in
detailed in the game manual). the game manual). Some of the new traits may list a specific trait that it is
Blight-Blooded. Some gnome families have formed strong ties to the intended to replace, while others do not. For those that do specify which
Blight through the latent action of their fey origins. This bond strengthens trait it would replace you should work with your GM to determine the best
your relations with other gnome families. You have advantage on fit for the game.
Charisma (Persuasion) and Wisdom (Insight) checks when dealing with The following racial traits may be selected instead of the standard half-
other gnomes from the Blight. orc racial traits:
Blight Enmity. Some Blight gnomes have redirected traditional Slum Survivor. Some Blight half-orcs are skilled at surviving in slums,
gnomish enmities. Choose one type of creature: Between creatures, sewers, and underbellies. You have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) and
constructs, lycanthropes, or undead (choose a single type). When tracking Wisdom (Survival) checks within an urban environment. In addition, you
this type of creature, you have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks can use the Survival skill to find food and water in an urban environment.
and on Intelligence checks to recall details about the creature. If that A successful DC 10 Survival check results in enough sustenance for one
creature speaks a specific language, you also learn that language when person for 1 day.
declaring your enmity to the creature. Nightbred. The Blight moulds some half-orcs toward the darkness,
Uncanny Business Acumen. Some gnomes find that the Blight enhances emphasising their subterranean heritage. Your eyes are attuned to dark
their naturally convoluted thought patterns into a talent for the abstract and dim conditions beyond that of others of your race granting you
intricacies of trade, finance, and law. Because of your reputation as a superior darkvision but also shackling you with sunlight sensitivity. Your
businessperson, you receive a 10% discount on purchases within the Blight. darkvision has a radius of 120 feet. You have disadvantage on attack rolls
You also receive a 10% bonus when selling to merchants in the Blight. and Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you or your
Truth Twister. A creative relationship with fact and fiction, especially target are in direct sunlight.
serving within the courts of the Blight, has led to some gnomes’ facilities
with deceit being enhanced. You add twice your proficiency bonus
to Deception, Insight, and Persuasion checks when interacting with Halflings
authorities in the Blight.
Urban Magic. The Blight has altered the inherently magical nature
of some gnomes. You know the thaumaturgy cantrip. Intelligence is the
Blight Optional Racial Traits
spellcasting ability for this trait. Halfling characters that start in or near the Blight may not exhibit the
same traits that are traditionally associated with halflings (as presented in
the game manual). Some of the new traits may list a specific trait that it is
Half-Elves intended to replace, while others do not. For those that do specify which
trait it would replace you should work with your GM to determine the best
There is magic in her eyes, and a slight fey look about her. Her fit for the game.
features are narrow, and her eyes purple. Her red hair is drawn into a The following racial traits may be selected instead of the standard
tight pigtail by a deep blue cheesecloth scarf. halfling racial traits:
Everyone loves Tamarind, her smile, her laugh, her singing — she Deft Dancer. Some Blight halflings are infused with the rhythm
has broken a hundred hearts they say by refusing the advances of lesser and beat of the city’s dark heart. Choose one of the following options:
men, claiming she is looking for a wealthy fat lord to live with and spend a) proficiency in the Performance skill and with one type of musical instrument.
his money. b) proficiency in the Acrobatics skill and advantage on Dexterity
Behind those eyes, however, works a brain of evil. A black heart beats (Acrobatics) checks when entertaining an audience.
in her and Tamarind plots and weaves like a great, sick spider. She Rigging Rat. Some halflings have Blight-charged agility. You have
knows she is beautiful and knows it well, using what the gods have given advantage on Strength (Athletics) checks when climbing. Climbing also
her to bring her a better life. does not halve your speed.
She kills those who come too close to her web. River Runner. Many Blight halflings are drawn to its waterways,
— Tamarind (Half-elf burglar) plying the Lyme with inborn expertise. You have advantage on Strength
(Athletics) checks when swimming. Furthermore, you are proficient with
Navigator’s tools and waterborne vehicles.
Blight Optional Racial Traits
Half-elven characters that start in or near the Blight may not exhibit the
same traits that are traditionally associated with half-elves (as presented
in the game manual). Some of the new traits may list a specific trait that it
11
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
these conditions and have advantage on saving throws against inhaled
Humans poisons and toxins.
Twilight Sight. Touched by exotic blood or Between, some humans
Blight Optional Racial Traits can see better than their kin in dim light conditions. You have limited
darkvision in a radius of 30 feet.
Human characters that start in or near the Blight may not exhibit the Water-Blooded. They say that blood is thicker than water, but for some
same traits that are traditionally associated with humans (as presented in Blight humans, the waters of the Lyme seem to run through their veins.
the game manual). Some of the new traits may list a specific trait that it is You have the ability to hold your breath for twice as long as others (you
intended to replace, while others do not. For those that do specify which have advantage on Constitution saving throws when holding your breath
trait it would replace you should work with your GM to determine the best underwater) and have a base swim speed of 20 feet.
fit for the game.
The following racial traits may be selected instead of the standard

New Racial Subtypes

human racial traits:
Citysoul. Within the Blight, you add your proficiency bonus to Wisdom
(Perception), Wisdom (Insight), and Dexterity (Stealth) checks. In
addition, once per day, you can become lost in thought in a trance-like As mentioned above under Blight Racial Backgrounds, the use of racial
state for 1 minute to subconsciously plumb their knowledge of the city. subtypes here is in the traditional “subrace” sense.
At the end of the trance, you may make a Charisma (Persuasion) check The racial subtypes included here are all more or less unique to the
with advantage. You regain the ability to become lost in thought after a Blight (with the exception of gypsy-souls). Not that they can’t be found
long rest. anywhere else — though that is likely to be rare enough — but rather that
Recall. You have advantage on Intelligence (History) checks in relation wherever they’re found, their existence can be traced back to their Blight
to knowing the urban geography of the Blight, the fastest method to get roots, proving that the Blight is so pervasive — so corrupting — that it
from one location to another, and for finding specific locations within the changes everything it touches and usually not for the better.
city. In addition, you can spend at least 1 minute concentrating on your
surroundings to know which district you are in, even if you cannot see
your surroundings.
Polluted. The city itself seems infected with choking gases and
Street Dwarf
corrosive chemicals, yet some humans seem to thrive in even the most Street dwarves were originally of mountain dwarf stock, but all trace
pollutant-rich environments. You have developed an innate resistance to their descent to a single band of exiles from the Great Mountain Clan
Targ in the Forlorn Mountains. Called Gilyo’s Brigade, the dwarves of
this band had been cast out of the Great Clan for any number of petty
crimes. The band relocated into the lowlands of the newly formed Domain
of Hawkmoon after leaving their mountain home and found solace in the
wild towns springing up across this new frontier. Their natural skills as
craftsmen soon made them wealthy and allowed them to establish shops,
inns, waystations, and merchant houses. In less than a century they had
largely abandoned their old dwarven culture and had begun to establish
their own rich traditions.
Since their early days in Hawkmoon, street dwarves have spread far
and wide to many of the world’s major urban centres. Commerce is their
livelihood, and they simply follow the coin. They are savvy urbanites who
know the ins and outs of city life. Well aware of the dangers of the city
— pickpockets, footpads, thieves’ guilds, corrupt officials, and assorted
con artists — street dwarves have developed a characteristic wariness of
all strangers that borders on paranoia. They are shrewd and cunning and
are difficult to trick — especially when money is involved. It’s equally
difficult to intimidate or accost them because though they have distanced
themselves from their heritage as doughty giant and orc fighters, they still
remain a race of the stout folk and are notoriously hard of head and hard
of knuckle in any barroom brawl or alley robbery attempt.
Physical Description. In appearance, street dwarves differ very little
from one city to the next, being all descended from a single clan. They have
the height of their mountain dwarf forebears, with most approaching 5 feet
in height, though they are thinner and less stocky of build. Consequently,
they tend to be more agile than their mountain cousins. Their beards are
the darker shades of the mountain dwarves with a smattering of silvery
white even among the younger folk, but they are usually kept trimmed
shorter and closer to the chin than is typical for a dwarf. Hair is likewise
usually kept at a shorter length, but hair and beards alike are always kept
well-groomed and fashionably styled. Some street dwarf women are
capable of growing beards as well, but they never do, preferring to go
clean shaven as is the norm of females of other races with whom they
interact. Street dwarf attire reflects the social caste and climate in which
they live, but often it is an expression of affluence that they have achieved
over the years.
Society. The clan kinship so strongly felt among mountain dwarves and
even hill dwarves is largely absent among street dwarves. Though they
all descend from a single clan, upon their arrival in the lowlands they
spread out to settle and take on lowland ways. Now street dwarves relate
more closely to their immediate family groups, and though they feel a

12
 GM Guide
kinship with fellow street dwarves it is no more than a vague sense of type) and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit. Because of your
camaraderie, no more binding than any other acquaintances they make. hatred of this foe you have disadvantage on Charisma-based skill checks
Though street dwarves are mostly known for success in business, by no against them.
means are all street dwarves wealthy merchants and business owners. Streetwise. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks to
Most make a comfortable living in some trade that they have undertaken potentially notice hidden watchers, ambushes, or traps while on the streets
while some have amassed great wealth in trade or investments and others of a city.
live in the gutter as homeless beggars, their fortunes fallen on hard times Urbanite. You can add your proficiency bonus to Charisma (Deception),
or from families that either lost or never made the great leap to affluence Wisdom (Insight), and Charisma (Persuasion) checks when used in urban
that some of their kin have. In all regards, street dwarves tend to reflect the surroundings.
majority of the society in which they live. Weapon Familiarity. You have proficiency with short swords, rapiers,
Relations. As mentioned, street dwarves lack the extreme kin-bonding and whips. This replaces Dwarven Combat Training.
found among mountain and hill dwarves. In fact, they often find mountain Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Dwarvish.
and hill dwarves that they meet to be discomfiting and uncomfortably
intense, if not outright uncouth. For their part other dwarves typically
look at street dwarves askance as if poor souls who have lost their way Elf, Primitive
among the baubles and fancies of the soft lowlanders. In any case, the
groups can maintain friendly relations with one another but rarely seek Primitives are elves who have found themselves drawn to the strange,
out any more social contact than is absolutely necessary. Street dwarves almost otherworldly allure that seems to shine just beneath the surface
do not maintain the same prejudices towards other races that their kin do of the Blight for those with the sensitivity to see it. The result of their
and therefore have no more animosity towards goblins or orcs than they long exposure to this strange, intangible presence ever tickling at their
would towards any other brigand. Likewise, they have no experience in minds has led them to devote their lives to its expression in art. They are
fighting giants most having never even seen one. Instead they hold their fey — almost elemental — creatures inspired and tortured by wildly vivid
ire towards those they that see as oppressing them, whether it be criminals dreams to the point of obsession over an act of creation to bring their
or corrupt officials for a wealthy merchant or street bullies and corrupt dream visions to life. They may stand for hours immersed in the light
city guards for a beggar. It is towards these that street dwarves devote their play of sun on the gables, entranced by the reactions of an admixture of
legendary dwarven grudges. venoms, or crafting the perfect expression in musical movements about
Religion. Of all types of dwarves, street dwarves are the most likely the unique potpourri of odours produced by a particular alleyway.
to be agnostic or outright atheists. They are pragmatic and practically Physical Description. Primitives tend to stand taller and are more
minded, putting more faith in sound investments and a solid plan than willowy than the typical elf, rarely with an ounce of fat on their bodies as
divine protection or tradition. Those that are of a religious bent usually they devote every waking moment and all their energy to the perfection
venerate the major gods of wherever they happen to live, though they of their art. Some with an epicurean bent lie at the opposite end of the
tend to shy away from elven deities as flighty and strange and traditional spectrum, representing the shockingly phenomenon of a morbidly obese
dwarven deities as somehow familiar yet uncomfortably alien. Some elf. They share the same almond-shaped eyes of other elves, but their wide
street dwarves, especially those that dwell in the Domain of Hawkmoon, irises are always completely black, blending seamlessly with their pupils,
still worship the Hawkmoon deity for whom their ancestors took their and creating the impression of looking into a vast, bottomless well. Their
name. Gilyo, God of Travel and Caprice. Outside Hawkmoon, though, clothing tends toward minimalist ideals and ranges in quality from a few
such worship is little seen. diaphanous veils or scarves to little more than a rough loincloth. They
Adventurers. Adventure may not call so powerfully to street dwarves see their bodies as another form of expression of their art and wish to
as it does to members of other races, as these folks usually prefer the reveal their canvas to as many as can see, regardless of physique, injury,
known dangers of city life to the unknown dangers of the open wilderness. or deformity. Exotic and extravagant tattoos, often covering much of their
Nevertheless, they can sometimes be found among adventuring bands if bodies, are not uncommon. In the cold winters of the Blight, they bundle
for no other reason than the irresistible lure of treasure. up in rough, primitive garments of hide and thick fur, channeling the inner
Male Names. Bariom, Caedimus, Cassius, Filo, Luciliun, Tiberonus nature they sense within the walls of the city. The hygiene of these elves
Female Names. Andromeda, Caliopa, Gratica, Koryola, Veran, Vesta varies wildly, with some taking great pride in their physical aesthetic and
others seeing such concerns as mundanely gauche, preferring to revel in
a natural state of filth.
Street Dwarf Racial Traits Society. Primitives take their name from the fact that they see themselves
Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1. entirely outside society. In fact, to them society is an unnatural aberration that
Age. Dwarves mature at roughly the same pace as humans. They are separates them from the enlightened beauty that they forever seek to capture
considered young until the age of 50 and can live between three and and emulate in their art. As such, primitives with any political leaning at all
four centuries. tend toward the Anarchist camp. Some may even believe the true expression
Alignment. Street dwarves tend towards lawful alignments as the most of their inner eye’s beauty lies in watching the entire city burn.
reliable course to success among civilized folk but have no real leaning Relations. Primitives have poor relations with virtually every other
towards good, neutrality, or evil beyond their own individual moral compass. race, including other elves. Only other primitives and the most avant-
Size. Street dwarves are among the tallest of the dwarves, their height garde of art patrons within the city who share their bohemian outlook
averaging almost 5 feet but never shorter than 4 feet. They are stocky and find themselves in the social circles of the primitives, and even then, these
broad and often weigh 150 pounds, sometimes more. Your size is Medium. relationships tend to be short, self-absorbed, and one-sided, the primitive
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet. moving on to some new companion in their eternal quest to capture their
Darkvision. Under dim conditions, you can see up to 60 feet as if the inner eye in art.
area were brightly lit, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You see Religion. Primitives have all of the emotional capriciousness of
shades of gray instead of color under darkness conditions. other elves but tend to lack much value for kindness or any concept of
Greed. You have advantage on Intelligence checks made to determine beauty that lies outside their own personal obsessions. Most primitives
the price of nonmagical goods regardless of what they’re made of. are chaotic, but very few of them are good. Primitives are never lawful.
Grudge. Someone or something crossed you at some point in your Many primitives gravitate toward agnostic or atheistic beliefs as all other
life and you will never forgive or forget that slight. Little did they know, matters are subordinated to their personal obsessions. Some do, however,
dwarves hold grudges like no other. Pick a person (NPC or character) venerate deities that represent certain types of art, freedoms, or simply
or creature that represents an injustice or harmful treatment you have hedonism in general. Among the primitives who venerate a deity, some of
endured. Regardless of whether they actually wronged you, they are the the more common divine patrons are Dame Torren, Moccavallo, Bacchus-
object of your violent obsession. When you score a critical hit against Dionysus, the Queen of Spiders, Pan, Lurz-Urcia, Pelora, Eliphaz,
your hated foe, you can roll one additional damage dice (based on weapon Arialee, Sriasha, Gilyo, Demogorgon, Bast, Tiamat, Shupnikkurat, the
Church of Marwan, The Poppy’s Chorus, and one of the largest chapters
13
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
of the Cult of the Unspeakable in the Lost Lands. A few even call upon
the blessings of The Ash Queen or The Horseman. Above all, they fear Gnome, Tradelord
the demon lord Mathrigaunt the Mad, knowing full well even in their
indolence that to fully succumb to madness is to lose their vision entirely. Tradelord gnomes are a common sight amongst the financial areas
There are rumours, however, of some primitives who have done that very of the city; they are cunning and astute, good judges of character and
thing and now secretly seek to propagate the spread of the insidious cult risk, and their talents are in demand — by the legal, financial, and
among their peers. speculative professions, as well as the less-legal arms of those groups.
In addition, it is not unusual to see a new cult spring up among a group In many ways, their reputation resembles that of the street dwarves in
of primitives dedicated to some wholly or partially fabricated deity drawn other urban areas throughout Akados, but whereas the street dwarves are
from an exotic land or a prehistoric past viewed as somehow purer or known for being hard-working business owners and workers, tradelord
more visceral. Without the backing of a true deity to provide any sort gnomes are specifically involved as financiers, bankers, commodity
of evidence of divine inspiration whatsoever, these small cults usually speculators, investors, and trade factors at the highest echelons of local
dissolve in a matter of days or months at the most. While they exist, and international trade. And while they are known for their business
though, some of them can become quite dangerous or vicious in their acumen, they are not especially well-regarded for their scruples. A person
ideals of physical excess at any cost. always feels more comfortable with a tradelord gnome on his side of a
Adventurers. While the harrowing and strenuous life of an adventurer negotiating table but much less comfortable with one on the opposite side.
holds little appeal for most languid primitives, for those whose imagination Physical Description. Tradelord gnomes superficially resemble
it does capture, little can hold them back. For them, something of the vision ordinary gnomes in all ways, but all tradelord gnomes are descended from
they seek to actualize lies in the chaotic freedom and risk of adventuring, a handful of Castorhage gnome families (no matter how distantly related),
and they jump into the life with both feet. There are few rigors they won’t and all tend to bear a certain family resemblance. Their hair tends toward
endure, dangers they won’t face, and risks they won’t take for the sake of muted shades of brown, red, or sometimes green, though grey and silver
their passion. seem to predominate even at relatively young ages. In addition, there is
Male Names. Primitives eschew the names of their elven heritage an unusually high incidence of balding among their numbers. Eyebrows
and those of the surrounding human culture alike. They prefer to take are almost always thick and bushy, with wide, hooked noses, and large,
on monosyllabic mononyms that they feel portray the underlying truth of protruding ears. Thick, brushy moustaches and sometimes sideburns are
their being or poetic descriptions that seek to do the same. To most others, extremely common, though beards are never worn. Their skin also tends
their names seem pretentious, nonsensical, or both. to be more pallid compared with their kin and is frequently extremely
Male Names include Chak, Durst, Flower-Fire, Pum, Quell-The-Stone, thin, almost parchment-like, with a spider web of tiny veins visible on the
Ran-The-Side-Fall, Son-Of-Nos, Slay-Made-Blue, Tak-tak, Thorn, Tutho, cheeks, chin, nose, and ears. Eyes tend to be bleary and slightly jaundiced,
Uch, Willow, and Whole-Wind. and myopia is very common, with many tradelord gnomes wearing
Female Names. Females use a similar naming convention as the males, spectacles before they reach adulthood.
but their names tend more toward the more poetic phrasing or individual Society. Tradelord gnomes are extremely preoccupied with social class
words that they feel represent their moment. Such names include and form. They are extremely proud of their Castorhage lineage from a few
Abundance, Encounter-Upon-Green-Radiance-Of-Night, Light-In-Ever- well-placed families whose involvement in the politics and finances of the
Noise, Perfect, Pain-For-Promise, Rain, Sash, Two-Sides-Through, city-state date back for centuries. With family names such as Bothelwaite,
Under-Lives-Peace, and Willow.

Primitive Racial Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Age. As with other elves, primitives are considered adults around the
age of 100 and have a lifespan of up to 750 years.
Alignment. Primitives have all of the emotional capriciousness of
other elves but tend to lack much value for kindness or any concept of
beauty that lies outside their own personal obsessions. Most primitives
are chaotic, but very few of them are good. Primitives are never lawful.
Size. Primitives are taller and thinner than other elves, averaging 5 and
a half to well over 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. Under dim conditions, you can see up to 60 feet as if the
area were brightly lit, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You see
shades of gray instead of color under darkness conditions.
City Knowledge. You have advantage on Intelligence (History) checks
related to a specific city district. You can add your proficiency bonus to
Intelligence (History) checks for one other city district of your choice.
Artistic Devotion. Primitives are forever seeking the perfect expression
of their form. You gain proficiency with one of the following: an
instrument of your choice, calligrapher’s supplies, cartographer’s tools,
cook’s utensils, glassblower’s tools, jeweller’s tools, painter’s supplies,
or woodcarver’s tools.
Fey Talent. Primitives quite often focus on their talent for music, song,
dance, or some other form of entertainment. You gain proficiency in one
of the following skills: Acrobatics, Performance, or Sleight of Hand.
Dreamspeaker. Primitives have the ability to tap into the power of
sleep, dreams, and prescient reverie. Once per day, you may cast the
dream spell. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell. You regain
this ability after a long rest.
Know Your Own. You have advantage on Charisma (Persuasion) and
Wisdom (Insight) checks involving your fellow primitives.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Elvish.

14
 GM Guide
Curringham, Evendon, and Shipwright, they feel that they are the true Languages. You can read, write, and speak Common and Gnomish and
cream of the crop within the city-state, with a name that should open doors either Semuric or Xaon.
and get immediate recognition even among the unwashed Lowfolk. The
fact that none of their family names is even remotely as well-known as the
upstart parlor magician Shortstones and their seemingly endless progeny Half-Orc, Shadowlamp
irks the families of the tradelords to no end, though they will never let on
to being disturbed by a notion so far beneath them. Shadowlampers, as they are typically called, are half-orcs in the Blight
Relations. Tradelord gnomes tend to get on well with most other races, born pale and sickly looking. The light still hurts the enlarged eyes of these
if at a comfortable and coolly indifferent arm’s length. They hold ordinary half-orcs. Sometimes referred to as vampires, ghouls, or undead by other
gnomes in utter contempt, however. The city’s Lowfolk recognize them city folk, they prefer to do their business by night. To many, however, the
as true “movers” within the Blight’s social strata, and the Upper Class Shadowlamper is a boon; someone who prefers to work at night can come
see them as formidable and respectable professionals, if not particularly in very handy, not only for the criminal underclasses, but also amongst
friendly or suitable for socializing. The tradelord gnomes’ natural more legitimate professions. The Queen’s 4th Shadowlampers are a
standoffishness actually serves them well in their relations with others renowned part of the City Watch, with a waiting list of seven years to join
because it makes them seem stuffy and competent while at the same time and the toughest entry tests in the whole Watch. The Illuminati have made
masking their inclination toward pompousness biting condescension. The great use of Shadowlampers, and these half-orcs are also ranked amongst
few that manage to get close to a tradelord gnome almost always find some of the most famous spider-hunters in the city’s history.
them rude and unpleasant but worthwhile companions nonetheless for Physical Description. Shadowlamp half-orcs are tall like their more
their astute judgment and considerable skills at the bargaining table. common kin, easily exceeding 6 feet in height for both genders, but lack
Religion. Favored religions are Sefagreth, Thyr, Dre’uain, Archeillus, the sheer muscle mass of their cousins. Their bodies are thin and corded
and Iskardar, and no doubt more than a few who secretly revere Lord with wiry muscle that makes them look more like scarecrows — or
Mammon. Noticeably absent among the worship of the tradelord gnomes cadavers — than a typical half-orc, and their skins tend to run paler than
is the worship of their chaotic racial deity Hammer Mittelschmerz. the dusky or greenish hues more frequently found. They have wide eyes
Adventurers. Tradelord gnomes seldom become adventurers, but some with large pupils that are frequently bloodshot and teary in bright lights.
find the thrill of the discovery of new trade markets and the victory over Though their lower canines are less prominent than is normal for half-
opposing forces as a great draw and become sea captains, caravan leaders, orcs, they are nevertheless somewhat elongated, and the fact that their
or even trade negotiators in the most hostile of environments. upper canines are likewise hypertrophied only adds to the comparisons to
Male Names. Bates, Cumberlin, Huffingham, Jomas, Myles, Perrington, some sort of blood-drinking undead beast.
Tomorj, Trevor, Willin Society. As products of a wholly urban environment, shadowlampers
Female Names. Agathra, Agned, Delorys, Gertrand, Myllicent, do not suffer the persecution and ostracization seen by the societies of
Myrtle, Pennifor both of a typical half-orc’s parents. This is partially because shadowlamp
half-orcs are the offspring of mated shadowlamp half-orcs, the initial
orc/human crossing having occurred generations in the past. This is also
Tradelord Gnome Racial Traits because with so many underclasses in the Blight held with equal disdain
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1. by the upper crust of society, it is too much trouble for a lone segment
Age. Much the same as their kin, tradelord gnomes mature at the same to be singled out for specific prejudice. They receive the hardships and
pace as humans. They reach adulthood in their 40s and regularly live privations of a second-class citizen, but then so do most folk of the Blight,
between 350 and 500 years of age. so it seems like no unique burden to shadowlampers.
Alignment. Tradelords have a tendency toward law and neutrality, Relations. With no special prejudice levelled against them in the city of
being much more concerned with reaching the means to their ends their birth and a generations-long dissociation from the separate cultures
through skilful manipulation of the existing rules rather than with whether of their progenitors, shadowlamp half-orcs get along with the other
or not the ends themselves might be in any way worthy or moral. Lawful races that inhabit the city just as would any other. No special grudges
neutral and neutral are their most commonly taken alignments, with are harboured, and no great blood feuds recognized. A shadowlamper on
some exceptional individual skewing toward lawful good or lawful evil. the streets of the city would have the same possibility to like or dislike
Neutral good and neutral evil are extremely rare, and chaotic alignments an elf he met on the street as he would an orc. Though some folk are put
are unheard of among them. off by their cadaverous appearance and exhibit a prejudice along those
Size. Tradelord gnomes are commonly between 3 and 4 feet tall and lines, the respect they command for the work they do and the myriad of
weigh around 40 pounds. Your size is Small. other racial prejudices that swell within the disparate folk of the Blight
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet. causes shadowlampers to not feel singled out as a target of vitriol by any
Darkvision. Under dim conditions, you can see up to 60 feet as if the particular group.
area were brightly lit, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You see Religion. As creatures naturally suited for the dark of night, those few
shades of gray instead of color under darkness conditions. shadowlampers who do observe a formal religion tend to gravitate toward
City Knowledge. You have advantage on Intelligence (History) checks those that favour the shadows such as Mirkeer and Sister Shadow or other
related to a specific city district. You can add your proficiency bonus to aspects of the night such as Narrah or even relating to their occupation
Intelligence (History) checks for one other city district of your choice. such as Vanitthu. A shadowlamper worshipping Grotaag is unheard of, but
Keen Senses. You have proficiency with the Perception skill. most pay no attention to any religion in particular.
Know Your Own. You have advantage on Charisma (Persuasion) and Adventurers. As individuals, skilled for a certain line of work, in
Wisdom (Insight) checks involving your fellow tradelords. particular guarding, watching, or hunting at night or in the dark places of
Truth Twister. Quick wits and and even quicker tongue are your the city, shadowlampers make excellent adventurers, and many are drawn
trademark. You are exceptionally talented at negotiation, lying, and to such a life.
discerning lies. You have advantage on Charisma (Deception) checks Male Names. Borkil, Daga, Hurk, Kultak, Merrik, Tarik, Yasg
when attempting to lie and have advantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks Female Names. Borlea, Dresa, Morfuda, Shevzu, Tulik, Yada
when determining if you are a being lied to.
Urban Magic. Like many other gnomes, the Blight has altered the
inherently magical nature of tradelord gnomes. This ability allows you to
Shadowlamp Half-Orc Racial Traits
cast each of the following spells, without components, once per day: floating Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1, and your
disk, knock, message, and unseen servant. You can cast these spells again after Dexterity score increases by 2.
completing a long rest. The spellcasting ability for these spells is Charisma. Age. Shadowlamp half-orcs mature slightly faster than humans and are
Weapon Familiarity. You have proficiency with short swords, rapiers, considered adults by the age of 14. They rarely live longer than 75 years.
and whips. Alignment. Shadowlamp half-orcs have no great propensity toward
evil nor toward chaos. Likewise, they hold no special fondness for good
15
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
or law. They are just as likely to be chaotic evil as chaotic good, though the telling of elaborate jokes. They do not involve themselves in pranks
only a very few could be considered lawful good. The largest portion of very frequently because they are accustomed to living on few resources
their population falls firmly within the boundaries of neutrality. Most and among hostile peoples so that anything that might damage another’s
work hard, do their job, support their families, and at the end of the day property or dignity is seen as detrimental to their survival. Rather, they
enjoy a pint and a cigar. They usually hold no great loyalty to the city or confine their internal rivalries to clever jests and barbs for the amusement
its institutions, but take great pride in their own work ethic and expertise of all, and a gypsy-soul that knows he has been bested enjoys the roast as
in those areas in which they excel. much as any onlookers and begins planning his future rejoinder almost
Size. Shadowlamp half-orcs are tall and lean, easily exceeding 6 feet in immediately. Pranks upon non-gypsy-souls, however, is an entirely
height for both genders. Your size is Medium. different matter, and truly legendary members of their families are those
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. who can pull the most outlandish pranks upon other peoples.
Superior Darkvision. Your darkvision extends to a radius of 120 feet. Relations. If folk look upon the Viroeni as roving skulks and thieves,
Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and sight- they look upon the gypsy-souls who associate with them as little better
based Wisdom (Perception) checks that occur in direct sunlight. than an infestation of vermin. Only in municipalities of established relation
City Knowledge. You have advantage on Intelligence (History) checks with gypsy-souls do they find any real welcome. In Castorhage, there are
related to a specific city district. You can add your proficiency bonus to entire barrios occupied by gypsy-souls who have made a more permanent
Intelligence (History) checks for one other city district of your choice. abode for themselves, and here they have become enough of a fixture to
Know Your Own. You have advantage on Charisma (Persuasion) and avoid constant persecution. It is true that the folk of the Blight look upon
Wisdom (Insight) checks involving your fellow shadowlamps. all gypsy-souls as cutpurses and pickpockets, but then, most other groups
Keen Sight. You have advantage on sight-based Wisdom (Perception) are suspected of the same, so the gypsy-souls find an easier acceptance
checks made in dim light or darker conditions. than in most other places. In places not as accustomed to the presence
Weapon Familiarity. You have proficiency with the greataxe, of gypsy-souls, they are usually confined to isolated encampments away
greatsword, and maul. from towns and cities, and allowed entry only on market days when their
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Orc, and wares and services might be of use. Gypsy-souls harbour some resentment
Undercommon. toward this inherent disregard for them, but their own habit of tricks and
Note. The shadowlamp half-orc is a variant of the half-orc described in pranks does not engender them to these communities.
the game manual. It is not a subtype and will not possess the same traits Religion. Their love of the freedom of the road and the irreverent ways
as non-variant half-orcs. of halflings means a great many favour the halfling deity Mick O’Delving
with Pekko almost equal in popularity. Their inherent wanderlust and love
of the many hidden twists and turns of life leads many into reverence of
Halfling, Gypsy-Soul Belon the Wise, Moccavallo, Tykee, or Zors. Some of the older gypsy-
souls are devoted to the traditional Viroeni deities of Mert, Vionir, or
Consummate traders and tricksters, gypsy-souls are halflings who feel a Lurz-Urcia. Very rarely, an evil gypsy-soul might venerate Demogorgon
deep and abiding kindred with the Viroeni gypsy-folk of Akados. Though as the Lord of Fate.
not related to these wandering tribes by blood, the gypsy-souls have Adventurers. Their love of life on the road makes adventuring a natural
associated with them for so many generations that these halfling bloodlines choice for gypsy-souls. Many would claim that adventuring is their only
indeed seem more closely akin to the Viroeni than to their own kind. In fact, occupation, whether they be an aged caravan matriarch, mischievous
the gypsy-souls speak the Rama language of the Viroeni and generally keep street urchin, or established urban tinker. The draw of an adventurer’s life
to their own neighbourhoods, caravans, or encampments rather than mix is one of the reasons that many gypsy-souls who establish themselves in
extensively with others. The exceptions to this are, of course, the Viroeni cities such as Castorhage eventually abandon their sedentary life and take
themselves, who see the gypsy-souls as kindred little brothers and sisters to the roads once again.
and the halfling boatfolk of Castorhage. Interaction in the city, however, Male Names. Gypsy-souls have abandoned the typical naming
can draw some out of their insular natures, at least for a time. Gypsy-souls conventions among halflings in favour of those of the Viroeni. Common
support themselves as tinkers, traders, and in the performance of odd jobs male names include Alfonso, Andrej, Baldo, Hanzo, Luca, Marko, Stefan,
whenever possible. Some have small animal herds. and Toman.
Physical Description. Gypsy-souls in general conform to the physical Female Names. Esmara, Eva, Mirella, Nuri, Riva, Tabita, Violca
appearance of their halfling kin. They tend to be a little bit taller — some
reaching the outlandish height of 3 foot, 6 inches — and a bit leaner, rarely
having the paunch from a life of prosperity and good meals that tends to Gypsy-Soul Racial Traits
find its way onto many halflings as they reach middle age. They almost Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
always go barefoot, which is not unusual for halflings in general, and their Age. Gypsy-soul halflings reach the age of majority at 20 and can often
ears are less pointed, in some cases being completely indistinguishable live up to 150 years.
from human ears in shape. Their thick curly hair tends toward dark brown Alignment. Gypsy-souls are chaotic by nature though rarely truly
and black, with many wearing thick sideburns and even short beards, evil. Many of them, in fact, have a heart of gold that is tempered by their
though rarely moustaches, and they have a tendency to grey early, with impish ways. Their love of freedom and disdain of rules and the shackles
many having thick streaks of white running through their unruly mops of civilization means that they are never inclined toward lawfulness. Most
at even a relatively young age. Their eyes share dark shades similar to frequently, they are chaotic good or neutral with some neutral good and
their hair though occasionally a striking ice blue appears. Their skins are chaotic neutral. Only on the rarest occasions are neutral evil or chaotic
a shade darker than the almond coloration of typical halflings, possibly evil gypsy-souls encountered.
from greater exposure to the sun in their wandering lifestyle. They quickly Size. Gypsy-souls in general conform to the physical appearance of
develop many fine lines and wrinkles from years in the sun and wind and their halfling kin. They tend to be a little bit taller — some reaching the
a tendency toward laughter, though this does not make them appear older outlandish height of 3 foot, 6 inches — and a bit leaner, rarely having the
as much as it makes them seem jollier and more world wise. paunch from a life of prosperity and good meals that tends to find its way
Society. Like the Viroeni wanderers that they have come to identify onto many halflings as they reach middle age. Your size is Small.
with, gypsy-souls spend most of their life traveling upon the roads of Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.
Akados in caravans of small wagons. These are frequently included as part City Knowledge. You have advantage on Intelligence (History) checks
of a Viroeni caravan but not always so. When they are with Viroeni, they related to a specific city district. You can add your proficiency bonus to
are treated as one of their own and answer to the tribes reigning matriarch Intelligence (History) checks for one other city district of your choice.
just as do her human kinfolk. This arrangement is very egalitarian in that Keen Senses. You have proficiency with the Perception skill.
on many occasions the Viroeni themselves answer to a halfling gypsy-soul Know Your Own. You have advantage on Charisma (Persuasion) and
matriarch if she is the most senior member of the caravan. On the open Wisdom (Insight) checks involving your fellow gypsy-souls.
road or in an encampment, gypsy-souls are prone to music, dancing, and
16
 GM Guide
Gypsy-Cant. You and your fellow gypsy-souls have a special cant
that allows you to pass secret messages in front of listeners who do not
speak Rama. Even those that speak Rama would find it near impossible to
decipher these exchanges.
Shiftless. Gypsy-souls have a reputation for larceny and guile — and
sometimes it’s well deserved. You can add your proficiency bonus to
Charisma (Deception) and Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) checks.
Weapon Familiarity. You have proficiency with short swords, rapiers,
and whips.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Halfling, Rama
and River Cant.

Human, Blighted
It is a peculiar facet of the Blight that those who dwell there notice
a subtle change over many generations, almost as though their deeds
truly become tattooed upon their bodies. This is true in general only for
those who have several generations of Castorhage in their kin; those who
manage to escape, who throw off the shackles even for a few years, or
who by good fortune are somehow immune to this effect are unaffected.
Others are not so lucky, and this kinship manifests in subtle changes
within the bodies of those who come from such long lines of locals.
For example, those who use their bodies for brute force — the builders,
labourers and roofers — can be identified by their peculiarly large hands,
or shoulders, or backs. Miners develop wider eyes with larger pupils;
chimney sweeps, an unsettling ability to voluntarily dislocate their limbs;
nobility may be tainted by generations of envy or lust and have peculiarly
feral or angered expressions. In general, these changes are not monstrous
but are all the more unsettling for their subtlety.
Physical Description. Blighted humans are typical of the human folk
of western Akados. Their skin tones are usually somewhat pale and range
from sallow to ivory to pinkish all the way to the almost pure white of
albinism. Whereas most of western Akados tends toward more aquiline
features, those of the blighted are usually coarser and somewhat broader.
Their hair runs to the same dark browns, auburns, and black of western
Akados, and their eyes are a range of blue, grey, blue-grey, bluish-black,
dark brown, and pale violet. As noted, their physical features do tend to
reflect the sort of occupation their family has held for many generations,
though these changes are subtle and fall well within the normal physical
morphology found within the population.
Society. No single social stratum fits the blighted. They can be from
the lowest of the city’s gutters to the marbled galleries and halls of the
Capitol. In fact, a member of the blighted would not even identify himself
as such. Being one of the blighted is not a recognised classification; it
is simply a physical reality of those whose families have dwelt in the
city-state long enough for physical changes to occur. This is reflected in
that the one feature they all truly have in common is their ancestry’s long
residence within Castorhage.
Relations. Like humans elsewhere, the relations of the blighted run
the gamut from open integration with other races and cultures to rampant
xenophobia and prejudice based on the individual’s upbringing and
circumstances.
Religion. The blighted have a higher tendency to follow the religions
indigenous to the city of Castorhage as opposed to those of elsewhere
in Akados. There are many exceptions to this, however, as the folk of
Castorhage includes immigrants from across the world of Lloegyr who
have brought their native beliefs with them to their new homes. By far the
largest human congregation of any god in Castorhage is that of Mother
Grace, the city’s de facto patroness deity.
Adventurers. The adventuring life among the blighted is more
dependent upon their occupation and circumstances than their race. An
indolent nobleman with money to burn and free time to spare might take
up adventuring as a pastime to relieve his boredom, whereas a Lowfolk
woman living in the gutter and begging or picking pockets to feed herself
might see it as an opportunity to increase her prosperity.
Male Names. The blighted use the same styles and forms of names as
the rest of the citizenry of Castorhage. Their naming conventions do not
mark them in any way as different from anyone else.
Female Names. Like the males, blighted females share the same
naming conventions as the folk of the city around them.
17
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Blighted Human Racial Traits
Ability Score Increase. Your ability scores each increase by 1.
Age. Humans reach the age of majority in their late teens. Their lifespan
is usually less than a century.
Alignment. The full range of alignment options are commonly found
among the blighted.
Size. Humans have a large degree of variation in their height and weight
and can range from 5 feet to 6 and a half feet. Your size is Medium despite
the large variance.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
City Knowledge. You have advantage on Intelligence (History) checks
related to a specific city district. You can add your proficiency bonus to
Intelligence (History) checks for one other city district of your choice.
Citysoul. Within the Blight, you add your proficiency bonus to Wisdom
(Perception), Wisdom (Insight), and Dexterity (Stealth) checks. In
addition, once per day, you can become lost in thought in a trance-like
state for 1 minute to subconsciously plumb their knowledge of the city.
At the end of the trance, you may make a Charisma (Persuasion) check
with advantage. You regain the ability to become lost in thought after a
long rest.
Know Your Own. You have advantage on Charisma (Persuasion) and
Wisdom (Insight) checks involving your fellow blighted.
Recall. You have advantage on Intelligence (History) checks in relation
to knowing the urban geography of the Blight, the fastest method to get
from one location to another, and for finding specific locations within the
city. In addition, you can spend at least 1 minute concentrating on your
surroundings to know which district you are in, even if you cannot see
your surroundings.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one additional
human language of your choice including Rama, River Cant, Thieves’
Cant, and Xaon
Note. The blighted human is a variant of the standard human described
in the game manual. It is not a subtype and will not possess the same traits
as non-variant humans.

New Races
The scourge of the Blight does more than simply twist the essence of
those unfortunate enough to live there for generation after generation fishermen that to kill the child means to also kill the wife, for many have
and create new traits and subtypes of existing races. The Blight also has tried. Many have killed the foul infant in the hope of freeing the wife, only
entirely new races … or has at least has attracted these otherwise rare to find her hanged a few days later — always by her own hand.
races in numbers unknown elsewhere. Physical Description. Some are more human than others, but each is
deformed in some way, and about a quarter of them slowly change as
they age, eventually undergoing a terrible transformation, and becoming a
Briny (Half-Skum) skum. However, for a character, this end can be a long way off, or perhaps
it never occurs. They always inherit some aquatic feature: bulging eyes,
Fishermen spit when they hear the name mentioned — briny, fish- shreds of wan, scaly skin between fingers or toes, or perhaps an unsettling
bred — born of a forced union between skum and the wives of men. The smell of brine and fish.
humans hate the children that flounder in the streets, children more at Society. Briny tend to stick with other briny — it’s safer that way,
home in the cold, dark waters than in the lands of the sun and air. They although the more human ones find it fairly easy to blend into society.
are children that, they say, have some purpose in being on land; children Some briny thrive on their appearance and make a living from it in the
that remind them of the foul act that created them; children that hate the freakshows and side-stalls of the city.
day, hate the sun, yet are attracted to it, like moths to a flame, their eyes Relations. Many locals are bigoted, and fishermen in particular despise
watering painfully as they stare into the glow of the summer orb, praying such creatures. This can harden the attitude of a briny, who may become
for someone to turn off the light. aggressive. They make excellent friends, however, since anyone who
They come from the deep and cold places below, watching the warmth overlooks their ancestry is unusual and to be prized. Some people pity the
of landmen’s wives with greedy eyes, eyes that want to steal. Skum lurk briny, and show them acts of great kindness; many religions in the city happily
everywhere in this city, and the local strain constantly seek a human mate accept converts to their cause. Briny can procreate with another briny, and do
to take and impregnate. If a skum is not born, the union is cast out — so willingly and regularly in the city, most notably on the Gyre. The resulting
along with the mother — by the skum, who are bound by an ancient ritual offspring is always a briny who does not further transform as it ages and is
not to kill them (some have conjectured that the aboleth expressly forbid considered, perhaps, the most blest of the briny by their small society.
such killings to allow their progeny to establish a foothold on land). The Religion. Some briny are unaware of the eventual end fate has in store
women (called “brine mothers” by most folk) often come back — poor, for them, while others seek to stop the awful transformation with devotion
silent creatures that they are, no matter what they were like before. They and prayer. Communities of briny develop their own religious practices
always bring back what they have been given, these poor taken wives, but based upon nature or sea, or adopt those of other races to better blend into
they never tell what they saw, or what happened to them. The given thing the societies of which they are a small part. Amongst these, the worship of
is called a briny, and hated although it is, it is well-known amongst the Brine is by far the most common.

18
 GM Guide
Adventurers. Tough lives make rogues or fighters of many briny, whilst
others take to religion and rise to high ranks. Amongst their own societies,
religion tends to be more druidic than clerical. Be sure to check with your
Dungeon Master to see if you can play a briny character.
Male Names. To blend in, briny often take human names, although
those with an inherent favouring of the Aquan language may take a darker
name more in keeping with their past.
Female Names. Like the males, the less common females also tend to
take names from societies in which they find themselves.

Briny Racial Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2, and
your Charisma score decreases by 2.
Destined Devolution. Briny’s age at the same rate as a half-orc. Of
those that die of old age, 1 in 4 spontaneously slough off their skin to
reveal a living adult skum within. This transformation functions as
the reincarnate spell, with the newly formed skum. Your Strength and
Constitution scores each increase by 4, your Dexterity score increases by
2, and your Charisma score decreases by 2.
Alignment. Although they can have any alignment, briny tend to be
neutral, their upbringing making them more self-reliant and less biased
toward one school of thought or another.
Size. Briny exhibit the same range of variance in height and build as
humans. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking and swimming speeds are both 30 feet.
Type. You are of the monstrosity type.
Darkvision. Under dim conditions, you can see up to 60 feet as if the
area were brightly lit, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You see
shades of gray instead of color under darkness conditions.
Amphibious. You can breathe air and water.
Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and sight-
based Wisdom (Perception) checks that occur in direct sunlight.
Aquatic Mastery. Intelligence (History), Wisdom (Perception),
Dexterity (Stealth), and Wisdom (Survival) checks are made with your
proficiency bonus added while in an aquatic environment (regardless of
whether you are above or below the surface). Wisdom (Perception) and
those of a large roach, with long antennae extending from the front, but
Dexterity (Stealth) checks are instead made with advantage when you are
they do have an oddly and unexpectedly humanoid shape to them. Some
below the surface of the water.
even have feeble beards growing down from their mandibled jaws, giving
Damage Resistance. You are resistant to cold damage.
rise to the rumour of some mysterious dwarven heritage.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common.
Society. Roachfolk keep to themselves, their society largely opaque to
outsiders. What most do know of them is that they have formed a sort
Coprophagi (Roachfolk) of fraternal order called the Festering Brethren. Of all the roachfolk
encountered by other races, it is these who are typically seen and are some
In a city of social dregs, the coprophagi (or roachfolk as they are more of the few who will even go about in the daytime in the view of others.
commonly known) are truly the scrapings from the bottom of the barrel. The Festering Brethren largely cover their bodies in rags and winding
Reviled by all, the roachfolk live almost invisibly within the City-State of clothes like lepers, though it does not disguise their insectoid shapes, and
Castorhage, restricting their movements and habitats to areas where others many even carry a curved staff with a small bell on the end that rings as
wouldn’t care to look or to the sheltering darkness of night that hides them they use it to walk. Also like that of a leper, these staves are intended to
from the eyes who might take umbrage at their very existence. give the other folk of Castorhage warning that a member of the Festering
It is thought that roachfolk originally must have hailed from Between Brethren approaches so they can relocate elsewhere if they wish to avoid
or some other vile plane because no records speak of their existence being in the presence of the roachfolk.
before the rise of the city-state, and they are largely unknown elsewhere Relations. Roachfolk are tolerated at best and are unwelcome in most
on the continent. The fact that they bear a vague resemblance to dwarves, establishments within the city. They lack the stigma of true vermin borne
however, speaks of a far closer and more tragic origin, though none by the night-slugs but nevertheless are treated little better. Outside the
amongst the stout folk speaks of such a thing, and they would violently city, they are likely to be viewed as a monster and a threat. No law in
oppose anyone who attempted to lay such a claim. For their part, the Castorhage requires the coprophagi to use the bell-staves — though
coprophagi keep to themselves and avoid contact with others whenever some insist that it is only a matter of time — and the rampant pacifism
possible for fear or instigating pogroms against their very existence — a that the Festering Brethren tend to display certainly helps that situation.
circumstance that has occurred more than once in the past. The fact that Despite their peacefulness, though, the coprophagi are willing to defend
they continue to survive within the Blight — and in significant numbers themselves, and the Festering Brethren in particular have proven on
— is a testimony to their ruggedness and adaptability. many occasions to be capable combatants, further discouraging outright
Physical Description. The coprophagi in all ways resemble a humanoid acts of violence against their race. Of all races, the mongrelfolk are
cockroach. They stand erect on two, thick insectile lower legs with two most sympathetic of the coprophagi, and might perhaps even be distant
more sets of limbs extending from their torso, a pair of long insect-like relations to the roachfolk.
arms extending from their flanks midway between waist and shoulder, Religion. Roachfolk are survivors and have little use for religion.
and a second pair of smaller insectile appendages that extend from their The Festering Brethren in particular are an order dedicated to Zors, the
shoulders. Their hide is brown or black and like a carapace in texture and Hanged Man, albeit in a much more lawful aspect than that with which
durability, and a larger, thicker carapace extends down their backs from that demigod is usually associated. The majority of coprophagi within the
neck to thigh to provide their own natural armour. Their heads are like city worship either Mother Grace or Sister Shadows. There is a secretive
19
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
minority, however, who cling to the prophecies of The Horseman as they
time when their race will rise above all others.
Adventurers. The hardscrabble existence among the coprophagi makes
techniques for day-to-day survival their first priority. A part of that is to
avoid getting caught when they’re scrounging about the gutters of the
city. Be sure to check with your Dungeon Master to see if you can play a
coprophagi character.
Male or Female Names. The names of the coprophagi are
unpronounceable to most humanoid tongues. They, therefore, habitually
take simple names borrowed from the predominant cultures around
them irrespective of gender or meaning. However, they hold no special
connection to these names and frequently take a new name whenever they
next must deal with folk who are not of their own kind. Some common
names include Abe, Ban, Bell, Bob, Cane, Cob, Dock, Duke, Guv, Jud,
Lob, Lord, Mab, Nob, Pod, Prince, Queen, Rose, and Tune.

Coprophagi Racial Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, your
Constitution score increases by 2, and your Intelligence and Charisma
scores decrease by 2 points each.
Alignment. Coprophagi tend toward neutrality, and their actions are
typically those necessary to get by each day. That said, few roachfolk are
chaotic because they have learned that to provoke the populace of the
Blight with their actions is to invite their own extermination.
Size. Roachfolk are between 3 and 4 and a half feet tall and weigh
between 70 and 100 pounds. Your size is Small.
Type. You are of the monstrosity type.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 40 feet.
Darkvision. Under dim conditions, you can see up to 60 feet as if the
area were brightly lit, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You see
shades of gray instead of color under darkness conditions.
Spider Climb. You can climb difficult surfaces without needing to make
an ability check.
Four-Armed. Roachfolk possess two middle limbs and two smaller
upper limbs. As a bonus action, when you make a successful melee attack
against a target, you can attempt to grapple your foe (see the game manual
bulging, pupil-less eyes like their cousins, the derro, and only four fingers
for more information on grappling).
on each hand, though their feet have five toes. They are small and slight of
Winged. You have undersized wings tucked beneath your back carapace.
build, but extremely light on their feet and quick.
You gain a fly speed of 40 feet but are not able to hover. You must land
Society. Lantern folk dwell among the dwarves of the Underneath
at the end of any round in which you fly or fall, taking 1d6 bludgeoning
and elect delve-chiefs to govern their neighbourhoods in an orderly and
damage for every 10 feet you fall.
peaceful fashion. They typically work as miners, craftsmen, traders,
Sure-footed. You are able to use your extra limbs to assist with balance.
tunnel maintenance workers, or gatherers of resources available only in
You have advantage on Strength and Dexterity saving throws made
the Underneath or lower subterranean areas. When encountered on the
against effects that would knock you prone.
surface in the night markets or well-shaded establishments during the
Natural Weapons. Your claws are natural weapons which can be used
day they sell their rare gems or negotiate contracts with surface firms for
to make unarmed strikes. If you successfully hit with your claws, you deal
the kinds of specialised work that they can provide. The derros’ racial
1d4 + your Strength modifier slashing damage.
propensity for sadistic experiments and poisoning only rarely emerges
Natural Armor. Your thick carapace grants you an AC of 12 + your
among lantern folk individuals.
Dexterity Modifier.
Relations. The lantern folk have now lived in the Underneath for
Extreme Resilience. You are immune to all non-magical diseases and
centuries without causing any (significant) problems. They are distrusted,
have advantage on saving throws against poisons. Additionally, you are
but not generally feared or hated.
not subject to the exhaustion effects of temperature extremes (see the game
Religion. For the most part, the lantern folk have embraced the religion
manual for more information on temperature extremes and their effects).
of the dwarves of the Underneath who sponsored them and hold Vergrimm
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Mongrotic.
Earthsblood or Crugas in high regard. Some revere Dwerfater or even
Grox, but these are much fewer and farther between.
Lantern Folk Adventurers. For folk interested in plumbing the maze of tunnels that
exists beneath the Underneath, few are more suited to this lifestyle than
The lantern-folk are an offshoot from the species known as the derro, the lantern folk. Their natural ability to navigate these low passages and
who are fey-descended creatures of the dark realms below the earth. The survive in the great darkness makes them most suitable. They also do well
derro themselves are evil, and insane by any normal, surface-dweller’s aboveground in the many cellars of the city or even out on its winding
standpoint. The lantern-folk are less inclined to evil than their deeper- streets at night. Be sure to check with your GM to see if you can play a
dwelling cousins, and also somewhat less insane. lantern folk character.
At home in the Underneath, the lantern-folk have lived long enough Male Names. Bariom, Caedimus, Cassius, Filo, Luciliun, Tiberonus
in the shadow of the great city-state above to have taken on some of its Female Names. Andromeda, Caliopa, Gratica, Koryola, Veran, Vesta
characteristics, much like the blighted humans (see below).
Physical Description. The lantern folk have skin ranging from pale Lantern Folk Racial Traits
blue to stark white, and wild, bushy hair ranging from stark white to pale
blue (hair and skin tone are rarely the same). They wear moustaches and Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2, and
sideburns with regularity, though beards are fairly uncommon. They have your Charisma score increases by 2.
20
 GM Guide
Age. Lantern folk, like other derro, mature very quickly and are
considered to be full grown by the age of 9 or 10 and have a lifespan
similar to humans.
Alignment. The lantern folk no longer embrace the evil ways of
their derro forebears. They have also shed much of the chaos inherent
to the madness of others of their kind. Lantern folk prefer to live and
let live, preferring a neutral approach to other races and to society. It is
not unheard of for the chaotic madness of their ancestors to manifest in
individual lantern folk.
Size. Derro stand between 3 and 4 feet tall and weigh between 35 and
45 pounds. Your size is small.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.
City Knowledge. You have advantage on Intelligence (History)
checks related to the Underneath. You can add your proficiency bonus
to Intelligence (History) checks for one other city district of your choice.
Derro Magic. You know the light and thaumaturgy cantrips. When you
reach 3rd level you can use the color spray spell once per day. When
you reach 5th level you can cast the darkness spell once per day. You do
not need material components for these spells but you are unable to cast
these spells while in direct sunlight. You can cast these spells again with
this trait after you have finished a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting
ability for these spells.
Darkvision. You are accustomed to dark and very dim conditions from
having spent your life mostly underground. Under dim light conditions,
you can see up to 60 feet as if the area were brightly lit. You see shades of
gray instead of color under darkness conditions.
Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and sight- grabbing a broom and chasing the creature until it manages to squeeze
based Wisdom (Perception) checks that occur in direct sunlight. back through a crack in the baseboards to the safety of the inner walls.
Know Your Own. You have advantage on Charisma (Persuasion) and In some cities plagued by these creatures, there is an entire industry for
Wisdom (Insight) checks involving your fellow lantern folk. exterminators hired to enter homes and buildings to clear out night-slug
Shadow Stealth. While in dim light or darkness, you can take the hide infestations. The only race that could truly be said to hold empathy for the
action as a bonus action. night-slugs are the wretched mongrelfolk on the rare occasions when the
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Dwarvish, and two peoples cross paths.
Undercommon. Religion. In general night-slugs are not religious and devote little time
or energy in contemplation of the gods. As such, there is no religion that
could be said to be typical of night-slugs, and most follow no religion at all.
Night-Slug Adventurers. Unlike their skulk cousins who possess a more violent
bent, night-slugs are inherently cowardly and rarely a threat to even those
None is as naturally capable of the fine art of breaking and entering as who would otherwise find themselves at their mercy. Be sure to check
the night-slug. Fortunately for society, few are also as cowardly. Night- with your Dungeon Master to see if you can play a night-slug character.
slugs maintain their existence simply by avoiding notice. Sometimes Names. As loners and outcasts, most night-slugs don’t bother with
called the Tunnel People by the few folks of Castorhage that run across names at all. Their lack of interaction with most others prevents any sort
them in the endless sewer channels beneath the city, these elusive creatures of need for one. A night-slug identifies everyone as either “self” or “other/
often reside in small crawlspaces or even the hollows between the outer danger.” Of the few that do take names, they are usually a single word —
masonry and inner plaster and lathe of a house. They can maneuver their bereft of context — borrowed from another language or a monosyllabic
bodies through seemingly impossible spaces. Those among their number name that sounds pleasing to a particular night-slug’s ear. They make
who are not lucky enough to acquire such grand accommodations typically no distinction between male or female names. Examples include Bloo,
live in places that allow them to avoid notice — the city dump, a gable Fancy, Glugh, Plop, Spoon, and Tater.
hanging over a small alleyway, and so forth.
Physical Description. Night-slugs have a humanoid structure with
blotch-grey skin bearing randomly arranged tufts of muddy-brown hair. Night-Slug Racial Traits
Their arms are thin and elongated, hanging limply at their sides, and Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 4, but your
they seem to possess little if any muscle tone in general. Their ligaments Intelligence is reduced by 2 and your Charisma is reduced by 4. No score
and tendons are exceptionally elastic, allowing a night-slug to elongate can be raised above 20 or reduced below 3.
its arms and legs, in the process pulling what muscle it has closer to its Age. Night-slugs are able to survive on their own by age 3. By age 5,
frame. In addition, night-slugs have a “collapsible” skeleton; its bones they are considered adults. Night-slugs seldom live more than 30 years.
are composed primarily of cartilage, allowing the creature to squeeze into Alignment. Most night-slugs have no strong ethical convictions of any
incredibly small areas. kind. They survive by stealing, so they tend toward Chaos and Neutrality.
Society. Night-slugs are true scavengers living on the fringes of the Size. Night-slugs are Small creatures. Because they’re so flexible and
societies of others. They usually prefer densely populated urban areas for able to squeeze themselves into their surroundings, they make Stealth
the increased number of hiding places and resources from which to scrounge checks with advantage.
their needs. Most night-slugs are loners because of the limited resources Type. You are of the monstrosity type.
available to them, mated couples rarely staying together beyond the birth Speed. Your base walking speed is 20 feet.
of a brood of whimps (as their young are called), and mothers generally Darkvision. Under dim conditions, you can see up to 60 feet as if the
abandoning their young as soon as they reach maturity after 3 years. area were brightly lit, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You see
Relations. While most humanoids despise night-slugs and find their shades of gray in darkness, not colors.
presence loathsome, few actually fear the creatures. More than one urban Sly Crawler. While prone, a night-slug has a Crawl speed of 20 feet,
goodwife has walked into a room of her house at night to find a night-slug and crawling doesn’t slow it down even in difficult terrain. A crawling
crouched in the corner chewing on a lace table runner and staining the night-slug doesn’t trigger opportunity attacks when it crawls out of an
rug with its noxious skin secretions. While the typical reaction certainly enemy’s reach.
includes a scream, rather than flight it just as often concludes with her
21
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Slime Coat. The skin of a night-slug secretes a thin fluid resembling their own. The swyne have developed thousands of clubs related to
slimy perspiration that has a musty odor and leaves a stain on most fabrics. excess and pleasure, the most famous of which are the Hedonists, a group
This coating protects the night-slug against grappling; other creatures perpetually related to dark rumours of excess, torture, and cruelty over
have disadvantage when trying to grapple a night-slug, and a night-slug enormously excessive luncheons.
has advantage on its attempts to escape from grappling. It also makes Relations. Everyone has his uses, and a swyne judges life by the number
night-slugs easy to track; Survival checks to follow a night-slug’s trail of associates he has. Their selfish natures tend to make true friendships rare
across any type of terrain are made with advantage. but incredibly close; a swyne friend is one for life, but a swyne associate
Compression. Night-slugs can move through spaces one size category cannot be trusted. Swyne deeply admire the banking gnomes of the city,
smaller than themselves without squeezing, and they can squeeze through and many close associations have and do take place across the city. They
openings two size categories smaller. consider elves to be flighty and unpredictable, dwarves miserable, and
Languages. You read, write, and speak Common. half-orcs repulsive. They like a halfling’s appetite and admire the human
capacity for vice. They take great offence at being likened to pigs, and
often refer to other humanoid races as monkeys as a riposte if so insulted.
Swyne Religion. Swyne religions are based around acquisition: be it monetary,
rare objects, land, property, or any other such avarice. Porfask, the Swyne
“Lord, why can’t I get a decent tailor these days? Adjust my cravat, God of Wine-cellars is one; Hork, Goddess of Musk, another. Of course,
idiot; can’t you see it’s crooked? How can I go to the lodge dressed like Mammon has the greatest share of worshippers among the race and has
a human? I hope they have those succulent kidneys tonight, the ones been adopted into the swyne pantheon — whether he is aware of it or not.
that they serve just lightly toasted with sugar. They have fine food at the To many races, the swyne gods seem trivial in their focus; to a swyne, they
lodge — not that you’d know about the finer things in life. We’ll drink are divine in their singular greed.
the finest Crava from crystal and eat our fill before talking business Adventurers. The restless greed of the swyne makes them useful allies,
over cabb’e and hookahs filled with the finest tobacco and insectum which, coupled with their brotherliness, makes them useful contacts. Be sure
money can buy. We’ll trade millions tonight, you know? Millions! Can to check with your Dungeon Master to see if you can play a swyne character.
you imagine a million? I thought not. That’s the trouble with humans — Male Names. Boarbrand, Bogslob, Grund, Grork, Hobb, Hogwell,
no imagination, and little appreciation for the finer things in life — little Hoglard, Pikskin
appreciation of anything, in fact.” Female Names. Asparagus, Cauliflower, Cupling, Ladywell, Lettuce,
Pigmella, Porcinia, Porflower, Sugary, Winscent, Winseed
Pleasure, pleasure, and pleasure: the three “P’s” of swyne philosophy. A
swyne lives to enjoy, to eat the finest food, to romance the most beautiful
people, to plunder the greatest treasures. A swyne is a voyeur, a pleasure- Swyne Racial Traits
seeker, a lothario. They do anything and everything to ensure that they get Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution and Charisma scores each
the most out of life. increase by 2, but your Dexterity is reduced by 2.
In essence a humanoid pig, the swyne is usually fat, sallow-eyed, and Age. Swyne mature at roughly the same rate as humans and typically
hungover from excess. Dressed in the best he can buy, a swyne gets what have the same lifespan as their human counterparts.
he can out of life — as often and as plentifully as possible. Roughly human Alignment. Swyne can be of any alignment. Most often, their gluttony
in size and shape — and with all the foibles and interests that accompanies and greed are their motivators pushing them to follow their whims and do
— the swyne are often mistaken for fat humans from a distance, until their whatever they are able to get away with. They tend to be chaotic neutral
snouts and piggy eyes come closer into view. Swyne tend to stick together, or neutral evil.
and refer to each other as brother or sister hog. Size. Swyne are generally as tall as humans but are almost all very
Physical Description. Some swyne can pass for human; so subtle are plump to morbidly obese. Your size is Medium.
their porcine features. Others resemble humanoid pigs, with hoggish Speed. You have a base walking speed of 30 feet.
features, clumsy hands, and squealing laughter. They all tend to be fat (a Darkvision. Under dim conditions, you can see up to 60 feet as if the
result of enjoying as much fine food as they can, as often as they can), and area were brightly lit, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You see
prone to being clumsy; their porcine ancestry runs deep, and occasionally shades of gray in darkness, not colors.
shows itself in their eating habits. Gut Feeling. Swyne are naturally gifted at judging people or sniffing
Society. Swyne stick together. A swyne almost always helps another out a bargain. You have proficiency in Insight.
swyne in trouble, often with the benefit of a considerable lecture on the Healthy. Swyne can — and often do — eat almost anything, and their
error of their ways and how the suffering swyne in question should follow powerful fortitude makes them highly resistant to toxins and sickness.
the path of his benefactor, whatever that path may be. Swyne live for You have advantage on all saving throws against poison and disease.
excess, and have developed many guilds of their own to band together to Keen Smell. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that
ensure mutual benefit — providing, of course, that the benefit is primarily rely on smell.
Stubborn. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed
or compelled.
Languages. You read, write, and speak Common and one additional
modern language of your choice.

Blight Backgrounds
Where does your character’s story begin? Why does it begin there?
What experiences shaped your character and why? How did the
environment that your character has lived helped determine who he is
and why? These are some of the questions you might consider when you
create your character. Below you will find numerous Blight backgrounds
that can be used as a starting point when you are crafting your character
and their story.
As you read through the below backgrounds, you will notice that several
are tailored for specific races within the Blight. This was intentional and
provides additional, defining characteristics to those races. That doesn’t

22
 GM Guide
mean that other races are not allowed to have these backgrounds. If a Languages: Two of your choice
specific background is good for your character then work with your GM Equipment: A random trinket, a small ball of twine soaked in waters of
to customize it for your game. As always, these are optional suggestions the Lyme, a sickle, and a pouch containing 7 gp
intended to immerse you and your character into the Blight.
For characteristics, ideals, bonds, and flaws, consult the game manual Feature: Prescience
and choose those that work best for your character concept.
You have a strange prescience that often warns you out of danger.
Your “gift” has you always looking over your shoulder, waiting for the
Alchymyst glimpses of events you see to happen. You’ve told very few about your
clairvoyance, fearing they will try to exploit you for their own gain.
Typically found surrounded by bubbling pipes and jars, frothing jugs
of vile-smelling ichor, and tubes connecting to tubes connecting to tubes,
you were once admired throughout the city for your nose for the task and Capitoler
cunning skills with all manner of exotic substances. But you grew ob-
The towering fist of the city, the Capitol, casts its intimidating shadow
sessed with perfecting your art and your reputation quickly became that
across the numerous districts, ghettos, and squalid sewers of Castorhage.
of dangerous and unpredictable, if not mad. You now ply your trade out
Born in the heart of this immense city-in-a-building, your speech, dress,
of the eye of the public, and only to customers that are looking for less
and demeanour reflect your privileged birth, compared to most born in the
traditional means of enhancement.
Blight, and you feel an air of superiority as you pass amongst the decrepit,
stinking, filthy rabble that is the bulk of the lower castes. The intrigue, the
Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, Medicine betrayal and deceit, truth and lies - the daily drama enacted in the name of
Tool Proficiencies: Alchemist’s tools politics is a driving force in your life.
Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: A quill, bottle of black ink, a small notebook with various Skill Proficiencies: History, Persuasion
arcane formulae inscribed within, a set of common clothes, a pouch con- Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set
taining 15 gp Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: A gaming set, one set of fine clothes, a pouch containing 20
Feature: Fleshwarp gold, a set of credentials, and a random trinket
Fleshwarping is gruesome but all too common in the Blight. You have Feature: Capitol Access
developed a knack for the practice of altering a creature’s physical form
through the use of alchemy. Much as life is extended through the use of You hail from the Capitol, where your parents mingled with minor
elixir of life†, you are able to enhance life with your alchemical potions gentry, scholars, guards, or any number of other civil servants or people
and goo to make it bigger, better, stronger, and faster. of some importance. Because of this you can come and go among the
countless clerks, servants, butlers, and other necessary personnel within
the labyrinthine halls that lie behind the Great Door. You know the inner
Boatfolk workings of the extensive bureaucracy within the Capitol and can gain
access to records that you normally would never be privy to. You can gain
The river barges where you were born, grew up, and have lived all your audience with minor functionaries if needed.
life are all you know. You and your people are fiercely insular and come
from tightknit families. You celebrate your own holidays and have your
own festivals, manners, and cant. Tradition is very important to you and Cultist
yours, and no one, not even the Queen, will make you all change. You’ve
seen the looks outsiders give you when you speak in River Cant, and you The “Gods” of Castorhage are not divine but rather legends and myths
are sure their suspicious glares hide their disdain for you and your people. that have risen to god-like prominence and developed cult-like followings.
These “Gods” - Beltane, the Crooked Promethean, the Aspect of the Green
Skill Proficiencies: History, Insight Man, and many others - wield immense authority, influence, and fear over
Tool Proficiencies: Navigator’s tools, vehicles (water) the people of the Blight. That influence extends to you.
Languages: River Cant You follow one of these “Gods” with slavish devotion, enacting
Equipment: A family heirloom, a clan symbol carved from lyme walrus their will and spread their influence across the Blight. Work with your
ivory, a cudgel, and a pouch containing 5 gp gamemaster to determine which of the “Gods” fits with your character
and the campaign.
Feature: Oral Tradition
Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Religion
You are responsible for the lore and history of your clan. You were Tool Proficiencies: Choose one: disguise kit, poisoner’s kit, or herbalism
chosen by your gran to carry the traditions and ways of your people. At kit
gatherings, children and adults alike seek you out to hear the stories, deeds Languages: One of your choice
and folklore of the boatfolk. One day, you too will pick someone to carry Equipment: A kit of your choosing, a book containing the testament and
on the tradition. teachings of your “God,” ritual accoutrements, and a pouch containing
5 gp

Crooked Feature: Bolt Hole

You have been touched by Between and are not like others. You cannot You lead a normal life, moving among the populace as any other resident
stand to look in the mirror for fear of seeing things from your worst might. Your affiliation with one of the cults of the “Gods” is secret but you
nightmares reaching out to pull you down, into the dark, to slowly devour have taken precautions just in case that is ever compromised. You have
your as you unleash a scream that no one hears. Your peculiarity and established a safe house where you and a few close associates can retreat
random outbursts draw looks and whispers that make you uncomfortable to lay low for a time. Work with your GM to establish a location where
and misanthropic. you can hide out that fits with your character and the campaign.

Skill Proficiencies: Intimidation, Perception

Tool Proficiencies: None

23
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Charmwell Lyme-Blessed
Your features and mannerisms reflect your elven parentage and Ah Sister Lyme, she slithers — or perhaps more rightly oozes —
overshadow any human blood that runs through your veins. The fey blood through the city, her veins reaching upstream to taint and choke. None can
flows strong within you; you might even have the stuff of the Old Ones or escape her. She peculiarly affects humans; you’ve spent many generations
possibly the dark fey. You’ve taken advantage of your elven predominance on her back or in her womb, and it has seeped into your pores. You wear
and relish the role of the entertainer, hearing the cheer of the crowd, being this patina, this infestation, and she has a strong hold on you. You’ve never
at the centre of attention, with a commanding presence that holds rapt the been able to venture far from her banks for long, always returning to her
attention of all that watch you perform. bosom, relishing her caress, and drinking deeply from her waters.

Skill Proficiencies: Performance, Sleight of Hand Skill Proficiencies: Nature, Perception

Tool Proficiencies: One type of musical instrument Tool Proficiencies: One set of artisan’s tools
Equipment: A musical instrument, a set of traveller’s clothes, a set of Equipment: A set of artisan’s tools, traveller’s clothes, spectacles with
juggling balls, a pouch containing 10 gp rose-coloured lenses, a flask filled with water from Sister Lyme, a pouch
containing 10 gp
Feature: Headliner
You have a steady gig at a local tavern or theater. Your show, whether Feature: Clear Sight
comedy, drama, or tragedy, or simply riotous shenanigans of the bawdiest Your eyes have subtly evolved to see better through water distortions
caliber, is always sold out days in advance. You might even have a and obstructions. You can see twice as far as others through fog, mist, and
paramour that is rather famous within the city! murky water. Work with your GM to determine how this will fit with your
character and in the game.

Forsaken
You’ve come to the city to discover and learn, hoping that your lifetime of
Revolutionary
memories and experiences will reveal some greater meaning, but memories Vile politicians, twisted royalty, greedy thugs - the disease and decay
are fickle and what may have been your reality now seems like a dream. that rules Castorhage must be excised completely so that those that suffer
Your bitterness that your long life is slowly coming to an end is apparent under the yoke of tyranny and oppression can be free. You’ve seen the
and you have developed a grim reputation among the locals. You are one of malignancy first hand, after all, you were born to it as a child of the
those that have come to Castorhage in the twilight of your years, searching aristocracy. You grew to despise your station and those that perpetuate the
for meaning and understanding of what your life has truly meant. rot. But now, now you fight!

Skill Proficiencies: History, Arcana Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Stealth

Tool Proficiencies: One type of musical instrument Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, thieves’ tools
Equipment: A musical instrument, a set of traveller’s clothes, a small Equipment: A disguise kit, thieves’ tools, a set of traveling clothes, a
notebook containing memoirs, a pouch containing 10 gp pouch containing 20 gold

Feature: Lifetime of Learning Feature: Inside Man

You have acquired a lifetime of knowledge and training, and life in Because you were born to the aristocracy, you are privy to the plots
the Blight evokes past experiences with the new. You can call upon and schemes of the ruling class within Castorhage. You use this to your
your lifetime of learning and research and are considered a source of advantage and gather intelligence that can help the Shadow of Freedom
knowledge and lore for your peers. You are considered an expert in an or another underground revolutionary movement strike at the heart of the
obscure subject. Work with your GM to determine what subject and how corruption and expose them for what they are.
it fits with your character.

Hooligan Salt-o’-the-Earth
Coming from a respected family in the city, you can trace your local
You are one of the Invisibles, the Lowfolk, or the Lowest of the Low. ancestry back over several generations to the dwarven kingdom said
You were born and raised in the cesspit that passes for slums within the
to have first carved the Underneath. You are extremely proud of your
Blight. You know how dangerous the streets are but are able navigate them
heritage and will never let your clan name be besmirched. You are well
with ease. These are your streets, your people, and you have a reputation
among the underclass of Castorhage as someone not to be trifled with. known within your home territory and have a reputation as forthright,
Murder, blackmail, illegal insectum, extortion, racketeering - these are but stern, and wise.
a few of the things you and your crew traffic in. When something happens,
you know about it thanks to your network of informants. Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Intimidation
Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set, one type of artisan’s tools
Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Stealth Equipment: A gaming set, a set of artisan’s tools, a set of common
Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set, thieves’ tools clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp
Equipment: A gaming set, thieves’ tools, a set of dark, a set of common
clothes, a concealed dagger and cosh, a satchel containing a random Feature: Family Feud
type of insectum or other illicit good (work with your GM to determine You may choose an organization, a guild, a club, a cult, or a noted
the type), a small notebook with a list of those that owe you money
individual from the Blight with whom they have a longstanding grudge.
(encrypted with a cipher of your creation).
You have a network of informants that reports on the activities of your
hated foe. Additionally, you take any opportunity available to act on this
Feature: Friends in Low Places family grudge.
You have contacts in all parts of the underworld within Castorhage. Work with your GM to establish an acceptable grudge (and target for
Some owe you favors or money, some simply fear you, others respect the grudge) for your character.
you, but they all supply information that you can use to get ahead in this
Between-dog-eat-Between-dog world.
24
 GM Guide
Savage Thanatologist
Your parents came to the city to seek their fortune; half-orcs themselves, Death is always present in Castorhage. The study of death, how bodies
they found life hard, and they joined a growing number of half-orcs who decay, the changes they go through the post-mortem period has always
live in dark, rusty ghettoes and hovels — grouped together for fear of been fascinating to you. You spend all your spare time studying death
attack. You are tough, independent, and smart and have learnt to survive and its processes. You are not concerned with the meaning of life and
alone in the city. You do what you must, the only way you know how – by death, just the physiological and forensic aspects of death and how that
any means necessary. knowledge can benefit those still living.

Skill Proficiencies: Intimidation, Survival Skill Proficiencies: Investigation, Perception

Tool Proficiencies: None Tool Proficiencies: Choose one: a mortician’s kit or a surgeon’s kit
Languages: Two of your choice Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: An improvised weapon of some type, and a backpack Equipment: A kit of your choosing, a hefty tome containing your notes
containing a bed roll, a healer’s kit, flint and tinder, a mess kit, 3 days of and observations, a magnifying glass, a lantern, pen and ink, and a
rations, and water skin satchel with 15 gold.

Feature: Exit Strategy Feature: Body Farm

People look upon you with disdain and suspicion. You know you must You have established a body farm of sorts within the districts in
be wary when you are out of your home territory. The first thing you do Castorhage. You have been able to place bodies in various stages of decay
when you enter a building is identify the different means of egress. You in areas where they will not be disturbed. These locations are secluded
can handle your own but you are a survivor, and sometimes that means enough that you can visit them and record your observations and findings
making a quick getaway. without fear of interruption. You also have established contacts with
several body snatchers who are always willing to take your coin for the
freshest specimens.
Sprawl Mason
Some dwarves have a particularly strong background in all things
connected to building. You have an extremely keen eye for quality
Traveller
craftsmanship and can identify who the craftsman was. Furthermore, you You are a brilliant performer that can dazzle, amaze, and entertain
are an extremely well-respected craftsman in your district and are often crowds. Not only are you blessed with talent and stage presence, but you
sought after for your skill and innovation. have dashing good looks and are keenly aware of the effect you have on
others. You have a silver tongue to match your charm and can often talk
Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Perception your way out of (or into) any situation.
Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan’s tools
Languages: One of your choice Skill Proficiencies: Persuasion, Sleight of Hand
Equipment: A set of artisan’s tools, a set of well-made work clothes, a Tool Proficiency: One type of musical instrument or a forgery kit
small sketch pad and pen and ink, a pouch containing 15 gp Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: A musical instrument, a bright set of traveller’s clothes, a
Feature: Professional Reputation flask of strong liquor, a pouch containing 10 gp
You have earned the respect and admiration of others both in and out
of your trade. You are the first person that others in your craft come to for Feature: Grift
advice and for permission to take commissions within your district. You You can run the short or the long con, can spot the best marks, and
have prospective apprentices begging for your tutelage. have associates you can call on a moment’s notice to run a scam. There
are those that are still talking about your last con as if it were legendary.

Toiler
Myriad dwarf families came to Castorhage seeking work, and the
Vigilante
reputation of their spirit of toil gained many of employment. A trade Life in the Blight is brutal. Injustice, murder, slavery, and worse plague
expert and successful merchant, you are always on the lookout for new the streets, subjecting the already hopeless residents to suffering unknown
ventures and investment opportunities. A rare spice from far off Khemit? in the majority of other cities. You cannot stand to see this continue. You
Mustalbhin sundries? Jade figurines from an ancient and forgotten see the inequality, the abuse, and the rotten corruption at the heart of the
civilization? Not a problem, you can find it, which is why you are sought Blight as cancers that must be excised. If the law won’t protect them, you
after by the most discerning clientele. will.

Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Persuasion Skill Proficiencies: Investigation, Stealth

Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan’s tools Tool Proficiency: Poisoner’s kit
Languages: One of your choice Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: A set of artisan’s tools, a set of traveller’s clothes, a small Equipment: A poisoner’s kit, a set of dark clothes with a cowled cloak,
notebook containing business ideas and possible investments, a pouch a mask, a weapon of your choice, a climber’s kit, and a pouch with 10 gp
containing 15 gp
Feature: Judge, Jury, and Executioner
Feature: Trade Network What gives you the right to cast judgement and sentence on those that
You have a well-established network of merchants and traders that prey on the weak? The fact that the law will not protect them gives you
come to you first when they arrive in Castorhage so that you can have first the right. You feel no remorse when you hunt down, cast judgement, and
pick of any of their goods. You can find hard to locate goods, contraband, carry out the sentence on these vermin. You are the law.
and other sundries, through legal and illegal means.

25
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
best hiding places but confined spaces are terrifying. (Optional. When you

Optional Blight are in a confined space, you must succeed at a DC 10 Wisdom save or
become frightened.)
Choir Child. You have an incredible singing voice but the brutal

Character Quirks training regimen you endured at the hands of your cruel choir teacher
has left you scarred and traumatized. (Optional. Pick a specific tune that
reminds you of your time in the choir. You must make a DC 10 Wisdom
Abandoned. Abandoned to live on the streets as a child, you grew up save or become frightened.)
tough. You have abandonment issues that hampers your ability to develop Circus Act. You ran away to join the circus. A colourful life of travelling
close relationships. When alone, you find it uncomfortable and try to seek through Festival and the Artists’ Quarter followed, punctuated by trips to
out company if possible. (Optional: When alone, you begin to panic and other parts of the city. You still have contacts within the myriad troupes
must succeed on a DC 10 Wisdom save or become frightened.) that perform in the city. Interestingly, your closest contacts can be found
Alleychild. The narrow defiles and ginnels were your childhood in the Great Fayre, possibly within the Family.
playground and home. Wide-open spaces are panic inducing and make Cruel Kin. Cruel parents or relatives raised you, and you left home
you extremely uncomfortable. (Optional: You must succeed on a DC 10 early. You are independent and misanthropic but have a cruel streak that
Wisdom saving throw or become frightened while in a wide-open space.) you try hard but often fail to control.
Almost Killed. You fell in the Lyme, were hit by a runaway broken or Devotee of Mother Grace. Very religious parents who found great solace
undead horse, or fell from a tall building. You have odd nightmares about in the order of things in the church of Mother Grace raised you. If someone
the event that somehow manifest themselves in the dreams of others, who blasphemes against Mother Grace within your hearing, you feel compelled
find it impossible to save you. to educate the blasphemer. (Optional. Succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving
Apprentice. Because you were raised by a tradesman, you have a keen throw or act in an overzealous manner against the blasphemer.)
understanding of tools and crafting. Consult your GM to determine what Distorted. Your anatomy has been altered by exposure to the toxins and
trade you might be adept at. pollutants of the Blight. You have a distinguishing anatomical feature caused
Artists’ Quarter Born. You were raised or spent some considerable by the environment of the Blight. This feature is something you could
time in the crazy and creative district of the Artists’ Quarter. You have have been born with or developed through years of exposure. (Optional.
done everything you can to stay out of the way of the three major factions Your distinguishing feature can have positive or negative effects on your
and were once invited to join the Cult of the Self-Blinded Angel. Charisma. Work with your GM to determine if this is the case).
Bastard Nobility. You bear the hallmarks of an aristocrat’s bastard. You Educated. You attended one of the minor schools in the city. Schools
can mingle easier than others with different castes, and can call upon an were vile, ordered places, and they have given you a healthy loathing for
aristocrat that is known to you for a favour. order and authority.
Between Marked. Whilst very young, a nightmare from Between Festival Born. You were raised or spent some considerable time in
somehow manifested itself and scarred you. You are deeply affected by Festival, but were not tainted by the place. You can move freely among
the experience and cannot abide being near mirrors. (Optional. If you the lyncanthropy-inflicted locals. At some point in your life, you caught
come within 20 feet of a mirror, you must succeed on a DC 10 Wisdom the attention of the Rat Queen. She still is interested in you.
save or become frightened.) Foundling. You were abandoned as a baby, but found. There is
Boatchild. You have grown up on the banks of Sister Lyme, and even something distinctly odd about you. This can be a physical thing such as a
swum her depths for dares. You are more comfortable on the water than minor deformity (an extra finger, mismatched eye colour and so forth), or
on land. simply an odd air about you.
BookTown Born. You were raised or spent some considerable time Freakshow Touched. You were raised in a freakshow and became
in BookTown. You are privy to secrets whispered among the stacks and close to many acts. You have developed a very meaningful relationship,
shelves of the cavernous libraries of BookTown. possibly romantic, with the “star” of one of the shows.
Body Harvest. You’re quite the entrepeneur and have established Gable Child. You spent your days up in the gables, where the air was
yourself as the go to source for highest quality cuts of meat. Your clearer and there was always more to see. You know the best perches to watch
customers are Cadaver-Surgeons, Homoncule-Wives, Golem-Stitches, the residents of the Blight and often see things not intended to be seen.
and others who are in the market for body parts, cadavers, and sometimes Gablemaester’s Child. Your father was one of the brave gablemaesters
even something alive... who kept the rooftops clean, safe, and free from spiders. You have utmost
Born in the Barn..acle. You were raised among nests and tunnels of the familiarity with the rooftops of the city, and can often find the quickest and
Barnacle. You know the tunnels and tight, winding streets better than most easiest path through the city using the rooftops.
and can move through the Great Docks unhindered. There is a chance you Guild Child. You were raised as part of a guild and have a benefactor
know some information about a shady deal or two. looking out for you. At some point, when you are most in need, there is a
Born to Beer Slops. You were raised in the gin houses and taverns chance your benefactor will aid you. (Optional. Roll percentile dice. On
of the city. You know the best dives in the Blight and just so happen to a roll of 96-100, your benefactor will come to your aid in some manner
have a legendary thirst that causes tavernkeepers to groan when you walk determined by the GM.)
through the door. Guild-Bound Family. Your family is blighted by an agreement they
Brine Touched. There is some briny in your family, a gift that your made to a guild before you were born. Because of this, you are constantly
mother and father tried to hide. Your fingers and toes are webbed and you fearful of being held accountable for your family’s mistakes. (Optional.
can hold your breath twice as long as average. Succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom check any time you encounter a member of
Brothel Waif. The child of a harlot from the Crimson Lantern, you have a guild. Failure results in an unpredictable outcome to be determined by
grown up hardened, independent, and tough. You have a soft spot for those you and the GM.)
in the “trade” and seek to aid them whenever possible. If you witness a Haunted by Between. Between seems somehow to follow you around.
prostitute being mistreated or abused, you will surely step in and aid them. Every so often, you hear noises no one else does, feel something move
Capitol Born. You were raised or spent some considerable time in behind you, or see a reflection in a corner of a mirror that cannot be there.
the Capitol. You have unique insight into the gossip and politics of this You are inherently Between touched. (Optional. Succeed on a DC 12
dangerous quarter. You might even know a secret way into the Capitol. Wisdom save or become frightened when hearing noises that others do not.)
Child of a Famous Beauty. Your mother or father was famous in the Hideling. For reasons known only to you, you have chosen to mask
city for their looks. However, you were often left alone when young and your mixed racial heritage. Forsaking one for the other, you emphasise the
suffered from nightmares. To this day, the night terrors persist. (Optional. ancestry that is most common, human, in the Blight and excel at hiding
You must succeed on a DC 10 Wisdom check before attempting to sleep.) in plain sight.
Chimney Sweep. When young, you were small and used for cleaning Hollow Hills Born. You were raised or spent some considerable time
chimneys of the wealthy or those of the Capitol. You can always find the in the hallowed and holy places of the Hollow and Broken Hills. You can

26
 GM Guide
move freely among the inhabitants of these areas and have explored every Strange Relations. Somewhere in your family line is an anomaly. the
inch of the Great Blight Cemetary. hint of an elf, the touch of a gnome, the flicker of a halfling. Exactly how
Jumble Born. You were raised or spent some considerable time in the and where this came from is a mystery. Your character is slightly odd in
Jumble. Because of this you are paranoid and untrusting, always lamenting a hard-to-define way. This is not a mechanic, but a story option; perhaps
that you are being watched. You are right. the PC has a luxuriant dwarvish beard, slightly pointed ears, or woolly
Kissed by Angels. Some people are born lucky, and you’re one of them. feet that indicate that somewhere, far back, something odd happened in
Cats sit in your lap, children stop crying and laugh when you enter a room, the family.
and frosty discussions thaw when you talk. Some petty people find such Streetwaif. You were raised on the hard streets of Castorhage and have
lucky folk annoying, and become jealous of them, of course. learned how to survive. You made an enemy, however, and that enemy
Link Child. When younger, you worked the dark streets of the city as a is looking for you. Work with your GM this develop this twist for you
link boy (or girl). Your night vision is excellent, and you have an almost accordingly, and weave it into your ongoing story.
sixth sense when operating in darkness. You find daylight unpleasant, and Thirteenth Child of a Thirteenth Child. There is something decidedly
prefer to wear tinted lens when the sun is at its highest. odd about you, and not all of it good. Strange effects follow your character.
Messenger. When younger, you were hired by one of the many These are only minor but decidedly strange. horses keel over and die in
messenger guilds in the city to pass messages in haste. You know the the street when you walk by; a pyre-beetle lamp goes out; you find two-
fastest routes through the city. headed silver coins; or a plummeting magpie crashes into a wall as you
Mill Child. You spent much of your childhood working in one of the walk past. Life, in short, continues to throw oddities about you.
many mills in the city. Worker safety was not a priority of the overseers Toiltown Born. You were raised or spent some considerable time in
in the mills. You bear the marks of having been involved in an industrial Toiltown. You know who to go to when you need the illicit services offered
accident of some kind. Consult with your GM on how to utilize this trait in Toiltown. Your fellow East Enders remain loyal and true to you, aiding
in game. you when you need it. (Optional. Whenever you encounter a slaver, you
One of Many. There were 10+1d6 other children in your family. You must succeed at a DC 12 Wisdom save or confront them, often violently.)
have a very high likelihood of encountering one of your siblings at any Touched by the Unsea. When young, you were taken to the Unsea, and
given time within the Blight. These encounters can be cordial or hostile, it had a profound and unsettling effect upon you. The Unsea calls you, and
the choice is yours. you find it oddly consoling to have objects from there or even odd things
Orphan. Raised by an overseer, your early life was incredibly tough. from the mundane sea about your home or person. There is something
You bear the physical and psychological scars of this experience. You oddly clammy and brackish about you.
have vowed to save as many orphans as you can. How you do this is up Town Bridge Born. You were raised or spent some considerable time in
to you. Town Bridge, and can consider yourself a Town Bridge local. You despise
Out from the Asylum. You don’t know how you escaped intact (mostly), Crown Prince Justice Cornlord and the ruthless landlords that act in his
but you did. You’ve been to the City of Golems and lived to tell about stead in Town Bridge. You have vowed to bring them all down.
it, albeit with a noticeable alteration to your body. You’ve undergone a Wicked Stepsisters. Wicked stepsisters who delighted in using you as
transformation at the hands of a Cadaver-Surgeon, Homoncule-Wife, or a little more than a slave raised you. This made you resilient, if sad, when
Golem-Stitcher. Work with your GM to determine something noticeable young. That sad resilience has shaped your personality into one that is
that has been altered about your character. hardened and serious. You have little tolerance of frivolity.
Riverchild. You were raised in a boat town along the river; you speak Wild Child. You were feral as a child. Your feral nature remains with
River-Cant as if it were your native language. You know the right folk to you and impacts your relations with “civilized” Blighters.
talk to in the boat towns that ever-present within the city and always seem to
have the best information about the goings on in these “neighbourhoods.”
Seminarian. You were born or raised (or created) in the Seminary. You
have seen the true horror of the ghastly experimentations that take place
in this academic bastion at the foot of the Capitol. You rarely make it
New Equipment
through the night without waking in a sweat, screaming at the horror you
cannot forget.
Seventh Child of a Seventh Child. There is something decidedly odd
Equipment and Things to
about you; odd things happen around you, and occasionally unpredictable
events occur — cats bristle and flee from you, plates fall on floors when
Part You From Your Lucre —
you enter the room, or a clock strikes thirteen. This does not have a
mechanical effect, and your GM should weave it into your character’s
Castorhage Goods
story from time to time. A short walk in the Blight avails one of the sheer volume of goods for
Sewer Brat. You spent a lot of time in Underneath, either as a runner sale, from Aarckle, Budge & Sons Gentlemen’s Outfitters, to Zyn, Ripple
for a guild, someone who ran away from home or the orphanage you were & Wade, Pipe Makers to the Aristocracy. The wares are advertised across
raised in, or some other story you deem appropriate. You have a sixth sense every available space; no wall is without a painted sign or hoarding,
that allows you to navigate the sewers of the Blight better than most others. sandwich boards are carried by down-at-their-heels men eager to earn a
Sideshow Touched. You were raised in a carnival sideshow and became tanner, and shop windows often show elaborate displays of wares. With so
close to many acts. You can move amongst the sideshow workers as if you many people in such a small space, competition is stiff, and beyond their
were still one of them. You have a special affinity with many of them and gaudy adverts, traders stop at nothing to be the best — and the richest —
are often given the best rumours and tales. in the city-state.
Sinks Born. You were raised or spent some considerable time in the
Sinks. When you were younger, curiosity got the best of you causing you
to venture down to the Grey Lake. You’ve seen things. Terrifying things.
And you know the stories to be true.
Weapons of the Blight
Sinister Theatrics. You were raise or spent considerable time in the Along with most other weapons, the following new weapons are used
Theatres’ Sinister. You’ll never admit it, but you very well could have the by the denizens of Castorhage.
ear of Aris Macwell or one of his Liars.
Sorrowful. You are of mixed heritage but struggle to understand why
you feel you are missing something crucial to your makeup. Your parent’s Weapon Qualities
differences were too much to overcome after the love and lust faded. You Misfire: The increased power or configuration of some crossbows can
favour the parent that raised you but are cursed with an unnaturally long result in a misfire. If the natural result of your attack roll is equal to or
life or a fleetingly short life in comparison to your parent. less than the weapon’s misfire value, that shot misses, even if you would

27
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City

have otherwise hit the target, and the crossbow cannot be used again until concealable. It can be unfolded as a bonus action. The gentleman’s version
a person proficient in the use of the weapon spends a full-round action to — a handy weapon for the discerning person of quality to have in a tight
restore it to working order. Magical repeating crossbows will still misfire spot, or on the rugged streets of the Blight — is usually rimmed with
on a natural 1. Magical, non-repeating crossbows will not misfire, even metal, and is readily transportable in a handy leather holder.
on a natural 1. Crossbow, arbalest. Because of the size and weight of this heavy
crossbow, you attack at disadvantage with it if you are not wearing an
arbalist harness (see below).
Weapon Descriptions The increased power of the arbalest crossbow tends to make it misfire.
Bell-staff, coprophagi. This is a simple walking staff usually If the result of your attack roll with an arbalest crossbow is a natural
of hornbeam or some other hardwood capped with a curving arm 1, the shot misses even if you would have otherwise hit the target, and
from which dangles a small bell. When the staff is carried, the bell the crossbow cannot be used again until an action is used to restore it to
rings, resulting in disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. The working order. A magical arbalest crossbow has no chance of misfiring.
coprophagi and sometimes lepers or other diseased individuals Crossbow, folding. This smaller, light crossbow can be folded down
typically use these staves to give warning of their approach to others to make it more easily concealable or disguisable. Unlike most other
so they can be well away before they reach them. In the hands of a weapons of its size, you may attempt to conceal a folding crossbow upon
coprophagi or other individual proficient in its use, though, the bell- your body. It can be assembled as a standard action. The gentleman’s
staff becomes a potent weapon. version — de rigueur at all fashionable or aristocratic shoots and hunts —
The proficient user of a coprophagi bell-staff can flip the bell up and is always of masterwork quality, usually inlaid with precious metals, and
against the arm it hangs from so that the clapper is held still, and the bell always comes collapsed in its own velvet-lined carry case.
no longer rings to cause disadvantage on Stealth checks. You can then The configuration of the folding crossbow tends to make it misfire.
flip it down again as well so that it returns to ringing as normal. A non- If the result of your attack roll with a folding crossbow is a natural 1,
proficient user can perform the same maneuvers (if he thinks of them) as the crossbow cannot be used again until an action is used to restore it to
move actions that provoke attacks of opportunity. working order. A magical folding crossbow has no chance of misfiring.
Broadsword. The broadsword has a heavier, shorter blade than the A folding crossbow is treated as if it were a light crossbow.
longsword. It is 2-1/2 to 3 feet in length. Crossbow, folding hand. This hand crossbow can be folded down to
Claymore. The claymore is a heavier, longer version of the greatsword. make it even more easily concealable or disguisable. It can be assembled
It is 4-1/2 to 5 feet in length. The heavier weight of this devastating as a standard action.
weapon contributes to it doing additional damage. The configuration of the folding hand crossbow tends to make it misfire.
Crop. A stout leather crop used to spur on a mount or punish a peasant. If the result of your attack roll with a folding hand crossbow is a natural
Crop, loaded. A loaded crop is a crop in which the shaft and head has 2 or lower, the crossbow cannot be used again until an action is used
been weighted with lead to provide some heft. to restore it to working order. A magical folding hand crossbow has no
Cosh. This small, flexible club, also known as a blackjack, consists of chance of misfiring.
a leather-wrapped lead weight attached to the end of a wooden shaft via a A folding hand crossbow is treated as if it were a hand crossbow.
leather-wrapped coil spring. Crossbow, recurve. A recurve crossbow is a light crossbow modified
Cosh, folding. This smaller, lighter cosh folds to make it easily with the power of a heavy crossbow at a shorter range. You draw a recurve

28
 GM Guide
Simple Melee Weapons
Name Cost Damage Weight Properties
Crop 10 gp 1d2 bludgeoning 1 lb nonlethal, bludgeoning
Crop, loaded 20 gp 1d3 bludgeoning 1 lb. nonlethal, bludgeoning

Simple Ranged Weapons

Name Cost Damage Misfire Capacity Rate/Fire Weight Properties
Ammunition (range 30/120),
Crossbow, folding 50 gp 1d6 piercing — — 1 3 lb.
loading, two-handed
Ammunition (range 80/320),
Crossbow, recurve 100 gp 1d10 piercing — — 1 7 lb.
loading, two-handed

Martial Melee Weapons

Name Cost Damage Weight Properties
Bell-staff, coprophagi 5 sp 1d6 bludgeoning 5 lb. Versatile (1d8), disadvantage (Stealth)
Cosh 5 gp 1d4 bludgeoning 3 lb. Nonlethal, light
Cosh, folding 10 gp 1d4 bludgeoning 2 lb. Nonlethal, light
Broadsword 12 gp 1d8 slashing 5 lb. Versatile (1d10)
Claymore 50 gp 2d8 slashing 10 lb. Heavy, two-handed
Razor wheel, coprophagi 5 sp 1d6 slashing 1 lb. Finesse, light
Scythe 15 gp 1d10 slashing 8 lb. heavy, two-handed

Martial Ranged Weapons

Name Cost Damage Misfire Capacity Rate/Fire Weight Properties
Ammunition (range 100/400),
Crossbow, arbalest 125 gp 2d6 piercing 1 — 1 22 lb.
heavy, loading, two-handed
Crossbow, Ammunition (range 30/120),
125 gp 1d6 piercing 1 — 1 2 lb.
folding hand light, loading
Crossbow, Ammunition (range 100/400),
825 gp 2d6 piercing 3 6 2 30 lb.
repeating arbalest heavy, two-handed
Crossbow, Ammunition (range 100/400),
300 gp 1d10 piercing 3 8 2 24 lb.
repeating heavy heavy, two-handed
Crossbow, Ammunition (range 80/320),
600 gp 1d10 piercing 3 10 2 10 lb.
repeating recurve heavy, two-handed

crossbow back by pulling a lever called a cranequin. A recurve crossbow You must be wearing an arbalist harness to use the repeating arbalest
fires crossbow bolts. crossbow. The increased power of the repeating arbalest crossbow tends
The increased power of the recurve crossbow tends to make it misfire. to make it misfire. If the result of your attack roll with a repeating arbalest
If the result of your attack roll with a recurve crossbow is a natural 1 or crossbow is a natural 3 or lower, the shot misses even if you would have
lower, the shot misses even if you would have otherwise hit the target, and otherwise hit the target, and the crossbow cannot be used again until an
the crossbow cannot be used again until an action is used to restore it to action is used to restore it to working order. A magical repeating arbalest
working order. A magical recurve crossbow has no chance of misfiring. crossbow only misfires on a natural 1.
Crossbow, repeating arbalest. This weapon functions identically to Crossbow, repeating recurve. This weapon functions identically to a
an arbalest crossbow, except that it does not need to be reloaded after repeating heavy crossbow, except that its damage and range values are
firing a single bolt. It has a magazine capacity of 6 bolts and a rate of fire equivalent to those of a recurve crossbow. It has a magazine capacity of
of two bolts per round.You must be wearing an arbalist harness to use 10 bolts and a rate of fire of two bolts per round.
the repeating arbalest crossbow. The increased power of the repeating The increased power of the repeating recurve crossbow tends to make
arbalest crossbow tends to make it misfire. If the result of your attack it misfire. If the result of your attack roll with a recurve crossbow is a
roll with a repeating arbalest crossbow is a natural 3 or lower, the shot natural 3 or lower, the shot misses even if you would have otherwise hit
misses even if you would have otherwise hit the target, and the crossbow the target, and the crossbow cannot be used again until an action is used
cannot be used again until an action is used to restore it to working order. to restore it to working order. A magical repeating recurve crossbow only
A magical repeating arbalest crossbow only misfires on a natural 1. misfires on a natural 1.
Crossbow, repeating heavy. This weapon functions identically to a Razor wheel, coprophagi. This weapon is made from a thin sheet of
heavy crossbow, except it does not need to be reloaded after firing a single scrap metal that has been fashioned into a circular shape and given a
bolt. It has a magazine capacity of 8 bolts and a rate of fire of two bolts serrated edge. A wooden handle is set in its centre at a perpendicular angle
per round. so that it can be gripped with the blade parallel to the wielder’s arm and
used in battle as a slashing weapon.

29
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
can fire and reload the crossbow while it is mounted.
Blight Gear Ladder, clockwork. A collapsible ladder able to extend up to 20 feet in
length in a single round. Activating a clockwork ladder is equivalent to a
Adventuring Gear move action. A clockwork ladder collapses back to 4 feet in length and
weighs 10 lbs.
Item Cost Weight Lantern, pyrebeetle. This sturdy lantern comes equipped with a
Alchemical solvent 20 gp ½ lb. fireproof wire cage capable of holding a pound of pyrebeetles in its interior
as well as built-in reflectors to magnify its light to equal that of a torch.
Alchemist’s Glue (bag) 50gp 1 lb. Pyrebeetle, live. These cockroach-like beetles have an extremely hardy
Cage, pyrebeetle 5 gp 5 lb. carapace and produce a natural slow-burning oil from glands within their
bodies. They are not especially incendiary, but burn readily if exposed to
Everburning candle 25 gp — fire. Typically, they are set alight after being held within small fireproof
Everburning lamp 125 gp 1 lb. cages or bags of tough fibres. A pound of burning pyrebeetles emits light
in a 10-foot radius, but reflectors mounted on street lamps or within
Fishing tackle, basic 5 sp — lanterns doubles this area of illumination to an area equal to that of a
Fishing tackle, luxury torch. A pound of live pyrebeetles burns with a largely smokeless fire for
8 gp 2 lb. 12 hours. A single live pyrebeetle is insufficient to provide a light source,
(Tugg, Wilmott & Son)
quickly burning out and crumbling. Burning pyrebeetles are not suitable
Gable bridge, clockwork 200 gp 15 lb. to serve as flaming weapons because they do not burn particularly hot and
Harness, arbalist’s 40 gp 3 lb. readily crumble to ash if treated too roughly while burning.
Pyrebeetle carcass. As live pyrebeetles, the carcasses of pyrebeetles
Ladder, clockwork 300 gp 10 lb. can be lit for use as a light source. They give off the same illumination as
Lantern, pyrebeetle 20 gp 3 lb. live pyrebeetles, but the oil-producing glands of a pyrebeetle break down
soon after death. A pound of pyrebeetle carcasses burn for only 2 hours. A
Pyrebeetle, live 5 cp/pound —
single pyrebeetle carcass is insufficient to provide a light source, quickly
Pyrebeetle carcass 1 cp/pound — burning out and crumbling.
Siklight cockroach. These small, pale-grey roaches give off a soft,
Siklight cockroach 8 cp —
greyish light equal in illumination to candle when awake. They eat garbage
Siklight sconce 5 sp 1 lb. and if properly cared for, will live for a year or more. They also give off a
Siklight sconce, candelabra 5–10 gp 5–8 lb. distinctive unpleasant odour so that anyone carrying one or more of these
insects has disadvantage to Stealth checks when within olfactory range.
Vermin repellent 5 gp — Siklight cockroaches have a hard chitinous shell and 1 hit point. If their
shell is pierced, the cockroaches explode similar to alchemist’s fire, though
Alchemical solvent. This bubbling gel eats through adhesives. Each only dealing 1 point of fire damage in the square where the explosion occurs
vial contains enough solvent to cover a single 5-foot by 5-foot square. It and no splash damage to surrounding squares. However, they do burn for
destroys most normal adhesives such as glue, tar, sap). 1 round thereafter and deal 1 additional point of fire damage, so flammable
Alchemist’s Glue (bag). This bag of alchemical goo can be used to objects and structures can easily be set alight by such an explosion. The
restrain a target. The bag is small, about the size of a medium humanoid’s cockroaches are also prone to rupturing their carapace under certain weather
hand, and triggers upon impact when thrown. On a successful ranged conditions and are known to start many small fires in Toiltown and in the
attack roll, the target must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or be hovels along the Great Lyme River (conditions for such a spontaneous
restrained for up to 1 minute as sticky glue foams out of the bag and explosion are at the GM’s discretion). Fortunately, cumulative exploding
quickly adheres to the nearest surface. A successful saving throw results siklight cockroaches do not cause additional damage or duration of burning.
in the target’s movement being halved until the end of their next turn. A However, if many of them explode in a single square, they still only deal a
failed save results in the target being completely restrained. A creature total of 1 point fire damage and another point fire damage on the following
restrained by the alchemical glue can use its action to make a Strength round before they burn out. For this reason, they have found no practical
check (escape DC 12) to end the effect. application as weapons, though they can make good detonators.
Flying creatures hit by alchemist’s glue must immediately land or take Siklight sconce. This is a small candle sconce of tin, brass or some other
falling damage on their next turn. non-flammable substance. The candleholder portion has a wire covering
The glue does not work underwater. An application of universal and allows space for a single siklight cockroach to be caged within. Beneath
solvent to a stuck creature dissolves the alchemical goo immediately. this is a small, connected repository that can hold a small amount of organic
Cage, Pyrebeetle. This is a small, portable cage capable of holding up garbage upon with the caged cockroach can feed. As long as the food
to 5 pounds of pyrebeetles. If properly cared for and fed, pyrebeetles can repository is kept stocked with garbage and the sconce is shielded from
survive in these cages for up to a week. extremes in temperature or violent handling, a siklight cockroach can live
Everburning candle. This otherwise normal candle has a continual in the sconce for up to a year or more. A siklight sconce can be set on a table
flame spell cast on its wick. Due to the small size of its wick, it sheds light or other surface as a candle stand or mounted to a wall.
only as an ordinary candle, but it does not emit heat or deal fire damage. If Siklight sconce, candelabra. This functions in all ways as a siklight
the candle is broken, its continual flame no longer functions. sconce but can have individual sconces for anywhere from 3 to 12 siklight
Everburning lamp. Everburning lamps are oil lamps bearing a cockroaches.
continual flame spell that function in all ways as an everburning torch. Vermin repellent. this vile-smelling paste can be spread on the skin
However, an everburning lamp is partially made of glass and is, therefore, to keep vermin at bay. It will repel most normal vermin such as rats,
more fragile than an everburning torch. If an everburning lamp is broken, centipedes, beetles, spiders, snakes, and wasps. It is not as potent against
its continual flame no longer functions. swarms (up to the discretion of the GM).
Gable bridge, clockwork. Similar to a clockwork ladder, a gable bridge
extends to 20 feet in length at the pull of a lever, enabling it to be used as Tools and Skill Kits
a bridge, provided support is available at both ends. These objects, which
weigh 15 lbs and are structurally stronger than the ladder, are frequently used Item Cost Weight
by Gablemaesters on their hunt for spiders and other horrors in the rooftops.
Harness, arbalist’s. This harness is worn over armour or normal Gablemaester’s kit 200 gp 8.5 lbs.
clothing and is used to provide support for the use of an arbalest crossbow Mortician’s kit 100 gp 10 lbs.
or repeating arbalest crossbow by allowing the stock to rest in a special
Rat-catcher’s kit 10 gp 40 lbs.
socket built into the harness. The wearer of an arbalist’s harness can
mount the crossbow in place or remove it from its mount as an action, and Second-story harness 55 gp 3 lbs.

30
 GM Guide
Gablemaester’s Kit. Specialized kits for the spider-hunting
gablemaesters that dare to venture across the spires and rooftops of
Castorhage, this kit includes the crampons, pitons, and other tools found in
a climber’s kit plus a second-story harness, alchemical solvent, antitoxin,
and vermin repellent.
Mortician’s Kit. This kit contains the vials, instruments, tubing, tools
and chemicals necessary to drain a corpse of all fluids, embalm a corpse,
and prepare a corpse for presentation at a funeral. Proficiency with this
kit lets you add your proficiency bonus to any ability checks you make to
embalm or prepare a corpse.
Rat-catcher’s Kit. For those brave enough to risk hunting dire rats and
wererats within the city, special gear is often required. Rat-catcher’s gear
comes in a hefty trunk and consists of bags of pepper (to mask scent), a
bag of silver dust, a hefty armoured leather shirt (equivalent of padded
armor), and an shortspear.
Second-story Harness. This series of straps, trusses and buckles can
be worn over clothing or armour and allows the wearer to secure herself
in place, using a move action, on a vertical surface so that both her hands
are free. The wearer can remain in this position without needing to make
additional Strength (Athletics) checks. While anchored in this way she
cannot move but does not need to make Strength (Athletics) checks to
avoid falling whenever she takes damage. The wearer can release herself
to start moving again using half of their total movement.
Surgeon’s Kit. This kit contains various sizes of scissors, needles,
forceps, clamps, scalpels, probes, and sutures necessary to perform most
common types of surgery. Proficiency with this kit lets you add your
proficiency bonus to any ability checks you when performing common
surgical procedures.

Animals, Mounts, and Related Gear

Carrying
Item Cost Speed
Capacity
Animal Sentinel
1 sp 40 ft. —
(canary)
Broken animal varies* — —
Broken creature,
varies* — —
intelligent*
Cage, canary 2 gp 5 lbs. — becomes unconscious and dies in 1d4 rounds. After an exposure to such
Camel 50 gp 50 ft. 480 lb. a hazard, there is a 50% chance that the bird dies regardless of whether it
was removed from the hazard in time or not.
Camel Broken Animal. These sell for 10 times their standard value, so a broken
110 gp 50 ft. 480 lb.
(combat trained) heavy horse costs 2,000 gp. Animals come with a focus (a command word
Canary 2 gp 40 ft. — or command item, such as a rod or badge or tabard). The most common
broken animals are performing monkeys (often dressed in human clothes
Dog, fighting to entertain) that sell for 500 gp. Broken Creature, Intelligent. These sell
40 gp 40 ft. 150 lb.
(blight-bull) for 300 gp x Int x HD. A broken troll, therefore, would cost 10,800gp (300
Dog, fighting ( x 6 x 6 gp). Camel. This camel is trained as a mount or pack animal. A
210 gp 40 ft. 195 lb.
pit-mastiff) combat-trained camel can be ridden into combat without danger. Refer to
the game manual for details on mounted combat and for more information
Dog, terrier 2 gp 40 ft. 100 lb.
on camels.
Elephant 450 gp 40 ft. 1,320 lb. Dog, Fighting. See Part 6: The Blight Bestiary
Elephant Dog, Terrier. See The Tome of Blighted Horrors by Frog God Games
530 gp 40 ft. 1,320 lb. Elephant. An elephant trained as a mount or pack animal. A combat-
(combat-trained)
trained elephant can be ridden into combat without danger. Refer to the
Hyme 6,500 gp — — game manual for details on mounted combat and for more information on
elephants.
Animal Sentinel (Canary). An animal sentinel is a normal animal Hyme. A hyme is an unpleasant but loyal draft animal detailed further
used (normally by humanoids) to detect hazards before they can affect in Part 6: The Blight Bestiary.
the animal’s owner. Many types of animal sentinels exist, but the type
most commonly encountered are the caged canaries used by miners. The Transport
caged canaries are carried into new or deep tunnels to detect the presence
of carbon monoxide or coal gas or methane. The use of a canary animal Item Cost Speed
sentinel gives advantage to the Survival check to detect the presence
of the invisible, odorless gasses before larger creatures are affected or Boat, Bilges narrowboat 1,000 gp 2 mph
before exposed flames can ignite volatile pockets. When a canary sentinel Caravan, gypsy 150 gp 5 mph
is exposed to these types of bad air, the bird becomes poisoned for 1d4
Carriage, fancy 500 gp 5 mph
rounds before its owner becomes affected. When the owner is exposed
to the levels of gas that would cause negative effects to him, the canary
31
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Item Cost Speed Item Cost Weight
Fare, coarse cab 1 gp/mile 5 mph Tailcoat, luxurious (Forbes Winter;
8 gp 4 lbs.
Grugg & Sons)
Fare, elephant-wallah 2 sp/mile 4 mph
Veil, mourning 2 sp —
Fare, gable palanquin 10 gp/mile 4 mph
Veil, white 3 sp —
Fare, sedan chair 1 sp/mile 2 mph
Wrap, ladies winter 4 sp 4 lbs.
Fare, treadmill ferry 2 sp 2 mph
Fisherman’s Coat, Heavy Waxed. This heavy long coat is made of
Bilges Narrowboat. A horse or other dray animal pulls this 30- to
canvas and carefully waxed to seal it against moisture. Because of its
100-foot-long ship. It is 10 feet wide and has a living space. Sometimes
excellent insulating qualities, it grants advantage on Constitution saves
the whole boat is given over to a living area, but costs are tripled for such
against exposure to cold weather. It can be worn over light armour.
vessels. In general, they travel at 1 mph along the city’s lock-laden canal
Keff. This is a thin, black full-face scarf. It is light enough with a loose
ways and 2 mph on rivers.
enough weave to be worn in the summer months without being stifling or
Caravan, Gypsy. A richly decorated and enclosed wagon used for living
limited vision, but provides some protection against biting flies.
and travel. A family of 4 can easily live in a gypsy caravan. They are
almost always drawn by a single horse.
Carriage, Fancy. A four-wheeled luxurious transport able to carry as many Personal Grooming and Accessories
as four passengers in leather-clad luxury. Often, details are added to the carriage
Item Cost Weight
such as potion stores, armoured doors, and magical accessories. Installing
these in the carriage costs one and a half times as much as a normal object. For Dubbing (Mompeson’s Finest) 3 cp 1/2 lb.
example, installing a chest into a carriage would cost 2 gp and 2 sp. Flask, hunter’s, plain 7 sp 1-1/2 lbs.
Clothing Flask, hunter’s, silver 25 gp 1-1/2 lbs.
Grooming case, gentleman’s
Item Cost Weight 6 gp 2 lbs.
(Watt, Simpin & Dodd)
Cummerbund, silk 4 sp 1/2 lb. Hair oil, gentleman’s (Forbes & Son) 1 sp —
Boots, farmer’s heavy duty 1 sp 3 lbs. Hair oil, musked (Forbes & Son) 3 sp —
Boots, gentleman’s luxurious, (Forbes Hipflask, fancy 15 gp 1/2 lb.
3 gp 2 lbs.
Winter; Grugg & Sons)
Hipflask, plain 1 gp 1/2 lb.
Boots, ladies’ calfskin and crocodile
8 gp 1-1/2 lbs. Hookah, fancy 15 gp 10 lbs.
hide, luxurious
Boots, ladies’ dire wolverine and er- Insectum container, fancy 10 gp —
75 gp 2 lbs.
mine, luxurious Insectum container, armoured 20 gp 1/2 lb.
Boots, wading, leather 5 sp 5 lbs. Lucky rabbit’s foot 1 gp —
Boots, workman’s heavy 5 sp 3 lbs. Monkey’s paw, mounted on silver
2 gp —
Fisherman’s coat, heavy waxed 3 gp 6 lbs. chain
Gauntlets, black leather 3 gp 1 lb. Moustache oil, basic 2 sp —
Gauntlets, owlbear hide 16 gp 1 lb. Moustache wax, luxury (Hobb &
7 sp —
Darkler, Gentleman’s Groomers)
Gloves, winter, gentleman’s luxury
2 gp — Muscle balm
(Forbes Winter; Grugg & Sons) 2 sp —
(Colcott’s, “Eases stiffness”)
Hat, stovepipe 15 sp 1 lb.
Pipe, smoking, briar 2 sp —
Hat, tophat, basic 1 gp 1/2 lb.
Pipe, smoking, clay 1 cp —
Hat, tophat, fancy ermine-lined
25 gp 2 lbs. Pipe, luxury smoking, calabash 5 gp 1/2 lb.
(Forbes Winter; Grugg & Sons)
Hatpin, basic 1 sp — Polish, boot (Mompeson’s Finest Tan) 5 cp 1/2 lb.
Hatpin, jewelled 5+ gp — Razor, cut-throat (Hoppin & Sons) 1 gp —
Jacket, insectum, luxurious (Aarkle, Razor, cut-throat, superior
14 gp 3 lbs. 4 gp —
Budge & Sons) (Forbes & Son)
Jacket, smoking, luxurious (Forbes Scrip, luxury leather 1 gp 1/2 lb.
10 gp 4 lbs.
Winter; Grugg & Sons) Scrip, plain 2 sp 1/2 lb.
Keff 5 cp 1/2 lb. Shaving stick, military 2 cp —
Muff, basic 5 sp 1 lb. Shaving stick, perfumed 1 sp —
Muff, ermine or beaver 1 lb. 100 gp Snuffbox, gentleman’s 3 gp —
Overcoat, basic 5 sp 5 lbs. Tantalus lock, walnut; average 50 gp 1/2 lb.
Overcoat, luxurious, fur and silk lined Travelbag, gentleman’s 5 gp 3 lbs.
40 gp 6 lbs.
(Maxim’s)
Travelbag, lady’s 5 gp 3 lbs.
Overcoat, waxed (Aarkle, Budge &
1 gp 5 lbs. Umbrella, fancy 1 gp 1 lb.
Sons)

32
 GM Guide
Boiling Death Lice (Injury). A failed experiment in insectum
Item Cost Weight
development, the bites of these alchemically enhanced lice inject a potent
Umbrella, plain 5 sp 1 lb. toxin that boils the victim’s blood. Typically, they are kept in a flask that
Walking cane, fancy 2 gp 2 lbs. is thrown at the victim. If it hits, the flask breaks and the swarm of lice
emerges to bite the victim. A creature subjected to this poison must succeed
Insectum Container, Fancy. A richly decorated container in which to on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or take 9 (2d8) poison damage and
keep live insectum. is poisoned for up to 1 minute. The creature can repeat the saving throw
Insectum Container, Armoured. As above, but made of steel. at the beginning of each of its turns. On each successive failed save, the
Scrip, Luxury Leather. A small decorative pouch or wallet for carrying creature takes 4 (1d8) poison damage. After three consecutive successful
small amounts of coinage and important papers or calling cards. saves, the poison ends.
Scrip, Plain. As above, but without decoration. Boiling Death Toxin (Ingested or Injury). Harvested from the
Tantalus Lock, Walnut. A tantalus lock for a liquor bottle encased in alchemically enhanced boiling death lice, this version of the toxin has
walnut. The lock can be picked by a creature proficient with thieves’ tools been concentrated into an ingestible or injury poison that can be applied to
with a successful DC 15 Dexterity check. weapons. A creature subjected to the boiling death lice toxin must succeed
on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, it takes 18 (4d8)
Food and Drink poison damage and is poisoned for 24 hours. On a successful save, the
creature takes half damage and isn’t poisoned.
Item Cost Weight
Ale (Tolly’s Bottled Brown) 1 sp 1 lb. Insectum
Chocolate 10 gp/1b. 1 lb.
Insects are everywhere in the Blight, a peculiarity even the wisest find
Cabb’e (coffee) beans 2 sp/lb. 1 lb. difficult to explain. In summer, the night air boils with them, and even
Gin (pint) 2 sp–5 gp 1 lb. in the depths of winter, a hive of enormous elephant cockroaches may
be seen huddling behind a hearth, or a black batmoth fluttering around a
Tea & Accoutrements pyrelantern’s glow in the snow. The Blight, which is host to many unique
Tea, common, brick or loose leaf 5 cp/lb. 1 lb. species, seems to nuture them, and many grow to uncommon, even giant,
sizes. They have an alarming habit of forming swarms that — if not dealt
Sieve, bland 2 cp — with swiftly — may amass in quantities large enough to kill domestic
Sieve, fancy 1 sp — animals and even people.
The preponderance of large and unique insects, as well as other types
Sieve, silver 2 gp —
of vermin, in the city has led to a unique industry that combines alchemy,
Tea, Arrath Green Leaf 6 gp/lb. 1 lb. toxicology, and insect husbandry to produce a range of alchemically
Tea, Dazeel 1 sp/lb. 1 lb. enhanced drug-like insect venoms. The purpose-bred species that result
are known as insectum, and their use is tightly controlled by the corrupt
25 gp/ and ruthless Insectum Guild, which issues licenses to only a handful of
Tea, East Dominion Between Leaf 1 lb.
1/4 lb. official dealers to collude on supply, and who respond swiftly to spikes
Tea, Mugreebb Finest Quality in demand with commensurate price rises. A host of illegal street dealers
4 sp/lb. 1 lb. fill out the market for insectum, but most are unpredictable in quality,
(Gruss & Daughter)
with many of these disreputable dealers selling inferior, sick, or even
Teapot, earthen 1 sp 2 lbs. dangerous insectum. While guild members are not spotless, the value of
Teapot, silver 15 gp 1 lb. their official status and a fixed address tends to ensure that the effects of
their products can be relied upon.
Tea set, common 5 sp 5 lbs. An insectum is typically used by ingestion or injury: eating it, or
Tea set, luxury silver applying its bite or sting, sometimes to a particular body area, where it
50 gp 7 lbs.
(Hobbington & Daughter) may remain attached for the duration of its effects. Usually, the user must
willingly succumb to the effects of the toxin in order to also benefit from
Tippling stock, luxury 20 gp —
the alchemical boon it contains. Insectum are sold live and sterile, and die
Tonic within a week of purchase. An insectum must be alive when used, and
(Ad’s, “Guaranteed to lift your 4 sp — unless otherwise detailed, dies once it has been used. The price reflects a
spirits”) single dose of insectum.

Drugs Insectum Type Price

Item Cost Weight Angry weevil injury 75 gp
Opium tincture 25 gp — Auceps scarabaeus injury 40 gp
Snuff, tobacco (1 pinch) 1 sp — Bite spider injury 100 gp
Tobacco, rough shag 5 sp/lb. 1 lb. Blake’s sanguisuga contact 350 gp
Tobacco, Turkad 8 gp/lb. 1 lb. Bloatfly ingested 2 gp
Tobacco, personal mix 2 gp/lb. 1 lb. Callus fleas injury 50 gp
(Tott & Grimwell, Royal Tobacconists) Cockerel spider ingested 40 gp
Opium Tincture. This small vial of liquid contains a single dose of Darkwasp injury 175 gp
ingestible opium. Dolor crabrao injury 275 gp
Snuff, Tobacco. Typically carried in decorative silver boxes, snuff is
a form of tobacco that does not require chewing or smoking. Instead, Eyeleech contact 125 gp
it is snorted into the nostrils with the effects experienced as swiftly as Festerfew ingested 75 gp
inhalation.

33
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Poisons
Poison Type Save DC Onset Frequency Effect Cure Price
Boiling death ingested/injury 20 — 1/rd. for 6 rds. 2d8 poison 2 saves 2,300 gp
Boiling death lice injury 18 — 1/rd. for 6 rds. 4d8 poison 2 saves 900 gp

Bloatfly. Consuming this 2-inch-long fly provides a Medium or smaller

Insectum Type Price
creature sufficient nutrition for 1 day. The user must succeed on a DC 13
Fingerlice injury 35 gp Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 hour.
Fire bite lice injury 40 gp Callus Fleas. The bites of these fleas cause the user’s skin to gradually
harden over the course of 1 minute. This effect deals 3 (1d6) points of
Gadfly ambrosia ingested 3 gp poison damage but provides a +2 bonus to AC for 1 hour.
Great snakefly injury 40 gp Cockerel Spider. Ingesting this spider causes the user’s voice to deepen
and become more threatening. The user has advantage on Intimidation
Howling nightshade grub ingested 40 gp checks for 1 hour but must also succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving
Hungering wasp grub ingested 250 gp throw or be poisoned for 24 hours.
Darkwasp. The sting of this wasp injects a venom that deals 4 (1d8)
Joy scarab injury 10 gp points of poison damage and improves the user’s ability to resist the
Jubb’s nasal lice injury 140 gp effects of certain types of damage. If affected by the poison, the user
gains resistance to acid, fire, and poison for 1 hour. The user becomes
Kothrington’s swan fleas injury 150 gp
vulnerable to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage while under the
Libidinosus vermis ingested 40 gp effects of the wasp venom.
Lobotomy hornet injury 950 gp Dolor Crabrao. The sting of this wasp injects a venom that deals 4 (1d8)
points of damage to the user and forces the user into an uncontrollable
Lucius spider injury 40 gp fury for 1 minute. While in a rage, the user gains a +2 bonus to hit and
Misery slug ingested 30 gp damage on melee and thrown weapon attack and damage rolls, and
advantage on Wisdom saving throws. In addition, she takes a –4 penalty
Ochre lice ingested 100 gp to AC. She also gains 2d6 temporary hit points. These temporary hit
Porr’s scarab ingested 275 gp points are lost when the effect ends. This does not stack with barbarian
rage effects. While under the effects of the venom, the user cannot use
Rictus gnats injury 150 gp any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills or any ability that
Screaming maggot ingested 125 gp requires concentration (such as spellcasting). The user cannot end her fury
voluntarily, and gains 1 level of exhaustion after the effect ends. If the user
Speed weevil injury 40 gp
falls unconscious, her fury immediately ends.
Thistle frenzy bug injury 40 gp Eyeleech. When this black leech is attached to the eyelid, it injects a
Wart lice ingested 175 gp toxin that deals 3 (1d6) points of poison damage but the user’s night vision
is enhanced. The user gains darkvision 60 ft., and advantage on all sight-
Water crane ingested 110 gp based Wisdom (Perception) checks, for 1d3 hours.
Festerfew. A user who eats a handful of these live lice gains advantage
Angry Weevil. This black-and-red giant weevil injects a toxin that deals on all saves versus disease and poison for 1d4 hours but must also succeed
1d4 points of damage and causes the user to fly into a uncontrollable on a DC 15 Constitution save or be stunned for 1 hour.
fury for 1 minute, increasing their damage by 1 points, but taking a –2 Fingerlice. A user whose hands are bitten by these lice gains exceptional
penalty to AC. This does not stack with barbarian rage effects. When manual dexterity but tiny maggots writhe under their skin. The user gains
the user reduces a creature to 0 or fewer hit points, she must attempt a advantage on Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) checks for 2 hours, but has
DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or become confused. For the remainder of disadvantage on Strength (Athletics) checks that require use of the hands
the duration, she attacks the nearest creature other than herself. On the (climbing, swimming, and other similar activities).
following round, refer to the confusion spell to determine her actions. At Firebite Lice. A user bitten by these lice gains exceptional agility but
the end of this round, and each round thereafter, she can attempt a new the toxins cause the user to feel like they are on fire. The user takes 5 (2d4)
saving throw to end the confusion effect. The user cannot end her fury points of fire damage, but gains advantage on Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks.
voluntarily. Gadfly Ambrosia. Consuming a paste made from the crushed remains
Auceps Scarabaeus. The bite of this golden scarab contains a poison of this fly provides a Medium or smaller creature with sufficient water for
that causes 3 (1d6) points of poison damage plus disadvantage on any 1 day. The user must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be
Charisma-based checks (a DC 13 Constitution saving throw negates the poisoned for 1 hour.
effects on Charisma checks). If affected by the poison, the user gains Great Snakefly. The bite of this fly is applied behind the user’s ear,
advantage on initiative rolls and on Perception and Insight checks for 2 whereupon she has advantage on Acrobatics checks for 2 hours. At the end
hours. of the duration, the user is deafened for 2 hours unless they succeed on a
Bite Spider. The bite of this spider injects a toxin that causes the user to DC 16 Constitution saving throw .
have disadvantage on Charisma-based checks and causes the user’s skin Howling Nightshade Grub. This sausage-sized grub tastes disgusting
to gradually harden over the course of 1 minute, at which point the user and howls when eaten. For the following day, the user has advantage
cannot have an AC less than 14 for 1 hour. When the effect ends, angry on skill checks and Constitution saving throws made to resist nonlethal
boils and warts cover the user’s skin for the following 1d6 days, imparting damage from exhaustion, starvation, thirst, a forced march, or hot or cold
disadvantage on Persuasion checks. environments, but becomes sluggish and has disadvantage on initiative
Blake’s Sanguisuga. When this mottled brown leech is first attached, rolls for the duration.
the user must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or be Hungering Wasp Grub. When eaten, this orange-and-black-striped
incapacitated for 1 minute. The leech remains attached for 1d3 hours grub provides the user with advantage on saves versus poison for 24 hours.
in which time the user has improved resistance to the effects of certain At the end of the duration, the user must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution
types of damage. The user gains resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and saving throw or fall unconscious for 24 hours.
slashing damage for the duration but becomes vulnerable to acid, fire, and Joy Scarab. The bite of this green scarab beetle injects a toxin that
poison during this time. instils intense feelings of elation and joy. The user gains advantage on

34
 GM Guide
saves versus emotion altering effects (calm emotions, mind blank, detect water breathing duration is still effect, the user can attempt another saving
thoughts, etc.) for 4 hours. However, for the duration, the user fights only throw to be able to breathe air again.
to defend herself. If the user is interacted with or questioned while under
the effects of this spell, she can only defend herself and may not attack,
though any advice or answers she gives may be disjointed due to her
euphoric state.
Jubb’s Nasal Lice. These lice must be snorted into the nasal passage
Lifestyle Expenses
where their bites grant the user advantage on Wisdom (Perception Live a life of luxury; eat well, drink the finest wines, and be seen in all
checks) that involve smell for 4 hours. For the duration, the user also the right places. In the Blight, how well you eat and how well connected
has disadvantage on saves versus effects that would be inhaled, such as you are can have a direct effect on the characters. Lifestyle expenses add
inhaled poisons and stench effects. detail to life in a filthy, crowded city such as the Blight. If you don’t want
Kothrington’s Swan Fleas. The bites of these fleas inject a toxin that deals to add the minutiae of expenses, feel free not to employ this section.
3 (1d6) points of poison damage but the user gains advantage on Strength Costs of living are associated with a specific standard of living:
checks and Strength saving throws for 1 minute. At the end of the duration, the destitute, poor, average, wealthy, extravagant, and decadent (detailed
user must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or have disadvantage below). Give your players a general sense of the options, and let them
on Strength checks and saving throws for the following hour. decide how they’re going to spent their time and money. Generally, costs
Libidinosus Vermis. Ingesting this worm grants the user advantage on of living are subtracted at the start of each month, along with the effects
Charisma (Deception, Intimidation, Performance, and Persuasion) checks as indicated.
for 4 hours, but the user also has disadvantage on Wisdom checks and  
Wisdom saving throws for the duration. Destitute (0 gp/month): Eating what you can beg.
Lobotomy Hornet. The sting of this hornet injects a venom that grants At the end of each month, make a base DC 10 Constitution saving
the user advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws for throw (add 1 to the DC for each consecutive month of destitute living)
4 hours, but the user also has disadvantage on Intelligence checks and or reduce your Constitution by 1 point. If your Constitution reaches 0,
Intelligence saving throws for the duration. you die. This reduction cannot be recovered except by magic healing
Lucius Spider. This fist-sized grey spider’s bite delivers a toxin that or by an improvement in living standards up to at least average for at
deals 11 (3d6) points of poison damage, but a user so affected gains least 1 week, during which it can heal as normal. You must also make a
advantage on Strength (Athletics) checks for the following 4 hours. base DC 12 Constitution saving throw at the end of each month of living
Misery Slug. Eating this slimy, black finger-long slug cures 1d8 points destitute or contract the filth fever disease. If you contract filth fever, there
of damage at the beginning of the user’s turn and at the beginning of their is a cumulative 1 in 10 chance* for each consecutive month of living in
following turn. At the end of the duration, the user must succeed on a DC destitution that you must make a Constitution saving throw or contract
12 Constitution saving throw or be blinded for 1 minute. one of the following additional diseases. Roll percentile dice to determine
Ochre Lice. Eating a handful of these fat lice grants advantage on which one. The cumulative chance stops and resets to 0 if you spend at
Dexterity (Stealth) checks for 2 hours, but the user has disadvantage on least 1 week at an average standard of living. Likewise, if one of these
Wisdom saving throws for the duration. comorbid diseases is contracted, there is no additional chance of catching
Porr’s Scarab. Consuming this crunchy, bitter black beetle grants another unless you are cured of the first one.
advantage on Dexterity and Strength checks for 1 hour if the user succeeds  *Roll d10. At the the first month of destitute living, a roll of 1 indicates
on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw . Failure results in the user vomiting that you have contracted a disease and should roll on the Additional
up the remains of the beetle and being poisoned for 10 minutes. Diseases table. The second month, a roll of 1 or 2 o a d10 indicates that
Rictus Gnats. The bites of these gnats cause the muscle tone of the you contracted a disease. Repeat this process for each month, so month 3
user’s face to relax, making it hard to convey expressions or emotion. For would be a result of 1, 2, or 3, and so on.
1 hour, the user, if reduced to 0 hit points, drops to 1 hit point instead. For
the duration and for 24 hours thereafter, the user’s face remains devoid of Additional Diseases
expression, incurring disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion, Deception,
Performance, and Intimidation) checks.  d% Disease Save DC
Screaming Maggot. This writhing, bulbous maggot screams when
eaten, dealing 3 (1d6) points of thunder damage to the ingester, who must 01–03 Black Rot 19
also succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be deafened for 10 04–15 Blinding Sickness 15
minutes. The user gains advantage on Intelligence checks for 1 hour.
16–31 Bloody Flux 15
Speed Weevil. The venomous bite of this white weevil is applied to the
chest near the heart, dealing 4 (1d8) points of poison damage and granting 32–39 Devil Chills 13
the user an extra 10 feet of movement to her base walking speed for 2 40–42 Festering Lung  16
hours.
Thistle Frenzy Bug. If this insect is attached to the user’s neck, its 43–58 Grey Ache 13
sharp claws inject toxins that deal 3 (1d6) points of poison damage but the 59–60 Leprosy 17
user adds 1 to their AC while the bug remains attached. The bug remains
attached for 3 hours before dropping off, but if it is forcibly removed 61–64 Mindfire 13
before this time, the user must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving 65–72 Red Ache 15
throw or take 11 (3d6) poison damage from a concentrated burst of venom.
Wart Lice. Ingesting these lice causes the user’s skin to become 73–80 Seizure 13
malleable and flexible, granting advantage on Charisma (Deception) 81–84 Slimy Doom 13
checks and checks involving a disguise kit for 4 hours. At the end of the
85–00 Sewer Plague 10
duration, the user’s skin forms ugly warts, imparting disadvantage on the
user’s Charisma (Persuasion) checks for 1d4 days before they disappear.
Treat Disease effects as per contagion, with this addition: “Saving
Water Crane. Eating this long-legged water insect grants the ability
throw can be repeated after each long rest. If the save is made, the creature
to breathe underwater (as the water breathing spell) for 1 hour. Once
is cured and the effects end.”
the user has breathed underwater, though, she must succeed on a DC 15
Black Rot. This highly infectious disease affects the skin and muscles
Constitution saving throw to be able to breathe air again so long as the
of the victim, creating an accelerated gangrenous process that turns the
water breathing duration is still in effect. If the user fails this saving throw,
affected tissue black and eats it away. If exposed to the disease, a creature
she is able to only able to breathe underwater for 10 minutes or until the
needs to make a DC 19 Constitution saving throw or contract the disease.
water breathing effect ends, whichever is sooner. After this time, if the
The effects of the disease take hold during the first 24 hours. For every

35
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
4 points of Constitution damage sustained by the victim, a random limb There is a 1 in 4 chance* that you must also succeed on a DC 13
is lost and can only be recovered by regeneration or similar magic. Once Constitution saving throw at the end of each full month of average living
contracted, the victim needs to make a new saving throw every 24 hours. to avoid contracting filth fever.
If two consecutive saves are made, the disease is cured and all effects  *Roll d4. A result of 1 indicates the DC 13 Constitution saving throw
except for the loss of a limb are restored after a long rest. If the save fails, is required.
the victim suffers 1d6 Constitution damage, 1d6 Dexterity damage and Wealthy (100 gp/month): You visit taverns regularly, eat meat most
1d3 Charisma damage. If Constitution is reduced to zero, the victim dies. days, and drink wine.
Devil Chills. An infestation carried by various devils. It typically is After 3 consecutive months of this standard of living, you gain
not fatal. Potential victims must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw a temporary +1 bonus to your Constitution. If the temporary bonus to
or contract the disease. It weakens the victim over time, but generally is Constitution changes your Constitution modifier, your hit point maximum
not fatal. Once contracted, the victim gains one level of exhaustion and will also change, and would be as though you had the new modifier from
cannot recover and exhaustion from non-magical means until the disease 1st level. This bonus is lost if your lifestyle drops below the wealthy tier
is cured. Repeat the saving throw every 24 hours. If the save is successful, for at least 1 month.
the victim is cured and can recover exhaustion normally. If the save fails, Because you are well connected, you are considered proficient in social
the victim gains an additional level of exhaustion but this disease cannot interaction skills (Deception, Persuasion and Intimidation) in your home
increase exhaustion over 3 levels of exhaustion. district. This bonus stacks with any other you have gained through feats
Festering Lung. Creatures exposed to this disease must make a DC 16 or traits. This bonus is lost if your lifestyle drops below the wealthy tier
Constitution saving throw or become infected. This infection gets into for at least 1 month.
the lungs of the affected creature and begins to break down the respiratory Extravagant (1,000 gp/month): Only the finest things in life for you.
system, producing choking and copious amounts of bloody phlegm. It You drink expensive wine as often as you wish, go out to expensive clubs
saps the strength from the victim due to poor oxygenation and renders and the theatre, and are seen and known by many.
him unable to speak or make any vocal noises two days after contraction. After 3 consecutive months of this standard of living, you gain
Creatures that do not breathe are immune to festering lung. While under a temporary +2 bonus to your Constitution. If the temporary bonus to
the effects of this disease, the victim cannot cast any spells requiring a Constitution changes your Constitution modifier, your hit point maximum
vocal component. In addition, the creature has disadvantage on Strength will also change, and would be as though you had the new modifier from
checks, Strength saving throws, and attack rolls that use Strength. The 1st level. This bonus is lost if your lifestyle drops below the extravagant
saving throw can be repeated after every long rest and if successful, the tier for at least 1 month.
creature is cured and the effects of the disease end. Because you are well connected, you have advantage on social
Grey Ache. Upon exposure to this disease, creatures must make a interaction skill checks (Deception, Persuasion and Intimidation) in
DC 13 Constitution saving throw or become infected. Once infected, the your home district. This bonus stacks with any other you have gained
creature’s bones begin to ache, and shortly following the onset of the ache, through feats or traits. This bonus is lost if your lifestyle drops below the
round or oval-shaped lesions begin to appear on the skin. The lesions are extravagant tier for at least 1 month.
grey and scaly and within 1d12 hours begin to crack and ooze blood Decadent (5,000 gp/month): You deny yourself nothing. You eat and
and pus. While infected, the creature has disadvantage on Dexterity and drink and partake in whatever catches your fancy as often and as much as
Charisma checks, saving throws, and any attacks that use Dexterity. This you like. You rarely go to clubs or the theatres because private showings
disease can only be cured through magical remedies, such as the lesser and debauches are prepared for you. Your hedonism is known to all,
restoration or heal spells. and you have acquired a sizable entourage or sycophants, devotees, and
Leprosy. This disease slowly rots the flesh and numbs and stiffens limbs. hangers-on who emulate your every move.
Creatures exposed to this disease must make a DC 17 Constitution saving After 3 consecutive months of this standard of living, you gain a
throw or become diseased. While diseased, creature has disadvantage on temporary +3 bonus to your Constitution. If the temporary bonus changes
Dexterity and Charisma checks, Dexterity and Charisma saving throws, your Constitution modifier, your hit point maximum will also change, and
and attack rolls that use Dexterity. This disease cannot be cured except would be as though you had the new modifier from 1st level. This bonus
for by magic. is lost if your lifestyle drops below the decadent tier for at least 1 month.
Red Ache. Living creatures must make a DC 15 Constitution saving While maintaining your lascivious lifestyle, there is a non-cumulative
throw or become infected. Their skin will become red and bloated and 5% chance that you contract one of the diseases on the Additional
warm to the touch. While infected, the creature has disadvantage on Diseases table at the start of this section. Roll a d20. If the result is 1, roll
Strength checks, Strength saving throws, and attack rolls that use Strength. on the table above.
The saving throw can be repeated after every long rest and if successful Sustaining a lifestyle of insectum abuse, alchemical enhancements,
in 2 consecutive tries (two long rests in a row), the creature is cured and and hard living takes its toll on your body and immune system. After an
the effects of the disease end. A greater restoration spell will also cure entire year of decadent living, you lose the temporary Constitution bonus
the disease. and begin taking 1 point of Constitution damage for every 6 months that
Poor (3 gp/month): Eating frugally, with little or no meat. you continue to maintain your hedonistic lifestyle. If your standard of
At the end of each month, make a base DC 5 Constitution saving throw living drops below decadent for at least 1 year, you can then recover the
(add 1 to the DC for each consecutive month of poor living) or take 1 Constitution damage after a long rest.
point of Constitution damage. This damage cannot be recovered except You have a reputation of largesse and are very well connected. Because
by magic healing or by an improvement in living standards for at least 1 of this, you have advantage on social interaction skill checks (Deception,
week, during which it will heal normally. Persuasion and Intimidation) in any district within the city. This bonus
You must also succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw at the end stacks with any other you have gained through feats or traits. In addition,
of each full month of average living to avoid contracting filth fever. your reputation precedes you, allowing you once per day to add double your
Average (10 gp/month): You have meat and ale occasionally, the odd proficiency bonus to an interaction skill check in a non-hostile situation.
night in a tavern, and generally your dress is fair. If your standard of living drops below decadent for at least 1 week
You heal attribute damage at the normal rate (fully recover after a long these bonuses are lost completely, and your entourage and the crowds turn
rest) after maintaining an average standard of living for at least 1 week. on you, casting you as the object of their derision.

36
 GM Guide

Common Names of
The Blight
These are examples of typical human names found within the Blight.
There are many more names to found within the city, but these can serve
as a guide for capturing the feel of the average names spoken on the streets
and in the gin houses of the city.
Male Names
Barbel Joshua Sorrel
Bathsedomil Kale Spurge
Bedomile Kotlin Sturgeon
Borage Loam Tanner
Breck Longhorn Toadflax
Carbuncle Luther Tog
Carder Natter Tomlin
Cleg Mab Turnip
Cole Mox Turnstone
Crig Oscar Tussock
Droll Padge Uriah
Ekrin Pleasant Weald
Flax Quarrel Weld
Gideon Qogg Welt
Grund Rudge Woad
Henbit Seth Wrack
Jacob Silas Wryneck

Female Names
Ancona Elisa Mercy
Bernice Elisabeth Murnifell
Blackberry Ettie Nan
Briney Fogou Nightscent
Broom Grace Poppy
Brudella Happiness Primrose
Bunting Hazel Rull
Buttercup Hemp Shanny
Catkin Hempy Shanny
Celeress Hope Sheepsbit
Chastity Hornet Tansy
Chen Humrineller Teasel
Constance Ivy Thenna
Curlew Juniper Uneria
Dandelion Katkin Vellia
Dulse Lettuce Weft
Ella Mallow Zydora

Surnames
Alderfly Grindylow Pumple
Bedstraw Gutter Rake
Blackfly Hartwill Rast
Blackhemp Hogweed Rowgate
Bladderwort Humpless Sedge
Botfly Kumblecramps Slyne
Brompton Kumblekumble Sough
Butterly Linton Stoat
Catchpenny Lucksikard Stotter
Cornuwell Mine Tangle
Cotter Mowthorpe Thornholme
Crump Mumblechump Tredge
Crush Mumpsy Troff
Dogerell Pedimine Turnkey
Flixton Podge Wodge
Frim Pollard Wold
Grindalythe Porter Zander
37
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City

For the GM
“Happiness lies neither in vice nor in virtue”

38
 GM Guide
The advice given herein is aimed specifically at the Blight and running answer. The Blight can literally exist in Between other places: a door
a rich, story-driven experience for you and your players. However, the in your city leads to the Blight, a shop front backs onto Between, or a
themes within and those outlined in The Blight Player’s Handbook — tramp wanders the streets of your city and the Blight. If using this more
complex relationships, family, power, and other ambiguous themes — magical approach, be careful how you choose to explain it; the Between
could fit well into any urban adventure path or indeed other campaigns. is in effect similar to a gate spell, allowing access between, but it is much
Rich relationships and family are at the centre of many adventures set in more fickle than that. You might not want such an explanation, however;
out-of-the-way places, betrayal can occur in the most remote spots, and gate spells are generally very rare, and having too many presents its own
complex groups can stretch across the countryside, not just streets. problems. Instead, you might wish for the simplest of explanations —
These rules and ideas won’t suit every group, so use only what you it’s a mystical place whose very nature is inexplicable: doors exist that
think you and your players will enjoy. connect to different places, but they simply are; occasionally the view
Finally, not everyone wants the complexity of followers, friends, powerful from an otherwise mundane window shows something completely
enemies, and shadowy sponsors. The Blight lends itself beautifully to the random; and a character falls down a seemingly endless tunnel and ends
more classic role-playing campaign too, with opportunities at every corner up in the Between and thence the Blight.
for adventuring. Whether it’s robbing a cruel merchant, exploring the
shifting jungles of the Between, or fighting in the bear pits and sweat vats of
the city’s underbelly, a city is a great place to adventure.
Using the Blight as a base for other adventures gives your players the
A City for Anywhere
opportunities to spend their hard-earned cash on magic, on pleasure, and The great thing about running a fantasy role-playing game is the
on the dubious goods for sale here. Each Blight adventure and District flexibility you have in determining detail. You can create vast volcanic
includes options to further develop stories as sidebars, but has at its core ranges, deep ocean trenches, and huge flood plains. In short, you determine
simple adventure. whole geographies. Once these ideas have been generated, you’re then
free to get into the details — how high, how deep, how wide? The same
goes for any fantasy city, and Castorhage is no different. I’ve presented

Bringing the
Castorhage as having a temperate climate with extremes of winter and
summer; however, it would be an easy task to adjust this — some sections
such as the Black Ice Fayre† of winter— would need to be reconsidered or
removed, but basic details could be altered quite simply.
Blight to Life Castorhage could be at the equator of your world — the heat and
squalor should therefore be emphasised. Litter the narrative with crushing
ivy growing up the sides of decaying buildings ravaged by the peculiar
The best campaigns and adventure paths are merely text without Castorhage stonemite (whose bite, of course, is painful and can kill
the input of a great GM and players to guide it and make it grow into babies). The river is sluggish and could become mudflats lasting many
something more. These groups often share their experiences on message- months in the dry seasons.
boards and get into character in a way actors might be proud of, immersing Flip the idea on its head and Castorhage becomes a sub-arctic hell, the
themselves in detail and complex handouts. On one occasion, I recall with black waters frozen for many months. Here the city dwells in a comatose
particular fondness, actual food was prepared for part of the adventure. frozen canker-shrouded blanket throughout the long, harsh winter.
An adventure is not unlike that food that served as part of our game. A Other ideas can easily be weaved into the mix, even the exotic such as
great adventure is not just about words but deeds, and a good GM adds Castorhage standing on the edges of a vast waterfall falling into nothing,
flavour to the words, spicing descriptions with sounds, sights, and smells or being the last point of call before the Burning Ocean. Use the text as a
to bring the whole to life in a satisfying and fulfilling way. canvas, not a script.
Castorhage pays serious attention to these senses, and each district of the
city has a “Sight, Sound and Smell” section as a part of it. Also, included
in each district is one additional section — what the place feels like. Is it
crowded or oppressive? Have an air of nervousness? Excitement? Some
Size Isn’t Everything
GMs may find this detail too much, and wish simply to play out events and One of the most important decisions you may wish to make is how
areas as written. However, I again include such detail because for many Castorhage fits into your world: Is it the basis for an ongoing campaign
GMs (myself included), this can transform a game into an experience. and thus the centre of everything?
Strong feelings leave an impression on the adventure, and as such may lead Castorhage is presented herein as a huge city, an impossibly massive
to a more satisfying experience. I can recall when simply the banging of my population at complete odds with a typical fantasy game setting. Its
hand on a radiator to define an echo from below suddenly created an air of population density as presented here is a little greater than that of the
menace, and when a tap on the underside of the playing table to define a borough of Manhattan at ~77,000 people per square mile. However,
sudden thump below the character’s feet pulled everyone’s gaze downward. despite its advanced technological state compared with much of the
Again, as with all of the Blight, the city is yours to do with as you world, Castorhage is by no means a “modern” city. It lacks the towering
please. Use as much or as little as you wish. skyscrapers, though it has a multitude of precariously tall tenement
buildings and a propensity to stack new construction haphazardly atop
old construction as in the Jumble and Festival. Though Festival and
The Blight: Mundane, TownBridge are not technically a part of the city in the legal definition, their
population numbers are included in the census here. In addition, though
Magic or Mythic Manhattan has a multitude of skyscrapers, a great portion of that real estate
is office space rather than residential space, of which Castorhage has only
The Blight is a place like no other; it bleeds into other realms, it a fraction by comparison. In fact, the typical apartment or residence of
bludgeons its way into narrow alleys, and it slithers its way beneath other Manhattan would be considered luxuriously roomy by better than 90%
cities. The insidious, twisted domain of Between has a peculiar effect upon of the population of Castorhage who settle for a single cramped room,
the place, and one you may wish to think about before you run anything garret, undercroft, stairwell, or door stoop that they call home. The Blight,
in and around the Blight: How does it work? As written, the Blight is a of course, has only a ghost of the infrastructure of a modern Manhattan
single place; a city made up of many parts to create a whole fantasy setting or London.
perched on the borders of reality with an extraordinary place — Between. However, even with the above considerations, the Blight’s size is
You might not want that, however. You might want a district, a shop, an still virtually unbelievable (always an interesting concept in a fantasy
NPC to come from here, and nothing else. These places and people might roleplaying game) in a contextual sense, like a swollen blood-gorged
be mundane parts of a whole, simple passers-by or districts that have tick always on the verge of rupture. This is greatly accounted for by
always existed in your city. You can, however, go for a more extraordinary Castorhage’s own unique quality hinted at in the “Between tessellation”
39
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
description in the sidebox. In short, the city’s proximity to Between
creates a sort of vortex of sentience (I would say humanity, but humanity
is only a majority representative of the beings found here).
This unique vortex of sorts consists of two principal features. Despite
How It All Began
the appalling mortality rates and constant threats of danger and disease, One of the most useful and inspiring RPG articles I’ve ever
Castorhage enjoys a subtle fecundity that ensures that the population can seen appeared in the pages of Imagine Magazine — TSR UK’s
renew itself and not only sustain its numbers but even grow despite the roleplaying periodical that was published during the decade of
plagues, pestilence, and famine that frequently afflicts the population on the ’80s. Imagine featured articles about a homegrown campaign
some scale. In addition, it seems to possess a strange form of unconscious called Pellinore and in some articles The City League — so called
mental. Those who are born in the Blight seldom leave — even those who because it was “a league across.” These city articles fascinated
travel far away to the city-state’s many colonies usually end up finding me in their level of detail. They would describe everything from
their way back home before all is said and done. This is no conscious entertainments in the city to obscure corners and plazas with an
compulsion; it just seems to work out that way more often than not. In incredible depth of character and interaction. To me, they were the
addition, foreigners who travel to Castorhage and remain for any extended consummate way to describe a city — down to every street corner,
period of time frequently stay permanently as well, start a family or raise every persona, and every obscure fact but always leaving space for
the one they brought with them and become a part of the city’s ever- development if the GM wished. This place lived. Yet always with
burgeoning populace. Again, this is not a conscious compulsion, and most such a place, there was room for expansion.
anyone asked about it as a motivation would outright deny such a thing, A long time ago I was lucky enough to have an adventure
but more often than not that is how things turn out. published called “The Styes” (Dungeon Magazine #121). I intended
It seems that the Blight is hungry and never sated. the place to be a simple one-off location for a single adventure, and
as such, the setting was fairly small, and provided scant details.
I’d read China Miéville’s incredible Perdido Street Station shortly
before writing it, and the amazing dark atmosphere Miéville created
soaked into me. Reaction to the adventure was good, and James
Jacobs suggested a sequel. I threw several ideas around, one of which
eventually became “The Weavers” in Dungeon #135. However, at
about this time I also began an adventure path with my own group,
based upon the Styes setting. This adventure path, loosely based
around The Maltese Falcon, greatly expanded upon that original
setting, and I soon realised that the Styes was not big enough for the
players to explore so other regions such as Festival Town and the
Spice Islands were incorporated. These in turn expanded into what
became a schizophrenic madness, an endless development that has
been fed and nurtured in a dark attic as it slowly became the City-
State of Castorhage.
That “The Styes” now languishes unused by its owners frustrates
me, but it has given birth to a new monster — The Blight — so in
many ways I’m grateful for its torpor.
Above all, the idea for this vast work owes itself to
If the population scale of Castorhage is simply too large for your campaign encouragement in my writing, both from message-board posters
use, however, simply drop the number by an order or magnitude or only adopt and especially from the wonderful people at Paizo and Frog God
the parts of the city that you really need. Just because the Blight is a growing, Games. For without that, and the kind words of many others, I
ravenous beast doesn’t mean that it has to be for your campaign world. would never have had the courage to undertake this project. It’s
also very important for me to thank people who have taken the
time to review my work, edit it, and suggest changes. I’ve looked

The Flavour at everything they’ve done, and I hope learnt from them. Your
suggestions and annoyances and likes have helped me to improve
in the past, and continue to improve in the future I hope.

of the Blight
This project is therefore yours, and I hope that I can repay you
by creating something to savour.

“The imagination is the spur of delights ...”

initially comes across as sex, violence, drugs, and other morally ambiguous
themes. Those issues certainly have their place in the Blight, as it’s a dark
The descriptions of people and places gives you an overview of the
fantasy setting, but it’s not all it’s about. The optional rules and ideas that
city, its decaying parts, and its twisted alleyways, which are merely the
follow are for you to judge. Do they suit your style, are they unacceptable to
main components to the dish. The true essence of the Blight lies also in its
your group or would they have a place with a slight alteration?
flavour, its smells, its atmosphere, and its spice.
Appendix Aincludes a number of random lists included to give you
some inspiration if you need any for the strange locales and locals found
in the city but also to give you a taste of what is lurking there. It is hoped Campaign Themes and Styles
these lists inspire you to set up adventures, encounters, or even perhaps Some groups play an incredibly deep and absorbing campaign; others
simple conversations in your own game. In addition, Appendix B includes like to relieve the stress of their daily lives by beating up orcs. Most
a lexicon of terms common to the folk of the Blight so you can sprinkle it games (ours included) prefer a balance of both; unmasking a politician
liberally throughout your campaign and create that living-city feel. one week, and slaughtering a group of goblins without dialogue the next.
Bear in mind also that the Blight is of course more than the sum of its Linking adventures into themes through the characters is one way to bring
parts and that any twisted dark fantasy setting could have these elements. your characters realistically together under a common bond. It’s not for
Over and above these flavours, here are a few more ideas to give you a everyone; some groups like to start and roll characters with total freedom
taste of the city. — an elf monk here, a dwarf barbarian there — but sometimes a change of
I started titling this next section “Mature Campaign Themes,” but I’m not pace is good. It may not always be appropriate to do so, but occasionally,
sure if that’s the exact phrase I wanted. Mature can mean many things, but ideas like the two below can offer a welcome change of pace.
40
 GM Guide

The City-State of Castorhage

CITY-STATE OF CASTORHAGE ates all manner of unpredictable and dangerous man-
Size: Metropolis ifestations within the city and its inhabitants.
Population: 3,285,000 (67% human, 5% mongrelfolk, 5% Colonial Power: Castorhage possesses a vast network of
ratfolk, 4% gnomish, 4% dwarven, 3% half-elven, 2% global colonies from which it can draw economic and
goblinoid, 1.5% half-orc, 1.3% briny, 1.2% orcish, 1% el- labour resources.
vish, 5% other, including halfling, swyne, tengu, inphidi- Overpopulation: Castorhage has a massive population
ans, tabaxi, grippli, ghazaks, dhampir, an vishkanyas) for the area it encompasses unparalleled elsewhere in
: Castorhage, for all appearances, is a hereditary mon- the world. Its massive economic, colonial, and magical
archy supported by a very a powerful, yet insular, bu- resources are the only things that stave off massive
reaucracy. Queen Alice is the ruler in name and title, starvation. However, it also creates an unprecedented
but the Crown Justices, three powerful bureaucrats, diversity, innovation and labour base causing a
control the vital areas of trade, defence, and colonisa- contradictory dichotomy of prosperity and poverty.
tion. Behind the scenes, the puppet strings are pulled
by a shadow syndicate, the Illuminati, who control the Notable NPCs
Crown Justices. But true supremacy rests with Demoriel, Demoriel the Twice-Exiled Seductress, Hidden Despo-
the Twice-Exiled Seductress, a manipulative arch-dev- trix of Castorhage
il who secretly rules from the shadows, plotting the Her Royal Highness Queen Alice, Monarch of Castor-
course she wishes Castorhage to take. hage
Defence: Castorhage is protected by the City Watch Her Royal Highness Princess Alicia, Heir Apparent
and the Royal Armies under the command of Duke Clovis, Crown Prince of the Capitol
Malice, a cousin of Queen Alice. There is also a secret Elaine of Aldwark, Queen’s Lady-in-Waiting
police force, the “Knockers,” that rounds up Anar- His Resplendent Grand Justice Braken, Crown Justice,
chists, dissidents, political enemies, and anyone seen Master of Courts
as a threat to the status quo of the ruling elite. His Resplendent Grand Justice Korsk, Crown Justice,
Commerce: There is no limit to the goods and services – Master of Trade
licit or illicit - available in Castorhage. Her Resplendent Grand Justice Ashleia, Crown Justice,
Qualities: academic, colonial power, holy site, magically Mistress of Commons
attuned, notorious, prosperous, racially intolerant His Grace Duke Malice, Captain-General of the City
(lowest caste), strategic location Watch and the Royal Armies
His Grace Duke Taim, Master of the Capitol
UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS Kevel Durmast, Watch Commander
Between Tessellation: The area of the city of Castorhage Prester Haft, General of the Royal Army
has the unique property of being exceptionally “close” His Holiness Umbertine IX, Father of the Church of
to a physical “other reality” called Between. This cre- Mother Grace

freedom. Working-class heroes, any class could feasibly be represented

The Player Characters as Part of the Story here, and rogues, fighters, and rangers could join forces with clerics,
Having a theme to a group of characters can be a great way to wizards, and a multitude of races. The binding arc for this party is to strike
commence and find a thread through a campaign. Are the characters all at the ruling classes in their corruption and unmask them. Adventures in
associated with a thieves’ guild? Are they all pirates or members of the this theme focus upon unmasking cruel overseers who use slaves and
same holy order? undead to work mills, revealing secret cults hidden within the aristocracy,
While theming a group is a powerful way to start a campaign, restrictive and stopping the filthy trade of golem-making.
themes can soon become tiresome, so whilst using these themes, try to The characters face the entire weight of the law in this campaign, which
vary them. Perhaps one group of characters is indeed part of a holy order, sees them as fugitives operating in the underclasses, and yet they are
but even such an order has its more dubious associates. Isn’t it true that glorified as heroes by the working folk who do all they can to help the
even the best and most spotless law enforcers must associate with and legendary Shadows.
occasionally (or perhaps often) deal with more dubious characters? Such a
party could easily be made up of clerics of the order, supported by fighters The Guild and Demelza
who though initially allied to the order could be disillusioned with it or This party is more ambiguous and operates from a thieves’ guild.
have a more selfish, profit-driven motivation for their alliance with a This guild could be a group of swarthy but kind-hearted Dickensian
powerful religion. A rogue could easily be “persuaded” to join the order rogues or a bunch of street thugs who use brutality to achieve their ends:
to assist in the more dubious of activities when nimble hands and a head wealth and power. The power they seek is an object, a mask that grants
for heights is crucial. incredible charisma and arcane power to whoever wears it. Sadly, the
Having limitations of race is occasionally interesting, and an all-gnome wrong person has it, a young witch by the name of Demelza (CN female
or dwarf party can make for an interesting campaign, but players often high elf witch). As the campaign arc begins, her actions within the Great
play their characters for a long time — sometimes many years — so be Coven, which is threatening to burst apart, are but small ripples in the
sure all your players are happy with this option before you consider it. great pool of the city.
Below are two potential options for themed character groups and how The binding theme here is greed and power; the characters face the
they may be involved and evolve in your campaign. wrath of the law and rival gangs as they seek to establish their own patch
of the city — perhaps even their own guild eventually. Adventures focus
The Shadow of Freedom on daring heists, dashing rooftop chases from sadistic guards, and working
Vile politicians, twisted royalty, and greedy thugs rule the city. Against in a city district to establish a base of operations. As the campaign begins
this backdrop there is a movement taking form — the Shadow of Freedom. to take on more of a structure, the characters learn that Demelza’s cohorts
Word spreads amongst the underclasses, and charismatic locals are sought are thriving right under their own feet in the Underneath. She has fled
to further the group’s ends. This group doesn’t want anarchy - they want from her own kind and has entered the bowels of the city to regroup.

41
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
The Great Coven cares nothing about who gets in the way, and the
locals are suddenly frozen with terror as night visitors and other things
cavort across the rooftops. Unfortunately, the characters are caught
between the two factions, and whatever action they take is construed by
Real Places with
the other as treachery. As Demelza becomes more desperate, she dabbles
with darker and more powerful devils, and soon these too are at large in
Blight Flavour
the character’s patch. More powerful aspects of all the different groups are Though the Blight is a fiction, a sheer folly of the improbable, its
brought together for a final confrontation in the vast spaces below the city. roots run deep in the real world. I can’t help but picture those places
from which her inspiration has been drawn when I crack open the
pages or dust off the keyboard to revisit the old girl. The main places
The Characters as the Whole Story I always have at the back of my mind when delving into the Blight
Another option is to modify the character’s background to be something are Fes in Morocco — one of the few true medieval cities left in the
extraordinary. In this way, a group of characters may become the focus of world — and, of course, London. Venice, York and Cambridge all
the campaign. This option lends a very strong connection between the also lurk somewhere in the streets of the city-state as well.
characters and the setting. It may, however, require the GM to flesh out Fes is a meandering confusion of alleys and footpaths, steep
the adventures accordingly, or modify published adventures with his own narrow streets, and the resonance of human work. The call to
theme. In taking this approach, it is vital to raise questions at each turn, prayers is something to be experienced as they echo across the city.
justify why events are happening, and seek answers. It would be churlish to deny that there is a lot of London in the
Following are two sample quirks from The Blight Player’s Handbook Blight; many names and inspirations are from the city, twisted and
used as examples for this process: spat down on this setting for your amusement. Peter Ackroyd’s
Noble’s Bastard. Far from being just any noble, it is a highborn priest incredible London: The Biography is the best book I’ve ever read
who has fathered the character. The character is the bastard offspring of about the capital and is a goldmine of great ideas.
Justice, the Lord Alfor Quent, Master of Humours. The characters are
brought together for some collective reason, perhaps to aid the unwanted
father or to thwart him. How do events proceed from here? Does the The bottom line with this and many other fantasy settings is that power
Justice know of the characters and judge them irrelevant or crucial? Do rules. If the characters get caught in the Royal Palace and end up before
the Justice’s enemies know of the characters and consider them valuable Alicia — the little queen — and she yells, “Off with their heads!” then
tools for future plots? Does the character hate the Justice, having been unless the characters escape, and escape quickly, they’ve had it. That is
brought up as an orphan? not to say, however, that a lord ordering a serf to chop his hand off expects
Child of a Famous Beauty. Famous beauty the character’s parent may him to do so. Making an enemy of a sir or lord may bring the characters
be, but looks are only skin deep. The character is a child not of one beauty, trouble in a different way, however; he’s likely to have plenty of powerful
but many, a cult of witches that were each burned at the stake long ago. friends, plenty of money, and plenty of influence. Perhaps he’s friends
Now the characters have been brought together for some reason. In truth, with the local Watch Captain, and can ensure that the characters are
the witches’ child has already infected his friends — the other characters harassed or followed, or his house is better guarded.
— with his arcane sickness, and their fates are now intertwined.
The cult mothers sold the souls of their children to the Devil, whose The Caste Levels of Castorhage
cohorts come collecting on the first child’s name day. The first child is an
Royal
NPC who brings her kin together to fight back against the Devil. She tells
Upper Class
the characters that they must stick together or risk a fate worse than death,
Middle Class
but soon after the campaign begins she vanishes, and soon the Devil’s
Lowfolk
cohorts begin to appear.
Invisibles
You can modify these quirks to certain characters , or all of them as
Lowest of the Low
you wish, giving the characters a ready-made focus and enemy at the start
of things to hang your campaign on or to add to existing adventures to
give them a personal touch. characters of different races and ages present
different challenges, but having the group begin as friends or subjects of a Caste Characteristics
particular NPC is always a good starting point. For those who really wish to immerse their campaigns into the injustice
of caste and class, here are some characteristics you may wish to make
available to characters. Only one caste characteristic may be chosen per

Castes characters, and that choice is made when a character is created.

Each caste characteristic is associated with one or two specific castes
and can be taken only by those of the proper caste. The feat is physically
Caste is about birth and breeding, and it’s something that a clever person manifested in the body of the individual as much as in his actions, so
can easily use to her advantage. How you play this option depends on how presence of the characteristic is obvious to any native Castorhager unless
much you wish to make of caste issues. Some find them abhorrent, and hidden by Deception checks as detailed above. As etiquette is so richly
prefer to play with them out of the way. That’s fine. Just have it playing bound with grace and breeding in the Blight, so caste is also accent,
along in the background: royalty looks down on upper caste, who look education, and demeanour. Therefore, simple spells such as alter self
down on middle caste, who frown on low caste. still require a Charisma (Deception) check to pull off the charade when
If you wish to make a simple rule, then the gap between each caste speaking as one from a different caste.
is reflected in a penalty for social interaction — that is Deception, Note to the GM: These are intended for immersion. If they do not fit
Intimidation, and Persuasion checks. The penalty for each separation of with your game then definitely ignore them, tweak them, or alter them
caste is 2, so a common man trying to persuade an upper-class banker does however works best for you and your players.
so at DC +4, simply because the banker mistrusts him, and vice versa.
A character can fake higher caste simply by use of Deception, the check
is made at DC +2 for the first separation, and DC +4 for the next. A member
of the royal family covertly trying to join the lower caste anarchist group
Labouring Caste
does so at DC +4. As GM, you may wish to play up stressful situations:
for example, a character trying to talk round a princess at a dinner party.
(Lowfolk or Invisibles)
Caste may be a good way to enhance role-playing situations, but it may You have broad shoulders and a harsh, coarse appearance.
also not be your cup of tea. As ever, use it or not as you wish. Benefit: You can apply your proficiency bonus to all Deception,

42
 GM Guide

Expert Caste (Middle Class)

You have the quick wits and intense concentration of the Middle Class
but bear the worry lines and bags under your eyes of one always beset by
the worries and weight of an unforgiving world.
Benefit: You can apply your proficiency bonus to all Deception,
Intimidation, and Persuasion checks within your caste, regardless if
proficient in the skill or not. You are always alert and aware of your
surroundings, taking notice of anything out of the ordinary. You are
proficient in Perception.
Special: When operating outside your caste, the DC of Deception, Intimidation
and Persuasion checks increases by 2 for each level of caste separation.

Educated Caste (Royal,

Upper Class, or Middle Class)
You have the highbrow and piercing stare of an educated person.
Benefit: You can apply your proficiency bonus to all Deception,
Intimidation, and Persuasion checks within your caste, regardless if
proficient in the skill or not. You are proficient in either History or
Religion (pick one).Special: When operating outside your caste, the DC
of Deception, Intimidation and Persuasion checks increases by 2 for each
level of caste separation.

Caste Locations
These are the general castes of parts of the city. Use them as a rule of
thumb but bear in mind that traders abound in the Capitol, and Royals are
sometimes seen in Toiltown.

Royal: Capitol
Upper Class: BookTown, Capitol, Hollow and Broken Hills, the Sinks
Middle Class: Artists’ Quarter, the Barnacles, Town Bridge
Lowfolk: Festival, Jumble, Toiltown, Underneath
Invisibles: Festival, Toiltown
Intimidation, and Persuasion checks within your caste, regardless if Lowest of the Low: Festival, Toiltown
proficient in the skill or not. You have exceptional Strength from working
as a labourer all your life. You are proficient in Strength Athletics.
Special: When operating outside your caste, the DC of Deception,
Intimidation and Persuasion checks increases by 2 for each level of caste
separation.
Duels
Duels are common in the Blight amongst all classes and castes, and
are a good way to settle matters without them getting messy. They are a
Gable Caste commonplace way to resolve issues that are likely to otherwise result in a

(Lowfolk or Invisibles)
You have long, clever fingers and slightly longer arms, and your head
has a slight upward tilt to its deportment.
The Honourable Guild of
Benefit: You can apply your proficiency bonus to all Deception,
Intimidation, and Persuasion checks within your caste, regardless if
Duelling Referees
proficient in the skill or not. You are incredibly dextrous and can gain This august body, of course, does not exist in the city. However,
proficiency in Sleight of Hand. a successful DC 20 Intelligence (Investigation) check always
Special: When operating outside your caste, the DC of Deception, Intimidation avails one of a local member of the unspoken guild. These Referees
and Persuasion checks increases by 2 for each level of caste separation. ensure fair play and that honour is satisfied and operate on a strictly
controlled hierarchical wage system. A Referee for a Duel to First
costs the participants 50 gp; a Duel to Second costs 100 gp; a Duel
Sailing Caste (Lowfolk) to Third costs 200 gp; and a Duel to Fourth costs 300 gp. Not using
a Referee may raise awkward questions afterward: If the duellists
You bear the tanned weatherworn skin of your caste and strong, broad hands. had nothing to hide, and if the winner was “so honourable” and
Benefit: You can apply your proficiency bonus to all Deception, didn’t need to cheat, why wasn’t there a Referee? It is considered
Intimidation, and Persuasion checks within your caste, regardless if gentlemanly, for the challenger to pay for the Referee, but this is
proficient in the skill or not. You have spent your life on the water and not always the case, and for those of lower castes, there are always
know the ins and outs of sailing. You are proficient in Vehicles (water). folk nearby who might act as an arbiter in a tight spot or, if not, a
Special: When operating outside your caste, the DC of Deception, Intimidation baying crowd who otherwise suffice.
and Persuasion checks increases by 2 for each level of caste separation.

43
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
protracted campaign and, ultimately, death. They can also be very exciting maybe what he stands for and whom he works for are abhorrent to an NPC
to role-play. who was once a friend.
Duels are illegal (but then, theoretically, so is murder) but follow a very You might occasionally wish for such an enemy to be incredibly
strict set of guidelines. Duels are to “First” (the first wound to a participant powerful, however. Starting off a campaign being hated by Duke Taim
ends the duel), “Second” (where the loss of 75% of hit points ends the makes for an interesting twist to any campaign. Taim is not omnipotent
duel), “Third” (where the fight goes on until one person is brought down but has tough friends, and an adventure starting with a group of constables
to 0 hit points), or “Fourth” (to the death, where the character that drops to kicking in the characters’ door to arrest them for heresy could provide
0 hit points is killed outright by the other duellist). Duels are always fought some lively play. However, it requires additional work on your part to
on neutral ground, and weapons are either melee or ranged. Sometimes either explain why Duke Taim doesn’t continually pursue the characters
magical duels are fought. once they escape or explain how the characters are repeatedly able to
Seconds are used to act as assistants to the duellists, and sometimes avoid his efforts.
(particularly in Third or Fourth duels) it may be agreed that seconds also Another, less front-heavy option is to never throw away a good villain.
participate. All duels require the services of a Referee. If the characters defeat a villain on an adventure but don’t make sure
Many Duels to First and Second are accompanied by a wager — often that he’s dead, it’s very easy to again use that same villain (now with a
a considerably large wager — that the loser hands over the sum without revenge motive against the characters). Likewise, even if they are more
complaint. Cheating, reneging on a wager, or other such despicable acts thorough in their administrations against said villain, perhaps she has
soon lead to an establishment of a reputation, and there are some duellist some well-connected friends of her own who might spring to have her
clubs and guilds — most notably the Royal Duellists — who seek out raised or perhaps saved at the very brink of death only to be transformed
cheats and duel them … or simply murder them. into an alchymic-undying†. In a place like the Blight, the options for a
Those who play fairly and honour the traditional rules of duelling are long-term villain reappearing from a past adventure are almost limitless.
respected, even by their enemies. And as the characters advance in level, power, and influence, a good
villain should do the same with the expansive resources and alliances to
be found in the city.

Enemies For instance, if during an adventure the characters kill Rammen the
wererat cultist, unless they take precautions to keep his death secret,
his sister Campion hears about it 1d4 days later. Campion (a.k.a. the
Great enemies make a great campaign. A recurring villain can generate Mistress of the Ashen Lantern) (NE female human wererat burglar) is
stronger feelings than the toughest monster, and having someone who can part of the Cult of the Elder One, and commands followers, most of whom
outsmart the characters from time to time is a good way of levelling the are wererat rogue/clerics. Campion loved her brother and immediately
playing field of your campaign. However, recurring villains come with becomes an enemy of everyone who took part in the raid that ended in
some warnings: Don’t overdo them, and don’t make them omnipotent, his death. Based in Festival, her lair is a festering vat of filth filled with
omniscient, or omnipresent. Base your villain on logic, bound by the same her victims. Campion begins her enmity by stalking individual characters,
rules your characters have, and they’ll work fine. A good recurring villain finding their homes and preparing to attack the ones who live alone.
should have a way out, but one based on sound game sense. A potion of And of course, all of this plays out as the backdrop to whatever new
gaseous form or a scroll of fly are both good methods to use, but hold your adventure the characters happen to be undertaking.
master villain to the same rules the characters have and be prepared for
your characters coming after her. The predictable garbage truck pulling
out of a side alley at the last minute to unintentionally block a pursuit
should be reserved for only your worst game sessions. Ergo, always be
prepared that the villain may be caught or killed.
Fads of the Blight
In the same way that a master villain makes a great addition to some “It is always by way of pain one arrives at pleasure.”
campaigns, so do more mundane enemies. Enemies great and small —
from individuals to guilds, cults and monsters — bring another dimension Fashions shift almost daily within the chic circles of the Blight, and one
to play. However, they come at a cost: more work for you as the GM. day’s fad is tomorrow’s cast off. The most current fads are listed below,
Enemies have actions, lives, lairs, and probably friends and enemies of although they can change as quickly as the wind.
their own, and you must decide early on how much work you’re prepared
to do. A simple basic villain such as a cult is an easy way to start. As the
characters kill the cultists other more powerful cult leaders hear about it Art as Cruelty/Cruelty as Art
and try to eradicate the characters. Eventually, clues lead to a showdown
and a good campaign ending. A more complex issue would be a group of The Surrealists Club delights in using pain as art, and whilst some of
Anarchists; the relationships within that group are complex, and perhaps these groups are little more than sadomasochists, others are much more
some allies are also partly enemies. The characters could even side with sinister. The use of flesh for art is unsettlingly common in the Blight, and
their enemies temporarily to attack a greater mutual foe, although can is fast attaining a cult following. The creation of art from broken, living
anyone be trusted in such a complex situation? flesh is something that has coincided with the rise of the Cult of N’gathau
within the city, who are able to keep victims alive whilst lacerating and
filleting them. A scattering of notable groups, including the revolting
Optional Rule: Panacea, have risen in recent times to indulge in this travesty.
Of course, there are always those who imitate art, and the rise in sadistic
Enemies as a Penalty serial killings involving the lacerating of flesh has soared recently.

Just as Part 3 introduced the idea of friends of the characters as part of

their creation process, the Blight also offers the possibility of introducing Goblin Pets and
enemies into their lives and the idea of enemies as a penalty. In a thriving
vibrant place like a city, there is generally no cause without effect: You Awakened Animals
almost always reap what you sow.
You may wish to allocate enemies to characters at the start of their The latest fashionable accessories to be seen with — goblin pets and
careers, in the same way that they come into the story with friends. Bear awakened animals (almost always dressed in imitation of humans) — are
in mind the relative strengths and importance of starting-level characters seen frequently in the Blight and command a high price. Kept on a chain and
when deciding their enemies, and again don’t just think of individuals regarded with some amusement, the creature has learnt that if it behaves to
alone. Perhaps the character is part of a family that wronged an NPC, or amuse, it is not hurt. Awakened animals learn very quickly, and some have
surmised that every single cat in the Blight is awakened. Goblins tend to be
44
 GM Guide

Clubs, Guilds,
Cults and Gangs
Making a foe of an individual can be dangerous; cunning or powerful
individuals may stalk and attack characters when they are at their most
vulnerable or hire assassins and other killers to do so on their behalf. Far more
dangerous, however, are cults, groups, kinsmen, and gangs, for these are likely
to have deeper resources and can make multiple attacks upon their enemies.
On the other hand, membership in such groups can make for powerful
allies — or perhaps, not-so powerful allies that create more of a hassle
than a benefit. Most groups don’t necessarily advertise what weaknesses
and liabilities they possess while certainly overselling their strengths. In
any case, whether friend or foe, the myriad groups that the characters
could become associated with provide you with endless opportunities for
mayhem, mystery, and even some mirth.
Some cults may also operate as clubs and some guilds may operate as
gangs or — as in the case of The Guild — be composed of many, many
different gangs. You should typically determine whether a group stands
opposed to a character or as an organisation that a character could potentially
want to join and then handle the representation of that group accordingly
based on the information provided in this section. For general purposes
here, cults and gangs (and the Great Houses — see below) are presented
as adversarial groups and clubs and guilds as organisations that might be
something the characters would be interested in gaining membership.

Clubs
Unlike guilds, clubs are relatively easy to join, rise within, and leave.
These organizations all have a prerequisite to join, a membership benefit,
sometimes (but not always) a special feature, and with the addition of an
slower to learn but are no less comedic in the eyes of the elite as they make advancement protocol. Unless otherwise noted (or as in the case of some
their ineffectual attempts to resist or win their freedom. secret clubs), an individual may not be a member of more than one club
A good goblin pet or awakened animal able to perform tricks fetches at at a time. While a member in good standing, the character gains all the
least 200 gp; those who do more astounding things fetch even higher prices. benefits of club membership, but these are lost as soon as that membership
The Garbled Poet, a goblin that quotes poetry, was recently the subject of a dissolves. However, at that point the individual is free to begin membership
2,000 gp bid from a collector; a bid refused by its current owner. with a new club. Many clubs require an annual fee. If that fee is not paid,
The whispered idea that these goblins somehow steal out of their homes the member is placed on probation and no longer gains the benefits of the
at night and meet below the streets of the city has been roundly ridiculed club (though any special penalties still apply). The individual can come
by all parties, but it’s only a matter of time before the truth of the situation off probation simply by paying any overdue membership fees and become
comes to light in a most disagreeable spectacle. a member in good standing again with all the normal benefits.
There are thousands of different clubs within the City-State of
Castorhage — some enormous and influential, some small and virtually
Macabre Fashions unknown. A few sample clubs are provided below to use or to serve as a
template for other clubs that you may wish to introduce to your campaign.
Aristocrats get bored very quickly and require the very latest
indulgences and fashions, partaking in an almost frenzied desire to be seen
in the right places by the right people wearing the right clothes. A macabre
fashion has grown recently that is accentuated by the wearing of undead
Amateur Mendicants (Club)
objects as clothing or accessories. Animated insects are the usual choice, A group of deluded aristocrats, wealthy individuals, and the curious
but unliving stoles are also seen as de-rigour amongst the higher families. who wander the streets dressed as beggars.
A small selection of such objects follows. Prerequisite: Seeking out a member of the Mendicants is not easy,
unless assigned as a reward or occurring as an encounter, it requires a DC
Item Cost 20 Intelligence (Investigation) check with one attempt allowed per month.
On a successful check, a DC 23 Charisma (Deception or Persuasion) check
Earrings, unliving, undead moths set on silver is then required to convince members to allow another to join their group.
60 gp
hasps Other methods of entry are at your discretion. For example, someone who
Stole fox fur, composed of torpid, undead fox 400 gp spends months dressed as a beggar at a place known to be frequented by
members of the mendicants may impress them sufficiently to approach
Cape, ghoul-flesh 200 gp that individual.
Gown, wedding, egret feathers accented by Benefit: The Mendicants have an incredible network of spies and
400 gp
carved monkey-bone swans knowledge of the city. Twice per month, a member can ask a question
of her fellows and gain the ability to make an immediate Investigation
Scarf, human hair 5 gp
check with advantage and as if they have expertise in the skill (apply 2x
proficiency bonus).
Special: A member must spend at least one day out of each week
dressed as a beggar and living on the streets of the city. This is a risky
45
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
endeavour, however, and all members face one random encounter per Prerequisites: Various arms of the group are seen in the rowdier or
month (as determined by the GM) that starts out as hostile. more fashionable holes of gluttony and excess in the city. One needs
Advancement: Roll 1d20 once per month for an opening. On a 20, a simply appear at one, and spend money trying to impress would-be peers.
position of local Mendicant Clerk for a district opens up. This position Once per week a petitioner can spend 200 gp, and make an immediate
earns 100 gp per year and allows the Clerk to request information as above DC 20 Charisma (Deception or Persuasion) check to gain membership.
once per week rather than twice per month. In addition, while researching Swyne† can add their proficiency bonus to this check. Membership requires
her own district, she can make such checks daily. the spending of 100 gp per month minimum, but for each 50gp spent
in excess, the DC of the Investigation check mentioned in the Benefits
section is reduced by 1, to a maximum of 3.
Arcanum Infernus (Club) Benefits: Once per week a member can ask a fellow Hedonist to
spend the day making an Investigation check to gather information on
A small group of like-minded people who find death fascinating. their behalf. This check uses the requesting member’s Investigation skill
Prerequisites: Ability to cast necromancy spells. Initiation is by modifier but with their proficiency and any added reduction to the DC as
invitation only - a character can make one attempt per month at a cost of mentioned above. to the check. A Hedonist also has access to money since
100 gp to bribe and try to impress members. It requires a successful DC so many swyne loan sharks are members. Loans of up to 500 gp are always
17 Intelligence (Arcana) check to be invited. If invited, there is a one-time available, subject to a 7-day term of repayment at 10% interest. If not paid
fee of 250 gp for a lifetime membership. within the specified time, the weekly interest rate doubles. If a member
Benefit: A member can access the Infernus Library at will, which defaults on a loan for 4 weeks in a row, she is kicked out of the club and
contains all necromancy spells up to 4th level. Members using the hired thugs are likely to come knocking looking for the money (GM’s
library in relation to research of necromancy spells or magic items do so discretion). Only one loan may be taken out at a time.
advantage to their Arcana checks and as if they have expertise in the skill Special: Each month, a Hedonist faces a random, hostile city encounter.
(apply 2x proficiency bonus).. Advancement: Roll 1d20 once per month for an opening. On an
Special: Unpopular: Club members are often targeted by religious 18–20, the position of Honoured Glutton opens up after another member
orders determined to remove their stain from society. In encounters with dies. The position costs 100 gp per month, but allows access to a twice-
some good or lawful aligned religious orders or churches, members have weekly request of the Investigation check above and up to 2,500 gp can be
disadvantage on all Charisma-based checks. borrowed as a loan. Honoured Gluttons can make a check once a month to
Advancement: Members that show proficiency in Arcana, History, and see if the position of Hoglord becomes available. On a 20, the position is
Religion are offered access into the Inner Quorum. For a one-time fee of available; it costs 250 gp per month but grants legal access to the Capitol
1,000 gp they gain access to all necromancy spells up to 5th level. Those and the Sanctuary as an “honourary noble.” Loans of up to 10,000 gp are
who have proved themselves worthy (usually through a quest or a difficult available to Hoglords.
task) and who are part of the Inner Quorum are automatically appointed
to the Inner Council, where they have access to the whole library of all
known necromancy spells up to 7th level. Physiciana Insectum (Club)
The Physiciana experiment with compounds and breeding techniques
Brothers of the Gables (Club) for standard insectum† to try to enhance their effects.
Prerequisites: Proficiency in Medicine and Nature. Fees are 100 gp
Climbers, explorers, and daredevils, the Brothers of the Gables delight in per year.
finding the highest buildings to climb, and reaching the most remote parts Benefits: The member is able to purchase insectum at 80% of normal
of the rooftops of the city. Many gablemaesters are members of this club. price and once per week, can purchase a specially enhanced version of any
Prerequisites: A petitioner to join must climb a prominent building within insectum, at a 50% increase in cost that has either no associated penalty or
the city requiring a DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check of at least 150 feet double the duration (buyer’s choice).
without ropes or other aids. The petitioner’s Athletics check result is then Advancement: Members with a +5 or greater modifier to both the
removed from the Persuasion or Deception check required by the petitioner Medicine and Nature skills learn to enhance insectum themselves, enabling
after the successful climbing feat to impress the membership. This follow- her to produce the variant insectum above with only a 25% increase in
up check has a base DC 25, which is reduced as described above. cost. Members with a +8 or greater modifier in both skills always create
Benefits: Membership opens doors to other routes, methods, and ways up enhanced insectum when they breed it (limited to once per week).
famous buildings, as well as knowledge of those places. Intelligence checks
by members regarding any tall building or high part of the city such as the
Jumble or the Capitol are made with their proficiency bonus applied and
with advantage.Advancement: A member can attempt one qualifying climb
School of Hard Knocks (Club)
(whether successful or not) per month as under Prerequisites above but with A group of duellers who enjoy wrestling, a boxing match, baiting, and
a minimum height of 200 feet. If successful she can attempt to increase generally watching or participating in melees for pleasure. They are based
her standing in the brotherhood by making an immediate DC 20 Charisma within various establishments across the city and are profligate.
(Deception or Persuasion) check after making the attempt (not modified Prerequisites: Two levels in a martial class (barbarian, fighter, monk,
by the success of the Athletics check). Success on this check indicates paladin, ranger, rogue). Fees for carousing and instruction by experts and
acceptance into an inner circle where further techniques of climbing oddsmakers are 250 gp per year.
buildings are shared, allowing them to apply double their proficiency bonus Benefits: Once per month a member can place a wager on a match with
on Athletics checks when climbing.Fame or Infamy: There are those in the advance knowledge. Matches have odds of 20:1, 12:1, 10:1, 8:1, 6:1, or
club who seek out multiple climbs of astonishing danger. A member making 4:1 (member’s choice). Members can reduce the odds of this match by
a climb with a minimum of a DC 25 Strength (Athletics) check becomes one die category (20:1 becomes a d12, 12:1 becomes a d10, 10:1 becomes
famous as does anyone climbing a building that is particularly legendary at a d8, 8:1 becomes a d6, 6:1 becomes a d4, and 4:1 becomes a d3). On a
the GM’s discretion (such as the outside of the Great Royal Cathedral [C9]). roll of 1 on the appropriate die the member is a winner and the pay-out is
Such famous members make all Charisma (Persuasion or Deception) checks at the original odds (not the adjusted odds received by the member). The
with advantage anywhere in the city where they announce their fame. maximum bet a member can make on one of these matches is 50 gp.
Special: Because of their penchant for winning long odds and taking
other people’s money, club members face at least one random, hostile city
Hedonists (Club) encounter once per month.
Advancement: Roll 1d20 once per month for an opening. On a natural
Carousers and gluttons, the Hedonists are a loose affiliation of those 20, the position of Club Secretary opens up with a one-time cost of 1,000
who like the finer things in life and indulge in them heartily. gp in addition to the standard 250 gp per year club fees. Secretaries have
46
 GM Guide
access to better tips and can wager once a month as above but either with they are Upper Class and therefore entitled). By gathering together,
a reduction in odds by two die categories (d3 minimum) or with a cap of and seeking to further their collective aims as scholars, the Castorhage
100 gp instead of 50 gp. In the latter option, the Secretary can split the bet Arcane Society has grown in strength and influence. Guild members are
over two bets of 50 gp if she so chooses. marked with a secret and permanent arcane tattoo (not unlike a typical
Club Secretaries can check each month to see if the post of District guild tattoo, but one infused with arcane energy), that shifts and changes,
Secretary turns up (also on a roll of 20), which has a one-time cost of including growing in size as new ranks are achieved within the guild. Any
2,500 gp on top of the 250 gp annual fees. District Secretaries get even other member of the guild automatically recognises the tattoo if she sees
better tips and each month can choose to either reduce the odds against it, and is better disposed to her fellow member, granting advantage to all
them by two die categories and have a 100-gp monthly cap (divisible into Charisma (Persuasion) checks made by her fellow scholar.
2 bets if she chooses) or instead have a 200-gp monthly cap which is
divisible by up to 4 50-gp bets). District Secretaries oversee admission Leader
of new members.
Artemi Nightshade (LE male human archmage) serves as the Grand
Cabalist of the Castorhage Arcane Society. As a scion of that Great House
Warreners Club (Club) (see below), Artemi commands both a great deal of wealth and a great
deal of political influence. He has learned that to best serve the Society (as
The Warreners Club are amateur explorers of the Underneath. They well as to line his own pockets without interference) it is better to remain
meet up to talk and discuss and swap information about subterranean apolitical in the constant tug-of-war for power between these houses and
places and enthuse about all matters below. Many are also members of the the Royal Family. He is neither an ally nor an enemy of any, though he
Royal Underneath Society. certainly tends to favour Nightshade agendas if they are not at odds with
Prerequisites: Proficiency in Nature and Survival. One attempt may be his goals for the Society. His greatest fear is that Ticcia Borxia (CE female
made each week to locate a member of the club, and doing so requires a human archmage), the recent Master Cabalist (ranking member of the
successful DC 20 Intelligence (Investigation) check. Membership in the circle of 12 senior members, the Cabal, just below the Grand Cabalist),
club is free, but the member must pay 25 gp per year in social dues. is not so neutral toward her own family name as she claims and secretly
Benefits: Exposure to experts on the Underneath and Great Dark benefits plots to suborn the Society itself and eliminate Artemi in the process. His
members of the club by offering insight and important information about suspicion is not incorrect.
these areas. Because of this, members are considered proficient when
making Nature or Survival checks that are specific to the Underneath and Headquarters
the Great Dark and they are in the company of at least one other member The headquarters of the Castorhage Arcane Society is a secret known
of the Warreners. This limitation on accessibility can be modified at the only to its members. The Society meets in one of the Inner Libraries at the
GM’s discretion based on any means of remote communication by spell or Great Library of BookTown (B8). Master Temmil, the Curator, prepares
magic item that a member may possess. the necessary rooms at times when the Society is meeting and lets members
Special: Creatures whose environment includes underground terrain into the locked building when such meetings are held after hours. Temmil
instinctively know a Warrener when encountered. These creatures are is not a member of the Society, but he is a respected supporter of it.
usually hostile to the Warrener.
Advancement: Warreners with +5 or greater modifier to both the Nature Joining
and Survival skills are invited into the inner circle of select members
known as the Descent and can access the club library and museum. Membership of the guild is sponsored by an existing member in good
Members of the Descent using the museum and library as a research tool standing and largely dictated by character wealth. Individuals seeking the
related to subterranean matters have advantage on related skill checks. friendship (and sponsorship) of a member must first locate one with a
Descent members are expected to pay 100 gp per year in upkeep for the successful DC 10 Intelligence (Investigation) check. Once located, the
library, as well as the social dues, but can invite other members into the petitioner can attempt a DC 20 Charisma (Deception or Persuasion) check
club as they wish providing they meet the necessary prerequisites. once per month which, if successful, is followed by an immediate DC
15 Intelligence (Arcana) check. Failure of either check results in refusal,
although further attempts can be made in following months.
Guilds If a character is successful in these checks and wishes to join the
Society, she must demonstrate the ability to cast arcane spells of at least
While clubs can be difficult to enter but easy to leave, one is a member of 1st level and must then pay a one-time 100-gp membership fee. Once
a guild for life. They are an altogether more serious path, and while bound by this has been done, the individual receives the guild’s arcane mark and is
the one crucial rule — financial — they are in general a closer-knit group. Just inducted at the rank of Apprentice of the Society.
as there are thousands of clubs within the Blight, there are many hundreds Special Note: Because the Society is open to all arcane spellcasters
of guilds ranging in size from large and mighty to small and virtually with the financial means to join, it is one of the few groups that doesn’t
insignificant. Also, as with clubs, an individual can generally be a member of mind if its members are also members in other guilds as well.
only one guild (though leaving them tends to be much more difficult and, after
doing so, gaining membership to another virtually impossible). Gaining Renown with the Society
Because of the detailed nature of guilds and the sheer number of them Gaining renown in the Society is always a matter of buying it. It takes
throughout the city, only two sample guilds are given below (and even the form of increased fees paid to the Society to gain greater access to
they are related). A list of many of the guilds within the city is provided in rank and resources. Society rank is determined by Total Renown (TR)
The Blight Campaign Guide, but even it is not exhaustive. Rather than and the benefits of the Society are likewise defined by these ranks. The
list them all, this sample should serve to provide you with the means to various ranks of the Society and the one-time monetary cost to achieve
construct any sort of guild to suit your campaign. them is listed below. It is not possible to move up in the Society more
In addition to the normal means of gaining renown (within a guild or than one rank per month unless some extraordinary circumstance dictates
organization, you can also award renown to guild member characters as otherwise (as determined by the GM).
rewards or for characters who achieve personal goals related to matters
pertaining to the guild. More information on this can be found in the
Personal Goals section later in this chapter. TR Society Rank Cost
1 Apprentice of the Society 100 gp
The Castorhage Arcane Society 2 Minor Scholar 200 gp
Wizards and other arcane spellcasters who seek to advance within the 3 Lesser Scholar 400 gp
Blight often find that their somewhat despised craft brands them (unless
47
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
TR Society Rank Cost
4 Arcane Caster 600 gp
5 Arcane Scholar 800 gp
6 Maester 1,000 gp
7 Spellbinder 1,200 gp
8 Maester Scholar 1,500 gp
9 Arcane Maester 1,800 gp
10 Cabalist* 2,100 gp

* After achieving the rank of Cabalist, every additional payment of

3,000 gp earns 1 additional TR, but does not provide an increase in rank.
The TR above 10 can be used as “good will” when it is time to select a
new Grand Cabalist.

If a member’s TR is ever reduced to 0, they are no longer a member

in good standing and no longer gain any benefits of membership. All
encounters with Society members are with disadvantage on Charisma-
based skill checks. It is up to the GM whether a member can buy her way
back into good standing or not, depending on what caused it to be lost in
the first place.

Resources
In any hostile city encounter, a Society member who reveals herself
as such had advantage on Charisma checks to adjust the attitudes of the
belligerents. If the attitudes are adjusted to at least indifferent and the
Society member does nothing to further provoke the other parties, then
she will be allowed to leave the encounter unmolested.
It is known within the Society and without that some unscrupulous
casters when confronted with hostilities may claim to be members of the
Society even when that is not actually the case. The Society combats this by
actively policing those who make such claims to weed out the pretenders.
In any city encounter where membership in the society is claimed and it
succeeds in defusing the situation, there is a base 20% chance that another new spells (6th level and below) or magic items (common, uncommon
member of the Society or a thrall of a member is within earshot who will quality) by 20%.
cast detect magic to confirm the membership. Society members always 5 TR: Able to purchase arcane scrolls from the Society of up to caster
recognise the distinctive appearance of one of their tattoos using detect level 7 with no limit on the number available. The cost of obtaining magic
magic. If the person claiming membership proves to be false, the Society items and materials for creation of new magic items and spells is 20% less
member will immediately call them out on it and demand their surrender for when purchased through the guild procurement system.
Society judgment. Whether an actual fight ensues depends on the relative 6 TR: Your arcane assistant is now an advanced arcane research
strengths and confidence of the member making the accusation. In any case, assistant capable of doing research for you during downtime. Your
such a perpetrator is marked for further investigation by the Society. assistant also reduces the amount of time it requires to research and craft
The public is aware of the Society’s work in weeding out imposters and new spells (7th level and below) or magic items (common, uncommon,
is generally amiable if not exactly helpful to such endeavours. However, rare quality) by 30%.
if the claim of being a member of the Society does not diffuse the hostility 7 TR: Able to purchase arcane scrolls from the Society of up to caster
in a situation, any Society members nearby will not intervene, preferring level 8 with no limit on the number available. The cost of obtaining magic
to avoid notice themselves in such dangerous surroundings. items and materials for creation of new magic items and spells is 30% less
In addition to this general protective reputation provided by the Society, when purchased through the guild procurement system.
membership also provides other benefits based on the member’s Total 8 TR: Your arcane assistant is now an expert arcane research assistant
Renown (TR). capable of doing research for you during downtime. Your assistant also
1 TR: Able to purchase arcane scrolls from the Society of up to caster level reduces the amount of time it requires to research and craft new spells (8th
4 with no limit on the number available. Gain advantage on Arcana checks level and below) or magic items (common, uncommon, rare, very rare
related to one school of magic (your choice). Gain access to the network of quality) by up to 40% (GM discretion, especially with very rare).
procurement specialists employed by the Society. These specialists provide 9 TR: Able to purchase arcane scrolls from the Society of up to caster
access to magic items (common through rare quality), and materials that are level 9 with no limit on the number available. The cost of obtaining magic
not available through most other purveyors in the region. items and materials for creation of new magic items and spells is 40% less
2 TR: Gain a basic arcane research assistant capable of doing research when purchased through the guild procurement system.
for you during downtime. Your assistant also reduces the amount of time 10 TR: Your arcane assistant is now a master arcane research assistant
it requires to research and craft new spells (limited to 5th level spells and capable of doing research for you during downtime. Your assistant also
below) or magic items (of common quality) by 10%. reduces the amount of time it requires to research and craft new spells
3 TR: Able to purchase arcane scrolls from the Society of up to caster (9th level and below) or magic items (common, uncommon, rare, very
level 6 with no limit on the number available. The cost of obtaining magic rare quality) by up to 50% (GM discretion, especially with very rare and
items and materials for creation of new magic items and spells is 10% less legendary items). Charisma checks with other members of the Society
when purchased through the guild procurement system. are always made with advantage. The exception is that if a Deception
4 TR: Your arcane assistant is now an intermediate arcane research or Intimidation check is made against a higher-ranking member of the
assistant capable of doing research for you during downtime. Your Society, you lose 1 TR.
assistant also reduces the amount of time it requires to research and craft

48
 GM Guide
Master Builders of the Edifice of Beliefs
Ever since the tragedy of 643 when a portion of the Capitol collapsed
Royal Engineers, a.k.a. The Royal from earthquake damage sustained more than a century earlier, it has
Arcane Engineers Guild been evident that some sort of order and oversight was necessary to
successfully achieve the architectural balancing act of maximizing
The secretive guild of Royal Arcane Engineers is the only group allowed upward expansion in the city’s limited area while maintaining the
on major building projects, especially those in the Capitol. Members have structural integrity of the older structures below. The Blight has long
access to new spells, a grand library of the city, and receive a royal stipend. been undertaking this in a haphazard, chaotic manner, but the Royal
The guild has developed specialised spells that are used to enable buildings Arcane Engineers’ Guild are who set about to make that a reality.
to be safely built atop buildings, and although many cannot afford their By strict adherence to carefully contrived standards of materials and
services, the guild pride themselves that all buildings lashed onto others methods (and no small amount of proprietary magical augmentation),
without their help collapse. Some say sabotage is at play, but guild members the guild has spent the last millennium achieving something that is
laugh at such suggestions, claiming their time is far too valuable to waste on all but unheard of in the Blight: Where they have been, the guild has
undermining the shoddy work of others. Their guild tattoo displays a plumb managed to create stability.
bob and trowel over a shield bearing the numbers II, VII, IX, and X.
Goals
The guild knows that the works of other builders in the city are
New Spells of the inferior; in fact, most of them are downright dangerous. The guild knows
that it lacks the resources and time to oversee all construction within the
Royal Arcane Engineers empire, but that doesn’t mean it thinks that it shouldn’t. With one project
at a time, the guild seeks to project its influence over the construction
Arcane Veins practices of the city-state. Most citizens who seek to build within the
city cannot afford the services of the guild, but the guild believes that
3rd-level transmutation they should therefore not build. They do not acknowledge the necessity
for building beyond what they are able to accomplish, which makes
Casting Time: 1 action them completely unrelatable to the common folk and has helped ensure
Range: Touch that even after more than a thousand years of presence within the city,
Components: V, S, M (a pinch of quicklime, a pebble, they are still no closer to achieving the standardization of architecture
and a splinter of wood) that they seek.
Duration: see descriptionVeins of arcane power
course throughout the touched structure, creating Leader
a magical strength and stability to it. The structure The Royal Arcane Engineers are ably managed under the stern eye
becomes sturdier and less susceptible to damage, of Grand Master Creator Permenya Tundlestoke (LN female dwarf
increasing its AC by 2, its hit points by 10%, and its archmage (specializing in transmutation)). Permenya, of the Underneath
damage threshold increased by 10%. Tundlestokes, followed in the footsteps of her grandfather Sheffer as
leader of the guild. She has an intimate knowledge of transmutation magic
This spell has no effect on magical structures or creatures such and its application in the unique building conditions of the Blight but
as constructs. received a very thorough business education as well in her youth. The
If cast on a structure, the spell initially effects an area 20 feet by fortunes of the guild have only improved during the three decades of her
20 feet in size. This area grows over the course of time, however, tenure so far.
at a rate of an additional 20-foot-by-20-foot area per year in the
direction as designated at the time of the casting, and continues for Headquarters
a total of 5 years. The effects of the spell can spread beyond the
structure it was initially cast upon to adjacent structures if they are The Edifice of Royal Engineers is said to lie somewhere in the
physically connected (such as by a wall or bridge). Capitol, though its exact location is unknown. Whether this is a
Additional castings of the spell on the same object or structure matter of security or because it is constantly being moved (some
have no additional effect, though if cast on a structure larger than rumours say due to instabilities in the Capitol’s foundations that they
the spells area of effect they can be combined for better coverage are continually forced to shore up to preserve the reputation of their
of that area. order). Whatever the reason, it is said that a system of secret knocks
At Higher Levels. When the spell is cast using a spell slot of and passwords at the Great Door (C1) results in being escorted to
4th level or higher, the structure’s hit points and damage threshold the proper location. Rumours also mention, however, that the wrong
increase by 10% for each slot level above 3rd. password or knocks result in being escorted to a secret oubliette for
a stay of indeterminate length.
Greater Arcane Veins
Joining
5th-level transmutation Joining the Royal Arcane Engineers requires that a candidate have
Casting Time: 1 action the ability to cast 3rd-level spells of the transmutation school. The
Range: Touch petitioner must then bribe a minor Capitol official with 2,500 gp and
Components: V, S, M (a pinch of quicklime, a pebble, then make a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana) check during an
and a splinter of wood) interview to successfully identify the techniques for certain relevant
Duration: see description spells. Only one attempt at this process can be made per month.
Though arcane casters are by far the most common members of the
This spell functions like arcane veins, except the increase in guild, there are divine casters (limited to clerics of lawful religions)
AC is 4, hit points are increased 20%, and the damage threshold is that demonstrate sufficient mastery of the requisite transmutation
increased by 20%. Additionally, school (through multiclassing or other means allowing them to cast
At Higher Levels. When the spell is cast using a spell slot of arcane spells) to qualify as well.
6th level or higher, the structure’s hit points and damage threshold The spellcasting ability of the member determines her rank in the
increase by 20% for each slot level above 5th. organisation. The initial rank within the guild is Royal Arcane Engineer.

49
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
4 TR: When in the guild library, the DC on Intelligence (Arcana) and
Can Cast Society Rank Cost
Intelligence checks relating to engineering and construction is reduced by
1st-4th level Royal Arcane 3. The DC on Charisma (Persuasion and Deception) checks dealing with
2,500 gp
Transmutation Spells Engineer the Royal or Upper Class castes is reduced by 2.
5th level 5 TR: Gain access to study and learn the spell arcane veins (see
Arcane Contriver 5,000 gp sidebox).
Transmutation Spells
6 TR: All Intelligence (Arcana, History, Nature, Religion) checks
6th level related to the city of Castorhage and its holdings are made with advantage.
Master Creator 10,000 gp
Transmutation Spells The DC on Charisma (Persuasion and Deception) checks dealing with the
7th level Minor Grand Master Royal or Upper Class castes is reduced by 3.
15,000gp 7 TR: Gain access to study and learn the spell greater arcane veins (see
Transmutation Spells Creator
sidebox).
Gaining Renown Transcribe any common transmutation spell of 7th level or lower.
8 TR: Once per game week, when making any non-Intelligence check
Gaining renown with the Royal Arcane Engineers is usually related to the city of Castorhage and its holdings, substitute an Intelligence
accomplished by securing and completing a prestigious building check. Charisma (Persuasion and Deception) checks dealing with the
project. If a project that a member of the guild was involved with is Royal or Upper Class castes are made with advantage.9 TR: Transcribe
later destroyed through natural or unnatural means, that guild member any common transmutation spell of 9th level or lower.
loses a TR. Likewise, the discovery or development of new spells with
application in engineering and building gains renown for the discovering.
Finally, 1 TR is gained by a member each time she achieves a new rank
within the guild.
Cults and Gangs
In dealing with organisations that stand opposed to the characters
Resources (usually cults and gangs), the Blight uses an abstract system to measure
the relative strength of these groups. Such groups are assigned a level
The guild has a vast library of information on building and the building
(although some groups — such as the Illuminati — are off the scale as far
application of the arcane arts that it has amassed for over a thousand years.
as resources go because they are a core friend or enemy of the Blight and
Members are given access to these materials and other perks based on
as such are effectively ever-present). These groups may become friends or
their TR within the guild.
foes of the characters at some point through an adventure, reputation, or
1 TR: When in the guild library, the DC on Intelligence (Arcana) and
even accident and require a gauge of their power for you to work from.
Intelligence checks relating to engineering and construction is reduced by
The relative power of a gang or cult is represented by its level. The level
2. The DC on Charisma (Persuasion and Deception) checks dealing with
of a group gives an indication of the strength of the leaders, and the relative
the Royal or Upper Class castes is reduced by 1.2 TR: Transcribe any
strength in levels of their members. The level of a gang is usually the
common transmutation spell of 5th level or lower.
leader’s character level (though there are occasional exceptions to this),
3 TR: Purchase an arcane scroll of any common transmutation spell
and the level of the group is squared to approximate the total class levels
for half price.

50
 GM Guide
of its membership. Gang levels in general range from 5 to 20, although bit over their baseline level at your discretion, varying their numbers and
higher- and lower-level gangs are out there. A group is also detailed by otherwise being dynamic, living organizations. Generally, lawful groups
a general alignment, its primary location, its leader(s), motivation(s), (who operate in a more orderly fashion) can recruit new members at a rate
friends and foes, tactics and morale. of 1 new class level for each level of the group per month. Chaotic groups
Many groups are not easy to defeat since, unlike organisations such as recruit at a rate of 1 new class level per group level per week but have a
the Watch or the Royal Army, they rarely operate in large groups or from 50% chance to lose a similar number of class levels instead, though never
a single location, but as a disparate mass spread over an area. Members for 2 weeks in a row. So the 9th level opium-dealing Irthren Gang (CE)
of a group, for example, could be brought together for an activity, and the under attack from characters of a holy order can regroup and recruit 9
leader may decide that several members are required. Some gangs, cults, class levels of new members in a week — through bullying, intimidation,
and groups do operate from a single base, and the choice ultimately is or other methods such as bribery. However, in any given week there’s a
yours — using the examples provided, do you want a covert adventure of chance that they lose that number of class levels instead.
hit-and-run tactics with the characters having to seek out various factions
of the coven, or do you prefer the idea of a fixed coven base?
A group, like any encounter, should have tactics that represents their Sample Gang: Hood Street Vandals (Level 7)
typical modus operandi, and morale. The morale gives the general Alignment: CN
likelihood of the gang retreating from any given combat encounter based Location: Artists’ Quarter
on the table below. The morale should also list under what circumstances Leader: Edwin Sedge (CN male blighted human veteran)
the group is entirely disbanded; these circumstances may not match the Motivations: Smash the mills
same qualifiers as given for encounter morale but usually follow along Friends: The Family (Festival), Anarchists (sometimes), low-
the same lines. For example, a mad group of cultists who seeks to eat er-caste workers
the moon may never give up until each one of them is slaughtered, every Enemies: Royalists, City Watch
member always seeking new members over time so that unless purged, the Tactics: Operate by night. Sedge can gather up to half the
threat is always there. A less-desperate group such as a smaller thieves’ group in 4 hours, or the entire group with a day’s notice.
guild may be disbanded if half or even a quarter of its number is destroyed, The group use hit-and-run tactics, attacking lone targets
capture or slain. and then vanishing into the night.
Unless otherwise noted, groups that are not defeated are able to recruit Morale: Hardy; the leader, all three of the Brothers, and half
new members by various means to replace lost members and even grow a the group must be slain or captured before the group
breaks and ceases as a viable entity.

The Hood Street Vandals are a group loosely allied to the Anarchists
Morale Levels and are based in the Artists’ Quarter. Their leader, Edwin Sedge, a former
workhouse orphan, was so badly abused during his youth that he grew up
Percentages indicate the chance that the group or individual will
with a hatred of all things “establishment.” The group is a covert gang that
retreat from an encounter. This check is made each time one of the
aims to smash mills, factories, and workhouses near the Artists’ Quarter.
listed criteria is fulfilled. If a group is outnumbered by 2-to-1 or more or
Membership is secret, and a matter of caste, with Lowfolk workers
face opponents with a clear tactical advantage or dire reputation (GM
forming the bulk of its membership. Instructions are spread through word
determines), its morale level is reduced by one for the purposes of that
of mouth, with lesser members being aware and following instructions
encounter. If a group is in its headquarters or some other location it
from a trio of brothers (called “the Brothers” by members of the gang),
considers to be a major stronghold, its morale is increased by one level
any one of which knows approximately 50% of the lesser members by
for that encounter. All numbers are in reference to the number of group
name. The Brothers in turn act under direct instruction from Sedge.
members present for the encounter rather than for the group as a whole.
Breaking: 50% when faced with the prospect of battle
regardless of group size. 100% if demoralized by a successful
Intimidate check or one of their number is killed or incapacitated. The Four Great Families
Low: 50% when faced with the prospect of battle while There are four great families in the City-State of Castorhage: the
outnumbered or if demoralized by a successful Intimidate check. Castorhage Family (the Royal Family), the Borxia Family, the Nightshade
75% each time a member is killed or incapacitated. 100% when Family and the Tredici Family. Below them are a swarming mass of other
reduced below half their numbers. houses, great and small, all wielding various levels of power and influence.
Cautious: 35% when faced with the prospect of battle while As a subsection of Gangs, the rules can be applied to these politically and/
outnumbered. 50% when the first member is killed or incapacitated. or nefariously connected houses as well to create a gauge of their power
75% when reduced below half their numbers. 100% when reduced and influence.
to one-quarter their numbers. Blood runs thicker than water, they say, and unlike gangs, ties of blood
Average: 20% when faced with the prospect of battle while are often intricately woven into others through marriage. The relative
outnumbered. 35% when the first member is killed or incapacitated. strength of each family is given in a simple stat block, designed to reflect
50% when reduced below half their numbers. 75% when reduced to not only their power, but their allies and enemies, as well as their elders.
one-quarter their numbers and each death or incapacitation thereafter.
Hardy: 10% when faced with the prospect of battle while
outnumbered. 25% when the first member is killed or incapacitated. Sample Family: House Wether (Level 9)
35% when reduced below half their numbers. 50% when reduced Alignment: N
to one-quarter their numbers and each death or incapacitation Location: Capitol
thereafter. Family Head: Lilly Wether (N female human spy)
Courageous: 10% when the first member is killed or Primary Motivation: Loyalty to the Royal Family
incapacitated. 25% when reduced below half their numbers. 35% Friends: Secret alliance with the Clan Sullage (BookTown)
when reduced to one-quarter their numbers and each death or aimed at bringing the Borxias down, their deals swinging
incapacitation thereafter. on property and business ventures; the Royal Family (Cap-
Very Strong: 10% when reduced below half their numbers. itol)
25% when reduced to one-quarter their numbers and each death or Enemies: Outrage and condemnation of House Shibboleth
incapacitation thereafter. over attempts to frame an (allegedly) innocent senior
Fearless: Fanatics who never retreat from an encounter and will family figure over a fair duel results in frequent duels be-
fight to the last. tween the sons of both families; hatred of the Borxia Family

51
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
over property disputes and unpaid loans as well as deaths such contacts rests with you as GM to install into adventures as friendly
of family diplomats at their hands contacts or perhaps power rewards. For example, the characters may save
Tactics: Spying, brokering information and secrets a member of a cabal who has powerful friends. The character’s reward is a
Morale: Very strong. Exiles flock to their banner, and the power award (see below) that enables them to purchase rare items of up to
family name is arrogantly bandied about throughout the 5,000-gp value, but each item must be commissioned with crafting times
city; the support of the Royal Family secures their future so as indicated in the game manual plus 1d6 weeks.
long as the Castorhages are in power. Spellcasters may also join an appropriate guild or club that allows them
access to spells and items. If you do not wish to go with specific clubs
Although giving a good indication of the family, these statistics are or do not have time, use the rule of thumb that a one-time fee enables
also slightly abstract on purpose. They do not go into great detail about the character to join such an association. Such cabals and clubs have
the family members or alliances but can be used to judge who is more an indicator to represent the rarity of items and spells they offer or can
powerful than whom, and are intended as a jumping off point that you create, with the fee being 250 gp per rarity or spell level. As an example,
can flesh out and develop for your campaign. Unlike gangs (see below), the Cabal of Shadowy Illusionists (uncommon, level 5) has the ability to
family runs deep and can count upon lesser families as allies. create all magic items up to uncommon rarity for a cost of 500gp and
has access to all associated spells up to 5th-level for a cost of 1,250 gp.
Purchase of spells and items is in addition to the fee, of course, and unless

Magic the fees are paid in full, membership is refused.

This association also works for divine spellcasters. They pay a one-time
tithe to their church at the appropriate level and thereafter have access to
There are thousands of independent wizards and sorcerers operating items and spells of up to that level.
in the city, but in general access to the higher-level spells (6th-level and At your discretion, clubs may bar entrants from higher-level clubs than
above) are controlled by guilds, who guard them jealously — even going their own character level, so a 1st-level spellcaster could not pay 1,250 gp
to so far as to burn copies of spells in their libraries if they discover them. to join a higher-level guild or club.
Higher-level divine spells are even more strictly controlled, and Spellbooks outside of cults and cabals are scarce, but it is always
generally only deemed suitable for Royals or those of great importance. possible to obtain such items on the black market (at a premium, of course)
As such, spells such as raise dead, resurrection, and true resurrection are if more honest means are not available. The markets in some sections of
not generally for sale to the ordinary character unless they have powerful the city — notably BookTown — heave with tomes and books that can be
connections. If you wish, you can ignore this rule. However, its basis is in purchased or modified by additional pages.
the logic of the city: The nobles wish to keep such miracles for their own Be wary, however, about treating spellcasters fairly. The standard here
use. “Dish them out to the Lowfolk,” they say, “and everyone will want is that magic is rare and its users are people to either be feared or admired,
them.” This does not rule out high-ranking clergy or those who serve them possibly in equal measure. This trade-off can be mechanic (adding say a
being given access to such spells as rewards, for example. fear factor for those not used to being exposed to magic) or a role-playing
The Illuminati are rumoured to be the depository of hundreds of one (spellcasters are popular).
unknown spells, taken by their spies, unearthed by their explorers, and Consider the sidebar options, but if none of them suit, either go with
ripped from alien hands by their adventurer-agents. Tales of countless your own or ignore the magic aspect presented here.
new forms of magicks and twisted domains of spells are speculated upon
by conspiracy theorists. Of the few known to truly exist, the foul birth
magic, that targets the unborn with vile eldritch and arcane power while
still in the womb, has evidence walking and staggering across the city.
Tales of spells that can unmake a person’s biology, of arcane powers that
can control parts of the Between, and those that are able to break and bend
the will of men to unspeakable acts continue to be whispered.

Miracles and Magus: Optional

Rules for Buying Spells and
Magic in the Blight
“Only the wise know how to use the dangerous curse of magic, and
only a fool would tamper with it.”
— One of the Seven Prayers of Castorhage

Magic brings power, and power is something jealously guarded in the city.
Buying magic therefore is more difficult in such a closed society and, if you
use the optional rules outlined in the sidebox below, all magic is affected.
Where magic is sold, it commands the normal price as noted in the
guidelines for magic items in the game master’s section of the rules.

Magic Items and Spells

Magic brings power, and power is everything in the Blight. Magic items
therefore rarely come up for sale, and even potions and scrolls are guarded
lest they fall into the wrong hands. Some locations do trade magic, but the
profession is considered a very dangerous one; gifted crafters are often
taken by jealous individuals and groups and put to work on their whims.
In general, such items cannot be purchased save at specifically noted
locations within the city-state, but groups, friends, and masters may be
located to make such objects easier to commission. The determination of

52
 GM Guide
Death and Magic
Resurrection and raise dead are serious matters in the Blight and are
only generally available to the most important Royals, priests, and political
How Magic is
figures of great power, those lucky enough to personally know someone
capable of casting these spells, or belong to a cult where such actions occur.
Viewed in the Blight
They are certainly not available to the common man at any price. The idea This is very much a matter of personal taste, but the general
of (near) eternal life is considered blasphemous in many religions and some assumption in the city-state is that magic is power, and power
groups, notably the Knights of the Great Order (a LN order of knights should not fall into the wrong hands. How you run this is a matter
whose sole purpose is to hunt down and immolate those who have been for you and your players, but some increasing scales of control are
raised), who take a particularly dim — and violent — view of it. given below. Each requires you to decide — if you even wish to
— how to tweak the way magic is viewed in this campaign. This
is not for everyone; many people love high-magic campaigns, in

Personal Goals which case simply ignore these rules.

1. Magic is Not Generally for Sale
This is the mildest of the aspects and the one suggested to be
Personal goals are life aims that are given an XP reward when achieved used when running this campaign. Magic is simply so rare that it
by a player character. These goals can be identified when the character has fallen into powerful hands and only appears when an obscure
is generated, or acquired like power and friendships as the character item turns up at an auction, is stolen, or a treasure trove is found.
progresses through a campaign. Potions and scrolls do not generally fall into this category since
Personal goals are usually selected by the player with the GM’s they are relatively weak, but casters who make a habit of supplying
agreement, but occasionally a GM may wish to add one. For example, scrolls to revolutionaries may not last long.
if the GM wishes a character to begin his career already hating wererats, When spellcasters are seen in the street who do not clearly
he can work with the player to devise a modified background where, as represent a recognised god, their presence creates a spectacle.
a child, one of the character’s parents was killed by wererats, but more Any members of the Watch report such matters or may even try to
than simply murdered, they were eaten alive by the wererats’ pack. The capture such casters for a reward. It should generally only affect
character witnessed the event and only escaped through sheer luck. The the game when such characters are captured by the Watch, in
character’s personal goal is to kill 50 wererats, and she receives a specific which case they are hastily tried for witchcraft (usually when an
reward, commensurate with the estimated difficulty of the goal, when it under-justice can be called in 1d4 days), and executed by pyre.
is complete. Consequently, many arcane spellcasters take to donning
Be imaginative with the goals you choose, and if you don’t want one, ecclesiastic attire to disguise their abilities from the ignorant
that’s fine, not everyone has such motivations in life. masses, playing their magical abilities off as divine in nature. How
Personal goals are judged by challenge rating just as standard encounters, the various NPCs in your campaign react to this is left to you.
and rewards should be similar when the goal is achieved. If the reward is 2. Magic is Dangerous
experience points, then they should go directly to that character and that Not only is magic not for sale, but those who command it are to
character alone, although constituent aspects of the goal inevitably lead be feared. When magic is used, it has that effect upon the ignorant,
to other experience on the way for her friends (the actual slaying of the who fear it accordingly. This isn’t necessarily a mechanical game
wererats, for instance). It should be noted that the character does not need effect. A wizard sending a fireball across a street at some foes
to be directly responsible for the achievement of the goal (i.e. the character would be held in awe and terror. Perhaps ignorant City Watch
does not have to personally slay all 50 wererats), but the character must officers flee or become frenzied in their wish to kill or to escape.
be involved as at least a motivating force behind the achievement of the In this version, magic is something to try to keep secret, and
goal, if not an actual participant. Therefore, the character can be a member when discovered being used, should have an ongoing campaign
of a wererat hunting party, the character can be a lone wererat stalker, effect. Perhaps a subtle effect, such as NPCs fearing certain
or the character can hire a group of mercenaries to carry out his wererat spellcasters or treating them with undue respect, or perhaps the
extermination. In all cases, when the 50 wererats have been killed, the characters pick up a few pursuing witchhunters.
character receives the personal goal’s achievement reward. 3. Magic is Evil
You can see how individuals (especially villainous NPCs) might In this final version, magic is viewed as being positively
achieve level advancement without actually dirtying their hands, which wicked, and all spellcasters that are not clerics are clearly
fits in well with the concept of conspirators and secret movers-and-shakers witches, unless they belong to the right guild and can prove their
behind the scenes that is so prevalent in the Blight. It also gives credible aristocracy. Arcane spellcasters may be discriminated against and
explanation how someone with clearly limited direct combat capabilities feared. In game mechanics, all known arcane spellcasters make
such as an Ernst Stavro Blofeld (a supervillain created by Ian Fleming Charisma (Intimidation) checks with advantage but commence
for his James Bond series) type of character can lead an organization of any encounter with a NPC who does not know them beyond their
henchman of its calibre and be a suitable match for a high-level character ability to cast spells as hostile (so a character who is indifferent
such as Bond. This mechanic works especially well in a campaign that is to the other characters commences the encounter with a hostile
more than simple blood-and-muscle combat encounters. attitude toward the spellcaster).
A list of possible goals and their potential levels are assigned below. Do not use this version to belittle or isolate arcane spellcasters,
The GM must be careful to ensure that rewards are not too high for the but to add an aspect to them that is both good and bad. They are
goal assigned or chosen, and that the story can have an end: a personal feared for their gifts. If they repeatedly use them boastfully or in
goal of bringing down the monarchy, for example, is unrealistic, however, prominent places, there should be consequences. Perhaps a Guild
a personal goal to join the anarchists is not. member seeks them out for a task, or a witch-hating peasant or
Characters in general only have one life goal at a time, although as priest comes hunting them.
GM you may allow as many as you wish. Where a personal enemy is
designated, the character must only play a role in their demise, so a
character group attacking the Cult of the Rusted Henge would be enough had good reason to strongly suspect) were wererats contribute to the goal.
to fulfil a specific goal on behalf of a character hating or opposing them. Killing the henchmen of the wererats, who were not themselves wererats,
As a final caveat for the use of personal goals in your game, the players does not count toward this goal, and if the character kills some thug on the
should be aware that if the character unwittingly fulfils some major aspect street who also happens to be a wererat without the character being aware of
of her life story, she does not receive the reward. In the example above, if it, it also does not contribute to this goal. This could lead to some need for
the character kills 50 wererats, only the enemies that she knew (or at least reasonable adjudication on the part of the GM if the character later discovers

53
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
that someone she had previously killed was, in fact, a wererat and asks how
Sample Reward Sample Goals
this will apply to the life goal. In general, granting the reward with the
discovery of the knowledge retroactively is probably not an issue. But if the Amass a personal fortune of at least
Invest in lucrative
knowledge would be sufficient to reveal that the goal should have been met 100,000 gp (not including magic
venture
and the reward given at some prior point, it may not make for a satisfying items possessed).
game solution. It may require the GM to extend the goal slightly so that Join inquisitors or Build a cathedral.
the character can achieve it with an active effort rather than backing into it witchhunters
unknowingly and then suddenly reaping the benefits of its rewards. Back
to our cinematic example, it would be a singularly unsatisfying moment Defeat 75 of a personal enemy
50,000 gp
if during the assault on Blofeld’s stronghold Bond suddenly realized as he (at least CR 4).
finally reached Blofeld’s inner sanctum that the archvillain had been killed Choice of Bring down a major cult, become
by an errant piece of shrapnel during Bond’s opening volley. legendary a Justice, rule a district, establish a
The achievement of the personal goal and reward should feel like an magic item powerful club or guild.
achievement for the player as well as the character, so you should strive to
make it so even if that means a slight manipulation of matters at the end. Go on a quest to recover a holy
Made landed
artefact, marry into the upper
nobility
echelons of the Royal Family.
Sample Reward Sample Goals
Defeat 100 a specific personal
Choice of common Join a club or avenge a death by 75,000 gp
enemy (at least CR 5)
magic item slaying a petty official.
Marry a childhood sweetheart, have

Power
500 gp
children.
Defeat 5 of a specific personal
1,000 XP
enemy.
Power in role-playing games comes in many shapes and sizes but
Destroy a petty guild or club, or generally revolves around a statistical basis: What are the highest-level
Choice of
unmask an organisation of minor spells you can cast? How many hit points does the monster have? What
uncommon magic
repute by providing evidence to a feats can your character use?
item
holy order of wrongdoing. However, it is also true to say that it is not always what you know but
Slay a minor noble, purchase a who you know that defines power.
particular property that has been
taken by others illegally, raise
2,500 gp
enough money to free a relative Power as a Reward
from a terrible gaol or break them
As an alternative or addition to money, you may decide to reward
out of same.
your characters with power. Rewards can range from trivial, such that
Marry a famous beauty, perform to the characters earn the respect of locals in the parish of Dern Bridge and
Gain a special title
royalty. all Deception, Intimidation, and Persuasion checks are made with the
character’s proficiency bonus added for a year, to the profound resulting in
25 of a specific personal enemy
5,000 gp the character being invested with the title of Lord Under-Justice of Trade,
(At least CR 2).
a position of great import and that pays 25,000 gp per annum.
Destroy a moderately powerful guild Be careful when offering power as a reward, though, because as the
or club, avenge a childhood wrong saying goes, with it comes responsibility. If you wish to keep things
Choice of rare
against nobility by tracking down simple, reward the power as a simple bonus to income, skill checks, or as
magic item
the noble and either killing or ruining followers. More complex power rewards could involve interaction with
him. other powerful individuals, opportunities to influence important decisions
Rise to the rank of guild leader in a and possible trade and/or nefarious activities. An interesting campaign
10,000 gp major guild, track down and kill a could revolve around various powerful houses that vie for the illicit
serial killer of great repute. trade in contraband, with interaction at a political and covert level. The
characters build up power rewards by influencing aspects of these families
Advance to higher Build a church or purchase a manor and rise in power accordingly.
caste house.
Create a new 5th-level spell, explore
Awarded honorary Between or other exotic lands and
university degree have a significant geographical
feature named after you.
Example Power Reward:
Knighted by the
Amass a personal fortune of at least
50,000 gp (not including magic
Fetch Destruction
Queen If the characters rid a portion of the city of Fetch, they are
items possessed).
installed as parish undead hunters, positions that bring in 1,000
Defeat 50 of a specific personal gp per year. The parish installs six guards as underlings of the
25,000 gp
enemy (At least CR 3). characters and replace dead underlings at a rate of one per year.
Choice of very rare Unmask a devil, demonic or The character’s interactions (all Deception, Intimidation, and
magic item n’gathau cult and slay its leader. Persuasion checks) are made with advantage within the parish. If
they wish, once per month, the characters can push local traders
Bring down a major guild or club,
for extra tax, bringing in a further 200 gp if they make a DC 15
rule a parish, gain a 20th-level
Made titled (minor) Charisma (Intimidation) check. However, at the same time the use
friend, establish a dynasty, establish
nobility (or overuse) of this tax bullying should likewise have consequences
a powerful business garnering 20,000
for you as GM to decide.
gp per year.

54
 GM Guide

Example Power Goal Example Relationship Reward

To achieve this goal, the character must bribe the commander Characters successfully completing the adventure and saving
of the local Watch Station, Hamandus Quade (NE female gnome at least 75% of the captured NPCs receive a relationship reward:
burglar), with a bribe of at least 1,000 gp and make a DC 15 Charisma Hamtren, the grateful parish constable (N male human veteran),
(Persuasion) check. Only one check is allowed per bribe, and only one is considered a friend of the character who, in the GM’s opinion,
bribe attempt is allowed every month (the bribe is still taken whether the acted the most heroically or who performed the single-most heroic
check is successful or not). The first character to succeed in the check is act in the adventure in Hamtren’s presence. The GM should also
offered the position of UnderMaester of the South Street Docks. allow every other character present a chance to befriend the
The position of UnderMaester of the South Street Docks allows constable. Those succeeding on a DC 10 Charisma (Persuasion)
the character access to all imported goods coming into the city. check also benefit from his friendship. All other characters who
These docks are notorious for illicit goods, and each month the took part in the adventure find that Hamtren is friendly in attitude
character brings 1d6+4 x 15 gp into his own purse from his take of to them from its conclusion.
the taxes. With a DC 20 Charisma (Intimidation) check (one check
made at the time the income is taken), this amount is doubled.
Cutthroats, pirates and smugglers are at tough lot, and it is up — either half, one-quarter or one-eighth for example, depending on how
to you as GM to decide if and when the character’s Intimidation useful you wish these friends to be and how powerful your campaign is in
attempts result in a tiff or other, perhaps more serious, discussion terms of levelled characters.
involving cutlasses and dirks.

Power as a Goal Technology & Firearms

Technology levels of the Lost Lands are defined in Chapter 1 of The
The Blight is rotten to the core, and power is something almost everyone Blight Campaign Guide, but a short discussion of technology as it applies
strives for. The characters can take part in this corruption or perhaps seek to to the Blight is warranted here in The Blight GM Guide. The technology
better things by working toward obtaining their own power. As discussed level for Castorhage as given in Chapter 1 is “Industrial Revolution,”
in the Personal Goals section, some characters may seek an entry into the which in the Lost Lands means the folk of the Blight have access to or
ranks of power in the city as part of their background aspirations. As such, are at least exposed to steam power, clockworks, and manufactories on
power, as presented here, can be used as a part of a character’s personal a regular basis. In fact, Castorhage is the most technologically advanced
goals as described above. society in the entirety of the Lost Lands campaign setting. Even dominant
The guilds offer one avenue into the establishment. Generally, to obtain global powers such as the Empire of Oceanus that rose from its simple
such power the characters must remove the incumbent (who is invariably island roots and brought the entire Foerdewaith empire to bay can only
corrupt anyway) by bribing his immediate superior to remove him or by claim an “Age of Sail” technology level, while cosmopolitan Bard’s Gate
securing the position in some other way (perhaps as a reward, or perhaps barely makes it to the level of a Renaissance technology.
by carrying out a duty for a guild, aristocrat or other influential person). Why Castorhage possesses this unique technological advantage is
wrapped in a combination of its relative seclusion while still maintaining
the full innovative support of the great empires of the world throughout

Relationships its existence, the uninterrupted will of its government to seize and exploit
every possible technology available without the typical concerns of
political and moral restraint, as well as its unique position in relation to

as Rewards the otherworldly influence of Between upon the minds, bodies, and souls
of its populace. In short, Castorhage is a place that has been “touched” (or
“blighted” if you will) and has had the resources and unimpeded political
Consider that the characters’ actions always have some kind of effect: will to explore a myriad of lines of scientific query to their logical, illogical,
the characters can act selflessly, perhaps saving a hostage or commoner and often even catastrophic conclusions. The Blight is the mad scientist’s
from danger, perhaps they save a merchant’s daughter and gain her father’s lab where he never had to worry about a mob of villagers with torches
undying gratitude. Such actions could reap new relationships, which may and pitchforks coming to end his unnatural experiments. The sciences,
also increase their power (as detailed above). pseudo-sciences, and meta-sciences have benefited from this unbridled
For example, the characters unmask a plot by cadaver snatchers to excess, but the city has certainly suffered for it.
harvest parts from beautiful young people for local golem-stitchers. These But though the City-State of Castorhage has long had access to steam
people are all the offspring of commoners, and only the characters stand power and clockworks (the former was tinkered with on Earth as early
up for them. At the close of the adventure, you may decide that one of as the 1st Century AD by Heron of Alexandria and the latter startlingly
the young people is a potential partner for a character. You may decide to exhibited in the Antikythera mechanism believed to date as far back
grant this friendship as given, and hand the character the details, or you as 150 BC), the Blight is no steampunk campaign. Because where
may decide that if a character passes a certain action (a Persuasion check traditional steampunk settings harnessed the power of steam into all sorts
or other appropriate skill check), the character can develop a relationship of mechanical wonders, in Castorhage it never became more than an
with that individual. auxiliary source. For in Castorhage, the great experimenters discovered
the great possibility and cheap availability of necromancy, not simply in
the obvious sense of animating legions of zombie labourers, but rather in
Advancing Relationships its application through necrocraft and golem innovation. While the many
technological innovations that power Castorhage incorporate steam power
You can make the friendships as complex as you like, keeping track of or clockworks, at the core is their reliance preservation and animation
NPCs as individuals who sometimes accompany characters or who have of once-living flesh to supply their labour and energy needs. It is much
adventures of their own that are referred to in passing or which could lead cheaper and easier for the arcanists of the city to harvest the limbs of the
to other adventures. You may also decide that such NPCs are static, and dead or dying and craft them into an animated bucket brigade than forge
stay at the levels initially generated, happy with a quieter life. Or you and install an expensive and heavy steel pipe to carry water up a slope,
could decide to advance the NPCs at a rate relative with the characters and it is this philosophy that has driven the city’s innovation for centuries.

55
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Of course, the important question, though, is how does the city’s seen at least monthly by locals. Many patrons have taken to dressing their
technology level impact your own campaign? And the answer, as with all skeletons in hooded livery to disguise their horrific appearance.
Lost Lands products from Frog God Games, is that its impact is as much And if the use of zombies and other lesser undead as menial labour
or as little as you prefer. Much of the technology is presented in a neutral goes on unchecked, then so does the creation of flesh golems, homunculi,
manner. It is described in the background without detailed explanations as fleshgines, necrocraft and other constructs incorporating the components
to which portions are magic versus which portions are technological. In of one or more individuals who once counted themselves among the
the Blight, there’s little distinction and little need for one. The technology living. Commonly known as the “Made,” any of these can be seen openly
need not play a significant role in your campaign unless you want it to. walking, slithering or flying the streets of the Blight, and many take the
Perhaps the biggest point of contention is the presence or absence of form of commonly employed services such as the undead-drawn coarse
firearms. Many GMs and players enjoy adding them as an augmentation cabs and fleshgine-animated Dungier’s buggies.
to their games to give them a more swashbuckling feel, but just as many Finally, there are the unliving, those who either through their own
despise them and want no part of them. Firearms have been presented as choosing or by the will of others who had the power of life and death over
a part of the Frog God Games/Necromancer Games campaign setting them partook of the magical philtre known as the elixir of life†. Those
since as early as 2005, so their appearance in the Blight is nothing new, who take the draught successfully find themselves with a new lease on
but will be handled in much the same way as every other instance. There life — or near-life to put it more accurately — released from the shackles
are firearms in the Blight as part of the base assumption of the setting, but of aging and finding the physical needs of the body much diminished
they are not integral to it, and you can absolutely ignore it entirely without all around. These are the alchymic-undying†, more commonly referred
ramifications or the need for substantial rewrites for your own running of to as “Reborn.” Of course, that the physical sensations of the body are
the campaign. diminished just as much if not more causes some to consider this form of
The standard firearms found in the game master’s manual can be found near-immortality as much more akin to near-Hell. Normally those who are
in the Blight and are as available or unavailable to the players as you exposed to the elixir of life are those who can afford it and have a morbid
want them to be. The City Watch, the Royal Army, and many criminal fear of death or those who possess some valued skill that their overseers
elements in the city undoubtedly have access to firearms, but magic is are not willing to let perish simply because the physical body might do so.
cheaper and easier to control access to, so their use has not spread broadly There are also those who take the elixir of life but whose bodies do
and may never even be noticed by your players if you don’t want them to. not react well to the unnatural infusion. Instead of shedding the shackles
In general, encounters and NPCs are not built around the use of firearms, of ordinary mortality as alchymic-undying, these unlucky souls instead
so it should be relatively easy to excise them altogether without a second find themselves cursed with a progressive form of undeath that not only
thought if you so wish. steals away their vitality and ability to experience sensation, but also their
It is assumed that the Capitol is undoubtedly bristling with mounted very reason and personality as well. These cursed folks are the alchymic-
cannon that overlook the river (and the surrounding city!), but they do not unliving†, and when their curse becomes advanced enough, they lose every
play a role in any of the published materials and need never be mentioned. shred of who they were and become simply one more zombie shuffling
The ships of the Royal Navy are black ironclad paddlewheel steamers mindlessly to its master’s commands.
that add their belching fumes to the smudged air above the city, but they
add only a pittance to that put off by the countless cook fires, trash fires,
funeral pyres, and general arson that occurs in the city daily. And while
these same navy dreadnoughts have shipboard cannon (side mounted, not
turret mounted as in modern warships), they are equally likely to use their
The Weight of the Law
cannon to fire secretly conducted experiments involving the enslavement “The law which attempts a man’s life is impractical, unjust,
and deployment of ragefire elementals through a Byzantine projector. In inadmissible. It has never repressed crime — for a second crime is every
any case, access to these vessels of the Royal Navy is highly restricted, day committed at the foot of the scaffold.”
and they need not play a part in your Blight campaign unless you wish
them to do so. The law is tough and well organised in the Blight. Making an enemy of
it is unwise but perhaps inevitable for some groups.
Having a viable law in a city is the only way to keep order, and as a GM

The Undead, you should not hesitate to call upon high CR officers and minions to see it
carried out. Third-level characters who wantonly burn down a Royal palace
should not be surprised soon to find a group of wardens tracking them.

the Broken, the Made,

Law in the city-state of Castorhage is maintained by its venerable,
respected and feared Office of the Watch — Queen’s Men as they are often
referred to colloquially. From parish Watch Stations, these thousands

and the Unliving

of constables, inspectors, and other officers oversee the safety and the
orderliness of the streets — well, the orderliness at least. The Watch,
as an official instrument of the government, is much more interested
in maintaining order; it is order that allows the workings of the city to
One curious sight that surprises many visitors is the presence of continue and the trade, taxes, and bribes to continue to fill the Royal
broken creatures and the many forms of undead, nearly dead, or unloving coffers. Therefore, maintaining an orderliness to facilitate that trade is of
creatures that walk the streets of the city. In an amoral city-state built upon utmost importance. That a modicum of safety arises for the benefit of the
the backs of cheap labour, it is perhaps not surprising that they find a way citizens is merely a secondary gain that is of little concern to those at the
to work their lower classes even beyond the bounds of life. highest levels of the City Watch.
Broken creatures+ are the most frequently encountered example, and This attitude is not necessarily reflected at the street level of the Watch
seeing a pair of broken trolls carrying great baskets of stones or other — folk who, after all, have to live on those same streets — but while it
unbelievable loads is, while not commonplace, not altogether unusual. is not guaranteed that a constable walking his beat is corrupt and/or blind
Similarly, skeletons or zombies are used by the wealthy or particularly to the plight of the commoners around him, there is still no shortage of
insensitive to fetch and carry, obeying simple instructions, and doing menial corruption even in the lower ranks. Regardless of whatever indirect benefits
tasks. Although not as common as broken creatures, they are generally to the commoners of Castorhage may arise through the ministrations of
the City Watch, no one would make the mistake of declaring the streets of
the city safe by a long shot. Still the presence of the Watch and its patrols
undoubtedly make them at least safer for the most part.
The standard City Watch patrol is made up of 5 Constables of the Watch
(N male or female human guards) and a Sergeant of the Watch (N male

56
 GM Guide
songs are unlikely to be seen again.
The Knockers (the Castorhage Secret Police) is also a force to be
feared. This group turns up at night and takes people with them without
warning or explanation. Those that go with them are rarely seen again.
There are many well trained individuals within the ranks of the Knockers,
but their numbers and membership are so secretive, and their activities are
so clandestine, that there is no such thing as a “standard” Knocker patrol.
As with all in this setting, judge the level of law the characters must
deal with however you wish. If you want a very strictly legal campaign,
have the City Watch be a constant issue for the characters, perhaps at the
core of some adventures where it’s not just about killing a powerful and
aristocratic enemy but covering up any evidence of their involvement as
well. Conversely, in some streets murder is commonplace, and with a city
of countless serial killers, the law is clearly failing somewhere.
Throwing an unexpected Watch patrol into an adventure is a great way
to test your player’s mettle, and if they happen to kill some constables, then
so much the better; everything, as has been said before, has a cause and
effect in a place so crowded. There are always so many eyes everywhere,
looking greedily to make a coin or use information to seize some power.
A party that takes down a few corrupt Queen’s Men, must simply learn to
play this game to survive.
In general, hanging or beheading is a punishment meted out for anything
from simple theft upward, rarely dependent upon the seriousness of the
crime — though deportation to one of the Between colonies is always
possible for those who might receive a commuted sentence. Crimes of a
lesser severity than theft usually warrant being tossed into the city gaols
or, worse, the sanatoriums for the mad. There are also still some prison
hulks floating in the Lyme, and these are terrible, diseased places without
hope where those whose betters may still wish to talk to them at some
future time are incarcerated for “safekeeping.”

True Gods
of the Blight
While the “gods” of the Blight are a constant presence in the minds
human veteran). However, this is only the standard Watch patrol. There are of many Castorhagers and even occasionally walk the street, there are
some places in the city where the Watch just dare not go, and some places still countless other older deities whose names are invoked on a daily —
(such as the Capitol) where patrols are two, three even four times larger. sometimes momentary — basis. These gods have their own local names,
The Watch has not only guards, veterans, captains, and scouts in its but as with any icons, scholars have surmised that many are only local
employ but sneakthieves and burglars, acolytes and priests, and mages aspects of more widely named or quoted gods. The more commonly
of all different specialities amongst their number that serve in special revered gods of the Blight are listed here, but in a city so large, it seems
capacities. Many Watch clerks are commoners, while most inspectors that whatever god, saint, or angel one worships, there is bound to be a
are highly trained and can ferret out most anything. Higher-level officers shrine to them somewhere.
quite frequently are nobles, being political appointments through family Many of the main deities presented below appear in other areas of the
influence. Far from a homogeneous organisation, the Watch represents Lost Lands as well. However, their complete description covering those
hundreds of points of view and scores of agendas. Nevertheless, the sheer other representations is not included. Rather, the list here details them in a
crush of its bureaucracy tends to keep it more or less on course in the shortened version based on their relevance to the Blight itself.
execution of its duties. The Office of the Watch oversees a city of millions
of people, however, and crime is rife.
What does or does not cause the Watch to become involved in a Baphomet
situation depends on the political capital at play. In general, a parish tiff
where a cult temple is burned to the ground by adventurers is not a cause The Rage Storm; Demon Lord of Anarchy,
for concern in the eyes of the Watch, whereas bumping off an aristocrat
most assuredly is. The more “respectable” (read: powerful) an individual Beasts, and Anger
is, the less likely he is to be troubled by the law, and certainly a bribe of Greater God (Demon Lord)
500 gp in the right hands can get the aristocrat criminal off all but the Alignment: Chaotic Evil
worst of charges. Domains: Animal, Chaos, Destruction, Evil, Fire, Water
How you adjudicate this is very much a matter of personal taste — the Symbol: A burning goat’s head
Watch is there for you to use as an ally or foil, but having it regularly Garb: Rich royal robes or filthy nakedness
swoop in to save characters in over their heads does not make for a very Favoured Weapon: Halberd
fulfilling game while it could also soon become very tedious having to deal Form of Worship and Holidays: Full moons for worshippers
with the tenth cultists’ body by dumping it in the river for fear of hanging. with lycanthropy who tend to engage in wanton slaugh-
Likely, a balance will need to be struck in your campaign between the ter. Non-lycanthropes hold secret rites with desecration of
usefulness and the antagonism of the Watch toward the characters. In any holy symbols and blood rituals.
case, the players should not be allowed to become entirely dismissive of Typical Worshippers: Minotaurs, lycanthropes, therian-
the Watch, and characters who march up to the Capitol singing Anarchist
57
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
thropes*, chaaor demons, the Alcaldrich Order of Knights Favoured Weapon: Any poison or poisoned weapon
Templar in Exile Form of Worship and Holidays: Night vigils where rats or
other small animals are sacrificed as burnt offerings when
While revered in a more urbane and civilized manner in some other the Canker is especially thick. Burning of thick incense for
lands, in the Blight this demon lord is a god of fire, of the raging storm and Feast of Fools to hide presence from Father Canker. Griev-
the thunder and lightning who destroys. Even his more civilized followers ing mothers set cornhusk dolls alight and cast them into
who meet in secret cabals for their carefully hidden dark rituals revel in the Lyme as votive offerings.
the destruction he promises to bring to the world. Hymns to Baphomet Typical Worshippers: Beggars, grieving mothers and fathers,
speak of the End of Days, the coming Apocalypse, or the ruin of the world belkers, some undead and psychotic thieves/murderers
through anarchy. Of late, rumours among Baphomet’s faithful speak of a
new weapon wielded by the Royal Navy, a powerful new advancement He is at your window, he swallows the breath of your children as he
that has seen limited use only in the far colonial corners of the empire. chokes them, sobbing as he does. Father Canker seems to be a god wholly
When they whisper of this tantalizing new development, they use only of Casterhagi origin. He represents the ever-present danger to be found
one word: ragefire. in the noxious fumes of the Canker and the choking smog of the city.
Baphomet previously appeared in LL4: Cults of the Sundered Jack’s Candle is said to be his manifestation. Father Canker is not so much
Kingdoms by Frog God Games. revered as placated, and many beggars and those forced to live in the
*Therianthropes (sometimes called anthromorphs or weretherions) are lowest parts of the city along the banks of Sister Lyme where the mists rise
animals that can assume a human or hybrid form (the latter combining highest and the sea breezes are at their weakest live in constant fear of the
traits of both their human and animal forms). They are akin to lycanthropes choking miasma that can come without warning and leave all it encounters
(in that they are shapechangers), but therianthropes are not lycanthropes dead where they lay. Parents of young children who die of crib death, the
and do not carry or induce lycanthropy. All therianthropes in human form Canker’s suffocating fumes, or virtually any other cause often see Father
have slightly feral characteristics. Canker as the protector of their lost child’s soul and make votive offerings
into the Great Lyme River during their grieving period, a time that can
sometimes last years or decades. The authorities sometimes have to keep
Brine a careful watch for these activities on days when there is a high fire danger
on the river.
There is a local rumour — or fairy tale — that floats around Castorhage.
Ocean’s Anger; Fish-Brother; Some people say that Brother Choke has a weakness, that he is afraid of
God of Sea and Unsea birdsong. Whether there is any truth in that, many locals keep a canary in
their homes hopefully to ward him away. They have come to know that
Greater God when the bird stops singing, he is at hand, and it is time leave quickly.
Alignment: Neutral
Domains: Animal, Chaos, Destruction, Water, Weather
Symbol: A crashing tidal wave devouring the towers of a city
Garb: Salt-crusted fishing nets and seaweed drapings sym- Geryon
bolising tentacles
Favoured Weapon: Net The Liar; The Great Serpent; Lord of the
Form of Worship and Holidays: Full moon nights when the
high tide is highest, new moon nights that coincide with Fifth; Patron of Betrayal and Deceit
unknown aboleth rituals in the deeps. The Brine Sea cele- Arch-Devil
brated at midsummer with a flotilla of boats upon the sea Alignment: Lawful Evil
make offerings and feast on fish. Cradle-Song ceremony Domains: Charm, Evil, Law, Serpent (see below), Strength
when a human woman is returned to the surface world Symbol: A fanged serpent
with a briny infant in tow to welcome them into the briny Garb: Ordinary clothes, no special garb other than a gold
community. The Culling occurs when a briny undergoes serpentine crown and pectoral when conducting rituals
transformation into a skum and is caught by his briny kin Favoured Weapon: Glaive-guisarme
before he can escape into the sea and is euthanized in a Form of Worship and Holidays: True followers of Geryon seek
sacred bloody ritual upon the benighted waves. to attend the worship rituals of other deities under the
Typical Worshippers: Briny, brine mothers, fishermen, loca- pretence of being true believers and secretly desecrate
thahs, some sahuagin them. Actual services to Geryon take place in deep, hell-
ishly lit caverns and involve blood sacrifice, the summon-
One day, Brine’s worshippers say, the world will be swallowed by a vast ing of infernal snakes, and the ritual blowing of shofar.
tidal wave that will wipe it clean and create it anew as has happened many Typical Worshippers: Politicians, con artists, barristers, justices,
times before. Until such time, those who worship and work the sea give mongrelfolk, serpentfolk, lizardfolk, inphidians*
offerings to the god and the creatures that live from it seeking their favour.
To the briny race, Brine is held as patron and a sort of protective older The arch-devil Geryon is the Great Serpent and master of the Fifth
brother that sees to their needs and promises them a new life of justice and Circle of Hell where he rules from a great iron fortress. He commands
equality once the wicked world that they live in finally passes away. many followers in the city who seek his favour through lying in his
name and to further his cause. Many of Geryon’s faithful are casual
followers who seek his blessing only to cover their dishonest dealings
Father Canker and have determined that such efforts made to his glory are less likely to
be discovered for the falsehoods they are. For his part, Geryon does not
care whether his followers are formal worshippers or mortal fools who
Brother Choke; The Silent Assassin; inadvertently bring him power. The majority of his worshippers in the city
God of Poison, Silence and Smog are mongrelfolk (those with reptilian heritage are considered particularly
blessed) who seek to curry his favour and use their natural aptitude for
Lesser God deception and obfuscation to further his cause.
Alignment: Neutral Geryon’s formal worshippers revere serpents of all kinds, and lizardfolk
Domains: Air, Death, Trickery, Weather are found throughout the city who serve his cause. The inphidians of the
Symbol: A smoking brazier or a shard of opaque glass city who worship Hassith-Kaa seek out the reptilian peoples who venerate
Garb: None, usually beggar’s wrappings or mourning veils the Liar and seek to exterminate them at any cost. Geryon’s most devout
58
 GM Guide

Serpent Domain
Serpent Domain Spells
Cleric Level Spells
1st Animal Friendship*, Speak with Animals*
Animal Messenger*, Protection from
3rd
Poison
5th Conjure Animals*, Stinking Cloud
7th Compulsion, Dominate Beast*
9th Cloudkill, Dominate Person

*limited to serpents only

Bonus Proficiencies and Cantrip

At 1st level, you gain proficiency with a poisoner’s kit and
heavy armour. You gain the poison spray cantrip if you do not
already know it.

Venomous Armor
At 1st level, your skin starts to secrete venom that is toxic. When
your bare skin comes into contact with another creature, they must
succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for
a number of minutes equal to your cleric level. Consequently, you
are immune to poison.

Channel Divinity: Serpent’s Gaze

Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to
followers are called Serpent Masters and must sign a pact of evil with him charm a humanoid within 30 feet of you that you can see.
to obtain greater power. As an action, you attempt to charm a humanoid you see within
*Somewhere in humanities lost aeons a race of malformed serpentine range. It must make a Wisdom saving throw, and does so with
humanoids rose, now known as inphidians. While the truth of their origins advantage if you or your companions are fighting it. If it fails the
has been long forgotten, most sages subscribe to one of two theories. saving throw, it is charmed by you until the spell ends or until
The first states the creatures are the failed results of horrific experiments you or your companions do anything harmful to it. The charmed
performed by the dark and nameless sorcerers of an ancient snakecult in creature regards you as a friendly acquaintance. When the spell
their attempts to ensorcel their followers. The second theory contends the ends, the creature knows it was charmed by you.
inphidians were once a cult of snakeworshippers cursed by an ancient
snake-god for some transgression against the ethos. Whatever the truth,
Potent Venom
it appears as of late that the inphidians have evolved into true race,
beyond the machinations of arcane experiments or curses. While there Starting at 6th level, the potency of your poison damage
exist several known species, recent reports describe encounters with yet increases. When you deal poison damage, the potency is increased
unidentified inphidians and others are sure to surface as encounters with by 1d6 points of damage.
the race grow more frequent.
Venomous Strike

Jubilex At 8th level, you gain the ability to infuse your weapon strikes
with poison. Once on each of your turns when you hit a creature
with a weapon attack, you can cause the attack to deal 1d8 poison
The Faceless Lord; Lord of Corruption and damage to the target. When you reach 14th level, the extra damage
is increased to 2d8 damage.
Decay; Demon Lord of Slimes and Oozes
Demon Lord Improved Serpent’s Gaze
Alignment: Chaotic Evil At 17th level, you can charm up to 2 humanoids, instead of one,
Domains: Chaos, Evil, Slime (see below), Water when you use Serpent’s Gaze. While creatures are charmed by
Symbol: An amulet portraying an amorphous mass covered your Serpent’s Gaze, you can take a bonus action on your turn to
in eyes or a splatter of paint with an eye drawn in the verbally command what those creatures will do on their next turn.
centre
Garb: Filthy rags
Favored Weapon: Morningstar (called a “pulper” by the
faithful) es, ooze demons, spawn of Jubilex, slime nagas, some evil
Form of Worship and Holidays: Outbreaks of disease are dragons
considered to be signs of the Faceless Lord’s favour; oth-
erwise, there are no real holy days or organised worship The Faceless Lord is a powerful demon lord, sometimes worshipped
other than random sacrifices and eviscerations. as a deity, though it does not generally behave as such. It is considered
Typical Worshippers: Insane humans, lepers, intelligent ooz- by its worshippers to be chaos personified and a return to a simpler, purer
state of existence. Jubilex is said to sow chaos and discord throughout the
59
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
planes, though it is possible these are simply the instinctive actions of a
mindless monstrosity rather than a calculated stratagem. It is doubtful that
Jubilex even recognizes that it has worshippers, or cares.
Disliked even by other demon lords, Jubilex is often depicted as an
Slime Domain
enormous amorphous blob with eyes in random locations that spews Slime Domain Spells
forth foul and deadly slimes of many varieties. During a dispute with the
dwarven god Dwerfater thousands of years ago, Jubilex was imprisoned Cleric Level Spells
in some hidden location rumoured to be on the Material Plane and the
1st Ooze Bolt*, Spider Climb
world of Lloegyr. His physical absence has not seemed to affect his few
deranged cultists over this time, and if his name has been forgotten to 3rd Mucus*, Slimeskin*
the point of being little more than a whispered rumour in the world, then 5th Muck*, Ooze Eruption*
it likely has only helped his cult to remain hidden from the powers that
would otherwise seek to destroy it. 7th Ooze Sphere*, Pseudopods*
The Faceless Lord is the ruler of slimes and oozes, things that slip 9th Conjure Ooze*, Gelatinous Wall*
beneath the streets of the Blight and find an ideal setting for birthing and
growing his kin and progeny. He is also the Lord of Decay and is said to New spells are described below.
slither the streets of the Blight at night by his mad faithful. His followers
are called Masters (or Mistresses) of the Ooze, and they often sacrifice a Bonus Proficiencies
limb to green slime to gain their lord’s favours. They are feared by even
the vilest things in the city for their cruelty. At 1st level, you gain proficiency with martial weapons and
heavy armour.

Lord Shingles Touch of Jubilex

Starting at 1st level, you have resistance to acid and poison damage.
The Shadow on the Rooftop; Sovereign
Channel Divinity: Spew Slime
of the Heights; God of Builders, Gables,
Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to
Rooftops, and the Sky spew caustic slime from your mouth.
Lesser God As an action, you vomit forth a 30-foot line of acidic slime.
Alignment: Lawful Neutral Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target
Domains: Air, Artifice, Community, Knowledge takes 4d4 acid damage immediately and 2d4 acid damage at the
Symbol: A spire end of its next turn. On a miss, the slime splashes the target with
Garb: Ceremonial work apron and headdress with a acid for half as much of the initial damage and no damage at the
ceremonial trowel and hammer end of its next turn.
Favored Weapon: Light hammer
Form of Worship and Holidays: Formal ceremonies held at Channel Divinity: Command Ooze
dawn on the four High Holy Days and at sundown of the Starting at 6th level, you can use your Channel Divinity to
solstices and equinoxes. Ceremonies include ritual chants, command an ooze that you can see.
bonfires, and oaths. As an action, choose one ooze that you can see within 60 feet of
Typical Worshippers: Architects, builders, gablemaesters, you. That ooze must make a Wisdom saving throw. If the creature
sprawlmasons, spider-hunters, daredevils, some burglars succeeds on the saving throw, you cannot use this feature on it
and vigilantes again until you finish a long rest.
If the creature fails its save, it is under your command for the
No city has a skyline like Castorhage, so it is no surprise that the city’s next 24 hours, until it drops to 0 hit points, or until you use this
unique rooftop culture with its ubiquitous features and threats should spawn an feature again.
awe in the people who live and work upon it. It is possible that Lord Shingles On each of your turns, you can use a bonus action to mentally
was originally just an obscure sky deity or perhaps some lesser builder deity command the ooze if it is within 60 feet of you. You decide what
associated with Dre’uain the Lame, but whatever the case, something about action the creature will take and where it will move during its next
the Blight’s urban sprawl and ever-more precarious skyward expansion called turn, or you can issue a general command, such as guard. If you
out for a God of the Heights, and one appeared. He is sometimes glimpsed issue no commands, the ooze only defends itself against hostile
at dusk and dawn, and there are many gablemaesters and spider-hunters who creatures. Once given an order, the ooze continues to follow it
have claimed to have spent time with the god, though none can remember any until the task is complete.
details with which to describe him, other than that he feared no precipice or
drop and somehow made them feel strangely calm and safe as well. Oddly, Divine Strike
many thieves pay him heed and make offerings on rooftops for luck in their
second-story endeavours, flowers, coins, and personal possessions, and the At 8th level, you gain the ability to infuse your weapon strikes
gables and spires of the Blight are festooned with his shrines. with corrosive acid. Once on each of your turns when you hit a
creature with a weapon attack, you can cause the attack to deal 1d8
acid damage to the target. When you reach 14th level, the extra
Lucifer damage is increased to 2d8 damage.

Form of the Faceless

Prince of Darkness; Prince of Lies; The
At 17th level, you can use your action to transform into an ooze.
Adversary; The Prince of Light; Lord of This feature works like the polymorph spell, and allows you to
transform into a black pudding, gelatinous cube, grey ooze, or
Infernus; The Falling Tower; Satan ochre jelly.
Greater God (Arch-Devil) Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you
Alignment: Lawful Evil finish a short or long rest.
Domains: Charm, Evil, Law, Strength, War

60
 GM Guide

Slime Domain
A thin, green ray springs from your pointing finger to a creature that
New Spells you can see within range.
CONJURE OOZE A creature targeted by this spell must make a Dexterity saving
4th-level conjuration throw. On a failed save, the target takes 10d6 + 40 acid damage. If this
Casting Time: 1 minute damage reduces the target to 0 hit points, it is liquefied and turned into
Range: 90 feet a puddle of ooze.
Components: V, S A liquified creature and everything it is wearing and carrying,
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour except magic items, are reduced to a disgusting puddle of melted,
bubbling ooze. The creature can be restored to life only by means of a
You summon oozes that appear in unoccupied spaces that you can true resurrection or a wish spell.
see within range. You choose one of the following options for what At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of

• •
appears: 7th level or higher, the damage increases by 3d6 for each slot level
One ooze of challenge rating 2 or lower above 6th.

• •
Two oozes of challenge rating 1 or lower MUCK
Four oozes of challenge rating 1/2 or lower 3rd-level conjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Eight oozes of challenge rating 1/4 or lower. Range: 150 feet
An ooze summoned by this spell disappears when it drops to 0 hit Components: V, S, M (a drop of glue, a small ball of
points or when the spell ends. gelatinous slime, and a drop of acid)
The summoned creatures are friendly to you and your companions. Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
Roll initiative for the summoned creatures as a group, which has its
own turns. They obey any verbal commands that you issue to them (no You transform a 20-foot-radius area into a pool of ooze and caustic
action required by you). If you don’t issue any commands to them, they slime, centred on a point with range and lasting for the duration.
defend themselves from hostile creatures, but otherwise take no actions. This area is filled with a bubbling mass of greenish-black and foul-
The GM has the creatures’ statistics. smelling liquid. Ooze, slime, and pus constantly form bubbles that
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using certain higher- burst, releasing splashes of corrosive droplets. Pseudopods writhe and
level slots, you choose one of the summoning options above, and reach for any creature in the area.
more creatures appear: twice as many with a 6th-level slot and three The area covered by the muck is difficult terrain. Any creature that
times as many with an 8th-level slot. starts its turn in the area takes 2d6 acid damage. Any creature that ends
its turn in the area must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take
GELATINOUS WALL 2d6 acid damage as slimy pseudopods grope and grasp it.
5th-level evocation
Casting Time: 1 action MUCUS
Range: 60 feet 2nd-level conjuration
Components: V, S, M (a small piece of gelatinous cube) Casting Time 1 action
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes Range 60 feet
Components V, S, M (phlegm)
You create a transparent, stationary wall of gelatinous slime. The wall Duration Concentration, up to 1 hour
appears within range on a solid surface and lasts for the duration. You
choose to make the wall up to 60 feet long, 10 feet high, and 5 feet thick You conjure a gob of thick, phlegmy mucus at a point of your choice
or a circle that has a 20-foot diameter and is up to 20 feet high and 5 within range. The mucus fills a 20-foot cube from that point for the
feet thick. duration. The mucus is difficult terrain and lightly obscure their area.
When the wall appears, each creature within its area must make a If the mucus isn’t anchored between two solid masses (such as
Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature can choose to be walls or trees) or layered across a floor, wall, or ceiling, the conjured
pushed 5 feet back or to the side of the wall. A creature that chooses mucus collapses on itself, and the spell ends at the start of your next
not to be pushed suffers the consequences of a failed saving throw. turn. Mucus layered over a flat surface have a depth of 5 feet.
On a failed save, the wall engulfs the creature, and the creature takes Each creature that starts its turn in the mucus or that enters it during
3d6 acid damage. The engulfed creature can’t breathe, is restrained, its turn must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the
and takes 6d6 acid damage at the start of each of the caster’s turns. creature is restrained as long as it remains in the mucus or until it
An engulfed creature can try to escape by taking an action to make a breaks free.
Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, the creature A creature restrained by the mucus can use its action to make a
escapes and enters a space of its choice within 5 feet of the wall. Strength check against your spell save DC. If it succeeds, it is no
A creature can attempt to move through the wall, but suffers the longer restrained.
same effect as a failed save mentioned above.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of OOZE BOLT
7th level or higher, the damage increases by 2d6 for each slot level 1st-level evocation
above 6th. Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
LIQUIFY FLESH Components: V, S
6th-level transmutation Duration: 1 round
Casting Time 1 action
60 feet A bolt of grey ooze springs from your hand and streaks toward
Components V, S, M (a drop of acid and a drop of water) a creature of your choice within range. Make a ranged spell attack
Duration Instantaneous against the target. On a hit, the target takes 4d6 acid damage.

61
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City

Slime Domain
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of or starts its turn there, the creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving
2nd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level throw or take 3d6 acid damage and be restrained by the pseudopods
above 1st. until the spell ends. A creature that starts its turn in the area and is
already restrained by the pseudopods takes 3d6 acid damage.
OOZE ERUPTION A creature restrained by the pseudopods can use its action to make
3rd-level transmutation a Strength or Dexterity check (its choice) against your spell save DC.
Casting Time: 1 action On a success, it frees itself.
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, S, M (a ball of gelatinous slime) SLIMESKIN
Duration: Instantaneous 2nd-level transmutation
Casting Time: 1 action
Choose a point you can see on the ground within range. A fountain of Range: Touch
slime and ooze erupts in a 20-foot radius centered on that point. Each Components: V, S, M (a handful of oak bark)
creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour
takes 3d12 acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage You touch a willing creature. Until the spell ends, the target’s skin
on a successful one. Additionally, the ground in that area becomes has a slick, slime-like appearance, and the target’s AC can’t be less
difficult terrain until cleared away. Each 5-foot-square portion of the than 16, regardless of what kind of armor it is wearing.
area requires at least 1 minute to clear by hand.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of VITRIOL OF JUBILEX
4th level or higher, the damage increases by 1d12 for each slot level 4th-level evocation
above 3rd. Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 150 feet
Pseudopods Components: V, S, M (a drop of giant slug bile)
4th-level conjuration Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 90 feet You point at a place within range, and a glowing 1-foot globe of
Components: V, S, M (a piece of tentacle from a giant greenish-black ooze shoots forth from your hand, exploding in a 20-
octopus or a giant squid) foot radius. Each creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 6d8 acid damage and 3d8 acid
damage at the end of its next turn. On a successful save, a creature
Squirming, slimy pseudopods fill a 20-foot square on ground that takes half the initial damage and no damage at the end of its next turn
you can see within range. For the duration, these pseudopods turn the At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 5th
ground in the area into difficult terrain. level or higher, the initial damage increases by 1d8 for each slot level
When a creature enters the affected area for the first time on a turn above 4th.

62
 GM Guide
Symbol: Leviathan Cross (alchemic symbol for sulfur) Domains: Animal, Glory, Law, Repose, Strength, War
Garb: Red or black silken robes with tall pointed hoods that Symbol: A bull, warrior in a Phrygian cap, or a raven
either cover the face or with deep cowls and with white, Garb: Military dress uniform or battle armour with Phrygian
featureless masks cap
Favored Weapon: Trident Favored Weapon: Short sword, spear
Form of Worship and Holidays: Blood sacrifices at Samhain Form of Worship and Holidays: Worship services are held
(the last night of autumn) nights of the Dark Moon (when in caves and grottos on nights of sacred celestial
Sybil is full), and Walpurgis Night. alignments. The autumnal equinox (the Cusp of Mithras)
Typical Worshippers: Witches, corruptors, politicians, is his sacred day and involves public daylong ceremonies
revolutionaries, the disaffected from first light until moonset with sacrifice of bulls and
military parades. On the eve of great battles, secret
The Prince of Darkness is worshiped by countless in the city, and many underground ceremonies are held (frequently attended
good people have been tempted by lust or greed or hunger into serving by combatants from both sides of the coming battle) to
him. In fact, his worship is so insidious that there’s no way to determine ask for favour in battle, beseech Mithras to bring honour in
what their true numbers might be. However, the astute and very observant battle, celebrate past battles, and promote cult members
are aware that many symbols of other divinities (deities and arch-devils to higher grades of Mithraism; if a ceremony finds favour,
alike) are usurped and used in worship to the Prince of Lies, and doubtless a celestial bull may materialize for the cult leader to slay in
many prayers so intended for other powers fall pleasingly upon his ears in commemoration of Mithras’ deeds.
Infernus instead. Though not much is known about any organized cult of Typical Worshippers: Soldiers, generals, warriors, statesmen
Lucifer, his most devout followers, the Dark Cardinals, bear marks of the
touch of their master. Sometimes this mark may be a simple blemish, other The great Cult of Mithraism is one of the most widespread religions
times it is a change of body into something monstrous, bestial and lustful. in the world. The universal appeal as the god of all soldiers and roots
that predate even the Legions of Hyperborea when his worship was first
spread far and wide make Mithras perhaps the most commonly revered
Mammon god in the Lost Lands. He brings luck in battle, he is the parting mist, the
coming storm, the changing wind; he aids those who trust to him. That he
is principally a god of soldiers — and soldiers only — is probably all that
Lord of Avarice; Lord of the Third prevents the cult from becoming the dominant religion in the world.
Arch-Devil Founded in the early days of Hyperborea, the soldiery of Castorhage
Alignment: Lawful Evil is no exception to the god’s wide appeal. However, his cult takes on a
Domains: Artifice, Earth, Evil, Law, Trickery slightly different edge, perhaps, in the naturally blighted surrounds of the
Symbol: A coin with the arch-devil’s face upon it city-state. In Castorhage, Mithras is revered more as the unstoppable victor
Garb: Rich robes of the finest materials, bedecked with in battle as opposed to the honourable warrior. He is often referred to as
gems and thread of precious metals Old Iron Hand or Lord Storm among the Royal Army, and his worship
Favored Weapon: Shortspear within the city’s military is encouraged and in some cases compulsory.
Form of Worship and Holidays: Few formal rituals beyond the The Cult of Mithraism outside Castorhage has looked askance at that
accumulation of wealth and tithing to cult leaders who city’s branch for some time and often see it as a tainted form of worship.
maintain contacts for business deals and shady deals alike Every few years there is always talk of excommunicating the Castorhage
and organize smaller services where key figures can meet sect, though the Heliodromus of Mithras has quashed such talk on every
to strategize plans for profiteering occasion so far. However, troubling rumours coming out of the Libynosi
Typical Worshippers: Bankers, royalty, business owners, colonies of high-grade Casterhager cult members siding with followers
thieves, swyne†, many Castorhagers (covertly) of the barbaric war god Thursis in battle may at least be the straw that
breaks the back of the Soldier-Gods cult in the Blight. Whether this is true
Perhaps the most commonly invoked god of Castorhage, Mammon is or not remains to be seen, but many Paters and Coraces of Mithras across
said to be interested only in the spreading of his own name and that even Akados wait expectantly to see what sort of decree may come down from
his name is a lie. It is said Mammon’s name is pronounced in the clink of the Heliodromus.
every coin and the cry of every slave. If there is something that generates
income, directly or indirectly, Mammon has a hand in it at some level.
Mammon is invoked by those who wish for good luck and fortune, as well
as those in power or those who have nothing. His touch caresses priest
Mother Grace
and pauper, queen and whore alike and brings to all dreams of limitless
wealth and power. Worship of Mammon is somewhat unique in that there The Holy Mother; Mother of All;
are relatively few followers of Mammon who revere him as their primary Goddess of Family, Order, and Tradition
deity but a great many who invoke him on the side in order to achieve
success in some financial endeavour. Even the good-aligned followers of Greater God
gods of good are not immune to the temptation to beseech Mammon’s Alignment: Lawful Neutral
blessing from time to time. As a relatively shadowy figure, even in the Domains: Community, Law, Nobility, Repose
politics of Hell where he is lord of an entire Circle, Mammon seems to Symbol: A mother holding a child and a distaff
prefer this pseudo-anonymity. Garb: Black robes trimmed in silver with red collar and
accents, silver and red mitre and ceremonial distaff
Favoured Weapon: Light mace
Mithras Form of Worship and Holidays: Minor services in the form
of multiple times for prayer or meditation are daily in
cathedrals and churches throughout the city with longer,
Lord Storm; The Battle; The Soldier-God; formal services held every Sunday (all-day affairs) and
Wodesday (evening services). The High Holy Days are all
Mithrae Invicto; God of War, Battles, and considered sacred to Mother Grace and hold services
Soldiers accordingly, and seemingly every other day in the
calendar is designated as a feast day for one or more of
Greater God her saints.
Alignment: Lawful Neutral Typical Worshippers: Castorhagers
63
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Papyri
Three Aspects of One God
Mother Grace is a good example of the extremities of religion in
The Archivist; The Quiet One;
the Blight. Three aspects of her teachings are taken up and worshipped The Lost Apprentice; The Thoughtful
with equal fervour by groups with three very different philosophies.
The Beatific Quest: This aspect of the worship of Mother Grace Silence; Goddess of the Written Word
is lawful good in alignment. It follows her teaching that knowledge Demigod
is all, that mistakes of history cannot be repeated with proper study Alignment: Neutral
and prudent thought, and that only through awakening the desire Domains: Esoteric, Knowledge, Magic, Rune
to know will the world be pure and advance. Symbol: A quill superimposed on a shield
The Rule of Order: Lawful neutral in alignment, the Rule of Garb: Scholars robes, usually with ink-stained cuffs. There are
Order focusses on the words of the Mother of All when teaching many different collars, tassels, and hats worn with these
infants and the ignorant — that fairness is only good when robes to denote different roles, ranks, and specialties
firmness is behind it, a clenched fist in a velvet glove. Order and among followers of Papyri.
discipline are paramount. This aspect of the Mother’s worship Favoured Weapon: Spear (always with a shield)
is the most rigid; it follows set laws and ranks and patterns of Form of Worship and Holidays: Solemn periods of silent
worship established centuries ago and still clung to with dogged meditation, prescribed readings of holy books and
attention to detail. It is as inclined to use the weapons of the wicked approved literature. Public readings from Papyri’s
to destroy them and preaches that the only thing that truly matters Escutcheon Di Epistemos Primo are held every Thyrsday
in a chaotic world is the preservation of the status quo. evening.
The Fair Fist: Of lawful evil, this sect preaches that only order Typical Worshippers: Scholars, teachers, wizards, arcanists,
can bring the world out of the darkness of anarchy, and only those alchemists, nagas, liches
who worship the Mother Grace are the truly enlightened capable
of bringing about this order. This aspect of the goddess focusses The quiet Papyri is seldom depicted in religious art, but when she is, it is
entirely upon scare mongering of the teachings of the Holy Mother always as a studious, unassuming woman hunched over a scribe’s lectern.
— that unless properly educated as to the dangers of the present Her true name is unknown, and she is now named for the earliest medium
age, the world will fall into absolute chaos. Missionaries, bigots, and associated with her worship. The church of Papyri claims that Papyri was
fear-mongers, the Fair Fist (one of this sect’s many names) believes originally apprenticed to Yenomesh, the ancient God of Glyphs and Writing.
in worshipping Mother Grace and nothing else (all other religions Papyri doctrine states that she served Yenomesh since the beginning of his
being blasphemous) and historically is the group behind most of the creation of writing but either ran away or was banished by him for unknown
Mother’s crusading activities. They wish only to extend order in the reasons after discovering something among his writings. For their part, the
Mother’s name (whether the world wishes it or not). followers of Yenomesh deny any such association.
She is invoked by those who hunger for knowledge at any cost, and
the greatest tenets of her church is that all knowledge is neutral (no
The most widely worshipped god in the City-State of Castorhage, the matter how much harm could be caused by those who misuse it) and
shrines, churches and cathedrals outnumber those of other gods by a dozen that all knowledge should be preserved by the constant creation of
to one and are unequalled in their magnificence. Mother Grace is the new copies. Throughout history this has been accomplished by virtual
goddess of the Royal Family and the official religion of the State. Other armies of painstaking scribes, though with the modern innovation of
gods, saints, and religious figures are tolerated, and yet even this tolerance the printing press in Castorhage this tedious practice has been largely
is occasionally tested with persecutions launched by the religious leaders relegated to the typesetters who need only assemble a book’s words
of Mother Grace’s church with the backing of the Crown. Crusades on once. Despite her seemingly benign focus on scholarship and education,
foreign shores — especially in and around Castorhage’s many overseas Papyri’s support of unregulated knowledge acquisition can often lead
colonies — are regular and by no means driven by goodness, with many her adherents onto paths that culminate in exposure to dark truths and
similar activities occurring on a smaller scale locally. Pillaging Between in darker gods. For those with a greater understanding of the Quiet One,
her name, burning witches to her glory, and assorted murder and mayhem they know her consorts are gods of madness, things without names, and
under the auspices of divine authority are her all-too-regular consorts. fey gods of old that have been imprisoned and should never again see the
Throughout all of it, only one thing matters: order. light of sun. The liturgy of her faithful, however, is that the knowledge of
Outside of Castorhage and its colonial possessions, Mother Grace is Papyri is a shield for those who would use it, and those who would use
a very intriguing goddess. For despite her clear and present power as a the knowledge are likewise a shield for its preservation. It is whispered
major divinity and her near monopoly on religious influence throughout that many of the highest-placed members of the almost-mythological
Castorhage’s empire, she is virtually unknown beyond its boundaries. Fraternal Order of the Secret Flame.
Nowhere else can be found organized congregations or temples in the
name of Mother Grace, and no known culture or ethnicity lays claim to her
origins. Her religion seems to have appeared as if from nothing at some
point early in the creation of Castorhage, and went on to obtain and keep
Sister Shadows
a position of religious supremacy. Some learned scholars hypothesize that
her church in Castorhage may represent some organized remnant of the The Unseen; Goddess of Alleys, Streets,
prehistoric deity once revered almost universally among early humans and Piers, and Pathways
known usually as only The Goddess. But even that is base speculation
derived from little more than her apparent affinity for humans and a vague Demigod
resemblance between the shape of the head of her distaff in religious Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
depictions and the ancient imagery of the Tesseract long associated with Domains: Artifice, Darkness, Earth, Shadow (see below),
worship of The Goddess. What truth may lie in this connection has yet to Trickery
be definitively determined. Symbol: A twisting wynd (alleyway)
Garb: No special garb
Favoured Weapon: Dagger
Form of Worship and Holidays: No formal services or holidays;
most followers offer a simple prayer before going about
their daily chores and another before sleep
64
 GM Guide

Shadow Domain
Shadow Domain Spells New Spells
Cleric Level Spells HUNGERING SHADOWS
3rd-level conjuration
1st Umbral Armor*, Unseen Servant
Casting Time: 1 action
3rd Darkness, Invisibility Range: 150 feet
5th Fear, Hungering Shadows* Components: V, S, M (a drop of glue, a small ball of
gelatinous slime, and a drop of acid)
7th Greater Invisibility, Phantasmal Killer Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
9th Hallow**, Wall of Shadow
You open a gateway to the plane of shadows, a cold, colourless,
* New spells are described below. and darkened distortion of your world . A 20-foot-radius sphere
** Excludes the Daylight effect of the Hallow spell. of hungering, writhing shadow appears, centred on a point
with range and lasting for the duration. This void is filled with
Bonus Proficiencies a maddening whispers and cacophonous laughter that can be
heard up to 30 feet away. No light, magical or otherwise, can
At 1st level, you gain proficiency with martial weapons and heavy illuminate the area, and creatures fully within the area are blinded.
armour. The void creates a conduit between the planes, and the area is
difficult terrain. Any creature that starts its turn in the area takes 2d6
Shadow Mantle necrotic damage. Any creature that ends its turn in the area must
When you choose this domain at 1st level, you can use your action succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 2d6 cold damage as
to surround yourself with a swirling, shifting mantle of shadows. This otherworldly shadows slowly drain its warmth.
feature gives you advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. This effect
lasts for 1 hour. UMBRAL ARMOR
1st-level abjuration
Channel Divinity: Shadow Self  Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self
Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to create Components: V, S, M (a wisp of shadow)
three shadowy duplicates of yourself. These illusory duplicates appear Duration: 1 hour
in your space, move with you, and mimic your actions, shifting
position so it is impossible to determine which image is real. A swirl of shadow surrounds you, manifesting as an umbral shroud
Refer to the mirror image for how the duplicates behave. that covers you and your gear. You gain 5 temporary hit points for the
duration. If a creature hits you with a melee attack while you have
Channel Divinity: Shadow Step these hit points, the creature takes 5 necrotic damage.
Starting at 6th level, you can use your Channel Divinity to shadow At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd
step (as misty step). As an action, you step into the shadows and level or higher, both the temporary hit points and the necrotic damage
reappear up to 30 feet away to an unoccupied space you can see. increase by 5 for each slot level above 1st.

WALL OF SHADOW
Divine Strike
5th-level evocation
At 8th level, you gain the ability to infuse your weapon strikes with Casting Time: 1 action
necrotic and cold energy. Once on each of your turns when you hit a Range: 120 feet
creature with a weapon attack, you can cause the attack to deal 1d4 Components: V, S, M (a pinch of powder made by crush-
necrotic and 1d4 cold damage to the target. When you reach 14th level, ing a shadowed gemstone)
the extra damage is increased to 2d4 cold and 2d4 necrotic damage. Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

Shadow Bulwark You create a writhing, roiling wall of shadow beginning from a point
At 17th level, your affinity to the shadow intensifies, granting you in range. You can make the wall up to 60 feet long, 20 feet high, and 1
resistance to necrotic and cold damage. foot thick, or a ringed wall up to 20 feet in diameter, 20 feet high, and
1 foot thick. The wall is completely opaque and lasts for the duration.
When the wall appears, each creature within its area must make a
Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 5d8 necrotic
damage, or half as much damage on a successful save. Attempting to
pass through the wall is equivalent to crossing difficult terrain. 
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of
6th level or higher, the damage increases by 1d8 for each slot level
above 5th.

Typical Worshippers: Beggars, thieves, dock labourers, street with Sister Lyme,” an old Blight phrase meaning to fall into the Great
sweeps, commoners, ratfolk, mongrelfolk, skulks Lyme River, an act that is often a person’s last.
Largely unknown outside the Blight, some suppose Sister Shadow to
In a city contorted by countless pathways and alleys, this goddess’s be an aspect or divine servant of the shadow goddess Mirkeer. However,
name is said almost as widely as Mother Grace’s. Her name is uttered despite The Unseen’s similar affinity to the dark corners of the world, their
by those who walk the broadest streets to those who dwell beneath the similarity ends there. Sister Shadow is not a deity of the night and nefarious
rankest piers closest to the Kiss of the Lyme and who have to “dance daily dealings in shadow, she represents the endless shadows, nooks, and

65
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
crannies and the endless possibilities they represent for survival, success,
and even satisfaction. She is a goddess of not only those innumerable
hordes that dwell within the corners of the city, but the potential that the
city represents for those same people she embraces. Many folk see her
simply as a goddess of thieves and street gangs, but those who truly revere
her see her as protector and inspiration for their lives and the chance —
however slight it may be — to better them.

The Ash Queen

Queen of Whores; The Hunger;
Goddess of Lust, Nature, and Witchcraft
Greater God (Outer God)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Domains: Animal, Beast (see below), Chaos, Earth, Plant
Symbol: A naked woman silhouetted before a full moon
Garb: Nudity smeared with mud, blood, and placental tissue
(usually animal but humanoid when available)
Favoured Weapon: Sickle
Form of Worship and Holidays: Blood sacrifices and rituals
held on every new moon with special fertility rites held
every Modraniht and on the eve of Beltane
Typical Worshippers: Druids, mothers, fertility cults, satyrs,
witches, hags, atavistic serpentfolk, nocturnals, intelligent
plant creatures, rorkouns, gorynychs, bholes, dark young,
living monoliths, some mongrelfolk

The Queen of Whores and the eldest god, The Ash Queen’s name is
screamed by hunters as they take their prey and courtesans as they take there is death or imminent death, including battlefields,
their lovers. She is all things lust and like all hungers, can be a force of plague-stricken cities, regions of famine and social
good — of the creation of life — but also of evil — betrayal, lies, and upheaval
perversions. And sometimes there is less than a knife blade’s thickness of Typical Worshippers: Daemons, doomsayers, the insane,
difference between the two. The Ash Queen is savagery and the wanton plague carriers, ghouls, some wererats
celebration of Nature at its most brutal and unrestrained. Her rites are
usually performed at night under a new moon and starlit skies and involve “The end is nigh!” proclaim his followers. The End of Days is here,
orgiastic feasts accompanied by wild music and ecstatic dancing. The and soon the Horseman shall ride down upon the city to reap his harvest.
priests and priestesses, who are said to be unusually fanatical, are naked He will turn his four faces upon all, laying the city low with his disease,
but for smears of thick marsh mud, clotted blood, and the placental blood burning its ruins to ashes, and starving the handful that have the ill fortune
and tissues of recently birthed animals or even humanoids when available. to survive. His name is Death and his only promise is ruin and destruction.
For those who follow the Queen of Whores and are sane enough to realize Outside the city of Castorhage, The Horseman goes by his more commonly
it, her worship and religion are merely a thinly veiled front for the mad known name: the Oinodaemon. His ultimate goal is to bring ruin upon all
cult of the goddess and Outer God, Shupnikkurat mortals, and he is patient in his efforts. Though only the insane favour The
Horseman’s worship, all peoples fear his inevitable arrival.

The Horseman
The Gods of the Swyne
End of Days; Lord of Disease; It is difficult to categorize the gods worshipped among the race known
Supreme of Daemons; The Oinodaemon as the swyne† as a true pantheon, just as it is difficult to categorize them
as even true gods. Nevertheless, these deities find veneration among the
Greater God (Daemon Lord) swyne population and seem to be capable of granting spells to clerics who
Alignment: Neutral Evil worship them, so they are included here in abbreviated format. In truth,
Domains: Death, Destruction, Evil, Madness, War they seem less like an actual pantheon and seem more like lesser godlings
Symbol: A skull and scythe or a diseased and rotten ram’s or powerful outsiders that managed to find a home for their extremely
head specific and limited areas of influence and simply latched onto whatever
Garb: Hooded black robes without footwear veneration they could.
Favoured Weapon: Scythe
Form of Worship and Holidays: Blood sacrifices anywhere

The Gods of the Swyne

Deity AL Area of Concern Domains Favored Weapon
Hork NE Goddess of Musk Amoral, Animal, Charm, Trickery Dagger
Porfask CN God of Wine Cellars Amoral, Chaos, Glory, Intrigue Club

* See Part 3, New Races

DD
See Dunes of Desolation by Frog God Games
66
 GM Guide

Twisted Campaigns Vermin of the Blight

To some classes, alignment is at the core of their nature — whether you are It has been said before that the crawling, creeping, and flying vermin
a righteous paladin, a despicable rogue, or a neutral druid, your alignment that infest the Blight are virtually ubiquitous — especially in its summer
guides you. Not everyone, however, is so clearly morally righteous or months. And though the Blight gains its nickname from the lichen-like
despicable. A festering hotbed of backstabbing, liars, political greed, and fungus of that name that proliferates in the darkened corners of the city,
hunger for power offers you a useful backdrop to events for your adventures. most folk assume that it comes from the blight of these vermin that are to
These themes can be developed into powerful campaign threads. be found virtually everywhere and welcomed nowhere.
Twisted campaigns thrive upon darker subject matter: prostitution, Swarming insects are a constant problem at certain times of the year
slavery, addiction, suffering, and misery, but this does not mean your when weather conditions are just right, but there are some particular types
players have to be part of them. They may, in fact, be abhorrent to the of insects that seem to be unique to the city of Castorhage or at least never
characters and act as a catalyst to their adventures. Two samples of the recorded in other locations.
same campaign are given below, but one is given the features of a twisted Most people think of the spiders when the subject of Blight vermin is
Blight campaign. discussed. The rooftops and gable, soffits and spires are overrun with them
— and many of monstrous sizes. Two varieties of spiders are exclusive to the
environs of the city. These are the gable spiders, who don’t spin webs but
The Price of Flesh rather construct their elaborate lairs and hunting grounds from the garbage
and debris produced by the city itself; and the chymic spiders, acid-spewing
— Standard Campaign dreamstalkers that seem to physically embody the fear of spiders shared by
most folk of the city. The fact that the city is not a web-shrouded mausoleum
This campaign is set in Festival, the island of pleasure in the Great of humanoid carcasses can largely be attributed to the neverending efforts of
Lyme River. Cother’s Pleasure Palace caters to all sins, they say, although the gablemaesters, a guild of rooftop spider hunters dedicated to battling the
it is difficult to become a member of this exclusive club — membership ever-growing scourge that creeps above the heads of the citizens.
is strictly by invitation. Insectum are another example of myriad species of vermin that appear
The characters are sponsored — be it by a religious group, cult, or to exist solely in and around the Blight. They are covered in considerable
guild — to investigate the disappearance of Lady Heather McCall, a detail in The Blight Player’s Handbook.
disowned noble and lover of Horace Grove, a well-to-do snuff merchant. In addition to insectum, other less-monstrous bugs that seem unique to the
Grove arranges for the characters to enter the palace incognito and learn city are the midden-angels, great black biting flies that make their home in the
what is happening. The characters discover that Cother is a member of Bilges and require the workers there to don special protective scarves in order
the Family†, and the wererat has been abducting speciality victims for to avoid having their faces disfigured by the painful bites, and the stonemites,
his more discerning customers to infect with lycanthropy. He has used large, red, termite-like insects that gnaw on the stone and mortar of masonry
the services of a notorious ogrekin abductor known only as the Stalker to for their sustenance rather than wood and paper like their lesser cousins.
snatch his victims. The characters unmask the plot, free Heather, and all Lighting the streets and many of the homes and businesses in the Blight is
seems well. also done thanks to vermin. Thought there is some usage of gas lamps around
However, the Family are extremely angry about the event. Cother was the city, as with many areas of technological advancement the necessary
a promising young businessman who was a favoured cousin of one of infrastructure was largely deemed too costly and difficult to install and
the organization’s more senior members. An attempt is made upon the maintain with other cheaper, easier options available. To this end, the discovery
character’s lives, and clues point back to Festival. Furthermore, threats of the burning properties of pyrebeetles revolutionized the old torches and
are made to the character’s sponsor, and the matter quickly swells into expensive oil lamps that had previously been used. Pyrebeetles are a type
a ground war between the Family and the character’s sponsoring group. of small beetle indigenous to the swamplands surrounding the city that have
This escalates, and the characters become involved in hit-and-run tactics peculiar flammable properties and make for excellent torches and lanterns.
against the Family, which culminates in a pitched battle under the piers Pyrebeetles are detailed more fully in The Blight Player’s Handbook.
between the characters, their sponsors, and the Family. Siklight cockroaches are the smaller, more nauseating cousins of the
In the meantime, Heather has been infected with lycanthropy, and the pyrebeetle. These creatures feed on waste and give off an insipid, pallid light
aspect of her character and her misery at the event is laid bare; attempts at when they are awake, though they also extrude an unpleasant odour at all times.
cures fail and she ends up in the Asylum. Her lover Horace offers a fortune Many folk ascribe the unhealthy vapours given off by these insects as the cause
for the characters to embark upon a crusade against the rats. of many illnesses among the poor. Siklight cockroaches are a common sight in
poorer parts of the Blight where, if properly cared for, they can live for up to
a year. Unfortunately, they have the alarming habit of exploding if their hard
The Price of Flesh carapace is pierced or sometimes even from just sudden changes in temperature
and certain conditions of the Canker. For this reason, small explosions and fires
— Twisted Campaign are commonplace in areas lit by them in the poorer areas of the city, and has
earned them several nicknames among the populace including Devil’s Spark,
In this version, events follow along as before, but the characters have Trust-Me-Not, Tricklight, Mother’s Misery, Beltane’s Fart, and a host of other,
a more ambiguous background. The sponsor, it transpires, is the covert less-polite curses and cant-words. Siklight cockroaches are also covered in
ally of a rival wererat family from foreign shores (the Nettles) intent more detail in The Blight Player’s Handbook.
upon establishing their own pitch on Festival. These sponsors know that Finally, no discussion of Blight vermin would be complete without
Cother is the favoured cousin of one of the senior Family members. The mention of the coprophagi† and night-slugs. The coprophagi are roachfolk
adventure runs as written above, but this time if the characters do not kill endemic to the dumping sites of the Bilges and other out-of-the-way
Cother, he is killed immediately after the adventure by the rival wererats. corners of the city’s slums. They are little understood by the citizens
The characters are then caught in the middle of this pitched battle — of Castorhage and largely ignored, though their presence is far from
with the two rival wererat groups both after their blood — the Family welcome. On the other side of the coin are the night-slugs†, a race of
blame them for the death of Cother, the Nettles intent upon burying wormlike humanoids that makes its home between the walls and in the
any evidence. The characters must overcome both groups, or find a crawlspaces of buildings and houses all over the city. Night-slugs, when
way of playing one off against the other, clearing themselves, and discovered, are treated like any other vermin, and attempts are made to
securing their future. exterminate them while they attempt to retreat and hide in the nooks and
crannies from whence they came. The constant battle against night-slug
infestation would be horrifying were it not so disgusting and frequently
unintentionally comical.
67
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City

Blight Adventures Good vs. Evil

A n’gathau cult, a devil-worshipping arm of the Illuminati, a festering
Although specifically focused on this setting, many elements of the boiling mass of rats that hungers constantly, the city is a bad place, and bad
adventures proposed below fit into any dark urban campaign. The themes things invariably need destroying or they become too strong to overcome.
of betrayal, paranoia, political intrigue, and high dark magic could easily The holy orders and churches of the city are constantly vigilant against
be adapted to your own setting, of course, or to your own corner of the such evil but hunt it out whenever they can. The characters could spend
Blight, however large or small that may be. Of course, you’ll have your an entire campaign pursuing a particular cult or demon on the loose in the
own ideas as to the type of adventures you wish to play, whether that be city and using human flesh to hide itself. The good vs. evil theme makes
your own work or bought adventures, and these ideas are offered simply for a particularly simple but powerful and iconic campaign or focus for
as suggestions to the type of adventures that could work particularly well adventure.
in the Blight.

Guild- and Club-Based Adventures

Anarchist Adventures
Placing the characters in a position of peril at some stage in a campaign
and Political Campaigns
is a good trick to use to add a sense of menace. There can be few more Politics is nasty: One minute the characters’ sponsor is sweetness and
menacing situations than being a fugitive, and while the characters may light, delighting in their exploits, the next she is seething with jealousy or
spend their whole careers as anonymous enemies of the state, they may is revealed to have always been using the characters as dupes. Political
suddenly find themselves unmasked, discovered, or worse, betrayed at adventures are challenging because the enemy and her home may be
any moment. known to the characters, and the temptation is to wade in regardless of
the consequences. Get such a story right, however, and the results can be
extremely satisfying from a campaign perspective.
Between-Heavy Campaigns A powerful NPC swarming with guards and distributing orders makes for
a good ally and a dangerous enemy. Perhaps the characters are sponsored
One drawback a city setting has is that it can sometimes be difficult to by someone else to infiltrate such a group, maybe initially getting their
introduce a wilderness element. Castorhage has the surrounding Lych Fens hands bloody in the name of a greater justice. Adventures such as this may
and even the rest of the island of Lymossus, but the focus is very clearly on lead to destroy-or-be-destroyed campaigns as discussed above, with the
the events and places within the confines of the city itself. Between gives characters operating furtively or perhaps under the protection of a holy
you an ideal link to a wilderness adventure on the very doorstep — or order or some other patron — who may be using the same kind of twisted
threshold. One minute the characters can be exchanging pleasantries at the political double dealings.
Throttled Bull Gin House, the next they are sailing down a hellish jungle
river aboard an Illuminati-sponsored barge.
Between also gives you a good starting point for a feeling of unknown
menace: Do the characters become aware that things from beyond the
Royalist and Loyalty Adventures
mirrors are slowly leaching into the city? Are these creatures led by an The use of background, relationships, and enemies gives you scope to
intelligence that is a harbinger of an invading force? expand upon the characters’ loyalties and make them more personal than
You can also use Between to introduce any aspect of the surreal into say simply a hatred of a particular cult. Perhaps the characters’ friends are
your adventure. For example, you could create a nightmare Twilight Zone- struggling against a ruthless Justice who delights in hurting or otherwise
type situation by having Between draw characters unknowingly through persecuting them for some reason. Alternatively, the character could be
reflections in mirrors, puddles, or even shop windows. You could even use neutral or evil characters working for the Royal Family as loyal guards,
Between to introduce a whole series of events based when the characters retainers, or spies. Maybe good characters operate covertly in the Capitol
sleep in a very Lovecraftian/Dreamlands kind of campaign. or other places of power. These characters receive knighthoods, power, or
Between, as we shall soon see, is your canvas to paint any kind of loyal followers as rewards but tread a dangerous path against their many
surreal adventure upon. enemies and “friends” alike. These characters can become beacons of
Conversely, you may wish Between to be a magical place of great hope and pride, living a truly heroic life of idolisation and envy, held up as
menace, a place that sheds no light or shadows, but is within touching icons for the people. And of course, few things make for a more tempting
distance. Are the voices in the characters’ minds real or imagined? Is that target …
shiver down the spine a simple chill or is it something reaching out to
touch, to covet, to hunger?
Standard Fantasy Adventures
Destroy-or-be-Destroyed Adventures A city is a great location for a host of adventures, and the Blight, with
its seething underbelly of rot and vice, gives you endless potential. Are
Having so many people about — and using the links of enemies, friends, the characters dashing thieves and duellists out to rob the rich? Are they
and power — gives you another option to stretch the destroy-or-be-destroyed driven by a desire to hunt the Fetch or humiliate the corrupt and villainous
adventure. Perhaps the characters begin with a simple attack upon a local local Justice? Or are they simply adventurers, hiring their services out
gang, only to find that the gang is actually a training ground for some of the for the most excitement and coin? Never underestimate the fun of stress-
most promising talent the Guild has to offer, and the characters have just free adventuring and the fun that a good swordfight, discovery, or simple
slaughtered a relative of one of the bosses of that Guild. heroism can be.
The characters may spend their careers at odds with the Guild until
a final showdown takes place. Perhaps a character’s personal goal (see
above) is to finally be rid of the endless, unsleeping menace?
Cults and the Fetch make two more possible foes for such adventures,
but in a place of great size and diversity such as the Blight, you have a
choice of almost endless enemies at your fingertips.

68
GM Guide

69
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City

Between
That first fateful day it had been raining, I recall, and I’d passed a miserable afternoon in the offices of
Cooper, Cooper, Cooper and MacThane where I had a commission. The office was plain and windowless,
but to give the illusion of size a huge mirror ran directly across opposite my desk. I spent many idle moments
gazing into that mirror, wishing only to be away from that dreadful office and back to my study of optics.
Then it happened — the fateful moment — the moment my own, and many others’ lives changed; some
say for good, but not as many as say for bad.
The figure in the mirror was so slender I barely noticed it move, yet move it did, behind my reflection.
So startled was I that I leapt from my desk, spilling ink over my day’s work in an effort to escape the thing
behind me. But I was utterly alone in the office, there was no “thing” behind me. The thing I saw was still in
the mirror.
And it stared at me …
First Recorded Contact with Between
Hetherington Quarrus Mabe
Lyme District Offices, Cooper Building
Toilsday 11th Grey, 1637

70
 GM Guide
The manner of the creation of these mirrors is jealously guarded to an
almost insane degree. The Royal Between Reflectory Society and Guild,
themselves in thrall to both the Illuminati and the Thieves’ Guild, hold
the key and materials to their creation — something any Between thief
would give his front teeth for. However, everything has its price, and
these mirrors have occasionally ended up in the hands of less scrupulous
characters (if that is possible) than the aristocrats and greedy merchants.
These mirror-portals are not in general created so much as found
and enhanced. Travel into Between is an incredibly risky process; the
thresholds are fickle. They also touch on the fact that mirror-portals
are not the only types of portals that exist. There are other types of
apertures between the mundane and the surreal. Sometimes they are a
tear or weakness in the fabric of reality, sometimes they are a passage
fashioned by means beyond the ken of the finest minds and most powerful
of Castorhage and sometimes they appear to simply be spontaneous
manifestations that allow unexpected (and often unwelcome) transport
from one side to the other. The general term gateway is usually used to
describe these different sorts of access points, so that all mirror-portals
would be considered gateways, but not all gateways are mirror-portals.
They do, nevertheless, seem to have at least some propensity to form in
mirrors or other reflective surfaces, though. Most importantly, though,
these fickle gateways, whether spontaneous or crafted mirror-portals have
so far appeared and/or functioned only in Castorhage proper. Whether this
is some property of the city or of Between or both has yet to be determined.

There was an old lady who swallowed a cow,

I don’t know how she swallowed a cow;
She swallowed the cow to catch the dog,
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider,
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly;
I don’t know why she swallowed a fly — perhaps she’ll die!

There was an old lady who swallowed a horse...

She’s dead, of course.

What is Between Like? — Nursery Rhyme allegedly inspired by an encounter with

the Hag of Many Voices and Hungers from Between,
It is as much a feeling as place, this strange echo-land; it is a place
thought to still be at large in the city slums
where emotions and surroundings leech into the creatures that live there
so that both may become one. It is a land of incredible extremes, where
snow falls into jungles, where places loop and coil back upon themselves
to create an endless nightmare, and where eyes watch from living walls.
This place has an inner logic, and travellers speak in hushed terms of
Fowler’s Endless Stair, Corrun’s Labyrinth, and Pech Pit. These are places
of legend in Between, places few have seen and escape.
Some say it is the land of the fey, others that it is Heaven, or Hell.
A Between Empire
It is none of those things, and yet all of them. Hot on the heels of the discovery of Between came the explorers —
For you, Between can be the setting for any surreal, mad or twisted people eager to make a fortune by harnessing this new land as a Royal
adventure you wish, an adventure of dreams, an adventure of twisting empire. The Royal Between Company was formed in 1638.
endless corridors that slope away at impossible angles, a place where Sir Donnan Grabe is the most (in)famous explorer of Between, making
creatures that cannot walk do so, and are always hungry. Hints on GMing frequent voyages of discovery, firstly by foot, then with pack animals, and
Between are given later in this section. finally by boat after discovering the Unsea in 1639, an occasion marked
by Grabe’s loss of a troop of men led by Captain Corrun in the frightful
so-called Corrun’s Labyrinth.

Of Curious Mirrors As the land yielded up its secrets and wealth, the rulers of Castorhage
realised that they had a cornucopia upon their doorstep and took extreme
precautions against its being exploited by others. They flooded the land
The first few incursions into Between were brought about by accident; with troops and colonies, the most infamous of which was Fort Toil on
a normal mirror or reflection in an extraordinary arcane place creating a the Greensward Hell border. The 5,000 souls of this settlement vanished
portal between two places, hence the name that has been applied to the lands in a single night in 1647 — food lay uneaten on tables, kettles boiled on
beyond the magic mirror. However, once properly understood, the art of stoves, all as though everyone went in a single instant. This event is still
fashioning magical mirrors — often called mirror-portals — sometimes big referred to as the Fort Toil Massacre by members of the Royal Between
enough for a person to slip through, was born. These mirrors are infamously Company, who set out upon a zealous quest of revenge and conquest.
fickle, and while certain brave (read: foolish) individuals see Between as a Unfortunately it led directly to the beginning of the Greensward Hell War
place they have a modicum of control over, in truth they have none. Master was followed in only a few short years by the Massacre of Ste. Anne’s
Between thieves can come and go into Between, but their entrances are like Field. Since then the powers-that-be have taken a slightly less obtuse
wounds, soon healing and potentially leaving the visitor stranded. approach to their colonisation efforts. They still reinforce and strengthen

71
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
their position in the strange nether realm of Between, but they do so with
the knowledge that they are not alone in that realm and not altogether
welcome. They have learned the hard way that to push too hard too fast
provokes an asymmetrical response that has proven to be beyond the
abilities of their brute application of force. Rather a slow but steady
colonisation and exploitation seems to have proven the better course and
is one of the primary reasons why vast military formations of Castorhagi
troops are not seen marching across the Betweenlands — Between simply
won’t tolerate it.
Despite this institutional paranoia, the only entrances to Between
discovered continue to remain only within Castorhage herself. Now
established as a “legitimate” component of the Empire of Castorhage,
Between is giving up more of its secrets on a daily basis, and yet with
each new discovery some new terror emerges, or some new thing staggers
from the dark corners and into the city itself. The alarming increase in
creatures from Between walking the city streets of Castorhage has been
kept mostly secret by the powers that be, though rumours are beginning to
circulate on the streets.
Between realms seem to be fractious, and whilst intelligent creatures
inhabit some, others are completely wild. However, even in those places
where intelligent creatures are found, they tend to hunt in packs and can
mock or imitate the invaders. Civilised creatures that are organised into a
true society have yet to be encountered. Rather, the most advanced Between
creatures seem to be mocking echoes or caricatures of men and other
humanoids — almost as if distorted reflections seen in a flawed mirror.
What traces of older civilisations have been found so far in Between
have been in the form of decayed monuments or disjointed tales so
fractured and superstition-driven as to pose no serious threat to Castorhagi
colonial ambitions.
More troubling to the city is that things that are coming out of Between
seem to be leaching the very thoughts and essences of the Blight and its
inhabitants into mocking manifestations of their animating spirit. This is
all the more disturbing as it seems to be only the dark side of humanity doubt the Illuminati secretly exercise partial or even total control
that is manifested. over these consortiums.
The Royal Between Company was the first entity to be licensed by the
Crown to investigate, explore, colonise and exploit any valuable resources

The Illuminati and

of Between. The Royal Between Company is headquartered out of the
Capitol and chaired by Lucas Nathaniel Nightshade (LN male human
noble) under license from Queen Alice. The Royal Between Company
directly administers the Castorhage Western Province and Slave State, but

Between Companies that proved challenging and taxing on resources enough that it has calved
off the Castorhage East Dominion Company to oversee the so-called
Land of Saffron with a more personal eye. Though ostensibly a subsidiary
of the Royal Between Company and therefore under the jurisdiction of
Their tentacles and claws grip every part of the city, and Between Lord Nightshade, in truth Chief Factor Aldrege Butterknuckle (N male
beyond. The Illuminati have been quick to seize opportunities to set up tradelord gnome noble) wields almost absolute control over the activities
their own secret colonies in Between, and it is speculated by those few that of the East Dominion.
know that their unbirth magic known as The Staff of Life† and The Elixir† A mysterious group of zealots wield true power over the Royal Between
has its origins in the dark places of Between. In addition, the rise of a new Company, whose remit is to explore, exploit and enslave any aspects of
group of Between-specialised wizards called mirror mages is likely the Between that might prove profitable. In going on for a century of pillage,
result of the influence of the Illuminati, and it is thought that most, if not the company has swelled the Royal coffers beyond imagining, and whilst
all, mirror mages are in fact in the direct employ of the Illuminati. the cost in human life is high, it is considered a worthy risk by those
That the Illuminati has control of parts of Between is not in doubt; the whose only risk is financial. Company livery consists of a banner or
questions are which parts and why? Their efforts focus at the Barnacles and herald depicting an iron fist smashing a circular mirror, the uniform is
Great Docks, where the transient gateways come and go with incredible violet with gold trim and troops from the Royal Between Corps are tough.
and alarming regularity. Lurking behind its great levee wall, the Barnacles True power in the company is almost impossible to unravel; a clever ruse
is seething with industry and greed. by its members to achieve a level of anonymity, but dozens of high-level
The official Castorhage presence in Between is represented in nobility make up its ranks
two primary companies and their subsidiaries, though without a The Royal Unsea Whaling Company is an entirely separate entity
based out of the port of Scrimshaw. It was founded after the lucrative
discovery of the abundant whales of the Unsea that called for a more
specialised touch than simply another arm of the ponderous Royal
Mirror Mages Between. The history of the Royal Unsea Whaling Company is more
tumultuous in that the control of the company regularly slips between
Specialists in arcane exploration, mirror mages are a selective
certain powerful “families” of Town Bridge through political manoeuvre
and insular sect of arcane practitioners that devote themselves
and counter-manoeuvre, and more frequently downright skulduggery
to unravelling the mysteries of Between, and the ability of the
and thuggishness. It recently passed into the hands of the Darnell
land and its creatures to leach memories and manifest them in a
family of Town Bridge, but that oversight seems destined to be short-
physical form, an ability that they would like very much to be able
lived. Despite the constant change in family control, through it all the
to command.
company has been capably managed by the Governor of Scrimshaw, the
Lady Constance Thorn (N female human noble).
72
 GM Guide
Outposts and Colonies Azure
Whilst various groups — most notably the Illuminati — have established Beyond the eastern borders of the Castorhage East Dominion is a vast
a number of secret outposts, the following are the most notable Between unexplored mountainous jungle land full of active volcanoes and alien
locations that have seen the stamp of Castorhagi habitation. things that seek the destruction of any interlopers. To the knowledge
of the Castorhage East Dominion Company and the Crown it is wholly
Castorhage East Dominion (a.k.a. the Land of Saffron) uncharted. Unbeknownst to them His Holiness the Father of Castorhage
Castorhage Western Province and Slave State (a.k.a. Hope) has begun his own exploration of them from the far side by means of a
HrondHuss stable gateway recently discovered beneath a monastery in the Hollow and
Mallen and Between Mine No. 1 Broken Hills. This gateway gives ships access onto a sargasso sea called
Scrimshaw the Sea of Mists and Creeping Things after which a week’s voyage in any
The Myre-Between direction brings the vessel to the eastern shore of the Betweenlands at the
foot of the mountains where a small port and outpost called Providence
Each is detailed further under either Betweenlands or The Unsea below. has been established. The first administrator of this outpost, Friar Lyme,
disappeared only a few weeks after its establishment, though it is now
overseen by Prior Cleg (N male human summoner) when he is not busy

Betweenlands with his duties at the monastery.

His Holiness is calling this land Azure in hopes that if word of it leaks,
such a moniker will lend confusion about what it is referring to, but of
“My first glimpse of the Betweenlands almost left me insensible; here course the Illuminati are already well aware of its existence and include
indeed was Cornucopia — the Land of Plenty, the Place of Milk and Prior Cleg among their top agents. From the tiny settlement of Providence,
Honey. The far side of the mirror was like a place of impossible life and the investigation of these largely unknown heights and the warm sea below
noise and scents; my senses were assaulted from all sides. I first entered is being conducted on a small scale by the Brothers of Saint Jull, the small
a mirror of the room I set forth from; this was an ordinary looking monastic order of the Hollow and Broken Hills that unexpectedly found a
replica of the room from which I departed, save that it was aware … I Between gateway beneath their priory.
cannot describe it even now; it seemed as though it was watching me, as
though everything was watching me. I found a door that, in the chamber
I had left, led into a hallway and thence my own small walled garden. Castorhage East Dominion,
Grasping the doorknob, which if my senses hadn’t betrayed me I could
have sworn complained at being moved, I stepped into the next room. It a.k.a. The Land of Saffron
was not my garden; rather it was a garden room such as the Royals have
— a glass chamber full of light and flowers. And such flowers! Colours Administered from the bastion of Fort Labour on the banks of Queen
and blooms that I had scarcely even dreamt of were there, and the air Alice’s Maw, the place boils with insects, its humidity making the air like
was alive with buzzing of bees. An open doorway led onto a green lawn water as the Eastern Jungle rises towards distant mountains. All around is
by the side of a tumbling brook. the noise of insects, and the anger of the land itself. Volcanoes growl in
“Little did I know then, what was out there watching me enter this the night, their deep roots pulling at the very earth itself. Here and there,
garden …” a hastily constructed stockade fort clings to the place, its presence like a
—The Chronicles of Hetherington Quarrus Mabe scab on a wound. Folk of Castorhage dwell and work here, afraid of the
Volume 1, Chapter 11 very place they live. Tales of flash floods the size of mountains that sweep
down the river, of volcanic eruptions, of distended creatures lurking on
Between realms do not seem to obey standard geography. While some the edges of the jungle, and of the Fort Toil Massacre are keenly known.
domains seem endless, others are very small. There seems to be no logic Yet the spices here are the purest ever seen, and boats groaning with
where one ends and another begins, although inevitable bleeding of the two unnaturally heady saffron, of cinnamon and of cumin, regularly wallow
places occurs; an icy land freezing jungle trees for example. Attempts have through the Between gateway canal to reach home. Some, of course, never
been made to map Between, but the results have been imperfect at best and make it back. They all hope to see a new day, hope that they will never
sometimes dangerously inaccurate. In addition, there are no true directions. witness a massacre, or a great flood, or the boiling anger of the volcanoes.
North, east, south, and west are all given arbitrary values by the explorers The infamous Land of Saffron is run by the Royal Between company
who have come to Between, but none holds any true relevance and oft-times via its Castorhage East Dominion Company arm. This place has a terrible
the designations of direction for different explorers has differed. reputation for brutality, and the masters cannot get enough labour to run
their spice plantations. Presently, criminals are being deported to this land
and being proffered freedom (which, of course, never transpires). It is
Broken Land, The a concern of those who truly know the place that it is on the brink of
revolution, and could, if things went badly, see the establishment of an
“If the Devil could create a beast and give it breath and anger, the independent Between state, something no one in authority in Castorhage
creatures I glimpsed would be his masterpieces. The things lurched about wishes to ever see.
on three legs, but not with any great speed, almost as though they were
injured in their movements; they were things of thorns and iron and
might, each taller than a cathedral and each with hateful fire in their Castorhage Western Province and
bellies. I saw these dragons lay waste to the lands they ruled — great lines
of white fire belching from their mouths and destroying men, almost as
though for amusement. This land was red with weed and sickness and
Slave State, a.k.a. Hope
resignation, and the dragons ruled here in this Broken Land.” A disgusting industry blights this place, a land where man has lashed
—Pramus Quith, Expeditionary Captain the land into some sort of temporary submission. Cotton plantations,
Royal Between Company rampant growths of white as far as the eye can see, are being harvested by
bands of sickly looking people. Their hands and eyes and frames tell that
A large stretch of dragon- and worm-infested wasteland extending they were once from Castorhage, but their tale is all too common: a harsh
along one of the borders of the known areas of Between, this blasted and sentence for a petty crime mandated years of labour; predatory lenders
dangerous region seems to defy all attempts at exploration. Most who have gripped them in an impossible fist of indentured servitude, and they
enter don’t return alive, and none has been able to discover the far side work to repay debts they and their descendants can never hope to cast off;
where its desolate expanse ends — if indeed it has an end. they ran afoul of a press gang and had not the family or influence to see
73
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
them freed before being transported. These are the stories of those who
labour in Hope. Fort Industry
They call it Hope in cruel jest or irony, the Western Province and Slave
State is basically a large prison without walls, a place cast-offs are given More commonly referred to as “Old Blood, Sweat and Tears,” Fort
the hope of redemption and sanctuary by Under-Justices and judicares Industry serves as the hub for administration of the township of Hope
— no matter how trivial their crime. If they happen to be caught when a and the plantations of the Castorhage Western Province and Slave State.
ship is ready at the Great Docks, chances are they will be on it — or face It is the hastily constructed replacement for the ill-fated and abandoned
the gallows. Settlements scatter away from Point Hope, the bay where Fort Toil, ruled by Duke Mandrake (LE male human knight), the Queen’s
new ships arrive and disembark their passengers from the fickle gateway third cousin once removed. He is a vile, religious madman, who adheres
beneath an overhanging tor of rock bearing the ill-named township of to the harshest doctrine of Mother Grace — order, honour, country and
Port Welcome, itself the home of a great lantern to welcome shipping by goddess. His clan (a group of vicious murderers, zealots and clerics)
night. Hope is a den of thieves and slavers and greed and wallowing sin. follow his calling — to create a new Heaven in the world here in the
The imposing walls of Fort Industry overlook the town and sprawling Western Province and Slave State. Worship, work and obedience are all
plantations of the surrounds, keeping a grim eye over its charges. he asks for, and expects, of his followers and subjects. The duke sets a
The Queen has a personal fetish for this place, having once visited it in high standard. He punishes the most trivial acts with brutal breakings on
her younger years, and has decreed that it will succeed and be an example the wheel and for the most wicked acts — fornication outside wedlock,
to heathens across the lands that Castorhage and Mother Grace are the lewdness and whore-mongering — and his punishments are the most
only true faiths worth aspiring to. The main outer colony, Grace, lies a heinous. Burnings are his favourite way of cleansing his sinful flock, but
few days sailing he realises the power of acts of even greater brutality, pulling sinners apart
The Western Province and Slave State is less explorer-centric than its with wild horses for example.
sister settlement of the Castorhage East Dominion and far more ordered.
Visitors are not welcome, and intruders (called “stowaways” by Duke
Mandrake who rules from his seat at Fort Industry) are hunted. Thirteen Fort Labour
overseers rule the outer plantations here under the authority of Duke
Mandrake, and these plantations are separated by perhaps fifty miles apiece. A monstrous tyrant and close relative of Duke Taim, Lord Thresh
Beyond that is nightmare of the Greensward Hell. However, between (NE male blighted† human veteran) has recently taken over the running
these great cotton plantations the land is not much more forgiving. Here is of the East Dominion under authority of Chief Factor Butterknuckle.
found miles of green sawgrasses as tall as a man, high wild corn and gods His Paladins of Order, a grotesque bunch of rapists and murderers,
know what. Often labourers disappear from the edges of the plantations, are gripping the dominion in a vice and throttling anyone who dares
and some overseers — particularly the perverse Overseer Lucas Clover disagree. The group operate out of Fort Labour, little more than a timber
(NE male human noble) — delight in exiling wrong-doers to the vast torture chamber in constant need of repair, aimed solely at ensuring the
wild fields between these outposts of civilisation. Clover is barely able to efforts of those here to toil and profit and explore in order to further
conceal his perverse delight when he sends a slave out into corn beyond the fortunes of their betters. Independent explorers are welcomed here,
the plantations, and garners a sick glee in their imagined sufferings. simply because of the death rate, and while most are never seen again,
Rough roads link the outlying settlements to Grace, the high wild corn some return with wild tales of temples and mountain passes and cities
encroaches constantly, and small armies of men toil to keep the wild built upon mountaintops. Thresh is a serial madman, his black moods are
undergrowth at bay. Their task focusses solely on the few pathways, what almost as legendary as those of Duke Taim, and in a fit of rage he has
lurks beyond is left alone. While clearing the pathways is relatively easy been known to send dozens of men, women and children to their deaths
work, there are those who are snatched while they toil and never seen on some wild goose chase. Yet Thresh knows he will be judged on one
again. There are all kinds of tall tales about what lurks in the cornfields. thing and one thing alone — profit. Thresh is a zealot on colonisation
People mention long knives, scythes, hoods, things made of sack and and a steady stream of settlers are sent on their way, looking bleakly at
voices that sing sad songs of homes lost and travellers who go missing. the mountains crushing the sky ahead and wondering at the chances of
their survival.

Eastern Jungle Fort Toil

Little enough is known of the vast rainforest that is known simply as the
Eastern Jungle. It is beneath the dense green canopy of this expanse that The first outpost of Castorhage in Between, Fort Toil long held the
the Castorhage East Dominion Company harvests its wealth in spices and record for being one of the shortest lived until the settlements along
rare woods. Small plantations manned by convict labourers and indentured the eastern river began to spring up and disappear with regularity.
slaves work under the eaves of this jungle, and if turnover of the work Constructed in 1644 at a point midway between the gateway at Point
force is high due to the back-breaking labour, incessant mosquito-borne Hope and the Greensward Hell, Fort Toil was a reinforced stockade
disease, and shadowy, cannibalistic things with too-long limbs and sharp- burgeoning frontier town that eventually boasted a population of
filed teeth that lurk beneath the heavy green boughs, then it is a small 5,000 souls. It was intended to serve as a bulwark of defence for the
price to pay in the name of profit. The Under-Justices and Judiciaries send newly forming Port Welcome and as the spear tip for expansion into
a constant stream of convicts sentenced to transport to work the Land of the resource-rich environs of the nearby forest. That is until its entire
Saffron, cheap resources to feed the ever-hungry jungle. population vanished in a single night in 1647. Not a soul was left after
Many villages and work settlements spring up along the languid flow of travellers discovered the disappearance the following morning…with
the Queen Alice’s Maw river, though they disappear almost as quickly and no signs of struggle or clues as to where everyone went. The incident
are soon buried beneath the unnaturally fecund plant growth that typifies this became dubbed the “Fort Toil Massacre” in a move to inflame the Royal
forested land. Also hidden beneath this green shroud are many stone temples Family and other prominent movers and shakers of Castorhage and
and pyramids of seemingly great age. Who or what built them remains a resulted in the creation of the Royal Between Corps and a programme of
mystery, but the oft-repeated motif of hexagonal honeycomb structures among military build-up in Between. It also ultimately led to the Massacre of
their artwork and architecture leads many to point to the Leviathan Graveyard Ste. Anne’s Field and a reversal of that hawkish policy.
also said to be buried within the jungle’s depths. The jungle’s eastern border Today, Fort Toil stands largely as it was. It has long since been looted
climbs the lower slopes of a chain of sharp-edged mountains, many of which of any valuables or useful equipment, but the log blockhouses and
have peaks that emit a constant stream of smoke and a hellish glow from their stockade still stand, largely untouched by the weather and environment,
rumbling interior. Earthquakes are not infrequent and sometimes devastating in mute testament to the folly of greed and colonialism in Between —
to the communities along the river and mountain slopes as flash floods and a lesson that if not exactly learned has been duly noted in the current
rockslides quickly do what the denizens of the jungle tend to handle in a policy of Between colonisation.
slower fashion — the eradication of interlopers.
74
 GM Guide
Fowler’s Endless Stair Greensward Hell
Believed to be one of the first landmarks discovered in Between after This jungle is said to be alive in a singular sense, a fact possibly borne
Mabe’s initial discovery in 1637 (largely because of a diary found some out by the tragedy of Fort Toil, the original outpost linking Between and
50 years later that spoke of it), Fowler’s endless stair gains its name from the Blight. Explorers head off weekly into the green depths to seek wealth,
the early explore Desteryn Fowler, a famed Libynosi big-game hunter and to search for fabled cities of secrets, and to hunt. Many never return, and
traveller. Taking a commission from the newly forming Royal Between those that do are sometimes broken men who swear to never venture into
Company, Fowler and his troop of 27 hunters, porters, trackers, and the Green again. Yet still more go, for every expedition is driven by the
soldiers entered through the Mabe mirror-portal of BookTown and were tales of wealth.
never seen again. Only a few short weeks later that mirror-portal had shut Formally claimed as territory by Castorhage, the fringes of the jungle
as well. The diary of one member of the Fowler expedition was found now has several cotton plantations established, and these in turn are
some five decades later by a Royal Between Company expedition to the manned by slaves under the protection of the Illuminati via the Royal
Great Between Forest and brought back what little news of Fowler’s fate Between Company and the Castorhage Western Province and Slave State.
that is known. The diary described visions of a miraculous stair that had If the insects and the sickness do not get you, if the strange creatures that
occurred sporadically and that Fowler himself had apparently become plague the lands don’t take you and consume you, and if the greedy does
obsessed with finding. not stab you in the dark for your shoes or the want of a waterskin, you
The actual location of Fowler’s Endless Stair is unknown, if indeed might live another day here. And each day can be worth a fortune.
it is not altogether transient to begin with. It is usually associated with
The Wall both as a convenient geographical context and because the diary
was discovered in the not-too-distant Great Between Forest, but nowhere HrondHuss
in the description of the stair was The Wall mentioned. Some scholars
speculate that it was actually a free-standing stair that ascended to the The HrondHuss is considered the last mark of civilisation upon the
sky to destinations unknown like some kind of heat mirage, and this Betweenlands beyond which lies only endless wilderness and madness.
actually matches the diary’s furtive descriptions better. But even that is This inn is constructed in the elaborate alpine style of the Yolbiac Vale
truly speculation as well, as is what caused the explorer to obsess so over and is owned and operated by the ex-patriot Valesman Yudr György (N
it or his traveling companions to so willingly go along. That the stair is male human warden†) who has managed to live in the shadow of the
“endless” is simply derived from the fact that if they found it, the exploring Wall largely unmolested for nearly 20 years. The Huss is staffed solely
party never left it and some contend that they climb it still in a vain effort by Yudr’s wife and 3 children and one Ashurian slave named Khelmut
to find what glorious reward or secret it holds at its undiscovered summit. (a Denizen of Leng† with the following changes: alignment is neutral,
Other than occasional claimed sightings of the vision, there have been no disguised as a male human) How he managed to build this establishment
confirmed reports of anyone ever actually finding it.

Great and Secret House, The

A few travellers have reported a house somewhere deep in the
Betweenlands. They say it is of endless size and seemingly infinite
chambers. Some travellers have reported being unable to enter it, either
finding no doors or accessible windows or finding that doors and windows
are completely impervious to penetration. Others have reported being
able to easily enter it and explore some of its vast interior, though these
report doors within appearing or disappearing in its confusion of halls and
chambers and causing their parties to inevitably split up. In each of these
cases, one or more members of those groups never emerged again. No one
has been able to determine why some groups are able to enter and why
other cannot, but speculation runs toward the subsequent disappearances
having a strong connection — as if the house sought to claim certain
individuals and allowed them the means to enter. Ultimately who is master
of this house and what its purpose is remains just one of many mysteries
of Between.

Great Between Forest,

a.k.a. The Unquiet
The Great Between Forest, or the Unquiet as it is known to those who
have had the misfortune to spend a night encamped within is a vast swath
of woodland that covers what is often approximated southern extent of
the Betweenlands. The forest’s depths are unplumbed and unknown
and are rumoured to hold all manner of creatures and horrors from
wolves that talk to dead that hunt. And anyone who has experienced the
forest at night has made mention of the susurrus of the trees, a constant
whispering sibilance as if each trunk was awake and watchful, sharing
its secrets and murderous desires with its companions. That many kinds
of intelligent plant life including treants and scythe trees, have been
encountered within only adds to this feeling of the forest as a single
waking entity only biding its time until it turns against all who would
dare encroach upon its borders.

75
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
and how he supplies it is a mystery to the few folk who come this far of such creatures have been found throughout the known world, but the
as is the lone guest who has resided here for the last 14 months, a thin, city-state of Castorhage produces the highest concentration of discoveries
pale stranger calling himself Etumo (CN male vampire), but most assume of anywhere. Part of the mystery as to why that is may be answered by the
that the Valesman must be running from something. Only the very astute sunken valley that lies along one oxbow of the jungle river here.
notice the lingering looks that occur between the wan guest and Yudr The fossilised remains of hundreds of the creatures known as Leviathans
young wife Ingred. can be found in the eroded embankments and gullies of this stretch of the
Yudr will keep any guest who can pay and abides by the rules of peace river and in forms more varied and sizes unequalled by any finds in the
within the Huss but has been known to bring in those in need who could mundane world. Whether the creatures came collectively to this spot to die
not pay at the time but were in dire straits. Though in these cases he always untold millions of years ago or were merely present at this location when
extracts a promise of a future service, none of which have been called in some catastrophic event occurred that caused their simultaneous deaths
to date. The Huss has rooms to accommodate 40 guests and a stable for is uncertain, but the few members of the Royal Underneath Society who
a score of mounts. The fare is simple but good with a plentiful supply of have braved the journey downriver to reach this site have located numerous
good Yolbiac beer. Etumo hires out as a guide for any who wish to explore examples of the honeycomb-clustered fossils so often associated with the
the nearby Wall of the forest at the rate of 20 gp per day, but few take the Leviathans. That only about half of those scholars and their parties have
intense man up on the offer. returned to tell the tale seems to have done little to diminish the appetite
for more discovery. That some of those who did not return were later found
on the site as little more than bags of rotting skin, their bones, organs, and
Land of Hateful Things musculature having been somehow meticulously removed with only a few
small incisions has had at best a modest effect on diminishing the scholars’
This place is said to be a dark fairyland, a place where the essences ardour. Perhaps most telling of all in reducing efforts of the savants of the
of children’s nightmares are taken and given flesh. The few who have society to obtain company permission to make the journey has been the
managed to glimpse it from afar report having seen a number of children faces of the victims whose remains have been found — faces that though
wandering within its sometimes-idyllic-sometimes-horrifying landscape. now nothing but hollow skin remain perfectly intact and recognizable and
Some of these children have been recognised as missing persons who forever etched into an expression of surprised joy.
disappeared from their homes in the night. The fact that some of these
children disappeared decades or more ago and yet seem to have not aged
at all when spotted again causes great concern and speculation among
those who have received these reports. None of the reports of the missing
Mallen and Between Mine No. 1
children’s whereabouts has yet been made public knowledge through This mine is miles deep, and 400 workers (mostly dwarves) work its
any official channels, though street rumours sometimes run rampant. In faces for Between gold. It is a strange place with an outpost town at its
addition, no attempt to make contact with these children has succeeded, head called Mallen. This settlement (originally simply named Settlement
and those who have tried have invariably disappeared. 34) is a rambunctious place where miners come to stake their claims
The truth of the matter is that the Land of Hateful Things is the demesne and face the things that slither in the mines beneath them. It is overseen
of the Harvester of Cribs who brings those that he does not immediately by Royal Between Company Foreman Boss Rath (LE male hill dwarf
devour to this place to dwell thereafter. Why he should do so or if he is veteran), a surly and cruel dwarf who astonishingly claims hobgoblin
even the actual ruler of this domain remain very much in question. ancestry and gets into many bloody brawls with those who dare mock
his claim or deny it. If anyone causes too much trouble, he directs his
company toughs to apprehend the troublemaker in the dead of night and
Land of Long Night introduce him forcefully to one of the mine’s deeper shafts.
The Between mine is a terrible place, a shifting series of faces that birth
This realm is a place perpetually shadowed where the dead walk under out stones and ores unpredictably, but has yet to end. Thousands of work
a black sun. It is a place haunted by ghosts and tragedy, where the land faces (many mined by workers suspended in space on harnesses), side-
itself is an undead spirit that aches for rest and longs for vengeance against corridors (some that grow ever lower and narrower regardless of whether
whom and for what it cannot even understand. the miner crawls forward or backward), and endless depths lie beneath the
precarious chain conveyor that lowers the workers half a mile and more to
the main worksites themselves.
Lands of the Echo Queen Even though Mallen appears to sit by itself among these broken hills
with only its own tailings for company and no road leading to or from it,
Travellers report that somewhere within Between there exists a kingdom it is only half of the settlement with the other half lying in the Underneath
that is a dual — yet mocking — version of Castorhage and its environs. below Castorhage and still known as Settlement 34. Mallen is usually
Herein, a grotesque queen rules her subjects with an iron fist, and has a reached by crossing over from this location, and anyone approaching from
fanatical group of loyal soldiers at her call. This land is occupied by a overland in Between is immediately considered a hostile threat and all
plethora of enlarged and awakened animals, trees, and other horrific steps necessary are taken to either eliminate the intruders or to exterminate
creatures. A great forest extends around the borders of this kingdom and the miners while Rath and his guards bunker down in their blockhouse
twisted creatures live therein, these creatures, despite their horrific and and await for reinforcements from Underneath. For more information on
multiple forms are also intelligent. Some wonder which is the image of Settlement 34, see Chapter 10 of The Blight Campaign Guide.
which, so dreadful is the royal court of the Blight. Regardless, this land
remains frustratingly elusive and has yet to be discovered by those who are
actually seeking it, rather than those who just happen to stumble upon it.
Mockery, The
This hidden place is a haven, a retreat for the vampires of the Fetch,
Leviathan Graveyard where undead can find peace and tranquillity can be for a time. Called
the Mockery, the place at first looks like a small ghost town abandoned
Little enough is known of the Leviathans, great indescribable beasts of in the depths of the forest, but that is before the visitor notices the talking
the mundane world’s distant past. Also sometimes known as Ancients, the flowers or the many vampires sleeping in the sunlight. In the Mockery,
role of these vast behemoths is unclear in the history of the world as they death and life are mingled, spirits rise and fall, and those cursed to walk
do not appear to appear to have been a type of dragons nor do they conform the night can for a time be freed from the limitations of their curse and
to the physiology and structure of the great “thunder lizards” still found live like the living, like the mortal lives they left behind to come into their
alive in some parts of the world today. They appear to have been a wholly inheritance of undeath — for a time. But even the Mockery cannot be
different type of creature, equally as primordial as both of those others but tolerated for long by a visiting vampire, for the longer one stays the more
much more alien with a greater diversity of form. The fossilised remains one is changed. The spirits of the place speak through the soil and the
76
 GM Guide
plants, making promises, stripping away their minds, their wills, and their it unexpectedly at nightfall fear the worst, for it is always most active
personalities. A vampire who stays too long in the Mockery “goes to root”, at night. Tales of vast tentacles, creeping monstrosities, or cannibal
they say. His flesh becomes grey and hard, his joints stiffen into gnarled humanoids skulking in the dark have all emerged from travellers braving
poses, and the light of awareness leaves his eyes. Some of the tangled the land road, and perhaps they are all true. None of braved the depths of
trees around the town have strangely humanoid forms, and the Fetch point the pit to know for certain what dwells within or how deep it goes, but
to these as examples of those “gone to root”. That some of these grow new all assume at the very least there waits an undead army whose marching
green shoots is a mystery to even those most well-versed in the place. The tread can still sometimes be herd echoing from the mouth of the shaft
ruler of the Mockery reigns from a courthouse overgrown with vines and — an army that should it ever find a way out will undoubtedly continue
old trees. She wears the robes and wig of a Crown Justice of Castorhage its march to the Western Province and bring sword and flame to a war a
and sometimes refers to herself as the Fourth Bench. She is Perdition, century over.
Dread Queen of UnBirth and she rules the Mockery in the name of her
master Beltane and guards the secret of the gateway that connects this
place to the Artists’ Quarter of the city-state. This ancient vampire has Queen Alice’s Maw
proven immune to the influence of this place and this is well known to the
Fetch and accounts for her position of authority. Secretly, and unknown to Flowing through the forest bordering the Castorhage East Dominion,
her or the Fetch, she has become a puppet vessel for the powerful animus a score of small, newly established villages follow the banks of this
spirit that infests this place. Only the strange dreams of dominion and gruesome green snake of a river almost a mile across. These colonists
sunlight that she sometimes experiences provide her any insight that all is are almost all forcibly settled here by Lord Thresh and have adopted a
not what it seems. dark fatalism as the river of the woodlands take them one by one through
Further detail on the Mockery can be found at AQ42 in Chapter 2 of unbelievable acts of horror or insanity. Only the newest of settlers still
The Blight Campaign Guide. share the original spark of adventure and dreams of striking it rich that
first drew them to trying their fortune in Between. For the rest, stuck as
they are between the nightmare reality of their present circumstances and
Myre-Between, The the assured death at the hands of Lord Thresh’s “paladin” order, most
simply hope that when the inevitable ends comes that it comes quickly
It’s almost passé to say this soggy marshland is alive. Certainly, the and as painlessly as possible. None of these villages is large enough or
standing stones within its green, fetid depths are known to speak as they lasts long enough to warrant an official name or map notation, but most of
sway in the colossal floating bog. Things live in the Myre-Between — bad the inhabitants enjoy sardonically giving them names as far from the true
things, although the present regional governor, Lord Henry Bragmye (CN nature of their reality as possible, names such as Joy, Beginner’s Luck,
male changeling† talimancer), laughs off such tales. His manor house sits Double-Or-Nothing, and Can’t Miss.
at the edge of the Myre-Between, its wooden siding gouged by the effects
of the damp air and frequent mists. Out in the Myre-Between beyond the
grounds of his estate are hidden tombs, tombs whose contents have made Sea of Mists and Creeping Things
men rich. Lord Bragmye charges a high price for his hospitality and guides
into the mire, but without them, successful entry is nigh impossible. Not truly a part of the Betweenlands but generally agreed to also not be
a part of the Unsea, this sargasso sea is perpetually cloaked in an obscuring
bank of fog that prevents vision beyond a few dozen yards. A waterborne
Pech Pit gateway from the Hollow and Broken Hills opens into this sea and is used
to access the small port of Azure on its western shore. Oddly, regardless
Like the Fort Toil Massacre and the Massacre of Ste. Anne’s Field, the of which direction a ship travels from this gateway, a voyage of roughly
Pech Pit is the sight of a tragic loss of life early in the exploration of a week always brings it to the shore near Providence. Why this is has yet
Between. Intrepid explorers managed to blaze a trail across the uncertain to be determined but further investigation has been stymied by both small
terrain between the Castorhage Western Province and Slave State and the numbers of the Brothers of Saint Jull who are undertaking this exploration
Castorhage East Dominion. When the rise of the first Greensward Tyrant, and the nagging habit of ships occasionally disappearing without a trace
the mad monk Eglund of Sanctuary arose and threatened the plantations in the seemingly endless mists. Sailors try to reach shore as quickly as
of the Western Province with annihilation, a lone rider managed to make possible through murky tangle of the sargassum and thank their lucky
it past the cordon of the monk’s skirmishers and the natural dangers of the stars when they see the fog break ahead and land on the horizon.
great Betweenlands plains. Bringing his urgent message or dire peril to
Fort Labour, Castorhage East Dominion Company assembled its levies,
slave militia auxiliaries, and Royal Between Corps companies and set out Spiral Fable
at a forced march to relieve its beleaguered parent company. Unlike the
Ste. Anne’s Field travesty of decades earlier, no Between horde rose to The Spiral Fable is a mystery site where reality seems fluid and can
meet them, and the very ground seemed to tremble beneath their tread. follow the imagination of the viewer, though usually in a way that distorts
The marching host was unstoppable — until the ground opened beneath and endangers viewer. It is known in the Artists’ Quarter of Castorhage as
their feet and swallowed them. a place where the storybooks come to life and allow their fanciful ideas
The great sinkhole opened too quickly for the mass of the army to escape, to manifest in reality. There has to be a gateway connecting somehow to
and only the vanguard and baggage train survived. Witness accounts the city, but no one has discovered it for certain. All they know is that
reported the vast pit’s depths being shrouded in unnatural darkness and sometimes stories come to life and run rampant among the living, and the
the sounds of inhuman bellows and all-too-human screams arising from it bloodier the story the more likely it is to happen. On the Between side it
for hours. By nightfall all was silent and all the remained was the sinkhole is little more than a nondescript valley among rugged hills with nothing
now known as the Pech Pit. Since that time, by contractual agreement, the to mark itself as such a place of chaos made real. There have been reports
too arms of the Royal Between Company do not send military assistance of an unusual concentration of chaos beasts inhabiting the region, but so
to one another. The result has proven far too costly. few folk have dared to try and explore that this could easily be a chicken-
The few travellers who make the journey today between the Castorhagi or-egg tale. More information on the Spiral Fable is given at AQ41 in
dominions attempt to avoid the pit, but somehow always end up finding Chapter 2 of The Blight Campaign Guide.
it. Even attempts to make a new road had failed as even the new course
found itself blocked by the pit and requiring travellers to skirt its dark
depths. Strangely reports on the size of the pit vary and those who travel Ste. Anne’s Field
overland without even following the road still come across it, almost as
if it seeks travellers out. Most folk are able to safely go around it, though The site of the second-greatest massacre after that of Fort Toil, Ste.
some parties have disappeared in its vicinity, and those who come upon Anne’s Field is a meadowland not far from the fringes of the Greensward

77
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Hell. Here a full regiment of more than 3,000 Royal Between Corps
regulars drew up their battle lines to face the brunt of the malignant forces
they were facing in the Greensward Hell War. What emerged from the
forest to engage them was like no army ever seen before or since. A vast,
disparate horde of creatures, humanoids, madmen, indescribable horrors
emerged and crashed into the carefully arranged ranks of the waiting
soldiers. It was over in minutes, the field nothing more than a litter of
broken bodies. It was as if Between flexed its muscles and showed what
the might of the Royal Between Company was up against. It changed the
course of Castorhagi policy from one of military conquest of Between to
one of careful expansion and localised exploitation rather than risk the ire
of the entire land like that again.
Today the field is still a pleasant green meadow. At its centre stands
a crooked marble statue of an angel with broken wings representing the
solar angel Saint Anne, Patroness Saint of Martyrs, erected in honour of
the many lives lost. One of the statues arms is broken off, and the other still
reaches beseechingly out towards the distant wood line in an expression
of contrition? A plea for mercy? No one alive knows. However, it known
that at night the statue weeps blood and the dead walk seeking vengeance
against any among the living who dare pass by. As a result, the field is this portion is perpetually blanketed in snow, though few snowfalls or
almost universally avoided. blizzards actually occur, and it is renowned for the iridescent bubbles that
frequently float gently upon a cool winter breeze. Voracious wolves (many
long since dead) haunt these woods along with spiders, and worse things,
Theatres Obscura, The and great flapping creatures are known to soar above the treetops in the
night sky. At least one gateway is known to open into this woodland from
A dark theatre district of shadows and crooked streets springs here in the Theatre District, but its Castorhage end is a closely held secret by the
a small vale among desolate hills. It seems to have a life of its own as city authorities who monitor it to see what kind of abominations it might
those who find entrance to it in the Artists’ Quarter come here to partake spawn and what might be learned from them.
of its otherworldly offerings. The dark fey hold sway here and control the
gateway to the mundane world, and the god known as the Leper King is
said to stalk its always-twilight streets. More information on the Theatres
Obscura can be found at AQ9 in Chapter 2 of The Blight Campaign Guide
(Festival) and in L6: The Susurrus Theatre in The Levee adventure.
The Unsea
A vast, uncharted ocean, the Unsea is a place of incredible storms and
nightmarish gales that has proven difficult to explore. It is always overcast
Tyrant Kingdoms and gloomy in the best of conditions, and often fogs are so thick that a
helmsman can’t see his own masthead. The outpost of Scrimshaw lies
A small number of tyrants have set up so-called kingdoms within the beneath a huge ragefire†-powered lighthouse that casts a beacon to draw
forest beyond the plantations of the Western Province and Slave State and shipping home. Whaling in the Unsea is the most plentiful, and is a draw
far away from any kind of laws of men. Characters such as King Flesh to the fleet of fishermen and whalers who now operate its dark waters.
(CE male human transmogrifier†) and an insane halfling missionary called Rumour has it that not all the catch is passed into the Castorhage markets,
Mistress Lydia Scathel (NE female halfling wererat), madly convinced that and that often things that talk are found in nets.
she is a new Rat Queen and must transform this place into a haven for the The Unsea has many unique and interesting features and locations of its
Family populated only by wererats, set up their short-lived fiefdoms beneath own, a selection of which are detailed below.
the jungles’ eaves. Loners, miners and hunters are inching across the place,
and although they seem to be taming it their efforts are doomed; this place
grows at an impossible rate, is brimming with lurking horrors and can even
get into the skin of those who live here — as an insect called the feasting
Brittle Ice, The
mite slowly eats its victims alive beneath the cover of their own hide. An endless ice field emerges here from the freezing waters of the
Unsea. It seems to stretch into eternity but offers tantalizing glimpses of
fanciful spires and dreamlike palaces upon the distant horizon or reflected
The Wall as mirages upon low-hanging clouds in certain weather. Rumours say
that the legendary Tu Chai Palace stands somewhere in that vast expanse,
Here stretches a howling mountainside at the foot of which rests the but exploration is limited because the ice field is rotten and brittle and
HrondHuss, the last inn before its massive expanse. Whether mountain collapses into sinkholes and hidden crevasses with alarming frequency.
range of virtually sheer cliffs or simply a vast wall across the Betweenlands, Only the enormous horned, six-legged polar bears that haunt its landscape
none knows for sure as none has ever reached the top to determine the seem to be immune to the effects of these hazards, and they are known for
truth. The Wall draws explorers to its upper reaches, but none has ever being extremely aggressive and always hungry.
succeeded, even those who try to fly in its wild gales. Those who return The eastern flank of the ice shelf abuts the sweating expanse of the
from attempts at its upper reaches tell of finding signs of civilisation, of Greensward Hell, where a massive ice cliff looms, apparently untouched by
maddening echoes in the wind, and gales that flay the skin off a man. The the sweltering heat, above the verdant jungle expanse, seemingly untouched
relics they return with sometimes fetch fortunes back in the city. And the by the cold. As elsewhere, the ice here is too brittle to support much in the
Ashurian manservant at the HrondHuss always listens to such tales with a way of exploration, so for now the Brittle Ice holds its secrets close.
keen ear, though he keeps his own counsel as to his interest.

Winter Wood Carrion

“The reason for the stench besetting our deck finally became
A portion of the Great Between Forest that grows thickly with apparent; the dogged nidorous odour that has been plaguing us for days
evergreens, the Winter Wood is known to lie relatively close to the has revealed a source. It is the floating carcass of a whale, a vast creature
HrondHuss but far from anywhere else. Unlike the rest of the great forest, whose mouth is pulled back in a permanent dreadful grin the size of a

78
 GM Guide
cliff. There are living things amongst the rot, and signs of habitation; in equal parts to the aboleths of Carrion and the long-missing Madness-
bones have been splintered and broken and lashed, and parts of ships of-the-MirrorStorm, the great Between kraken who once made her home
pulled and stitched into place to make a revolting floating town.” within the waters around the Cloven Sea but has been banished to the
—Last Known Journal Entry of Abriath Wayde, mundane world for many years now.
First Mate of the whaler Lyric

Carrion has been spotted upon the waters of the Unsea by many. It is a
mobile, floating town ruled by aboleths. The aboleth’s slave creatures tend
Corrun’s Labyrinth
the revolting carcass as they pay fealty to twisted sea gods who drive the Shorlty after the discovery of the Unsea was the discovery of the Brittle
settlement upon its way, taking it to the next holy place for its inhabitants Ice and the discovery of Corrun’s Labyrinth. It is called labyrinth because
to invade. that is the best description that sailors and cartographers can come up
Carrion is more than a floating island, it is a vessel, and when the with to describe it, but in reality it is simply a section of the northern
wind is up, great sails can be stretched to drive it onward at a ponderous Unsea much like the rest. If anything, the waters here are unusually gentle
pace. The aboleth of Carrion are served by an array of slaves taken from and very rarely lashed by storms and perhaps with a somewhat higher
their voyages — voyages that expand the aboleths’ minds and powers. frequency of crabs and other sea crustaceans, but not large or harmful
The aboleths have an incredibly sophisticated social structure, and are ones. It’s almost as if the sea is particularly safe and pleasant here by
governed by a rigid caste system. They are led by the One of the Carcass, design, an invitation for the lost, storm-tossed or wayward voyager to sail
The Great and Only (NE aboleth) who is attended by its 8 beloved kin The within and find a moment’s rest from the dangers of the Unsea.
Prime (NE aboleths). The aboleths have voyaged the Unsea for all time it Of course, once a vessel is piloted within the sea haze gradually increases
seems, and the immortal skum† that tend them can remember histories so so that eventually the ship sails through a nearly impenetrable fog, a fog
vast that mortal minds would struggle to comprehend their telling. that seems to give a suggestion of hiding actual walls water as if the ship
was actually sailing down hidden lanes into the deeps. Those who don’t
immediately come about when the mists first rise are lost in the endless
Cataclysm, The maze of fog-shrouded waters heading ever deeper into what, exactly, no
one knows. But all know that they are never seen again, as so famously
There is a place where the Unsea falls into the nothingness of night happened in 1639 to Commodore Grabe’s subordinate Captain Corrun and
and void, and that place extends its icy fingers to the seas for scores of his entire schooner the Wreath. Even ships that do immediately come about
miles around. Once in the grip of its current, there is no escape from its when the mists arise don’t always make it out, for sometimes the mists rise
inexorable grasp. Few people have ever glimpsed the Cataclysm, and no quickly and thickly and a ship that’s lost from view is rarely seen again.
one has voyaged close enough to significantly explore it in any way. A
few have tried and been drawn into whatever lies beyond; the odd, vain
wizards who have sought to fly or use other magical means to see what
lies below, they have all been drawn by great gales into the fury of the
Edge of Ruin
Cataclysm which likewise defies all attempts at scrying. Only stories exist The lightship Edge of Ruin remains anchored as a warning on the very
about the place, and they are all bad. border of the Edge of the World. Beyond is the vast area of Unsea that no
one has successfully explored. Though lightly crewed, she is a massive
vessel, wide-bodied for stability with a towering pinnacle constructed
Cloven Sea, The upon her superstructure atop which burns a fiercely blazing magical
beacon. Her captain, Ada Moathreer (N female human veteran), and
The Unsea in this region is torn, a huge slash between two great walls her small crew are frequently visited by the curious, the lost, or by those
of water creating a slowly shifting land exposed from beneath the waves. drawn by the astonishing harvest of whales and strange fish here.
The tear is a seething, moving mass of water usually a hundred yards The Edge of Ruin’s crew appreciates visitors as they bring supplies and
across and deep, but sometimes much wider or even narrower to the point cheer to Ada, who for some curious reason loves it here. The combination
that its watery walls almost seems to touch. Perched precariously upon of Ada’s lively spirit and broad smile combined with the desperate location
one of its upper walls is the skum city of Thry’ss where homage is paid bring a curious calm to this frightfully elemental place. It is likely — those
who have been here often say — that Ada has influenced the very nature of
Between and created her own calm on the very edge of the storm.

Edge of the World, The

There is a point in the Unsea where the sea angers — a place that simply
cannot be navigated. At its edge, a battered lightship of great size called
Edge of Ruin heaves with an angry beacon at its top. The sea beyond the
ship boils, a churning seething mass of whirlpools, tearing and grappling
the ocean. It has been compared by many mariners with the great Tempest
Meridians that separate the oceans of Lloegyr in two. A type of Between
fish called query is a delicacy that is rarely caught but often seen here. Its
presence draws many sailors who come for many miles to lay their nets
out here on the verge of these destructive waters.

Great Whale, The

Not so much a place as a thing that is the size of a place, there is a thing
of corrupt flesh that swallows ships and in whose belly sailors rot. Its gut
is said to be larger than a town, and sailors are said to call out from within
its colossal gullet as they slowly die or strive to live on the scraps of flesh
and food devoured by the endless consumption of the Great Whale.
The Great Whale is indeed big enough to accommodate people living
inside it, and these unwelcome squatters live within the rear parts of

79
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
the vast whale’s mouth, dwelling in safe havens they have fashioned
into crude fleshy dwellings that form air pockets whilst the whale is Frostrime
beneath the sea. They are not alone. So vast is the thing that lacedons The north lamp bears an almost-constant patina of ice from the blowing spray
— the undead remains of sailors who have lived and died here — also of the turbulent seas. The frigid post is manned by Keeper Dobbs (N male street
dwell within it. The sailors trapped in here have tried to escape the maw dwarf† 3commoner) who was exiled here for crimes in the Capitol and given
many times, but have so far always given up when confronted with the the choice of manning the lighthouse or being burned alive. Dobbs is slowly
vastness of the Unsea. They pray that the vast creature one day will going mad and is being courted by the cult of the Madness of the MirrorStorm.
swallow a rowboat or enough timbers to lash together a raft that they can One day soon, they intend to extinguish the light and destroy the place.
initiate plans to escape.

The Choir
Scrimshaw A small family occupies the western lamps. Uril Quod (N male human
commoner) and his wife Ela (N female human commoner) have 5
This maritime outpost sits upon (and within) a massive sea stack that children and are happy to bring them up away from the foul influences of
rises from the waves of the Unsea. It has many connections to the city civilisation. Loathe to see visitors, Quod does all he can to prevent contact
district of Town Bridge and serves as the headquarters of the Royal Unsea with the outside world.
Whaling Company administered by the Lady Constance Thorn, Governor
of Scrimshaw (N female human noble) under the authority of the Darnel
family of Town Bridge. In truth, Scrimshaw is considered a city district of The Penance
Castorhage in its own right. Scrimshaw is detailed further in Chapter 9 of
The largest lighthouse is manned by the Sorrowful Man (N sentient
The Blight Campaign Guide.
lesser flesh golem†), a creature of twisted appearance that, like Quod, is
happy in isolation. The Sorrowful Man does not loathe company, however;
Scrimshaw Lamps it loves it, but does not allow its sadness to consume it. Some captains love
the twisted creature, which shows glimpses of a soul and which loves to
The Scrimshaw lamps are lighthouses constructed of whale bones — read the books they bring.
one of the most readily available building materials in the Unsea. They
are four in number, and mark the edges of the thoroughly explored Hope
and relatively “safe” part of the Unsea. Each is lit by a bound ragefire
elemental and manned by a keeper. Hope is the most southerly lamp and has been bent into a strangely
curved shape by the storms that constantly pound its flanks. It seems like
only a matter of time before it finally gives out and collapses. Its keeper,
Dabrin Hodd (NE male arcane assassin†), is a lunatic and killer who preys
on lone travellers and castaways. Hodd kills anyone he gets a chance to,
seeking to add them to his Gift, which he is constructing in his cellar. The
Gift is a living statue made of animated portions of multiple bodies, and
which cries out and sobs for release or death.

Ships’ Necropolis
At this slowing drifting location, the sea is choked with ships, an
expansive, crushing mass of timbers and masts and prows making one
place that stretches and rises across the sea swells. Mangy gulls call from
its higher places, whilst its cliffs of wood are endlessly consumed by the sea
and repaired, somehow remaining a single tangible thing. A beast known
as The Brackish King (LE Between vampire†) rules the Ship’s Necropolis.
He is tended by his crew, some of whom are vampires, but many of which
are lacedons or brine zombies. Undead seagulls and vargouilles† stalk its
seaweed-throttled cliffs, and other more terrible undead lurk in its holds
and bilges. Skulking far below the decks, hiding from the sight of men,
is an aquatic corpse orgy. The Brackish King is able to draw ships from
the bottom of the Unsea at will, doing so when he needs fresh corpses
and new structures to twist and lash. His motives are otherwise unknown.

Turmoil, The
The greatest whirlpool in the Unsea, the Turmoil is more than just a
natural phenomenon; it is, like many whirlpools here, alive. A bound
swarm of dozens of elder Between water elementals, the Turmoil
occasionally drifts across the waters to hunt, only to return to its usual
place a year or so later.

Sailing the Unsea

The Unsea is a seething mass of storms, whirlpools, waterspouts and
natural (and unnatural) terror. The weather itself here is an aspect of the
Between; in other words, in places it is a living, thinking thing. Storms are

80
 GM Guide
genuinely malevolent; waves do indeed deliberately try to swamp vessels,
and hurricanes pluck sailors from ships. St. Elmo’s fire dances off masts The Great Whale
and annihilates whalers, and vast whales swallow ships whole.
Do not make the mistake, however, that the Unsea is cohesive or “Nothing is as big as the Great Unsea Whale; like a storm
omnipotent. It is not, nor is it one single entity. The weather can slumber, it is, like a great dark cloud dancing with waterspouts and
its moods changing from fury to calm in an instant. The weather also tornadoes. They are her children, see. Those and the things of
sometimes works against enemies and monsters. The fractious nature teeth and decay that circle the nadir beneath her gown of fetid
of the Unsea gives you a complete guiding hand in events. If you want water. Her bridal train is poison, and her hunger insatiable.”
a whirlpool to open up beneath your characters’ ship and drag them to
gods know where, then do so. If you want a vast tidal wave to swallow
Scrimshaw at the end of your campaign, do it.
The Cataclysm
Tales of the Unsea “The Cataclysm, oh yes, it’s real, lass. There is a place where
the Unsea falls into the nothingness of night, and that place
There are always stories, but when the place is as wild and endless as extends its icy fingers to the seas for scores of miles around,
the Unsea, and when the place is Between — a land that soaks up thoughts once in its grip, there is no escape from the tides and storms.”
and fears and tales — it is always possible. That which is imagined
becomes truth, and what is given a life in a story is given breath. Dreaming
is dangerous here, almost as dangerous as imagining.
The stories below are the tip of the iceberg for such tales in the Unsea
and are further detailed above. The tales are read aloud or paraphrased
Unsea Weather
text that the characters may overhear in the Precarious†, learn about whilst Unpredictable in the extreme, Unsea weather can change in an instant.
visiting or sailing the Unsea, or even learn from the old songs of bards and One thing, however, is always consistent; the sun never glimpses through
storytellers in the city streets. the clouds. It goes dark - sometimes disturbingly dark, but the sun never
The Unsea is an elemental place that allows you to draw upon any folk, shines directly on the Unsea.
fairy or other tale you wish. A quick whisk through a group of legends of Storms of incredible fury whip out of nowhere, driving ships off course,
the sea could give you inspiration if it is needed. Here are a few ideas to not that most ships have a course — captains simply follow their instincts.
give you some options. Ship loss rates are incredibly high, and were it not for the ease of the
harvest here, the sea would be considered un-navigable.
Ships’ Necropolis In the Unsea, weather tends to follow fairly set types, ranging from
overcast skies where rain, hail, sleet, and snow are regularly encountered.
Powerful storms can occur at any time, and waterspouts are commonly
“It is said that ships that sink in the Unsea surface a year or seen. Fog is a constant problem on the Unsea, and banks of it can settle
so later with their crews still aboard, and sail toward the Ships’ on ships for weeks. Temperatures are always at least cold, and often much
Necropolis. Imagine a lichyard of broken ships that gather as lower, and occasionally the sea freezes or strange isles of ice race past, or
a vast, sick island reeking of undeath, brine and misery. The into, ships.
ships — so those unlucky enough to have seen the place say
— go on forever, slowly rotting in the grip of seaweed and
barnacles and blasted by brine.
“It has a king, but no ordinary ruler, his blood is as cold as
Unique Weather Encounters
his heart, and he sucks the marrow from sailors who cross him, A place driven by forces of nature and thriving upon moods gives you
taking their flesh, their souls, and even their memories to his another angle to approach adventures on the Unsea: the bizarre weather
table. The Brackish King, they call him, a Between vampire
king. The King sends the fronds of his terrible kingdom into
the Unsea, looking for other ships to swell its population. If
you come upon a cliff where there’s no land, or the stench of Where are the Random
brine and blood, or the call of lost sailors, set full sail and head
away, for it could be the Ships’ Necropolis.” Weather Tables?
Some people love to have charts of random weather effects, and
the charts within the game master’s guide are useful. However,
The Turmoil I’ve decided not to include random weather charts, nor chances
for things like capsizing or being crushed by tidal waves here. The
“Aye, the whirlpools in the Unsea are more than natural; simple reasoning behind this is that if you want the characters to
they don’t rise on high tides or anywhere you’d expect ’em. be capsized and end up washed onto some random ship full of
They appear where they want to, when the sea gets in a bad intrigue and cutthroats, or if you wish the players to be washed
mood or the storm spoils for trouble. There are no whirlpools under a tidal wave and thrown into gods know where, then do so.
like those in the Unsea, vast black chasms that roar so loud Randomly assigning chances at a gaming table for something that
that those who get too close go deaf or mad. has such a major effect seems counter-productive to me.
“The Turmoil, well that’s one of the worst ones. The Turmoil Never overplay your powers, however. Giving character’s a
is mad itself, you see, an insane spiralling madness of water a slim chance through skill to save NPCs, cargo or avoid encounters
mile deep. Those that look at it die of fright, they say, and those is good; driving characters in a direction you wish could quickly
that have heard it swear it calls out to them. He has his brides, become boring.
does the Turmoil, twisted sick things that dance in the walls of If you like the implied randomness of such charts, then plenty
water, screaming at those who can taste the clean air above.” are available out there, they just don’t form part of my thinking.
Don’t ignore the effects of weather, however. Battling a dragon
turtle in mountainous seas or in thick fog adds another dimension
to an otherwise potentially bland encounter.
—Rich

81
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
event. A quick check of the internet brings up some inspiring video and
Item Cost Weight
photographic footage of some incredible things. Magnify them in the
Unsea. A couple of possibilities are presented below. Lantern, ship’s great 75 gp 20 lbs.
Lodeprow 10,000 gp 60 lbs.
Frozen Sea Shipskin, Unsea varies varies
The sea becomes progressively icier until it eventually freezes. Does Spermaceti 10 gp/gallon —
the ice herald the arrival of some creature come to hunt, or does the morale
of the crew, or any hidden NPC troublemakers (or monsters), suddenly Spyglass, greater 2,500 gp 1 lb.
take front stage, bringing a totally unexpected twist to an adventure that Waggoner, Unsea 500 gp 5 lbs.
could be about hunting, exploration, or curiosity?
Whaler’s longcoat, whale-wax 200 gp 8 lbs.

Eye of the Storm Ambergris: A waxy substance produced in the intestinal tract of
whales, ambergris is used in perfumery as a fixative and occasionally in
The storm goes on for days, but suddenly the ship enters the eye, a vast cooking.
calm region of sea. Something exists in this eye: either a floating ship Ambergris, memory: Some ambergris harvested from certain Unsea
town, a creature, or perhaps something stranger. whales somehow contains the memories of the beast it was taken from
and when properly distilled is similar in function to a Between vessel.
Navigating the Unsea Memory ambergris described in Appendix A of L3: Sea’s End of The
Levee adventure.
Most sailors know an old tale about the best way to navigate the Unsea, Bell, ship’s great: A great bell is mounted to the deck of a ship and
carrying a potato or fish head or cork for luck and then, if they get lost, when struck can be heard over a distance of 3 miles. It is heard over
tossing it into the sea and seeing which way it floats. That way is sure to greater distances with a successful DC 5 Wisdom (Perception) check per
be home. mile thereafter. Weather conditions affect the audibility.
The Between compass is a relatively new invention and has been of Compass, Between: Created as a pair of heavy brass and gold
limited success. Speak with animals (if animals can be found) is sometimes instruments, the compass and the lodestone. A Between compass does not
useful but often infuriating. Most wise captains rely on magic. Spells such show normal directional bearings but rather has a single indicator noting
as find the path used to chart a course are a lifesaver here, and those rare the direction of that compass’s paired lodestone. The lodestone is usually
spellcasters of high enough level to cast it are sometimes found amongst left at port to allow a course home to be charted. Beyond 100 miles, the
Unsea whaling crews and paid well for their services. Other spells or reliability of the compass diminishes with a 20% chance at any given time
combinations of spells have been used to assist in navigation, and the art of of a reading being incorrect by several degrees for 1d4 hours.
navigation on the Unsea (and anywhere in the Between for that matter) is Fishing tackle, Unsea: A bewildering array of rods, large nets and
the subject of magical research. Know direction tends to be useless in a place things with hooks that are used to catch fish in the Unsea. Such tools are
that just doesn’t have a north, whilst flying or teleporting have inherent risks for use in the Unsea only, and are in general too large to be used on more
of weather and the chance of ending up somewhere badly wrong. mundane seas.
Foul-weather gear: Heavy waxed clothing including an overcoat, hat
and waterproofed trousers that provide some water and wind resistance,
Land in the Unsea but protection from the cold equal to a cold-weather outfit as well.
Harpoon ballista: This is a standard ballista modified to fire harpoons
There are several tidal stacks rising from the Unsea to soar high over
with attached chains. The chains are usually 2 inches thick and 100 feet
the waves. Scrimshaw arguably occupies the most famous of these. Other
long. They are anchored to the ship’s deck by an iron hook.
examples of these rocks are often impossible to land on and are home to vast
Lantern, ship’s great: Usually mounted to a ship’s mast or deck, a
flocks of mangy gulls. Occasionally, strange and alien structures suffocate
ship’s great lantern projects a cone of light over a distance of a 120-foot
these isles. These structures are often surrounded or within great henges.
cone and provides dim light beyond that out to a 240-foot cone. A great
Sometimes an island rises from the sea and stays for a night, a day, a
ship’s lantern burns for 1 hour per pint of fuel oil and has a 1-gallon
season, a hundred years. The whaler’s call these places the “Land of the
reservoir.
Young.” Sometimes they are occupied by Between creatures, sometimes
Lodeprow: Storms of the Unsea are extremely violent and electrically
they are abandoned and empty of all life.
charged. To save their masts, Unsea captains travel with a lodeprow. A
lodeprow is a sheaf of lead and iron attached to the prow of a sailing ship
Unsea Equipment that draws lightning strikes to it and then harmlessly disperses them into
the surrounding sea by means of a series of conducting channels along
The unique and hostile nature of the Unsea calls for many types of the ship’s hull. Lightning bolt and other electricity spells are drawn to the
specialised equipment in order to successfully navigate its waters. Typical hefty lodeprow only if cast from in front of or above the ship.
types of equipment used by Unsea sailors as well as innovative devices Shipskin, Unsea: Shipskin is special outer attachments designed to
developed specifically for navigation are described below. These items prevent capsizing during the worst Unsea storms (see sidebox).
can be obtained in Scrimshaw and frequently in Town Bridge as well. Spermaceti: A waxy substance produced in a cranial organ of Unsea
whales and some other species as well. When harvested, spermaceti
is used in a variety of ways from clean-burning lamp oil to soothing
Item Cost Weight ointments and candle wax.
Ambergris 50–500 gp/lb — Spyglass, greater: Objects viewed through a greater spyglass are
magnified to four times their size. Characters using such a spyglass may
1,000– have a difficult time with some Perception checks involving sight (optional)..
Ambergris, memory —
1,500 gp/lb. Waggoner, Unsea: A collection of captain’s notes and nautical charts of
Bell, ship’s great 200 gp 100 lbs. the Unsea, an Unsea waggoner is indispensable to an Unsea ship. Created
by the Royal Unsea Whaling Company and sold only to those captains
Compass, Between 1,000 gp 4 lbs. licensed through their auspices, the waggoner is the most accurate means
Fishing tackle, Unsea 25 gp 10 lbs. of navigating the perilous geography of the Unsea. When using an Unsea
waggoner, the chance of being misled by a Between compass (see above)
Foul-weather gear 20 gp 8 lbs.
is reduced to 10% at the time of the check. With a waggoner alone, the
Harpoon ballista 800 gp 70 lbs. chance of plotting an accurate course in the Unsea is 75%.
82
 GM Guide
rotted with large areas of necrotic flesh on its hide — a creature that
should not and possibly cannot live.
Unsea Shipskin
The threat of being swamped with the Unsea’s violent waves Afancs
or tipped to such a degree that the deck is directly exposed to the Afancs are the sea monsters that sailors talk about when spinning tales
crashing surf are all too real when sailing upon the Unsea, and of the sea. They are the creatures responsible for entire fleets and crews
both hazards bring with them the danger of a ship foundering as its being lost or destroyed. They are thought by many to be the “kings” of the
decks fill with seawater. As such, no self-respecting Unsea captain sea as most other water-dwellers pale in comparison both in strength and
would venture onto the belligerent waves without the precaution size to the mighty afanc.
of an Unsea shipskin. It is theorized that Afancs are very likely the cause for some of the
This unique nautical construct is a cover of waxed tarpaulin lesser whirlpools in the Unsea, and bold Unsea captains have killed at
stretched on a durable frame of wood and iron that is custom least three afancs here. In other confrontations with the creatures, ships
crafted to cover much of the main deck of a ship. The cover is have been less lucky, and those afancs continue to roam the Unsea holding
specifically designed to close off exposed portholes, hatches, and a grudge against the harpoon-firing interlopers that sail above.
gangways without interfering with movement by sailors upon
the deck itself. Entry is achieved by crawling into one of the
covered points of entry. In rough seas, gaining access to one of Anglers
these entrances requires a DC 10 Dexterity check and half of the Lurking just below the surface of the water, anglers come in all shapes
character’s total movement. and sizes. From the tiny parasitic choking angler that seeks to enter the
The utility of the shipskins, though, is that they severely inhibit throats of its victims to feed and expand until it suffocates its prey, to the
the ability of large amounts of water rapidly to gain access through rumours of glimpsed horrors of the deep such as the wretched shadow
these points of ingress. In rough seas with waves that routinely angler that casts a black globe of pure darkness. Or the vile endemic
reach peaks of 20–30 feet or more, the chance of taking on too angler, whose light causes those who glimpse it to sicken, allowing the
much water and beginning to sink is 40% for an unprotected ship. fish to attack them, and even the vast goliath angler, said to be twice the
A ship with an Unsea shipskin reduces this chance to a mere 5%. size of the biggest whalers. Some are convinced that the various anglers
Even a ship capsized by weather or the attack of some large sea are the pawns of aboleths, and many believe that Castorhage’s own unique
creature has a 35% chance to right itself in the round following Lyme angler† is merely one more offshoot of this prolific genus.
the attack.
An Unsea shipskin is normally stowed in a locker on the main
deck and can be deployed reasonably fast. Gulls, mangy
The construction of an Unsea shipskin costs one-tenth of the The air on the Unsea is alive with vast flocks of ugly, mangy gulls who
price of the entire vessel when built, and takes 1 week per 1,000 appear to be half-starved and missing many of their feathers. They eat
gp to fit. Only a few noted shipwrights in Scrimshaw have the anything organic in nature, and if they get very hungry, have been known
knowledge to create these specialised covers to infest whaling vessels and attack their crew or even chew on the tough
wooden planks of their hulls if they can find a secluded spot within which
to nest. Gull hunts through the lower decks are something that every wise
Whaler’s longcoat, whale-wax: The finest quality seal fur treated with Unsea captain orders at least once a year to ensure that none of the pesky
an alchemically enhanced spermaceti, this bulky longcoat protects a sailor intruders have compromised the integrity of his ship’s hull.
from both the cold and the wet of a sea voyage. It provides protection
from cold equal to a cold-weather outfit, and items placed in its inside
pockets are protected from water exposure as long as the coat is not fully Merfolk
immersed. In addition, though it is not considered armour, it does provides Remains of mermaids occasionally wash up in and around the Unsea,
an armour bonus of 1 because of its thickness and rigidity. It can be worn so mermaids must exist somewhere although no one has encountered one.
over light armour, providing the unusual benefit that its armour bonus Merfolk do, conversely, appear in the Great Lyme River, though whether
will stack with that of any armour worn underneath (including bracers of they have entered it and ultimately the Unsea from the seas beyond
armour), though its armour check penalty stacks as well. Castorhage or vice versa has yet to be determined.

Unsea Menagerie Sahuagin

The Unsea teems with life — very strange life. The Between twists the The sahuagin of the Unsea are reticent about contact. Evidence of their
form of those things within it, and the environment around the creature presence has been seen by experts and explorers, but so far they have
affects it in a greatly accelerated way. Part 6 contains a number of creature not been encountered in any significant numbers. On the few occasions
stat blocks, while below some Unsea inhabitants are given a more general that they have been encountered, it has been seen that the incidence of
treatment. In general, the creatures below conform to their standard stats mutation within their population is high. Whether this propensity for
in the game manual and other source materials, many with the Between mutation extends to a higher incidence of malenti is unknown, but so far,
creature† template as described in Part 6. It is all too true that the variety aquatic elves have yet to be encountered in the Unsea. If there is a malenti-
of creatures encountered in the Between is uncountable, and the Unsea is like mutation for the Unsea sahuagin, it’s possible that it takes some other
no exception. humanoid form.

Aboleths Sea Serpents

Aboleths are, unfortunately, commonly found throughout the Unsea. Vast sea serpents are often seen on the Unsea and come in all shapes
They almost always have a Between Creature template or subtype. The and sizes. Brine sea serpents are regularly spotted, and fanged sea
aboleths come in a variety of types and sizes, and their growth in the serpent† has been on the menu at the Precarious. Deep hunter sea
Unsea does not seem to be something that ends. The spiboleth† is one serpents and shipbreaker sea serpents have so far, mercifully, been
horrific example of their variety that has its origins in the Unsea. As the subject of sailors’ stories rather than verified encounters — unless
an aboleth’s intellect increases, so does its size and the effects that its those encounters have all ended with the complete loss of the ship and
specialised knowledge has upon its physiology. An aboleth from the its crew, which of course is always a possibility when dealing with
Unsea that studied necromancy, for example, would likely be partially these monstrosities.

83
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City

Awakened Creatures
Bear in mind that spontaneously awakened† animals and plants
are common in the Between as an extension of the land’s (and
sea’s) own heightened awareness. All such creatures display an
extremely high cleverness and attendant cruelty.

Turtles
The largest turtles spill into the Unsea, and like everything in Between,
these creatures are expanded to almost ridiculous size and cunning. Dragon
turtles, giant bog turtles and turtle sharks have all been reported and, less
commonly, cooked. Such turtle meat commands a very high price back in
Castorhage. A curiously sad creature known as the mock turtle has also been
encountered in the Unsea. This creature has an almost human countenance
and is able to spread misery and despair with its mere presence.

Walrus, Fearsome
The rarely encountered but formidably large fearsome walrus has a vile
temper and has been known to even attack ships when provoked. These
creatures are believed to be a larger, aggressively atavistic version of the
equally rare Lyme walrus†.

Weird Fish
There seems to be no end to the shape, size, and hue of the different
species of Unsea fish. Things with several heads or bloated bodies like
balls, things without mouths, and things that are manic thrashing hordes of
tentacles are so regularly seen by Unsea whalers that they become inured
to the effects of seeing yet another thing that should not actually be able
Sharks to live. A favourite is the query that swims in schools in the vicinity of
the Edge of the World. Though they resemble a 2-foot-long fluke-tailed
Sharks of all sizes, but generally very large sharks and dire sharks, cricket with spiky, prehensile antennae and an external intestinal sac, the
are seen in the Unsea. The physiology of sharks is curiously altered by disgusting-looking fish are delicious and considered a rare delicacy in
Between and almost all have the Between creature† template. Scrimshaw and Castorhage alike (though customers are rarely allowed
to see them unfilleted and in their natural state for the sake of business).
Skum
Skum are common in the depths of the Unsea. They are the slaves of Whales
the aboleths who created them and regard the men who have arrived in Whales are the reason the Unsea is so busy with invaders from
the Unsea as invaders who must be destroyed. They regularly attack ships Castorhage. They are of great variety but generally conform in one
and occasionally land-bound outposts. Curiously, the Unsea skum almost common aspect: their size. Unsea whales are massive, and massive whales
never demonstrate the effects of the Between creature† template as if their are profitable to the ship captains that harvest them and the rendering
artificial creation at the hands of the aboleths has somehow resisted the plants that sell their constituent parts. Types of whales encountered
normal influence of Between. here include baleen whales, sperm whales, great white whales, killer
whales, blue whales, crimson whales, faceless whales, and the extremely
Squids dangerous wallow-whale†. There are even rumours of the extremely rare
and elusive deep singer whale, though these have yet to be confirmed. One
Squids are a regular sight in the Unsea, from the more commonly seen more commonality is that Between whales are intelligent, and proving to
smaller varieties to vast ship-crushers of impossible size and twisted be an increasingly elusive — and more often aggressive — prey.
bodies. Giant squids are common, and even larger creatures are regularly
reported by whalers. Squids show a worrying cohesion and sophistication
of tactics unusual for their species. Ordinary squids frequently swarm Wyverns
onto sailors who fall into the Unsea, tearing them to pieces in a frenzy. Despite the relative lack of land, wyverns are regularly seen and often
And sometimes they sacrifice themselves in huge numbers to fulfil some attack ships. They seem to have an innate ability to locate and colonise
unknown purpose or even to carry out some act of seemingly appalling the many sea stacks scattered across the sea and use them to nest and
cruelty on other sea creatures as if they bore a sentience and evil far hunt. Types of wyverns include the typical variety as well as fork-tailed
beyond that expected in a cephalopod. Unsurprisingly, the Unsea whaler wyverns, nocturnal wyverns, and even the thankfully rare barbtongued
is convinced that there is more to the local squid than meets the eye. wyverns. Almost all wyverns of the Unsea also have the Between creature†
template applied. Most wise whalers carry at least one ballista aboard
Sunfish, Terrible with normal ammunition rather than harpoons in order to deal with the
unwanted attentions of a wyvern or the dreaded flight of wyverns.
The terrible sunfish is always at least the size of a house and often much
bigger. These creatures are unlike their more mundane kin; they have
much larger mouths and more ferocious appetites. They are also as dark
as shadows, and attacks by them often occur without warning.

84
 GM Guide
Known affected spells included arcane gate, astral projection, dimension door,

Through the etherealness, gate, plane shift, teleport (all versions), transport via plants, tree
stride, and word of recall. Other spells are affected at your discretion.
Casting spells such as magnificent mansion and rope trick may also have

Glass Darkly: their inter-dimensional space affected by this quality, and where a mishap is
indicated, either have an unexpected occupant already in the space or have
the space become something twisted and useless, perhaps even dangerous.

GMing Between
Some areas of Between are subject to localised effects as well. For
example, some casters find it impossible to use wind walk in given areas
due to storms, while others find summoning monsters either brings twisted
dead things or ravenous killers that obey no one.
Travel By Magic The exception to these rules are Between thieves. These daring (some
would say foolhardy) rogues use Between as a way of travel and escape,
“But I don’t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked. and their Between-related powers always work as indicated. However,
“Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: “We’re all mad here. I’m even a Between thief with class levels as a spellcaster who attempts to cast
mad. You’re mad.” one of the above-mentioned spells is subject to the warping of its effects.
“How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice.
“You must be,” said the Cat, “or you wouldn’t have come here.”
—Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland The Mirror Voyager:
Between is a curious thing, perhaps even a curious entity; despite What Between is Like
several attempts to tame the methods of travel to the place, access to this
netherworld remains annoyingly unpredictable. Between is as much a feeling as a place, and when emotions become the
Travel to Between using spells such as gate, plane shift, and astral fabric of a curious land the possibilities for danger are greatly enhanced.
projection fail to penetrate its heart, and even those mirrors that usually offer Sailors, anxious as they voyage the Unsea, report several curious
reliable access to Between can fail (sometimes with catastrophic results for phenomena: storms appearing from nowhere, dark shapes beneath the
the user). The simplest way to enter Between is to know a threshold, or to bow of a ship, or a sudden dreadful calm. Between is a place that changes
enhance it by use of special mirrors and techniques known only to a handful like a person’s mood, and it has been conjectured that even nightmares are
— and even those experts very often fail, with terrible results. able to breathe life from those explorers foolhardy enough to come there.
Travel within Between is similarly unpredictable, and use of spells such Although it has geography, that geography is fluid, and sometimes no
as dimension door and teleport have led to appalling tragedies. All spells of logic exists for the way the place changes, where a vast rainforest abuts
this nature cast to travel within Between operate with the same chances of a glacier, which in turn hides a warm ocean. The geography within these
failure as a teleport spell, with the caster assumed to be heading for a “false areas is also able to change to a limited degree, and some have suggested
destination.” Results on the percentile dice of 80% or below indicate the spell that Between is actually like a living dream or nightmare of itself, where
has functioned normally while those of 81% or more suffer the effects indicated. logic sometimes follows, but not always.
Between is like an adult fairyland, a place of nightmares and dreams
that has its own thoughts and wants. It is alive, and everything in it is alive,
constantly leaching thoughts and dreams and hungers and fears from
around it, becoming one consciousness broken by a thousand madnesses.
Here are a few other suggestions to bear in mind for GMing an
adventure here:
The Awakened Land: Think of Between not just as a place, but as an
extension of everything within it. A jungle, for example, in Between is not
just an ordinary jungle; it is a collage of all of its lifeforms: the hunger of
the predator, the fear of the prey, the boiling heat of the day, and the power
of the monsoon. It is like nature, but nature exploded.
Dreams and Nightmares Come True: Play upon a visitor’s fears; they
hear noises nearby, the night air boils with strange calls, a Between ruin
echoes with ghosts that whisper and cry in misery.
Everything Is Alive: Play this how you wish. Do the plants in Between
become dangerous? Are the trees thinking? Do awakened animals or
strange monsters plot against intruders?
Have Some Disturbed Internal Logic: Night should follow day, but
is the day unnaturally short? Does the night last a day, a week, a month?
Twisted Geography: Think of Between as a jumbled jigsaw, where
some pieces do not fit together. Some pieces do not link, so travel between

The Mirror Knights

Sworn to protect Castorhage from horrors of Between, several
groups of valiant, and perhaps not-so-valiant but sufficiently
greedy knights, warriors and duellists have come together to
form societies aiming to protect the people of the city-state from
supernatural invasion. The most famous of these groups, the Mirror
Knights, is made up of hunters who fearlessly track creatures that
come from Between. Aided by Between thieves, these warriors
track and kill the creatures mercilessly using a variety of hunting
methods, from subtle stalking to packs of bloodthirsty mastiffs.

85
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
them is impossible under normal circumstances. Think about how such
a place ends? Does a jungle simply end at cliffs that vanish into haze, or
does a sick mist settle upon the jungle, drawing characters back to where
they started? A rudimentary map of sorts of Between is provided in The
Between Disease: Boiling Pox
Blight Map Folio, but its layout is a best guess by the often-conflicting Boiling Pox
tales of various explorers. It serves as a suggestion of an “averaging” of Type diseaseInfection inhaled, contact, ingested
the geography of the realms of Between and is by no means intended as an Save DC 18 Constitution to prevent infection
accurate depiction of the exact topography. Incubation Speed Fast, pustules begin to form within
24 hours of infection; eruption follows within 4 hours
Effect 1d4 Charisma and/or 1d4 Dexterity drain
Tragedies of Between Cure 3 consecutive successful saving throws (see
below); greater restoration or wish spell
In addition to the many dangerous encounters to be had in Between,
the strange realm brings its own inherent dangers that simply seem to Victims of this painful, highly virulent infection develop
manifest merely by extended (or sometimes not-so-extended) contact with red angry sores over their whole body, intense cramping of the
its strangeness muscles, and a very high fever. When touched, these sores cause
intense, agonising pain and make every movement painful. As
’Tween Blight the disease progresses, the angry red pustules begin to erupt,
showering anyone within 10 feet with infectious blood and pus
The most terrible of ailments can be drawn through the tiny threads of (DC 10 Dexterity saving throw to avoid being hit with fluid).
mirror-portals and into the city, terrible diseases that permanently bend the Additionally, the victim’s bones start to soften and bend, often
human form into a twisted caricature, much like the nature of Between itself. leaving a distorted remnant of what was once a humanoid creature.
The whispered names of diseases such as strickenback, slynesplinters, The damage to the victim isn’t only physical, however. The
or madlands regularly make the rounds of gossip, but none of them has victim’s psyche can be harshly impacted by the agonising pain
yet been isolated by the physikers of Castorhage and proven to be truly and very high fever caused by the disease.
a preternatural illness from beyond. It is supposed by many that such Each day the victim suffers from the boiling pox, they must
known maladies as derange, dislocating larva, and second-head fluke make a Constitution saving throw. When a successful saving
must surely have originated in the twisted womb of beyond. Even the throw is made, the DC of the saving throw is reduced by 1d4 for
eponymous blight seems highly suspect to be of something other than the next attempt, indicating that the victim’s immune system is
mundane terrestrial origin. One ailment that is known to have originally starting to fight back against the infection. For example, Zhern
been introduced to Castorhage from Between is the boiling pox. Though makes his saving throw on DC 18 on day 1. The next day he would
rare, its manifestation is distinct and always tragic. Remove disease does need to make a saving throw with a DC of (18 – 1d4), which would
not work upon it, and it is so infectious that the merest hint of its taint is be a DC range of 14-17. If he rolled a 3 on a d4, he would need to
likely to draw a group of Mirror Knights to isolate or even — if the victim make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw on day 2. This repeats
is lucky — despatch the afflicted poor soul. for every day a successful save is made until there have been 3
successes in a row, or the DC reaches 0 and the infection abates. A
failed saving throw does not increase the DC.
Long-Term Effects of Between Exposure Each day the victim fails their saving throw, they lose 1d4
A final note is warranted regarding the hazards of braving the perils of Charisma points from the physical damage the pox does to their
Between. Sometimes its long-term repercussions are a bit more insidious, body. There is also a 25% chance (a roll of 1 on a d4) they will incur
though no less dangerous. Some frequent Between travellers have reported 1d4 Dexterity damage from the softening of their bones (commonly
catching a glimpse of doppelgangers of themselves, of being stalked by a called osteomalacia) as the infection slowly begins to spread beyond
sinister twin or of waking up with a shadowy figure at the foot of their bed. the soft tissue. The victim dies if they are reduced to 0 Charisma or
In fact, some more learned on matters Between have suggested that Sir Dexterity. The reduction lasts until the victim finishes a short or
Donnan Grabe confessed on his deathbed to being a Between impostor. long rest and no longer suffers from the boiling pox.
If the victim suffers from the boiling pox for more than 3 days,
there will be a 50% chance (a result of 3 or lower on a d6) that
they suffer some form of madness from the intense pain they
The Spiteful experience and from the very high fever induced by the infection.
Consult the rules on madness in the game manual to determine
The Spiteful is a conspiracy of Between fey and foul how the ordeal affects the victim.
shapechangers who wish to invade and conquer Castorhage Unfortunately, boiling pox has proven to be completely resistant
right under the noses of its people. They seek to do this through to lesser restoration and heal, and only seems to be cleansed by
subversion by means of introducing changeling spite-waifs into greater restoration or wish.
the cribs of certain of the city’s new parents as a means to breed
a generation of Between doppelgangers (doppleganger with
the Between creature† template applied) who control the reins
of power within the city. It is entirely possible that The Spiteful
play some role in the mysterious motives of the Lands of the Echo
Queen (q.v.) but no substantive connection has yet been found.
Coincidentally, one of the only groups within the city that is
aware of this secret group and its motives are doppelganger spies
of The Veil. They have reported the machinations of this group
to their master, Grand Justice Braken†, but he has yet to move
overtly against their incursion. It should be noted that certain other
individuals of Castorhage have become aware of The Spiteful
menace at times in the past and have seen fit to declare their own
crusades against its corrupting influence upon the city. More
information on The Spiteful and their activities in Castorhage can
be found TB3: Bloody Jack by Frog God Games

86
GM Guide

87
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City

The Blight Bestiary

88
 GM Guide

Things: The Creatures The City of Thinking Animals

of Castorhage One of the many anomalies given to the city of Castorhage
is a proportionally huge populace of awakened animals. Some
have conjectured that the awakening has some connection to the
Between, and that the frequent violations into that domain by locals
Many “common” monsters are to be found cowering in the gloom of have led to a bleeding of the essence of this land into the city. This
the city — sea devils and wererats are some of the most common — but has also been blamed for the rise in sentient animated objects —
here one may encounter nagas and rakshasas, sphinxes, hags, bugbears, clocks that refuse to chime, mortomata† that kill the children they
golems, ghouls, chaos beasts and demons as well as many others. Some are supposed to entertain, and fleshgines† that mysteriously crush
creatures walk the streets wearing human form, others skulk beneath piers their masters or pull all their limbs off. Others attribute the unusual
and in the Underneath waiting for the sun to set before walking the streets, manifestation of intelligence to centuries of breeding and training,
and some are seen as little more than nuisances or even valuable servants stating that some great evolutionary advance in animal intellect
or pets. may one day take place because of this.

Animals Strangely, apes of all types are seen in the city — no doubt due to its
long and extensive history of trade with and colonisation of Libynos —
As the city teems with life — both human and unhuman — so too it and so many have escaped from collectors that monkeys and apes are now
teems with animals, be they beast for fodder or companionship, watch, common. The Blight apes† and Blight monkeys† are uncannily alert, and
or pest. Birds soar above gables, from the great black Blight albatross† many are able to perform incredible feats of intelligence. In addition, no
and the gable hate-owl† to the hooded ravens† and blindingcrows† to the self-respecting organ grinder is without his monkey, or vice-versa.
smaller birds, particularly the ever-present canaries† with their singing Stock animals are plentiful — cattle, sheep and goats — as well as
voices, which warn of death, the Lyme thrush, the gable-sparrow and chickens, geese and dodos, which are often seen in city knackers-yards
the tiny moth-wren. Dogs are a common pet, particularly in the rougher awaiting slaughter. Dodo is very much an acquired taste, either being
areas of the city. Among the most prized are the terriers, which come in a loved or loathed, and some eating-houses specialise in preparing the bird
hundred shapes and breeds and are much prized for killing rats and other with a whole raff of available recipes. The awkward birds are also raised
vermin. Every gentleman or crook these days seems to have a fighting dog for their large eggs. And there are pigs, a vast number of pigs, some of
on a leash — from the Blight-bull† to the huge pit-mastiff†. which, like the Great Fayre pig racers, are said to be able to talk and
Cats are seen less, and certain fanciful dim-witted individuals have even reason among men.
gone so far as to say that all the normal cats were killed in a single night The popularity of private menageries in the latter 17th and early 18th-
by an army of cats from Between. These Between-Cats† are, allegedly, century R.C. assured that escapees were common, and a whole host of
ruled by an emperor who has some alien plot in mind for the city. Clearly, bizarre creatures still hunts in the night. Some of these have developed
this is so much hokum. Despite the many cats, rats are everywhere, and local legends: the BookTown Panther†, the Great Canal Python†, and
come in all shapes and sizes as well, from the vile Festering Lyme rat† the Hollow and Broken Hills Crocodile† are but a few of the hundreds of
with its mangy body covered in lice to the much feared (almost legendary) beasts that stalk the city.
Giant Rat of Shabbis, a mercifully rare foreign visitor to the shores of
Castorhage who brings plague in its wake.
Dark Fey
Though not a part of the natural world, Between is certainly a reflection
of it. This includes a propensity toward attracting the sylvan creatures
of the natural world and the presence of many fey within its strange
borders. Whether these fey are unnatural manifestations of Between
itself, examples of the darker types of fey in the natural world that are just
attracted to Between’s presence, or simply fey who have become trapped
in Between and warped by its dark presence is unclear. Perhaps it is all
of the above. In any case, the presence of these dark fey is indisputable
and they exist in a relatively large concentration in and around the city of
Castorhage as a result.

Inhabitants of the Lyme

That anything lives in the black dead, alchemically seething waters of
the polluted heart of the city is remarkable in itself. However, the river
teems with aggressive predators that feed upon the slops and flotsam,
peelings, and corpses of cats, rats, dogs, and people that fall into the Lyme
daily. Sough-eels† with their slick white bodies and gnawing secondary
jaws are frequently seen, Lyme anglers† — more commonly known as
slop-sharks — with their terrible diseased bites and bodies like sacks of
flesh waiting to burst hide in the shallows. Wallow-whales† swim the
deepest areas, their cathedral-like wan bodies searching for prey, their
throats lined with ragged bone beyond which lies the Church of Jobe —
the stomach maw of the whale allegedly once home to a sea devil. Bog
lanterns† wriggle in the gloom, their luminescent bodies like the lamps of
the Lyme anglers. The seldom seen Lyme walrus†, with its barbed tusks
and sinful lies, a creature that sheds its skin and becomes human when it
attempts to secure a bride, is just one more predator that watches the shore
from the river’s depths.
89
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Monsters Unique to the Blight Shapechangers
The fungi of Castorhage is more alive than it ought to be. The bestial There is a wererat plague within the city, and in places, the predominant
polypore, a malevolent symbiosis of beast and plant, grow in the evening population is these lycanthropes and their rat allies, which come in a
and spend the night looking for people to infest. More terrible is blight dizzying array of varieties and sizes. The rats are by far the most prodigious
itself, a peculiar intelligent lichen able to take over whole streets in a of shapechangers, but there are many, many others lurking unseen in the
single night and suffocate them, and only kept at bay by the constant glare of the city streets.
vigilance of brave Blight Knights — hunters who walk the streets at night
armed with alchemic fire bellows. Some say blight originally inhabited
the city but was driven deep below; some believe that the blight will rise Spiders
again en masse and absorb the entire population. One thing is sure, the city
gained its nickname for it, whether she likes it or not. It is also the more Many types of arachnids call the sprawl of the city home. Gable
common name of a creature known simply as the Body Snatcher, a hive spiders† are common, as are the more mundane breeds of monstrous
thing that dwarves say lurks in the Between roots at the very bottom of spiders, with the much rarer chymic spiders† and phase spiders being
the Underneath. reported only occasionally. Regardless of breed, all the spiders of the city
The most uncommon dray is a hyme†, which the cab companies find to tend to have two things in common: They are almost always invariably
be fast, tireless, and above all obedient. And whilst occasionally hymes go big and fast, and they generally live among the city’s gables and rooftops.
on the rampage and eat a few people, mostly these matters are hushed up Occasionally, great webs or skeins of cords, rags, and less pleasant things
by the guilds and masonic groups. A hyme resembles a child’s nightmare: spring up between buildings, and steeplejacks and roofers, or more usually
it is only passingly equestrian, a slick creature of blackness that walks in gablemaesters, are paid great sums in comparison to other labourers
a lopping stride but which is capable of great speeds when needs be. More because of the nature of their jobs and the danger the spiders pose.
importantly, everything gets out of its way.
There are many, many creatures unique to the Blight, from the foul
Blight naga† to the night-slug†, humanoids that dwell between walls. Not Stitched Things
all things have a name and it is sure that many, many things are yet to be
discovered and catalogued. Easily the most common type of “thing” seen in the city are the stitched
and remade creatures: golems, homunculi, fleshgines, necrocrafts* and
other created creatures. They are a daily sight, lifting, carrying, and
Pestilences and Parasites guarding.
*A necrocraft is a medley of undead body parts and corpses grafted
The most common monsters are the smallest in the city — the lice and together with dark magic to create a single animated undead creature with
infestations, sicknesses, and disease. In so crowded and twisted and filthy abilities based on its component pieces and the surgical and necromantic
a city, naturally they thrive. Couple that with the abnormal proximity of talents of its creator. Necrocrafts are better suited for brute force than
Between and illness becomes something even worse than those usually delicate manipulation, and most creators build larger hulks rather than
encountered. A few of the better known and understood of these hazards are smaller, more agile (and fragile) necrocrafts. Though necrocrafts can be
derange, dislocating larvae, and the alarmingly grotesque second-head fluke. of virtually any size and can be made up of undead bodies or parts of any
size, a typical specimen is 7 feet tall and weighs 250 pounds.

Scrimshaw Gargoyles The Tome of Horrors

In its heyday, Castorhage was famed for many things, and the
scrimshaw gargoyles† were one of them. These delicate figures are
thought to have been created centuries ago as watchers to aid the local
Complete Creatures
constabulary — spies and guards — whispering in their eyries. Time has Eneerg the Keeper’s seminal work — the Infernal Tome, or The Tome of
taken its toll on the whalebone constructs, and now they number fewer Horrors Complete — lists many terrible creatures that can be found above,
than 50, having been taken, destroyed, or worn to nothing by the constant below or upon the streets of Castorhage. A few of the more commonly
wind high above the city. Each scrimshaw gargoyle is different, both known are listed here.
in size and design, but they share some features: They are carved from Bone cobblers are said to make up an entire caste of the Fetch, and
delicate whalebone covered in strange sigils, many of the writings have their many lairs have inspired some of the more perverted and wicked
faded, and now lichens and grime cling to their once statuesque bodies. artists in the city. Some speculate that these artists actually encourage the
They are also very much aware. cobblers in their collecting.
Dark creepers and dark stalkers seethe in the Underneath and are
sometimes found living in the city, wearing tinted lenses and heavy
clothing to disguise their nature. Rumours of a Stalker King refuse to go
away. The King Without Shadow plays his doleful songs, they say, whilst
Double-Headed Dran his guillotine beheads those who set eyes upon his kingdom.
Countless gargoyles festoon the gables of the city, and amongst these
Second-head fluke is a horrible thing to look upon, with a are continuing sightings and encounters with four-armed gargoyles,
cankerous second pseudo-head sprouting next to the victim’s fungus gargoyles (who are credited with spreading a particularly vile
own head, and urban myth states that some of these pseudo-heads blight that rots hands and feet), green guardian gargoyles, and margoyles.
develop their own minds and learn to talk. The most famous of Golems and constructs are common, of course, with flagstone golems
these legendary second-head fluke cases is said to be Double- and furnace golems being somewhat rarer. However, even such strange
Headed Dran (1672–1699). This poor sailor developed a pseudo- constructs as iron maiden, mummy, ooze, rope, stone guardian, tallow and
head which was so vile and vicious that it would attempt to attack wood golems can be encountered. The foul witch-doll golem is often used
anyone who came within reach, even spitefully gnawing upon by the Great Coven.
the side Dran’s own head from time to time. In an attempt to rid The superstitiously dreaded midnight peddlers make up some of the
himself of the foul growth, Dran cut off the head with a knife, Fetch. Some are so infamous for their deeds that they have well-known
only to bleed to death shortly thereafter. Dran’s pseudo-head is nicknames: Rickety Rose collects heads in her cart, whilst the Slithering
preserved in the Royal University of Surgeons in the Seminary. Peddler collects hands. Blind Bethen collects eyes, said to be removed
from living victims and will trade one to an unlucky soul who encounters

90
 GM Guide

her but is willing to make a one-for-one swap. Peg-Leg Jabe often has
some Between creature or other riding in his hand cart from his frequent
trips beyond.
These monsters, of course, are merely the tip on the diabolic iceberg of
horrors that lurk in the Blight.

Unliving and Undying Alchymic

Those who wish to live forever sometimes take this dark path through
use of the proprietary means available with the elixir of life†. Those who
take this draught by choice hope to join the alchymic-undying†; those
who fail in this endeavour are cursed to become the alchymic-unliving†.
Those who are forced to take the elixir by cruel masters or terms of
indenture almost invariably end up among the alchymic-unliving.
Unliving as Art
There is a revolting trade that is growing in the Castorhage:
the use of lower-grade elixirs to bind different components of
Alchymic Creature Template certain creatures together to form a new thing, a thing in many
cases totally unique. For some, the methods used are crude: the
More commonly referred to as the “reborn,” alchymic-undying scalpel, the stitch, the saw. Subjects are injected with low-grade
creatures are living creatures infused with the gifts of undeath through elixir of life† and then the pieces are removed and subsequently
exposure to the mysterious elixir of life. sewn together. More often than not, the resulting creature is either
Any living creature can be transformed into an alchymic-undying horribly disabled or physically unstable and decays quickly. It
creature when exposed to elixir of life (see The Blight: Richard Pett’s does not always then die, however.
Crooked City by Frog God Games). An alchymic-undying creature uses The quality of the work depends upon the grade of the elixir

• •
the base creature’s stat block, with the following differences: and the skill of the artist, but these vile surgeons are growing in
Challenge increases by 1. number and infamy. More advanced artists and experimenters use
complex crucibles and procedures to bind the pieces together.

•
Constitution declines by 2; adjust hit points accordingly.
These crucibles are made with necromantic magic, and these artists
Always has proficiency on Strength and Dexterity saving throws, claim to be using techniques discovered by the creators of the
and on saves against disease (including ongoing effects of diseaases), first owlbears and gorilla-bear hybrids, as well as those who first

• •
paralysis, and poison. brought abominations into being. The latest, great visionaries of
Is immune to exhaustion and unconsciousness this sort of rebirth extol the (so far) secret and unseen experiments
of the great surgeon-artists whom they claim have succeeded in
Never ages or sleeps, and needs only 1/10 as much food, drink, and air forging new life from Between creatures and mortal flesh.
as a normal creature of its kind.

91
 • •
The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Gains darkvision 60 feet.
Legendary Fortitude (3/day): When the creature makes an
unsuccessful Constitution saving throw, it can choose to succeed

•
instead.
Curse of Undeath: The creature must make a successful DC 15
Wisdom saving throw every 30 days or its Intelligence is permanently
reduced by 1. If its Intelligence declines to 3, it transforms into a

•
zombie.
Regeneration: An alchymic-unliving creature heals 1 hit point per 2
HD at the start of its turn, unless it took radiant damage since its last
turn.
Copyright Notice
Author Alistair Rigg, based on material by Richard Pett.

Monsters, Monster
Templates, and
Named NPCs
Abigail
Abigail is a striking woman who has deep red hair set in fetching
cascading curls. She wears a long, black wool coat over a crimson shirt
and breeches, all topped off with a broad-brimmed leather hat and a light
scarf over the lower half of her face. She carries a variety of tools for
hunting and killing vampires.

Abigail
• Negative Energy Affinity: An alchymic-undying creature never has its Medium female human, neutral good
Armor Class 14 (chain shirt)

•
maximum hit points reduced by attacks from undead creatures.
Hit Points 33 (6d8 + 6)
Regeneration: An alchymic-undying creature heals 1 hit point per 2
Speed 30 ft.
HD at the start of its turn, unless it took acid or fire damage since its
last turn.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Copyright Notice 11 (+0) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 14 (+2)
Author Alistair Rigg, based on material by Richard Pett.

The alchymic-unliving are creatures tainted by the curse of Skills Deception +4, Persuasion +4, Religion +2
undeath through exposure to elixir of life. Those who partake in Senses passive Perception 11
the forbidden fruits of such alchymic experimentation face a dismal Languages  Common
future. It is true that death, or at least mortal death by aging, is no Challenge 2 (450 XP)
longer a concern, but the life left is bleak and bereft of any of the
joys of the living. Holy Devotion. Abigail has advantage on saving throws
Any living creature can be transformed into an alchymic-unliving against being charmed or frightened.
creature that is exposed to elixir of life (see The Blight: Richard Spellcasting. Abigail is a 4th-level spellcaster. Her spellcast-
Pett’s Crooked City by Frog God Games). An alchymic-unliving ing ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 11, +3 to hit with spell
creature uses the base creature’s stat block, with the following attacks), and she has the following cleric spells prepared:

• •
differences: Cantrips (at will): light, sacred flame, thaumaturgy
Challenge increases by 1. 1st level (4 slots): command, cure wounds, shield of faith
2nd level (3 slots): hold person, spiritual weapon

• •
Strength increases by 2, Intelligence declines by 2.
Type becomes undead. ACTIONS
Multiattack. Abigail makes two melee attacks, one with the

•
AC increases by 2.
rapier and one with the dagger.
Uses Charisma rather than Constitution to determine bonus hit points Silvered Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to

•
per hit die; recalculate hit points accordingly. hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one creature. Hit: 4 (1d4 +
Immune to disease, exhaustion, paralysis, poison, stun, and 2) piercing damage.
+1 Silvered Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5

•
unconsciousness.
ft., one creature. Hit: 4 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Immune to effects that reduce ability scores or maximum hit points. +1 Heavy Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit,

92
 GM Guide
range 100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d10 + 2) piercing (escape DC 13) in order to bite.
damage. The bolts are silvered. Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one willing
creature, or a creature that is grappled by the vampire,

• •
She carries the following vampire-killing equipment: incapacitated, or restrained. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing
potion of cure wounds (at 4th level), damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage. The target’s hit
point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the

• •
potion of invisibility (3 doses) necrotic damage taken, and Alphonse regains hit points
6 vials of holy water equal to that amount. The reduction lasts until the target
finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its

• •
+1 heavy crossbow with 24 silver bolts hit point maximum to 0.
+1 rapier engraved with the name “Luther”   
Treasure:  potion of invisibility, heavy winter coat with buttons made

• •
Silvered dagger from doll’s fingers, heavy winter muffler inlaid with obsidian worth 200
2 silver mirrors gp, longsword decorated with designs of wolves chasing sheep (100gp),
pendant made from a mummified wren set with tiny diamonds in its eyes

•
3 wooden stakes with mallet worth 250 gp, fancy human-skin bag containing 23 gp and ten 5-guinea
Silver holy symbol of Mother Grace notes (worth 50 pp total), keys to all locks in the Club Crimsón, a folded
piece of paper with the “Hymn of the Panacea” written on it, and a pocket-
Treasure: gold wedding ring (100gp), silver hatpin depicting a unicorn
sized angel fetish made of raven feathers.
(75 gp)

Algernon Alfonce Leptonia Annalise Grast

Annalise Grast has suffered a mutation in her lycanthropy and has
When the characters first spy this fellow, they see a sickly-looking man
been stuck in a hideous hybrid form of rat and halfling. Her features
dressed in the latest outré fashions. Effected, rouged, and effeminate, he
are distorted, even considering their animalistic pairing, and appear
is the picture of decadent aristocracy from his outrageous wig to his curl-
to largely be the result of extensive inbreeding. Her curly, blonde hair,
toed boots. He is a vampire spawn.
delicate cheekbones, and ample bosom are repellent incongruities in
combination with her pronounced snout and twisted, fanged and slavering
Algernon Alfonce Leptonia mouth, and her hideously mismatched eyes — one lazy and the other
spaced almost to the side of her head like a fish. Beneath her dark armour,
Medium undead, neutral evil her skin is covered in light-brown fur.
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 82 (11d8 + 33)
Speed 30 ft. Annalise Grast
Small female halfling shapechanger (wererat), chaotic evil
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Armor Class 16 (studded leather)
16 (+3) 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) Hit Points 97 (15d6 + 45)
Speed 30 ft.

Saving Throws Dex +6, Wis +3 STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Damage Resistances necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and
slashing from nonmagical weapons 14 (+2) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 8 (-1) 12 (+1) 6 (-2)
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages Common
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Saving Throws Str +5, Dex +7, Con +6
Skills Acrobatics +7, Perception +4, Stealth +7
Regeneration. Algernon regains 10 hit points at the start of its Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
turn if it has at least 1 hit point and isn’t in sunlight or running from nonmagical attacks not made with silvered weapons
water. If he takes radiant damage or damage from holy Senses passive Perception 14
water, this trait doesn’t function at the start of his next turn. Languages Common, Halfling, River Cant, Thieves Cant
Spider Climb. Algernon can climb difficult surfaces, including Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an
ability check. Cunning Action. On each turn, Annalise may take the Dash,
Vampire Weaknesses. Algernon has the following flaws: Disengage, or Hide action as a bonus action.
Forbiddance: He can’t enter a residence without an Filth Fever. A creature with filth fever becomes sick within 1d4
invitation from one of the occupants. days of being infected. At that time, the creature gains 1 level
Harmed by Running Water: He takes 20 acid damage when of exhaustion. It also regains only half the usual number of hit
he ends his turn in running water. points from spending Hit Dice and 0 hit points from resting.
Stake to the Heart: Algernon is destroyed if a piercing Once symptoms appear, the infected creature must make a
weapon made of wood is driven into his heart while he is DC 15 Constitution saving throw after every long rest. If it fails,
incapacitated in his resting place. the creature gains 1 level of exhaustion, but if it succeeds, the
Sunlight Hypersensitivity: Algernon takes 20 radiant damage creature loses 1 level of exhaustion. The disease is cured when
when he starts his turn in sunlight. While in sunlight, he has the creature has no levels of exhaustion left.
disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.
Keen Smell. Annalise has advantage on Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on smell.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Alphonse makes two attacks, only one of which Shortsword of Wounding. Once per turn, when she hits her
can be a bite attack. target with her shortsword of wounding, she can wound
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one the target. At the start of each of the wounded creature’s
creature. Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) slashing damage. Instead of turns, it takes 1d4 necrotic damage for each time it has
dealing damage, Alphonse can grapple the target been hit by Annalise’s shortsword of wounding, and it can

93
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
then make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, ending the get. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage, and the target
effect of all such wounds on itself on a success. Alternatively, must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw, taking 9
the wounded creature, or a creature within 5 feet of it can (2d8) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much
use an action to make a DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine) check, damage on a successful one. If the poison damage
ending the effect of such wounds on it on a success. reduces the target to 0 hit points, the target is stable but
Sneak Attack (1/turn). Annalise’s attack deals an extra 13 poisoned for 1 hour, even after regaining hit points, and is
(4d6) damage when she hits with a weapon attack, if she paralyzed while poisoned in this way.
has advantage on the attack roll, or there is an ally who is Web (Recharge 5-6): +5 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one target.
not incapacitated within 5 feet of the target, and as long Hit: The target is restrained by webbing. As an action, the
as Annalise does not have disadvantage on the attack roll. restrained target can make a DC 12 Strength check, burst-
ing the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be
ACTIONS attacked and destroyed (AC 10; hit points 5; vulnerability
Multiattack. Annalise makes two melee attacks with her to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and
shortsword of wounding, or one shortsword of wounding psychic damage).
attack and one bite attack. If attacking from range,
Annalise can make two attacks with her repeating
recurve crossbow +2. Ashen Angler
Shortsword of Wounding. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 8 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage. A vast whale of the Between
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 4) piercing damage. If the target is a
humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving
Ashen Angler
throw or be cursed with wererat lycanthropy. Gargantuan beast (elder Between), unaligned
 Repeating Recurve Crossbow +2. Ranged Weapon Attack: Armor Class 14
+7 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) Hit Points 315 (18d20 + 126)
piercing damage. Speed swim 40 ft.
 
Treasure:  shortsword of wounding, repeating recurve crossbow +2 STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
30 (+10) 14 (+2) 25 (+7) 14 (+2) 18 (+4) 10 (+0)
Aranea
As the monstrosity approaches across its web, you notice that unlike Skills Perception +4
other giant spiders, this one has a pair of diminutive arms and hands, and Saving Throws Str +13, Con +13, Wis +8
an oddly brain shaped hump on its back. Senses blindsight 120 ft., darkvision 120 ft. passive Perception
18
Languages --
Aranea Challenge 17 (18,000 XP)
Large monstrosity, chaotic evil
Armor Class 14 Echolocation. The Ashen Angler cannot use its blindsight if
Hit Points 39 (6d10+6) deafened.
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft. Freedom of Movement. The Ashen Angler ignores difficult
terrain, and magical effects can’t reduce its speed
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA or cause it to be restrained. It can spend 5 feet of
movement to escape from nonmagical restraints or
14 (+2) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 6 (-2) being grappled.
Hold Breath. The Ashen Angler can hold its breath for 30
minutes.
Skills Stealth +5 Keen Scent. This Ashen Angler can notice creatures by scent
Senses blindsight 10ft, darkvision 60ft, passive Perception 11 in a 180-foot radius underwater and can detect blood in
Languages Common, Deep Speech the water at a range of up to a mile.
Challenge 3 (700 XP) Siege Monster. The Ashen Angler deals double damage to
objects and structures
Shapechanger. The aranea can use its action to polymorph
into a Medium creature (humanoid or beast), or back into ACTIONS
its true form, which is humanoid. Its statistics, other than its Multiattack. The Ashen Angler makes two attacks: one with
AC, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wear- its bite and one with its tail slap.
ing or carrying isn’t transformed. It reverts to its true form if Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 15 ft., one
it dies. target. Hit: 54 (8d10 + 10) piercing damage. If the hit
Innate Spellcasting. An aranea’s spellcasting ability is Intel- is a critical hit or exceeds the number needed by 5 or
ligence, and requires no material components for the fol- more, the target is also swallowed. While swallowed,
lowing spells (spell save DC 13): the creature is blinded and restrained, it has total cover
At will: dancing lights, poison cloud, shocking grasp; against attacks and other effects outside the Ashen
3/day each: charm person, sleep; Angler, and it takes 35 (10d6) acid damage at the start of
1/day each: invisibility, mirror image; each of the Ashen Angler’s turns.
Spider Climb. The aranea can climb difficult surfaces, If the Ashen Angler takes 50 damage or more on a
including upside down on ceilings, without needing to single turn from a creature inside it, the it must make a
make an ability check. DC 19 Constitution saving throw at the end of that turn or
regurgitate all swallowed creatures, which fall prone in
ACTIONS a space within 10 feet of the Ashen Angler. If the Ashen
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar- Angler dies, a swallowed creature is no longer restrained
94
 GM Guide
by it and can escape from the corpse using half of its Size Outcome
movement, exiting prone.
Ram. Melee Weapon Attack, +16 to hit, reach 5 ft., one The craft must make a generic DC 12
object. Hit: 65 (10d10 + 10) bludgeoning damage. saving throw with advantage to avoid
Tail Slap. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 10 ft., being capsized. If it fails the save by 5
one target. Hit: 54 (8d10 + 10) bludgeoning damage and or more, the ship capsizes. All on board
the target must succeed on a DC 19 Constitution saving Gargantuan must make a DC 11 Dexterity saving to
throw or be stunned until the end of the Between whale’s (e.g. warship, avoid being pulled under with the ship.
next turn. galley) If the save is successful, the ship takes
Sickening Light. The Ashen Angler sheds a peculiar, wan 10d10 + 10 damage and those on board
light that creatures not from Between find unsettling. make a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw to
Creatures within 120 feet of the Ashen Angler must avoid being knocked prone (or over-
make a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or be overcome board if they are near the ship’s edge).
by nausea and fever (as the poisoned effect). A
poisoned creature can repeat the saving throw at the
end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on Beautiful, the
a success. If any of these saves is successful, the effect
ends immediately, and the creature is immune to the The Beautiful is the central figure in the Levee Adventure. Her
effect for 24 hours. appearance varies in the course of the adventure, and you should refer
Capsize. If the Ashen Angler moves at least 30 feet straight to the text for this.
toward a watercraft (boat, ship, ferry, etc.) and then hits
it with a ram attack on the same turn, there is a chance The Beautiful
that it will capsize. All occupants of the watercraft must
make Dexterity saving throw when the craft is rammed Medium celestial (fallen deva), chaotic neutral
(see below). To determine if the watercraft capsizes, Armor Class 19
consult the following: Hit Points 110 (13d8+52)
Speed 30 ft., fly 120ft.
Size Outcome
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
The craft is destroyed, all on board must
make a successful DC 19 Dexterity saving 18 (+4) 20 (+5) 18 (+4) 19 (+4) 18 (+4) 22 (+6)
Small throw to avoid being stunned. Regardless
(e.g. rowboat) of the outcome of the save, passengers
each take 36 (5d10 + 9) damage and Saving Throws Int +8, Wis +8, Cha +10
are thrown from the wreckage. Skills Arcana +8, Deception +10, Intimidation +10,
Perception +8, Stealth +9
The craft must make a generic DC 17 Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 19
saving throw to avoid being destroyed. Damage Resistances acid, necrotic, poison; bludgeoning,
If successful, the craft takes half of the piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
10d10 + 10 damage. All on board must Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened,
Medium
make a save DC 19 Dexterity saving poisoned
(e.g. keelboat)
throw to avoid being knocked prone. If Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
the craft fails the saving throw, it takes Challenge 12 (8,400 XP)
full damage and begins taking on
water. It will sink in 1d4 rounds. Between Weapons. The Beautiful’s weapon attacks are
The craft must make a generic DC magical and deal an extra 17 (4d8) psychic damage on a
15 saving throw to avoid being hit (included in the attacks).
capsized. If it fails the save by 5 or Between Awareness. The Beautiful knows if she hears a lie.
more, the ship capsizes. All on board Create Between-Gate. Using her action, the Beautiful can
must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving create a gateway between any unoccupied point
Large that she can see. The gateway is large enough to allow
throw to avoid being pulled under
(e.g. sailing passage of a creature up to Huge size and remains open
with the ship. If the save is successful,
ship) up to 1 minute as long as the Beautiful maintains her
the ship takes 10d10 + 10 damage
and those on board make a DC 12 concentration on the gateway (as a concentration spell).
Dexterity saving throw to avoid being Create Paradise. User her action, the Beautiful can weave
knocked prone (or overboard if they a paradise personalized to the tastes and desires of one
are near the ship’s edge). mortal being who has felt the touch of her presence. This
paradise is effectively infinite for the individual for which it
The craft must make a generic DC was created and can accommodate
13 saving throw to avoid being cap- Dislocated. Attacks against the Beautiful are made with
sized. If it fails the save by 5 or more, disadvantage unless the attacker has blindsight or
the ship capsizes. All on board must truesight.
make a DC 12 Dexterity saving to Innate Spellcasting. The Beautiful’s spellcasting ability is
Huge avoid being pulled under with the Charisma (spell save DC 17). The Beautiful can innately
(e.g. longship) ship. If the save is successful, the ship cast following spells, requiring only verbal components.
takes 10d10 + 10 damage and those At will: bestow curse, create between-gate, crown of
on board make a DC 11 Dexterity madness, detect evil and good, invisibility (self only), shield
saving throw to avoid being knocked 3/day each: darkness, dominate person, mirror image,
prone (or overboard if they are near spider climb
the ship’s edge). 2/day each: create paradise
1/day each: antimagic field, blink, dimension door
95
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Magic Resistance. The Beautiful has advantage on saving
throws against spells and other magical effects. Beltane
ACTIONS Beltane is the god-king of the major undead faction in the city, the
Multiattack. The Beautiful makes two attacks. Fetch. He is not encountered in the course of the Levee Adventure, but he
Flaming Scythe. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 is a major figure in the background weave of the entire city.
ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d10 + 5) slashing damage and 17
(4d8) psychic damage.
Cloak of Despair (Recharge 6). Once per turn, The
Beltane
Beautiful’s can touch a creature of her choice and Medium undead, lawful evil
overwhelm them with hopeless feelings of despair. The Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
creature must make a DC 17 Charisma saving throw. On Hit Points 144 (17d8 + 68)
a failed save, the target is overwhelmed with despair for Speed 30 ft.
1 minute. During this time, the creature can’t attack or
target any creature with harmful abilities, spells, or other STR  DEX CON INT WIS CHA
magical effects.
18 (+4) 18 (+4 18 (+4) 20 (+5) 15 (+2) 18 (+4)
Unusual Equipment: Scythe of Speed
Scythe of Speed
Weapon (scythe), very rare (requires attunement) Saving Throws Dex +9, Wis +7, Cha +9
Skills Arcana +10, History +10, Perception +9, Stealth +9
You gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic Damage Resistances necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and
weapon. In addition, you can use a bonus action to make one attack with slashing from nonmagical attacks
it as a bonus action on each of your turns. Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 19
Languages Common, Elvish, Gnome, Infermal
Challenge 17 (18,000 XP)
Belabra (Tangler) Shapechanger. If Beltane isn’t in sunlight or running water,
This creature resembles a man-sized flying jellyfish with twelve long he can use its action to polymorph into a Tiny bat or a
tentacles. Four thin eyestalks protrude from its cap. Its cap is blackish gray Medium cloud of mist, or back into his true form. While
and its eyestalks are dark gray. in bat form, Beltane can’t speak, his walking speed is 5
feet, and he has a flying speed of 30 feet. His statistics,
other than his size and speed, are unchanged. Anything
Belabra (Tangler) he is wearing transforms with him, but nothing he is
Medium aberration, neutral carrying does. He reverts to his true form if he dies. While
Armor Class 13 in mist form, Beltane can’t take any actions, speak, or
Hit Points 39 (6d8+12) manipulate objects. He is weightless, has a flying speed
Speed 5 ft., fly 20 ft. of 20 feet, can hover, and can enter a hostile creature’s
space and stop there. In addition, if air can pass through a
space, the mist can do so without squeezing, and it can’t
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA pass through water. It has advantage on Strength, and
14 (+2) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 7 (-2) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) Dexterity saving throws, and it is immune to all nonmagical
damage, except the damage it takes from sunlight.
Misty Escape. When he drops to 0 hit points outside his
Skills Perception +5, Stealth +4 resting place, Beltane transforms into a cloud of mist (as
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15 in the Shapechanger trait) instead of falling unconscious,
Languages none provided that he isn’t in sunlight or running water. If
Challenge 2 (450 XP) he can’t transform, he is destroyed. While he has 0 hit
points in mist form, he can’t revert to his vampire form,
Acidic Blood. Each time the belabra is hit with an attack and he must reach his resting place within 2 hours or be
that does piercing or slashing damage, all creatures within destroyed. Once in his resting place, he reverts to his
10 ft. must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or be vampire form. He is then paralyzed until he regains at least
sprayed with the belabra’s blood. Any creature that fails 1 hit point. After spending 1 hour in his resting place with 0
their saving throw takes 4 (1d6+1) acid damage and has hit points, he regains 1 hit point.
disadvantage on attacks, saving throws or ability checks Regeneration. Beltane regains 20 hit points at the start of
due to sneezing and partial blindness until the end of the his turn if he has at least 1 hit point and isn’t in sunlight
belabra’s next turn. or running water. If Beltane takes radiant damage or
damage from holy water, this trait doesn’t function at the
ACTIONS start of his next turn.
Multiattack. The belabra makes up to 3 attacks. One slam, Rust Metal. Any nonmagical weapon made of metal
two with its tentacles, or one bite if a target is grappled. that hits Beltane corrodes. After dealing damage, the
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one weapon takes a permanent and cumulative −1 penalty
target. Hit: 9 (3d4 + 2) piercing damage to damage rolls. If its penalty drops to −5, the weapon is
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft.; one destroyed. Nonmagical ammunition made of metal that
target. Hit: 9 (3d4 + 2) bludgeoning damage. hits the rust monster is destroyed after dealing damage.
Tentacles. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., Spellcasting. Beltane is a 9th-level spellcaster. His
one target. Hit: grappled and target is restrained (escape spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 15, +7 to
DC 12, if successful take 3 (1d4=1) piercing damage from hit with spell attacks). Beltane has the following wizard
barbs). spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): mage hand, prestidigitation, ray of frost
1st level (4 slots): comprehend languages, fog cloud, sleep
96
 GM Guide
2nd level (3 slots): detect thoughts, gust of wind, mirror 1d4 rounds, acting as allies of the vampire and obeying
image its spoken commands. The beasts remain for 1 hour, until
3rd level (3 slots): animate dead, bestow curse, Beltane dies, or until he dismisses them as a bonus action.
nondetection
4th level (3 slots): blight, greater invisibility LEGENDARY ACTIONS
5th level (1 slot): dominate person Beltane can take 3 legendary actions, described below.
Spider Climb. Beltane can climb difficult surfaces, including Only one legendary action option can be used at a time
upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Beltane
ability check. regains spent legendary actions the start of its turn.
Vampire Weaknesses. Beltane has the following flaws:  Move: Beltane moves up to its speed without provoking
Forbiddance: Beltane can’t enter a residence without an opportunity attacks.
invitation from one of the occupants. Unarmed Strike. Beltane makes one unarmed strike.
Harmed by Running Water: Beltane takes 20 acid damage if Bite (Costs 2 Actions). Beltane makes one bite attack.
he ends his turn in running water.
Stake to the Heart: If a piercing weapon made of wood
is driven into Beltane’s heart while he is incapacitated Between Creature Template
in his resting place, Beltane is paralyzed until the stake is
removed. A Between creature is infused with the weirdness of Between and is
Sunlight Hypersensitivity: Beltane takes 20 radiant damage shaped and changed by its environment and experiences. Some Between
when he starts his turn in sunlight. While in sunlight, he has creatures are bizarre versions of existing creatures (such as gargoyles and
disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks. wyverns), while others are new creatures that don’t have a non-Between
equivalent (such as caul cuckoos and hymes).
ACTIONS If you need (or just want) more Between creatures beyond those presented
Multiattack (Vampire Form Only): Beltane makes two in this book and Blight adventures, you can create them three ways.
attacks, only one of which can be a bite attack. 1. Apply a Between simple template to an existing monster stat block.
Unarmed Strike (Vampire Form Only): Melee Weapon This is quick and simple, and is perfectly adequate for most encounters.
Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 2. Convert an existing creature to the Between subtype using the
4) bludgeoning damage. Instead of dealing damage, guidelines presented here. This involves more effort and is better suited
Beltane can grapple the target (escape DC 18). to major foes, such as creatures that command groups of lesser, Between
Blighted Corrosion (Recharge 5-6). As an action, Beltane minions (which can be converted quickly with the simple templates).
can corrode a nonmagical ferrous metal object he can 3. Create a wholly new Between creature from scratch, following the
see within 5 feet of it. If the object isn’t being worn or guidelines below. This is ideal for a powerful villain or recurring foe.
carried, Beltane’s destroys a 1-foot cube of it. If the object
is being worn or carried by a creature, the creature can
make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw to avoid Beltane’s Between Creature Simple Templates
touch. Although all life in Between is unique, some creatures (wolves, for
If the object touched is either metal armor or a metal example) are common to the normal world and Between. The following
shield being worn or carried, its takes a permanent and simple templates can be used to turn any creature that does not have the
cumulative −1 penalty to the AC it offers. Armor reduced
Between subtype into a Between creature. A creature given one of these
to an AC of 10 or a shield that drops to a +0 bonus is
templates counts as a Between creature for the purposes of spells, abilities,
destroyed. If the object touched is a held metal weapon,
it rusts as described in the Rust Metal trait. and magical items but it does not gain the Between subtype or the many
Bite (Bat or Vampire Form Only): Melee Weapon Attack: +8
to hit, reach 5 ft., one willing creature, or a creature that
is grappled by Beltane, incapacitated, or restrained.
Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) necrotic
damage. The target’s hit point maximum is reduced by
an amount equal to the necrotic damage taken, and
Beltane regains hit points equal to that amount. The
reduction of maximum hit points lasts until the target
finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its
hit point maximum to 0. A humanoid slain in this way and
then buried in the ground rises the following night as a
vampire spawn under the Beltane’s control.
Charm: Beltane targets one humanoid it can see within 30
feet of it. If the target can see Beltane, the target must
succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw against this
magic or be charmed by Beltane. The charmed target
regards Beltane as a trusted friend to be heeded and
protected. Although the target isn’t under his control, it
takes Beltane’s requests or actions in the most favourable
way it can, and it is a willing target for Beltane’s bite
attack. Each time Beltane or Beltane’s companions do
anything harmful to the target, it can repeat the saving
throw, ending the effect on itself on a success. Otherwise,
the effect lasts 24 hours or until Beltane is destroyed, is on
a different plane of existence than the target, or takes a
bonus action to end the effect.
Children of the Night (1/Day): Beltane magically calls 2d4
swarms of blindingcrows or festering lyme rats, provided
that the sun isn’t up. While outdoors, Beltane can call 3d6
small gable spiders instead. The called creatures arrive in

97
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
benefits of having the Between subtype — it gains only those benefits 8. Gains Magic Resistance (2/day, when it fails a saving throw, it can
specifically described in the simple template. succeed instead).
9. Increase speed by +20 feet.
Larval Between 10. Increase CR by +5.
1. Increase Strength and Dexterity by +1.
2. Increase hit points by 1 Hit Die + Constitution modifier. Converting an Existing Creature
3. Gains darkvision 30 feet if it doesn’t already have darkvision.
Most Between creatures have the following abilities. (These are already
4. Gains resistance to damage from monmagical weapons.
included in the Between creature stat blocks presented in this book).
5. Gains Dislocated trait (attacks against it have disadvantage unless the Between creatures are highly varied, however, so it’s not a hard-and-fast
attacker has blindsight, truesight, or their equivalent). rule that every Between creature must have these traits or can’t have others.
6. Increase CR by +1. Between Age (BA). Many of a creature’s statistics improve with the length of
its exposure to Between. Because a Between creature can’t die of old age, even
Naiadic Between normally short-lived creatures can become quite powerful through centuries of
1. Increase Strength and Constitution by +1, Dexterity by +2. exposure. These increases are divided into five age categories, according to how
2. Increase hit points by 2 Hit Dice + (Constitution modifier ×2). long the creature has been exposed to Between: larval, naiadic (15+ years), adult
3. Gains darkvision 60 feet if it doesn’t already have darkvision. (50+ years), elder (150+ years), and ancient (600+ years). At each age category,

• •
4. Gains resistance to damage from nonmagical weapons. a Between creature gains the following cumulative benefits:
5. Gains Dislocated trait (attacks against it have disadvantage unless the +1 to its Dexterity score;

• •
attacker has blindsight, truesight, or their equivalent). +1 to one other ability score besides Dexterity;
6. Gains proficiency in Dexterity saving throws.
+1 Hit Die (added to its hit points, + its Constitution modifier, as usual)
7. Increase speed by +10 feet.
8. Increase CR by +2. one feat (if feats are being used in your campaign) or proficiency in
one type of saving throw.
Adult Between Senses. A larval creature gains darkvision (30 feet) if it doesn’t already
have darkvision. The range increases to 60 feet at naiadic age and to 120
1. Increase Dexterity by +3; increase Strength, Constitution, and
feet at adult. An elder creature gains blindsense (30 feet), and an ancient
Intelligence by +1 each.
Between creature has blindsight (60 feet).
2. Increase hit points by 3 Hit Dice + (Constitution modifier ×3).
Damage Resistance. A naiadic creature gains resistance to damage
3. Gains superior darkvision.
from nonmagical weapons. An adult creature gains resistance to cold,
4. Gains resistance to cold, force, and poison damage, and to damage from
force, and poison damage. An elder creature gains resistance to acid, fire,
nonmagical weapons.
and lightning damage. An ancient creature gains resistance to necrotic,
5. Gains Dislocated trait (attacks against it have disadvantage unless the
psychic, and thunder damage. All of these gains are cumulative, so an
attacker has blindsight, truesight, or their equivalent).
ancient Between creature has resistance to all but radiant damage and
6. Gains proficiency in Dexterity and Constitution saving throws.
bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from magical weapons.
7. Gains Innate Spellcasting (save DC 15): 1/day each—invisibility (self
Magic Resistance. An adult Between creature has Magic Resistance
only, duration 1 minute), spider climb.
(1/day, when it fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead). This
8. Gains Magic Resistance (1/day, when it fails a saving throw, it can
increases to 2/day for ancient creatures.
succeed instead).
Intelligence. If an animal’s Intelligence score is increased above 2, it
9. Increase speed by +10 feet.
gains the ability to understand and speak Deep Speech.
10. Increase CR by +3.
Additional Abilities. Between creatures can have abilities that reflect
their habitat, history, environment, and supernatural nature. Adding one
Elder Between such ability per age category is a good benchmark, but it’s not a hard-
1. Increase Dexterity by +4; increase Intelligence by +2; increase Strength and-fast rule. These abilities can be adapted from other monsters, drawn
and Constitution by 1 each. from spell-like abilities, or can be new abilities you create. These abilities
2. Increase hit points by 4 Hit Dice + (Constitution modifier ×4). should be thematically appropriate to the Between and to the creature’s
3. Gains superior darkvision and blindsight 30 feet. origin. Two new abilities that are especially suited to Between creatures

•
4. Gains resistance to acid, cold, fire, force, lightning, and poison damage, are Dislocated and Distorted.
and to damage from nonmagical weapons. Dislocated. The creature’s form is made up of its memories, which
5. Gains Dislocated trait (attacks against it have disadvantage unless the shift and change. The creature is continually under the effect of a blur
attacker has blindsight, truesight, or their equivalent). spell (attacks against it are made with disadvantage unless the attacker
6. Gains proficiency in Dexterity, Constitution, and Wisdom saving throws. has blindsight, truesight, or an equivalent). The creature can suppress

•
7. Gains Innate Spellcasting (save DC 16): 3/day each—invisibility (self or reactivate this ability at will as a bonus action.
only, duration 1 minute), spider climb; 1/day each—blink, mirror image.
Distorted. A distorted creature’s internal anatomy varies from
8. Gains Magic Resistance (1/day, when it fails a saving throw, it can
individual to individual and seldom makes any biological sense.
succeed instead).
Critical hits against the creature do a flat +1 damage but don’t roll
9. Increase speed by +20 feet.
damage dice twice.
10. Increase CR by +4.
Challenge. After making all these changes, the creature’s CR should
be reevaluated from scratch. As a simpler alternative, just increase the
Ancient Between
creature’s CR by +1 per Between age category. This will be close enough
1. Increase Dexterity by +5; increase Intelligence by +3; increase Strength in most cases, unless the creature gained especially powerful attacks.
and Constitution by 1 each.
2. Increase hit points by 5 Hit Dice + (Constitution modifier ×5).
3. Gains superior darkvision and blindsight 60 feet. Create a New Creature
4. Gains resistance to all damage except radiant and bludgeoning, piercing, Creating a new Between creature is no different from creating any other
and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons. creature, as described in the GM’s rulebook. It’s easiest if you start by
5. Gains Dislocated trait (attacks against it have disadvantage unless the choosing its age category and proceed from there, but do what you’re
attacker has blindsight, truesight, or their equivalent). most comfortable with.
6. Gains proficiency in all saving throws.
7. Gains Innate Spellcasting (save DC 17): 3/day each—invisibility (self Copyright Notice
only, duration 1 minute), spider climb; 1/day each—blink, dimension door. Author Alistair Rigg, based on material by Richard Pett.
98
 GM Guide
Cats have often enjoyed a vaguely mysterious and sinister reputation
Between-Cat throughout many cultures, and the Between-cat may be the most
deserving of this reputation. Catlike in name only due to its vaguely
Vaguely feline, this hairless, pale creature has wrinkled, flaccid skin, feline appearance, some scholars question whether Between-cats began as
a pair of stunted vestigial limbs extending from its flanks, and a ring normal cats and were changed through exposure to the Between. Others
of small tentacles around its neck. Its clawed forepaws each bear one think they are actual creatures of the Between that managed to gain a
wickedly hooked claw much larger than the others. Its eyes are dark catlike appearance through their intimate contact with the mundane world,
voids, and a long, prehensile tongue extends from its mouth. while some believe they are some entirely unrelated species that simply
evolved concurrently to resemble the more mundane varieties of cats.
Between-Cat Whatever the case, it seems that Between-cats hold no special affinity for
true felines, and yet are able to move among them completely unnoticed
Tiny aberration (larval Between), neutral by other cats without raising any alarm when in their mundane cat forms.
Whatever the reason for their existence and their relationship to mundane
Armor Class 15 (natural armor) felines, Between-cats are one of the few creatures that enjoys seemingly
Hit Points 15 (6d4) complete freedom in moving between the natural world and Between.
Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft. Feline Scholars. While their full agenda is not known, two facts about
Between-cats are recognized among the most learned of scholars. First,
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA they ceaselessly search through venerable tomes, petroglyphs, and other
ancient writings in search of some unknown secret or secrets that they
3 (-4) 15 (+2) 10 (+0) 20 (+5) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) have revealed to no one. Second — whether related to the first item or not
— Between-cats seek to completely unmake reality for their own hidden
reasons. Nulltropic damage from their claws, amplified by the presence
Saving Throws Dex +5, Con +3, Int +7, Wis +4, Cha +5 of other Between-cats, induces a loss of order and energy in the target
Skills Arcana +7, History +7, Perception +4, Stealth +4 and produces an overall breakdown of substance toward nothingness.
Damage Resistances cold, lightning, thunder; bludgeoning, More than mere entropy, which simply describes the loss of order and
piercing, and slashing from nonmagical weapons cohesion, the nulltropy of the Between-cat brings about a complete loss of
Damage Immunities poison
existence in any form, albeit on a tiny scale. Armed with their nulltropic
Condition Immunities disease; charmed, poisoned
attack, Between-cats can accomplish their goal of unmaking reality one
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Deep Speech, tiny piece at a time.
Infernal; telepathy 60 ft. Terrifying in Groups. Fortunately for the sake of reality and all
Challenge 3 (700 XP) who live in it, the nulltropic damage caused by a single Between-cat is
minuscule, and they are loathe to use it indiscriminately. They instead save
Dislocated. The Between-cat’s form is made up of memories, it for enemies in battle or for certain artifacts and writings they have found
which shift and change. The creature is continually under over the years, as well as for aboleths, whom they consider bitter enemies.
the effect of a blur spell (attacks against it are made with However, when more Between-cats get together, their nulltropic attack
disadvantage unless the attacker has blindsight, truesight, becomes terrifying. Thankfully, no one has ever reported encountering
or an equivalent). The Between-cat can suppress or more than 56 Between-cats in one place. There is speculation, however,
reactivate this ability at will as a bonus action. that if more did gather, then the nulltropic damage they could cause would
Dual Existence (recharge 4-6). The Between-cat can pass easily continue to scale to an ever-accelerating degree. Most sober-minded
back and forth between the Between and the mundane theoreticians refuse to think too long on the dreadful implications of this
world at will (no action required). This allows it to teleport up to line of thought.
60 feet to a space it can see, or to escape into the Between
until it chooses to return to the mundane world. Copyright Notice
Innate Spellcasting. The Between-cat can use the following Author Greg A. Vaughan, based on material by Richard Pett.
spell-like abilities, using Intelligence as its casting ability
(DC 15). The cadaver doesn’t need material components
to use these abilities.
At will: comprehend languages, tongues
Between Gargoyle
1/day: detect magic, glyph of warding A gargoyle, but with blurry, indistinct outlines, as if it doesn’t entirely
Nulltropy. A creature slain by a nulltropic claws attack can belong to its own substance.
return to life only through a wish or true resurrection spell.
Shapechanger. In the Between, the Between-cat always
assumes its natural shape. In other worlds, it appears as a Between Gargoyle
normal cat unless it uses an action to adopt its natural shape,
Medium between-creature (monstrosity), chaotic evil
which it must maintain through concentration, like a spell.
Armor Class 18
ACTIONS Hit Points 70 (10d8 +30)
Multiattack. The Between-cat claws once and strikes once Speed 40 ft., fly 60ft
with its tongue.
Nulltropic Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
5 ft.; one creature). Hit: 2d4 + 2 slashing damage plus 1
force damage for every additional Between-cat within 60 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 17 (+3) 7 (–2) 11 (+0) 7 (–2)
feet of the target. Force damage can’t be reduced by
resistance, immunity, magic, or any other means.
Tongue. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
creature). Hit: 1d6 + 2 piercing damage plus 2d8 poison from nonmagical weapons that aren’t adamantine, cold,
damage. force.
Damage Immunities poison
ECOLOGY Condition Immunities exhaustion, petrified, poisoned
Environment any land (Between) Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10
Organization solitary, pair, pack (3–6), hunt (7–10), brood Languages Common, Terran
(11–15), coven (16–30), or council (31–56) Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
99
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
False Appearance. While the between gargoyle remains
motionless, it is indistinguishable from an inanimate statue.
Dislocated. Attacks against the between gargoyle are
made with disadvantage unless the attacker has
blindsight or truesight.
Innate Spellcasting. The between gargoyle’s innate
spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12). The
between gargoyle can innately cast the following spells,
requiring no material components:
1/day each: invisibility (self only, duration 1 minute), spider
climb.

ACTIONS
Multiattack. The between gargoyle makes two attacks: one
with its bite and one with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) slashing damage.

Betweeen Peacock
A fleshy sack, discolored with veins, sits amid and beneath a trio of
gangling legs that bend in all the wrong places. A head is thrust back
that looks part bird, part cockroach; its beak more akin to a stinger.
Its peacocklike plume is littered with wretched-looking scraps of flesh
topped by a grisly collection of severed harpy heads, the eyes of which
watch you with tortured expressions.

Between Peacock (Nightmare Choir) turns. Only one Medium creature or two Small creatures
Large aberration (adult Between), unaligned can be inside the nightmare choir at one time. A
swallowed creature is unaffected by anything happening
Armor Class 15 outside the nightmare choir or by attacks from outside it.
Hit Points 152 (16d10 + 64) A swallowed creature can get out of the choir by using
Speed 15 ft., fly 30 ft. 5 feet of movement, but only after the monster is dead.
When the nightmare choir inverts or reverts to normal,
swallowed creatures are ejected prone into adjacent,
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
empty spaces.
15 (+2) 21 (+5) 18 (+4) 2 (-4) 12 (+1) 19 (+4)
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The nightmare choir makes one tongue attack
Saving Throws Con +9, Int +1, Wis +6 and three claw attacks.
Skills Perception +6 Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit (reach 10 ft.; one
Damage Resistances cold, force, poison damage; creature). Hit: 2d8 + 5 slashing damage.
bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical Tongue. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit (reach 15 ft.; one
weapons creature). Hit: the target is grappled (escape DC 15) and
Condition Immunities disease; charmed, frightened pulled to within 5 feet of the nightmare choir, which then
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16 makes a bite attack against it as part of the same action.
Languages Deep Speech Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
Challenge 13 (10,000 XP) grappled creature). Hit: 4d6 + 5 piercing damage plus
2d10 necrotic damage.
Death Throes. When it drops to 0 hit points, a nightmare Captivating Hymn (1/day). The nightmare choir raises its
choir explodes in a mass of thorny, fleshy limbs riddled harpy plumes, which begin singing. They continue singing
with teeth and hundreds of tiny filaments that hook into as a bonus action for 1 minute. Creatures within 100 feet
clothing, skin, and flesh. Creatures within 20 feet of the of the nightmare choir and able to hear it must make a
nightmare choir take 6d6 piercing damage and are successful DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by
restrained; a successful DC 15 Dexterity saving throw the nightmare choir for as long as the singing continues.
halves the damage and prevents being restrained. A A charmed creature must move toward the nightmare
restrained creature frees itself by using an action to make choir along the most direct path, even if that takes them
a successful DC 16 Strength (Athletics) check. The area through dangerous terrain. A charmed creature that’s
becomes difficult terrain for 10 minutes, and a creature within 5 feet of the nightmare choir is stunned. A charmed
that ends its turn in the difficult terrain takes 1d6 slashing creature repeats the saving throw when it takes damage,
damage. ending the effect on itself with a success. Success on the
Magic Resistance (1/day). When it fails a saving throw, the saving throw leaves a creature immune to Captivating
nightmare choir can choose to succeed instead. Hymn for 24 hours.
Swallow. A creature that ends its turn grappled by the Horrific Inversion (recharge 6). The nightmare choir inverts
nightmare choir is swallowed whole. A swallowed creature itself, becoming a huge maw filled with hundreds of
is blinded and restrained. It takes 3d8 necrotic damage quivering, needlelike teeth. The choir makes a bite attack
automatically at the start of each of the nightmare choir’s against every creature within 5 feet of it, regardless
100
 GM Guide
of grappling. Creatures within 30 feet that witness this
transformation must make a successful DC 17 Wisdom
saving throw or be afflicted with madness. If the result of
the saving throw is 12-16, the creature suffers a short-term
madness; 7-11 results in long-term madness; 6 or less results
in indefinite madness. An inverted nightmare choir cannot
fly or use Captivating Hymn. It can revert to its normal form
as a bonus action. When it inverts or reverts to normal,
swallowed creatures are ejected prone into adjacent,
empty spaces.

ECOLOGY
Environment any land (Between)
Organization solitary

A nightmare choir is an animalistic predator that uses the mesmerizing

songs of harpies to lure prey to its side. When prey is near — and prey
is anything that the nightmare choir can drain blood from — the monster
suddenly inverts its body to make a surprising attack. In its usual form,
it appears as a veiny sack of rubbery, feather-flecked skin, with bony,
feathered wings, a swan’s neck tipped with a beaklike stinger, three skinny,
multi-jointed legs tipped with talons, and long, peacocklike plumes tipped
with the severed heads of harpies. When the monster inverts, it suddenly
bloats into a balloon of flesh that rips apart to allow a great maw of hooked
teeth to burst forward, and a long, sticky tongue to shoot out to draw its
prey in. The collapsed flesh sack envelops its stinger, wings, and plume,
which become unusable in this alternate form.
Arcane Feathers. The thirteen eye-feathers of the nightmare choir’s
plume are worth 100 gp each. If an eye-feather is used as an additional
material component for a divination spell, the spell either takes effect as if
cast with a spell slot 2 levels higher, or the saving throw against it is made
feet, and it can make 8 slam attacks on its turn. This effect
with disadvantage (caster’s choice).
lasts until the end of the bileborn’s current turn.
Many Arms. Creatures have disadvantage on attempts to
Copyright Notice escape from the bileborn’s grapple.
Author Alistair Rigg, based on material by Richard Pett.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The bileborn makes four melee attacks, using
Bileborn any combination of Slam and Absorb. It can use its Bab-
bling Scream in place of two melee attacks.
This revolting creature appears to be formed of a tangle of limbs and
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one crea-
pieces of rotting corpses that splay in all directions like some kind of
ture). Hit: 1d8 + 4 bludgeoning damage. If two or more
demented sea urchin. The many appendages flail spastically as it moves
slam attacks hit the same creature in the bileborn’s turn,
with a disturbing, rolling motion. Barely discernible amid this tangle are the creature is grappled (escape DC 14).
a number of severed, rotting heads, their eyes open and watching, their Absorb. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
lips wordlessly mouthing unheard imprecations. creature already grappled by the bileborn). Hit: 2d6 +
4 piercing damage, and the creature is pulled into the
Bileborn bileborn’s space and absorbed into the monster’s body. An
absorbed creature is blinded and restrained, and it takes 2d6
Large undead, chaotic evil + 4 piercing damage at the start of the bileborn’s turn. One
Medium creature or two Small creatures can be inside the
Armor Class 14 (natural armor) bileborn at one time. An absorbed creature is unaffected
Hit Points 110 (13d10 + 39) by anything happening outside the bileborn or by attacks
Speed 30 ft. from outside it. An absorbed creature can escape from the
bileborn’s body by using an action to make a successful
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA DC 14 Strength (Athletics) check, or it can get out after the
bileborn’s death by using 5 feet of movement.
19 (+4) 10 (+0) 17 (+3) 6 (-2) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) Babbling Scream (recharge 5-6). The bileborn screams
in incoherent babbles. All creatures within 60 feet that
hear it must make a successful DC 13 Wisdom saving
Skills Perception +3 throw or be confused (as the confusion spell) for 1
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing minute. At the end of each of its turns, an affected
from nonmagical weapons target can make a Wisdom saving throw. If it succeeds,
Damage Immunities poison this effect ends for that target.
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, poisoned,
prone, unconscious ECOLOGY
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13 Environment any land
Languages Common Organization solitary
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
The bileborn is an undead creature born of alchemical and necromantic
Coordinated Burst (1/day). As a bonus action, the bileborn experimentation. Its purpose and the identity of its creator are unknown,
synchronizes its flailing motion. Its speed increases to 60 but the mistakes of this master have long since been paid for, as the
101
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
original bileborn ultimately escaped and slew its creator, incorporating his It is speculated that Blight apes probably originated as some species
body among the rest. of Libynosi ape transported en masse over the years to Castorhage to
A bileborn seeks to increase its mass by absorbing creatures into serve in assorted menageries of the well-to-do, circuses for the common
its body. This does not increase the creature’s size or change it in any folk, and as game animals in the hunting preserves of the truly decadent.
fundamental way, but the crowd of body parts grows denser at its center. Whatever type of ape they are descended from is unknown because no
Then at some indeterminate point, the creature reproduces by fission. The further specimens have been found in recent centuries, and they are
fused conglomeration of rotten body parts splits down the middle, forming presumed to be extinct in their natural habitat due to hunting as well as the
two bileborns of equal size and power. These instinctively avoid each wholesale capture and exportation of them. Over the years, their numbers
other as they go their own ways in search of victims to absorb. proliferated in the city of Castorhage, and they took readily to the ways of
These creatures are little more than horrid masses of dismembered their captors, literally aping their mannerisms and habits. At some point in
and absorbed victims that somehow work in necromantic coordination the last century, bored nobles who had long ago taken to dressing them in
and demonstrate considerable stealth and surprising speed for their size finery in mockery of their near-human appearance realized that the Blight
and composition. Despite their chaotic and jumbled appearances, their apes were no longer simply mimicking their human masters, they were in
fleshy mass is physically tough, quickly using the dismembered parts of fact carrying out their own activities in the same manner as the humans
its interior to switch out damaged limbs on it exterior. The bulk of its around them. They had evolved into an entirely new species, no longer
absorbed brain tissue resides within the severed heads of the central mass truly animals.
of the creature, allowing it to function in a rational manner, though its Loyal and Smart. With the realization of the evolution of the Blight
purpose and goals are likely to be inscrutable to living, sane creatures. ape came the discovery that they were both intelligent (if not truly smart)
but also of an extremely lawful and peaceful nature. Likewise, though they
Copyright Notice can understand the Common tongue well enough, they never developed
Author Jeffrey Swank, based on material by Richard Pett. the ability to use language of their own beyond a few simple grunts and
hand motions. It soon became in vogue to keep the creatures as scullions
and servants, which developed over time into actually hiring them into
Blight Ape trusted positions as butlers and governesses with a known penchant for
keeping their mouths shut about any internal secrets they might learn. By
This creature looks like a strange caricature of a gorilla. Standing whim of Castorhage law, Blight apes receive the same wage as any other
barely 4 feet tall, it superficially resembles a tawny-colored version of hireling in their position and are now often seen as actual family members
that animal save for its height. However, the resemblances end there. by some of the more benevolent folk of the city. However, there are far
Rather than the look and posture of an animal, the creature carries itself more Blight apes than there are staff positions in well-to-do households,
with a sense of dignity. It stands straight (or as straight as possible for a so most Blight apes find themselves relegated to menial jobs and poor
creature whose knuckles drag the ground), and it wears a formal black treatment. Most are actually employed by the city, since few businesses
vest. Its simian face is carefully composed, with its eyes bearing the look choose to hire a Blight ape over a human or other humanoid race if they’re
of long-suffering patience of a professional manservant. going to have to pay the same rate anyway, but there are some exceptions
— particularly for jobs where a combination of extreme loyalty and
extreme discretion are desirable.
Blight Ape Despised Cousins. Blight apes despise Blight monkeys with a passion,
Small monstrosity, lawful neutral and the little cretins are one of the few things that can truly rouse a
Blight ape to anger. Some of the Blight apes hired by the city are actually
Armor Class 13 armed for the purpose of hunting down and exterminating nests of Blight
Hit Points 26 (4d6 + 12) monkeys among the city rooftops, an occupation which they pursue with
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft. relish. For their part, Blight monkeys enjoy humiliating and even killing a
Blight ape whenever possible.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
13 (+1) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 6 (-2) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) Blight Cockerel
Lanky and bedraggled, with thin feathers other than a wide tuft
Saving Throws Int +0, Wis +4, Cha +4 around the neck, this rooster is particularly ugly for its kind. Its wattle
Skills Insight +4, Perception +4 and comb are both shredded and torn from past battles, and razor-sharp
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened spurs have been tied to the backs of its legs.
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages understands Common but can’t speak
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP) Blight Cockerel
Small beast, unaligned
Blight Monkey Mange Vulnerability. Blight apes are
especially susceptible to the mange carried by Blight Armor Class 11
monkeys. A Blight ape makes saving throws against the Hit Points 2 (1d6 - 1)
disease with disadvantage. If a Blight ape contracts Speed 10 ft., fly 50 ft.
Blight monkey mange, it loses great patches of its fur as
the disease’s characteristic rash spreads across its body,
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
eventually infiltrating the ape’s respiratory system. If a
Blight ape’s Dexterity or Constitution score is driven down 2 (-4) 13 (+1) 8 (-1) 2 (-4) 11 (+0) 6 (-2)
to 0 as a result of the disease, it dies from suffocation.

ACTIONS Skills Perception +2

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one Languages none
creature). Hit: 1d4 + 3 bludgeoning damage. Challenge 0 (10 XP)

ECOLOGY Ferocity. When the Blight cockerel drops to 0 hit points, it

Environment urban (the Blight) immediately makes one attack against a creature within 5
Organization solitary feet as a reaction before dying.
102
 GM Guide
Fighting Fury. When a Blight cockerel sees another member disease ends, the creature’s ability scores recover at
of its species or other similar-sized bird (other than a a similar rate.
chicken), it instinctively triggers its fight response. It spends
1 round attempting to intimidate its opponent, then ACTIONS
attacks, gaining a +1 bonus to attacks and damage. Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
A Blight cockerel in a fighting fury fights until it or its creature). Hit: 1d3 + 4 piercing damage, and the creature
opponent is dead. must make a successful DC 10 Constitution saving throw or
contract Blight monkey mange (see above).
ACTIONS Excrement. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit (range 10
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one ft./30 ft.; one creature). Hit: the creature must make a
creature). Hit: 1 piercing damage. successful DC 10 Constitution saving throw or contract
Blight monkey mange (see above).
ECOLOGY Enraged Screech. The Blight monkey emits a harsh screech.
Environment any land (the Blight) Creatures within 30 feet that hear the screech must make
Organization solitary a successful DC 10 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened
until the end of its next turn. Once a creature makes a
Cockfighting is a common pastime among the coarser citizens of the successful saving throw, it’s immune to the screeching of
Blight (and secretly many of the upper crust as well) and the gamecocks Blight monkeys for 24 hours.
have been bred for centuries in the city just for these contests. The
resulting breed of Blight cockerel is a distempered gamecock known ECOLOGY
for its viciousness in fights and its instinct to continue fighting even Environment urban (the Blight)
after having taken a mortal wound. Many runners of cockfights no Organization solitary, pair, band (3–9), or troop (10–40)
longer allow Blight cockerels in their venues because of the likelihood
that neither bird will survive and their investment in training a prized Like Blight apes, these little beasts are believed to have originated
gamecock will be lost even in victory. Blight cockerels are bred with in distant Libynos and were originally brought to Casterhage as part of
normal chickens and always attack another Blight cockerel on sight menageries, but unlike the apes no one wanted to continue importing
unless restrained. the creatures after their nasty disposition was discovered. Somehow, it
Before fighting matches that involve betting, some Blight cockerels are seems, they just kept creeping unseen onto ships in Libynosi ports and
outfitted with fighting spurs: razor-sharp blades tied to their legs. Fighting disembarking upon reaching the city. There was a time when seeing
spurs replace the bird’s beak attack with a spur attack, which has the same dozens of the things scampering across yardarms and hawser lines to reach
attack bonus and reach but does 1d4 slashing damage. the docks from ships newly arrived from the East was a common sight.
A Blight cockerel stands 2 feet tall and weighs 10–15 pounds. When the true extent of their colonization of Castorhage was realized and
their disease-ridden nature fully grasped, the city took steps to curtail this
Copyright Notice mass immigration. However, despite its best efforts the city’s efforts were
Author Greg A. Vaughan, based on material by Richard Pett. far too late, and now thousands, if not tens of thousands, of the creatures
clamber unseen — though certainly not unheard — across the city’s maze
of rooftops.
Blight Monkey Twisted by Blight. Something about the city’s influence appears to have
corrupted the creatures and changed them from previously mischievous
This dark-furred monkey has slightly lighter fur around its face and and unruly animals to actual beasts with just enough intelligence to have a
chest, but all of it is matted with reeking filth. It hangs by its prehensile taste for cruelty and a strong penchant for chaos. Despite their nimbleness
tail as it prepares to throw a handful of the filth that it wears so and glimmerings of intelligence, all attempts by folk to domesticate them
copiously. and spellcasters to take them as familiars have failed as they invariably
turn against their would-be masters at the first chance. They routinely
destroy books and valuables, and attack family pets. Their habit of biting
Blight Monkey off the fingers and toes of humanoid infants sleeping in their cribs has
Tiny monstrosity, chaotic neutral earned them the eternal ire of Blight apes everywhere who always attack
them on sight. Blight monkeys share this animosity, going out of their
Armor Class 14 way to ambush or abuse Blight apes at every opportunity even flinging
Hit Points 5 (2d4) themselves into suicidal attacks in their attempts to bring harm to the apes.
Speed 20 ft., climb 30 ft. They are truly fearless in their stupefying anarchy and attack a creature
much larger than themselves, using their grating screech to summon more
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA of their kind to join in the attack. It is fortunate for the city that Blight
monkeys appear to be a favored prey of gable spiders and festering Lyme
6 (-2) 18 (+4) 10 (+0) 3 (-4) 10 (+0) 6 (-2) rats, because otherwise the fecund beasts would likely plague the city to
an even greater degree.
Blight Monkey Mange. All Blight monkeys are a carrier of a disease
Skills Perception +2, Stealth +6 that is transmitted through their bite and through contact with their
Condition Immunities frightened excrement. This disease causes the disgusting monkeys to lose patches
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12 of fur in clumps, but otherwise appears to cause them no harm. To others
Languages none infected with Blight monkey mange, it causes a red, scaly rash in the
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP) crooks of elbows and knees and in the armpits. The rash is itchy and raw,
causing pain and limiting movement until it clears up. Blight apes are
Blight Monkey Mange. A creature infected with this known to be particularly susceptible to the ravages of this disease (see
disease must make a successful DC 10 Constitution Blight ape).
saving throw every time it completes a long rest. On
a failure, the creature’s Dexterity score is reduced by Copyright Notice
1d2 and its Constitution score is reduced by 1. The Author Greg A. Vaughan, based on material by Richard Pett.
disease ends when the creature’s Constitution saving
throw succeeds two days in a row or when it receives
a lesser restoration or comparable magic. Once the
103
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
fluid and that dry and become encrusted. When the birds preen themselves,
Blindingcrow this diseased fluid transfers to their beaks where it infects their bite attacks.
Despite their third claw and sinister reputation, blindingcrows are no more
This glossy black crow has fleshy pustules and sores growing out from effective with claw attacks than a normal crow. Only when blindingcrows
under its plumage. This bird is has a thick, heavy bill and even more swarm do their claw attacks really present a threat and live up to their name.
surprisingly has a central third leg that ends in an array of sharpened
talons. Copyright Notice
Author Jeffrey Swank, based on material by Richard Pett.
Blindingcrow
Tiny monstrosity, unaligned Body Snatcher
Armor Class 12 A massive lump of shadow, like a gargantuan hillock, shifts in the
Hit Points 1 (1d4 - 1) darkness and reveals itself to be a living creature. Its body is mostly
Speed 10 ft., fly 50 ft. torso and is roughly barrel shaped, with four elephantine legs and two
long arms ending in three-fingered hands. A massive mouthlike opening
dominates the top of its frame, from which extends a long, prehensile
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
tongue studded with spiky growths at its tip. The entire beast appears to
2 (-4) 14 (+2) 8 (-1) 2 (-4) 12 (+1) 6 (-2) be covered in — or perhaps made of — a lumpy, lichenlike substance of
tiny, leafy growths.

Condition Immunities Blindness

Skills Perception +3 Body Snatcher
Languages none Gargantuan plant (fungus), neutral evil
Senses darkvision 30 ft., passive Perception 13
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP) Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 264 (16d20 + 96)
Blinding Sickness. A creature infected with blinding sickness Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
must make a DC 9 Constitution saving throw after
completing each long rest. On a failure, the infected
creature gains 1 level of exhaustion; on a success, it loses 1 STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
level of exhaustion. The disease is cured when the creature 24 (+7) 12 (+1) 22 (+6) 13 (+1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0)
has 0 levels of exhaustion, or through lesser restoration or
comparable magic. The real danger from the disease,
however, is blindness. When a creature reaches 3 levels Saving Throws Dex +6, Wis +5, Cha +5
of exhaustion caused by blinding sickness, or when it has Skills Perception +5
taken 3 or more necrotic damage in less than 10 minutes
from blindingcrows that carry the disease, the creature is
permanently blinded. Greater restoration or comparable
magic is needed to cure this blindness.

ACTIONS
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
creature). Hit: 1 piercing damage, and the creature must
make a successful DC 9 Constitution saving throw or take
1 necrotic damage and contract blinding sickness (see
above).

ECOLOGY
Environment non-arctic land
Organization solitary, pair, flock (3–12), or murder (13–100)

Blindingcrows are fairly intelligent carrion birds known for their

problem-solving skills and ability to adapt within the city environment.
Despite past attempts to exterminate them, blindingcrows are more
common than ever in the city’s trash dumps and are known for their
distinctive screeching caw. Sociable, especially when not nesting,
blindingcrows may gather in communal roosts on winter nights, sometimes
with thousands or even tens of thousands roosting at one location.
When large groups of these bird gather, they sometimes form a huge
swarming flock and chase predators in a behavior called mobbing. Loud
noises are the most common cause for a murder of blindingcrows to attack
an individual.
As foragers, these birds also clean up dead animals and garbage. In fact,
blindingcrows are often blamed for overturning garbage cans when the
real culprits are usually raccoons or dogs. From prolonged exposure to the
toxins and wastes in their urban environments where the blindingcrows live
and feed, they have developed an ironic affinity for a particular disease.
Blinding sickness has festered within these birds, and they pass it from one
to another during mating and while feeding. The feathers of these birds,
although a glossy black, are marred by oozing, sores that drain diseased
104
 GM Guide
Damage Resistances cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and Known only as the Body Snatcher by the dwarves of the Underneath,
slashing from nonmagical weapons this massive overgrowth of ambulatory blight lichen lurks in the deepest
Damage Immunities psychic caverns where the boundaries between the mundane world and Between
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, prone, stunned, are thinnest. The creature somehow possesses sentience — likely from
unconscious its long exposure to the strange influence of that other-realm — and
Senses blindsight 60 ft., passive Perception 15 shares some traits of Between creatures. The conglomeration of lichen
Languages understands all spoken languages, but can’t speak growths has taken on the form of a massive quadruped, but it shares
Challenge 15 (13,000 XP) no special affinity with that form and, in truth, its body possesses no
internal organs or structures other than the undifferentiated blight of
Absorb Cadaver. A creature slain by the body snatcher is which is it composed.
immediately absorbed into its body as a bonus action. If The Body Snatcher, like the blight that makes up its body, is at its strongest
the body snatcher is still alive at the end of its next turn, in absolute darkness and is debilitated by the presence of bright light. Its
the cadaver is irrevocably destroyed. If the slain creature hive mind gives it a mental connection to and the ability to see through
was Large, then its body takes 2 rounds to destroy, and a all growths of blight within 50 miles, and it is with this ability that it has
Huge creature takes 3 rounds. Creatures larger than Huge managed to maintain observation of the lands above and its inhabitants since
can’t be absorbed. If the body snatcher is killed before before the city existed. Through this observation, it has learned much of the
an absorbed cadaver is fully destroyed, then the body (or ways of humanoids and has come to understand many of their languages.
parts of it) it can be recovered from among the mounds And it desires nothing more than to consume their bodies upon their deaths,
of blight lichen. directing its remote blight growths to do that whenever possible. The
Hive Mind. The body snatcher can’t be surprised. In addition, nutrients obtained from the consumed corpses help feed the growth of these
the body snatcher is aware of all growths of blight within blight patches, but something about these feedings is somehow transmitted
50 miles. It can see everything within visual range of these telepathically back through the hive mind and serves some mysterious
patches at all times. It can direct the direction and speed of purpose for the Body Snatcher. It is for this reason that the dwarves gave
a patch’s growth (no action required) as long as that patch the Body Snatcher its name, though none understand the full significance of
is in darkness, but it can control only one patch per round. the creature’s impulse to consume these corpses. Whatever the reason, most
A patch of blight that’s in complete darkness and under a speculate it has something to do with the creature’s proximity to Between
body snatcher’s control can increase its size by 100 square and that it is unlikely to have any benign purpose.
feet per round. The Body Snatcher stands 25 feet tall. Even though it is made only
Light Somnolence. When exposed to bright light, the body of tiny lichen growths, these conglomerate quite densely so the creature
snatcher becomes slow and lethargic; the effect is equivalent weighs more than 30,000 pounds. It is well over a thousand years old and
to a slow spell, and it lasts for as long as at least half of the is probably much older, and it may well be immortal.
body snatcher is in bright light.
Regeneration. The body snatcher heals 10 hit points at the Copyright Notice
start of its turn. This ability doesn’t function if any part of it Author Greg A. Vaughan, based on material by Richard Pett.
was exposed to bright or dim light since its previous turn.
Swallow. A swallowed creature is blinded and restrained. It
must hold its breath or begin suffocating. Two Large, four Brain Rat
Medium, or eight Small creatures can be inside the body
snatcher at one time. A swallowed creature is unaffected Brain rats are indistinguishable from normal rats, but they are highly
by anything happening outside the body snatcher or by intelligent, with strange mental powers.
attacks from outside it. A swallowed creature can get out
of the body snatcher by using 5 feet of movement, but Brain Rat
only after the monster is dead.
Tiny monstrosity, chaotic evil
ACTIONS Armor Class 13
Multiattack. The body snatcher spits out a spore globule, Hit Points 3 (1d4+1)
slams twice, and makes either a tongue attack or a bite Speed 20 ft.
attack.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
creature). Hit: 4d8 + 7 bludgeoning damage.
Tongue. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit (reach 10 ft.; one 2 (–4) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 4 (–3)
creature). Hit: 3d6 + 7 slashing damage, and the creature
must make a successful DC 20 Strength saving throw or
be grappled (escape DC 17). The body snatcher can Senses darkvision 30 ft., passive Perception 10
grapple one creature at a time and can’t use its tongue Languages Common
attack while it has a creature grappled. Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit (reach 10 ft; one
creature already grappled by the body snatcher’s Innate Psionic Spellcasting.
tongue). Hit: the creature is pulled into the body At will: detect thoughts, as per the spell.
snatcher’s space and swallowed (see above). 1/day: confusion (DC 13 Intelligence Save).
Spore Globule. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit (range 40 Keen Smell: The rats have advantage on Wisdom
ft.; one creature). Hit: 6d6 + 1 bludgeoning damage. (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Create Blight. The body snatcher exudes a 10-foot-by-10-
foot patch of blight (see Appendix C) in an area adjacent ACTIONS
to itself. This patch is immediately eligible to be grown and Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +0 to hit, reach 5 ft, one target.
directed as part of the body snatcher’s Hive Mind ability. Hit: 1 piercing damage.
Mental Attack (3/day). The brain rat targets an opponent with
ECOLOGY lower Intelligence than itself, and projects a mental attack
Environment underground (the Blight) causing 1d6 points of psychic damage (DC 10 Intelligence
Organization solitary saving throw for half damage). Those with Intelligence higher
than the rat’s are immune to the mental attack.
105
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Damage Immunities poison, bludgeoning, piercing, and slash-
ing damage from nonmagical weapons that aren’t silvered
Condition Immunities poisoned, paralyzed, petrified
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 24
Languages Common
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

Sorcery Points. The Broken Fey has 5 sorcery points and can
use them on either an Extended Spell or a Subtle Spell.
Points can also be exchanged for spell slots using the
following exchange:

Slot Points
1st 2
2nd 3
3rd 5

Spellcasting. The Broken Fey is a 5th-level spellcaster. Charis-

ma is its spellcasting ability (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with
spell attacks). It knows the following spells from the sorcer-
er spell list:
Cantrips (at will): Acid Splash, Chill Touch, Friends, Minor
Illusion, Poison Spray
1st (4 slots): Charm Person, Comprehend Languages
Broken Creature 2nd (3 slots): Detect Thoughts, Suggestion
3rd (2 slots): Gaseous Form, Fear
A broken creature is not born. Instead, cruel techniques of coercive Amphibious. The Broken Fey can breathe air and water.
persuasion applied over time systematically strip away its will until it Freeze. If the Broken Fey takes cold damage, it partially
unquestioningly accepts the instruction of a master. These techniques are freezes; its speed is reduced by 20 feet until the end of its
taught only to high-ranking members of one of the guilds that specialize next turn.
in breaking creatures, such as the Grand Society of Obedience and the
Sisters of Bestial Discipline. These groups have created a considerable ACTIONS
industry of breaking creatures and selling broken creatures as reliable-yet- Multiattack. The Broken Fey makes two bite and one trident
docile servitors within the City-State of Castorhage. attack.
Any living creature with Intelligence 1 or higher can be broken, with Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit (reach 10 ft.; one
the exception of familiars and animal companions. A broken creature uses creature). Hit: 9 (2d8 + 5) piercing damage and 5 (1d10)
poison damage.

• •
the base creature’s stat blocks, with the following differences:
Trident. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit (reach 5 ft. or range
Constitution increases by 2, Wisdom declines by 2.
20/60; one creature). Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage.

•
Has proficiency and advantage on Constitution saving throws.
Dominated: A broken creature responds to its controller as if under the
effect of a dominate monster spell that can’t be dispelled or broken. Canary
There is no telepathic link; commands must be issued verbally, visually This tiny songbird has feathers of pale yellow with a slight greenish
(hand signals), or aurally (whistle, drums, etc.). The creature never tinge and is streaked with gray and brown on its back and wings.
makes a saving throw to end the effect, even when it takes damage or
is given a self-destructive command.
Canary
Copyright Notice Tiny beast, unaligned
Author Alistair Rigg, based on material by Richard Pett.
Armor Class 11
Hit Points 1 (1d4 – 1)
Broken Fey Speed 5 ft., fly 40 ft.
These are horrific creatures, individuals with different possible appearances.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Broken Fey 1 (-5) 12 (+1) 8 (-1) 2 (-4) 12 (+1) 8 (-1)
Large aberration, lawful evil
Armor Class 15 (natural armor) Skills Perception +4
Hit Points 136 (16d10 + 48) Languages none
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft. Challenge 0 (XP 10)

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Gas Vulnerability. Canaries are particularly vulnerable to
the effects of inhaled poisons and fouled air. They have
18 (+4) 10 (+0) 17 (+3) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 18 (+4) disadvantage on saving throws against any effect caused
by an inhaled gas or substance.
Skills Perception +7, Stealth +3 (+6 in water), Insight +4 ACTIONS
Damage Resistances acid, fire Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit (reach 0 ft.; one
106
 GM Guide
creature). Hit: 1 piercing damage.

ECOLOGY
Environment forest (any land in captivity)
Organization solitary, pair, or flock (3–12)

These tiny birds were originally discovered among the subtropical islands
of the south and were brought to the mainland to be bred as songbirds. Their
numbers have flourished in captivity over the years, and it was eventually
determined that they were useful in detecting dangerous gases in mines
and caverns. Since that time, they have been widely employed by miners
as sentinel animals to detect the presence of otherwise undetectable gas
hazards before the miners are overcome by them.

Copyright Notice
Author Greg A. Vaughan, based on material by Richard Pett and Tom
Knauss.

Caryatid Column
An exquisitely sculpted and finished statue of a beautiful female warrior,
longsword in her hand.

Caryatid Column
Medium construct, unaligned
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 30 (4d10 + 8)
Speed 20 ft. Caul Cuckoo and Caul Cuckoo Syre
This is no ordinary human child, but an infection, something that
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA leeched upon a living babe whilst in the womb and smothered it,
becoming something partly human and partly from Between. Its form
14 (+2) 9 (–1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) 1 (–5)
is fluid, oily almost, and the disturbing mixture of human and slug is
revolting to behold.
Damage Resistances Bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
damage from nonmagical weapons Caul Cuckoo
Damage Immunities Necrotic, poison, psychic
Small aberration (larval Between), neutral
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened,
paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Armor Class 13
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Hit Points 63 (14d6 + 14)
Languages None
Speed 10 ft., burrow 5 ft., climb 10 ft., swim 10 ft.
Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Immunity to Magic. A caryatid column automatically STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
succeeds on all saving throws against spells and spell-like 8 (-1) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 9 (-1) 12 (+1) 18 (+4)
effects. If a successful saving throw reduces damage by
half, the caryatid column takes no damage instead. In
addition, certain spells and effects function differently Saving Throws Dex +6, Con +4, Wis +4
against the creature, as noted below (these effects Skills Perception +4, Stealth +6
override its immunity). A stone shape spell cancels the Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
caryatid column’s immunity to magic for 1d4 rounds. from nonmagical weapons
Shatter Weapons. Whenever a character strikes a caryatid Damage Immunities acid
column with a melee weapon and the attack roll is a Condition Immunities prone
natural 1, 2, or 3, the character must make a Strength Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
check. The character’s Strength bonus is added to the roll, Languages Common, Deep Speech, Sylvan, telepathy 30 ft.
but the character’s proficiency bonus and the weapon’s Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
magical bonus (if any) are subtracted from the roll. If the
result is 15 or less, there is no effect. If the result is 16 or Change Shape. A caul cuckoo has two forms. Its natural
higher, the weapon shatters and becomes useless. form is that of a sluglike thing with a distorted humanoid
head, but it can also take a humanoid form based on its
ACTIONS mother. A caul cuckoo can shift between its forms as a
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one bonus action. Equipment worn or carried on its humanoid
creature). Hit: 1d10 + 2 slashing damage. form melds into its natural form.
Distorted. The caul cuckoo’s internal anatomy is radically
The caryatid column is more fully described in First Edition Foes, different from a normal humanoid’s. Critical hits against
published by Frog God Games the creature do a flat +1 damage but don’t roll damage
dice twice.
Horrific Appearance. Creatures that start their turn within 30

107
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
feet of a caul cuckoo in its natural form and who can see Languages Deep Speech, telepathy 30 ft.
it see must make a successful DC 15 Wisdom saving throw Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)
or be poisoned. This is a psychological effect, not actual
poison, so immunity to poison offers no protection. A poi- Salt Vulnerability. A handful of salt burns a caul cuckoo syre
soned creature repeats the saving throw at the end of its as though it was alchemist’s fire, doing 1d4 fire damage at
turn to end the effect. A successful saving throw makes the start of the caul cuckoo’s turn until it’s extinguished by
the creature immune to the horrific appearance of caul spending an action to make a successful DC 10 Dexterity
cuckoos for 24 hours. check.
Salt Vulnerability. A handful of salt burns a caul cuckoo as
though it was alchemist’s fire, doing 1d4 fire damage at ACTIONS
the start of the caul cuckoo’s turn until it’s extinguished by Lullaby. When a caul cuckoo syre wails its lullaby, it targets
spending an action to make a successful DC 10 Dexterity one creature within 30 feet which must succeed on a DC
check. 13 Wisdom saving throw or fall unconscious. Creatures
with 5 or more HD are immune. A creature that saves
ACTIONS successfully is immune to all caul cuckoo syre lullabies
Multiattack. The caul cuckoo makes three tongue attacks or for 24 hours. An unconscious creature wakes up after 1
sings its lullaby. minute, when it takes damage, or when another creature
Tongue. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one uses an action to awaken it.
creature). Hit: 1d4 + 3 piercing damage plus 1d6 acid
damage. ECOLOGY
Lullaby. When a caul cuckoo wails its lullaby, it has the same Environment any land (Between)
effect as a confusion spell that affects all creatures within Organization solitary
300 feet of the caul cuckoo who can hear the song. All
potential targets must make successful DC 15 Wisdom Caul cuckoo syres are the progenitors of caul cuckoos. They spend the
saving throws or become confused. The confusion lasts majority of their lives stealthily searching out pregnant humanoid females
for 1 minute or until the caul cuckoo stops singing or loses to infest, so they can corrupt their unborn children into caul cuckoos.
concentration on its lullaby. The creature can repeat the Drawn to Mothers. A caul cuckoo syre can detect pregnant humanoids
saving throw at the end of its turn, with a success ending within 60 feet by smell. Strangely, caul cuckoo syres are also attracted
the effect. by the odor of some ghouls, which consider caul cuckoo syres to be quite
the delicacy. When a caul cuckoo syre locates a pregnant potential host,
ECOLOGY it crawls into the woman’s womb while she’s asleep. Over the course
Environment any land (Between) of the next five days, it slowly dissolves into the developing embryo,
Organization solitary, pair, gang (3–8), or cult (9–20) bathing it in unnatural hormones. The woman experiences severe
morning sickness during those five days; a successful DC 13 Wisdom
Caul cuckoos are the tragic result of an unborn child corrupted by a caul (Medicine) check made by a character with proficiency in Medicine
cuckoo syre while still in its mother’s womb. When birthed by its human spots the difference between this sickness and typical morning sickness.
parent, a caul cuckoo is Tiny, but otherwise has all of its normal abilities. By the end of the five days, the syre is completely gone and the fetus is
A caul cuckoo has a 50% chance of being in either of its two forms at transformed into a caul cuckoo.
birth. If in its human form, it usually waits until after nightfall to either Dangerous Surgery. If the syre’s presence is detected or even
escape into the night or murder its sleeping parents and then escape. If suspected, it can be removed with a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine)
born in its sluglike form, it immediately attacks its mother and any others check. The check can be repeated as many times as necessary, but if it fails
present in an attempt to escape. by 5 or more, the host takes 1d6 slashing damage (which can easily kill a
Though the birth of these creatures is a rare occurrence, there is a reason commoner with 4 or fewer hit points). Lesser restoration or comparable
that many old midwives carry a bag of salt with them whenever they magic destroys a caul cuckoo syre automatically and restores the fetus to
attend a new delivery. normal health.

Caul Cuckoo Syre Cave Fisher

This creature is a pallid pupa, no larger than a finger, with a tiny, twist- This man-sized creature resembles a cross between a lobster and a
ed humanoid face. spider. It has eight legs, two of which end in serrated pincers. Its snout is
long and pointed.
Caul Cuckoo Syre
Tiny aberration (larval Between), neutral Cave Fisher
Large monstrosity, unaligned
Armor Class 11 Armor Class 12 (natural armour)
Hit Points 1 (1d4 - 1) Hit Points 51 (6d10 + 18)
Speed 5 ft., burrow 5 ft., climb 5 ft., swim 5 ft. Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA STR DEX CON     INT       WIS CHA
1 (-5) 12 (+1) 8 (-1) 6 (-2) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 17 (+3) 1 (–5) 10 (+0) 4 (–3)

Skills Stealth +5 Skills Perception +2

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
from nonmagical weapons Languages None
Damage Immunities acid Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Condition Immunities prone
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 Filament. A creature struck by a cave fisher’s filament
108
 GM Guide
becomes grappled by the sticky thread and is pulled 20
feet closer to the cave fisher. A grappled creature can Child of Folly, the
use its action to rip the filament free with a DC 13 Strength
check, or can attack the filament directly (AC 12, 5 hit The Child of Folly is a massive undead ooze containing zombies,
points, resistant to all but slashing damage). Alcohol or detailed in Adventure Chapter L5.
universal solvent dissolves the adhesive and releases the
creature caught by the filament. A cave fisher can have
only one creature grappled at a time.
Child of Folly
Gargantuan ooze (undead), unaligned
ACTIONS Armor Class 10
Multiattack. The cave fisher attacks once with its filament or Hit Points 162 (12d20 + 36)
twice with claws. Speed 30 ft.
Claws. Melee Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6
(1d6 + 3) slashing damage. STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
Filament. Ranged Attack: +3 to hit, range 60 ft., one tar-
get. Hit: the target is grappled and pulled 20 feet closer to 19 (+4) 10 (+0) 17 (+3) 1 (–5) 10 (+0) 1 (–5)
the cave fisher (details above).
Skills Perception +3
Chaos Beast Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
from nonmagical attacks
A horrid mass of glaring eyes, gnashing teeth, and barbed tentacles, the Damage Immunities acid, necrotic, poison
chaos beast’s twisting form is constantly reshaping itself. Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaus-
tion, frightened, prone
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Chaos Beast Languages None
Medium aberration, chaotic neutral Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Armor Class 16 (natural armour)
Hit Points 120 (16d8 + 48) Release the Zombies (recharge 5-6, up to 3 times per
Speed 30 ft. encounter). The Child of Folly can spit out a zombie as a
bonus action in its turn.
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA ACTIONS
17 (+3) 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 7 (–2) Multiattack. The Child of Folly makes up to four slam attacks.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one crea-
ture). Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage. If two or more
Saving Throws Dex +5, Con +6 slam attacks hit the same creature in the Child of Folly’s
Skills Perception +5 turn, the victim may be engulfed.
Damage Resistances acid, necrotic, slashing Engulf: If The Child of Folly makes two successful slam attacks
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaus- on the same victim in one turn, the victim of the attack
tion, frightened, prone must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw. On a success-
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15 ful save, the creature can choose to be pushed 5 feet
Languages None back or to the side of the Child of Folly. A creature that
Challenge 6 (2,800 XP) chooses not to be pushed suffers the consequences of
a failed saving throw. On a failed save, the Child of Folly
Amorphous. The chaos beast can move through a space as enters the creature’s space, and the creature takes 10
narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing. (3d6) points of necrotic damage and is engulfed. The en-
Destabilize. Whenever a chaos beast touches a creature, gulfed creature can’t breathe, is restrained, and takes 21
as an attack or other form of contact, the creature must (6d6) necrotic damage at the start of each of the Child of
make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be assaulted Folly’s turns. When the Child of Folly moves, the engulfed
by chaotic energy. On a successful save, the creature is creature moves with it. An engulfed creature can try to
pushed in a random direction away from the chaos beast. escape by taking an action to make a DC 13 Strength
On a failed save, the creature becomes destabilized and check. On a success, the creature escapes and enters a
immediately begins to choke and cannot draw breath, space of its choice within 5 feet of the cube.
is restrained, and begins to lose form and shape as pure
chaotic energy begins to break down and reform its
physical body. At the start of each of the chaos beast’s
turns, the destabilized creature takes 21 (6d6) necrotic
damage. The destabilized effect continues until the
creature dies or a remove curse spell negates the effect.

ACTIONS
Multiattack. The chaos beast makes two attacks with its
claws.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar-
get. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage plus 10 (3d6) necrot-
ic damage. The creature must make a DC 15 Constitution
saving throw or be affected by the destabilize effect.

109
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Child of the Forest (Verdigris Forest) Coffer Corpse
These fey creatures look like children at a distance, but when seen more This creature appears as a desiccated humanoid shrouded in rotting,
closely they have goat-like legs, wild, flowing hair, and their faces resemble tattered funerary clothes. Its hands end in sharpened claws with slightly
a variety of different beasts: here a pig, there a wolf, and there a bull elongated fingernails.
 
Child of the Verdigris Forest Coffer Corpse
Small fey, chaotic neutral  Medium undead, neutral
Armor Class 13 (natural armor) Armor Class 12 (natural armor)
Hit Points 27 (6d6 + 6) Hit Points 27 (5d8+5)
Speed 30 ft. Speed 20 ft.

STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
15 (+2) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 13 (+1) 6 (-2) 13 (+1) 10 (+0)

Skills Stealth +4, Sleight of Hand +4 Damage Resistances piercing and slashing attacks that are
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing non-magical
from nonmagical weapons Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, stunned, unconscious Condition Immunities exhausted, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11 Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages Common, Sylvan Languages Common
Challenge 2 (450 XP) Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Animated Hair. A Child of the Verdigris Forest carries cuttings Magic Weapons. A coffer corpse’s attacks are magical.
of its own hair, braided into ropes, in its leather pouch. It Deceiving Death. In the first round in which a coffer corpse is
can quickly splice these short hair ropes into a longer rope struck for 6 or more points of damage, the creature slumps
and magically animate it to entangle foes, which requires to the ground, seemingly destroyed. If it has fastened its
2 rounds to complete. A Child of the Verdigris Forest’s death grip on a victim, it releases its hold when it falls. A
animated hair rope has AC 14, 8 hit points, is immune to DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check sees through the
all but slashing damage, and flies with a speed of 30 feet. ruse (necromancers apply their proficiency bonus on this
When it attacks a target, the target creature must make check). On its next turn, the coffer corpse rises again as if
a successful DC 12 Strength saving throw or be restrained reanimated, triggering its fear ability.
(escape DC 13). A restrained creature can repeat the Fear. A creature viewing a coffer corpse rise after it uses its
saving throw at the end of each of its turns. The hair rope deceiving death ability must make a DC 12 Wisdom save
is destroyed by a successful Strength saving throw, but a or become frightened for 1 minute.
successful Dexterity save leaves it unaffected and it con-
tinues attacking. ACTIONS
Mobility. An opponent has disadvantage on opportunity at- Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
tack rolls against the Children. creature. Hit: 14 (2d8+5) slashing damage and the target
Innate Spellcasting. The Child of the Verdigris Forest’s innate is grappled (escape DC 13). Until this grapple ends, the
spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12). The coffer corpse can automatically hit the target with its claw
Child can innate cast the following spells, requiring no ma- and any target grappled cannot speak or cast spells with
terial components: a verbal component. No more than one target can be
At Will: animate objects (stones only), shatter, speak with grappled by a coffer corpse at the same time.
stone (functions identically to speak with plants, but with  Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
stones instead), stone shape one creature. Hit: 9 (1d8+5) slashing damage.
Stone Stride. The Child can step into a stone and emerge
from any other stone within 30 feet as part of normal
movement. The stones must be at least as large as they Crathog
are. The Child can’t end its turn inside a stone.
This creature draws its leech-like body along by great barbed spindly
ACTIONS tentacles that glisten with fluid. Somewhere inside its cluster of spines
Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one crea- and sharp bones lurks a great maw that distends itself outward.
ture. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) bludgeoning damage.
Shears. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) slashing damage. A Child of the
Crathog
Verdigris Forest scores a critical hit with shears if its attack Huge aberration, neutral evil
roll is a natural 18, 19, or 20.
Stone. Ranged Attack: +4 to hit, range 20 ft./60 ft.; one crea- Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
ture). Hit: 1d4 + 2 bludgeoning damage. Hit Points 123 (13d12 + 39)
Laugh. Area Attack (recharge 5, 6): automatic hit (range 60 Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
ft.; all creatures in range). Hit: creatures in range that can
hear the laugh must make a successful DC 12 Wisdom STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
saving throw or be stunned for 1d3 rounds.
20 (+5) 13 (+1) 17 (+3) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 9 (-1)

110
 GM Guide
The crathog are octopod horrors that had their origins in the exits of
large cities’ sewers emptying into the sea. The mixture of alchemical fluids,
waste products, and other toxins caused mutations within the sea life that
grew in the area until a new species spawned and bred true. The crathog
began to gain an incessant drive to reproduce, a deeper understanding of
their surroundings, and a greater intelligence.
A crathog seeps a corrosive acid from its porous flesh. Its tentacles
move with eerie quickness to grasp its prey and pull it toward its distended
jaw. These jaws are hinged on a flexible tendon that allows the crathog to
contract a coiled muscle and launch this set of jaws outward to burst from
its clustered mouth. The creature is able to blend into its surroundings
like a chameleon. It moves almost totally silently, but leaves a slimy trail
which in itself is acidic and dangerous. A crathog is incredibly strong
and stealthy, known to climb onto ships to feed on unsuspecting sailors,
dissolving their flesh with its acid.
Their intelligence allows them the insight to use their special abilities as
ambush hunters. They tend to hide in crooks of old harbors and lie in wait
until a fisherman ventures past. Crathog are not only cunning, they are
incredibly cruel; they delight in mutilating or tormenting prey, and disfiguring
their opponents with their acids. Why they do this is open to conjecture, but
many scholars believe that crathog are somehow spawned by the influence of
Between and that they seethe with the inherent injustice of those who have
died in the river, particularly those who have suffered from its acidic toxins.

Copyright Notice
Author Jeffrey Swank, based on material by Richard Pett.

Crirge
A magically-mixed hybrid of a crow and a stirge, having the head of a
Saving Throws Dex +4, Wis +4, Cha +3 crow with the proboscis of a stirge.
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +4
Damage Immunities acid
Condition Immunities prone Crirge
Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 30 ft., passive
Tiny monstrosity, unaligned
Perception 14
Armor Class 12
Languages Aquan, Deep Speech
Hit Points 3 (1d4+1)
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Speed 10 ft., fly 50 ft. 
Acidic Trail. The crathog’s skin exudes a layer of acid. This
coating leaves a slimy trail behind the crathog similar to a STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
slug’s trail. All spaces that the crathog occupied since its 3 (–4) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 2 (–4) 12 (+1) 6 (–2)
last turn retain this acidic coating; any creature that enters
or starts its turn in such a space takes 1d6 acid damage.
At the start of the crathog’s turn, all previously acidic Skills Perception +3
spaces become safe. Senses passive Perception 13
Blending Skin. When at rest, a crathog shifts the color of its Languages none
flesh to blend perfectly with the surrounding terrain. While Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)
motionless, the crathog is invisible.
ACTIONS
ACTIONS Blood Drain: Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Multiattack. The crathog attacks twice with tentacles, then one creature. Hit: 5 (1d4+3) piercing damage, and the
either bites twice or uses distended bite once. crirge attaches to the target. While attached, the crirge
Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit (reach 10 ft.; doesn’t attack. Instead, at the start of each of the crirge’s
one creature). Hit: 2d8 + 5 bludgeoning damage plus turns, the target loses 5 (1d4 + 3) hit points due to blood
1d10 acid damage. If both tentacle attacks hit the same loss. The crirge can detach itself by spending 5 feet of its
creature on the crathog’s turn, the creature is grappled movement. It does so after it drains 10 hit points of blood
(escape DC 15). The crathog can have up to two from the target or the target dies. A creature, including
creatures grappled and still use tentacle attacks. the target, can use its action to detach the crirge.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit (reach 10 ft.; one
creature). Hit: 1d8 + 5 piercing damage plus 1d10 acid
damage.
Distended Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit (reach 20
ft.; one creature); Hit: 1d12 + 5 piercing damage plus 1d10
acid damage.

ECOLOGY
Environment coast
Organization solitary

111
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Crown Prince Clovis Crown Prince Justice Cornlord
Ancient Clovis, the husband of Princess Genève, has designs upon the Cornlord is the Town Bridge ruler who uses poisons and spiders to
throne, and uses his sorcery to aid his efforts. He makes pacts with devils aid his advancement.
to further his ends, and it is rumoured that he has sold his soul to the
Devil. Clovis is a member of the Great Coven.
Crown Prince Justice Cornlord,
Prince Clovis, Crown Prince of the Capitol Lord of the Bridge
Medium aranea (Human Form), neutral evil Medium aranea (human form), neutral evil
Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor) Armor Class 15 (studded leather)
Hit Points 49 (9d8+9) Hit Points 78 (12d8+24)
Speed 30 ft. Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

9 (-1) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) 11 (+0) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 11 (+0) 10 (+0)

Saving Throws Int +6, Wis +4 Saving Throws Dex +7, Int +5
Skills Arcana +6, History +6 Skills Acrobatics +7, Deception +4, Perception + 4, Stealth +11
Senses passive Perception 11 Damage Resistances poison
Languages any four languages Senses passive Perception 14
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP) Languages Common, Dwarvish, Thieves’ Cant
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Shapechanger. Clovis can use his action to polymorph into
a rat-humanoid hybrid or into a giant rat, or back into Assassinate. On Cornlord’s first turn he has advantage on
his true form, which is humanoid. His statistics, other than attack rolls, as long as the target has not taken a turn. Any
his size, are the same in each form. Any equipment he is hit against a surprised target is considered a critical hit.
wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. He reverts to his true Evasion. If Cornlord is required to make a Dexterity saving
form if he dies. throw to take half damage, he takes no damage on a
Spider Climb. Clovis can climb difficult surfaces and ceilings successful save, and half damage on a failed save.
without requiring an ability check. Shapechanger. Cornlord can use his action to polymorph
Spellcasting. Clovis is a 9th-level spellcaster. Intelligence is into a spider-humanoid hybrid or into a giant spider, or
his spellcasting ability (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell back into his true form, which is humanoid. His statistics,
attacks). He has the prepared the following spells from the other than his size, are the same in each form. Any equip-
wizard spell list: ment he is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. He reverts
Spells (slots): to his true form if he dies.
Cantrips (at will): fire bolt, light, mage hand, prestidigitation; Sneak Attack (1/turn). Cornlord’s attack deals an extra 13
1st (4 slots): detect magic, mage armor, magic missile, (4d6) damage when he hits with a weapon attack, if he
shield; has advantage on the attack roll, or there is an ally who is
2nd (3 slots): misty step, suggestion; not incapacitated within 5 feet of the target, and as long
3rd (3 slots): counterspell, fireball, fly; as Cornlord does not have disadvantage on the attack roll.
4th (3 slots): greater invisibility, ice storm; Spider Climb. Cornlord is able to climb difficult surfaces and
5th (1 slots): cone of cold; ceilings without requiring an ability check.
Innate Spellcasting. Cornlord’s spellcasting ability is Intelli-
ACTIONS gence, and requires no material components for the fol-
Multiattack. Clovis makes two attacks on his turn. lowing spells (spell save DC 15):
Bite (Spider Form Only). Melee weapon attack: +5 to hit, At will: dancing lights, poison cloud, shocking grasp;
range 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage, 3/day each: charm person, sleep;
and the target must make a successful DC 13 Constitution 1/day each: invisibility, mirror image;
saving throw, taking 9 (2d8) poison damage on a failed
save, or half as much damage on a successful save. If the ACTIONS
poison reduces the target to 0 hit points, the target is sta- Multiattack. Cornlord makes two attacks on his turn.
ble but poisoned for 1 hour, even after regaining hit points, Bite (Spider Form Only). Melee weapon attack: +5 to hit,
and is paralyzed while poisoned this way. reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+2) piercing damage,
Dagger. Melee or ranged attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. or and the target must make a successful DC 13 Constitution
range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) piercing dam- saving throw, taking 9 (2d8) poison damage on a failed
age. save, or half as much damage on a successful save. If the
Web (Spider Form Only, Recharge 5-6). Ranged weapon at- poison reduces the target to 0 hit points, the target is sta-
tack: +5 to hit, range 30/60 ft., and the target is restrained ble but poisoned for 1 hour, even after regaining hit points,
by webbing, requiring a DC 12 Strength check to escape. and is paralyzed while poisoned this way.
Shortsword. Melee weapon attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 6 (1d6+3) piercing damage, and the target
must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 24
(7d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much
damage on a successful one.
Light Crossbow. Ranged weapon attack: +7 to hit, range
80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) piercing damage, and
the target must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw,

112
 GM Guide
taking 24 (7d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as within 10 ft. of this flash are automatically blinded for 1d6
much damage on a successful one. rounds. The creeper’s gear and treasure remain lying in a
Web (Spider Form Only, Recharge 5-6). Ranged weapon at- heap where the creeper died.
tack: +5 to hit, range 30/60 ft., and the target is restrained Martial Advantage. A dark creeper’s dagger attack does
by webbing, requiring a DC 12 Strength check to escape. an extra 1d6 piercing damage if the dark creeper has
advantage on the attack, or if another dark stalker or dark
creeper is within 5 feet of the target.
Crown Prince Rorth ACTIONS
Princess Eleanor’s husband is the dashing face of the family. In truth, Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
Rorth is only interested in sexual conquest and horseracing, in that order. creature). Hit: 1d4 + 3 piercing damage and the target
An absinthe fiend, he frequently goes to the Artists’ Quarter in disguise to must make a successful DC 12 Constitution saving throw or
search for some new vice. suffer 1d4 poison damage and be poisoned for 1 hour. Af-
ter being poisoned, the victim must make a saving throw
each round until succeeding. Each failure causes an addi-
Crown Prince Rorth tional 1d4 points of poison damage.
Medium human, neutral
Armor Class 16 (studded leather)
Hit Points 75 (10d8+30)
Speed 30 ft.
Dark Stalker
This creature resembles a small humanoid with a light, thin frame. It
has gray skin and stark-white eyes with gray pupils. It dresses in filthy,
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
brownish-black clothing. The smell of dung and rotted meat hangs in the
11 (+0) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 13 (+1) 10 (+0) air around it.

Skills Acrobatics +6, Perception +5, Survival +4 Dark Stalker

Senses passive Perception 15 Medium humanoid, chaotic neutral
Languages any one language (usually common) Armor Class 15
Challenge 3 (700 XP) Hit Points 48 (6d8 + 12)
Speed 30 ft.
Eagle Eye (3/day). On a successful hit with a longbow or
shortbow, Rorth can roll an additional damage die and
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
add it to the total damage of the hit.
14 (+2) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 9 (-1) 11 (+0) 13 (+1)
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Rorth makes two attacks on his turn.
Rapier. Melee weapon attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar- Skills Sleight of Hand +5, Stealth +7
get. Hit: 8 (1d8+4) piercing damage. Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 13
Longbow. Ranged weapon attack: +6 to hit, range 150/600 ft., Languages Common, Undercommon
one target. Hit: 8 (1d8+4) piercing damage. Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Death Throes. When a dark stalker is slain, its body combusts

Dark Creeper in a flash of flame. All creatures within 20 feet of the slain
stalker take 3d6 fire damage, or half damage with a suc-
This creature resembles a small humanoid with a light, thin frame. It cessful DC 12 Dexterity save. The stalker’s combustible
has gray skin and stark-white eyes with gray pupils. It dresses in filthy, gear is burned to ash, but other items (shortswords, poison
brownish-black clothing. The smell of dung and rotted meat hangs in the vials, coins, gems) survive the burst of fire.
air around it. Martial Advantage. A dark stalker’s shortsword attack does
an extra 2d6 piercing damage if the dark stalker has
advantage on the attack, or if another dark stalker or dark
Dark Creeper creeper is within 5 feet of the target.
Small humanoid, chaotic neutral Innate Spellcasting. The dark stalker’s innate spellcasting
Armor Class 15 ability is Charisma (spell save DC 11). It can innately cast
Hit Points 16 (3d6 + 6) the following spells, requiring no material components:
Speed 30 ft. At will: darkness, detect magic, fog cloud

STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA ACTIONS

Multiattack. The dark stalker attacks twice with its
11 (+0) 17 (+3) 14 (+2) 9 (–1) 10 (+0) 8 (–1) shortswords.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
creature). Hit: 1d6 + 4 piercing damage and the target
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +5 must make a successful DC 12 Con saving throw or suffer
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 13 1d4 poison damage and be poisoned for 1 hour. After be-
Languages Deep speech, Undercommon ing poisoned, the victim must make a saving throw each
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP) round until succeeding. Each failure causes an additional
1d4 points of poison damage.
Death Throes. When a dark creeper is slain, its body com-
busts in a flash of bright light. All creatures within 20 feet of
the slain creeper must make a successful DC 12 Constitu-
tion save or be blinded for 1d6 rounds. Any other creeper
113
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Unusual Equipment: Reaver
Demoriel Reaver
Weapon (any sword), legendary (requires attunement by a creature of
This creature is a very attractive female with raven black hair, coal evil alignment)
black eyes, amber skin, and a shapely form. Small bat wings protrude Reaver is Demoriel’s finely crafted unholy longsword. Those that wield
from her shoulders, and tiny horns jut from her forehead, just above it gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon,
her eyes. which deals psychic damage instead of slashing damage. When a celestial
creature takes damage from Reaver, it suffers an extra 1d8 psychic
Demoriel, the Twice-Exiled Seductress, damage. The sword emits a dim purple light in a 15-foot radius.
Demoriel was once a powerful angel that made her home in the heavens
Shadow Ruler of Castorhage among the other angels. In the Celestial Hierarchy, she was a member
of the Cherubim and served alongside Gabriel, Raphael, and Ophaniel.
Large fiend (devil), lawful evil
During the Unholy Schism, she sided with Lucifer and aided him by
Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
seducing another Cherub wherein Lucifer caught the angel unaware and
Hit Points 231 (22d10+110)
murdered him on the spot.
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft.
When Lucifer was thrown down from the good-aligned planes, Demoriel
was beside him; cast out for the sin of slaying another angel and spilling
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA the blood of an angel in the outer planes. When Lucifer envisioned Hell,
22 (+6) 20 (+5) 20 (+5) 22 (+6) 22 (+6) 24 (+7) Demoriel envisioned herself on the throne next to him, serving as Hell’s
Queen. Unfortunately for her, she became one of his many concubines
but never his bride, for the Great Uprising occurred in Hell and the other
Skills Persuasion +13, Deception +13 arch-devils moved to destroy Lucifer and his court. When Lucifer was
Damage Resistances cold damage, nonmagical weapon removed from Hell’s Throne and took up residence in a pocket plane
attacks called Infernus, Demoriel followed. Once again, she was denied her place
Damage Immunities fire, poison damage on the throne next to Lucifer as he took a devil named Shabiri as his
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, consort. Though Demoriel remains ever loyal to Lucifer, she does not trust
poisoned nor like Shabiri. For now, she waits until her time comes when she can
Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 16 discredit or destroy Shabiri and replace her as Lucifer’s consort.
Languages Infernal, telepathy 120 ft. Though Lucifer no longer rules Hell, Demoriel still serves him
Challenge 18 (20,000 XP) unswervingly. She follows no other, though she is more than willing to
lead other creatures to their demise by feigning loyalty to them. She has a
Enrapture. Any creature hostile to Demoriel that starts its turn particularly vile hatred for celestials (more than other devils do it seems)
within 20 feet of Demoriel must make a DC 20 Wisdom and enjoys corrupting and destroying them.
saving throw, unless Demoriel is incapacitated. On a failed Demoriel attacks with her spell-like abilities, attempting to charm the
save, the creature is paralyzed until the start of its next strongest opponents she faces. If forced into melee, she attacks with her
turn. If a creature’s saving throw is successful, the creature spell-like abilities and longsword, Reaver, or summons other devils to
is immune to Demoriel’s Enrapture for the next 24 hours. fight for her while she maintains a position away from the immediate fight.
Hellish Weapons. Demoriel’s weapon attacks are magical
and deal an extra 13 (3d8) acid damage on a hit (includ-
ed in attacks). Denizen of Leng (the “men of Leng”)
Legendary Resistance (3/day). If Demoriel fails a saving Wrapped from head to toe in tattered leather robes, this creature
throw, she can choose to succeed instead. appears almost human at first glance. The longer one looks, however, the
Magic Resistance. Demoriel has advantage on saving more one becomes aware of strange and terrifying realities beneath the
throws against spells and other magical effects. façade.
Innate Spellcasting. Demoriel’s spellcasting ability is Charisma
(spell save DC 21, +13 to hit with spell attacks). She can innately Denizens of Leng are more fully detailed in Fifth Edition Foes, by
cast the following spells, requiring no material components: Frog God Games.
At will: charm person, darkness, detect magic, dispel
magic, dissonant whispers, hideous laughter
3/day each: counterspell, dominate person, telekinesis Denizen of Leng
1/day each: greater invisibility, mass suggestion;
Medium Aberration, chaotic evil
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
ACTIONS
Hit Points 85 (10d8 + 40)
Multiattack. Demoriel makes two attacks with her longsword.
Speed 40 ft.
Reaver (Longsword). Melee weapon attack: +12 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) slashing damage,
or 17 (2d10+6) slashing damage if used two-handed, plus STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
13 (3d8) acid damage. 14 (+2) 18 (+4) 19 (+4) 18 (+4) 17 (+3) 21 (+5)
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Demoriel has access to three legendary actions. She may Skills Deception +9
choose from the options listed below. Only one legendary Damage Resistances cold, lightning
action may be used at a time, and may only be used at Damage Immunities poison
the end of another creature’s turn. At the start of her turn, Condition Immunities poisoned
she regains the use of any spent legendary actions. Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16
Die Laughing (3 actions). Demoriel casts hideous laughter. Languages Common, Abyssal, Infernal
Reaver Attack. Demoriel makes a melee attack with Reaver. Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Teleport (2 actions). Demoriel magically teleports up to 120
ft. to an unoccupied space, along with any equipment Regeneration. At the start of its turn, a denizen of Leng
she is carrying or wearing. recovers 5 lost hit points. This ability fails to function only if
114
 GM Guide
the creature is utterly cut off from Leng; e.g., if its ability to Oily Skin. Hellstoker devils have advantage on any attempts
plane shift is negated. If a denizen of Leng is reduced to to escape a grapple.
0 hit points while it is still capable of regenerating, its body  
dissipates into vapor in 1d4 rounds, leaving only its clothing ACTIONS
and equipment behind, and it returns to life on Leng. Multiattack. Hellstoker Devils can make up to two attacks,
either with their claw or longspear.
Sneak Attack. Once per turn, a denizen of Leng can do an Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar-
extra 4d6 damage with a claw or bite attack if the get. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) slashing damage. If the hellstoker devil
denizen has advantage on the attack or if one of its allies is is on fire, a claw attack does an additional 3 (1d6) fire
within 5 feet of the target. damage and the target catches on fire. Until the target
Spell-like Abilities. A denizen of Leng can use the following takes an action to douse the flames, it takes 3 (1d6) fire
spell-like abilities, using Charisma as its casting ability (DC damage at the start of each of its turns.
16, attack +8). A denizen of Leng doesn’t need material Longspear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,
components to use these abilities. reach 10 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2)
Constant: tongues piercing damage when used one-handed or Hit: 6 (1d8=2)
3/day: detect thoughts, hypnotic pattern, levitate, minor piercing damage when used 2-handed or Hit: 5 (1d6+2)
image 1/day: locate object, plane shift (self only) when thrown.
Bellows. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 30 ft., one
ACTIONS target. Hit: 4 (1d8) fire damage and the target must make
Multiattack. A denizen of Leng bites once and attacks once a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or catch on fire. Until the
with claws. target takes an action to douse the flames, it takes 4 (1d8)
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one fire damage at the start of each of its turns. The hellstoker
creature). Hit: 1d8 + 4 piercing damage and the target devil must be on fire itself or use its burning hands to ignite
must make a successful DC 15 Con saving throw or the bellows before it can be used.
immediately gain one level of exhaustion. Summon Devil (1/day). The hellstoker devil chooses one
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one of these options and has a 50% chance of success: 2d8
creature). Hit: 1d8 + 4 slashing damage. lemures or 35% chance of success: 1 hellstoker devil. Any
devil summoned acts as an ally of the hellstoker devil,
remains for up to one minute and cannot summon any
Devil, Hellstoker more devils.

This man-sized creature has loosely hanging, rubbery flesh,

grayishblack in color, and its entire body is smeared with a yellowish-
brown mucus. Its head is ovoid, devoid of hair, and sports upward curving
Devil, Lilin
horns. A hardened ridge of bone runs from its brow, across the top of A beautiful well-proportioned woman with crimson skin stands before
its head, and disappears into its spine. Its long, serpentine tail is dark you. Her eyes are dark, almost black as is her hair. A pair of small bat-like
grayish-red. wings protrudes from her shoulders. She wields a gleaming longsword in
  her hand.
Devil, Hellstoker
Devil, Lilin
Medium fiend (devil), lawful evil  
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)    Medium fiend (devil), lawful evil
Hit Points 91 (14d8+28) Armor Class 16
Speed 30 ft. Hit Points 76 (8d8+40)
Speed 30 ft., fly 50 ft.
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA   
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
15 (+2) 13 (+1) 15 (+2) 6 (-2) 10 (+0) 10 (+0)
    16 (+3) 16 (+3) 20 (+5) 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 19 (+4)

Skills Athletics +5, Intimidation +5, Perception +5, Survival +5

Damage Resistances acid, cold Saving Throws Str + 6, Dex +6, Cha +7
Damage Immunities fire, poison Skills Deception +5, Perception +6, Persuasion +5
Condition Immunities poisoned Damage Resistances cold; bludgeoning, piercing and slash-
Senses darkvision 60ft., passive Perception 15 ing from non-magical attacks that aren’t silvered
Languages Infernal, Telepathy 120 ft. Damage Immunities fire, poison
Challenge 4 (XP 1,100) Condition Immunities poisoned
  Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16
Innate spellcasting. The Hellstoker Devil’s innate spellcasting Languages Infernal, telepathy 120 ft.
ability is Charisma (spell save DC 10). It can innately cast Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
the following spells, requiring no material components:
At will: protection from evil and good, teleport (self and Innate Spellcasting: The lilin’s spellcasting ability is Charisma
50 lbs.) (spell save DC 15). The lilin can innately cast the following
1/day: burning hands spells, requiring no material components:
Fiery Body. Hellstoker devils are covered in flammable oil. Any At will: charm person, misty step
fire damage that hits them will cause them to burst into 3/day each: animate dead
flame for 1 minute. While on fire, a creature that touches
the hellstalker devil or hits it with a melee attack within 5 ACTIONS
feet of it takes 3 (1d6) fire damage and catches on fire. Multiattack. The lilin devil can make two attacks with either
Until a creature takes an action to douse the flames, it claws or longsword or a combination of both.
takes 3 (1d6) fire damage at the start of each of its turns. Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.; one tar-
115
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
get. Hit: 10 (2d8 + 3) slashing damage. gains 1 hit point.
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Regeneration. The vampire regains 10 hit points at the start
target. Hit: 12 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage. of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point and isn’t in sunlight or
Summon Devil (1/day). The lilin devil has a 30% chance running water. If the vampire takes radiant damage or
of summoning one barbed devil. If successful, the sum- damage from holy water, this trait doesn’t function at the
moned devil appears in an unoccupied space within 60 start of the vampire’s next turn.
feet of the lilin, and acts as an ally of the lilin. It remains Spider Climb. The vampire can climb difficult surfaces, in-
summoned for 1 minute, until it or the lilin dies, or until it is cluding upside down on ceilings, without needing to make
dismissed by the lilin. It cannot summon other devils. an ability check.
Vampire Weaknesses. The vampire has the following flaws:
Forbiddance: The vampire can’t enter a residence without
Diseased Vampire an invitation from one of the occupants.
Harmed by Running Water: The vampire takes 20 acid
(e.g., Lord Hemlock, Wither) damage if it ends its turn in running water.
Stake to the Heart: If a piercing weapon made of wood
Virtually no diseases affect the undead, but as with everything in the is driven into the vampire’s heart while the vampire is
City of Castorhage, diseases can take unusual forms and abnormal incapacitated in its resting place, the vampire is paralyzed
virulence. The Nosferiadra is a magical curse rather than a disease, but until the stake is removed.
it has a physical presence, a drifting cloud that winds its way through the Sunlight Hypersensitivity: The vampire takes 20 radiant
blight along streets and into shadows, down gutters and over rooftops. It damage when it starts its turn in sunlight. While in sunlight,
is neither extensive nor particularly contagious, but the vampire Hemlock it has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.
has been unlucky enough to be infected by its influence. The effect of the
curse is much like a disease that might affect a living being; Hemlock is ACTIONS
not as powerful or as capable as a vampire in the prime of death. Multiattack (Vampire Form Only): The diseased vampire
makes two attacks, only one of which can be a bite
attack.
Diseased Vampire Unarmed Strike (Vampire Form Only): Melee Weapon
Medium undead, lawful evil Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4)
Armor Class 16 (natural armor) bludgeoning damage. Instead of dealing damage, the
Hit Points 68 (17d8 + 0) vampire can grapple the target (escape DC 18).
Speed 30 ft. Bite (Bat or Vampire Form Only): Melee Weapon Attack: +8
to hit, reach 5 ft., one willing creature, or a creature that
is grappled by the vampire, incapacitated, or restrained.
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) necrotic
18 (+4) 18 (+4) 10 (+0) 17 (+3) 15 (+2) 18 (+4) damage. The target’s hit point maximum is reduced by an
amount equal to the necrotic damage taken. A diseased
vampire regains only 1 hit point from biting, rather than
Saving Throws Dex +8, Wis +6, Cha +8 the full amount of damage inflicted. The reduction of
Skills Perception +6, Stealth +7 maximum hit points lasts until the target finishes a long rest.
Damage Resistances necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum
slashing from nonmagical weapons to 0. A humanoid slain in this way and then buried in the
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16 ground rises the following night as a vampire spawn under
Languages As known in life the vampire’s control.
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP) Charm: The vampire targets one humanoid it can see within
30 feet of it. If the target can see the vampire, the target
Shapechanger. If the diseased vampire isn’t in sunlight or must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw against
running water, it can use its action to polymorph into a this magic or be charmed by the vampire. The charmed
Tiny bat or a Medium cloud of mist, or back into its true target regards the vampire as a trusted friend to be
form. While in bat form, the vampire can’t speak, its walk- heeded and protected. Although the target isn’t under
ing speed is 5 feet, and it has a flying speed of 30 feet. Its the vampire’s control, it takes the vampire’s requests
statistics, other than its size and speed, are unchanged. or actions in the most favorable way it can, and it is a
Anything it is wearing transforms with it, but nothing it is willing target for the vampire’s bite attack. Each time
carrying does. It reverts to its true form if it dies. While in the vampire or the vampire’s companions do anything
mist form, the vampire can’t take any actions, speak, or harmful to the target, it can repeat the saving throw,
manipulate objects. It is weightless, has a flying speed ending the effect on itself on a success. Otherwise, the
of 20 feet, can hover, and can enter a hostile creature’s effect lasts 24 hours or until the vampire is destroyed, is on
space and stop there. In addition, if air can pass through a a different plane of existence than the target, or takes a
space, the mist can do so without squeezing, and it can’t bonus action to end the effect.
pass through water. It has advantage on Strength, and Children of the Night (1/Day): The vampire magically calls
Dexterity saving throws, and it is immune to all nonmagical 2d4 swarms of bats or rats, provided that the sun isn’t up.
damage, except the damage it takes from sunlight. While outdoors, the vampire can call 3d6 wolves instead.
Misty Escape. When it drops to 0 hit points outside its resting The called creatures arrive in 1d4 rounds, acting as allies
place, the diseased vampire transforms into a cloud of the vampire and obeying its spoken commands. The
of mist (as in the Shapechanger trait) instead of falling beasts remain for 1 hour, until the vampire dies, or until the
unconscious, provided that it isn’t in sunlight or running vampire dismisses them as a bonus action.
water. If it can’t transform, it is destroyed. While it has 0 hit
points in mist form, it can’t revert to its vampire form, and it LEGENDARY ACTIONS
must reach its resting place within 2 hours or be destroyed. The vampire can take 2 legendary actions, described be-
Once in its resting place, it reverts to its vampire form. It low. Only one legendary action option can be used at a
is then paralyzed until it regains at least 1 hit point. After time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The
spending 1 hour in its resting place with 0 hit points, it re-
116
 GM Guide
vampire regains spent legendary actions only at the end
of a long rest. Pit Mastiff
 Move: The vampire moves up to its speed without provoking
opportunity attacks. (Heavy Fighting Dog)
This vicious-looking dog is heavily muscled and glares threateningly
Blight-Bull (Light Fighting Dog) at everyone who gets near.

This small but nasty-looking dog is scarred from many battles.

Pit Mastiff
Medium beast, unaligned
Blight-Bull
Small beast, unaligned Armor Class 14 (studded leather)
Hit Points 22 (4d8 + 4)
Armor Class 14 (studded leather) Speed 40 ft.
Hit Points 9 (2d6 + 2)
Speed 40 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
14 (+2) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 3 (-4) 12 (+1) 7 (-2)
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
9 (-1) 15 (+2) 10 (+1) 3 (-4) 12 (+1) 6 (-2)
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4 Languages none
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13 Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Languages none
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP) Ferocity. When the pit mastiff drops to 0 hit points, it
immediately makes one attack against a creature within 5
Ferocity. When the Blight-bull drops to 0 hit points, it feet as a reaction before dying.
immediately makes one attack against a creature within 5
feet as a reaction before dying. ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
ACTIONS creature). Hit: 1d8 + 2 piercing damage, and a Medium or
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one creature). smaller creature is grappled (escape DC 12). A grappled
Hit: 1d4 + 2 piercing damage, and a Small or smaller creature creature takes 1d8 + 2 piercing damage at the end of its
is grappled (escape DC 9). A grappled creature takes 1d4 + 2 turn.
piercing damage at the end of its turn.
ECOLOGY
ECOLOGY Environment urban
Environment urban Organization solitary, pair, or pack (3–12)
Organization solitary, pair, or pack (3-12)
Dogs bred and trained specifically to fight are tougher than normal
breeds. They are typically garbed in light barding and have been taught
to lock their jaws to bring opponents down. Their training has suppressed
some of their natural instincts and rendered them quite specialized;
consequently, they aren’t of much use for other activities, such as tracking,
but continue to fight past the point when other dogs would no longer be
able to continue.

Copyright Notice
Author Alistair Rigg, based on material by Richard Pett.

Dog, Riding
This burly dog is fitted with a small saddle. A low, menacing growl
rumbles up from its chest.

Riding Dog
Medium beast, unaligned
Armor Class 14 (natural armour)
Hit Points 13 (2d8+4)
Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA

15 (+2) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 3 (-4)   10 (+0) 10 (+0)

Skills Advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to track by smell.

117
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Senses passive Perception 10 Hit Points 52 (8d8+16)
Languages — Speed 30 ft.
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 17 (+3)
creature). Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) slashing damage.

Saving Throws Con +4, Wis +2

Duke Malice Senses passive Perception 10
Languages any one language (usually common)
Ostensibly in charge of the Royal Armies and the City Watch, Malice is Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
an appallingly cruel taskmaster infamous for his use of personal wizards to
dominate officers and captains in his force. Capable of outrageous acts of Spellcasting. Duke Taim is a 6th-level spellcaster. His spell-
cruelty, the stories of Malice are frequently told in taverns and gin houses casting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 14, +5 to hit with
up and down the city. It was Malice who first used Royal manticorae to spell attacks). He has the following paladin spells pre-
pull apart prisoners; he who used live prisoners as catapult ammunition; pared:
and he who was responsible for the great Road of Impalements, a tale that 1st level (4 slots) — bless, divine favor, heroism, wrathful smite
still blights the Capitol and Royal Family. Despite the rancour held for 2nd level (2 slots) — aid, branding smite;
him in the city, the Queen’s 80-year-old cousin has aged remarkably well.
He retains a full head of long, thick black hair (carefully oiled and held ACTIONS
in place), and the trim, well-muscled physique of a much younger man. Multiattack. Duke Taim makes two attacks on his turn.
Remarkably, he is not of the alchymic-undying. Greatsword. Melee weapon attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one target. Hit: 10 (2d6+3) slashing damage.
Heavy Crossbow. Ranged weapon attack: +5 to hit, range
Duke Malice 100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d10) piercing damage.
Medium human, neutral evil
Armor Class 18 (plate) REACTIONS
Hit Points 90 (12d8+36) Parry. When wielding a melee weapon, Taim can add 2 to
Speed 30 ft. his AC as a reaction against one melee attack that would
otherwise hit. He must be wielding a melee weapon and
be able to see the attacker.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16 (+3) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 10 (+0)
Eleanor Shank
Saving Throws Str +6, Con +6 Eleanor Shank is a member of the Thieves Guild, and a pivotal figure
Skills Athletics +5, Perception +5 in the Levee Adventure.
Senses passive Perception 15
Languages any one language (usually common)
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Eleanor Shank
Medium human, neutral good
Cruelty. When he scores a critical hit with his claymore, Duke Armor Class 16 (leather armour)
Malice can roll an additional 1d6 and add it to the extra Hit Points 52 (8d8+16)
damage of the critical hit. Speed 30 ft.

ACTIONS
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
Multiattack. Duke Malice makes two attacks on his turn.
Claymore. Melee weapon attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one 13 (+1) 18 (+4) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0)
target. Hit: 10 (2d6+3) slashing damage.
Recurve Crossbow. Ranged weapon attack: +3 to hit, range
80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d10) piercing damage. Saving Throws Dex +7, Int +4
Skills Acrobatics +7, Athletics +4, Perception +5, Sleight of
Hand +7, Stealth +7
Duke Taim Senses passive Perception 15
Languages Thieves’ cant, Common
The queen’s only nephew, Taim believes in order and the sanctity of Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
the Royal Family. He is totally loyal to the queen and her name and,
like Malice, capable of extreme violence and cruelty if need be. Taim, Cunning Action. On each of her turns, Eleanor can use a bo-
however, is more controlled in his fury, and is more likely to see good nus action to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.
in people if they give him cause to do so. Taim is madly in love with Evasion. When Eleanor is subjected to an effect that allows
Princess Rebecca of Mourney, and has proposed no fewer than eleven her to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half
times. The Master of the Capitol, he is responsible for the security and damage, she instead takes no damage if the save is suc-
well-being of the Royal Family and all residents in the Capitol. Taim cessful, and only half damage if the roll is a failure.
works covertly against any evil he finds therein, a position that grows Sneak Attack. Once per turn, Eleanor can deal an extra
more desperate by the day. 4d6 damage to one creature she hits with an attack if she
has advantage on the attack roll. The attack must use
a finesse or a ranged weapon. Eleanor doesn’t need ad-
Duke Taim vantage on the attack roll if another enemy of the target
Medium human, neutral is within 5 feet of it, that enemy isn’t Incapacitated, and
Armor Class 18 (plate) Eleanor doesn’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
118
 GM Guide
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Eleanor can make three attacks with either her
shortsword or her light crossbow per turn.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
creature). Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range
80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage.

Electric Eel
The serpentine creature moves sinuously through the water, the tip of its
tail sparking with an electrical discharge.

Electric Eel
Large beast, unaligned
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 26 (4d10 + 4)
Speed 5 ft. Swim 40 ft.

STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA

10 (+0) 18 (+4) 12 (+1) 1 -5)   12 (+1) 2 (-5)

Damage Immunities lightning
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages —
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)

ACTIONS
Electric Shock (recharge 6). The electric eel produces a jolt
of electricity in a 10-ft. radius centered on itself.  Creatures
within 5 ft. take 13 (3d8) points of lightning damage. 
Those further away but within 10 ft. take 4 (1d8) points. 
Creatures making a successful DC 13 Constitution save
reduce the damage by half. it killed within the last minute and whose space the elemental occupies.
A newly-created ragefire spawn (a Tiny ragefire elemental) appears in an
empty space within 5 feet of the spawning elemental.
Elemental, Ragefire Ragefire elementals embody the chaos and evil of their Abyssal
heritage, manifesting in demonic forms of living flame, smoke, ash, and
The rage and hatred that emanate with the white-hot heat from this cinders. They exist to incinerate life and, in so doing, grow stronger and
demonic fire are palpable. more destructive.
A ragefire elemental cannot enter water or any other nonflammable
liquid. A body of water is an impassible barrier unless the ragefire
Ragefire Elemental elemental can step or jump over it or the water is covered with a layer of
The rage and hatred that emanate with the white-hot heat from this something flammable, such as oil.
demonic fire are palpable.
Copyright Notice
The ragefire elemental is a type of fire elemental that grows as it Author Alistair Rigg, based on material by Richard Pett.
consumes fuel. All ragefire elementals start out as Tiny sparks, called
ragefire spawn. As they burn their way through their surroundings, they Ragefire Elemental
steadily increase in size until they become gargantuan infernos.
Every size of ragefire elemental has stats identical to a standard fire Size HP Attack Damage Burn CR
elemental, except as noted on the table below. The table lists the hit points, Tiny 33 +3 1d4+3 1d4 1
melee attack bonus, melee damage, ongoing damage to flammable objects
(“Burn”), and challenge rating of every size of ragefire elemental. Burn Small 52 +4 1d6+3 1d6 2
damage also applies as the damage done by the elemental’s Fire Form ability. Medium 75 +5 1d10+3 1d8 3
Besides the differences noted above, Tiny through Large ragefire
Large 102 +6 2d6+3 1d10 5
elementals also have the trait Intensify: As an action, a Tiny, Small,
Medium, or Large ragefire elemental incinerates the corpse of a humanoid Huge 124 +7 3d10+3 1d12 8
it killed within the last minute and whose space the elemental occupies. Gargantuan 189 +8 4d10+3 1d20 11
The elemental heals 5 hit points and, if it is Tiny, it becomes a Small
ragefire elemental with full hit points minus its current amount of damage.
Likewise, a Small, Medium, or Large ragefire elemental grows to the next
size after incinerating a number of humanoid corpses equal to its current
challenge rating.
Huge and Gargantuan ragefire elementals don’t have the Intensify trait.
Instead, they have the trait Spawn Ragefire: As an action, a Huge or
Gargantuan ragefire elemental incinerates the corpse of a humanoid that
119
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
ally isn’t incapacitated.
Enoch Nettle Water Breathing. The fanged sea serpent can breathe only
underwater.
A minor spellcaster, Enoch plays a role in the Levee Adventure.
ACTIONS
Enoch Nettle, Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) piercing damage, and the target must
Acolyte of Mother Grace, Poacher succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or become
poisoned for 1 hour.
Medium human, lawful neutral
Armor Class 15 (chain shirt, buckler)
Hit Points 20 (3d8 + 3)
Speed 30 ft. Father Gromwell
Father Gromwell is a major figure in the Levee Adventure.
STR  DEX  CON  INT WIS     CHA
14 (+2) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 13 (+2) 11 (+0) Father Gromwell
Medium human, lawful neutral (Mother Grace)
Saving Throws Int +2, Wis +4 Armor Class 19 (Between-based powers)
Skills Medicine +4, Religion +2, Survival +4 Hit Points 78 (12d8+24)
Senses passive Perception 12 Speed 30 ft.
Languages Common
Challenge 2 (450 XP) STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16 (+3) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 17 (+3) 13 (+1)
Spellcasting. Enoch Nettle is a 2nd-level spellcaster. His spell-
casting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with
spell attacks). He has the following cleric spells prepared:
Saving Throws Con +6, Wis +4
Cantrips (at will): light, sacred flame, thaumaturgy
Skills Insight +5, Religion +4
1st level (3 slots): bless, cure wounds, sanctuary
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages common
ACTIONS
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Morningstar. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.
Spellcasting. Father Gromwell is a 9th-level spellcaster. Wis-
Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach
dom is his spellcasting ability (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit
80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d8) piercing damage.
with spell attacks). He knows the following spells from the
cleric spell list:
Treasure: Poacher’s coat (heavily waxed long coat with many interior
Spells (slots):
hooks for game), 6 snares, Morningstar, light crossbow, 20 bolts, chain
Cantrips (at will): light, mending, sacred flame, spare the
shirt, buckler, wooden symbol of Mother Grace, small pyrebeetle bullseye
dying;
lantern, 11 silver pieces.
1st (4 slots): divine favor, guiding bolt, healing word, shield
of faith;
Fanged Sea Serpent 2nd (3 slots): lesser restoration, magic weapon, prayer of
healing, silence, spiritual weapon;
This serpent is 12 to 15 feet long and 5 feet thick. Its body scales are 3rd (3 slots): beacon of hope, crusader’s mantle, dispel
thickened and hardened, which slows it somewhat in water but provides magic, revivify, spirit guardians, water walk;
good protection. The serpent’s most outstanding features, however, are the 4th (3 slots): banishment, freedom of movement, guardian
rows of long, sharp teeth that fill its mouth. It has large, lidless red eyes of faith, stoneskin;
with white pupils. 5th (1 slot): flamestrike, mass cure wounds, hold monster;
Staff of Withering. Father Gromwell has a staff of withering
with 3 charges that regains 1d3 expended charges
Fanged Sea Serpent at dawn. He will use charges on his first two hits if he is
engaged in melee combat, but will reserve the third
Large dragon, neutral
charge.
Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 85 (10d10 + 30)
ACTIONS
Speed swim 30 ft.
Multiattack. Father Gromwell makes two attacks on his turn.
Staff of Withering. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) bludgeoning damage. If Fa-
18 (+4) 13 (+1) 16 (+3) 5 (-3) 10 (+0) 6 (-2) ther Gromwell expends 1 charge on the staff, it inflicts an
additional 2d10 points of necrotic damage and requires a
DC 15 Constitution saving throw or the target also is at dis-
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +3 advantage on all ability checks and saving throws based
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14 on Strength and Constitution for a period of 1 hour.
Languages -
Challenge 3 (700 XP)

Pack Tactics. The fanged sea serpent has advantage on an

attack roll against a creature if at least one of the fanged
sea serpent’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the

120
 GM Guide
point, the fleshgine hides the victim in some convenient location around

Fleshgine or within its body. The victim remains unconscious until it dies or it’s
rescued.
Casual observers notice the hidden victim if their passive Perception
Fleshgines are constructs of flesh combined with other materials exceeds (10 + the fleshgine’s Stealth bonus). Anyone specifically looking
designed for a specific purpose. They might pump water from a city’s for a victim taken by the fleshgine must win a contest of their Perception
reservoirs into rooftop cisterns to supply the inhabitants with running against the fleshgine’s Stealth or Deception (fleshgine’s choice). A taken
water, or they may lift or pull — anything a humanoid body can do. victim is found automatically if the fleshgine is destroyed, but also might
But fleshgines are built to improve upon a humanoid’s ability through be injured, depending on the type of attacks used against the fleshgine and
modification and vast strength. While they are not uncommon in the size difference between them; GMs can apply their own judgment in
Castorhage, they often operate out of sight; their disturbing appearance these cases.
being something the civilized locals choose not to acknowledge. They can If a victim escapes the fleshgine’s grapple, the fleshgine might attack or
be heard though — their steady stormy breathing, the asthmatic wheeze flee, depending on the situation.
behind a grate, the slithering of flaccid limbs between floors. They also A taken victim takes damage equal to any one of the fleshgine’s melee
have a strong odor — a sort of organic sweatiness that can smell of the attacks after every 24 hours. The taken victims are used to vent the
many other odors from the things they work in and around, which they leeched needs of the fleshgine — whether they be simple hunger, torment,
absorb and amplify. or sexual — before their dead and broken remains are cast away.
Fleshgines come in all shapes and sizes, and while no two are ever A sentient fleshgine is always torn between its urges to seize a victim
alike, they often fall into a set pattern. Each is very strong, and many — and the knowledge that discovery means certain punishment and death. It
an uncannily large number — are weakly sentient creatures in their own therefore carefully watches its chosen victim, often for weeks or months
right. Different fleshgines tend to have different abilities; some are simple before striking.
brutes that occasionally go mad, some are more cunning, lurking and The following entries describe three sample types of fleshgines. Many
growing behind plaster and wainscoting and brooding their dark, strange more are possible.
dreams and wants.
All fleshgines have the trait Berserk: Every time a fleshgine is injured Copyright Notice
in combat, roll d100. If the result is less than or equal to the total number Author Richard Pett.
of hit points the fleshgine has lost so far in this combat, its elemental spirit
breaks free and the fleshgine goes berserk. The berserk fleshgine attacks
the nearest living creature; if no creature is close enough for the fleshgine
to attack with a single move, it attacks an object instead. The fleshgine’s
Dungier’s Buggy
controller can try to reestablish control, provided the fleshgine is within 60 The rumble of a coach’s wheels upon the cobbles comes out of the
feet. The controller must use an action to speak firmly and authoritatively misty night, but it is not accompanied by the clip-clop of hooves. Rather,
to the construct and make a successful DC 15 Charisma check. A damaged there is a soft slapping of skin upon the hard stones. Emerging from the
fleshgine that spends at least 1 minute outside combat has its chance to go fog is a hansom cab drawn not by a team of horses but rather by the
berserk reset to 0 percent. upper torso of an ogre melded to the front of the conveyance. It walks on
Sentient Fleshgines: While most fleshgines are simple, mindless its massive hands, and its head stares forward, the eyes alert but vacant.
servitors made of flesh stitched and grown to inorganic parts and
contraptions, some grow into something altogether different. Sentient
fleshgines take on aspects of their humanoid neighbors that seep in from Dungier’s Buggy (Fleshgine)
their close proximity on a daily basis. These aspects include tics, habits, Huge construct, unaligned
language, and even some of their vices. These creatures are often bloated
by the desires and madness of Between and become enraptured by it, Armor Class 10
seeking new directions and becoming fixated in disturbing ways. These Hit Points 51 (6d10 + 18)
constructs often form complex alliances with those who dwell behind the Speed 40 ft.
veneer of the Blight, particularly with the ghouls of the Fetch (who have
enough inert humanity to understand and fear the construct). Some say
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
the thoughts of the Crooked Promethean violate their dreams and awaken
them; others say that it is a simple accident of nature. These sentient 19 (+4) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 2 (-4) 7 (-2) 3 (-4)
constructs lurk in plain sight and are driven by whatever twisted needs or
goals have grown within their warped consciousness.
As more complex fleshgines are grafted from darker sources of flesh Damage Resistances cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and slash-
and bone, so too the risk of disaster becomes greater. Philosophers within ing from nonmagical, nonadamantine weapons
the city-state already worry what fleshgines might do if they rebelled en Damage Immunities necrotic, poison, psychic
masse. They point to the curious whale-song that occasionally haunts Condition Immunities disease; charmed, frightened, para-
certain nights, and which seems to come from the fleshgines calling to lyzed, poisoned, prone, stunned, unconscious
each other across the city. What are they saying or planning, they wonder? Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 8
The golem-stitchers and homuncule wives laugh at such suggestions; Languages understands Common and Giant but speaks
their creations are simple flesh-and-blood machines after all. What only programmed phrases
maliciousness could possibly lurk within this humble framework? Challenge 3 (700 XP)
All sentient fleshgines that have gone berserk at least once in the past
develop an urge toward murderous abduction called “take” or “taking.” Berserk. Every time the fleshgine is injured in combat, roll
Occasionally the fleshgine’s habits and needs drive it to seize a victim at d100. If the result is less than or equal to the total number
least one size category smaller than the fleshgine. The fleshgine is always of hit points the fleshgine has lost so far in this combat, its
cunning in this action and manipulates its manifold parts and surroundings elemental spirit breaks free and the fleshgine goes berserk.
to camouflage its action. If the fleshgine’s Stealth check beats the victim’s The berserk fleshgine attacks the nearest living creature; if
passive Perception, the victim doesn’t see the attack coming and the no creature is close enough to attack with a single move,
fleshgine gets to make a grappling attack with advantage. If the victim it attacks an object instead. The fleshgine’s controller can
notices the attack coming, then it’s just a normal attack by the fleshgine. try to reestablish control, provided the fleshgine is within 60
While the victim is grappled by the fleshgine, it’s also restrained, muffled feet. The controller must use an action to speak firmly and
(unable to cry out or speak), and suffocating. After a number of rounds authoritatively to the construct and make a successful DC
equal to its Con modifier (minimum of 1), it becomes unconscious. At that 15 Charisma check. A damaged fleshgine that spends at
121
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City

least 1 minute outside combat has its chance to go ber- number of creatures during its move, but it can’t trample
serk reset to 0 percent. the same creature more than once per round.
Cover. The coach portion of a Dungier’s buggy provides
three-quarters cover to occupants. The coach is built from ACTIONS
iron and wood. It has AC 8, 80 hit points, and is immune Multiattack. The Dungier’s buggy slams once and bites
to necrotic, poison, psychic, and radiant damage. If the once.
coach is destroyed, the fleshgine becomes a Large crea- Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one crea-
ture and loses its Cover, Facing, and Trample traits. ture). Hit: 2d6 + 4 bludgeoning damage.
Facing. Because the legless ogre is permanently melded Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
to a wagon, it can only move forward and backward, creature). Hit: 2d4 + 4 piercing damage.
or turn. Its speed is halved when it moves backward. Its
slam and bite attacks can be made only against targets ECOLOGY
in front of it. It can trample while moving forward or back- Environment urban (the Blight)
ward. behind it as normal. Once a Dungier’s buggy’s front Organization solitary
side has been determined, it requires a move action to
turn its facing greater than 90 degrees. A Dungier’s bug- Perhaps the most successful of Castorhage’s many fleshgines are
gy is aware of attackers behind it but cannot see them, the hired coaches of the golem-stitcher Dunaven Dungier. His method
though it can accurately estimate what space they are in of crafting a hansom cab with the animated upper torso of an ogre
if within 20 feet. (occasionally a hill giant) fused to its front in place of a team of horses
Narrow. Though a Dungier’s buggy is Huge, it can move proved both practical and popular in a city as vast and populous as
through areas only 10 feet wide without penalty. It can’t, the Blight. Soon Dungier’s buggies were traveling throughout the city
however, squeeze through spaces narrower than 10 feet. providing swift, reliable transportation for the noble and common alike
Trample. As the Dungier’s buggy moves, it can enter spaces and for only a modest fare. Dungier’s popularity with the other cab
occupied by enemies but can’t stop there. Creatures in drivers and owners of hacks proved to be less than stellar, though, and
spaces the Dungier’s buggy enters can attempt DC 13 only three years after the introduction of his ingenious cab, portions
Dexterity saving throws. On a failed save, the creature of his body were found floating in the Great Canal. It is assumed that
takes 2d10 + 4 bludgeoning damage and is knocked sough eels or some other denizen devoured the rest. Fortunately for
prone; on a successful save, the creature moves 5 feet out his legacy, Dungier’s methods were fairly easy to reproduce, and now
of the buggy’s path and can make an opportunity attack hundreds of these coaches — still known colloquially as Dungier’s
if it’s allowed to react. A Dungier’s buggy can trample any buggies — travel the streets of the city.
122
 GM Guide
her sweaty groin below that pointless mouth — she must have a mouth, of
Hobbreth’s Mighty Pump No. 87 course. Her flesh engorges above, like some vast flaccid organ that could
fill a great hall, bloated, booming, pumping. Veins cross her every inch —
The stench of sweat and the distant sounds of heavy breathing engulf you can see the swelling blood pumping as she draws her harvest upward
you — whatever it is, you are catching the merest glimpse of the whole. through her cathedral mass far, far above.
In the oily dark you can see sickly appendages gulping, a horrible sense She rises then, reaching high into the city, her pumping limbs extending
of brooding vastness, and a glowering cluster of eyes filled with misery endlessly upward with surprising — some have said alarming — strength to
just below a vast, idiot, crooked mouth. the digits that grasp her farthest reach. Some have likened the digits to fleshy
spiders, but I think that’s simple scare-mongering to frighten children; they
Hobbreth’s Mighty Pump No. 87 (Fleshgine) simply grip the vessel they spend her harvest into. And here her harvest is
drawn, the life-giving water that sustains those in the streets high above pumped
Gargantuan construct, unaligned from sphincter mouths between each cluster of thin many-jointed hands.
It may taste a little of her sweat — her feral porcine nature — but it is water,
Armor Class 10 saving the lower city from drowning and keeping the upper city drinking.
Hit Points 205 (10d20 + 100) How many have I made? Oh, hundreds, no two quite alike. The stories
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft. about them going berserk? Rubbish put about by those with a grievance —
anarchists would say anything to cause discontent amongst the ignorant.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA I do sometimes wonder if they have a soul, though, my fleshy babies
lurking between walls and dreaming. What do they dream of, I wonder?”
30 (+10) 10 (+0) 30 (+10) 4 (-3) 4 (-3) 1 (-5)
— Emilia Hobbreth, Homuncule Wife
Damage Resistances cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and slash-
ing from nonmagical, nonadamantine weapons
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison, psychic
Macabre Lift
Condition Immunities disease; charmed, frightened, para- The dark shaft of the vertical tunnel appears to be empty until its
lyzed, poisoned, prone, stunned, unconscious wooden floor suddenly lurches and rises from where it rested. Beneath
Senses blindsense 60 ft., passive Perception 7 the planking of the floor, you can see that a great fleshy organism has
Languages understands Common but can’t speak grown like a distended bladder that covers the entirety of its underside.
Challenge 12 (8,400 XP) From this sweaty, rugose sac extend four muscular limbs that grasp
the walls of the shaft with their multi-fingered appendages and begin to
Berserk. Every time the fleshgine is injured in combat, roll climb, carrying the cargo of its wooden flooring smoothly up the shaft.
d100. If the result is less than or equal to the total number
of hit points the fleshgine has lost so far in this combat, its
elemental spirit breaks free and the fleshgine goes berserk. Macabre Lift (Fleshgine)
The berserk fleshgine attacks the nearest living creature; if Large construct, unaligned
no creature is close enough to attack with a single move,
it attacks an object instead. The fleshgine’s controller can Armor Class 7 (15 from above)
try to reestablish control, provided the fleshgine is within 60 Hit Points 90 (12d10 + 24)
feet. The controller must use an action to speak firmly and Speed 10 ft., climb 30 ft.
authoritatively to the construct and make a successful DC
15 Charisma check. A damaged fleshgine that spends
at least 1 minute outside combat has its chance to go STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
berserk reset to 0 percent. 22 (+6) 5 (-3) 14 (+2) 1 (-5) 4 (-3) 1 (-5)

ACTIONS
Multiattack. The fleshgine bites once and makes three tenta- Skills Athletics +8
cle attacks in any combination. Damage Resistances cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and slash-
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one crea- ing from nonmagical, nonadamantine weapons
ture). Hit: 1d10 + 10 piercing damage. Damage Immunities necrotic, poison, psychic
Tentacle Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit (reach 20 Condition Immunities disease; charmed, frightened, para-
ft.; one creature). Hit: 4d6 + 10 bludgeoning damage. lyzed, poisoned, prone, stunned, unconscious
Tentacle Grab. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit (reach 15 Senses darkvision 30 ft., passive Perception 7
ft.; one creature). Hit: creature is grappled (escape DC Languages none
20). Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Tentacle Crush. Melee Weapon Attack: automatic hit (one
creature already grappled by the fleshgine). Hit: 4d10 + 10 Berserk. Every time the fleshgine is injured in combat, roll
bludgeoning damage, and the creature is restrained. d100. If the result is less than or equal to the total number
of hit points the fleshgine has lost so far in this combat, its
ECOLOGY elemental spirit breaks free and the fleshgine goes berserk.
Environment urban (the Blight) The berserk fleshgine attacks the nearest living creature; if
Organization solitary no creature is close enough to attack with a single move,
it attacks an object instead. The fleshgine’s controller can
“You can’t see her all, of course, even I never did when I was stitching try to reestablish control, provided the fleshgine is within 60
her and moulding her, making her flesh and breathing life into my baby. feet. The controller must use an action to speak firmly and
I recall her formation though, her crisp newness — the endless flesh, and authoritatively to the construct and make a successful DC
the stench of pigs — for it was pig-flesh I grew and nurtured, and spread 15 Charisma check. A damaged fleshgine that spends
across her carcass like a great sail on a vast living sailing vessel. at least 1 minute outside combat has its chance to go
In her base she is all purpose — her many sucking mouths, which in berserk reset to 0 percent.
truth I suppose you’d call tentacles (if such a crude word could be used Crush. A macabre lift can fall on foes beneath it as its move.
for such grace), with so many eyes clustered together so she can see from Every creature under the lift takes 1d8 bludgeoning dam-
123
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
age per 10 feet the lift fell, or half damage with a suc- Skills Perception +4, Stealth +4
cessful DC 13 Dexterity saving throw. Creatures that fail Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
the saving throw are restrained under the lift; a restrained Languages none
creature can escape by using an action and making a Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
successful DC 16 Strength (Athletics) check. Restrained
creatures take 2d8 bludgeoning damage at the start of Flurry of Wings. If the hate-owl’s bite and claws attacks both
the lift’s turn. hit the same target on the hate-owl’s turn, the target takes
Heavy Floor. The floor of a macabre lift is built from heavy an additional 1d8 + 2 bludgeoning damage.
wooden planks. Attacks against the macabre lift from
creatures above it (such as passengers that were being ACTIONS
raised or lowered in the lift) are made against AC 15, not Multiattack. The hate-owl bites once and attacks once with
AC 7. its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one crea-
ACTIONS ture). Hit: 1d4 + 2 piercing damage.
Multiattack. The fleshgine slams twice. Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one creature). Hit: 2d6 + 2 slashing damage.
creature). Hit: 2d8 + 6 bludgeoning damage. Spiteful Glare. A creature within 60 feet that can see the
gable hate-owl’s eyes must make a DC 13 Charisma
ECOLOGY saving throw. If it fails, the creature drops one item it’s
Environment urban (the Blight) holding (roll randomly if more than one item is held) and
Organization solitary has disadvantage on attacks, ability checks, and saving
throws until the end of its next turn, and the hate-owl can
One of the first fleshgines envisioned by the golem-stitchers of immediately move up to 60 feet (if it hasn’t moved yet)
Castorhage, the macabre lift has found widespread usage among and use Multiattack against the creature.
government buildings and other large, multilevel structures with the
budget to install such amenities. These constructs are rather simple ECOLOGY
in design, with a fleshy, leathery hide grown on the underside of a Environment urban (the Blight)
10-foot-by-10-foot deck of heavy wooden planks. Four stocky limbs Organization solitary
extend from the underside of the creature at its four corners and end
with club-like pseudopods surrounded by a fringe of grasping fingers The gable hate-owl is a shadow among the homes and buildings in the
with thick, coarse nails. The entire fleshgine is no more than 2 feet Blight. Viewed as a thing of ill omen, the presence of the owl roosting is
thick but weighs 1,500 pounds or more (3,500 pounds if constructed feared by the common man. Spiteful, petty birds, the gable hate-owl got
with an iron deck). its name from the hateful scowl its natural plumage creates. They have
Macabre lifts are designed to be placed in vertical shafts whose been known to kill or torture for sport, attacking dogs and other small
dimensions match those of the fleshgine. The fleshgine then lies flat at the animals as they flense off flesh and fur and then leave the poor victims to
base of the shaft and allows passengers to step upon its decking. Upon a limp away.
signal —usually the ringing of a small bell set into the side of the shaft These great owls are large, although most of their bulk comes from
— the macabre lift begins to climb the shaft while keeping its deck level fluffy feathers and large heads, with plumage that gives that appearance of
and stable. Handholds are often built into the walls of the shaft to make wearing a high-collared cloak. Great horned owls have wingspans of up to
the climb easier for the fleshgine, but its climbing pseudopods are so adept 5 feet and weigh up to 4 pounds. Gable hate-owls primarily hunt at night,
that it rarely needs any sort of assistance. The number of times that the bell locating prey through their excellent hearing and sight. Their diet consists
is rung indicates to what floor the lift is supposed to carry its passengers. of rodents supplemented by smaller birds and rabbits.
Likewise, bells set into the shaft at floors above summon it from below Their gaze particularly unsettles the folk of the Blight, as the piercing
to pick up passengers. The rise and fall of the climbing fleshgine is so black eyes that seem dead peer out from under the sharp contrasting pale
smooth that most passengers easily forget that they are riding upon the facial feathers. This sinister-looking visage creates ill fate to any that the
back of an animated construct. owl wishes, typically casting its hateful look upon those that startle or
If a macabre lift goes berserk, its usual tactic is to tip itself over to try interrupt the bird. A gable hate-owl’s wickedly sharp beak lets it easily rip
to dump any passengers to the floor of the shaft below. Anyone riding the open hard shells or strip the flesh from its meals.
lift when it does this must make a successful DC 13 Dex saving throw to
grab hold of the fleshgine’s deck and not fall. Copyright Notice
Author Jeffrey Swank, based on material by Richard Pett.

Gable Hate-Owl
This sinister-looking owl has pitch-black plumage and a pallid face
with yellow eyes. The V-shaped pattern of feathers on its brow gives the
Gargoyles
appearance of a perpetual scowl of utter scorn. Castorhage teems with gargoyles of various kinds, detailed below. See
also “Between gargoyle.”
Gable Hate-Owl
Small monstrosity, neutral evil Gargoyle, Four-Armed
Armor Class 12 A powerful gargoyle similar to its kin, but having four arms rather than
Hit Points 14 (4d6) two.
Speed 10 ft., fly 60 ft.
Four-Armed Gargoyle
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Medium monstrosity, chaotic evil
5 (-3) 15 (+2) 10 (+0) 3 (-4) 15 (+2) 16 (+3) Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 55 (10d8 + 10)

124
 GM Guide
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft.
Gargoyle, Scrimshaw
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA The eerie humanoid-shaped creature is perched precariously on the
15 (+2) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 6 (-2) 11 (+0) 7 (–2) edge of the building. The light from the full moon glints off its alabaster-
colored body, revealing intricate etchings along the surface. As it surveys
the land, the creature throws back its head and emits a piercing howl
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing into the night.
from nonmagical weapons or not made of adamantine
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, petrifaction, poisoned
Scrimshaw Gargoyle
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 Medium construct, chaotic evil
Languages Terran
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP) Armor Class 13
Hit Points 58 (9d8 + 18)
False Appearance. While the gargoyle remains motionless, it Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft.
is indistinguishable from an inanimate statue.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
ACTIONS
Multiattack: The gargoyle makes four attacks: one with its 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 6 (-2) 11 (+0) 7 (-2)
bite, two with its claws, and one with its horn.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage. Skills Stealth +5
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
target. Hit: 10 (2d8 + 2) slashing damage. from nonmagical weapons
Horn. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Damage Immunities thunder
target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage. Condition Immunities paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Common, Terran
Gargoyle, Margoyle Challenge 3 (700 XP)

This creature looks like a hideously ugly humanoid chiselled from Stony Appearance. The gargoyle is indistinguishable from
brown stone. Two large horns protrude from its head, just above its eyes. a statue and can’t be detected as alive by any means
Four large, stony spikes jut from its shoulder blades. Its hands and feet while it remains motionless.
end in sharpened claws.

Gargoyle, Margoyle
Medium monstrosity, chaotic evil
Armor Class 15
Hit Points 68 (8d8 + 32)
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft.

STR DEX CON  INT  WIS CHA

17 (+3) 15 (+2) 19 (+4) 6 (-1) 10 (+0) 7 (-2)

Skills Stealth +5
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
damage from nonmagical attacks that aren’t adamantine
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities exhausted, petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Terran
Challenge 4 (700 XP)

Stony Appearance. While a margoyle sits motionless, it

is indistinguishable from natural stone and can’t be
detected as alive by any means.

Actions
Multiattack. Margoyles can make three attacks. Twice with
its claws, once with its bite, or it can gore once with its
horns instead of using its bite.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.; one
target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar-
get. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage.
Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar-
get. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
125
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
ACTIONS Speed 30 ft.
Multiattack. The scrimshaw gargoyle bites once and attacks
once with its claws.
STR DEX CON  INT WIS CHA
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one crea-
ture). Hit: 1d4 + 2 piercing damage. 13 (+1) 15 (+2) 10 (+0) 3 (-4) 10 (+0) 6 (–2)
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
creature). Hit: 2d6 + 2 slashing damage.
Shrieking Howl. By tilting its head up and forcing air through Damage Immunities poison
its weathered bones, a scrimshaw gargoyle emits a high- Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, poisoned
pitched shriek. Creatures within 150 feet who hear the Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
shriek must make a successful DC 12 Wisdom saving throw Languages None
or become frightened for up to 1 minute. An affected Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
target can make another saving throw at the end of
their turn. A successful save results in the target not being ACTIONS
affected by the effect of the Shrieking Howl for 24 hours. Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) piercing damage. If the target is
ECOLOGY a creature other than an elf or another undead, it must
Environment urban (the Blight) succeed on a DC 10 Constitution save or be paralyzed for 1
Organization solitary, pair, or wing (3–12) minute. The target van repeat the saving throw at the end of
each of its turns, ending the paralysis with a successful save.
The origin of these strangely carven sculptures in the city of Castorhage
is shrouded in the mystery of the past, but their existence is now well
known through its entirety. Originally created as mere constructs lacking Giant Owlbear
the status of truly living creatures, their exposure to eddies and currents of
malevolent energy among the city’s high places, over the years somehow Much larger than the already large hybrid of owl and bear, the giant
granted the missing spark of life. owlbear is a fearsome predator with a piercing screech, a shaggy, thick
A scrimshaw gargoyle is meticulously crafted from painstakingly hide of fur covered by feathers, and the eyes of an owl.
carved whale bones joined together at the joint articulations. However,
these craftings were all completed centuries ago, and no new ones have
been constructed in the long years since. The existing scrimshaw gargoyles
Giant Owlbear
are, therefore, all old, their whale bones weathered and discolored by time Huge monstrosity, unaligned
and climate. Though it is thought that thousands of these creatures existed Armor Class 15 (natural armour)
upon the city’s rooftops in the distant past, it has been estimated that fewer Hit Points 80 (7d12 + 35)
than 50 of them are now in existence, each of them recognizably distinct Speed 40 ft.
with their individual unique markings. However, the thinking on this is
beginning to change as in recent months several new specimens have been STR DEX CON  INT  WIS CHA
spotted upon the rooftops. These new gargoyles are clearly composed of
parts cannibalized from previously destroyed gargoyles. Most believe 20 (+5) 10 (+0) 20 (+5) 3 (-4) 12 (+1) 7 (–2)
the scrimshaw gargoyles, taken as a whole, are too dimwitted to produce
new members of the species. Some contemplate a secret cabal of magical
practitioners as responsible for this change; others theorize that certain Skills Perception +3
scrimshaw gargoyles have advanced much farther in their power and Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
understanding of magic and are somehow responsible. Whatever the Languages None
cause, it appears that the scrimshaw gargoyle population is on the rise for Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
the first time in living memory.
It is thought that the scrimshaw gargoyles’ original progenitors built Keen Sight and Smell. The owlbear has advantage on
the creatures to serve as guardians. To this end, the horrific shriek the Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell.
gargoyle emits probably originally served as an alarm. The gargoyle
generates the sound through careful fluting of the bones around its mouth, ACTIONS
and a supernatural means of passing air — even on still nights — through Multiattack. The owlbear makes three attacks: one with its
the narrow structure. As the gargoyle evolved from a simple guardian to a beak and two with its claws.
menace, however, its shriek also evolved. No longer a loud noise to alert Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one crea-
those nearby, now the shrieking howl is capable of striking fear into the ture. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) piercing damage.
heart of the bravest man. Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar-
A scrimshaw gargoyle stands just over 5 feet tall and weighs a mere 80 get. Hit: 18 (3d8 + 5) slashing damage.
pounds.

Copyright Notice Girallodile

Author John Ling, based on material by Richard Pett.
The girallodile has dirty green hide, mottled with wan, bone-like
extremities. It is partly leathery scales and partly furred, the fur clumping
Ghoul Pig in ugly growths about its limbs. It slithers lizard-like on its four lower legs,
but its upper body looks ape-like with four double-jointed arms spaced
Undead pigs with many of the attributes of ghouls, including a taste for oddly along its flanks. It has a wide crocodilian mouth set in a simian face,
human flesh. and its body tapers to a scaled, elongated tail.

Ghoul Pig Girallodile

Small undead, unaligned Large monstrosity, unaligned
Armor Class 12 (natural armour) Armor Class 14 (natural armour)
Hit Points 21 (6d6) Hit Points 114 (12d10 + 48)
126
 GM Guide
Speed 30 ft. Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one crea-
ture grappled by the gloom crawler). Hit: 1d10 + 5 pierc-
ing damage and the creature is dragged to the gloom
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
crawler’s mouth.
16 (+3) 11 (+0) 19 (+4) 6 (-2) 13 (+1) 6 (-2) Tentacle Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit (reach 15 ft.;
one creature). Hit: 1d8 + 5 bludgeoning damage and the
target is grappled (Escape DC 16).
Saving Throws Con +7 Constriction. Special Melee Attack: Automatic hit to one
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 11 creature already grappled by the gloom crawler at the
Languages None start of the gloom crawler’s turn. Hit: 1d8 + 5 bludgeoning
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) damage and the target is grappled and restrained.

ACTIONS
The girallodile makes two attacks: one with its bite and one
with its tail.
Golem, Lesser Flesh
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. A creature staggers into view, a construct that is pieces of flesh carved
Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) piercing damage. If the target is a crea- and assembled into a vaguely humanoid whole.
ture, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw
or be affected by a shaking palsy for 1d4+4 rounds, giving
disadvantage on all attacks and ability checks. Lesser Flesh Golem
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one Medium construct, neutral
target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage. If the target
is Medium or smaller, it is grappled (escape DC 13) and Armor Class 9
restrained until the grapple ends. Hit Points 60 (8d8 + 24)
Saw-tail. If a creature is grappled in the girallodile’s tail at Damage Immunities Lightning, poison; nonmagical, nonad-
the beginning of the girallodile’s turn, the girallodile will amantine weapons; charm, exhaustion, fright, paralysis,
lash it around in the tail, causing damage from the sharp petrification, poison
scales. The creature automatically takes 10 (2d6 + 3) Speed 30 ft.
slashing damage and must make a DC 14 Constitution
saving throw or be stunned until the end of the girallodile’s
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
next turn. The girallodile may then release the creature
and make a normal tail attack, or may hold onto the 17 (+3) 9 (-1) 16 (+3) 4 (-3) 10 (+0) 5 (-3)
creature to continue causing damage in the next round.

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10

Gloom Crawler Languages understands the language of its creator but
can’t speak
This giant, squidlike beast has thirty to forty tentacles, each up to 30 Challenge 3 (700 XP)
feet long. From the end of each tentacle stares a small, round, lidless
eye with a stark blue pupil. The creature’s glossy flesh is inky-black with Berserk. When a lesser flesh golem starts its turn with 26 or
a slightly paler underside centered around a vicious, beaked mouth of fewer hit points, it has a 1-in-6 chance of going berserk. A
monstrous size. berserk golem attacks the nearest living creature it can
reach. The construct’s creator can regain control over the
golem, if he’s within 60 feet, by using an action and mak-
Gloom Crawler ing a successful DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check.
Huge monstrosity, neutral Fear of Fire. If the golem takes fire damage, it has disadvan-
Armor Class 12 (natural armor) tage on attack rolls and ability checks until the end of its
Hit Points 159 (13d12 + 75) next turn.
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft. Lightning Absorption. Each point of lightning damage that
hits the golem heals 1 hit point.
Magic Resistance. A lesser flesh golem has advantage on
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
saving throws against magic. It is immune to effects that
20 (+5) 14 (+2) 20 (+5) 4 (-3) 12 (+1) 2 (–4) would alter its form.

ACTIONS
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +3 Multiattack. The golem slams twice.
Damage Vulnerability Radiant Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
Condition Immunities Prone creature). Hit: 2d6 + 3 bludgeoning damage.
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages None ECOLOGY
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP) Environment any land
Organization solitary or pair
All-Around Vision. A gloomcrawler’s many eyes allow it
to scan quickly in all directions. Attackers never gain A lesser flesh golem is constructed from a whole cadaver or a number
advantage or bonus damage against it from the of humanoid body parts stitched together into a single composite form.
presence of nearby allies. It moves with a stiff-jointed gait as if not in complete control of its body.
A lesser flesh golem typically stands 6 feet tall and weighs 300 pounds.
Actions While most lesser flesh golems are mindless, some reanimate with a sliver
Multiattack. A gloom crawler attacks ten times with ten- of sentience, and with that spark comes memories of a previous life. The head
tacles and bites once. Each tentacle can either slam or and brain of such a lesser flesh golem must be just the right combination of
constrict. fresh enough and (in its previous life) strong-willed, and even then luck and
127
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
chance during the lesser flesh golem’s creation seem just as important in
retaining the creature’s mind. These sentient flesh golems have the same stats Grand Justice Ashleia
as other lesser flesh golems, but can have Intelligence 6‒16.
Lesser flesh golems cannot normally speak, but sentient lesser flesh Ashleia believes that all life is a riddle, and its form imperfect. She is
golems retain the knowledge of one language they knew in life (usually driven by the desire to create new lives and new forms; her tower is a
Common). They have a difficult time expressing themselves in anything butchery of filleted flesh and stitches and knives where she works her foul
more than simple terms, but, in most cases, a sense of horror at their art aided — they say — by magic she found in the ancient libraries of
newfound state is easy to discern. With patient reeducation, they might be Between. Beyond her veiled form of aristocracy and beauty, her true form
able to regain much of their former intellect. has been demented by her work; her teats drip the acidic milk that is her
lifeblood (her mortal blood long since replaced during an obscene ritual
Copyright Notice to achieve immortality). Her lust is fury, and she takes lovers simply to
Author Pete Pollard, based on material by Richard Pett. suck dry, leaving nothing but dust from her excesses.

Golem, Wood Her Resplendent Grand Justice,

Medium construct, unaligned the Mistress of Life’s Wondrous Varied
Armor Class 13
Hit Points 102 (12d8 + 48) Forms, Grand Justice Ashleia
Speed 30 ft. Medium gynosphinx, neutral evil
Armor Class 17
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Hit Points 136 (9d8)
Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft.
20 (+5) 9 (–1) 18 (+4) 6 (–2) 10 (+0) 1 (–5)
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Damage Resistances bludgeoning and piercing from non- 18 (+4) 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 17 (+3) 18 (+4) 18 (+4)
magical weapons
Damage Vulnerabilities fire
Damage Immunities poison Skills Arcana +12, History +12, Perception +8, Religion +8
Condition Immunities charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Par- Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 18
alyzed, Petrified, Poisoned Languages any four languages
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Languages understands the languages of its creator but
can’t speak Inscrutable. Ashleia is immune to any effect that senses
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP) emotions or reads thoughts, and scrying or divination spells
that she wishes to refuse. Wisdom (Insight) checks made in
Alarm. The golem lets out a piercing howl that lasts for 6 an attempt to ascertain her sincerity are always made at
rounds when anyone other than its creator enters the area disadvantage.
it is guarding (or comes within 50 feet of the golem). This Magic Weapons. Ashleia’s weapon attacks are magical.
functions similar to the audible version of the alarm spell Spellcasting. Ashleia is a 9th level spellcaster. Intelligence is
and can be heard to a range of 100 feet. her spellcasting ability (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell
Immunity to Magic. A wood golem is immune to all magical attacks). She has the prepared the following spells from
spells and effects, with the exception of spells that inflict the wizard spell list:
fire damage, which affect it normally but also inflict Cantrips (at will): mage hand, mending, prestidigitation, ray
double damage. A magical attack that deals cold of frost;
damage breaks any slow effect on the golem and heals 1 1st (4 slots): chromatic orb, expeditious retreat, mage armor;
point of damage for every 3 points of damage the attack 2nd (3 slots): alter self, hold person, knock;
would otherwise deal. If the amount of healing would 3rd (3 slots): blink, fireball, slow;
cause the golem to exceed its full normal hit points, it 4th (3 slots): polymorph, stoneskin;
gains any excess as temporary hit points. 5th (1 slot): telekinesis;

Actions ACTIONS
Multiattack. The wood golem makes two slam attacks. Multiattack. Ashleia makes two attacks on her turn.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one crea- Claws. Melee weapon attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
ture). Hit: 15 (2d6 + 8) bludgeoning damage. target. Hit: 13 (2d8+4) slashing damage.
Splintering. As a free action, a wood golem can launch a
barrage of razor-sharp wooden splinters from its body in a LEGENDARY ACTIONS
20-foot-radius burst. All creatures caught within this area Ashleia has access to three legendary actions. She may
take 6d6 points of slashing damage (DC 12 Dexterity save choose from the options listed below. Only one legendary
halves). Recharge 5–6. action may be used at a time, and may only be used at
the end of another creature’s turn. At the start of her turn,
she regains the use of any spent legendary actions.
Cast a Spell (3 actions). Ashleia casts a spell from her list of
prepared spells.
Claw Attack. Ashleia makes a melee attack with her claws.
Teleport (2 actions). Ashleia magically teleports up to 120 ft.
to an unoccupied space, along with any equipment she is
carrying or wearing.

128
 GM Guide
Hit Points 40 (9d8)
Grand Justice Braken Speed 30 ft.
The dreadful Braken is the Master of Courts responsible for all
matters of law within the city. His fingers grope unseen in the dark as his STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
followers seek to advance the Illuminati in influence and terror. Braken 9 (-1) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 11 (+0)
wants nothing less than utter conquest — the conquest of Heaven and
Hell. This need to rule paradise and enslave the Devil drives everything
Braken carries out. Saving Throws Int +6, Wis +4
Skills Arcana +6, History +6
Senses passive Perception 11
Grand Scribe of Castorhage, His Resplendent Languages any four languages
Grand Justice Braken Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Medium doppelganger, lawful evil
Magic Resistance. Korsk has resistance on saving throws
Armor Class 18 (plate)
against spells and other magical effects.
Hit Points 112 (15d8+45)
Spellcasting. Korsk is a 9th level spellcaster. Intelligence is
Speed 30 ft.
his spellcasting ability (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell
attacks). Korsk has the prepared the following spells from
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA the wizard spell list:
Cantrips (at will): friends, mage hand, mending, message;
18 (+4) 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 15 (+2)
1st (4 slots): charm person, mage armor, magic missile;
2nd (3 slots): hold person, invisibility, suggestion;
3rd (3 slots): fireball, haste, tongues;
Saving Throws Str +7, Dex +5, Con +6
4th (3 slots): dominate beast, stoneskin;
Skills Athletics +10, Intimidation +5
5th (2 slots): hold monster;
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages any one language (usually common)
ACTIONS
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Dagger. Melee or ranged attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft. or
range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 3(1d6-1) piercing damage.
Ambusher/ Surprise Attack. In the first round of combat, Brak-
en has advantage on attack rolls against a creature he has
surprised and deals an extra 10 (3d6) damage on a suc-
cessful hit. Any hit against a surprised creature is a critical. Gremlin
Brutality. Braken deals one extra damage die when This creature resembles a goblin with long floppy ears, a
successful in hitting with a melee weapon (included in the pinched wrinkled face, nasty claws, a mouth full of sharp teeth and
attack). a wicked glint to its eyes.
Read Thoughts. While concentrating, Braken can read
thoughts within a 60-foot radius. He has advantage on
Wisdom (Insight) and Charisma (Deception, Intimidation, Gremlin
Persuasion) checks vs his target while reading its thoughts.
Small fey, chaotic evil
Shapechanger. Braken can use his action to polymorph into
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
a Small or Medium humanoid he has seen, or back into
Hit Points 7 (2d6)
his true form, which is humanoid. His statistics, other than
Speed 20 ft.
his size, are the same in each form. Any equipment he is
wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. He reverts to his true
form if he dies. STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
7 (-2) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 14 (+2)  14 (+2) 11 (+0)
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Braken makes two attacks on his turn.
Broadsword. Melee weapon attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., Skills Sleight of Hand +5, Stealth +4
one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+4) slashing damage. Senses passive Perception 16
Shield Bash. Melee weapon attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Languages Common, Goblin, Sylvan
target. Hit: 9 (2d4+4) bludgeoning damage. A medium or Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
smaller creature is required to make a DC 15 Strength save
or be knocked prone. Knot Expert. Anyone attempting a skill check to undo a knot
that has been tied by a gremlin does so with disadvan-
tage.
Grand Justice Korsk Sneak Attack (1/turn). The gremlin deals and extra 3
(1d6) damage when it hits a target with a weapon
Like all swyne, Korsk lives only for excess — in all forms. He wallows
attack and has advantage on the attack roll, or when
in the feculence of his own corpulence, and his followers, who include
the target is within 5 feet of an ally of the gremlin that
beasts and humanoids and devils, scour the hellholes of the city for new
isn’t incapacitated and the gremlin doesn’t have
vices to ensure that his Grand Justice does not get bored. He is terrible
disadvantage on the attack roll.
when he grows bored.
ACTIONS
His Resplendent Grand Justice Korsk, Multiattack. The gremlin makes two melee attacks, either
with its shortsword and bite or with its claws and bite.
Master of the Sinks Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Medium swyne†, chaotic evil target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage
Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor) Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.; one
129
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) slashing damage.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.

Gryph
This small jet-black avian is about the size of an eagle. It has multiple
legs with wicked talons and a needle-like beak.

Gryph
Small monstrosity, neutral evil
Armor Class 12 (natural armor)
Hit Points 16 (3d6 + 6)
Speed 30 ft., fly 50 ft.

STR   DEX CON INT  WIS CHA

4 (-3) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 2 (-4)  12 (+1) 7 (-2)

Skills Stealth +3
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages none
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)

Adhesive. The gryph adheres itself to anything that it

successfully hits with its talons. A creature that is adhered
to the gryph is also grappled by it (Escape DC 12).
Ability checks to escape the grapple are made at
disadvantage.

ACTIONS
Multiattack. The gryphh makes two attacks: one with
Blight grows slowly except in total darkness, where it grows so rapidly
its beak and one with its legs.
it can cover hundreds of feet in only a few hours. Infestations of the lichen
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar-
tend to pop up in the darkest of alleys or on heavily overcast or moonless
get. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
nights. The dwarves of the Underneath warn of caverns where the stuff
Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar-
grows unchecked, forming drifts dozens of feet deep. Blight grows no
get. Hit: 5 (1d6 +2) slashing damage, and be subjected to
more rapidly in bright light than normal lichen, but it isn’t harmed by
the Adhesive trait.
bright light.
Implant eggs. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Furthermore, some scholars speculate that the lichen might possess
one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage and 1d4 eggs implant-
some form of intelligence. They base this on the fact that when options for
ed and target must make a DC 12 Constitution saving
growth exist toward and away from some living victim that the blight can
throw or be poisoned. If the save is made, the target’s
grow on, it always grows toward the living victim.
body rejects the eggs. Otherwise, the eggs hatch in 1d4
Each 5-foot-square of blight has AC 5 and 16 (3d8) hit points. It is
minutes and each hatched egg results in 1 (1d3) piercing
resistant to nonmagical bludgeoning and slashing damage, immune to
damage as the baby gryph burrows out. The hatching
piercing and psychic damage, and vulnerable to fire damage.
can be prevented by a restoration (lesser or greater) spell
Blight is generally harmless to creatures that are aware of it, but its
or a successful DC 12 Wisdom (Medicine) check. Once
dense, rapid growth in darkness makes it very dangerous to a helpless
the eggs hatch or are prevented from hatching, the poi-
creature. If a helpless creature (asleep, drunk, paralyzed, etc.) is in an area
soned condition ends.
of total darkness that blight has access to, a thick, impervious layer of
lichen can grow completely over the creature in 1d6 rounds. This causes
no physical injury, but the creature is restrained and cut off from air;

Hazards when its breath runs out, it begins suffocating. The creature can break
free by using an action to make a successful DC 15 Strength (Athletics)
or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. An adjacent ally can free the trapped
This appendix lists hazards that can be encountered in The Blight. character with a Strength (Athletics) check, or by inflicting 15 slashing
Some of these can also be found in other areas, especially those with damage to the blight.
overflowing filth, rampant disease, or insidious Between influence. If a victim is slain by blight or if it grows over the corpse of a living
creature, a truly remarkable quality of the growth is revealed. Whereas
most surfaces that the lichen uses as a substrate are unharmed by its
Blight growth, the corpse of a living creature is absorbed in short order and will
be completely gone within hours, leaving nothing behind but inorganic
This peculiar lichen is ubiquitous to the city of Castorhage. Reports
remnants such as belt buckles, swords and armor, gold fillings, etc. A Tiny
of large infestations of it occur in the earliest city records, and it is from
or smaller creature is totally obliterated in 15 minutes; a Small creature
this constant presence that the city has obtained its nickname. It is a leafy
disappears in 30 minutes, and a Medium creature in 1 hour. Large creatures
foliose lichen with a dull gray coloring that is darker on the underside. Its
will be completely absorbed in 4 hours, and Huge creatures in 9 hours.
drab coloration makes it difficult to see from distances greater than 10 feet
Gargantuan and Colossal creatures will be absorbed only if the blight is
in any conditions other than bright light; it’s noticed with a successful DC
able to completely cover it. If so, the corpses are absorbed in 16 and 36
12 Wisdom (Perception) check.
130
 GM Guide
hours, respectively. A creature absorbed by blight cannot be returned from The victim of a dislocating larvae infestation loses 1d4 points from
the dead by anything less powerful than true resurrection. Constitution every day. When the victim’s Constitution has dropped to
half or less of its starting value, the victim is stunned by pain, unable to do
Copyright Notice anything but writhe spasmodically. When the victim’s Constitution drops
Author Greg A. Vaughan, based on material by Richard Pett. to 4 or lower, the victim is incapacitated instead of stunned, and it feels an
overpowering need to seek out a body of stagnant water and drown in it (so
the larvae colony in the body can survive instead of dying with the host).
Derange Any magic that cures diseases, kills all the larvae and eggs in the victim. Lost
Constitution points don’t recover normally but can be restored with magic.
Derange is blamed for much of the unsavory behavior to be found in
The Blight, or at least folk find it convenient to believe it to be the source. Copyright Notice
Derange is a condition brought on when the tiny earwig spider lays Author Greg A. Vaughan, based on material by Richard Pett.
its egg in the ear of a sleeping victim. The warmth of the victim’s body
causes the egg to hatch and the tiny earwig larva to burrow through the
eardrum and inner ear into motor control centers in the victim’s brain.
Once the larva has nested in this area, it creates a small cyst and begins
Second-Head Fluke
to draw nourishment from the hormones and chemical interactions within This dreaded microscopic parasite is relatively common in the Lyme
while bathing these centers with chemicals of its own. The result is that River, and many fishermen have caught the sickness after accidentally
the victim’s personality changes, his alignment randomly shifting each swallowing Lyme water. It can also be spread by physical contact with
morning when he awakes (see table). The victim is still in control of his those already afflicted.
actions, but these actions reflect the priorities and methods subscribed to This foul sickness manifests as a large, swollen tumor on the victim’s
by this new alignment. At night, the victim often awakes in the midst shoulder that, over a period of 4–6 days, grows into a second, cankerous
of sleep with a return to his original alignment and a full and sickening head. This head is most horrible to look upon, consisting of disfigured and
awareness of the things he has been doing. distorted features, random tufts of hair, misplaced teeth, and dark patches
This condition can be removed with lesser restoration or comparable of melanoma. Despite its obvious disease origin, this head-like growth
magic. Likewise, each morning upon awakening, the victim makes a uncannily resembles the victim, even in its distorted and horrifying state.
DC 13 Wisdom saving throw to resist the alignment-altering effect and Once a case of second-head fluke is contracted, madness and physical
to function with normal alignment. After 1–3 weeks, the derange larva decline are sure to follow. After the second head fully manifests, the
matures into an earwig spider and exits the victim to begin the next stage of victim must make a successful DC 13 Wisdom saving throw each day or
its lifecycle. When this occurs, the victim must make a DC 8 Constitution lose 1d3 points of Wisdom. In addition, each day there is a 10% chance
saving throw. If it succeeds, the victim recovers fully (though there may be that the victim loses 1 point of Constitution from the cancerous disease.
lasting repercussions from deeds done under different alignments; being When the victim’s Wisdom drops to half or less of its starting value, the
under the influence of derange is not recognized as a legal defense before second-head fluke begins having more pronounced effects. The pseudo-
the Courts of Castorhage). If the saving throw fails, then the departing head utters nonsensical vocal sounds as if trying to talk, and the head flops
earwig spider ruptures an artery in the victim’s skull as it crawls out of the about spasmodically at random times. In close quarters, the head tends to
victim’s head; the victim bleeds to death internally in 2d4 rounds unless flop toward nearby creatures, and anyone who comes in contact with it
magical healing halts the bleeding before then. or the host must make a successful DC 13 Constitution saving throw or
contract a second-head fluke infestation of their own.

•
Second-head fluke is notoriously difficult to cure.
1d10 Alignment Shifts To
Stage 1: Before the pseudo-head has grown, lesser restoration
1 Lawful good or comparable magic reverses the growth and cures the victim

•
2 Neutral good completely.
3 Chaotic good Stage 2: Once the pseudo-head has fully formed, the disease can be
cured by removing the head surgically, then casting lesser restoration.
4 Lawful neutral The patient takes 2d6 slashing damage, and the surgeon must make
5 Neutral a DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine) check; only someone with proficiency
in Medicine can even attempt the procedure. Whether the operation
6 Chaotic neutral
succeeded won’t be known until six days later; if a new, cancerous
7

•
Lawful evil head doesn’t grow, then the surgery succeeded.
8 Neutral evil Stage 3: Once the victim’s Wisdom score is reduced to half or less of
9 Chaotic evil its starting value, the disease can be cured only with surgery (as above)
and greater restoration or comparable magic. This casting of greater
10 Same as previous day restoration doesn’t restore lost Wisdom points, but a subsequent
casting does. The target dies if this reduces its Intelligence or Wisdom
Copyright Notice to 0. Otherwise, the reduction lasts until the target finishes a short or
Author Greg A. Vaughan, based on material by Richard Pett. long rest.
Lost Wisdom and Constitution points don’t recover normally but can
Dislocating Larvae be restored with magic.

Copyright Notice
These tiny green larvae resemble tadpoles no larger than a pinhead, but
Author Greg A. Vaughan, based on material by Richard Pett.
they can spawn in sufficient numbers in small pools of stagnant water to
give it a greenish tint. A full-grown dislocating larva resembles a green
hair 2 or 3 inches long.
When ingested, the larvae colonize the stomach of the victim, where
they begin reproducing within 1d6 hours in the digestive tract. As they
reach maturity, they feed on the surrounding tissue and migrate on
to nearby organs as they lay thousands of eggs. These hatch into even
more larvae, which continue the colonization. The pain causes terrible
convulsions in the victim that can be forceful enough to dislocate joints.

131
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Overwhelming Mind (recharge 5-6). The herald projects
Herald at the Threshold a telepathic assault in a 30-foot cone. Creatures in the
cone must make a successful DC 17 Wisdom saving
A thing of sublime chaos, this creature seems to have no set form yet throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. A paralyzed creature
is composed of flaccid skin and a trio of grasping, tentacle-like limbs. repeats the saving throw at the end of its turn, ending the
Its form is partially made of boiling emotions that clothe the thing in effect on itself with a success. In addition, creatures that
waxy flesh. Its great limbs grip at its surroundings, lacerating stone in its attempt to make mental contact with a herald, whether
grasp, while some sort of fetid opening surrounded by moist bones rises telepathically or through spells such as detect thoughts or
to a set of horns like demented curved instruments through which an dominate monster, are immediately subject to this attack.
agonizing, grating scream tears. Preternatural Horror (1/day). The herald reveals the full horror
of itself to the minds of nearby creatures. All creatures
Herald at the Threshold within 60 feet of the herald must make a successful DC 17
Wisdom saving throw or be afflicted with madness. If the
Large aberration (adult Between), neutral result of the saving throw is 12-16, the creature suffers a
short-term madness; 7-11 results in long-term madness; 6
Armor Class 17 (natural armor) or less results in indefinite madness. No line of sight or visual
Hit Points 102 (12d10 + 36) contact is needed for this attack to work.
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft. Screaming Pipes (1/day). The herald emits a psyche-blasting
shriek through its hornlike appendages. All creatures within
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 30 feet of the herald and capable of hearing it must make
a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw. If the saving throw fails,
20 (+5) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 8 (-1) 13 (+1) 18 (+4) the creature is stunned for 1d4 rounds and permanently
deafened; if it succeeds, the creature is deafened for 1d4
rounds and incapacitated until the end of its next turn.
Saving Throws Dex +9, Con +8, Wis +6
Skills Perception +4 LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Damage Resistances cold, fire, force, lightning, poison; The herald at the threshold can take up to three legendary
bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical actions per round. Legendary actions are taken at the
weapons end of another creature’s turn, and only one can be
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened taken after each turn.
Senses blindsight 90 ft., passive Perception 14 Cast Spell. The herald casts an at-will spell.
Languages understands Deep Speech but can’t speak Claw. The herald makes a claw attack.
Challenge 15 (13,000 XP) Multiattack (costs 2 actions). The herald makes three claw
attacks.
Absorb. If a creature with 0 hit points fails a death saving
throw while a herald at the threshold is in the same ECOLOGY
space with it, that creature dies and its body is entirely Environment any (Between)
absorbed into the herald’s. The herald gains temporary Organization solitary
hit points equal to the creature’s Constitution score.
If the herald is subsequently killed, enough of an Born by the Beautiful to serve her needs as keepers of her thresholds
absorbed creature’s corpse can be recovered for a from Between, the heralds are creatures that defy mortal and mundane
spell such as resurrection to work, but not revivify or raise reference.
dead.
Dimensional Mastery. A herald at the threshold can cast Copyright Notice
dimension door as a bonus action. Author Alistair Rigg, based on material by Richard Pett.
Dislocated. The herald at the threshold’s form is made up
of its memories, which shift and change. The creature is
continually under the effect of a blur spell (attacks against
it are made with disadvantage unless the attacker has
Hyme
blindsight, truesight, or an equivalent). The herald can Superficially it could be a horse — certainly there is some horse in
suppress or reactivate this ability at will as a bonus action. it — but the resemblance is unnatural. It’s a dark thing, a thing the eye
Immune to Transformation. A herald at the threshold is finds difficult to rest upon, with the anger and musk of a horse, but the
immune to any effect that would alter its form.. shape is wrong. Its head is dark and long, and slaver drools from it onto
Magic Resistance (1/day). When the herald fails a saving the ground. And though it tosses its head like a horse, it has barbed teeth
throw, it can choose to succeed instead. in its jaw.
Innate Spellcasting. The herald at the threshold can use
the following spell-like abilities, using Charisma as its
casting ability (DC 16). The herald doesn’t need material Hyme
components to use these abilities. Large aberration (larval Between), unaligned
At will: dimension door, freedom of movement
3/day each: blink, counterspell Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
1/day each: invisibility (self only, duration 1 minute), Hit Points 30 (4d10 + 8)
resilient sphere Speed 60 ft.

ACTIONS
Multiattack. The herald attacks three times with its claws. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one 18 (+4) 13 (+1) 14 (+2) 2 (-4) 11 (+0) 7 (-2)
creature). Hit: 2d6 + 5 slashing damage. If two claw
attacks hit the same target on the herald’s turn, that
target takes an additional 3d6 slashing damage and gains Senses darkvision 30 ft., passive Perception 10
1 level of exhaustion. Languages none
132
 GM Guide
sought to sell their prize to those who collect such creatures in peculiar
menageries, something terrible happened, and when the hunters returned
they simply found the creature gone and the horses within mad with terror.
Cursing their bad luck, the hunters looked for new prey. A few months
later, each mare in the stable birthed a horrible dark thing that resembled
a foal but was certainly not of this world. The hunters went back to their
original purchaser with their new creatures and sold them. These were the
first hymes.
Between-Horses. A bastard union of the Between and the horse, the
hyme combines the qualities of a horse with the aggression of a Between
creature. They are hard to tame, but not impossible, and broken ones now
regularly pull coarse cabs around the city. Initially, such terrible dray were
the exclusive property of those aristocrats who could afford them, but
their prodigious appetites created more hymes from unions with mares
(hymes are born to both hyme-hyme and hyme-horse parents). They are
now seen regularly, but most often on dark nights.
Rare Commodities. Hymes command very high prices, and are
extremely rare to find for sale. Occasionally, one becomes available, but
generally only particular dealers — such as Groppit, Swift & Humb: Hyme
Dealers by Royal Appointment — sell them. A hyme sells for 6,500 gp.

Copyright Notice
Author Alistair Rigg, based on material by Richard Pett.

Iron Cobra
Challenge 2 (450 XP) The iron cobra is a construct that resembles a small, 3-foot long cobra. Its
eyes give it an evil and determined—and almost intelligent—look. The iron
Dislocated. The hyme’s form is made up of memories, which cobra is most often used to guard a treasure or to act as a bodyguard for its
shift and change. The creature is continually under the creator, though on some occasions it can be ordered to track down and slay
effect of a blur spell (attacks against it are made with any creature who is within 1 mile and whose name is known by the maker.
disadvantage unless the attacker has blindsight, truesight,
or an equivalent). The hyme can suppress or reactivate
this ability at will as a bonus action.
Iron Cobra
Distorted. A hyme’s internal anatomy varies from individual Small construct, unaligned
to individual and seldom makes any biological sense. Armor Class 20
Critical hits against a hyme do a flat +1 damage but don’t Hit Points 25 (5d6 + 10)
roll damage dice twice.<RULE> Speed 30 ft.
Musk of Fear (1/day). As a bonus action, a hyme emits an
unpleasant musk. All breathing creatures within 30 feet STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be
poisoned while within 30 feet of the hyme. The effect lasts 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 15 (+2) 6 (–2) 10 (+0) 2 (–4)
1 minute. A creature that spends its entire turn more than
30 feet from the hyme repeats the saving throw, ending
the effect on itself with a success. Other hymes and their Skills Perception +3
masters are immune. Beasts have a -2 modifier on the Damage Resistances fire, thunder
saving throw; horses save with disadvantage. Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, poisoned,
ACTIONS prone, stunned, unconscious
Multiattack. The hyme bites once and attacks once with its Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
hooves. Languages None
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one Challenge 1 (200 XP)
creature). Hit: 1d4 + 4 piercing damage.
Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one Find Target. Once per day, an iron cobra’s creator can
creature). Hit: 2d6 + 4 bludgeoning damage. order it to find and kill a specific creature within 1 mile,
Bray of Terror (recharge 5-6). All creatures within 60 of the which it finds unerringly. The creator must have seen, or be
hyme and that can hear it must make a successful DC holding, an item from the specified target.
12 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of the hyme for Poison Reservoir (Recharge 5-6). An iron cobra’s bite injects
1d4 rounds. Other hymes and their masters are immune. poison from a hidden reservoir within its body, which
Beasts have a -2 modifier on the saving throw; horses save produces the poison. The cobra’s poison does not need
with disadvantage. A creature that saves successfully is to recharge until it has successfully bitten three times. The
immune to Bray of Terror for 24 hours. mechanism does not function if it is removed from the
mechanism.
ECOLOGY
Environment plains, swamp (Between) ACTIONS
Organization solitary, pair, or herd (3–12) Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one crea-
ture). Hit: 8 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage. If the bite injects
The first hyme came about one terrible night when a creature from poison, the target suffers an additional 1d6 points of poi-
Between was captured and held in a stable. Whilst the greedy captors son damage and must make a DC 15 saving throw or be
poisoned for 2 hours.
133
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
oid, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw
Ivor Grast or be cursed with wererat lycanthropy.
 Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 80/320
Like his twin sister, Ivor Grast was touched by Between while still in ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.
the womb and is trapped in hybrid form. He is strong, but his musculature  
is misshapen, and it looks as though he has been racked until his limbs Unusual Equipment: Shatterspike
popped from their sockets and then twisted in different directions. Shatterspike
His terrible, physical deformities are partially concealed beneath a Weapon (longsword), very rare (requires attunement)
ludicrously foppish outfit of silks, satins, and lace assembled around a
breastplate of black-enamelled metal. His head is similarly elongated and You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic
twisted. A misshapen jaw forces his drooling mouth to the right side of his weapon. When you successfully hit with this weapon, the target must
face, and both beady, red, rat-like eyes to the left. He slurps and gulps as make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or begin to bleed profusely. The
spools of ropey saliva drip down his side, an Adam’s apple the size of a fist target loses 5 (1d10) hit points from bleeding at the start of each of its
distending the stretched skin of his long neck. Yet for all this malformation, turns for 1 minute, unless a DC 12 Wisdom (Medicine) check is made to
he moves with unsettling agility and power, his outsized hands hefting a staunch the bleeding or until the target receives magical healing.
serrated sword that bears cruel hooks and barbs along its blade. Treasure:  Shatterspike, potion of greater healing, shortbow with 20
arrows, courtiers outfit, mithral breastplate, 47 gp, 10 pp
Ivor Grast
Small male halfling shapechanger (wererat), chaotic evil
Armor Class 16 (mithral breastplate)
Ivy
Hit Points 110 (15d6 + 45) Ivy plays a role in the Levee Adventure.
Speed 30 ft.
Ivy
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
Medium construct, neutral
18 (+4) 17 (+3) 16 (+3) 8 (-1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 65 (10d8 + 20)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Str +7, Dex +6, Con +6
Skills Athletics +7, Intimidation +3, Perception +5
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
from nonmagical attacks not made with silvered weapons 18 (+4) 11 (+0) 15 (+2) 8 (-1) 11 (+0) 4 (-3)
Senses passive Perception 15
Languages Common, Halfling, River Cant, Thieves Cant
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP) Damage Resistances lightning, poison; bludgeoning, pierc-
ing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks not made with
Filth Fever. A creature with filth fever becomes sick within adamantine weapons
1d4 days of being infected. At that time, the creature Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
gains 1 level of exhaustion. It also regains only half the usu- Languages Common
al number of hit points from spending Hit Dice and no-hit Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
points from resting. Once symptoms appear, the infected
Fear of Fire. If Ivy takes fire damage, she has disadvantage
creature must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw
on attack rolls and ability checks until the end of her next
after every long rest. If it fails, the creature gains 1 level of
turn.
exhaustion, but if it succeeds, the creature loses 1 level of Lightning Absorption. For each point of lightning damage
exhaustion. The disease is cured when the creature has no taken, Ivy heals 1 hit point.
levels of exhaustion left. Magic Resistance. Ivy has advantage on saving throws
Keen Smell. Ivor has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) against spells and other magical effects.
checks that rely on smell. Immutable Form. Ivy is immune to any spell or effect that
Shapechanger. Ivor can use his action to polymorph into would alter its form.
a rat-humanoid hybrid or into a giant rat, or back into Reckless. At the start of her turn, Ivy can gain advantage on
his true form, which is humanoid. His statistics, other than all melee weapon attack rolls during that turn, but attack
his size, are the same in each form. Any equipment he is rolls against her have advantage until the start of her next
wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. He reverts to his true turn.
form if he dies.
Martial Advantage. Once per turn, Ivor can deal an extra 7 ACTIONS
(2d6) damage to a creature he hits with a weapon attack Multiattack. Ivy makes two slam attacks.
if that creature is within 5 feet of one of Ivor’s allies that Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
isn’t incapacitated. creature. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage.

ACTIONS
Multiattack. Ivor makes two melee attacks with Shatterspike, Jacob Moil
or one attack with Shatterspike and one bite attack. If
attacking from range, Ivor can make two attacks with his Handsome, clever, and fair, Jacob Moil is an anarchist leader met
shortbow. in L8: Apotheosis.
Shatterspike. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one creature. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage, and they Jacob Moil
must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or also suffer
5 (1d10) points of damage from bleeding. Medium human, chaotic neutral
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Armor Class 16 (leather armour)
Hit: 4 (1d4 + 4) piercing damage. If the target is a human- Hit Points 52 (8d8+16)

134
 GM Guide
Speed 30 ft. Cantrips (at will): light, mending, sacred flame, spare the
dying;
1st (4 slots): divine favor, guiding bolt, healing word, shield
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
of faith;
13 (+1) 18 (+4) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 2nd (3 slots): lesser restoration, magic weapon, prayer of
healing, silence, spiritual weapon;
3rd (3 slots): beacon of hope, clairvoyance, dispel magic,
Saving Throws Dex +7, Int +4 revivify, spirit guardians, water walk;
Skills Acrobatics +7, Athletics +4, Perception +5, Sleight of 4th (3 slots): banishment, freedom of movement, guardian
Hand +7, Stealth +7 of faith, stoneskin;
Senses passive Perception 15 5th (1 slot): flamestrike, mass cure wounds, hold monster;
Languages Common, Thieves’ cant
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) ACTIONS
Multiattack. Alfor makes two attacks on his turn.
Cunning Action. On each of his turns, Jacob can use a Maul. Melee weapon attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar-
bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action. get. Hit: 10 (2d6+3) bludgeoning damage.
Evasion. When Jacob is subjected to an effect that allows
him to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half
damage, he instead takes no damage if the save is
successful, and only half damage if the roll is a failure.
Justice Anisse Capprico
Sneak Attack. Once per turn, Jacob can deal an extra Anisse is the senior witch in the Great Coven. She is noted for her
4d6 damage to one creature he hits with an attack if peacock-feather gowns.
he has advantage on the attack roll. The attack must
use a finesse or a ranged weapon. Jacob doesn’t need
advantage on the attack roll if one of his allies is within 5 Her Resplendent Justice Anisse Capprico,
feet of the target, that ally isn’t Incapacitated, and Jacob Lady of Beverages
doesn’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
Medium human, lawful evil
ACTIONS Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor)
Multiattack. Jacob can make three attacks with either his Hit Points 78 (12d8+24)
shortsword or his light crossbow per turn. Speed 30 ft.
Shortsword +2. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit (reach 5 ft.;
one creature). Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range
10 (+0) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 18 (+4)
80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage.

Treasure: Jacob has a potion of invisibility, a potion of gaseous form,

Saving Throws Wis +4, Cha +7
and a shortsword +2 (already incorporated into his actions).
Skills Arcana +4, Deception +7, Persuasion +7, Religion +4
Damage Resistances non-magical slashing damage not
Justice Alfor Quent made with silvered weapons
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Quent believes himself to be his goddess’s living messenger, sent to Languages any two languages (usually Abyssal or Infernal)
give release to the poor, the sick, and the humble by eradicating them Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
with his vermin followers. Culmus is the patriarch of the strictly pious
Culmus family. Unlike many nobles, Culmus practices what he preaches. Blessing of the Coven (recharges after a short or long rest).
Anisse can choose to add 1d10 to an ability check or sav-
ing throw. The decision can be made after the initial roll,
Justice Alfor Quent, the Lord Culmus, but must be made before the outcome is determined.
Innate Spellcasting. Anisse’s spellcasting ability is Charisma,
Master of Humours and she requires no material components for the following
Medium alchymic-undying human, lawful evil spells (spell save DC 15):
Armor Class 18 (plate) At will: disguise self, false life, mage armour (self only), silent
Hit Points 117 (18d8+36) image, speak with animals;
Speed 30 ft. 1/day each: conjure fey;
Spellcasting. Anisse is a 17th-level spellcaster. Charisma is
her spellcasting ability (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
attacks). She regains any expended spell slots after finish-
16 (+3) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 17 (+3) 13 (+1) ing a short or long rest. She knows the following spells:
Cantrips (at will): eldritch blast, fire bolt, friends, mage hand,
minor illusion, prestidigitation, shocking grasp;
Saving Throws Con +6, Wis +4 Spells (4 5th-level slots): banishment, burning hands, blink,
Skills Intimidation +5, Religion +4 charm person, faerie fire, flame strike, hellish rebuke,
Senses passive Perception 13 magic circle, scorching ray, scrying, stinking cloud,
Languages Common, Elvish suggestion, wall of fire;
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
ACTIONS
Spellcasting. Alfor is a 9th-level spellcaster. Wisdom is his Mace. Melee weapon attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
spellcasting ability (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell target. Hit: 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage plus 10 (3d6) fire
attacks). He knows the following spells from the cleric spell damage.
list:

135
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Senses passive Perception 13
Justice Blackbriar Languages Common, Thieves’ Cant
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Blackbriar is an obsessive explorer of the Between and collector of
Between animals who dwells high in the Capitol. Cunning Action. On each turn, Burr may take the Dash, Dis-
engage, or Hide action as a bonus action.
His Grace, the Master of Lanterns, Evasion. If Burr is required to make a Dexterity saving throw
to take half damage, he takes no damage on a success-
Justice Blackbriar ful save, and half damage on a failed save.
Sneak Attack (1/turn). Burr’s attack deals an extra 14(4d6)
Medium human, neutral good
damage when he hits with a weapon attack, as long as
Armor Class 14 (studded leather)
he has advantage on the attack roll, or there is an ally
Hit Points 52 (8d8+ 16)
who is not incapacitated within 5 feet of the target, and
Speed 30 ft.
as long as Burr does not have disadvantage on the attack
roll.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
11 (+0) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 17 (+3) 11 (+0) ACTIONS
Multiattack. Burr makes two attacks on his turn.
Shortsword. Melee weapon attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Saving Throws Dex +5, Wis +6 target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) piercing damage.
Skills Perception +4, Nature +6 Light Crossbow. Ranged weapon attack: +7 to hit, range
Senses passive Perception 13 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8+4) piercing damage.
Languages any two languages
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP) REACTIONS
Uncanny Dodge. As a reaction, Burr can halve the damage
Spellcasting. Blackbriar is a 6th-level spellcaster. Wisdom is of an attack that hits him, as long as he can see his
his spellcasting ability (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacker.
attacks). He has the prepared the following spells from the
druid spell list:
Spells (slots): Justice Lucrezia Elisabeth Sullage
Cantrips (at will): druidcraft, poison spray, produce flame,
Her paper-skin is faded, unlike her wits, which are as sharp as a dagger.
shillelagh;
She has created a dynasty of art adoration, and her home is flung open to
1st (4 slots): charm person, entangle, spider climb,
genius, the lost, and the insane. One wing of her mansion is set aside as
thunderwave, web;
a prison and surgery, within which her children help her create living art
2nd (3 slots): barkskin, flame blade, spike growth;
through homunculi-stitching and golem-wifery.
3rd (3 slots): call lightning, dispel magic, gaseous form,
stinking cloud, wind wall;
Justice Lady Lucrezia Elisabeth Sullage,
Wildshape. Blackbriar can assume a wild shape in the same
manner as a druid of 6th level. a.k.a. the Grand Seamstress
Medium alchymic-undying human, neutral evil
ACTIONS Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor)
Multiattack. Weld makes two attacks on his turn. Hit Points 78 (12d8+ 24)
Scimitar. Melee weapon attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Speed 30 ft.
target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) slashing damage.
Sling. Ranged weapon attack: +4 to hit, range 30/120 ft.,
one target. Hit: 6 (1d4+4) bludgeoning damage. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
9 (-1) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 17 (+3) 14 (+2) 11 (+0)

Justice Burr
Saving Throws Int +7, Wis +5
Burr is a hoarder of curios and magic who sponsors exploration, Skills Arcana +7, History +7
protection, and theft across the city. He is presently charged as chief jurist Senses passive Perception 12
of the Barnacles and Great Docks. Languages any four languages
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Justice Burr, Lord Protector of the City, Spellcasting. Lucrezia is a 12th-level spellcaster. Intelligence
a.k.a. the Collector is her spellcasting ability (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with
spell attacks). She has the prepared the following spells
Medium alchymic-undying human, neutral evil
from the wizard spell list:
Armor Class 16 (studded leather)
Cantrips (at will): chill touch, dancing lights, mage hand,
Hit Points 84 (13d8+26)
mending;
Speed 30 ft.
1st (4 slots): false life, mage armor, ray of sickness;
2nd (3 slots): blindness/deafness, ray of enfeeblement,
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA web;
11 (+0) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 3rd (3 slots): animate dead, bestow curse, vampiric touch;
4th (3 slots): blight, dimension door, stoneskin;
5th (2 slots): Bgy’s hand, cloudkill;
Skills Acrobatics +7, Athletics +3, Perception + 3, Sleight of 6th (1 slot): circle of death;
Hand +7, Stealth +7
136
 GM Guide
ACTIONS Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Dagger. Melee or ranged attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft.
or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) piercing Cunning Action. On each turn, Scapegrace may take the
damage. Dash, Disengage, or Hide action as a bonus action.
Withering Touch. Melee spell attack: +7 to hit, one target. Sneak Attack (1/turn). Scapegrace’s attack deals an extra
Hit: 14 (4d6) necrotic damage. 7(2d6) damage when he hits with a weapon attack, as
long as he has advantage on the attack roll, or there is an
ally who is not incapacitated within 5 feet of the target,
Justice Mallam Fetter and as long as Scapegrace does not have disadvantage
on the attack roll.
Judge Lord Justice Mallam rules the Asylum with an iron fist.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Scapegrace makes two attacks on his turn.
 Judge Lord Justice Mallam Fetter Shortsword. Melee weapon attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Medium human, lawful evil target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) piercing damage.
Armor Class 15 (chain shirt) Hand Crossbow. Ranged weapon attack: +4 to hit, range
Hit Points 52 (8d8+ 16) 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d8+2) piercing damage.
Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA Justice Shank

11 (+0) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) Shank is an ally of the Family who aims to make the Blight a wererat
metropolis.

Saving Throws Dex +5, Int +6

Skills Perception +4, Stealth +6 His Magnificence Justice Shank,
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11 Lord of the River
Languages any two languages
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP) Medium male human (wererat), neutral, evil
Armor Class 16 (studded leather, shield)
Spellcasting. Fetter is a 6th-level spellcaster. Intelligence is Hit Points 112 (15d8+45)
his spellcasting ability (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell Speed 30 ft.
attacks). He has the following wizard spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): acid splash, chill touch, message, poison STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
spray
1st (4 slots): burning hands, magic missile, ray of sickness, 18 (+4) 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 15 (+2)
unseen servant
2nd (3 slots): misty step, phantasmal force, ray of
enfeeblement Saving Throws Str +7, Dex +5, Con +6
3rd (3 slots): bestow curse, fear, vampiric touch; Skills Athletics +10, Intimidation +5
Senses passive Perception 11
ACTIONS Languages Any one language (usually common)
Multiattack. Fetter makes two attacks on his turn. Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Longsword. Melee weapon attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 4 (1d8) slashing damage. Brutality. Shank deals one extra damage die when successful
Crossbow, light. Ranged weapon attack: +7 to hit, range hitting with a melee weapon (included in the attack).
80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8+4) piercing damage. Keen Smell. Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell
are made at advantage.
Shapechanger. Shank can use his action to polymorph into
Justice Scapegrace Wrye a rat-humanoid hybrid or into a giant rat, or back into
his true form, which is humanoid. His statistics, other than
Scapegrace is a master at finding information. his size, are the same in each form. Any equipment he is
wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. He reverts to his true
form if he dies.
His “Royal Highness” Duke Scapegrace
ACTIONS
Wrye, Justice of Alleys, Streets, and Ways Multiattack. Shank makes two attacks on his turn.
Medium human, lawful evil Bite (Hybrid or Rat Form Only). Melee weapon attack: +7 to
Armor Class 12 hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing dam-
Hit Points 27 (6d8) age. If the target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC
Speed 30 ft. 11 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with wererat
lycanthropy.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Shield Bash. Melee weapon attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 9 (2d4+4) bludgeoning damage. A medium or
10 (+0) 15 (+3) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) smaller creature is required to make a DC 15 Strength save
or be knocked prone.
War Pick. Melee weapon attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Skills Acrobatics +7, Athletics +3, Perception + 3, Sleight of target. Hit: 13 (2d8+4) piercing damage.
Hand +7, Stealth +7
Senses passive Perception 13 REACTIONS
Languages Common, Thieves’ Cant Parry. When wielding a melee weapon, Shank can add 3 to

137
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
his AC as a reaction against one melee attack that would STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
otherwise hit. He must be wielding a melee weapon and
be able to see the attacker. 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 17 (+3) 13 (+1)

Justice Skathen Spalpeen Saving Throws Con +6, Wis +4

Skills Intimidation +5, Religion +4
Skathen Spalpeen, is a recent convert to the Cult of the Madness-of- Senses passive Perception 13
the-MirrorStorm. She seeks to create safe havens for her kind and hasten Languages Common, Infernal
the plot to drown the world. Spalpeen lurks in the sodden cellars beneath Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
the Second Royal Gallery and Museum
Disarm. On a successful attack with his flail, Justice Sullyce
can disarm his foe. The foe must succeed on a DC 15
Justice Lady Skathen Spalpeen, Strength saving throw or drop an item of Justice Sullyce’s
Mistress of Piers choice.
Spellcasting. Spent is a 9th-level spellcaster. Wisdom is his
Medium alchymic-undying briny, neutral evil spellcasting ability (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell
Armor Class 16 (studded leather) attacks). He knows the following spells from the cleric spell
Hit Points 97 (13d8+39) list:
Speed 30 ft. Cantrips (at will): light, mending, sacred flame, spare the
dying;
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 1st (4 slots): divine favor, guiding bolt, healing word, shield
of faith;
11 (+0) 18 (+4) 17 (+3) 11 (+0) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 2nd (3 slots): lesser restoration, magic weapon, prayer of
healing, silence, spiritual weapon;
3rd (3 slots): beacon of hope, daylight, dispel magic, reviv-
Skills Acrobatics +7, Athletics +3, Perception + 3, Sleight of ify, spirit guardians, water walk;
Hand +7, Stealth +7 4th (3 slots): banishment, freedom of movement, guardian
Senses passive Perception 13 of faith, stoneskin;
Languages Common, Undercommon 5th (1 slot): flamestrike, mass cure wounds, hold monster;
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
ACTIONS
Cunning Action. On each turn, Skathen may take the Dash, Multiattack. Spent makes two attacks on his turn.
Disengage, or Hide action as a bonus action. Flail. Melee weapon attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Evasion. If Skathen is required to make a Dexterity saving Hit: 7 (1d8+3) bludgeoning damage, and the target must
throw to take half damage, she takes no damage on a succeed on a DC 15 Strength save or drop an item of
successful save, and half damage on a failed save. Justice Sullyce’s choice.
Sneak Attack (1/turn). Skathen’s attack deals an extra
14(4d6) damage when she hits with a weapon attack,
as long as she has advantage on the attack roll, or
there is an ally who is not incapacitated within 5 feet
Justice The Eyes of Fate
of the target, and as long as Skathen does not have The Eyes of Fate is a gable-haunting murderer and high-ranking
disadvantage on the attack roll. member of the Thieves’ Guild. It enjoys skinning its victims and wearing
the skins as trophies.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Skathen makes two attacks on his turn.
Rapier. Melee weapon attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Its Resplendent Justice, The Eyes of Fate,
target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) piercing damage.
Hand Crossbow. Ranged weapon attack: +7 to hit, range
Master of Gables
30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) piercing damage. Medium gargoyle, lawful evil
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
REACTIONS Hit Points 90 (12d8+36)
Uncanny Dodge. As a reaction, Skathen can halve the Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft.
damage of an attack that hits her, as long as she can see
her attacker. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16 (+3) 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 13 (+1) 11 (+0) 15 (+2)
Justice Spent Sullyce
Sullyce, is a golem-stitcher who seeks to advance science and Saving Throws Dex +7, Int +5
experimentation through dark clerical paths. Skills Acrobatics +7, Deception +4, Perception + 4, Stealth +11
Damage Resistances poison
Senses passive Perception 14
Justice Spent Sullyce, Lord of Surgeons, Languages Thieves’ Cant plus any two languages
a.k.a. The Lord of Leeches Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Medium human, neutral Assassinate. On the Eyes of Fate’s first turn it has advantage
Armor Class 19 (plate and shield) on attack rolls, as long as the target has not taken a turn.
Hit Points 117 (18d8+36) Any hit against a surprised target is considered a critical hit.
Speed 30 ft. False Appearance. While motionless, the Eyes of Fate is
indistinguishable from an inanimate statue.

138
 GM Guide
Sneak Attack (1/turn). The Eyes of Fate’s attack deals an
extra 13 (4d6) damage when it hits with a weapon attack, Kraken Tentacle Segment
if it has advantage on the attack roll, or there is an ally
who is not incapacitated within 5 feet of the target, and The ten-foot section of severed tentacle is obviously coated in the substance
as long as the Eyes of Fate does not have disadvantage of some other plane of existence, and lashes out with brutal power.
on the attack roll.
Innate Spellcasting. The Eyes of Fate’s innate spellcasting Kraken Tentacle Segment
ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell
attacks). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring Large monstrosity (Between), chaotic evil
no material components: Armor Class 14 (natural armour)
At will: chill touch, dancing lights; Hit Points 136 (13d10 + 65)
3/day each: blindness/deafness, bestow curse; Speed 5 ft.
1/day each: dimension door;
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Eyes of Fate makes two attacks on its turn. 25 (+7) 13 (+2) 20 (+5) 2 (-4) 10 (+0) 5 (-3)
Bite. Melee weapon attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 6 (1d6+3) piercing damage, and the target must make
a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 24 (7d6) poison Saving Throws Dex +6, Con +9
damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a Damage Immunities lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, and
successful one. slashing from nonmagical attacks
Claws. Melee weapon attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Condition Immunities frightened, paralyzed
target. Hit: 6 (1d6+3) slashing damage, and the target Senses blindsight 30 ft., tremorsense 30 ft., passive
must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 24 Perception 10
(7d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much Languages --
damage on a successful one. Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)

Dislocated. Attacks against the tentacle are made with

Justice Weld Shortstone I disadvantage unless the attacker has blindsight or
truesight.
Weld Shortstone is a covert anarchist who aims to bring down the
Illuminati. ACTIONS
Multiattack. The kraken tentacle makes two slam attacks,
one of which it can replace with one use of Fling.
Justice Weld Shortstone I, Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 30 ft., one
Master of Structures target. Hit: 17 (3d6 + 7) bludgeoning damage and 4 (1d8)
points of lightning damage, and the target is grappled
Medium gnome, neutral good (escape DC 16). Until this grapple ends, the target is
Armor Class 15 (chain shirt) restrained.
Hit Points 52 (8d8+ 16) Fling. One Large or smaller object held or creature grappled
Speed 30 ft. by the kraken tentacle is thrown up to 60 feet in a random
direction and knocked prone. If a thrown target strikes
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA a solid surface, the target takes 3 (1d6) bludgeoning
damage for every 10 feet it was thrown. If the target is
11 (+0) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) thrown at another creature, that creature must succeed
on a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw or take the same
damage and be knocked prone.
Saving Throws Dex +5, Int +6
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +6
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages any two languages
Lady Elaine of Aldwark
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP) The Queen’s lady-in-waiting, Elaine is one of the Illuminati’s most
dangerous and powerful allies. The true Elaine was killed when she was
Spellcasting. Weld is a 6th-level spellcaster. Intelligence is his a young girl and her place taken by a succubus bound and broken by the
spellcasting ability (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell Illuminati to serve their long-term goals. That she is also a member of
attacks). He has the prepared the following spells from the the Great Coven is a secret even they do not know. Elaine is a glutton for
wizard spell list: excess, particularly sexual, and her private balls are orgies that involve
Cantrips (at will): acid splash, dancing lights, mage hand, violence and cruelty to excess.
poison spray;
1st (4 slots): color spray, disguise self, mage armor, magic
missle; Lady Elaine of Aldwark
2nd (3 slots): invisibility, mirror image, phantasmal force; Medium succubus, neutral evil
3rd (3 slots): major image, phantom steed, lightning bolt; Armor Class 13 (16 with mage armor)
Hit Points 78 (12d8+12)
ACTIONS Speed 30 ft.
Multiattack. Weld makes two attacks on his turn.
Shortsword. Melee weapon attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) piercing damage. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Folding Crossbow. Ranged weapon attack: +4 to hit, range 9 (-1) 17 (+3) 13 (+1) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 20 (+5)
30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) piercing damage.

139
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Saving Throws Int +7, Wis +5 Grey makes three melee attacks with her dagger, or two
Skills Deception +9, Insight +5, Perception +5, Persuasion +9, attacks with her hand crossbow.
Stealth +7 Silver Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15 one target. Hit: 1d6+4 piercing damage.
Languages any four languages Hand Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP) 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage
plus mild poison: DC 10 Constitution save or take an addi-
Charm. One humanoid Elaine can see within 30 ft. must tional 1d6 points of poison damage.
make a DC 15 Wisdom save or be charmed for 1 day.
Draining Kiss. Elaine can kiss a charmed or willing creature, Treasure: potion of barkskin, silver dagger (25gp), copy of the hymn to
who must make a DC 15 Constitution save, taking 32 the Beautiful (see Handout 3 in L2: Pound of Flesh).
(5d10+5) psychic damage on a failed save, or half that
on successful one. The target’s hp max is reduced by an
equal amount. Lesser Blight Vampire
Etherealness. Elaine can magically enter the Ethereal Plane
from Material Plane, and vice versa. A form of lesser vampire occasionally found in the city.
Grim Harvest (1/turn). When a creature (other than a con-
struct or undead) is killed by Elaine using a spell of 1st level
or higher, she regains an amount of hit points equal to
Lesser Blight Vampire
twice the spell’s level, or up to three times if the spell is Medium blight vampire, lawful evil
from the necromancy school. Armor Class 15
Spellcasting. Elaine is a 12th-level spellcaster. Intelligence is Hit Points 45 (6d8+18)
her spellcasting ability (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell Speed 30 ft.
attacks). She has the prepared the following spells from
the wizard spell list: STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
Cantrips (at will): acid splash, chill touch, dancing lights,
mending; 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 12 (+1)
1st (4 slots): false life*, mage armor, ray of sickness*;
2nd (3 slots): blindness/deafness*, ray of enfeeblement*,
suggestion; Skills Perception +3, Stealth +6
3rd (3 slots): animate dead*, bestow curse*, vampiric Damage Resistances necrotic, bludgeoning, piercing, and
touch*; slashing from nonmagical attacks
4th (3 slots): blight*, E’s black tentacles, stoneskin; Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
5th (2 slots): dominate person, cloudkill; Languages any two languages
6th (1 slot): circle of death* Challenge 3 (700 XP)
*necromancy spells for use with Grim Harvest
Regeneration. A lesser blight vampire regains 5 hit points
ACTIONS at start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point and isn’t in
Withering Touch. Melee spell attack: +7 to hit, one target. Hit: sunlight or running water. If the lesser blight vampire takes
5 (2d4) necrotic damage. radiant damage or damage from holy water, this trait
doesn’t function at the start of the lesser blight vampire’s
next turn.
Lady Grey Spider Climb. Can climb difficult surfaces and ceilings
without requiring an ability check.
Lady Grey is obviously affected by alchymic potions, for her skin is Vampire Weaknesses. A lesser blight vampire has the
drawn and parchment-like. following flaws:
Forbiddance. Lilly cannot enter a residence without
receiving an invitation.
Lady Grey Harmed by Running Water. Takes 20 acid damage if it ends
Medium alchymic-undying (human), chaotic evil its turn in running water.
Armor Class 15 Stake to the Heart. Can be destroyed by taking a wooden
Hit Points 72 (8d8 +40) piercing weapon to the heart.
Speed 30 ft. Sunlight Hypersensitivity. Takes 20 radiant damage when
starting its turn in sunlight, and has disadvantage on
attacks and ability checks when in sunlight.
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
18 (+4) 13 (+1) 20 (+5) 18 (+4) 13 (+1) 10 (+0) ACTIONS
Multiattack. A lesser blight vampire makes two attacks on its
turn, one rapier and one bite.
Skills Perception +3 Rapier. Melee weapon attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14 target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Languages Common Bite. Melee weapon attack: +5 to hit, targeting one willing,
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP) grappled, incapacitated or restrained creature. Hit: 6
(1d6+3) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage,
Regeneration: Lady Grey regains 5 hit points at the start of and the target’s hit point maximum is reduced by an
her turn. If she takes acid or fire damage, this trait doesn’t amount equal to the necrotic damage taken, and
function at the start of her next turn. She dies only if she the lesser blight vampire regains hit points equal to the
starts her turn with 0 hit points and doesn’t regenerate. amount. The reduction lasts until the target finishes a
long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point
ACTIONS maximum to 0.
Multiattack. Due to her preternatural, alchymic speed, Lady Spellcasting. The lesser blight vampire is a 4th-level
140
 GM Guide
spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
DC 14, +4 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following
wizard spells prepared: 12 (+1) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 16 (+3)
Cantrips (at will): light, mending, prestidigitation, ray of frost
1st level (4 slots): chromatic orb, expeditious retreat, mage
armour Saving Throws Dexterity +7, Intelligence +5, Wisdom +5
2nd level (3 slots): alter self, hold person, knock Skills Acrobatics +7, Perception +5, Sleight of Hand +7,
Stealth +7
ACTIONS Senses passive Perception 15
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach Languages Common
5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (ld4 + 2) piercing Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
damage.
Elusive. No attack on Morel has advantage if he is not inca-
pacitated.
Long Lucy Evasion. If Morel is subjected to an effect that allows him to
make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage,
Lucy is a halfling with dwarfism, and is barely a foot tall. She is a major he instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving
figure in the Levee Adventure. By L9, when she is wealthy, she has certain throw, and only half damage if it fails.
additional treasure items, including magic items she can use in combat. Sneak Attack (1/Turn). Lord Morel deals an extra 31 (9d6)
damage when he hits a target with a weapon attack and
has advantage on the attack roll, or when the target is
Long Lucy within 5 feet of an ally that isn›t incapacitated and Morel
Tiny halfling, neutral doesn›t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor) Stealthy. Lord Morel has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth)
Hit Points 18 (4d8) checks.
Speed 30 ft.  
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Lord Morel makes three attacks per turn: two
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
with his rapier and one with his shortsword.
9 (–1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 16 (+2) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar-
get. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) piercing damage.
Short Sword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Saving Throws Int +4, Wis +3 one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage.
Skills Arcana +4, History +4 Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range
Senses passive Perception 11 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage.
Languages Common, Dwarven, Gnome, Halfling, Rama,
Xaon Treasure: Rapier +1, studded leather +1, ring of free action, potion of
Challenge 2 (450 XP) gaseous form, ring of mind shielding, pouch with 15 5-guinea notes (75
pp), shortsword, light crossbow with 20 bolts, 6 pickled homunculi (see
Spellcasting. Spellcasting. Long Lucy is a 4th-level spellcast- L1: Hereafter)
er. Her spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 14,
+4 to hit with spell attacks). She has the following wizard
spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): light, mending, prestidigitation, ray of frost
Lord Justice Mordent Knap
1st level (4 slots): chromatic orb, expeditious retreat, mage Knap is Cartographer of the Underneath, Master of the Royal Mint,
armour* dazzling artist, and Steward of the Capitol. Unsurprisingly, Knap is one
2nd level (3 slots): alter self, hold person, knock of the most influential people in the city and seen as a logical next Crown
Justice. Sadly, he wishes to see true justice return and, although he has
ACTIONS considerable influence with bankers and merchants, he also has many
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach enemies. Knap has an obsessive desire to see the Underneath tamed and
5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (ld4 + 2) piercing restored as a dwarven kingdom. Many of his peers wish he would lead
damage. such an attempt and never be seen again.
*Long Lucy casts this spell on herself before combat.

Treasure: In L9 only: wand of magic missiles, potion of greater healing,

<3>Lord Justice Mordent Knap, Master of
scrimshaw and silver-gilded megaphone worth 250 gp, magnificent the Royal Mint and Steward of the Capitol
wishbone corset worth 100 gp.
Medium dwarf, lawful neutral
Armor Class 16 (studded leather)
Lord Benedict Morel Hit Points 75 (10d8+30)
Speed 30 ft.
Lord Benedict serves Princess Rebecca of Mourney†, and is Eleanor
Shank’s† mysterious benefactor. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
11 (+0) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 13 (+1) 10 (+0)
Lord Benedict Morel
Medium human, chaotic good
Armor Class 17 (studded leather armour) Skills Acrobatics +6, Perception + 5
Hit Points 117 (18d8 + 36) Senses passive Perception 15
Speed 30 ft. Languages Common, Dwarvish
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

141
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Eagle Eye (3/day). On a successful hit with a longbow or if it is a Large or smaller creature and the Lord of Many
shortbow, Mordent can roll an additional damage die Faces doesn’t have two other creatures grappled.
and add it to the total damage of the hit. Tentacles. One creature grappled by the Lord of Many
Keen Senses. Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on Faces must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving
hearing or sight are made at advantage. throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. Until this poison ends,
Ambusher/ Surprise Attack. In the first round of combat, the target is paralyzed. The target can repeat the saving
Mordent has advantage on attack rolls against a throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on
creature he has surprised, and does an extra 14 (4d6) on itself on a success.
a successful hit. Any hit against a surprised creature is a Psychic Crush (Recharge 5-6). The Lord of Many Faces
critical. targets one creature that it can sense within 60 feet of it.
The target must make a DC 15 Intelligence saving throw,
ACTIONS taking 14 (4d6) psychic damage on a failed save, or half
Multiattack. Mordent makes two attacks on his turn. as much damage on a successful save.
Shortsword. Melee weapon attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) piercing damage.
Longbow. Ranged weapon attack: +6 to hit, range 150/600 ft., Lord Paladin-Occularis Thornrage
one target. Hit: 8 (1d8+4) piercing damage.
Thornrage is immaculately dressed and groomed. He is tall, muscled,
and extremely handsome in a cruel, soulless sort of way. The man’s thick
Lord of Many Faces, the black hair falls in rich curls to his shoulders.
 
The Lord of Many Faces was once a lobster-like chuul with a thick
armored shell and a mouth full of writhing tentacles. Being in Between Lord Paladin-Occularis Thornrage
has corrupted the Lord of Many Faces and mutated its body and mind. It Medium human, lawful evil
now resembles a strange mingling of an ochre jelly with odd pseudopod Armor Class 18 (plate armour)  
pinchers and writhing tentacles sprouting from the gelatinous and viscid Hit Points 153 (18d8 + 72)
surface of its blob-like form. Speed 30 ft.

The Lord of Many Faces STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA  
Large aberration, unaligned 18 (+4) 11 (+0) 18 (+4) 11 (+0)  14 (+2) 15 (+2)
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)    
Hit Points 142 (15d10 + 60)
Speed 20 ft., swim 20 ft. Saving Throws Wis +5, Cha +5
Skills Athletics +7, Deception +5, Intimidation +5;
Senses passive Perception 12
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Languages Common
17 (+3) 10 (+0) 18 (+4) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) 5 (-3) Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
 
Spellcasting. Thornrage is a 10th-level spellcaster. His
Damage Resistances acid spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit
Damage Immunities lightning, poison, slashing with spell attacks). He has the following paladin-list spells
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, prepared:
exhaustion, frightened, poisoned, prone 1st level (4 slots): command, heroism, protection from evil
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 and good
Languages Common 2nd level (3 slots): aid, branding smite
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP) 3rd level (2 slots): dispel magic, magic circle
 
Corrosive Form. A creature that touches the Lord of Many ACTIONS
Faces or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 ft. of it  Multiattack. Thornrage makes three attacks with his glaive
takes 9 (2d8) acid damage. Any non-magical weapon or shortbow.
made of metal or wood that hits the Lord of Many Faces Glaive. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
corrodes. After dealing damage, the weapon takes target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) slashing damage.
a permanent and cumulative -1 penalty to damage Shortbow Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 80/320
rolls. If its penalty drops to -5, the weapon is destroyed. ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Nonmagical ammunition made of metal or wood that Aura of Dread (Recharges after short or long
hits The Lord of Many Faces is destroyed after dealing rest). Thornrage exudes magical menace. Each enemy
damage. The Lord of Many Faces can eat through 2-inch within 30 feet of the caitiff must succeed on a DC 13
thick, nonmagical wood or metal in one round. Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. If a
Amorphous. The Lord of Many Faces can move through a frightened target ends its turn more than 30 feet away
space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing. from Thornrage, the target can repeat the saving throw,
Spider Climb. The Lord of Many Faces can climb difficult ending the effect on itself with a success.
surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without
needing to make an ability check.
Lurker in Desolation, the
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Lord of Many Faces makes two attacks with The Lurker has a roughly insect-like shape but is seemingly made up of
its pseudopod pinchers. faces, anguished faces that bloat out its revolting form like a sack of skin
Pseudopod Pinchers. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach and give the thing a pregnant look. The thing’s skin is translucent, and
5 ft.; one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage the gory contents visible in its stomachs merely increase its girth and add
plus 9 (2d8) acid. The target is grappled (escape DC 14) to the illusion of pregnancy. Its back crawls with slender fleshy tendrils
142
 GM Guide
that whip about apparently tasting the air, suffocating around a vast open
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
mouth. It doesn’t have any true legs but seems to drag itself about with
graceless haste upon its many stumpy tendrils. 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 13 (+1)  16 (+3) 13 (+1)
 
The Lurker in Desolation Skills Medicine +7, Persuasion +3, Religion +4
Huge aberration, neutral evil Senses passive Perception 13
Armor Class 16 (natural armor) Languages Common
Hit Points 143 (15d12 + 45) Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
Divine Eminence. As a bonus action, Luther can expend a
spell slot to cause his mace attacks to magically deal an
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA extra 10 (3d6) radiant damage to a target on a hit. This
20 (+5) 13 (+1) 17 (+3) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 9 (–1) benefit lasts until the end of the turn. If he expends a spell
slot of 2nd level or higher, the extra damage increases by
1d6 for each level above 1st.
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +4 Spellcasting. Luther is a 5th-level spellcaster in the service of
Damage Resistances nonmagical weapons Mother Grace. His spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save
Damage Immunities Acid DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). He has the following
Condition Immunities Prone cleric spells prepared:
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13 Cantrips (at will): light, sacred flame, thaumaturgy
Languages Aquan, Deep Speech 1st level (4 slots): cure wounds, guiding bolt, sanctuary
Challenge 5,000 (CR 9) 2nd level (3 slots): lesser restoration, spiritual weapon
3rd level (2 slots): dispel magic, spirit guardians
Acidic Trail. The Lurker’s skin exudes a layer of acid. This
coating leaves a slimy trail behind the Lurker similar to a ACTIONS
slug’s trail. All spaces that the Lurker occupied since its last Silvered Mace. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
turn retain one target. Hit: 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage.
this acidic coating; any creature that enters or starts its turn Heavy Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range
in such a space takes 1d6 acid 100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d10) piercing damage. The
damage. At the start of the Lurker’s turn, all previously acidic bolts are silvered.
spaces become safe. He carries the following vampire-killing equipment:
Blending Skin. When at rest, a Lurker shifts the color of its • 3 vials of holy water
flesh to blend perfectly with • Silvered mace
the surrounding terrain. While motionless, the Lurker is • Silver mirror
invisible. • Silver holy symbol of Mother Grace
Dislocated. Attacks against the Lurker are made with • 3 wooden stakes
disadvantage unless the attacker has blindsight or
truesight.
Lyme Angler
Actions
Multiattack. The Lurker attacks twice with tentacles, then This ugly, bloated fish has a glowing, fleshy protrusion that extends
either bites twice or uses its distended bite once. from the top of its skull and dangles in front of its wide-mouth, which is
Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: Tentacle: +8 to hit (reach filled with needle-like fangs.
10 ft.; one creature). Hit: 2d8 + 5 bludgeoning damage
plus 1d10 acid damage. If both tentacle attacks hit Lyme Angler
the same creature on the Lurker’s turn, the creature is
grappled (escape DC 15). The Lurker can have up to two Large beast (aquatic), unaligned
creatures grappled and still use tentacle attacks.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: Bite: +8 to hit (reach 10 ft.; one Armor Class 12 (natural armor)
creature). Hit: 1d8 + 5 piercing damage plus 1d10 acid Hit Points 51 (6d10 + 18)
damage. Speed 0 ft., swim 30 ft.
Distended Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit (reach 20
ft.; one creature); Hit: 1d12 + 5 piercing damage plus 1d10 STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
acid damage.
18 (+4) 13 (+1) 16 (+3) 1 (-5) 10 (+0) 2 (-5)

Luther Condition Immunities prone

Luther is a dark-skinned Libynosi man, a little on the portly side. He Senses darkvision 30 ft., passive Perception 10
wears an officer’s coat of the Royal Army with fine gold tassels and several Languages none
medals, but has removed his captain’s rank from it since he no longer Challenge 3 (700 XP)
serves in the Castorhage military. Luther is a follower of Mother Grace.
Brine Misery. This infection is an extremely sore, itchy,
red inflammation around the site of the lyme angler
Luther bite. An infected creature gains 1 level of exhaustion
Medium male human, lawful good immediately. There is no other effect, but the disease
Armor Class 13 (chain shirt) can be cured only with a lesser restoration spell or
Hit Points 27 (5d8 + 5) comparable magic.
Speed 30 ft. Lantern Lure. A bioluminescent lure dangles from the lyme
angler’s forehead, giving off dim light within 15 feet.
143
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Lyme Walrus
Thick folds of fleshy blubber encase this massive sea creature. Yet
despite its bestial appearance, its eyes reveal calculating intelligence,
and it holds itself upright with unusual dignity. The illusion of a man
would almost be convincing were it not for the long tusks that protrude
from its whiskered mouth.

Lyme Walrus
Large humanoid, chaotic neutral

Armor Class 12 (natural armor)

Hit Points 93 (11d10 + 33)
Speed 20 ft., swim 40ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

19 (+4) 11 (+0) 17 (+3) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 16 (+3)

Skills Perception +3, Performance +7, Persuasion +5

Damage Resistances cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and
slashing from nonmagical weapons
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages Common
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

Fascinating Story. A Lyme walrus can manipulate its guttural

Creatures within that distance and able to see the light voice while weaving a fascinating story. Creatures within
must make a successful DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or 60 feet that can see and hear the Lyme walrus for 1
be charmed by the lyme angler. While charmed this way, minute or longer must make successful DC 13 Charisma
an air-breathing creature won’t surface to take a fresh saving throws or be charmed and stunned for as long as
breath of air. A charmed creature repeats the saving the Lyme walrus continues speaking. Combat and other
throw at the end of its turn, ending the effect on itself
with a success. A creature that makes a successful save is
immune to all lyme angler lantern lures for 24 hours.

ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
creature). Hit: 2d4 + 4 piercing damage and the creature
must make a successful DC 13 Constitution saving throw or
contract brine misery (see above).

ECOLOGY
Environment sea
Organization school (1-100)

Also known as a slop-shark to those along the River Lyme, the Lyme
angler is among the most ferocious of predatory fish in and around that
waterway. Lyme anglers have a luminescent organ called a lantern lure
at the tip of a modified dorsal ray (or fishing rod). The organ serves not
only the purpose of luring prey in the warm, shallow, polluted water of the
Lyme, but also serves to call males’ attention to the females to facilitate
mating. The source of luminescence in this organ is a symbiotic species
of brine shrimp that lives in and along the Lyme and has an affinity for
the lantern lure organ of the Lyme angler. Through a complex chemical
reaction, the Lyme angler is able to agitate these brine shrimp and cause
them to illuminate its lure at will.
These diseased things of corruption and toxin are common in the Lyme.
They have fanged-filled mouths, and their bodies are riddled with sores,
infestations, and chemical burns — proof that there are places even they
cannot swim safely. One of the most notorious man-eaters of the river, the
biggest Lyme anglers can reach lengths of more than 20 feet and weigh
up to 5,000 pounds.

Copyright Notice
Author Jeffrey Swank, based on material by Richard Pett.

144
 GM Guide
severe distractions prevent the ability from working. A Skills Perception +4, Stealth +5
creature that saves successfully is immune to Fascinating Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Story for 24 hours. Any potential threat allows a charmed Languages -
creature to repeat the saving throw, ending the effect Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
on itself with a success. Taking damage breaks the effect
automatically on the injured creature. A creature need Underwater Camouflage. The malevolent box fish has
not understand Common for this ability to work; the power advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made while
is in how the Lyme walrus modulates the sound of its voice, underwater.
not in the words it speaks. Water Breathing. The malevolent box fish can breathe only
Innate Spellcasting. The Lyme walrus can use the following underwater.
spell-like abilities, using Charisma as its casting ability (DC
13). The Lyme walrus needs only vocal components to use ACTIONS
these abilities. Multiattack. The malevolent box fish makes two slam
At will: minor illusion attacks.
3/day each: disguise self, major image Tentacles. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 15 ft., one
target. Hit: 15 (3d6 + 5) bludgeoning damage, and the
ACTIONS target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw
Multiattack. The lyme walrus bites twice. or become poisoned for 1 hour.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one Horrific Appearance. Any humanoid that starts its turn
creature). Hit: t within 30 feet of the malevolent box fish and can see
the malevolent box fish must make a DC 15 Wisdom
ECOLOGY saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is frightened
Environment coast for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw
Organization solitary or team (1 Lyme walrus with 1–6 scouts, at the end of each of its turns, with disadvantage if the
spies, or master thieves) malevolent box fish is within line of sight, ending the
effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is
A child of Between that has lived so long in the mundane lands that it successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune
has literally shed its Between skin, a Lyme walrus is disturbingly human. to the malevolent box fish’s Horrific Appearance for the
The human aspects have been absorbed by mingling with men in its own next 24 hours. Unless the target is surprised, the target can
lands. The walrus delights in the manners and appetites of men and feels avert its eyes and avoid making the initial saving throw.
itself to be at least partly human. Until the start of its next turn, a creature that averts its eyes
Named for Sister Lyme where these creatures were first encountered has disadvantage on attack rolls against the malevolent
by the humanoid races of the mundane world, Lyme walruses can be box fish.
found in other locales though they prefer to remain near a body of water Ink Cloud (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). A 20-foot-
to which they can retreat and move with the most freedom if necessary. radius cloud of ink extends all around the malevolent box
The Lyme walrus often seeks out the company of people to learn tales fish if it is underwater. The area is heavily obscured for 1
and stories from them and to indulge in their appetites — particularly minute, although a significant current can disperse the ink.
those of feasting. A Lyme walrus often wants only to hide itself in human After releasing the ink, the malevolent box fish can use the
lands, and eat. In this regard, it is generally harmless. However, they are Dash action as a bonus action.
possessed with a strong acquisitiveness and insatiable appetites, and often
find themselves in the company of those who use their fascinating story
ability as a distraction in order to perform darker acts undetected. The Mantis-Thing from Between
Lyme walrus is usually an innocent in this regard, and sees all such acts as
simply the ways of the humanoids of the mundane world. It is fleshy, but in a revoltingly waxy, insectoid way. It staggers on
The Lyme walrus’s thick layer of blubber serves as protection from several insect legs and drags itself along on two long limbs, making
both predators and cold. A typical Lyme walrus weighs 1 to 2 tons and the thing look like it is obsequiously praying to some demented god
measures 10 feet in length with tusks up to 3 feet long. as it moves. It has a vast, bloated head riddled with teeth, but moves
with appalling speed despite its large size. As it moves, sinews, faces,
Copyright Notice and limbs of people bloat its flesh, and horribly distorted hands grope
Author Jeffrey Swank, based on material by Richard Pett. outward from this vile host. Wreathed about its sickening flesh are
palpable manifestations of misery, regret, and bitter, dashed hope.

Malevolent Box Fish Mantis-Thing from Between

A translucent blue and nearly invisible in water, this cube-shaped Large aberration (naiadic Between), chaotic neutral
jellyfish has four distinct sides and trails dozens of extremely long
tentacles. This particular creature is much worse than usual having Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
recently consumed a sea hag and absorbed some of her power. Hit Points 110 (13d10 + 39)
Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft.
Malevolent Box Fish
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Huge beast, unaligned
Armor Class 14 (natural armor) 20 (+5) 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 5 (-3) 14 (+2) 11 (+0)
Hit Points 147 (14d12 + 56)
Speed swim 60 ft.
Saving Throws Dex +5, Wis +5
Skills Perception +5
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
20 (+5) 14 (+2) 18 (+4) 3 (-4) 10 (+0) 6 (-2) from nonmagical weapons
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages Between Mantis
145
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP) Hit Points 76 (9d10 + 27)
Speed 5 ft., swim 30 ft.
Cocoon (1/day). The mantis-thing can encase a grappled,
incapacitated creature of up to Medium size in a
STR DEX  CON    INT WIS CHA
dense cocoon (AC 10, 30 hp, immune to all but slashing
damage) composed of fibrous material spun out of its 21 (+5) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 1 (-5) 12 (+1) 8 (-1)
mouth. The process takes 1 minute for creatures smaller
than Small, 2 minutes for Small creatures, and 3 minutes for
Medium creatures. Skills Stealth +4
Immune to Transformation. A mantis-thing is immune to Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
effects that would alter its form. Languages ---
Incubation. Once an egg is implanted, it releases enzymes Challenge 3 (700 XP)
that paralyze the victim for as long as the egg remains
in the body. The egg hatches 1d4 days later. When it Gnaw. The eel possesses a second set of jaws in its throat
does, the young mantis-thing consumes the host’s internal that aid in swallowing—it can make another bite attack
organs, killing the creature. Removing an egg takes 10 against a grappled opponent. A grappled target takes 15
minutes and a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine) (3d6 + 5) piercing damage at the start of the eel’s turn.
check; a creature without proficiency in Medicine has Water Breathing. The eel can breathe only underwater.
disadvantage on the check. Each attempt also does
2d6 slashing damage to the host, whether the check ACTIONS
succeeds or fails. Magic that cures disease, such as lesser Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
restoration or a potion of vitality, also destroys the egg target. Hit: 15 (3d6 + 5) piercing damage, and the target
without harming the host, but immunity to paralysis or is grappled (escape DC 15). If the target is a creature,
disease offers no protection. it must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw
Pack Attack. The mantis-thing has advantage on its attack against disease or become poisoned until the disease is
roll if the target is within 5 feet of one or more allies of the cured. After every long rest, the target must repeat the
mantis-thing that are able to attack. saving throw, reducing its hit point maximum by 5 (1d10)
on a failure. The disease is cured on a success. The target
ACTIONS dies if the disease reduces its hit point maximum to 0. This
Multiattack. The mantis-thing makes two claw attacks. reduction to the target’s hit point maximum lasts until the
Lunge (recharge 5-6). Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit disease is cured.
(reach 20 ft.; one creature). Hit: 4d8 + 5 slashing damage,
and the target must make a successful DC 16 Constitution
saving throw or be stunned until the end of its next turn. Marren Grast
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
creature). Hit: 2d8 + 5 slashing damage. If both claw Marren wears an outrageous wig of black ringlets and dresses in the
attacks hit the same target on the mantis-thing’s turn, the finest silks and latest fashions — always turquoise and pink and crimson.
target is grappled (escape DC 15) and the mantis-thing He is a frequent visitor to the Capitol where he seeks to further the long-
can make a proboscis attack against it as a bonus action. term aims of the Grasts (ingratiation into Royal circles). He is a wit, a
Implant Egg. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit (reach 5 dilettante, a master poet and painter, playwright and fop. Behind his
ft.; one grappled creature). Hit: a mantis-thing egg dazzling white teeth is a heart of steel and an iron will.
is implanted in the creature, which is paralyzed and
becomes subject to Incubation (see above). Marren Grast
Proboscis. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (one grappled
creature). Hit: 1d4 + 2 piercing damage, and the creature Small male halfling shapechanger (wererat), chaotic evil
must make a successful DC 14 Constitution saving throw or Armor Class 17 (studded leather)
be paralyzed until the end of its next turn. Hit Points 99 (18d6 + 36
Speed 30 ft.
ECOLOGY
Environment any land (Between) STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
Organization solitary, pair, or nest (3–8)
10 (+0) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 16 (+3)  14 (+2) 16 (+3)
Mantis-things are exaggerated versions of insects, distorted by the
horror of parasitic infestation and the misery of hopelessness. They are
semi-intelligent, and communicate via a language composed of clicks Saving Throws Dex +7, Int +6, Cha +6
from their mouthparts, and the position and trembling of their patterned Skills Acrobatics +7, Deception +6, Perception +5, Sleight of
forelimbs. Hand +7
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
Copyright Notice from nonmagical attacks not made with silvered weapons
Author Alistair Rigg, based on material by Richard Pett. Senses passive Perception 15
Languages Common, Halfling, River Cant, Thieves Cant
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Mar-eel Cunning Action. On each turn, Marren may take the Dash,
This creature looks like an 8-foot long eel with yellowish-brown Disengage, or Hide action as a bonus action.
splotches on its back. Filth Fever. A creature with filth fever becomes sick within
1d4 days of being infected. At that time, the creature
gains 1 level of exhaustion. It also regains only half the usu-
Mar-Eel al number of hit points from spending Hit Dice and no-hit
Large beast, unaligned points from resting. Once symptoms appear, the infected
Armor Class 15 (natural armor) creature must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw
146
 GM Guide
after every long rest. If it fails, the creature gains 1 level of Languages Common
exhaustion, but if it succeeds, the creature loses 1 level of Challenge 2 (450 XP)
exhaustion. The disease is cured when the creature has no
levels of exhaustion left. Alchymic Regeneration. Marrow heals 1 hit point per 2 HD
Keen Smell. Marren has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) at the start of his turn, unless he took acid or fire damage
checks that rely on smell. since his last turn.
Shapechanger. Marren can use his action to polymorph
into a rat-humanoid hybrid or into a giant rat, or back into Actions
his true form, which is humanoid. His statistics, other than Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
his size, are the same in each form. Any equipment he is creature). Hit: 4 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. He reverts to his true Chloroform. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit (reach 5ft; one
form if he dies. creature). Hit: Target must make a DC15 Constitution sav-
Sneak Attack (1/turn). Marren’s attack deals an extra 14 ing throw or fall unconscious for 1 hour. The attacker must
(4d6) damage when he hits with a weapon attack, if he take the defender unawares, by a contest of Dexterity
has advantage on the attack roll, or there is an ally who is (Stealth) and Wisdom (Perception).
not incapacitated within 5 feet of the target, and as long Hand crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range
as Marren does not have disadvantage on the attack roll. 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.

ACTIONS
Multiattack. Marren makes three melee attacks: one with his Master Luther Gable
assassin’s dagger, one with his rapier or hand crossbow,
and one with his bite. A member of the Renders street gang, who owns a homunculus named
Assassin’s Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 Lickspittle, Master Luther Gable is a human male with tightly-stretched,
ft., one creature. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4) piercing damage. parchment-like skin from some sort of childhood disease. He has a long
Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one nose, and an old scar parts his greasy hair across his entire scalp.
creature. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage. If the target is a
Master Luther Gable
humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving Medium human, Neutral
throw or be cursed with wererat lycanthropy. Armor Class 18 (studded leather armour)
 Hand Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range Hit Points 117 (18d8 + 36)
30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage. Speed 30 ft.
 
Unusual Equipment: Assassin’s Dagger STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Assassin’s Dagger
Weapon (dagger), very rare (requires attunement) 12 (+1) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 16 (+3)

You gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with

this magic weapon. This weapon scores a critical hit on a Saving Throws Dexterity +7, Intelligence +3
roll of 18-20. Skills Acrobatics +7, Athletics +3, Perception +3, Sleight of
Hand +7, Stealth +7
Treasure:   Assassin’s dagger, rapier, potion of greater healing (2), Senses passive Perception 18
potion of gaseous form, hat of disguise, hand crossbow with 10 bolts (4 Languages Common
of which have the poison of a purple worm applied, DC 13 Constitution Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
saving throw, 10 (3d6) poison damage), noble’s outfit, signet ring, assorted
jewellery worth 1,200 gp, belt pouch with 6pp, 13 gp. Elusive. No attack on Master Luther Gable has advantage if
he is not incapacitated.
Evasion. If Master Luther Gable is subjected to an effect that
Marrow allows him to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only
half damage, he instead takes no damage if he succeeds
Covered in a debilitating and foul-smelling skin condition, this on the saving throw, and only half damage if he fails.
unfortunate man walks with the aid of a curved cane. His misshaped hood Sneak Attack (1/Turn). Master Luther Gable deals an extra
hints at some foul deformity of the head beneath. Below, his face leans as 21 (6d6) damage when he hits a target with a weapon
though flattened on one side, huge eyeballs protruding to a ghastly degree attack and has advantage on the attack roll, or when
from the skull. the target is within 5 feet of one of his allies that isn’t
incapacitated and he doesn’t have disadvantage on the
attack roll.
Marrow Stealthy. Gable has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth)
Medium alchymic-undying† humanoid, neutral checks.
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 27 (6d8) Actions
Speed 30 ft. Multiattack. Master Luther Gable makes three rapier attacks
per turn.
Short Sword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage.
19 (+4) 10 (+0) 17 (+3) 6 (-2) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range
80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage.

Skills Perception +3 Treasure:  Gable carries a potion of greater healing and a potion

Condition Immunities exhaustion and unconsciousness of invisibility. The scabbard of his shortsword has mother-of-pearl
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13 ornamentation and is worth 400 gp, his cloak has an obsidian clasp
147
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
depicting two hands arm wrestling, worth 50 gp, and he carries a leather
purse made of elephant hide containing 22 pp. Mite
This creature is an ugly humanoid about 2 feet tall. It has long, pointed
Misery, the ears, a large round nose, and grayish-brown skin.

The Misery is an immense greenish-black thing with intense yellow

eyes. It is 30 feet long and a foot thick. The body of the thing is a worm- Mite
like mass of pulpy flesh with several gill-like apertures along its length Small fey, lawful evil
with which it propels itself through the water. The front of the beast has Armor Class 11
a long trunk like that of an elephant. Its skin glistens as if coated with a Hit Points 3 (1d6)
fine sheen of oil. Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.

The Misery STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA

Gargantuan aberration, chaotic evil 8 (-1) 13 (+1) 11 (+0) 8 (-1) 13 (+1) 10 (+0)
Armor Class 20 (natural armour)
Hit Points 247 (15d20 + 90)
Speed 30 ft., swim 50 ft. Skills Stealth +3
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Deep Speech
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)
20 (+5) 18 (+4) 22 (+6) 6 (-2) 14 (+2) 16 (+3)
Hatred. Mites have advantage on attacks versus dwarves,
gnomes and deep gnomes.
Skills Perception +6, Stealth +8 (+12 in water) Innate Spellcasting. The mite’s spellcasting ability is Charis-
Damage Resistances cold, fire; bludgeoning, piercing, and ma (spell save DC 10). It can innately cast the following
slashing from nonmagical attacks spells, requiring no material components:
Damage Immunities acid, poison At Will: prestidigitation
Condition Immunities poisoned, prone 1/day: fear
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 24
Languages Aklo ACTIONS
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP) Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing damage.
Dislocated. The Misery is constantly blurred as in the spell. Dart. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one
Jack’s Candle. As an action, the Misery can release an target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing damage.
exhalation of gas in a 60-foot radius spread twice per day. If this Vermin Empathy (1/ day). The mite can summon a swarm
occurs while fully submerged, this gas slowly diffuses upward of bats, a swarm of rats, or a swarm of insects once per
and combines with any existing fog to create a smog-like cloud day. The summoned creatures arrive 1d4 rounds, acting
with suffocating effects that can linger for hours until the fog is as allies of the mite and obeying its spoken commands.
burned (treat as normal Jack’s Candle but with advantage on The beasts remain for 1 hour, until the mite dies, or until the
the saving throw). If the Jack’s Candle is exhaled while above mite dismisses them as a bonus action.
water it has the effects described below.
An interesting side effect of the Jack’s Candle is
that its appearance (in normal form or diffuse Mocking Gull
form) attracts creatures from the surrounding marshes
that have an affinity for foggy conditions. Examples of The mocking gull is a twisted, bloated, Between-touched undead stirge.
these include hungry fogs, crimson deaths, vampiric This human-sized creature looks like a cross between a large bat and a
mists, trench mist, and even animating fog, and similar giant mosquito. Its wings are leathery and gray and its skin is drawn tight
creatures. Any time Jack’s Candle forms, there is a 20% across its bones. The creature has eight pincer-like legs and a long needle-
chance that 1 or more of the above creatures will hide in like snout. Its eyes glow pale blue.
its interior and go on a slaughtering spree through the city.
If Jack’s Candle occurs above water, creatures within the Mocking Gull
sphere must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or
act as if under the confusion spell 1 minute.  In addition, Medium undead, chaotic evil
the air within the fog is not breathable by air-breathing Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
creatures. Hit Points 31 (7d8)
Uncatchable.  The Misery cannot be grappled or restrained. Speed 10 ft., fly 40 ft.
Water Breathing. The Misery can only breathe underwater.
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
Actions
Multiattack. The Misery makes one bite and one sting attack. 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 6 (-2) 8 (-1) 6 (-2)
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 15 ft., one
creature. Hit: 9 (2d8 + 5) piercing damage and 16 (3d10)
poison damage. Damage Immunities poison
Sting. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 15 ft., one Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, poisoned
creature. Hit: 9 (2d8 + 5) piercing damage and 16 (3d10) Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9
poison damage. Languages -
Spit. Ranged Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, range 20/60 ft..  Hit:  Challenge 1 (200 XP)
4d10 poison damage and target is poisoned until the end
of its next turn. Dislocated. Attacks against the mocking gull are made

148
 GM Guide
with disadvantage unless the attacker has blindsight or
truesight.

ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage, and the target
must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or be
paralyzed for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving
throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on
itself on a success.
Blood Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one paralyzed creature. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage,
and the mocking gull attaches to the target. While
attached, the mocking gull doesn’t attack. Instead, at the
start of each of the mocking gull’s turns, the target loses 7
(1d8 + 3) hit points due to blood loss.
The mocking gull can detach itself by spending 5 feet of its
movement. It does so after it drains 14 hit points of blood
from the target or the target dies. A creature, including
the target, can use its action to detach the mocking gull.

Mongrelman
The hideous creature approaching from the shadows looks to be pieced
together from parts of other monsters as some sort of vile joke or blight
on nature.

Mongrelman Hit Points 97 (13d10 + 26)

Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
Medium monstrosity, lawful neutral
Armor Class 13 (natural armour)
Hit Points 16 (3d8 + 3) STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Speed 30 ft. 13 (+1) 18 (+4) 15 (+2) 8 (-1) 10 (+0) 16 (+3)

STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA

Saving Throws Wis +3
16 (+3) 13 (+1) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 6 (-2)
Skills Stealth +7
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
from nonmagical weapons
Saving Throws Dex +3, Wis +4
Damage Immunities cold, poison
Skills Athletics +5, Perception +4, Survival +4
Condition Immunities disease; poisoned
Senses passive Perception 14
Senses blindsight 30 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Common, Mongrelman
Languages Aquan, Common, Deep Speech
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Mimicry. The mongrelman can mimic sounds made by any
Hypnotic Song. A moon angel’s song has the power to
creature previously encountered as long as it has heard the
entrance those that hear it. All creatures aside from other
sound. A creature that hears the sounds can tell they are
moon angels within 300 feet of a singing moon angle
imitations with a successful DC 10 Wisdom (Insight) check.
must make a successful DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be
charmed by all moon angels. While charmed this way, a
ACTIONS
creature’s speed is 0. A creature that successfully saves
Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
is immune to the hypnotic singing of all moon angels until
target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
the following sunrise. This effect lasts for as long as the
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
moon angel continues singing and for 1 full round after
target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
it stops. A charmed creature is willing to accept a moon
angel’s Drowning Kiss.
Moon Angel ACTIONS
This thin, stretched creature has gangly, long limbs that bend in unusual Multiattack. The moon angel attacks twice with its claws.
ways. Its skin is pale and sickly with its face shrunken in its drooping, Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
hairless head. Pointed ears rise high above the crown of its head, and its creature). Hit: 2d6 + 4 slashing damage plus 1d8 cold
eyes are sunk deep beneath its brow like two bottomless pits. Its toothless damage, and the creature must make a successful DC 13
mouth hangs open, jaw slack, as it incessantly licks its withered lips. Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. A
paralyzed creature repeats the saving throw at the end of
its turn, ending the effect with a success.
Moon Angel Drowning Kiss. A moon angel can flood the lungs of a willing,
Large fey, neutral evil sleeping, helpless, or hypnotized creature by touching it
(traditionally by kissing the creature on the lips). If the target
Armor Class 14 cannot breathe water, it immediately begins suffocating

149
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
from drowning. A drowning creature makes a DC 13 Damage Immunities poison
Constitution saving throw at the end of its turn, coughing up Condition Immunities poisoned
the water and ending the effect with a success. Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Common
ECOLOGY Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Environment sea
Organization solitary or school (2-5) Keen Smell. The morlock has advantage on Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Oftentimes folk who fall into the river, even in the relative shallows, are Light Sensitivity. While in bright light, the morlock has
never seen again even if help was close at hand. At such times, folk who disadvantage on attack rolls and Wisdom (Perception)
dwell near the riverside make the sign against the evil eye and blame the checks that rely on sight.
disappearance on hidden currents carrying the victim into the depths or the Pounce. If the morlock moves at least 15 feet straight toward
normal fauna that makes the Great Lyme a graveyard for hundreds of citizens a creature and then hits it with a bite attack on the same
of Castorhage every year. However, sometimes the cause of the disappearance turn, that target must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving
is more sinister than either of those. Sometimes it is the work of a moon angel. throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the
The moon angel is a rare creature that lurks in the deepest, coldest morlock can make another bite attack against it as a
waters of the Lyme, fond of rising to the surface and quietly watching the bonus action.
goings-on ashore, waiting for the unfortunate soul who loses his footing or Martial Advantage. Once per turn, the morlock can deal an
is more drunk than careful and falls into the dark waters of the river. When extra 7 (2d6) damage to a creature it hits with a weapon
it locates such a victim, it quickly moves to hypnotize him and draw him attack if that creature is within 5 feet of an ally of the
deeper into the waters where it can feed at its leisure. morlock that isn’t incapacitated.
A creature of the coldest fathoms of the river where depth and pollution
block the sun, a moon angel cannot stay long near the warm surface while ACTIONS
it waits for prey. It becomes uncomfortable from the heat and light, and Multiattack. The morlock makes two melee attacks, one bite
can even develop severe sunburns on its pale skin when remaining too and one club.
close to the surface for long. For this reason, the depredations of the moon Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
angels remain relatively rare. The occurrences do increase in the winter creature). Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
months when a thin sheet of ice often covers the river’s edges, though they Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
still love the daylight no better then than they do in summer. creature). Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) bludgeoning damage.
Occasionally on moonless nights, a moon angel may leave the river under
the cover of darkness to hunt additional victims on land. At these times,
such a creature tends to clamber along the rooftops to find open windows N’gathau
to take meat from within, with any household survivors the next morning
describing only dreams of a strange crooning song echoing through their The n’gathau are a sadistic and cruel race of extraplanar creatures that
sleep. As with those who disappear into the river when a moon angel pays a journey the planes in search of living flesh to further their craft and trade.
visit, the unfortunate soul that has garnered its attention is never seen again. The n’gathau collect the flesh of their enemies, flay and destroy it, and
It for these incidences that the twisted fey known as moon angels gain reconstruct the tortured in blasphemous likenesses of their former selves.
their name, though few if any folk have made a connection between these Additionally, they sometimes capture the essence of a slain outsider and
nighttime disappearances and those that occur more frequently in the river. bring it to their native plane where it remains in eternal torture.
Extremely tall and awkwardly gangly, the moon angel stands eight feet Most horrifying of all, the n’gathau were once humanoids themselves:
in height but weighs barely 250 lbs. taken by beings known as the Twelve and transformed via disfiguring
tortures. Living creatures are the n’gathau’s desire, for the dead serve no
Copyright Notice purpose; the n’gathau cannot enjoy the suffering of one that cannot scream.
Author Jeffrey Swank, based on material by Richard Pett. The average n’gathau is a walking collection of bizarre tortures,
piercings, chains, flayed skin, and hooks. No two n’gathau are identical in
their suffering; the pain endured by each is unique.
Morlock The Pain Trade
Degenerate humans long lost from the world of light, morlocks have
The n’gathau engage in a bizarre trade with other extraplanar races. In
regressed through years of subterranean dwelling into ravenous, barely
exchange for living creatures, the n’gathau offer reliquaries that contain
thinking beasts of the endless night. They no longer remember the civilized
the power that mortal pain and suffering offers. These reliquaries are most
lives their ancestors led, although many morlock tribes still dwell in the
often used as spell components, used to craft constructs, or used in the
shattered ruins of their ancient homes. Ironically, in many cases morlocks
creation of magic items.
worship the statues left behind by these ancestors as their gods.
When a living creature is tortured and mutilated, its screams and
Morlocks move about on two legs at times, but often drop down to a
suffering are captured by machines of alien construction and fabricated
creepy four-limbed shuffle when speed or stealth is necessary. Their wiry,
into small reliquaries. These items are in turn traded to those who offer the
often emaciated frames mask the strength of their limbs and their swift
n’gathau what they desire in return — flesh.
reactions.
Torturers
 
N’gathau are monstrously sadistic, and engage in the torture of captive
Morlock beings for the simple pleasure of it. Any creature subjected to torture by a
n’gathau loses 1d2 points of Constitution per day. A n’gathau will not let
Medium humanoid, chaotic evil its plaything die as a result of the torture. When the captive’s Constitution
Armor Class 16 drops to 1 the n’gathau grants it a reprieve from the torture until it is back
Hit Points 21 (4d8 + 6) to full health.
Speed 30 ft.
Rulers of the Plane of Agony
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
The n’gathau are ruled by an enigmatic sect of frighteningly powerful
14 (+2) 18 (+4) 15 (+2) 5 (–3) 14 (+2) 6 (–2) beings called the Twelve. Very little is known about them except for their
names and appearances; their history and true origins are locked away in
the minds of the Twelve themselves and the catacomb of vaults lining the
150
 GM Guide
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

Cruelty’s Bliss. N’gathau relish the suffering of others. When

a n’gathau pain-trader hits an opponent with a natural 20
on the attack roll, it gains advantage on all further attacks
against that opponent for the next 24 hours.
Horrifying Appearance. The sight of a n’gathau pain-
trader is so disturbing that anyone seeing it must make a
successful DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened
for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw
at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect with a
successful roll. If the creature’s saving throw is successful or
the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the pain-
trader’s Horrifying Appearance for the next 24 hours.

ACTIONS
Multiattack. The n’gathau pain-trader makes two melee
attacks.
Razor Fingers. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one creature. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) slashing damage, and if
the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it is grappled
(escape DC 16) and restrained until the grapple ends.
Delicious Agony. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5
ft., one creature that is grappled by the n’gathau pain-
trader. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) slashing damage, and the target
must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. If the target
fails the saving throw, its hit point maximum is reduced
by 5 (1d10) and the n’gathau regains hit points equal to
that amount. The reduction lasts until the target finishes a
long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point
maximum to 0.
The n’gathau pain-trader can maintain the grapple on the
creature after subjecting it to this effect, but it can only
Plane of Agony. Though reclusive and secretive, it is known (supposedly use Delicious Agony on the same target once every 24
by one who has seen the Plane of Agony and lived to tell about it) that the hours.
Twelve, as mighty as they are, are but servitors of a greater being called Exquisite Suffering (Recharge 6). When the n’gathau pain-
the Quorum. The n’gathau known as Agasin is pictured here. trader makes a successful attack against a creature, the it
   can force its target to feel the sensation of the n’gathau’s
own agony, overloading the senses of the target. The
N’gathau Pain-Trader target must make a successful DC 15 Wisdom saving
throw or be stunned for 1 minute. The target can repeat
N’gathau are all individual and distinct, but in terms of their relative the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the
strengths, the lowest group of them can be characterized as shown for effect with a successful save and the creature is immune
the Pain-Trader. Individual pain-traders may certainly have different to the Exquisite Suffering of the pain-trader for the next 24
characteristics from the “typical” one detailed here. hours.
The n’gathau pain-trader’s lower right arm is encased in a latticework
of wires and cables leading down to razor claws that replaced its original
fingers. Its chest is pierced with rows of small, upward-curving hooks, and Naga, Blight
its head has been seared, burning off the ears and hair, leaving a mass of
scar tissue. Its right leg is scarified in intricate designs and patterns. An exotically featured woman’s head tops this snakelike creature.
  Its scales range in color from deep purple to black, with the creature’s
underside colored a lighter shade of violet. Ten arms protrude from the
N’gathau Pain-Trader snake body’s flanks, though they are spindly and frail in their musculature.
Medium fiend, neutral evil
Armor Class 18 (natural armor) Blight Naga
Hit Points 75 (10d8 + 30)
Speed 40 ft. Large aberration, chaotic neutral

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)

STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA Hit Points 65 (10d10 + 10)
18 (+4) 10 (+0) 17 (+3) 7 (–2) 10 (+0) 7 (–2) Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

Skills Perception +3
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing 8 (-1) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 7 (-2) 19 (+4)
from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities acid, poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, poisoned Saving Throws Dex +3, Con +3, Wis +0
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13 Skills Deception +6, Insight +2, Perception +0, Persuasion +6
Languages Common, Infernal, Abyssal, telepathy 60 ft. Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, poisoned
151
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 claim ancestry from the exotic lands of Far Jaati and go so far as to learn
Languages Common, Deep Speech, Meeruwahn that land’s language, though this has yet to be proven and is refuted by some
Challenge 2 (450 XP) members of the Blight naga community who, in fact, steadfastly deny this
origin. The fact that members of the race can move among the humanoid
Change Shape (3/day). A Blight naga can take the form of populace indistinguishably in humanoid form further lends to this confusion.
a human as an action. Each transformation lasts 10 min- Art Collectors. Blight nagas relish the arts, including the arcane arts.
utes. If the naga impersonates a specific person, it must They have a propensity for identifying magical items, as well as the skill
make a Deception check when it meets people who and capriciousness to fabricate such items (or fake versions of them to
know the person being simulated. foist upon the unwary). Likewise, many a Blight naga has coaxed or
Innate Spellcasting. The Blight naga can use the following cajoled a fine piece of artwork or rare magical item out of the hands of
spell-like abilities, using Charisma as its casting ability (DC its owner, augmenting their skills in such tasks with magic as necessary.
14). The Blight naga doesn’t need material components to When rolled together, this means Blight nagas are sought out for the keen
use these abilities. ability to identify and appraise artwork and magical trinkets, yet held at
At will: comprehend languages, detect magic arm’s length once the object is identified.
3/day each: dispel magic, identify, magic aura, sugges- Nagas with Arms. Blight nagas are frailer than their more common
tion cousins. However, they make up for this frailty, at least in part, with an
1/day: dominate person odd evolutionary feature other types of nagas lack—arms. While the arms
of a Blight naga don’t have much in the way of musculature, they are well
ACTIONS suited to fine craftwork and the ability to wield magical items such as
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one wands and staves.
creature). Hit: 1d6 + 1 piercing damage plus 5d6 poison In Plain Sight. Blight nagas delight in hiding in plain sight among the
damage, or half poison damage with a successful DC 11 humanoids of the city, usually using their change shape ability to take the
Constitution saving throw. form of a humanoid female so as to mingle freely. Still, while using this
ability they must be wary of the passage of time lest they find themselves
ECOLOGY transforming back to their natural state at an awkward moment. A typical
Environment urban (the Blight) Blight naga is 12 feet long, resting on a coil of two-thirds of its body so that
Organization solitary, pair, or family (2–4 adults and 1–3 it stands only around 6 feet in height, and weighs 275 pounds on average.
young)
Copyright Notice
Blight nagas are aesthetes and artists that as a race have existed in the Author John Ling, based on material by Richard Pett.
city for as long as anyone remembers. Whether they were indigenous
inhabitants, early visitors from Between, or immigrants from a distant land
is argued, but they have seemingly always been there. Most Blight nagas Necrophidius
This creature monster has a long skeletal body topped with a fanged
human skull. Its eyes glow with a hellish red light.

Necrophidius
Large construct, neutral
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 52 (7d10 + 14)
Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

16 (+3) 17 (+3) 15 (+2) 2 (-4)   11 (+0) 6 (-2)

Skills Stealth +5
Damage Immunities poison, psychic
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, par-
alyzed, petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Understands the languages of its creator but
cannot speak.
Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Dance of Death. As a bonus action, a necrophidius can

enthrall opponents by swaying back and forth. Those
within 30 feet viewing the dancing snake must succeed
on a DC 12 Wisdom save or be stunned until the end of
the necrophidius’ next turn. If a creature makes a saving
throw, it is immune to the effect for 24 hours. Unless
surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving
throw until the start of its turn. A creature averting its eyes
has disadvantage on attack rolls against the necrophidius.

ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 12 (2d8 +3) piercing damage. If the target is a
152
 GM Guide
creature, it must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving
or be paralyzed for 1 minute. The target can repeat the
saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the
effect on itself on a success.

Night Slug
The creature is roughly the size of a halfling. Its skin is a blotchy
gray color with a few sporadic tufts of muddy-brown hair. The scraps
of ragged clothes it wears are covered in filth, clearly not having been
washed in weeks — if ever. Its arms are thin and elongated, hanging
almost limp.

None are as naturally capable of the fine art of breaking and entering
as the night-slug. Fortunately for society, few are also as cowardly.
Night-slugs maintain their existence simply by avoiding notice. They
often reside in small crawlspaces or even the hollows between the outer
masonry and inner plaster and lathe of a house. Those who are not lucky
enough to acquire such grand accommodations typically live in places that
allow them to avoid notice — the city dump, a gable hanging over a small
alleyway, and so forth.
Night-slugs are capable of maneuvering their bodies through seemingly
impossible spaces. Their ligaments and tendons are exceptionally elastic,
allowing a night-slug to elongate its arms and legs, and in the process
pulling what muscle it has closer to its frame. In addition, night-slugs have
Slime Coat: The skin of a night-slug secretes a thin fluid resembling
a “collapsible” skeleton; its bones are composed primarily of cartilage,
slimy perspiration that has a musty odor and leaves a stain on most fabrics.
allowing the creature to squeeze into incredibly small areas.
This coating protects the night-slug against grappling; other creatures
A typical night-slug stands around 3-1/2 feet tall and weighs 40 pounds.
have disadvantage when trying to grapple a night-slug, and a night-slug
has advantage on its attempts to escape from grappling. It also makes
Night-Slug Society night-slugs easy to track; Survival checks to follow a night-slug’s trail
Night-slugs are scavengers living on the fringes of other societies. across any type of terrain are made with advantage.
They prefer densely populated urban areas for the increased number of Compression: Night-slugs can move through spaces one size category
hiding places and resources from which to scrounge their needs. Most smaller than themselves without squeezing, and they can squeeze through
night-slugs are loners because of the limited resources available to them; openings two size categories smaller.
mated couples rarely stay together beyond the birth of a brood of whimps Languages: Night-slugs begin play speaking Common.
(as their young are called), and mothers generally abandon their young as
soon as they reach maturity after 3 years.
While most humanoids despise night-slugs and find their presence Night-Slug Burglar
loathsome, few actually fear the creatures. More than one urban goodwife Small humanoid, neutral
has walked into a room of her house at night to find a night-slug crouched
in the corner chewing on a lace table runner and staining the rug with its Armor Class 14
noxious skin secretions. While the typical reaction certainly includes a Hit Points 11 (2d6 + 4)
scream, rather than flight it just as often concludes with her grabbing a Speed 25 ft., crawl 20 ft.
broom and chasing the creature until it manages to squeeze back through
a crack in the baseboards to the safety of the inner walls. In some cities
Str Dex Con Int Wis Cha
plagued by these creatures, there is an entire industry for exterminators
hired to enter homes and buildings to clear out night-slug infestations. 10 (+0) 19 (+4) 14 (+2) 8 (-1) 13 (+1) 6 (-2)
Unlike their skulk cousins, who possess a more violent bent, night-
slugs are inherently cowardly and rarely a threat to even those who would
otherwise find themselves at their mercy. There are examples, however, Skills Sleight-of-hand +6, Stealth +6
of individuals who have overcome this innate fearfulness and gone on to Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
become highly proficient thieves and even assassins, in some cases. Languages Common
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Night-Slug Characters
Compression. The night-slug can move through spaces one
Night-slug player characters have the following racial traits.
size category smaller than itself without squeezing, and it
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 4, but your
can squeeze through openings two size categories small-
Intelligence is reduced by 2 and your Charisma is reduced by 4. No score
er.
can be raised above 20 or reduced below 3.
Slime Coat. Other creatures have disadvantage when trying
Age. Night-slugs are able to survive on their own by age 3. By age 5,
to grapple a night-slug, and the night-slug has advantage
they’re considered adults, and they seldom live more than 30 years.
on attempts to escape from grapples. Survival checks
Alignment. Most night-slugs have no strong ethical convictions of any
to follow a night-slug’s trail across any type of terrain are
kind. They survive by stealing, so they tend toward Chaos and Neutrality.
made with advantage.
Size: Night-slugs are Small creatures. Because they’re so flexible and
Sly Crawler. Crawling doesn’t slow down a night-slug, even
able to squeeze themselves into their surroundings, they make Stealth
in difficult terrain. A crawling night-slug doesn’t trigger op-
checks with =advantage.
portunity attacks for movement.
Darkision: Night-slugs have darkvision (60 feet).
Sneak Atttack. A night-slug burglar’s dagger attack does an
Sly Crawler: While prone, a night-slug has a Crawl speed of 20 feet,
extra 1d6 piercing damage if the night-slug has advan-
and crawling doesn’t slow it down even in difficult terrain. A crawling
tage on the attack or if another night-slug is within 5 feet
night-slug doesn’t trigger opportunity attacks for movement.
153
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
of the target and able to attack. ACTIONS
Thief. The night-slug burglar has proficiency with thief’s tools Multiattack. The Paradigm of Bondage makes two attacks
and is never without them. with its spike chains.
Spiked Chain. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10
ACTIONS ft., one target. Hit: 18 (4d6 + 5) slashing damage and the
Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one target is grappled (escape DC 16) if the Paradigm isn’t
creature). Hit: 1d4 + 4 piercing damage. already grappling a creature. Until this grapple ends, the
Dagger. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit (range target is restrained and takes 10 (3d6) piercing damage at
20 ft./60 ft.; one creature). Hit: 1d4 + 4 piercing damage. the start of each of its turns.
Between Scream. (Recharge 6) The Paradigm of Bondage
ECOLOGY unleashes a cacophony of soul-shaking howls from
Environment urban Between in a 30-foot radius. All creatures within the area
Organization solitary, pair, or gang (3–6) must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be
stunned until the end of their next turn. On a successful
Copyright Notice saving throw, the creature is immune to the Paradigm’s
Author John Ling, based on material by Richard Pett. Between Scream for 24 hours.

REACTIONS
Nightmare Choir Unnerving Mask. When a creature the Paradigm of
Bondage can see starts its turn within 30 feet of the
See Between Peacock Paradigm, the Paradigm can create the illusion that it
looks like one of the creature’s departed loved ones or
bitter enemies. If the creature can see the Paradigm, it
Paradigm of Bondage, the must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be
frightened until the end of its turn.
The Paradigm of Bondage is a thing weighed down by countless chains
and fetters dragging along behind her. She is definitely female, but there
the resemblance to anything mortal ends. Her mouth is filled with jagged
teeth and broken lengths of chain.
Paradigm of Mockery, the
It has a great many snake-like limbs that emerge from beneath its red-
and-white checked tunic, and apparently no legs. It wears a fool’s cap with
The Paradigm of Bondage a burlap veil over its face upon which a clownish face with a wide, leering
Medium aberration (Between), lawful evil idiot grin has been crudely painted beneath two black beady eyes. The
Armor Class 17 (natural armor) way that the veil undulates, though, tells you that something other than a
Hit Points 123 (13d8 + 65) true face lies beneath. The orange robe beneath its tunic has a repeating
Speed 30 ft. pattern of screaming smiles and laughing frowns stitched into it. Two
great leathery wings unfold from its back as it launches itself into the air.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
20 (+5) 16 (+3) 20 (+5) 13 (+1) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) The Paradigm of Mockery
Medium aberration, neutral evil
Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Saving Throws Con +8, Wis +5 Hit Points 119 (14d8 + 56)
Damage Resistances cold, poison; bludgeoning, piercing, Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft.
and slashing from nonmagical weapons
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, restrained, par-
alyzed, poisoned STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 9 18 (+4) 11 (+0) 18 (+4) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 17 (+3)
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Skills Intimidation +7, Perception +4, Stealth +4
Between Sight. Magical darkness doesn’t impede the Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning; bludgeoning,
darkvision of the Paradigm of Bondage. piercing, and slashing from nonmagical weapons
Dislocated. Attacks against the Paradigm of Bondage Damage Immunities acid, poison
are made with disadvantage unless the attacker has Condition Immunities poisoned
blindsight or truesight. Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Innate Spellcasting. The Paradigm of Bondage’s spellcasting Languages Abyssal, Infernal, telepathy 60 ft.
ability is Charisma (spell save DC 16). The Paradigm Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
can innately cast following spells, requiring only verbal
components. Flyby. The Paradigm of Mockery doesn’t provoke attacks of
At will: vicious mockery (as an 11th level caster) opportunity when it flies out of an enemy’s reach.
3/day each: fear
1/day each: eyebite ACTIONS
Magic Resistance. The Paradigm of Bondage has Multiattack. The Paradigm of Mockery makes two melee at-
advantage on saving throws against spells and other tacks with its claws.
magical effects. Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Ooze through Bars. The Paradigm is able to move target. Hit: 23 (4d8 + 5) slashing damage and the target is
freely through iron bars within this or any other prison. grappled (escape DC 15). Until the grapple ends, the tar-
Additionally, difficult terrain doesn’t cost her extra get is restrained.
movement and magic can neither reduce her speed or Writhing Snakes. The serpents of the Paradigm of Mockery’s
cause her to be paralyzed or restrained. body twist and writhe around a grappled creature, biting
154
 GM Guide
repeatedly. At the start of its turn, the grappled creature armor would also gain another -1 penalty for each turn it
takes 8 (2d8) piercing damage and must make a DC 10 remains in contact with the Paradigm.
Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 hour. The Paradigm can grapple two creatures of Large size or
Laughter of Mockery. (Recharge 6) The Paradigm of smaller simultaneously. It can continue to use its slam
Mockery can make its robe bellow out laughter mocking attack while grappling two creatures.
all the souls that it has consumed from Festival over the Splatter (Recharge 5-6). Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit,
centuries. All creatures within 60 feet of the Paradigm range 30 ft., one target. Hit: 36 (8d8) acid damage.
must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or fall into fits of
laughter and fall prone (as the hideous laughter spell) for
1 minute. At the end of each of its turns, and each time Pit Pony
it takes damage, the target can make another Wisdom
saving throw. The target has advantage on the Wisdom This shaggy pony looks exceptionally strong, and it walks confidently
saving throw if it is triggered by damage. On a successful along the rocky ground despite the near total darkness.
saving throw, the spell ends and the creature is immune to
the Paradigm’s Laughter of Mockery for 24 hours.
Pit Pony
Medium beast, unaligned
Paradigm of Offal, the Armor Class 13
Hit Points 17 (2d8 + 8)
Masses of carrion and debris break the inky surface of this enormous, Speed 40 ft.
undulating sludge.
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
The Paradigm of Offal 17 (+3) 17 (+3) 18 (+4) 2 (–4) 15 (+2) 7 (–2)
Huge ooze, unaligned
Armor Class 8 (natural armor)
Hit Points 237 (19d12 + 114) Skills Athletics +5, Perception +4
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft. Senses blindsight 30 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages —
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
23 (+6) 9 (-1) 23 (+6) 1 (-5) 6 (-2) 1 (-5) Over-sized Rider. A pit pony can carry a Medium or Small
creature as a rider. However, any Medium creature taller
than 5 feet finds that his feet drag the ground if he doesn’t
Damage Resistances cold, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, bend his knees uncomfortably in the stirrups. These riders
and slashing from nonmagical weapons take a –2 penalty to all Ride checks while on a pit pony.
Damage Immunities acid, poison
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, ACTIONS
exhaustion, frightened, poisoned, prone Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
Senses blindsight 60 ft., passive Perception 9 creature). Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) bludgeoning damage.
Languages -
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP) Pit ponies are a breed of shaggy-haired pony that descends from the
husbandry of the Durahchûk dwarves of millennia ago. The dwarves
Amorphous. The Paradigm of Offal can move through a bred these sturdy ponies as animals that were surefooted, not afraid of
space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing. the dark, and able to haul heavy loads over rough terrain. They were bred
Corrosive Form. A creature that touches the Paradigm to be large enough for a full-armoured dwarven warrior to ride upon into
of Offal or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 battle (if the more popular dire pigs were not available), yet short enough
feet of it takes 9 (2d8) acid damage. Any nonmagical that they could still easily traverse the rocky corridors and low tunnels of
weapon made of metal or wood that hits the Paradigm the underneath. Though barrel-chested, these ponies have legs that are
corrodes. After dealing damage, the weapon takes unusually short for their stature. This allows Medium creatures to ride
a permanent and cumulative -1 penalty to damage them, though any creature with longer legs than the average dwarf finds
rolls. If its penalty drops to -5, the weapon is destroyed. his feet dragging the ground.
Nonmagical ammunition made of metal or wood that
hits the Paradigm is destroyed after dealing damage. The
Paradigm can eat through 2­inch-thick, nonmagical wood Princess Alexandra,
or metal in 1 round.
Spider Climb. The Paradigm of Offal can climb difficult
surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without
the Unseen Princess
needing to make an ability check. The rumours of a grotesque abhorrence that was the Queen’s first
daughter refuse to go away, and tales of a locked room in the highest
ACTIONS steeples of the Capitol containing the princess are strangely persistent.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one That the staff who attend it are blind and deaf is also regarded by almost
target. Hit: 20 (4d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage and 18 (4d8) all as just a rumour.
acid damage, and if the target is wearing nonmagical The princess is a horrid mixture of shape: half-spider, half-rat, with a
metal armor, its armor is partly corroded and takes a human face.
permanent and cumulative -1 penalty to the AC it offers.
The armor is destroyed if the penalty reduces its AC to 10.
If the target is Large or smaller, it is grappled (escape DC 16) Princess Alexandra
and restrained until the grapple ends. A grappled creature Medium monstrosity, neutral
takes an additional 14 (4d6) acid damage for each turn it Armor Class 15
remains embraced by the Paradigm. Nonmagical metal Hit Points 36 (8d8)
155
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Speed 30 ft. Hit Points 9 (2d8)
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
11 (+0) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 16 (+3)
10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 14 (+2)

Skills Deception +5, Insight +4, Persuasion +5

Senses passive Perception 10 Skills Arcana +4, History +4
Languages any two languages Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Languages any one language (usually common)
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Keen Smell. Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell
are made at advantage. Spellcasting. Alicia is a 1st-level spellcaster. Charisma is her
Shapechanger. Alexandra can use her action to polymorph spellcasting ability (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with spell
into a rat-humanoid hybrid or into a giant rat; into a attacks). She has the prepared the following spells from
spider-humanoid hybrid or into a giant spider; or back into the sorcerer spell list:
her true form, which is humanoid. Her statistics, other than Cantrips (at will): fire bolt, mending, prestidigitation;
her size, are the same in each form. Any equipment she 1st (4 slots): burning hands, disguise self, shield
is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. She reverts to her
true form if she dies. ACTIONS
Spider Climb. Alexandra is able to climb difficult surfaces Dagger. Melee or ranged attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft. or
and ceilings without requiring an ability check. range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 2 (1d4) piercing damage.
Innate Spellcasting. Alexandra’s spellcasting ability is
Intelligence, and requires no material components for the
following spells (spell save DC 15): Princess Eleanor
At will: dancing lights, poison cloud, shocking grasp;
3/day each: charm person, sleep; The queen’s “public” eldest daughter is not acknowledged as such by
1/day each: invisibility, mirror image; her sisters, who contest that she was sired by the Devil. Eleanor is icy, and
her greatest — and only — desire is to rule the city-state and its empire.
ACTIONS She weaves countless plots to achieve her aims, and worships the Devil.
Multiattack. Alexandra makes two attacks on her turn Eleanor despises her husband, Crown Prince Rorth, but admits the union
Rapier. Melee weapon attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one is useful for appearance.
target. Hit: 6 (1d8+1) piercing damage.
Bite. Melee weapon attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage, and the target
Princess Eleanor
must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw, taking 9 Medium human, neutral evil
(2d8) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor)
damage on a successful save. If the poison reduces the Hit Points 39 (7d8+7)
target to 0 hit points, the target is stable but poisoned for Speed 30 ft.
1 hour, even after regaining hit points, and is paralyzed
while poisoned this way. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Web (Recharge 5-6). Ranged weapon attack: +5 to hit,
range 30/60 ft., and the target is restrained by webbing, 9 (-1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 11 (+0)
requiring a DC 12 Strength check to escape.

REACTIONS Skills Arcana +6, History +6

Parry. When wielding a melee weapon, Alexandra can Senses passive Perception 11
add 2 to her AC as a reaction against one melee attack Languages any four languages
that would otherwise hit. She must be wielding a melee Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
weapon and be able to see the attacker.
Spellcasting. Eleanor is a 7th-level spellcaster. Intelligence is
her spellcasting ability (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell
Princess Alicia attacks). She has the prepared the following spells from
the wizard spell list:
The terrible nine-year-old “Little Queen” is one of the newest Royals Cantrips (at will)—chill touch, dancing lights, mage hand,
but has rapidly achieved a high station in life. The queen herself anointed mending;
Alicia as her chosen heir just a few years ago. Her mother dotes on her, 1st (4 slots)—false life, mage armor, ray of sickness;
but most other members of the Royal Family despise her. Spoilt, violent, 2nd (3 slots)—blindness/deafness, ray of enfeeblement,
and sadistic, the girl has a reputation amongst the servants for terrible web;
callousness, her cries of “off with his head” ring through the Capitol 3rd (3 slots)—animate dead, bestow curse, vampiric
when she is angry (which is most of the time), and her orders are carried touch;
out by guards too afraid to question her. 4th (1 slot)—blight;

ACTIONS
Princess Alicia, “The Little Queen” Withering Touch. Melee spell attack: +7 to hit, one target. Hit:
Medium Between-sired tiefling*, neutral evil 5 (2d4) necrotic damage.
* Alicia is not the only child sired by something from Be-
tween, but the long-term effects of this rare coupling are
presently unknown.
Armor Class 10
156
 GM Guide
Spellcasting. Lenora is a 9th-level spellcaster. Intelligence is
Princess Genève her spellcasting ability (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell
attacks). She has the prepared the following spells from
The grotesquely fat Genève takes countless lovers and has birthed a the wizard spell list:
dozen (known) heirs. Born a matter of seconds after her twin sister Eleanor, Cantrips (at will): fire bolt, light, mage hand, prestidigitation;
she hates her crooked sister(s) with every ounce of her being. Her second 1st (4 slots): detect magic, mage armor, magic missile,
passion is poison; her first is manipulating suitors with her poisons. shield;
2nd (3 slots): misty step, suggestion;
Princess Genève 3rd (3 slots): counterspell, fireball, fly;
4th (3 slots): greater invisibility, ice storm;
Medium human, neutral evil 5th (1 slots): cone of cold;
Armor Class 15 (studded leather)
Hit Points 46 (7d8+14) ACTIONS
Speed 30 ft. Multiattack. Lenora makes two attacks on her turn.
Dagger. Melee or ranged attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+5) piercing
damage.
11 (+0) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 11 (+0) 10 (+0)

Skills Acrobatics +7, Deception +4, Perception +4, Stealth +11

Princess Lilly
Senses passive Perception 14 Some say she was murdered, and unfortunately, Lilly knows who did
Languages Thieves’ Cant plus any two languages it: her sisters Eleanor and Genève, in a rare act of cooperation. They
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP) didn’t expect her to come back to haunt them, but by night she wanders the
Capitol, singing and slowly driving her sisters mad with fear.
Assassinate. On Genève’s first turn she has advantage on
attack rolls, as long as the target has not taken a turn. Any
hit against a surprised target is considered a critical hit. Princess Lilly
Evasion. If Genève is required to make a Dexterity saving Medium blight vampire, lawful evil
throw to take half damage, she takes no damage on a Armor Class 15
successful save, and half damage on a failed save. Hit Points 82 (11d8+33)
Sneak Attack (1/turn). Genève’s attack deals an extra 13 Speed 30 ft.
(4d6) damage when she hits with a weapon attack, if she
has advantage on the attack roll, or there is an ally who is
not incapacitated within 5 feet of the target, and as long STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
as Genève does not have disadvantage on the attack roll. 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 12 (+1)

ACTIONS
Multiattack. Genève makes two attacks on her turn. Skills Perception +3, Stealth +6
Shortsword. Melee weapon attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Damage Resistances necrotic, nonmagical weapons
target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage. Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Light Crossbow. Ranged weapon attack: +6 to hit, range Languages Common
80/230 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) piercing damage, and Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
the target must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw,
taking 24 (7d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as Regeneration. Lilly regains 10 hp at start of turn if she is not
much damage on a successful one. currently in sunlight or running water, and hasn’t taken ra-
diant or holy water damage.
Spider Climb. Lilly is able to climb difficult surfaces and ceil-
Princess Lenora ings without requiring an ability check.
Vampire Weaknesses. Lilly has the following flaws:
The youngest surviving mortal daughter of the queen, Lenora regards Forbiddance. Lilly cannot enter a residence without receiv-
herself as the most stable. Her lovers are wizards and those who know ing an invitation.
secrets, and she is often found in a carriage rattling along the cobbles of Harmed by Running Water. Lilly takes 20 acid damage if she
BookTown on some mission. ends her turn in running water.
Stake to the Heart. Lilly can be destroyed by taking a wood-
Princess Lenora en piercing weapon to the heart.
Sunlight Hypersensitivity. Lilly takes 20 radiant damage when
Medium human, lawful evil starting her turn in sunlight, and she has disadvantage on
Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor) attacks and ability checks when in sunlight.
Hit Points 40 (9d8)
Speed 30 ft. ACTIONS
Multiattack. Lilly makes two attacks on her turn, one with her
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA rapier and one with her bite.
Rapier. Melee weapon attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar-
9 (-1) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) get. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Bite. Melee weapon attack: +6 to hit, targeting one willing,
grappled, incapacitated or restrained creature. Hit: 6
Skills Arcana +6, History +6 (1d6+3) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage,
Senses passive Perception 11 and the target’s hp max is reduced by an amount equal
Languages any four languages to the necrotic damage taken.
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)

157
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Skills Deception +5, Insight +4, Investigation +5, Perception +6,
Princess Mercy Sleight of Hand + 4, Stealth +4
Senses passive Perception 16
If ever a child was wrongly named, it’s the violent Mercy. Mercy is no Languages Common languages
sedate Royal who takes a back seat to anyone; she is a figure of action Challenge 1 (200 XP)
— murderous action. Mercy courts the lords and masters of the army,
whispers to them, brags to them. Mercy considers a coup to be an excellent Cunning Action. On each turn, Rebecca may take the
option for her aspirations of making the city-state a military force to be Dash, Disengage, or Hide action as a bonus action.
reckoned with across the world. She hates her sisters, although she has Sneak Attack (1/turn). Rebecca’s attack deals an extra
taken a lover in Elaine of Aldwark recently. Her attachment presently is 7 (2d6) damage when she hits with a weapon attack,
purely lustful, but the succubus’s charms are considerable and could draw as long as she has advantage on the attack roll, or
the princess into a deeper, more malleable bond. there is an ally who is not incapacitated within 5 feet
of the target, and as long as Rebecca does not have
Princess Mercy disadvantage on the attack roll.

Medium human, chaotic evil ACTIONS

Armor Class 12 Multiattack. Rebecca makes two attacks on her turn.
Hit Points 23 (5d8) Shortsword. Melee weapon attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Speed 30 ft. target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Hand Crossbow. Ranged weapon attack: +4 to hit, range
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) piercing damage.
10 (+0) 15 (+2) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 16 (+3)
Prophet Adam, the
Skills Deception +5, Insight +4, Investigation +5, Perception +6, He is a long-haired, muscular man who stands completely naked except
Sleight of Hand + 4, Stealth +4 for the streaks of blue, green, and yellow paint mixing with crimson blood
Senses passive Perception 16 that seeps from the multitude of long lacerations on his skin, all of which
Languages Common is rapidly being washed away in the monsoon rains. Around his neck
Challenge 1 (200 XP) hangs an angelic figure made of bloody lamb bones. This prophet led his
small cabal of followers here to Between to await the beginning of the
Cunning Action. On each turn, Mercy may take the Dash, new world.
Disengage, or Hide action as a bonus action.
Sneak Attack (1/turn). Mercy’s attack deals an extra 7 (2d6)
damage when she hits with a weapon attack, as long as she The Prophet Adam
has advantage on the attack roll, or there is an ally who is
not incapacitated within 5 feet of the target, and as long as Medium humanoid (human), chaotic neutral
Mercy does not have disadvantage on the attack roll. Armor Class 13 (mage armour)
Hit Points 60 (10d8 + 10)
ACTIONS Speed 30 ft.
Multiattack. Mercy makes two attacks on her turn.
Shortsword. Melee weapon attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Hand Crossbow. Ranged weapon attack: +4 to hit, range 18 (+4) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 14 (+2)  8 (-1) 14 (+2)
30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) piercing damage.
Skills Arcana +4, Deception +4
Princess Rebecca of Mourney Senses passive Perception 9
Languages Common, Celestial
The young and beautiful darling of the crowds is the public face of the Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Royal Family. Rebecca has a thousand would-be suitors and has turned
down countless proposals of marriage. In fact, Rebecca secretly sponsors Spellcasting. Adam is a 5th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting
the revolutionaries, intending to bring a structured, peaceful change. Her ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with spell
sponsorship is, of course, a secret guarded on pain of death by her fanatical attacks). He has the following wizard spells prepared:
followers, who dub themselves the Hidden Knights of the Capitol and Cantrips (at will): acid splash, fire bolt, mending, true strike
who have each taken an oath of death and swallowed a plague scarab as 1st level (4 slots): color spray, expeditious retreat, mage
proof. The scarab, should they choose to use or die, erupts within them, armour*, shield
unleashing a score of locust swarms upon their enemies. 2nd level (3 slots): acid arrow, mirror image, suggestion
Rebecca’s fear is that her sister Alicia will ascend the throne, something 3rd level (2 slots): bestow curse, slow
she can’t allow to happen. *Mage armour is active when Adam is encountered

ACTIONS
Princess Rebecca of Mourney Multiattack. Adam makes two melee attacks with his
Medium human, chaotic good halberd.
Armor Class 12 Halberd +1. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft.,
Hit Points 27 (6d8) one target. Hit: 10 (1d10 + 5) slashing damage.
Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

10 (+0) 15 (+2) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 16 (+3)

158
 GM Guide
If she expends a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the extra
Queen Alice damage increases by ld6 for each level above 1st.
Spellcasting. Rachel Birch is a 14th-level spellcaster. Her
“The figure staggered into the room spastically, taking great strides spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit
with the aid of two sticks, making her look like some four-legged spider in with spell attacks). She ordinarily has the following cleric
a crooked web. Her face was veiled ‘to protect us,’ they had said. spells prepared:
Her breaths came in sharp rasps, and her voice was like breaking glass, Cantrips (at will): guidance, light, resistance, sacred flame,
often calling for the beheading of her subjects. But for now, she was happy thaumaturgy
just to look at us, it seemed. I could not help thinking of the spider once 1st level (4 slots): bless, cure wounds, healing word, shield of
more: Was she watching us and waiting to strike, or was she waiting for faith
us to walk openly into her web?” 2nd level (3 slots): aid, continual flame, lesser restoration
3rd level (3 slots): beacon of hope, magic circle, speak with
Queen Alice, Her Royal Highness dead
4th level (3 slots): death ward, freedom of movement,
Medium alchymic-undying† human, chaotic neutral guardian of faith
Armor Class 15 5th level (2 slots): mass cure wounds, raise dead
Hit Points 36 (8d8) 6th level (2 slots): blade barrier, true seeing
Speed 30 ft. 7th level (1 slot): resurrection

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA ACTIONS

Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
11 (+0) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) one target. Hit: 4 (1d6+1) bludgeoning damage, or 5
(1d8+1) bludgeoning damage if used with two hands.
Skills Deception +5, Insight +4, Persuasion +5
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages any two languages
Sallow Ashenly
Challenge 3 (700 XP) A frail youth with almost alabaster skin, Sallow Ashenly is wrapped in
heavy winter gear that almost completely muffles his appearance other
ACTIONS than his unkind eyes. Below his clothes, Sallow is frail, and appears
Multiattack. Queen Alice makes two attacks with her rapier. almost to be an addict or consumptive. He is wiry, and there is something
Rapier. Melee weapon attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar- obviously odd about him. Characters making a DC 18 Intelligence check
get. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 1) piercing damage. can identify him as a dark stalker.
 
REACTIONS
Parry. When wielding a melee weapon, Queen Alice can Sallow Ashenly 
add 2 to her AC as a reaction against one melee attack Medium humanoid (dark stalker), chaotic neutral
that would otherwise hit. She must be wielding a melee Armor Class 15
weapon and be able to see the attacker. Hit Points 48 (6d8 + 12)
Speed 30 ft.

Rachel Birch STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA

A leader in the Knights Occularus, Rachel Birch is a major figure in the 14 (+2) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 9 (-1) 11 (+0) 13 (+1)
adventure (although she is most likely quite transformed by the end). This
description is for her pre-transformation state. There is steel in her eyes,
she betrays it in her stance and her attire. She wears her red hair short, and Skills Sleight of Hand +5, Stealth +6
she is lithe and muscular. Her movement is gracious but sparing, and she Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10
leads her men with unquestioned authority. Languages Common, Undercommon
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Rachel Birch Death Throes. When Sallow is slain, his body combusts in a
Medium female human, lawful neutral flash of flame. All creatures within 20 feet of the explosion
Armor Class 17 (half plate) take 3d6 fire damage, or half damage with a successful
Hit Points 77 (14d8 + 14) DC 12 Dexterity save. Sallow’s combustible gear is burned
Speed 30 ft. to ash, but other items (shortswords, vials, coins, statuette)
survive the burst of fire.
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA Martial Advantage. Sallow’s shortsword attacks do an extra
2d6 piercing damage if he has advantage on the attack,
12 (+1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 13 (+1) 18 (+4) 13 (+1) or if another dark stalker, or a dark creeper, is within 5 feet
of the target.
Spell-Like Abilities. Sallow can use the following spell-like
Skills History +5, Religion +5 abilities, using Charisma as his casting ability (spell save
Senses passive Perception 14 DC 11). Dark stalkers such as Sallow don’t need material
Languages Common components to use these abilities.
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP) At will: darkness, detect magic, fog cloud
Divine Eminence. As a bonus action, Rachel can expend a ACTIONS
1st level spell slot to cause its melee weapon attacks to Multiattack. Sallow attacks twice with his shortswords.
magically deal an extra 10 (3d6) radiant damage to a Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
target on a hit. This benefit lasts until the end of the turn. creature). Hit: 1d6 + 4 piercing damage and the target
159
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
must make a successful DC 12 Constitution saving throw or as possible. Slain opponents are skinned and then eaten, or carried to the
suffer 1d4 poison damage and be poisoned for 1 hour. Af- skin stitcher’s lair and devoured later.
ter being poisoned, the victim must make a saving throw
each round until succeeding. Each failure causes an addi-
tional 1d4 points of poison damage. Skin Stitcher
  Medium aberration, chaotic evil
Treasure: potion of cure wounds (3rd level) in thick green glass vial Armor Class 17
sealed with wax seal, lacquer insectum case containing 4 doses of Blake’s Hit Points 62 (7d8 + 14 +20)
sanguisuga†; two shortswords with raven-head hilt set with silver wire Speed 30 ft.
worth 75gp, 25 gp in pockets, small crudely made soapstone angel carving.
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
Scythe Tree 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 6 (–2)

This twisted tree has many branches but few leaves. In the center of its
trunk is a long, deep scar. Its roots are twisted and blackened as if by fire. Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities frightened, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13 (with
Scythe Tree advantage in most cases)
Huge plant, chaotic evil Languages Common
Armor Class 14 (natural armour) Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Hit Points 76 (8d12 + 24)
Speed 20 ft. Gown of Faces. The gown of faces worn by the skin stitcher
gives it an additional 20 hit points. It does not have this
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA effect for anyone other than the skin stitcher who created
it. The gown “recovers” lost hit points every 24 hours.
20 (+5) 8 (–1) 17 (+3) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 12 (+1) Skin Scent. The skin stitcher can smell skin, and gains
advantage on all Wisdom (Perception) checks relying
on smell, provided the creature has skin rather than a
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing carapace, chitin, or similar external surface. Armor does
from nonmagical weapons not negate this ability.
Damage Vulnerabilities: fire
Damage Immunities psychic ACTIONS
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, prone, stunned, Multiattack. The skin stitcher makes two melee attacks with
unconscious its flaying-chains.
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13 Flaying-chains. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit (reach 5 ft.;
Languages Sylvan one creature). Hit: 8 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage. If the first
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) attack is a hit, the attack with the second flaying-chain is
made with advantage.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. A scythe tree attacks three times with its
branches.
Branches. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit (reach 10 ft.;
Skulk
one creature). Hit: 2d6 + 5 slashing damage. A scythe tree This creature appears to be human, but entirely hairless and with
scores a critical hit if the attack roll is a natural 19 or 20. slender, graceful limbs. Their skin, however, can change color like that
of a chameleon.

Skin Stitcher Skulk

A skin stitcher is a malevolent and violent creature that kills for Medium humanoid, chaotic neutral
food, pleasure, and the skin of humanoids (which it keeps and collects). Armor Class 13
While it is known to eat just about anything it kills, it only keeps the Hit Points 18 (4d8)
skin and flesh of humanoid creatures. Other creatures are devoured, Speed 30 ft.
flesh and all. Skin stitchers collect the flesh and skin of any humanoid
creature slain. From this, they weave intricate clothes and coverings
that they wear over their entire body. At a distance, the skin stitcher STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
can pass for a normal humanoid when wearing one of these “skin 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 6 (–2)
suits” A DC 18 Wisdom (Perception) check is needed to reveal its true
identity). Up close, the skin stitcher’s disguise becomes much less
effective, making it appear as a humanoid with a heavily scarred and Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
stitched-together body. Languages Skulk; some also speak Common
The skin stitcher stands about 6 feet tall and (in its true form) appears Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
as a skinless humanoid. Its natural body appears to be bone wrapped
tightly with corded muscle and covered with a dark red-purplish slime. Its Chameleonic Hide. If they shed their garments, skulks can
eye sockets are deep and contain large bulbous eyes with blue irises. The hide when they are lightly obscured and have advantage
skin stitcher’s long, lanky arms end in claws as do its thick, muscled legs. on Stealth checks.
It carries two large chains covered with many sharpened barbs. Sneak Attack (1/Turn). A skulk deals an extra 7 (2d6) dam-
Though their hands are clawed, skin stitchers prefer to attack using age when it hits a target with a weapon attack and has
large chains covered with razor-sharp barbs. These not only aid in killing advantage on the attack roll, or when the target is within
a foe, but also help strip the flesh from a victim. Skin stitchers often attack 5 feet of an ally that isn’t incapacitated and doesn’t have
from ambush, attempting to gain the upper hand over their prey as quickly disadvantage on the attack roll.
160
 GM Guide
Untrackable. Anyone trying to follow skulks through forest or
underground territory has disadvantage on skill checks for Slithering Horror
trailing or tracking.
This creature looks like an 8-foot long eel with yellowish-brown
ACTIONS splotches on its back. Unlike an eel, it has several small legs,
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft., one allowing it to move quickly on land.
target). Hit: 1d6 + 3 piercing damage.
Sling. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (range 30 ft./120 ft., Slithering Horror
one target). Hit: 1d4 + 3 bludgeoning damage
Huge monstrosity, unaligned  
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)  
Skum Hit Points 86 (9d12 + 27)
Speed 40 ft., swim 30 ft.
Skum are aquatic humanoids that were created by the aboleths in some
distant past (possibly a different place than this world) when entire aboleth STR    DEX  CON    INT WIS CHA  
civilizations thrived and bent a world into new and horrible shapes in
accordance with the plans and dreadful aesthetics of these abhorrent, 21 (+5) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 1 (-5) 12 (+1) 8 (-1)  
fish-like masters. Regardless of when and where the skum were created,  
they now have a firm foothold in the deeps of the sea and the lightless
subterranean waters of the realms below the earth. Skills Perception +4, Stealth +4
In general, the presence of skum signifies that an aboleth may be Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
established in a lair nearby, although one might from time to time Languages ---
encounter a tribe that has lost its master to old age or disease. These deep Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
ones are capable of breeding on humans; the hybrids are born human, but
as they age, they take on more and more characteristics of the skum, and Gnaw. The slithering horror possesses a second set of jaws in
finally take to the deep waters of the sea. its throat that aid in swallowing—it can make another bite
In some forgotten places far underground, explorers may occasionally attack against a grappled opponent. A grappled target
stumble upon vast, labyrinthine ruins that were once the cities of the takes 18 (4d6 + 5) piercing damage at the start of the slith-
aboleths and their skum legions. Such places may still be occupied by the ering horror’s turn.
vestiges of the skum armies, for these creatures do not perish of old age, Water Breathing. The slithering horror can breathe in water
although their ranks have been utterly decimated by disease, war, and and on land.
famine in the deadly winnowing of the Under Realms.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Skum target. Hit: 18 (4d6 + 5) piercing damage, and the target
Medium monstrosity, lawful evil is grappled (escape DC 20). If the target is a creature, it
Armor Class 16 (natural armour) must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw against
Hit Points 27 (5d8 + 5) disease or become poisoned until the disease is cured. After
Speed 30 ft., swim 40 ft. every long rest, the target must repeat the saving throw,
reducing its hit point maximum by 5 (1d10) on a failure. The
disease is cured on a success. The target dies if the disease
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA reduces its hit point maximum to 0. This reduction to the
15 (+2) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 8 ((–1) 11 (+0) 9 (–1) target’s hit point maximum lasts until the disease is cured.

Skills Perception +3, Stealth +6 Slop-Shark

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages Undercommon, Aboleth See “Lyme Angler”
Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Limited Amphibiousness. The skum can breathe air and Song of Sorrows and
water, but the skum needs to be submerged at least once
every 4 hours to avoid suffocating. Echoes of Suffering, the
ACTIONS A wyvern, but strangely blurred in appearance and with strangely
Multiattack. The skum makes 3 melee attacks with one each wrong-looking proportions.
of trident, bite, and claws.
Trident. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit (reach 5 The Song of Sorrows and Echoes of Suffering
ft. or range 20/60/ft., one creature). Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) pierc-
ing damage. Large dragon (Between), neutral evil
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one crea- Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
ture). Hit: 4 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage. Hit Points 152 (16d10 + 64)
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one Speed 30 ft., fly 90 ft.
creature). Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) slashing damage.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
20 (+5) 13 (+2) 17 (+4) 6 (-2) 12 (+1) 15 (+3)

Saving Throws Dex +6, Con +8

Skills Perception +4

161
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Damage Resistances cold, force, poison; bludgeoning,
piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages --
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)

Dislocated. Attacks against The Song of Sorrows and Echoes

of Suffering are made at disadvantage unless the attack
has blindsight or truesight.
Innate Spellcasting. The Song of Sorrows and Echoes of
Suffering innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save
DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). The Song of Sorrows
and Echoes of Suffering can innately cast the following
spells, requiring no material components:
1/day each: invisibility (self only), spider climb
Magic Resistance. The Song of Sorrows and Echoes of
Suffering has advantage on saving throws against spells
and other magical effects.

ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Song makes two attacks: one with its bite
and one with its stinger. While flying, it can use its claws in
place of one other attack.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
creature. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) slashing damage.
Stinger. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
creature. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage. The target
must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 24
(7d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much
damage on a successful one. eel can’t bite a different target while it has a creature
grappled.
Gnaw. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit (one creature
Sough-Eel already grappled at the start of the sough-eel’s turn). Hit:
1d8 + 6 piercing damage. The sough-eel makes this attack
This massive eel, nearly 20 feet long, has pale hide almost translucent as a bonus action at the start of its turn. A creature that’s
like a fish’s belly that is marred by great areas of sloughing flesh that hit on 2 consecutive rounds by the sough-eel’s gnaw
hang loose in rotten folds. It is eyeless, with a row of small black nodules attack may be swallowed (see below).
extending back from its snout, and has several small vestigial fins Swallow. The sough-eel makes its bite attack against a
growing sporadically along the length of its body. Its mouth however, is Medium or smaller creature it is grappling and that it’s hit
the most noticeable feature, occupying nearly a quarter of its length and with 2 consecutive gnaw attacks. If the bite attack hits,
splayed wide with a crowd of jagged fangs. the creature takes the bite damage and is swallowed.
A swallowed creature is blinded and restrained, and it’s
Sough-Eel unaffected by anything happening outside the sough-eel
or by attacks from outside it. It takes 4d6 acid damage
Huge beast (aquatic), unaligned at the start of each of the sough-eel’s turns. Up to two
Medium or smaller creatures can be inside the sough-eel
Armor Class 15 (natural armor) at one time. If the sough-eel takes 30 or more damage
Hit Points 126 (12d12 + 48) on a single turn from a creature inside it, the sough-eel
Speed 10 ft., swim 30 ft. must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution save at the end
of that turn or regurgitate all swallowed creatures, which
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA fall prone in a space within 10 feet of the slough-eel. A
swallowed creature can get out of the sough-eel by using
22 (+6) 10 (+0) 18 (+4) 1 (-5) 12 (+1) 8 (-1) 15 feet of movement, but only after the sough-eel is dead.

ECOLOGY
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +3 Environment sea
Damage Resistances piercing Organization solitary or school (4-8)
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities blinded, poisoned, prone These vile predators are found exclusively in the dark, filthy waters of
Senses blindsight 30 ft., passive Perception 13 the Great Lyme River and Fetid Sea in the vicinity of the City-State of
Languages none Castorhage. Some have speculated that they were once a temperate water
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) variety of moray eel that was indigenous to the area until the Lyme was
tainted by the noxious effluvia from the metropolis known colloquially
ACTIONS as the Blight. Unlike most aquatic species that were unable to survive the
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit (reach 10 ft.; one poisoning of the waters, the sough-eel population managed to endure the
creature). Hit: 2d10 + 6 piercing damage, and a creature deadly influx but was changed in the process. Immune to most disease and
must make a successful DC 15 Constitution saving throw poison, the sough-eels — carriers of their own endemic pathogen — are
or contract sight rot. A Medium or smaller target is also now affected by it chronically so that their hide is in a constant state of
grappled (escape DC 16) and restrained. The sough-
162
 GM Guide
dying and sloughing off in large swaths and layers. This has not seemed to 13 Wisdom saving throw or be paralyzed for as long as the
affect their ability to survive in their harsh environment, and every native chymic spider maintains telepathic contact (it can be lost
of the Blight knows better to enter the water of the Lyme for fear of the as concentration).
voracious attacks of the ever-present sough-eels. Egg Implantation. A chymic spider can implant eggs in a
helpless or paralyzed creature. The eggs hatch 24 hours
Copyright Notice later. Once the eggs hatch, at the start of each of the
Author Greg A. Vaughan, based on material by Richard Pett. host’s turns, it takes 1d6 necrotic damage and must
make a successful DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be
paralyzed by pain and spiderling poison until the start of its
Spider, Chymic next turn. This continues until the spiderlings are destroyed
or removed. Spiderlings can be removed by inflicting 4d6
The body of this spiderlike creature is a mass of humanoid faces slashing damage on the host (halved with a successful
caught in drawn-out, hideous screams. Ten spindly legs rise unevenly DC 13 Wisdom (Medicine) check by the creature doing
from the bulbous mass. Between tufts of bristly hair hang needle-sharp the damage) or destroyed with a greater restoration spell
fangs that drip with a bitter-smelling, thick red liquid. or comparable magic. If the host dies, a swarm of spiders
bursts from the body.
Chymic Spider ACTIONS
Small aberration, neutral evil Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
creature). Hit: 1d4 + 2 piercing damage plus 2d8 poison
Armor Class 15 (natural armor) damage, and a creature must make a successful DC 12
Hit Points 52 (8d6 + 16) Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. A
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft. paralyzed creature repeats the saving throw at the end of
its turn, ending the effect with a success.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Chyme Spray (recharge 6). The chymic spider expels
the chymic juices from its stomach in a 15-foot cone.
7 (-2) 15 (+2) 15 (+2) 9 (-1) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) Creatures in the cone take 6d6 acid damage, or half
damage with a successful DC 11 Dexterity saving throw.
The juice sticks to creatures that failed their saving throws,
Saving Throws Dex +4, Con +4, Wis +5 and they take 3d6 acid damage at the ends of their next
Skills Perception +6, Stealth +5 2 turns unless the acid is removed by using an action to
Damage Immunities psychic make a successful DC 13 Wisdom (Medicine) check, or is
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened neutralized with vinegar, alcohol, or a similar substance.
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages understands Common but can’t speak, ECOLOGY
telepathy 100 ft. (dreams only) Environment urban (the Blight)
Challenge 3 (700 XP) Organization solitary
Arachnophobia Aura. A chymic spider exudes a fear of Chymic spiders are not true spiders, but rather born from the fear that
arachnids that seeps into the psyche of all creatures spiders instill within many intelligent humanoids and inherently linked
within 1 mile of the chymic spider’s lair. Creatures with to the fabric of fear. These cunning aberrations sneak through the city
Intelligence 3 or higher have disadvantage on saving rooftops and await their prey for days on end. Anyone who wanders into
throws against fright in this area. the chymic spider’s 1-mile radius that might be the least bit fearful of
Dream Telepathy. The chymic spider’s telepathy allows it spiders is quickly identified, and the chymic spider begins methodically
to communicate only with creatures that are asleep and stalking the victim, waiting for its chance to make dream contact.
dreaming. Most creatures interpret these exchanges as Urban Predators. These rare creatures lurk along the edges of Sister
normal dreams, but characters are free to reach their own Lyme, hiding in gables, chimneys, and under eaves and seemingly found
conclusions. The chymic spider can also choose to create nowhere else in the world. Composed from the latent fears of arachnids
nightmares in the sleeper, who must make a successful DC somehow given life, the creature is able to project these primal fears into
any living creature. It simply prefers to stalk and prey on those who fear
it most. It is able to project these nightmares and can cause victims to
be paralyzed while it enters their lairs, and lays its eggs within them.
The baby spiders within whisper to their new host, wanting to be fed,
obsessing about food, and within 24 hours they erupt to feed on their
host before separating to make their own lairs. After a chymic spider
successfully reproduces, it quickly withers and dies, leaving behind only
a spiderlike husk that the crows and vermin of the city quickly consume.
Newborn chymic spiders don’t begin their own reproduction hunts for 1d3
years after birth.

Copyright Notice
Author Jeffrey Swank, based on material by Richard Pett.

163
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
has AC 8 and 5 hit points. A gable spider can move across
Spider, Gable any web construct without hindrance.
A spider the size of an alley cat scampers up the side of a tenement ACTIONS
building. In its mandibles, it drags what appears to be a clothesline, with Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 0 ft.; one
many of the garments still dangling limply behind. creature). Hit: 2d4 poison damage, or half damage with a
successful DC 10 Constitution saving throw.
Sticky Globule (recharge 4-6). Ranged Weapon Attack: +5
Tiny Gable Spider to hit (range 10 ft.; one creature). Hit: the creature must
Tiny beast, unaligned make a successful DC 10 Strength saving throw or be
restrained. A restrained creature repeats the saving throw
Armor Class 13 at the end of its turn, ending the effect on itself with a
Hit Points 2 (1d4) success.
Speed 15 ft., climb 15 ft.
ECOLOGY
Environment urban (the Blight)
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Organization solitary, pair, or colony (3-10)
1 (-5) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 1 (-5) 6 (-2) 2 (-4)
Small Gable Spider
Skills Perception +0, Stealth +5 Small beast, unaligned
Damage Immunities psychic
Condition Immunities charmed Armor Class 13
Senses darkvision 30 ft., tremorsense in web, passive Hit Points 18 (4d6 + 4)
Perception 10 Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.
Languages none
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP) STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
4 (-3) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 1 (-5) 6 (-2) 2 (-4)
Web Construct. A creature that falls prone, is restrained, or
is pushed into a gable spider web construct becomes
restrained by the sticky material and can escape by using Skills Perception +0, Stealth +5
an action to make a successful DC 10 Strength saving Damage Immunities psychic
throw. A web construct is no more flammable than the Condition Immunities charmed
material it’s made from, but each 5-foot-square section Senses darkvision 30 ft., tremorsense in web, passive

164
 GM Guide
Perception 10
Languages none Large Gable Spider
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP) Large beast, unaligned

Web Construct. A creature that falls prone, is restrained, or Armor Class 14

is pushed into a gable spider web construct becomes Hit Points 102 (12d10 + 36)
restrained by the sticky material and can escape by using Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft.
an action to make a successful DC 10 Strength saving
throw. A web construct is no more flammable than the
material it’s made from, but each 5-foot-square section STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
has AC 8 and 5 hit points. A gable spider can move across 14 (+2) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 3 (-3) 10 (+0) 2 (-4)
any web construct without hindrance.

ACTIONS Skills Perception +2, Stealth +6

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 0 ft.; one crea- Damage Immunities psychic
ture). Hit: 1d8 + 3 piercing damage plus 2d6 poison dam- Condition Immunities charmed
age, or half damage with a successful DC 11 Constitution Senses darkvision 30 ft., tremorsense in web, passive
saving throw. Perception 12
Sticky Globule (recharge 4-6). Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 Languages none
to hit (range 10 ft.; one creature). Hit: the creature must Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
make a successful DC 11 Strength saving throw or be
restrained. A restrained creature repeats the saving throw Web Construct. A creature that falls prone, is restrained, or
at the end of its turn, ending the effect on itself with a is pushed into a gable spider web construct becomes
success. restrained by the sticky material and can escape by using
an action to make a successful DC 10 Strength saving
ECOLOGY throw. A web construct is no more flammable than the
Environment urban (the Blight) material it’s made from, but each 5-foot-square section
Organization solitary, pair, or colony (3-10) has AC 8 and 5 hit points. A gable spider can move across
any web construct without hindrance.
Medium Gable Spider ACTIONS
Medium beast, unaligned Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit (reach 0 ft.; one
creature). Hit: 1d10 + 4 piercing damage plus 4d12
Armor Class 13 poison damage, or half damage with a successful DC 13
Hit Points 52 (8d8 + 16) Constitution saving throw.
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft. Sticky Globule (recharge 4-6). Ranged Weapon Attack: +5
to hit (range 10 ft.; one creature). Hit: the creature must
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA make a successful DC 13 Strength saving throw or be
restrained. A restrained creature repeats the saving throw
8 (-1) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 2 (-4) 10 (+0) 2 (-4) at the end of its turn, ending the effect on itself with a
success.

Skills Perception +2, Stealth +5 ECOLOGY

Damage Immunities psychic Environment urban (the Blight)
Condition Immunities charmed Organization solitary, pair, or colony (3-10)
Senses darkvision 30 ft., tremorsense in web, passive
Perception 12 Gable spiders are different from other varieties of giant spiders, and
Languages none it is for this reason that the whole of the city isn’t shrouded in endless
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
sheets of webbing. Gable spiders are not web spinners. Although they
Web Construct. A creature that falls prone, is restrained, or don’t spin webs, gable spiders do have glands that produce a sticky
is pushed into a gable spider web construct becomes fluid. This natural glue is used to string together the detritus they find
restrained by the sticky material and can escape by using in the city’s dumps and alleys—frayed ropes, sail cordage, clothesline,
an action to make a successful DC 10 Strength saving twisted rags, curtains, discarded cloth, and more—into weblike
throw. A web construct is no more flammable than the structures. Even lengths of chain and broken lumber can be found in
material it’s made from, but each 5-foot-square section the weblike contrivances the gable spiders build. They combine this
has AC 8 and 5 hit points. A gable spider can move across myriad material in twisting, knotted mazes of suspended lines that rival
any web construct without hindrance. the largest spider webs for complexity. They knot and anchor these
mismatched lines among the rooftops, between sagging buildings, and
ACTIONS with each other to create swaying but stable webs of junk. Anything
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 0 ft.; one foolish enough to enter one of their gluey web constructions is unlikely
creature). Hit: 1d10 + 3 piercing damage plus 4d8 poison ever to leave.
damage, or half damage with a successful DC 12
Salvaged Webs.The spiders also coat lengths of rope, cloth, sawdust,
Constitution saving throw.
Sticky Globule (recharge 4-6). Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 straw, or any other soft material with their fluid, wad it into a ball, and
to hit (range 10 ft.; one creature). Hit: the creature must fling it at prey or at creautures they’re fighting. The sticky mass can glue a
make a successful DC 12 Strength saving throw or be creature in place, making it easy prey for the gable spider’s poison.
restrained. A restrained creature repeats the saving throw
at the end of its turn, ending the effect on itself with a Copyright Notice
success. Author John Ling, based on material by Richard Pett.

ECOLOGY
Environment urban (the Blight)
Organization solitary, pair, or colony (3-10)

165
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Spite-Waif
The figure is childlike, but any sense of innocence is immediately
overshadowed by the aura of malevolence that exudes almost palpably
from it. Its flesh is gray and pasty, seemingly too loose for its body. Its
head is hairless with a wide mouth and distended jaw full of needle-
sharp teeth, and, though humanoid in shape, when it moves it scuttles
about on all fours like some kind of insect with too many joints.

Spite-Waif
Small aberration (larval Between), neutral evil

Armor Class 13
Hit Points 36 (8d6 + 8)
Speed 20 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

9 (-1) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) 13 (+1)

Skills Deception +5, Insight +2

Condition Immunities charmed
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
Languages Common creature). Hit: 2d4 + 3 slashing damage.
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
ECOLOGY
Mirror Portal (1/day). A spite-waif can turn a normal mirror Environment any land (Between)
into a portal between the Material Plane and Between. Organization solitary or gang (3–6)
The spite-waif must touch the mirror to be transformed.
The portal forms behind the mirror, which must be pushed These creatures are insidious changelings and infiltrators from Between.
aside to get at the portal. The portal can be used by any Spite-waifs are an immature stage in the development of a doppelganger that
creature that fits through it; the portal is the same size as are native to that bizarre realm. While they have the doppelganger’s ability
the mirror. It remains open indefinitely or until the spite-waif to change shape, they lack its physical power and ability to read minds. As
creates a different mirror portal or the mirror is broken. a result, they are used primarily as changelings to replace children of the
Create Mirror-Portal (1/day). A spite-waif can turn a normal Material Plane, and then grow up within that child’s household and live its
mirror into a portal between the Material Plane and life. The reasons for these switches are manifold, but they are universally
Between. To use this ability a mirror must be obtained of malign intent. This is especially evident in the fact that unlike hags, who
from the Material Plane and taken to Between where the swap changelings out for real children and then raise the true child as its
spite-waif must conduct a 1-hour ritual to attune the mirror own, the spite-waif usually devours the child at the time of the switch.
and turn it into a device for scrying. It is then able to scry Formless Children. Superficially, spite-waifs physically resemble a small
through any Material Plane mirror for a suitable location to humanoid child but with a doppelganger’s characteristic gray and formless
use as a portal. Once a location has been determined, the skin and features. Its jaw is able to distend to allow it to swallow creatures
mirror-portal is created and fixed between the two mirrors, up to Medium size, and a mouthful of needle-sharp teeth help it grip its
and the spite-waif’s mirror cannot be attuned to any other prey. Internally, the spite-waif’s abdomen is an extra-dimensional space that
mirror. Once the mirrors have been attuned, the portal can can hold any amount of prey. Horrifically, the parents of switched children
be opened from either end by simply sliding the mirror aside are frequently concerned about a possible stomach ailment afflicting their
as a part of movement and revealing the extradimensional “child” when they change its bedclothes, not aware of the true source of its
portal behind it. Anyone can pass through the mirror- exceptionally soiled and sometimes bloody diapers.
portal as long as they can fit through the dimensions of Stolen Lives. A spite-waif can maintain its charade for years, altering
the mirror’s pane. Once created, a mirror-portal remains its regularly as it “grows,” and usually does so for the entire childhood
open indefinitely until closed. If closed, it can no longer be and adolescence of the replaced child. In many ways, they become that
opened except by the spite-waif that created it. If either child, assuming all of its roles and eventual responsibilities, though it
mirror is destroyed, the mirror-portal is closed permanently. always maintains some form of contact with its own kind — even if only
Innate Spellcasting. The spite-waif can use the following a quick meeting once every few years — to stay current on the planned
spell-like abilities, using Charisma as its casting ability (DC reasons for the switch. The reasons and plans for a changeling switch are
11). The spite-waif doesn’t need material components to always extremely far-reaching, taking decades to develop, and frequently
use these abilities. involve replacing a child from a prominent family in order to attain a
At will: alter self powerful position in government later in adulthood. While a spite-waif
1/day: sleep remains in Between, it doesn’t mature physically or in Between Age. A
Perfect Copy. When a spite-waif uses alter self, it can spite-waif that dwells on the Material Plane grows at a rate comparable to
assume the appearance of a specific individual. Unlike a the species it mimics. When a Material Plane-dwelling spite-waif reaches
doppelganger, when a spite-waif is killed it remains in its physical maturity (usually within 10–12 years), it attains Medium size
assumed form unless a dispel magic is cast on the corpse. and completes its transformation into a full non-Between doppelganger,
becoming in all ways at this point a normal doppelganger, though likely
ACTIONS maintaining any prior contacts with its Between compatriots.
Multiattack. The spite-waif bites once and claws once.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one Copyright Notice
creature). Hit: 1d6 + 3 piercing damage. Author Greg A. Vaughan, based on material by Richard Pett.

166
 GM Guide
Horrific Appearance. The Stricken Child has such a distress-
Sprat ing shape that all creatures within 30 feet with an Intelli-
gence of 3 or higher who gaze upon it must succeed on
An anaemic, stick-thin man who seems almost to bend in the wind, he a DC 15 Constitution save or become sickened for 1d4+1
is dressed in the latest fashions and has a magnificent top hat and cane. rounds. In addition to affecting creatures passively, the
Sprat is a wererat ghoul, unusual in that he retained his shapechanging Stricken Child can use its horrific appearance actively by
ability after his transformation into an undead creature. presenting itself as a standard action. A creature that suc-
ceeds at its saving throw becomes immune to the Stricken
Sprat Child’s horrific appearance for 24 hours.
Howl. The Stricken Child can issue a sickening howl (re-
Medium undead (humanoid shapechanger), neutral evil charge 5–6). All creatures within 30 foot that hear the
Armor Class 12 howl must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution save or be
Hit Points 22 (5d8) frightened for 1d4+1 rounds. A creature that succeeds at
Speed 30 ft. its saving throw becomes immune to the Stricken Child’s
howl for 24 hours.
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA Preternatural Knowledge. The Stricken Child can see and
19 (+1) 10 (+2) 17 (+0) 6 (–2) 10 (+0) 10 (–2) hear things beyond this world and knows what should not
be known. The gift is erratic and imprecise.

Damage Immunities poison ACTIONS

Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, poisoned Cloud of Misery (2/day). As a combat action, the Stricken
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 Child can vomit forth a swarm of insects. The swarms be-
Languages Common gin adjacent to the Stricken Child, but if no living creatures
Challenge 2 (450 XP) are within its area, they move away from the Stricken
Child in a random direction at their normal speed. The in-
Shapechanger. Sprat can use his action to polymorph sects melt into pools of brown phlegm after 10 rounds.
between a rat and his true humanoid form.

ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one crea-
Thing in the Cellar, the
ture). Hit: 2d6 + 2 piercing damage. This creature is an anathema to natural law. It is a thing of memories,
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one of hatreds and of chaos. It changes physically in some ways, but there the
creature). Hit: 2d4 + 2 slashing damage plus DC 10 Consti- link to anything mortally understood ends.
tution save or be paralyzed for 1 minute.
Blowgun. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 25/100,
1 target. Hit: 1 piercing damage and the target must suc- The Thing in the Cellar
ceed at a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned Large aberration (Between), neutral
for 1 hour. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the victim Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
is also unconscious while poisoned. Hit Points 125 (10d10 + 70)
Speed 40 ft., swim 20 ft.

Stricken Child, the STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

Lying prostrate upon a bed of rust-coloured spines and blooms cradled 20 (+5) 19 (+4) 25 (+7) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 14 (+2)
in slowly enveloping iron growths, is a sickly pale man. He is naked, and
his revolting affliction is clear for all to see. The miserable man’s head is
swollen obscenely, a degenerate bloated thing that looks ready to burst at Skills Perception +3
the lightest of touches. His eyes bulge painfully and his jaw hangs slack, Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16
a trail of spittle dripping from it. On closer examination, you can see that Languages Aklo
the thing has only vestigial hands and feet as well as a second head — a Challenge 6 (XP 2,300)
grotesque and elongated thing that looks to have been squashed at some
time — lolls behind the swollen cranium. Distorted. The Thing in the Cellar has no recognizable inter-
nal anatomy, giving it a 50% chance to treat any critical
hit or sneak attack against it as a normal hit.
The Stricken Child Preternatural Horror. Those who see the Thing realise its
Medium monstrosity, chaotic neutral very existence is contrary to every law of nature. Animals
Armor Class 20 (metal thorns) will not go within 30 feet of the creature, and when first
Hit Points 48 (12d8) sighted by a creature with an Intelligence of 6 or higher,
Speed 0 ft. the viewer must make a DC 15 Wisdom save or gain a
malady (see Blight Maladies in the introductory chapter to
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA The Levee adventure).
4 (–3) 8 (–1) 11 (+0) 19 (+4) 17 (+3) 15 (+2)  
ACTIONS 
Multiattack. The thing in the cellar makes three attacks: one
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing with its bite and two with its claws. It can forego one claw
from nonmagical weapons attack to use its leach attack.
Damage Immunities poison  Bites. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach ft., one target.
Condition Immunities prone Hit: 15 (2d8 + 5) piercing damage.
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15  Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft.; one tar-
Languages Common get. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage.
Challenge 1 (200 XP)  Leech. Melee Spell Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft.; one tar-
167
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
get. Hit: 7 (2d6) necrotic damage. The target must make
a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. If the save fails, the target Thorny
takes 7 (2d6) necrotic damage and the thing in the cellar
gains an equal number of hit points. Any hit points gained This creature resembles a hunting dog constructed of tangled briars,
over the thing’s maximum hit points become temporary vines, leaves, and sticks. Its entire body is covered with small, sharp
hit points. If the save succeeds, no damage is done and thorns.
the target is immune to leech for 24 hours.
Thorny
Thing That Was Once Medium plant, neutral
Armor Class 14
Rachel Birch, the Hit Points 27 (5d8+5)
Speed 30 ft.
It has a face — or rather, two faces — both of which you somehow know.
One face is rigid, hard, determined, while the other is frightened like a STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
child, her eyes darting in fear and staring behind her always. The eyes
draw you; they are steely. Indeed, they seem to be metallic, and then you 13 (+1) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 2 (-4) 12 (+1) 6 (–2)
realise where you have seen the gaze before — Rachel Birch, the Paladin-
Occularis who has been chasing you for months for some transgression
you can’t even guess — a member of the order that burned your village Skills Perception +5, Stealth +6
at the order of Thornrage. What has become of her? She is filleted and Senses passive Perception 15
stretched so that her human form sways and is distended, oddly lacking Languages N/A
in any kind of bone and she is able to stand purely though muscle. As she Challenge 1 (200 XP)
staggers, she moves like a tumbling thing blown in the wind, propping
herself upon long distended knuckles. Her skin runs with livid scars that Thorns. A thorny’s body is covered by sharp wooden thorns.
cover her entire skin, threatening to peel away before your eyes. Any creature attacking a thorny takes 2 (1d4) damage
from the sharp thorns. A creature that grapples the thorny
takes this same damage every round the grapple is
The Thing That Was Once Rachel Birch maintained
Medium undead, neutral
Armor Class 18 (natural armour) ACTIONS
Hit Points 117 (18d8 + 36) Bite. Melee weapon attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft. Hit: 8 (2d6 + 1) piercing damage.

STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA Threnody

19 (+4) 12 (+1) 15 (+2) 7 (-2)  18 (+4) 11 (+0)
The vampiress is a sight to behold now that she is not moving so fast
that she can’t even be seen. Those that caught a glimpse of her in L7:
Savings Throws Con +5, Wis +8 My Benefactor recognize her immediately, though it is obvious that
Skills Athletics +8, Perception +8, Stealth +5 she is no longer pregnant. She is old, far older than seems physically
Damage Resistances necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and possible. Her skin is a wrinkled, hairless, expanse of ashen grey
slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren’t silvered pallor, and seems to sag from her frame as if the skeleton inside was
Damage Immunities poison somehow retracting. The flesh of her abdomen hangs in a pendulous
Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned mass nearly to her knees, having already disgorged the brood of
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 18 young it carried. Her wrinkled head is eyeless, with only a small nose
Languages the languages known in life and a wide fanged mouth to break its cracked and wrinkled surface.
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP) Membranous wings of ragged flesh rise from her shoulders, and most
horrifyingly of all as she raises clawed hands toward you, you can see
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, The Thing That Was that in the centre of each palm is a glaring, jaundiced eye.
Once Rachel Birch, has disadvantage on attack rolls, as
well as on Wisdom (Perception) rolls that rely on sight. Threnody
ACTIONS Medium undead (Between), neutral evil
Multiattack. The Thing That Was Once Rachel Birch makes Armor Class 16
three melee attacks: one with its bite and two with its Hit Points 119 (14d8+68)
claws. Speed 30 ft.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 14 (3d6 + 4) piercing damage and it must succeed on STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or its hit point maximum
is reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. This 18 (+4) 18 (+4) 18 (+4) 17 (+3) 15 (+2) 18 (+4)
reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The tar-
get dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum by 0.
A humanoid slain by this attack rises 24 hours later as a Saving Throws Dex +8, Wis +6, Cha +8
zombie under The Thing That Was Once Rachel Birch’s Skills Perception +6, Stealth +8
control, unless the humanoid is restored to life or its body Damage Resistances cold, fire; bludgeoning, piercing, and
is destroyed. The Thing That Was Once Rachel Birch can slashing from nonmagical attacks
have no more than twelve zombies under its control at Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16
one time. Languages Common, Deep Speech
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar- Challenge 12 (8,400 XP)
get. Hit: 17 (3d8 + 4) slashing damage.
168
 GM Guide
Birth Brood. Between vampires do not have the ability to flesh. The target’s hit points are reduced by an amount
create spawn, but Threnody is one of the rare examples equal to the necrotic damage taken, and Threnody re-
of her kind that can create a new generation of Between gains hit points equal to that amount. The reduction lasts
vampires. Every century or so, she becomes obsessed until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this
with reproduction. No act of procreation is required for effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0.
such an event to occur and conclude. When it occurs, Dominate. Threnody targets one humanoid she can see
she grows to Large size as she bloats with a host of young, within 30 feet of her. If the target can see Threnody, the
and her hunger to feed becomes almost a madness. She target must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw
requires living hosts into which her young are birthed and against this magic or be charmed by her. The charmed
prefers them to be sentient creatures of the mundane target regards Threnody as a trusted friend to be heeded
world. When birthed, the young occupy a large cyst in and protected. Although the target isn’t under her con-
their host’s body where they feed for 1d3 days until they trol, it takes Threnody’s requests or actions in the most fa-
grow rudimentary wings 1d3 days later. At that point, vorable way it can, and it is a willing target for Threnody’s
they finish feeding upon the host and burrow out to make bone drink attack.
their escape, maturing to become full-grown Between Each time Threnody or her companions do anything harmful
vampires in a matter of weeks. When they first emerge to the target, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the
from the host they are virtually helpless (AC 10, hit points 2, effect on itself on a success. Otherwise, the effect lasts 24
fly 10 ft.), but after that they begin to grow and transform hours or until Threnody is destroyed, is on a different plane
into a fully-grown Blight vampire at within 2d12 days and of existence than the target, or takes a bonus action to
develop the natural abilities of their kind during this time. end the effect.
Cunning Action. On each turn, Threnody may take the Dash, Burst of Speed (Recharge 6). Threnody can move twice her
Disengage, or Hide action as a bonus action. base speed.
Dislocated. Attacks against Threnody are made with
disadvantage unless the attacker has blindsight or
truesight. Vargouille
Shadowy Escape. When she drops to 0 hit points outside
Between, Threnody transforms into a shadow (as in the Hideous, disgusting, and vile, vargouilles stream out of the
Shapechanger trait) instead of falling unconscious, Abyssal plane. Little more than a severed head with bat wings, these
provided that she isn’t in sunlight. If she can’t transform, fiends carry a potent disease that perpetuates their abominable kind.
she is destroyed.
While she has 0 hit points in shadow form, Threnody can’t
revert to her Between vampire form, and she must reach
Vargouille
Between or a mirror-portal and successfully possess it Tiny fiend, chaotic evil
within 2 hours or be destroyed. Once in Between, she Armor Class 12 (natural armour)
reverts to her Between vampire form. She is then paralyzed Hit Points 13 (3d4 + 6)
until regaining at least 1 hit point. After spending 1 hour in Speed 5 ft., 30 ft.
Between with 0 hit points, she regains 1 hit point. The same
is true of a mirror-portal, except she does not revert to her STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Between vampire form.
Possess Mirror. Threnody can use her action to possess a 6 (+0) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 4 (-3) 7 (-2) 2 (-4)
mirror-portal connected to Between. Similar to when a
creature is possessed, the mirror-portal must succeed
on a DC 17 Charisma saving throw or be possessed by Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning
Threnody; Threnody then disappears. Threnody’s presence Damage Immunities poison
in the mirror can be determined by divination spells such Condition Immunities poisoned
as detect evil and good, but she cannot be targeted by Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 8
any attack, spell, or other effect, except ones that turn Languages understands Abyssal and Infernal, and any lan-
undead. guages it new before becoming a fiend, but is unable to
Threnody can remain in a mirror indefinitely, but will be speak
ejected from the mirror if it is destroyed or she is turned. Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Regeneration. Threnody regains 5 hit points at the start of
her turn if it has at least 1 hit point and isn’t in sunlight or ACTIONS
running water. If she takes radiant damage or damage Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar-
from holy water, this trait doesn’t function at the start of get. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) poison
the vampire’s next turn. damage.
Demon’s Kiss. If an incapacitated target is within 5 feet of
ACTIONS the vargouille, the vargouille can kiss that creature, which
Multiattack. Threnody makes three attacks, only one of must succeed on a DC 12 Charisma saving throw or be-
which can be a bone drink attack. come cursed. The cursed target loses 1 point of Charisma
Tongue. Melee weapon attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one at the end of each hour, as its facial features take on a
target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage. fiendish aspect. The curse held at bay by direct sunlight
Claws. Melee weapon attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar- or the daylight spell. Once the cursed target’s Charisma
get. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage. Instead of dealing drops to 2, it suffers an excruciating, violent death from its
damage, Threnody can grapple the target (escape DC head tearing from its body to become a new vargouille.
17). The curse can only be ended by a remove curse or great-
Bone Drink. Melee weapon attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one er restoration spell. The physical changes are undone
willing creature, or a creature that is grappled by Threno- when the curse ends through these means.
dy, incapacitated, or restrained. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing Stunning Shriek. The vargouille unleashes a piercing shriek.
plus 10 (3d6) necrotic damage as their bones liquefy and Creatures within 30 feet of the vargouille that hears the
Threnody begins drinking the slurry through the creature’s shriek must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or
be frightened and stunned until the end of the vargouille’s
169
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
next turn. While frightened in this way, a target is stunned.
If the creature’s saving throw is successful, then it is im-
mune to the vargouille shrieks for the next 1 hour.

Wallow Whale
Something stirs in the sludge beneath, swimming through the arsenic
poison that passes for water. It is vast, a seething globe of flesh, a
mountain of rotting skin that hangs like a bridal train behind its back. It
has at least a dozen eyes oddly spaced on its foul body, and a vast maw
capable of swallowing a ship.

Wallow-Whale
Gargantuan aberration, neutral

Armor Class 17 (natural armor)

Hit Points 201 (13d20 + 65)
Speed swim 40 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

22 (+6) 4 (–3) 21 (+5) 4 (–3) 10 (+0) 5 (–3)

Skills Perception +4
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
from nonmagical weapons
Damage Immunities thunder
Condition Immunities prone
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages none
Challenge 12 (8,400 XP) type. The vessel sinks when it has failed the indicated
number of saving throws. The proficiency bonus of the
Swallow. A swallowed creature is blinded and restrained. ship’s captain can be added to the saving throw.
It takes 1d10 + 6 bludgeoning damage plus 1d8 acid
damage automatically at the start of each of the wallow-
whale’s turns. Any number of creatures can be inside Ship Type Hull DC Sinks after
the wallow-whale at one time. A swallowed creature is Rowboat 20 1 failed save
unaffected by anything happening outside the wallow-
Barge 19 1 failed save
whale or by attacks from outside it. A swallowed creature
can get out of the wallow-whale by using 5 feet of Oared Galley, small 18 2 failed saves
movement, but only after the wallow-whale is dead. Oared Galley, large 16 2 failed saves
When a creature gets out of the wallow-whale, it must
make a successful DC 17 Constitution saving throw or Sailing Merchant, small 17 2 failed saves
contract filth fever. Sailing Merchant, large 15 3 failed saves
Filth Fever. A creature with filth fever becomes sick 1d4 days
after being infected. At that time, the creature gains Sailing Warship 13 3 failed saves
1 level of exhaustion. It also regains only half the usual
number of hit points from spending Hit Dice and no hit
points from resting. Once symptoms appear, the infected ECOLOGY
creature must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw Environment sea (Between)
after every long rest. If it fails, the creature gains 1 level Organization solitary or mated pair
of exhaustion; if it succeeds, the creature loses 1 level of
exhaustion. The disease is cured when the creature has no Originally found only in the Unsea of Between before some of
exhaustion. these great cetaceans somehow escaped and began reproducing in
the mundane world’s oceans, wallow-whales are now the terror of the
ACTIONS Fetid Sea and one of the primary threats for which the Castorhage
Multiattack. The wallow-whale bites once and makes one Navy diligently patrols those waters. Wallow-whales are offal, carrion,
tail slap attack. husks, leavings, and scum given life. Stirges are frequently seen circling
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one them when they surface to launch a spume of oily brine, purulence, and
creature). Hit: 4d10 + 6 piercing damage plus 3d6 acid clotted fluids from their blowholes, and oozes capable of surviving
damage, and the creature must make a successful DC 17 in the acidic environment can sometimes be found infesting their
Strength saving throw or be swallowed (see above). cathedral-like stomachs. Wallow-whales aren’t afraid to venture close
Tail Slap. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit (reach 15 ft.; to the city to feed upon the excrement, rot, and flotsam that seethes like
one creature). Hit: 4d8 + 6 bludgeoning damage and the a gyre around its foundations. Yet despite their foul body habitus, the
target is knocked prone. ambergris of a wallow-whale is a thing both rare and highly valuable,
Melee Atttack—Ram (recharge 6). automatic hit (one ship). selling for as much as 100 gp/pound. Daring or foolhardy whalers
Hit: the vessel makes a hull saving throw using the most armed with cold-iron harpoons hunt these beasts upon the oceans, and
appropriate DC from the table below, based on the ship’s in some cases upon the Unsea, with typical Gargantuan specimens
170
 GM Guide
typically yielding 1d6 x 10 pounds of the substance, and a Colossal
beast yielding 3d6 x 10 pounds. Watchful Child, the
Copyright Notice Most certainly some type of a gargoyle, this creature appears to be badly
Author Alistair Rigg, based on material by Richard Pett. made. Its face is almost child-like but broad and stretched, while behind
its grey body hang two angelic wings. From its skeletal frame erupt metal
plates and nodules that grow upon it like tumours. Four arms extend from
Watch Commander Kevel Durmast its torso, but a stunted and shriveled fifth arm hangs from the thing’s neck.

Kevel is the current commander of the City Watch, Kevel is also a

member of the Veil. Duke Malice believes Durmast to be solely his creature The Watchful Child
but knows neither the Watch Commander’s true nature nor his true loyalty Medium monstrosity, chaotic evil
to Braken and only Braken. Armor Class 20 (natural armor)
Hit Points 60 (10d8 + 20)
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft.
Watch Commander Kevel Durmast
Medium doppelganger, lawful evil STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
Armor Class 15 (studded leather) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 6 (–2) 11 (+0) 7 (–2)
Hit Points 90 (12d8+36)
Speed 30 ft.
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
from nonmagical weapons or not made of adamantine
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Damage Immunities poison
11 (+0) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 13 (+1) 12 (+1) 15 (+2) Condition Immunities poisoned, exhaustion, petrifaction
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Terran
Saving Throws Dex +7, Int +5 Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Skills Acrobatics +8, Deception +6, Perception +5, Stealth +11
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15 False Appearance. While the watchful child remains
Languages any one language (usually common) motionless, it is indistinguishable from an inanimate statue.
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
ACTIONS
Ambusher/ Surprise Attack. In the first round of combat, Multiattack: The watchful child makes four attacks: one with
Kevel has advantage on attack rolls against a creature its bite, two with its claws, and one with its horn.
he has surprised, and deals an extra 14 (4d6) damage on Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
a successful hit. Any hit against a surprised creature is a Hit: 6 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
critical. Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Evasion. If Kevel is required to make a Dexterity saving throw target. Hit: 10 (2d8 + 3) slashing damage.
to take half damage, he takes no damage on a success- Horn. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
ful save, and half damage on a failed save. target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Read Thoughts. While concentrating, Kevel can read
thoughts within a 60-foot radius. He has advantage on
Wisdom (Insight) and Charisma (Deception, Intimidation,
Persuasion) checks vs his target while reading its thoughts.
Wererat Leader
Shapechanger. Kevel can use his action to polymorph into Wererat leaders are the elite of the city’s wererat population, more
a Small or Medium humanoid he has seen, or back into powerful and much sneakier than the ordinary sort. Most of the city’s
his true form, which is humanoid. His statistics, other than wererats are halflings in their true form, and this is also true of the elites.
his size, are the same in each form. Any equipment he is
wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. He reverts to his true
form if he dies.
Wererat Leader
Medium humanoid (any race, shapechanger), lawful evil
ACTIONS Armor Class 12
Multiattack. Kevel makes two attacks on his turn. Hit Points 42 (6d8+18)
Rapier. Melee weapon attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar- Speed 30 ft.
get. Hit: 8 (1d8+4) piercing damage.
Light Crossbow. Ranged weapon attack: +8 to hit, range STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) piercing damage. The
target must make a DC 15 Constitution save, taking 24 10 (+0) 15 (+2) 17 (+3) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 8 (–1)
(7d6) damage on a failure, or half as much on a success.

Skills Perception +2, Stealth +4

Damage Immunities bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
from non-silvered weapons
Senses darkvision 60 ft. (in any form), passive Perception 12
Languages Common (cannot speak in rat form)
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

Cunning Action. On each turn, the wererat leader may take

the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action as a bonus action.
Keen Smell. Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell
are made at advantage.
171
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Shapechanger. A wererat leader can use its action to against attacks and other effects outside the Between
polymorph into a rat-humanoid hybrid or into a giant rat, whale, and it takes 21 (6d6) acid damage at the start of
or back into its true form, which is humanoid. Its statistics, each of the Between whale’s turns.
other than its size, are the same in each form. Any If the Between whale takes 30 damage or more on
equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. It a single turn from a creature inside it, the Between
reverts to its true form if it dies. whale must make a DC 17 Constitution saving throw
Sneak Attack (1/turn). The wererat leader’s attack deals at the end of that turn or regurgitate all swallowed
an extra 10 (3d6) damage when it hits with a weapon creatures, which fall prone in a space within 10 feet
attack, if it has advantage on the attack roll, or there of the Between whale. If the Between whale dies,
is an ally who is not incapacitated within 5 feet of the a swallowed creature is no longer restrained by it
target, and as long as the wererat leader does not have and can escape from the corpse using 15 feet of
disadvantage on the attack roll.  movement, exiting prone.
Ram. Melee Weapon Attack, +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
ACTIONS object. Hit: 36 (5d10 + 9) bludgeoning damage.
Multiattack (humanoid or hybrid form only). A wererat Tail Slap. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
leader makes two attacks (only one of which may be a target. Hit: 31 (4d10 + 9) bludgeoning damage and the
bite). target must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw
Bite (Hybrid or Rat Form Only). Melee weapon attack: +4 or be stunned until the end of the Between whale’s next
to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing. turn.
If the target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC Capsize. If the Between whale moves at least 30 feet straight
11 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with wererat toward a watercraft (boat, ship, ferry, etc.) and then hits
lycanthropy. it with a ram attack on the same turn, there is a chance
Shortsword (Humanoid or Hybrid Form Only). Melee weapon that it will capsize. All occupants of the watercraft must
attack: +4 to hit, range 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) make Dexterity saving throw when the craft is rammed
piercing damage. (see below). To determine if the watercraft capsizes,
consult the following:

Whale, Between Size Outcome

Massive whales that swim the unfathomed deeps of the seas of Between. The craft is destroyed, all on board must
make a successful DC 19 Dexterity saving
Small throw to avoid being stunned. Regardless
Whale, Between (e.g. rowboat) of the outcome of the save, passengers
Gargantuan beast, unaligned each take 36 (5d10 + 9) damage and
Armor Class 14 are thrown from the wreckage.
Hit Points 228 (13d20+ 91) The craft must make a generic DC 17
Speed swim 40 ft. saving throw to avoid being destroyed.
If successful, the craft takes half of the
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA 10d10 + 10 damage. All on board must
Medium
make a save DC 19 Dexterity saving
28 (+9) 10 (+0) 25 (+7) 12 (+1) 18 (+4) 10 (+0) (e.g. keelboat)
throw to avoid being knocked prone. If
the craft fails the saving throw, it takes
full damage and begins taking on
Skills Perception +4 water. It will sink in 1d4 rounds.
Saving Throws Str +13, Con +13, Wis +8
Senses blindsight 120 ft., darkvision 60 ft. passive Perception 18 The craft must make a generic DC
Languages -- 15 saving throw to avoid being
Challenge 12 (8,400 XP) capsized. If it fails the save by 5 or
more, the ship capsizes. All on board
Echolocation. The Between whale cannot use its blindsight if must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving
Large
deafened. throw to avoid being pulled under
(e.g. sailing
Freedom of Movement. The Between whale ignores difficult with the ship. If the save is successful,
ship)
the ship takes 10d10 + 10 damage
terrain, and magical effects can’t reduce its speed or
and those on board make a DC 12
cause it to be restrained. It can spend 5 feet of movement
Dexterity saving throw to avoid being
to escape from nonmagical restraints or being grappled.
knocked prone (or overboard if they
Hold Breath. The Between whale can hold its breath for 30
are near the ship’s edge).
minutes.
Keen Scent. This Between whale can notice creatures by The craft must make a generic DC
scent in a 180-foot radius underwater and can detect 13 saving throw to avoid being cap-
blood in the water at a range of up to a mile. sized. If it fails the save by 5 or more,
Siege Monster. The Between whale deals double damage the ship capsizes. All on board must
to objects and structures make a DC 12 Dexterity saving to
Huge avoid being pulled under with the
ACTIONS (e.g. longship) ship. If the save is successful, the ship
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one takes 10d10 + 10 damage and those
target. Hit: 42 (6d10 + 9) slashing damage. If the hit is on board make a DC 11 Dexterity
a critical hit or exceeds the number needed by 5 or saving throw to avoid being knocked
prone (or overboard if they are near
more, the target is also swallowed. While swallowed,
the ship’s edge).
the creature is blinded and restrained, it has total cover

172
 GM Guide
Size Outcome Hit Points 38 (7d8 + 7)
Speed 40 ft., burrow 10 ft., climb 30 ft.
The craft must make a generic DC 12
saving throw with advantage to avoid
being capsized. If it fails the save by 5 STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
or more, the ship capsizes. All on board 16 (+3) 13 (+1) 13 (+1) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 8 (-1)
Gargantuan must make a DC 11 Dexterity saving to
(e.g. warship, avoid being pulled under with the ship.
galley) If the save is successful, the ship takes Skills Acrobatics +3, Athletics +5, Stealth +3
10d10 + 10 damage and those on board Senses blindsense 30 ft. (blind beyond 30 ft.), passive
make a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw to Perception 11
avoid being knocked prone (or over- Languages Undercommon
board if they are near the ship’s edge). Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Blind. Woerms rely entirely on blindsight. They are immune to

Wolf, Ghoul gaze attacks, visual effects, illusions, and other effects that
interact with normal sight.
This creature resembles a wolf with matted dark fur torn away in places. Filth Fever. A creature with filth fever becomes sick 1d4 days
Its flesh is sickly gray where its fur is torn away. Its eyes are stark white. after being infected. At that time, the creature gains 1 lev-
el of exhaustion. It also regains only half the usual number
Ghoul Wolf of hit points from spending Hit Dice and no hit points from
resting. Once symptoms appear, the infected creature
Large undead, chaotic evil must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw after every
Armor Class 13 (natural armour) long rest. If it fails, the creature gains 1 level of exhaustion;
Hit Points 50 (8d10 + 6) if it succeeds, the creature loses 1 level of exhaustion. The
Speed 50 ft. disease is cured when the creature has no exhaustion.
Pack Attack. A woerm has advantage on its attack roll if the
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA target is within 5 feet of another woerm that’s able to at-
tack.
16 (+3) 13 (+1) 13 (+1) 7 (-2) 11 (+0) 8 (-1) Regeneration. A woerm heals 5 hit points at the start of each
of its turns. This ability doesn’t function if it took acid or fire
damage, or was exposed to sunlight, since its previous
Skills Perception +4 turn.
Damage Immunities poison Stench. A creature (other than a woerm or troglodyte)
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, poisoned that starts its turn within 5 feet of a woerm must make a
Senses passive Perception 14
Languages --
Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Keen Hearing and Smell. The ghoul wolf has advantage on

Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Pack Tactics. The ghoul wolf has advantage on attack
rolls against a creature if at least one of the ghoul wolf’s
allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t
incapacitated.

ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) slashing damage. If the target is a
creature other than an elf or undead, it must succeed
on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed for
1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the
end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a
success.

Woerm
This wormlike monster’s eyeless head has a hooked jaw and large,
pointed ears. Its scaly hide is dull gray with a crest on its head and
along its back to its tail, along which its shrunken, vestigial legs hang
limply. Its long, multi-jointed arms are like slimy spider legs tipped
with elongated, clawed hands.

Woerm
Medium aberration, chaotic evil

Armor Class 11
173
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
successful DC 11 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned Languages understands trained words
until the start of its next turn. A creature that saves Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
successfully is immune to woem Stench for 24 hours.
Undead Fortitude: If damage reduces the zombie horse
ACTIONS to 0 hit points, it must make a Constitution saving throw
Multiattack. The woerm bites once and claws once. with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one crea- is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, the zombie
ture). Hit: 1d4 + 3 piercing damage, and the creature must horse drops to 1 hit point instead.
make a successful DC 11 Constitution saving throw or be
infected with filth fever (see above). Actions
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature). Hit: 2d6 + 3 slashing damage. target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
Disorientating Scream. Woerms communicate with their
own kind via high-pitched screams. Creatures other
than woerms within 15 feet of a screaming woerm
must succeed at a DC 11 Wisdom saving throw or be
incapacitated for 1 round. A character who makes
Common NPCs
this saving throw successfully is immune to woerms’
Disorientating Screams for 24 hours. Agent of Good
ECOLOGY These individuals may be vampire-hunters, witch-hunters, or serve
Environment underground as contacts for good-aligned organizations such as religious orders or
Organization solitary, pair, gang (3–12), or cult (13+) orders of knighthood.
Woerms are an aggressive, insular race who constantly hunger for
flesh and who have become adept at survival in the crippling and stifling
confines of the Underneath. Originally spawned of cursed unions between Agent of Good
morlocks and troglodytes, they are rarely encountered and never above Medium humanoid (any race), any good alignment
ground, as sunlight repels them. Armor Class 13 (leather armor)
Careful Hunters. Woerms are cautious when hunting, striking prey as Hit Points 33 (6d8 + 6)
they rush forth from hidden holes and disappear into others. This tactic Speed 30 ft.
has led to an impression that they enjoy playing with their prey — earning
them the name “Welcomers Below” — but woerms delight only in eating.
STR    DEX   CON   INT WIS    CHA
Social Horrors. Woerms are surprisingly sophisticated and intelligent
— or at least, more sophisticated and intelligent than they look — and 11 (+0) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 14 (+2)
have complex and powerful clans and groups; two opposing groups of
woerms never work together, but occasionally a great leader forges a
larger kingdom of the creatures. These clans can last for decades or even Skills Deception +4, Persuasion +4, Religion +2
centuries, and the feasting halls that rarely have been discovered have Senses passive Perception 11
shown their appetites and successes. Occasionally, the insular woerms Languages any one language (usually Common)
form an alliance with, or more often enslave, a race of subterranean Challenge 2 (450 XP)
dwellers, typically their morlock or troglodyte forebears.
Holy Devotion. The agent of good has advantage on saving
Copyright Notice throws against being charmed or frightened.
Author Alistair Rigg, based on material by Richard Pett. Spellcasting. The agent is a 4th-level spellcaster. Their spell-
casting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 11, +3 to hit with
spell attacks). Agents of good usually have the following
Zombie Horse cleric spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): light, sacred flame, thaumaturgy
Zombie horses are a staple of Castorhage’s necromantic industry. They 1st level (4 slots): command, cure wounds, shield of faith
are so unintelligent that they are only used as workhorses: commanding 2nd level (3 slots): hold person, spiritual weapon
a zombie horse to attack requires a DC 10 Intelligence check on the
part of the horse to understand and obey (with a –5 on the roll due to ACTIONS
its Intelligence modifier). Otherwise, the zombie horse looks on placidly Multiattack. An agent of good makes two melee attacks,
without taking any actions at all. one with the rapier and one with the dagger.
Silvered Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to
hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one creature. Hit: 4 (1d4 +
Zombie Horse 2) piercing damage.
Medium undead, unaligned Silvered Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Armor Class 8 one creature. Hit: 4 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.
Hit Points 22 (3d8 + 9) Heavy Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range
Speed 20 ft. 100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d10 + 1) piercing damage.
The bolts are silvered.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16 (+3) 6 (-2) 16 (+3) 1 (–5) 6 (-2) 5 (-3) Apprentice Mage
Medium humanoid (any), any alignment
Saving Throws Wisdom +0 Armor Class 10
Damage Immunities poison Hit Points 9 (2d8)
Condition Immunities poisoned Speed 30 ft.
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 8
174
 GM Guide
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 24
(7d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much
10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) damage on a successful one.
Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range
80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) piercing damage,
Skills Arcana +4, History +4 and the target must make a DC 15 Constitution saving
Senses passive Perception 10 throw, taking 24 (7d6) poison damage on a failed save, or
Languages any one language (usually Common) half as much damage on a successful one.
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)

Spellcasting. The apprentice mage is a 1st-level spellcaster.

Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 12, +4
Ascetic
to hit with spell attacks). It has the following wizard spells Medium humanoid (any), any alignment
prepared: Armor Class 16
Cantrips (at will): fire bolt, mending, prestidigitation Hit Points 60 (11d8 + 11)
1st level (2 slots): burning hands, mage armour, shield Speed 40 ft.

ACTIONS STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA

Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach
5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 2 (1d4) piercing 11 (+0) 17 (+3) 13 (+1) 11 (+0) 16 (+3) 10 (+0)
damage.

Skills Acrobatics +5, Insight +5, Stealth +5

Arcane Assassin Senses passive Perception 13
Languages any one language (usually Common)
Medium humanoid (any), any alignment Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Armor Class 15 (18 with mage armour)
Hit Points 81 (6d6 + 6d8 + 24) Unarmoured Defence. If wearing no armour or shield, the
Speed 30 ft. ascetic’s AC includes its Wisdom modifier.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA ACTIONS

Multiattack. The ascetic makes 3 unarmed strike attacks or
12 (+1) 20 (+5) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) three dart attacks.
Unarmed Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) bludgeoning damage. If the
Skills Acrobatics +9, Perception +6, Sleight of Hand +9, target is a creature, the ascetic can choose one of the
Stealth +13 following additional effects:
Senses passive Perception 16 •The target must make a successful DC 13 Strength
Languages Any four languages saving throw or the creature drops one item (ascetic’s
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP) choice);
• The target must make a successful DC 13 Dexterity
Spellcasting. The arcane assassin is a 6th-level spell caster. saving throw be knocked prone;
Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 14, • The target must make a successful DC 13 Constitution
+6 to hit with spell attacks). The arcane assassin has the saving throw or stunned until the end of ascetic’s next
following wizard spells prepared: turn.
Cantrips (at will): chill touch, minor illusion, poison spray, true Dart. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one
strike target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage.
1st level (4 slots): charm person, feather fall, mage armour,
magic missile REACTIONS
2nd level (3 slots): cloud of daggers, darkness, invisibility Deflect missile. As a reaction, the ascetic deflects one
3rd level (3 slots): blink, clairvoyance, vampiric touch missile and any damage is reduced by 1d10 + 3. If
Assassinate. During its first turn, the arcane assassin has damage is reduced to 0, the ascetic catches the missile if
advantage on attack rolls against any creature that it small enough to hold in one hand and the ascetic has at
hasn’t taken a turn. Any hit the arcane assassin scores least one hand free.
against a surprised creature is a critical hit.
Evasion. If the arcane assassin is subjected to an effect that
allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half
damage, the arcane assassin instead takes no damage if it
Burglar
succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails. Medium humanoid (any), any alignment
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). The arcane assassin deals an extra Armor Class 16 (leather armour)
13 (4d6) damage when it hits a target with a weapon Hit Points 52 (8d8+16)
attack and has advantage on the attack roll, or when Speed 30 ft.
the target is within 5 feet of an ally of the assassin that
isn’t incapacitated and the assassin doesn’t have STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
disadvantage on the attack roll.
13 (+1) 18 (+4) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0)
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The arcane assassin makes two shortsword
attacks per turn. Saving Throws Dex +7, Int +4
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Skills Acrobatics +7, Athletics +4, Perception +5, Sleight of
target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 5) piercing damage, and the target Hand +7, Stealth +7

175
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Senses passive Perception 15 Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Thieves’ cant plus any two languages Languages Any four languages
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
 
Cunning Action. On each of its turns, the burglar can use a Grim Harvest (1/turn). When the deathmage kills a creature
bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action. that is neither a construct nor undead with a spell of 1st level
Evasion. When the burglar is subjected to an effect that or higher, the deathmage regains hit points equal to twice
allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half the spell’s level, or three times if it is a necromancy spell.
damage, the it instead takes no damage if the save is Spellcasting. The deathmage is a 12th-level spellcaster. Its
successful, and only half damage if the roll is a failure. spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 15, +7
Sneak Attack. Once per turn, the burglar can deal an to hit with spell attacks). It has the following wizard spells
extra 14 (4d6) damage to one creature it hits with prepared:
an attack if it has advantage on the attack roll. Cantrips (at will): chill touch, dancing lights, mage hand,
The attack must use a finesse or a ranged weapon. The mending
burglar doesn’t need advantage on the attack roll if 1st level (4 slots): false life*, mage armour, ray of sickness*
another enemy of the target is within 5 feet of it, that 2nd level (3 slots): blindness/deafness*, ray of
enemy isn’t Incapacitated, and the burglar doesn’t have enfeeblement*, web
disadvantage on the attack roll. 3rd level (3 slots): animate dead*, bestow curse*, vampiric
  touch*
ACTIONS 4th level (3 slots): blight*, dimension door, stoneskin
Multiattack. The burglar can make two attacks with either its 5th level (2 slots): contagion, cloudkill;
shortsword or its light crossbow per turn. 6th level (1 slots): circle of death*
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one *Necromancy Spell of 1st level or higher.
creature). Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage.
Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range ACTIONS
80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage. Grim Harvest. When deathmage kills a creature that is
neither a construct nor undead with a spell of 1st level
or higher, the mage regains hit points equal to twice the
Captain spell’s level, or three times if it is a necromancy spell.
Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +1 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Medium humanoid (any), any alignment one target. Hit: 2 (1d6-1) bludgeoning damage, or 3 (1d8-
Armor Class 18 (plate) 1) bludgeoning damage if used with two hands.
Hit Points 75 (10d8+20)
Speed 30 ft.
Duellist
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
Medium humanoid (any), any alignment
18 (+4) 10 (+0) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) Armor Class 17 (leather armour)
Hit Points 66 (12d8 + 12)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Str +6, Con +6
Skills Perception +5, Persuasion +7, Intimidation +7
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Any two languages 12 (+1) 18 (+4) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 15 (+2)
Challenge 3 (700 XP)

Brave. The captain has advantage on all saving throws Skills Acrobatics +9, Athletics +5, Persuasion +6
against fear. Senses passive Perception 10
Leadership (1/day, 1 minute). Allies within 30ft who can hear Languages Any two languages
and understand the Captain add 1d4 to their attack rolls Challenge 3 (700)
and saving throws.
Light-footed. The duellist can take the Dash or Disengage
ACTIONS action as a bonus action on each of its turns.
Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit (reach 5 ft.; Suave Défense. While the duellist is wearing light or no armour
one creature). Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage. and wielding no shield, its AC includes its Charisma modifier.

ACTIONS
Deathmage Multiattack. The duellist makes three attacks: one with a
dagger and two with a rapier.
Medium humanoid (any), any alignment Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach
Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armour) 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (ld4 + 4) piercing
Hit Points 66 (12d8+12) damage.
Speed 30 ft. Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 8 (ld8 + 4) piercing damage.
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
9 (–1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) Elder Witch
Medium humanoid (any), any alignment
Saving Throws Int +7, Wis +5 Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armour)
Skills Arcana +7, History +7 Hit Points 91 (14d8 + 28)
176
 GM Guide
Speed 30 ft. ACTIONS
Multiattack. The foulguard makes three attacks with its
glaive or shortbow.
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
Glaive. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
9 (–1) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 18 (+4) target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) slashing damage.
Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 80/320
ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Saving Throws Wis +4, Cha +7 Aura of Dread (Recharges after short or long rest). The
Skills Arcana +4, History +4 foulguard exudes magical menace. Each enemy within 30
Senses passive Perception 11 feet of the foulguard must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom
Languages Any two languages, telepathy 30 ft. saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. If a frightened
Challenge 6 (2,300) target ends its turn more than 30 feet away from the
foulguard, the target can repeat the saving throw, ending
Innate Spellcasting. The elder witch’s innate spellcasting the effect on itself with a success.
ability is Charisma. It can innately cast the following spells
(spell save DC 15), requiring no material components: Foulguards are likely to have a special steed.
At will: detect magic, jump, levitate, mage armour (self
only), speak with dead
l /day each: arcane gate, true seeing Frenzied Berserker
Spellcasting. The elder witch is a 14th-level spellcaster. Its
spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit Medium humanoid (any), any alignment
with spell attacks). It regains its expended spell slots when Armor Class 14 (chain shirt)
it finishes a short or long rest. It knows the following witch Hit Points 105 (10d12+30)
spells: Speed 40 ft.
Cantrips (at will): chill touch, eldritch blast, guidance, mage
hand, minor illusion, prestidigitation, shocking grasp STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
1st-5th level (3 5th-level slots): crown of madness,
20 (+5) 12 (+1) 17 (+3) 9 (–1) 16 (+3) 10 (+0)
clairvoyance, contact other plane, detect thoughts,
dimension door, dissonant whispers, dominate beast,
hellish rebuke, protection from good and evil, telekinesis, Saving Throws Str +9, Con +7
vampiric touch Skills Acrobatics +5, Athletics +9, Performance +4, Survival +7
Whispering Aura. At the start of each of the elder witch’s Senses passive Perception 13
turns, each creature of its choice within 5 feet of it must Languages Any one language
succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or take 10 Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
(3d6) psychic damage, provided that the witch isn’t
incapacitated. Brutal Critical. The frenzied berserker can roll one additional
weapon damage when determining the extra damage
ACTIONS for a critical hit with a melee attack.
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach Reckless. At the start of its turn, the frenzied berserker can
5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (ld4 + 2) piercing gain advantage on all melee weapon attack rolls that
damage. turn but attack rolls against it have advantage until the
start of its next turn.

Foulguard ACTIONS
Multiattack. A frenzied berserker makes two greataxe
Medium humanoid (any), any non-good alignment attacks per turn.
Armor Class 18 (plate armour) Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
Hit Points 153 (18d8 + 72) creature). Hit: 11 (1d12 + 5) slashing damage.
Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA Grandmaster Spy

18 (+4) 11 (+0) 18 (+4) 11 (+0) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) Medium humanoid (any), any alignment
Armor Class 18 (studded leather armour)
Hit Points 117 (18d8 + 36)
Saving Throws Wis +5, Cha +5 Speed 30 ft.
Skills Athletics +7, Deception +5, Intimidation +5;
Senses passive Perception 12
Languages any one language (usually Common) STR DEX     CON INT  WIS CHA
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP) 12 (+1) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 16 (+3)

Spellcasting. The foulguard is a 10th-level spellcaster. Their

spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit Saving Throws Dexterity +10, Intelligence +8, Wisdom +8
with spell attacks). They have the following paladin spells Skills Acrobatics +10, Perception +8, Sleight of Hand +10,
prepared: Stealth +14
Cantrips: chill touch, shocking grasp Senses passive Perception 18
1st level (4 slots): command, false life, protection from evil Languages Any four languages
and good, shield Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
2nd level (3 slots): aid, branding smite, find steed
3rd level (2 slots): dispel magic, hellish rebuke, inflict wounds Elusive. No attack on the grandmaster spy has advantage if
the grandmaster spy is not incapacitated.

177
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Evasion. If the grandmaster spy is subjected to an effect that While in a new form, the hierophant retains its game statistics
allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half and ability to speak, but its AC, movement modes, Strength,
damage, the grandmaster spy instead takes no damage if it and Dexterity are replaced by those of the new form, and
succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails. it gains any special senses, proficiencies, traits, actions, and
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). The grandmaster spy deals an extra reactions (except class features, legendary actions, and lair
31 (9d6) damage when it hits a target with a weapon at- actions) that the new form has but that it lacks. It can cast
tack and has advantage on the attack roll, or when the its spells with verbal or somatic components in its new form.
target is within 5 feet of an ally of the grandmaster spy The new form’s attacks count as magical for the purpose of
that isn’t incapacitated and the grandmaster spy doesn’t overcoming resistances and immunity to nonmagical attacks.
have disadvantage on the attack roll.
Stealthy. The grandmaster spy has advantage on Dexterity
(Stealth) checks. High Priest
ACTIONS Medium humanoid (any), any alignment
Multiattack. The grandmaster spy makes three rapier attacks Armor Class 17 (half plate)
per turn. Hit Points 77 (14d8 + 14)
Short Sword. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., Speed 30 ft.
one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage.
Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, range
80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage. STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
12 (+1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 13 (+1) 18 (+4) 13 (+1)

Hierophant
Skills History +5, Religion +5
Medium humanoid (any), any alignment Senses passive Perception 14
Armor Class 16 (hide armour, shield) Languages Any four languages
Hit Points 132 (24d8 + 24) Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Speed 30 ft.
Divine Eminence. As a bonus action, the high priest can
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA expend a 1st level spell slot to cause its melee weapon
attacks to magically deal an extra 10 (3d6) radiant damage
10 (+4) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 20 (+5) 11 (+0) to a target on a hit. This benefit lasts until the end of the turn.
If the high priest expends a spell slot of 2nd level or higher,
the extra damage increases by ld6 for each level above 1st.
Saving Throws Int +5, Wis +9 Spellcasting. The high priest is a 14th-level spellcaster. Its
Skills Medicine +9, Nature +5, Perception +9 spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit
Senses passive Perception 19 with spell attacks). The high priest has the following cleric
Languages Druidic plus any two languages spells prepared:
Challenge 12 (8,400 XP) Cantrips (at will): guidance, light, resistance, sacred flame,
thaumaturgy
Spellcasting. The hierophant is an 18th-level spellcaster. Its 1st level (4 slots): bless, cure wounds, healing word, shield of
spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit faith
with spell attacks). It has the following druid spells pre- 2nd level (3 slots): aid, continual flame, lesser restoration
pared: 3rd level (3 slots): beacon of hope, magic circle, speak with
Cantrips (at will): druidcraft, mending, poison spray, pro- dead
duce flame 4th level (3 slots): death ward, freedom of movement,
1st level (4 slots): cure wounds, entangle. faerie fire, speak guardian of faith
with animals 5th level (2 slots): mass cure wounds, raise dead
2nd level (3 slots): animal messenger, beast sense, hold per- 6th level (2 slots): blade barrier, true seeing
son 7th level (1 slot): resurrection
3rd level (3 slots): conjure animals, meld into stone, water
breathing ACTIONS
4th level (3 slots): dominate beast, locate creature, stone- Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
skin, wall of fire one target. Hit: 4 (1d6+1) bludgeoning damage, or 5
5th level (3 slots): commune with nature, mass cure wounds, (1d8+1) bludgeoning damage if used with two hands.
tree stride
6th level (1 slot): heal, heroes’ feast, sunbeam
7th level (1 slot): fire storm
8th level (1 slot): animal shapes
Initiate Witch 
Medium humanoid (any), any alignment
ACTIONS Armor Class 11 (14 with mage armour)
Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Hit Points 22 (5d8)
target. Hit: 5 (ld6 + 2) slasping damage. Speed 30 ft.
Change Shape (2/Day). The hierophant magically
polymorphs into a beast or elemental with a challenge
rating of 6 or less, and can remain in this form for up to 9 STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
hours. The hierophant can choose whether its equipment 9 (–1) 13 (+1) 11 (+0) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 16 (+3)
falls to the ground, melds with its new form, or is worn by the
new form. The hierophant reverts to its true form if it dies or
falls unconscious. The hierophant can revert to its true form Saving Throws Wis +3, Cha +5
using a bonus action on its turn. Skills Arcana +2, Deception +5, Nature +2, Persuasion +5

178
 GM Guide
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Any two languages Inspector of the Watch
Challenge 2 (450)
Medium humanoid (any), any alignment (usually lawful)
Innate Spellcasting. The initiate witch’s innate spellcasting Armor Class 17
ability is Charisma. It can innately cast the following spells Hit Points 60 (8d8 + 24)
(spell save DC 14), requiring no material components: Speed 30 ft.
At will: disguise self, mage armour (self only), silent image,
speak with animals
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
l /day: conjure fey
Spellcasting. The initiate witch is a 5th-level spellcaster. Its 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 16 (+3)
spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit
with spell attacks). It regains its expended spell slots when
it finishes a short or long rest. It knows the following warlock Skills Deception +6, Insight +6, Intimidation +6, Investigation
spells: +8, Perception +4, Perform +6, Persuasion +8, Stealth +5
Cantrips (at will): eldritch blast, mage hand, minor illusion Senses passive Perception 14
1st-3rd level (2 3rd-level slots): blink, charm person, faerie fire, Languages Common, Gnome, River Cant, Xaon
hold person, phantasmal force, sleep Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
ACTIONS Cunning Action. As a bonus action on his turn, the inspector
Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +1 to hit, reach 5 ft., can Disengage, Dash or Hide.
one target. Hit: 2 (1d6-1) bludgeoning damage, or 3 (1d8- Jack of All Trades. Inspectors of the watch receive a +1 bo-
1) bludgeoning damage if used with two hands. nus on all skills not listed above.
Sneak Attack. An inspector of the watch can make a sneak
Inquisitor attack as a rogue for 1d6 points of damage on a target
upon which he has advantage.
These individuals are chosen agents of their faith, charged with Spellcasting. These high-ranking officials are 4th level spell-
enforcing their gods’ dictates and rooting out the unfaithful. Even those of casters. Charisma is their spellcasting ability (spell save DC
good alignment are fanatical in their devotion to their faith. 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks). They have the following
spells from the bard spell list:
Spells (slots):
Inquisitor Cantrips (at will)—friends, light, mage hand;
1st (4 slots)—charm person, comprehend languages,
Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment
Armor Class 13 (leather armor) detect magic, disguise self;
Hit Points 33 (6d8 + 6) 2nd (3 slots)— detect thoughts, locate object, zone of
Speed 30 ft. truth;

ACTIONS
STR DEX CON INT WIS    CHA Flail. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one crea-
11 (+0) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 14 (+2) ture). Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage.

Skills Deception +4, Persuasion +4, Religion +2 Knight of Renown

Senses passive Perception 11
Languages any one language (usually Common) Medium humanoid (any), any alignment
Challenge 2 (450 XP) Armor Class 18 (plate)
Hit Points 143 (22d8 + 44)
Holy Devotion. The inquisitor has advantage on saving Speed 30 ft.
throws against being charmed or frightened.
Spellcasting. The inquisitor is a 4th-level spellcaster. Their
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 11, +3 to hit
with spell attacks). Inquisitors usually have the following 20 (+5) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 12 (+1)
cleric spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): light, resistance, sacred flame
1st level (4 slots): command, protection from evil and good, Saving Throws Str +9, Con +6
shield of faith Skills Athletics +9, Intimidation +5, Perception +6
2nd level (3 slots): hold person, spiritual weapon Senses passive Perception 16
Languages Any two languages
ACTIONS Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Multiattack. An inquisitor makes two melee attacks, one with
the longsword and one with the dagger. The inquisitor Indomitable (2/Day). The knight of renown rerolls a failed
makes only one attack if it holds the longsword in both saving throw.
hands. Second Wind (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). As
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach
a bonus action, the knight of renown can regain 20 hit
5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one creature. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2)
points.
piercing damage.
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature. Hit: 4 (1d8 + 2) slashing damage or 7 (1d10 + 2) ACTIONS
slashing damage if held in both hands. Multiattack. The knight of renown makes three attacks with
Heavy Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range its greatsword or crossbow.
100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d10 + 1) piercing damage. Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
The bolts are silvered. one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage, plus 7 (2d6)

179
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
slashing damage if the knight of renown has more than Saving Throws Dex +7, Int +5
half of its total hit points remaining. Skills Insight +4, Investigation +5, Perception +4, Stealth +7
Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range Senses passive Perception 14
80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (ld8 + 2) piercing damage, Languages Common
plus 7 (2d6) piercing damage if the knight of renown has Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
more than half of its total hit points remaining.
Cunning Action. On each of its turns, the master spy can
use a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide
Master Assassin action.
Evasion. When the master spy is subjected to an effect that
Medium humanoid (any), any alignment allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half
Armor Class 18 (studded leather armour) damage, the it instead takes no damage if the save is
Hit Points 117 (18d8 + 36) successful, and only half damage if the roll is a failure.
Speed 30 ft. Martial Advantage. Once per turn, the master spy can deal
an extra 10 (3d6) damage to a creature it hits with a
STR DEX CON   INT WIS CHA weapon attack if that creature is within 5 feet of an ally of
the master spy that isn’t incapacitated.
12 (+1) 20 (+5) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 15 (+2) 11 (+0)
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The master spy can make three attacks with ei-
Saving Throws Dexterity +11, Intelligence +9, Wisdom +8 ther its rapier or its hand crossbow per turn.
Skills Acrobatics +11, Perception +8, Sleight of Hand +11, Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
Stealth +15 creature). Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage.
Senses passive Perception 18 Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range
Languages Thieves’ cant plus any two languages 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage.
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
REACTIONS
Assassinate. During its first turn, the master assassin has ad- Parry. The master spy adds 3 to its AC against one melee
vantage on attack rolls against any creature that hasn’t attack that would hit it. To do so, the master spy must see
taken a turn. Any hit the assassin scores against a surprised the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.
creature is a critical hit.
Elusive. No attack on the master assassin has advantage if
the master assassin is not incapacitated.
Evasion. If the master assassin is subjected to an effect that
Minstrel
allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half Medium humanoid (any), any alignment
damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the Armor Class 15
saving throw, and only half damage if it fails. Hit Points 44 (8d8 + 8)
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). The master assassin deals an extra 31 Speed 30 ft.
(9d6) damage when it hits a target with a weapon attack
and has advantage on the attack roll, or when the target
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
is within 5 feet of an ally of the master assassin that isn’t
incapacitated and the master assassin doesn’t have dis- 11 (+0) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 14 (+2)
advantage on the attack roll.

ACTIONS Saving Throws Dex +4, Wis +3

Multiattack. The master assassin makes three rapier attacks Skills Acrobatics +4, Perception +5, Performance +6
per turn. Senses passive Perception 15
Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Languages any two languages
target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 5) piercing damage, and the target Challenge 2 (450 XP)
must make a DC 17 Constitution saving throw, taking 31
(9d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much Spellcasting. The minstrel is a 4th-level spellcaster. Its spell-
damage on a successful one. casting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with
Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, range spell attacks). It has the following bard spells prepared:
80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) piercing damage, Cantrips (at will): friends, mage hand, vicious mockey
and the target must make a DC 17 Constitution saving 1st level (4 slots): charm person, healing word, heroism,
throw, taking 31 (9d6) poison damage on a failed save, or sleep, thunderwave
half as much damage on a successful one. 2nd level (3 slots): invisibility, shatter
Song of Rest. The minstrel can perform a song while taking a
short rest. Any ally, or the minstrel itself, who hears the song
Master Spy regains an extra 1d6 hit points if it spends any Hit Dice to
regain hit points at the end of that rest.
Medium human, neutral Taunt (2/day). The minstrel can use a bonus action on
Armor Class 16 (studded leather) its turn to target one creature within 30 ft. If the target
Hit Points 84 (13d8+26) can hear the minstrel, the target must succeed DC 12
Speed 30 ft. Charisma saving throw or have disadvantage on ability
checks, attack rolls, and saving throws until the start of the
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA minstrel’s next turn.
11 (+0) 18 (+4) 15 (+2) 15 (+2) 13 (+1) 10 (+0) ACTIONS
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
180
 GM Guide
Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 80/320 scorching ray
ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage. 3rd level (3 slots): clairvoyance ,* fly, fireball
4th level (3 slots): arcane eye,* ice storm, stoneskin
5th level (2 slots): Telepathic bond,* scrying*
Phantasmagist 6th level (1 slot): mass suggestion, true seeing*
7th level (1 slot): delayed blast fireball, teleport
Medium humanoid (any), any alignment 8th level (1 slot): maze
Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor) *Divination spell of 1st level or higher
Hit Points 38 (7d8 + 7) Portent (Recharges after the Seer Casts a Divination Spell of
Speed 30 ft. 1st Level or Higher). When the seer or a creature it can see
makes an attack roll, a saving throw, or an ability check,
the seer can roll a d20 and choose to use this roll in place
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
of the attack roll, saving throw, or ability check.
9 (+1) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 12 (+1)
ACTIONS
Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +1 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Saving Throws Int. +5, History +5 one target. Hit: 2 (1d6-1) bludgeoning damage, or 3 (1d8-
Skills Arcana +5, History +5 1) bludgeoning damage if used with two hands.
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages any four languages
Challenge 3 (700 XP) Sneakthief
Spellcasting. The phantasmagist is a 7th-level spellcaster. Its Medium humanoid (any), any alignment
spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit Armor Class 13
with spell attacks). It has the following wizard spells prepared: Hit Points 8 (1d8)
Cantrips (at will): dancing lights, mage hand, minor illusion, Speed 30 ft.
poison spray
1st level (4 slots): color spray*, disguise self*, mage armour,
magic missile STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
2nd level (3 slots): invisibility*, mirror image*, phantasmal 12 (+1) 15 (+3) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 10 (+0)
force*
3rd level (3 slots): major image*, phantom steed*
4th level (1 slots): phantasmal killer* Saving Throws Dex +5, Int +2
*Illusion spells of 1st level or higher Skills Acrobatics +5, Athletics +3, Deception +2, Perception
Displacement (recharges after the Phantasmagist casts an +6, Sleight of Hand +5, Stealth +7
Illusion Spell of 1st Level or Higher). As a bonus action, the Senses passive Perception 16
phantasmagist projects an illusion that makes it appear
Languages Thieves’ cant plus any one language
to be standing in a place a few inches from its actual
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
location, causing any creature to have disadvantage on
attack rolls. The effect ends if the phantasmagist takes
damage, it is incapacitated or its speed becomes 0. Sneak Attack. Once per turn, the sneakthief can deal an
extra 1d6 damage to one creature it hits with an attack if
ACTIONS it has advantage on the attack roll. The attack must
Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +1 to hit, reach 5 ft., use a finesse or a ranged weapon. The sneakthief
one target. Hit: 2 (1d6-1) bludgeoning damage, or 3 (1d8- doesn’t need advantage on the attack roll if another
1) bludgeoning damage if used with two hands. enemy of the target is within 5 feet of it, that enemy
isn’t Incapacitated, and the sneakthief doesn’t have
disadvantage on the attack roll.
Seer ACTIONS
Medium humanoid (any), any alignment Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one
Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armour) creature). Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Hit Points 67 (15d8) Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 80/320
Speed 30 ft. ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.

STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA

9 (–1) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 18 (+4) 12 (+1) 11 (+0)
Summoner
Medium humanoid (any), any alignment
Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armour)
Saving Throws Int +7, Wis +5 Hit Points 40 (9d8)
Skills Arcana +7, History +7 Speed 30 ft.
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Any four languages
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP) STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
9 (–1) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 11 (+0)
Spellcasting. The seer is a 15th-level spell caster. Its spellcasting
ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell
attacks). The seer has the following wizard spells prepared: Saving Throws Int +6, Wis +4
Cantrips (at will): fire bolt, light, mage hand, message, true
Skills Arcana +6, History +6
strike
Senses passive Perception 11
1st level (4 slots): detect magic,* feather fall, mage armour
2nd level (3 slots): detect thoughts,* locate object,* Languages Any four languages
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
181
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Benign Transportation (Recharges after the Summoner Transmogrifier
Casts a Conjuration Spell of 1st Level or Higher). As a
bonus action, the summoner teleports up to 30 ft. to an Medium humanoid (any), any alignment
unoccupied space that it can see. If it instead chooses a Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armour)
space within range that is occupied by a willing Small or Hit Points 18 (4d8)
Speed 30 ft.
Medium creature, they both teleport, swapping places.
Spellcasting. The summoner is a 9th-level spellcaster. Its
spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 14, +6 STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
to hit with spell attacks). It has the following wizard spells 9 (–1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 16 (+2) 12 (+1) 11 (+0)
prepared:
Cantrips (at will): acid splash*, mage hand*, poison spray*,
prestidigitation Saving Throws Int +4, Wis +3
1st level (4 slots): mage armour, magic missile, unseen Skills Arcana +4, History +4
servant* Senses passive Perception 11
2nd level (3 slots): cloud of daggers*, misty step*, web* Languages Any four languages
3rd level (3 slots): fireball, stinking cloud* Challenge 2 (450 XP)
4th level (1 slots): Evd’s black tentacles*, stoneskin
5th level (2 slots): cloudkill*, conjure elemental* Spellcasting. The transmogrifier is a 4th-level spellcaster. Its
*conjuration spells of 1st level or higher spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 14, +4 to hit
with spell attacks). It has the following wizard spells prepared:
ACTIONS Cantrips (at will): light, mending, prestidigitation, ray of frost
Dagger. Melee or ranged attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. 1st level (4 slots): chromatic orb, expeditious retreat, mage
or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) piercing armour
damage. 2nd level (3 slots): alter self, hold person, knock

ACTIONS
Talimancer Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach
5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (ld4 + 2) piercing
Medium humanoid (any), any alignment damage.
Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armour)
Hit Points 66 (12d8+12)
Speed 30 ft. Vicar
Medium humanoid (any), any alignment
STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA Armor Class 14 (chain shirt)
9 (–1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) Hit Points 55 (10d8 + 10)
Speed 30 ft.

Saving Throws Int +7, Wis +5 STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA
Skills Arcana +7, History +7
12 (+1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 13 (+1) 17 (+3) 13 (+1)
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Any four languages
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP) Skills History +5, Religion +5
Senses passive Perception 13
Sculpt Spells. When the talimancer casts an evocation spell Languages Any four languages
that forces other creatures it can see, it can choose a Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
number of them equal to 1 + the spell’s level. These crea-
tures automatically succeed on their saving throws against Divine Eminence. As a bonus action, the vicar can expend
the spell. If a successful save means a chosen creature a 1st level spell slot to cause its melee weapon attacks to
would take half damage from the spell, it instead takes no magically deal an extra 10 (3d6) radiant damage to a tar-
damage from it. get on a hit. This benefit lasts until the end of the turn. If the
Spellcasting. The talimancer is a 12th-level spellcaster. Its vicar expends a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the extra
spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 15, +7 to damage increases by ld6 for each level above 1st.
hit with spell attacks). It has the following wizard spells pre- Spellcasting. The vicar is a 10th-level spellcaster. Its spellcast-
pared: ing ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell
Cantrips (at will): fire bolt*, light*, prestidigitation, ray of frost* attacks). The vicar has the following cleric spells prepared: 
1st level (4 slots): burning hands*, mage armour, magic mis- Cantrips (at will): guidance, light, resistance, sacred flame,
sile* thaumaturgy
2nd level (3 slots): mirror image, misty step, shatter* 1st level (4 slots): bless, cure wounds, healing word, shield of faith
3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, fireball*, lightning bolt* 2nd level (3 slots): aid, continual flame, lesser restoration
4th level (3 slots): ice storm*, stoneskin 3rd level (3 slots): beacon of hope, magic circle, speak with
5th level (2 slots): wall of force*, cone of cold*; dead
6th level (1 slots): chain lightning*, wall of ice* 4th level (3 slots): death ward, freedom of move-
ment, guardian of faith
*Evocation spell
5th level (2 slots): mass cure wounds, raise dead 
ACTIONS ACTIONS
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (ld4 + 2) piercing one target. Hit: 4 (1d6+1) bludgeoning damage, or 5
damage. (1d8+1) bludgeoning damage if used with two hands.

182
 GM Guide
Warden Witch
Medium humanoid (any), any alignment Medium humanoid (any), any alignment
Armor Class 17 (studded leather armour) Armor Class 11 (14 with mage armour)
Hit Points 100 (12d10 + 24) Hit Points 49 (11d8)
Speed 30 ft. Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT  WIS CHA STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
14 (+2) 20 (+5) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 9 (–1) 13 (+1) 11 (+0) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 18 (+4)

Saving Throws Str +6, Dex +9 Saving Throws Wis +3, Cha +6
Skills Nature +6, Perception +7, Stealth +9, Survival +7 Skills Arcana +2, Deception +6, Nature +2, Persuasion +6
Senses passive Perception 17 Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Any two languages Languages Any two languages
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP) Challenge 4 (1,100)

Favored Enemy. The warden has two groups of favored en- Innate Spellcasting. The witch’s innate spellcasting ability
emies. It gains advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to is Charisma. It can innately cast the following spells (spell
track its favored enemies as well as on Intelligence checks save DC 15), requiring no material components:
to recall information about them. At will: disguise self, mage armour (self only), silent image,
Keen Hearing and Sight. The warden has advantage on speak with animals
Wisdom (Perception) checks related to hearing or sight. l /day: conjure fey
Spellcasting. The witch is a 11th-level spellcaster. Its spell-
ACTIONS casting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with
Multiattack. The warden can make two attacks each round spell attacks). It regains its expended spell slots when it
with either longbow or longsword. finishes a short or long rest. It knows the following warlock
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one spells:
creature). Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) slashing damage or 7 (1d10 + 2) Cantrips (at will): dancing lights, eldritch blast, friends, mage
slashing damage if used with two hands. hand, minor illusion, prestidigitation, vicious mockery
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, range 1st-5th level (3 5th-level slots): blink, charm person, dimension
150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) piercing damage. door, dominate beast, faerie fire, fear, hold

ACTIONS
Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +1 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one target. Hit: 2 (1d6-1) bludgeoning damage, or 3 (1d8-
1) bludgeoning damage if used with two hands.

183
The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City

Appendices

184
 GM Guide
24. An empty hearse passes by, her undertakers smiling and joking at the

Appendix A: empty wagon bed.

25. A horse has collapsed and is dying on the street; a crowd of people has
gathered and they stare curiously.

Useful Lists 26. A butcher guts a pig, splashing blood on some passers-by who take
no notice.
27. A man sells kittens out of an old great helm.
Lists can be useful in a number of ways. They can add dressing to a 28. A gnome in a jester’s outfit cries hysterically.
scene, give a taste of the mood of a place, or they can be used as inspiration 29. The dwarf sits grumbling and swearing loudly to himself.
for adventures. 30. A huge crowd gathers around a bull-baiting.
31. A cat dashes by in the alleyway, chased by something with too many

• •
Below you will find lists that detail: legs to see clearly.
100 Sights on the Street 32. An old man in a pillory snores away obliviously while a blindingcrow
pecks at his ear.

• •
100 Echoes of Between 33. A lion in a cage paces warily, watching everyone. There is no sign of
100 Freakshows its keeper.
34. A dancing bear performs to a crowd of children screaming in glee.

• •
100 Strange Shops and Markets 35. A vicar atop an apple crate screams that you are sinners.
100 Street Traders 36. A squealing pig dashes down a side street, an article of underclothing
caught on its ear.
20 Locals
37. A gnome covered in white grease paint and wearing all-white clothes
screams that the angels are coming to punish the city.
These will allow you to use easily add a sense of depth to your campaign 38. Somewhere high above, a scrimshaw gargoyle call echoes.
with minimal effort on your part. In and of themselves they provide only 39. A child walks past clutching a repulsive reptilian doll without eyes.
a barebones description or idea, but you can flesh them out as you see fit 40. A pile of coffins lies by an open door. A night-slug picks at the broken
into a full-fledged encounter, event, or character. They can even be used to end of one.
provide hooks to other adventures. 41. The smell of burning fat comes from a nearby alley.
42. The footpath ahead has a deep hole filled with collected sewage.
43. A Crackling and Salt puppet show begins on a nearby corner.
100 Sights on the Street 44. A dog runs by growling, an unidentifiable bone of great size held in
its mouth.
With streets that never sleep, an astonishing array of people pass by in
45. A man dressed as a vampire urges you eagerly to visit the Theatres
any given day. Most are mundane encounters — people on their way to
Grotesque tonight.
work, goodwives on their way to market, or traders plying their wares.
46. A crimson skull-faced clown eats fire for crowd of onlookers.
This list is designed to give you an idea of the types of encounters that
47. A trader with a cart sells leather animal masks.
may be had in the twisted streets of the Blight, as well as to add colour into
48. A woman chalks magnificent pictures of angels on the pavement.
your adventures as encounters, informants or even enemies.
49. Piles of rubbish lie at the side of the road where rats wander about in
broad daylight.
1. A man wearing a top hat is having a furious argument with himself.
50. “Everyone who lives in this city is a wererat!” screams a hysterical
2. A passing dog’s back is dancing with lice.
washerwoman.
3. The man in the sedan chair has a wig on that is so big that it flows out
51. Temple bells across the city begin to call people to prayer.
of the windows.
52. A completely naked sadhu strides past you purposefully.
4. A line of mourners passes by, laughing hysterically.
53. A fight starts nearby between three men; one transforms into a
5. “The End is Near!” exclaims the corner prophet.
doppelganger and runs.
6. The crawling nuns are sobbing as they toss flowers to the ground around them.
54. Two carts block the road, each owner refusing to back up.
7. The two men hustle past carrying a harpsichord between them.
55. The house nearby has four fresh heads mounted on iron spikes above
8. A trio of monkeys runs past, one after the other, each wearing a fez.
its gables.
9. The priests are wearing black gowns that cover their whole bodies as
56. A harried-looking dwarf rushes past pushing a handcart filled with
they march past chanting solemnly.
breastplates still smoking from the forge.
10. Three harlots pass by singing loudly and off key.
57. The smell of burnt hair and peppermint wafts in your nostrils.
11. The sweating, red-faced dwarf is stripped down to his kilt, and blows
58. Drying laundry hangs from the windows above, blocking out the
furiously into his bagpipes that make no sound whatsoever.
sunlight in this alley.
12. The sadhu sits cross-legged on a straw mat and smiles as he prays; his
59. A trio of thick-shouldered workmen leaning on their shovels sits
hair must be 12 feet long and coils in huge lengths about him.
around a smouldering brazier.
13. He wears a pirate’s coat and a stirge perches on his shoulder.
60. A burnt-out shell of a building stands nearby. Somebody has scribbled
14. He struggles by carrying a bundle of a dozen pikes in his arms.
“that’s wot u git” on it with a piece of charcoal.
15. She wears a mask designed to look like a swan and makes a strange
61. A sobbing man stares into the sky.
cooing sound as she walks.
62. An old sewer tunnel has collapsed here, narrowing the street to less
16. Three dark clowns tumble by, each dressed as a raven. Behind them
than a yard.
stalks a tengu in greasepaint.
63. A church clock clangs its cracked bell pathetically nearby.
17. A man on stilts walks past juggling cheerfully yapping puppies.
64. The caustic odour of alchemy and decomposition nips at the back of
18. An old lady is knitting as she rides by in a coarse cab.
your throat.
19. Four small children sit on a camel’s back as a turbaned merchant leads
65. A dirty-feathered albatross sits on a windowsill swallowing a most
them through the streets.
peculiar-looking fish. Was that a hand?
20. He has six sheep on leather leads; a mangy sheepdog slinks behind in
66. Shouting traders and their carts pack the streets today.
disgrace.
67. A girl walks past selling sweet-smelling roses. Both of her eyes are
21. The colourfully dressed woman has a glove-puppet crocodile on one
nothing more than old burn scars.
hand, and a glove-puppet black pudding on the other.
68. A man’s wooden false teeth have fallen into an open sewer nearby.
22. The man in black screams out words of a tortured poem about death
69. A long line of sombre pilgrims clad in burlap robes walks by singing hymns.
and pacifism.
70. Six drunken sailors stumble along singing obscene sea-chanties.
23. A small troupe of actors is performing a morality play about saintly goats.

185
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
71. A hideous corner-doxy propositions you with a wink and a leer.
72. A group of children walks by marching in step. They are following a 100 Echoes of Between
rotund little boy beating a drum.
73. The stench of rotting vegetation is getting worse by the minute. With the city on so dangerous a frontier, the horrific Between
74. Three hanged men twist slowly in the breeze from an impromptu occasionally bleeds into the more mundane city. Effects listed below are
gallows. trivial and may last little more than the blinking of an eye, or could be a
75. A gibbet containing a rotting corpse swings beneath a tall pole bearing precursor to a longer and more dangerous encounter. Not everything is
the seal of the Crown Justices. as it seems, however, and some of these encounters are more flesh and
76. A sad-looking night soil collector pushes his cart along the street. He blood than the stuff of Between. Do not use such effects too often. If you
has forgotten his shovel. do they become expected and might become mundane. Use them instead
77. A street crier walks by ringing his bell and announcing the daily news. to spice up the occasional boring rest day, to remind characters dashing
78. A man is baiting a chained owlbear with a trio of pit-mastiffs. A crowd through the city that all is not quite right, or to be a genuine precursor to
places wagers on the outcome. an adventure in Between.
79. Old men smoke long pipes and complain about the street noise as they
yell at each other to be heard. 1. A shadow falls the wrong way in an alley.
80. A woman wearing the black veil of a mourning widow announces 2. A puddle at your feet reflects a grinning face with tusks.
she’s going to the river. 3. A starling on a gable stares at you disturbingly before flying away.
81. A group of pallbearers is taking a rest while sitting on the coffin. 4. You’re sure the cat that leapt over the fence said something.
82. Nuns dressed in the grey habits of some obscure order walk past 5. Somewhere in the city, a clock strikes fifteen.
blessing passers-by. 6. Your shadow is momentarily monstrous but then returns to normal
83. A group of sweating dwarf sprawlmasons walk by lugging buckets of stones. 7. Your hands begin to shake uncontrollable and feel intensely cold; then
84. From scaffolding high above, someone shouts abuse at you about you suddenly return to normal.
something you can’t quite make out. 8. A horrific face forms in the clouds high above and then drifts away.
85. Slops hit the street not far from you from an overhead window. 9. You keep seeing something out of the corner of your eye, some sort of
86. A rooftop chase clatters by far above you. Someone is shouting, “Halt!” insect scuttling about the gables, but every time you look, it’s gone.
87. A pox-ridden beggar throws himself at your feet and pleads for alms. 10. The smell of burning sugar is strong here.
88. The wind is coming from the river today, unfortunately. 11. You’re sure someone called out your name, but there’s no one around.
89. Two Shortstone gnomes walk past grinning broadly. They carry a 12. You’re apparently the only one that hears the terrible scream.
stuffed crocodile between them. 13. Your reflection in the shop window is of something terrible; then when
90. A camel train slowly plods past on its way to market; a mysterious you glance again, it’s back to normal.
robed man in turban and veil guides them. 14. You keep hearing the same word in your ear all day: “Soon.”
91. A sign has broken loose from its mounting above and fallen on a 15. The same man in a top hat keeps waving to you from the distant
passer-by, killing him. The crowd is stepping around his still-twitching rooftops
corpse as they continue on their way. 16. An enormous cobweb entirely covers a doorway
92. A man leads an elephant with a large hooked goad. He nods his head 17. What is that strange flute music from the sewer grate?
sagely at everyone he passes. 18. You pass the third window in a row and see the same sobbing woman
93. An armoured knight rides a huge Shire horse through the streets. inside.
94. The odour of rotting fish sitting too long in the sun suddenly envelops you. 19. The buzzing continues in your head — sometimes louder, sometimes
95. Two drunken brothers argue over a woman who smiles at another softer, but always menacing.
man nearby. 20. The ground beneath your feet suddenly jolts, but no one else seems
96. A wedding party walk past smiling and laughing. The groom is to notice.
hollow-eyed with fright. 21. The man that just walked past you just had no face.
97. A renderer walks down the street beneath a cloud of flies. His apron 22. Suddenly, the street performer’s song goes eerily off key and picks up
and work leathers are slick with blood and smeared fat. an unearthly cadence, but only you seem to notice.
98. An old woman kneels and loudly prays in the middle of the street. The 23. You feel something trickle down the back of your throat and then
crowds and carts maneuver around her without a glance. crawl downward and disappear.
99. A street vendor rushes by with a handcart full of delicious-smelling pies. 24. For no reason, in broad daylight in the middle of the street, the hairs on
100. The street ahead is being prepared for a witch burning. the back of your neck raise as if you’d just seen a ghost.
25. An overwhelming feeling of déjà vu washes over you, followed
immediately by a dreadful anticipation.
26. Your nose suddenly starts dripping blood.
27. The crying baby behind the curtained window stops abruptly …
almost unnaturally.
28. Just behind the susurrus of everyday street noises, you can hear soft
whispers.
29. Why does all of the laughter in the street seemed aimed at you?
30. You just saw flies come out of that man’s mouth.
31. The distant noise sounds like nails being scraped over a blackboard.
32. Momentarily, none of the street signs have any meaning.
33. When you glanced in the mirror, something tall and dark stood behind
you, but when you turned around, it wasn’t there.
34. It’s as though everyone keeps staring at you and looking quickly away.
35. There it is again, the feeling that this is all a dream.
36. The steps up the side of the house vanish back on themselves somehow
37. The same hooded raven keeps following you.
38. You see a speeding carriage hit a baby’s crib in the street, and then
both are gone
39. The fruit on the stall is momentarily rotten and alive with flies and
maggots.
40. The line of mourners are all smiling as they follow the casket.
41. In amongst the cart full of pigs being taken to slaughter you can hear
186
 GM Guide
a baby crying. 92. The puppet show features grotesque characters with inhuman faces
42. You get the feeling something bad is about to happen. and animal claws. They seem somehow familiar to you.
43. A babe in swaddling clothes falls from a high window, but as it drops, 93. The children eat rotten fruit and look at you gleefully.
it becomes falling leaves that drift away on the breeze. 94. The man has fallen from the roof directly onto the spiked railings of
44. In a window, moths are being burnt alive by the lantern flame. the balcony below. His body twitches a few times as people pass by below.
45. From the corner of your eye, you see a long-dead dog chasing a cat. 95. The graffiti claims that a “Thing” stalks the night in this ward.
46. The front of the building swells pregnantly. 96. The graffiti says the Queen is a ghoul.
47. The smoke from a stove drifts down in a gust and momentarily you 97. The graffiti says that everyone in the city is a wererat.
think you hear something screaming on the fire. 98. The old statue in the square is gone, and a ring of bloody palm prints
48. The colour of the ivy on the wall is wrong somehow. is all that remains in its place.
49. A gravestone lies in the cobbled street claiming this is the spot where 99. From the clock face above, a gable hate-owl emerges, beats a drum,
Ferris Harm the Awakened Cow died. and stares at you as if waiting for something … or someone.
50. Something big runs up behind you, but when you turn, nothing is 100. The rooftops here are lined with pumpkin-faced scarecrows, but all
there. have their heads put on upside down.
51. The shutters on one window nearby bang in the still air.
52. Through the closed shop window, you swear you see something with
huge, gossamer wings vanish up the chimney. 100 Freakshow Exhibits
53. The smell of brimstone pervades this part of town.
54. The beggar looks just like your father. It seems that every street corner in the Blight has its resident freakshow.
55. A thick smog suddenly settles over the street. Sometimes these shows are run by cruel owners who treat their exhibits
56. A window in a nearby shop suddenly shatters from no apparent source. abominably; some are run by the exhibits themselves. Often, groups of
57. The mouse clearly screams “help” as the cat devours it. special people get together to form travelling troupes, special shows,
58. The lobster thrashes in the pot for much too long as it’s boiled alive. or they may settle in a particular location and work from there. The
59. The snakes are skinned alive before they are roasted by the street Strangers’ Fayre runs the 1st week of every spring. This special show is
vendor. a gathering of all the unusual people of the city and takes place in Festival.
60. The woman in the pillory is long dead, but no one seems to care. Some exhibits at these shows are so famous that people come to their
61. On the gables above, you see a heron being eaten by a great spider. homes and meet them; such special persons can make good livings at
62. The man is so fat it takes twelve men to bear him along in his sedan their trade and become the darlings of the aristocracy. Unscrupulous types
chair. stop at nothing to attain the services of the physically unusual and whole
63. The scars on the mangy cat’s back resemble a necromantic rune. adventuring companies devote themselves to pursuing and capturing
64. Fungus grows abundantly down the alleyway. interesting specimens for the shows.
65. The smell of perfume is overpowering. Provided below is a list of 100 of these special persons. Bear in mind
66. Something monstrous howls from below the streets. that each person or creature below has a story. Some of them are fakes,
67. Someone kisses you, but there is no one in sight. some are not. It is up to you to decide who is or who isn’t, but generally
68. A man runs down the street claiming everyone is a demon in human a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check is required to unmask them, and
skin. such exhibits will try not to allow themselves to come under such close
69. The blood runs from the abattoir into the gutter, the sound of laughter scrutiny.
and distraught animals causing you to retch.
70. Water drips skyward from a puddle but stops the second you stare at it. 1. Meet the Revolting Starling-Boy and Listen to him Lament his Dead
71. A deep, fuming hole has opened up in the street. People stare down Mother
into its depths nervously. 2. Join the Incredible Salmon-Nun in Prayer
72. A whole block of buildings has collapsed. 3. Zond, Crown Prince of the Hirsute, Awaits
73. The sound of following birds continues but every time you glance over 4. Rose and Elizabeth — the Twins of One Body
your shoulder, there is nothing. 5. Crarv the Ape King of Libynos
74. In a basket, a chick hatches that looks like a grotesque human child 6. Meet the Astonishing Snake-Child
before the hen settles back down on its brood. 7. Ephinar — the Elf with Two Heads
75. A dust devil tears down a wynd. 8. Misfortune’s Mistress
76. The passing woman stares at you, and she momentarily has eight eyes. 9. Fear the Festering Basilisk Dwarf
77. In the distance, a priest sets fire to himself. 10. Meet Tom, the World’s Smallest Sailor, who Sailed a Hat around the
78. She scratches at herself madly, claiming the Between spiders are World
eating her alive. 11. Corpulent Caress, the Princess of Girth, who Weighs a Tonne
79. The silhouette in the window resembles a clawed man wielding a meat 12. The Queen of Three Faces
cleaver. 13. Turbot Thorran the Living Merman
80. The eyes of the portraits in the window display stare at you knowingly. 14. The Amazing and Revolting Lord Otyugh, Crown Prince of Flotsam
81. There wasn’t an alley there yesterday. 15. The Incredible Headless Gnome Thadius Shortstone
82. That door wasn’t there yesterday. 16. The Terrible Two-Headed Amphisbaena Boy
83. That shop wasn’t there yesterday. 17. Faceless Quade
84. That distant church spire wasn’t there yesterday. 18. Edran Mand, the Bat Gnome of the Malagro Jungle
85. Whatever is in the sealec crate, it’s angry and not human. 19. Missela the Weeping Mermaid
86. Beneath those heavy robes, it’s a walking skeleton. 20. Hagun and Grorft, the Half-Orc Conjoined Twins: One is Orc; One
87. The tribal masks in the souk stall momentarily chant at you in an is Man
unknown language. 21. The Howling Worg-Boy
88. You can smell the fear of the dying animals as the butcher sells his 22. Tobus the Obscene Colossus
meat. 23. Murg the Dwarf with a Giant’s Head
89. Someone died in that wynd. You don’t know how you know, but you 24. The Dreadful Kraken Baby
know. 25. The Boil Boy
90. The door is covered in gouges from being repeatedly stabbed with a 26. See the Remarkable Half Dwarf-Half Tree
sharp instrument. 27. The Ettin Wife
91. The shutters on every house on this street are thick and set with iron 28. Behold! The Three-Headed Wolf
spikes facing outward. 29. The Goblin Scholar
30. Mercy, the Princess of the Seelie Court
187
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
31. Joshua Cole the World’s Tallest Man
32. The Slug Wife 100 Strange Shops and Markets
33. Uriah Mabe, the Man with Two Mouths
34. Maxwell, the Incredible Flat Man They say that everything has a price in the Blight, and conversely,
35. Torris the Rhino-Child everything seems to have a seller: from the child selling bootlaces
36. Garrett the Cloaker Man to the renowned antiquarians of BookTown. Here is a list of 100 such
37. The Impossible Head entrepreneurs to add into your adventures to provide a little background or
38. The Lord of Seven Hands to include as a location for further adventure. Some may be collections of
39. The Astonishing Pig-Gnome shops where competition will literally be fierce; some are little more than
40. Karg the Singing Bear junk shops peddling rubbish.
41. The Quill Man
42. The Blood-Drinking Savage of the Razor Coast 1. Kennington Smythe’s Snuffery
43. The Albino Ostrich 2. Tarquin Splain’s Hatpin Emporium
44. The Lonely Centaur 3. Aled’s Taxidermy — The Bigger the Better!
45. Jacob Quane’s Singing Stirges 4. All Things Russet
46. The Green Man 5. Cloaks of Monstrous Furs
47. Marius, the Man who has One Giant Leg 6. P. Quibble Luxury Coach Fitters
48. Genevieve the Mongrel Mistress 7. The Boneyard
49. The Poetic Lizard Man 8. Jessabel’s Hooks
50. The Appalling Zar 9. The Butterfly Collector
51. The Performing Kobold Twins Mang and Mant 10. Drums of Strange Flesh
52. Chimera Girl 11. Lugg’s — The Gentleman’s Tailors
53. The Hydra Boy 12. Mancom’s Minute Flea Market
54. The Angel of the Slums 13. Rooftop Bridges
55. The Black Harpy 14. The World’s Rarest Seeds
56. Lady Two-Skins 15. Jacob’s Chain Ferries
57. The Choir of Deformed Puppies 16. Door Guardians
58. Grache: Half Orc-Half Goblin 17. Paintings of Between by Thrade
59. The Troll’s Daughter 18. The Luxury Helm Padding Mart
60. Jephtha the Incredible Boneless Man 19. L. Pudd, Travelling Set Makers by Royal Appointment
61. Sad Eudora 20. Tremer’s Grotesquery and Strange Statues
62. The Spider Queen 21. The Ink and Paint Quarter
63. Jebbington the Rat Boy 22. Marcus Foll Canvas Stretcher
64. Laura the Frog’s Daughter 23. The Scrimshaw Quarter
65. Bessie Vast-Flesh 24. The Unwanted Auctionroom
66. The Rotting Man 25. Great Candles
67. Dare you visit the Cockatrice Spinster? 26. The Gentleman’s Syringe Shop
68. Karl the Man-ticore 27. Exotic Perfumes and Unguents
69. Long Widow Charlotte, the Tallest Woman in the Blight 28. The Coriander Shop
70. Horace Habe the Mouse Man 29. T. Webb Land Agent and Property Purchaser
71. The Crocodile Man 30. Only Black Cats
72. Three-Legged Enoch 31. Rhino Horn, Tiger Eye and Salmon Bladder
73. Murmond the Halfling Goat-Boy 32. The Rookery Copper Coin Mart
74. Madrigal the Dismaying 33. H. G. Rutred Mandolin Makers by Royal Appointment
75. Burg the Bald Bugbear 34. J. Reds Tobacconists
76. The Terror of the North 35. Pavilions and Tents
77. Gooseflesh Gideon 36. The Halfling Pie Shop
78. The Mock Man 37. Hobb Quiffwell — Luxury Feather Bed Makers by Royal Appointment
79. Marlwell the Moth Man 38. Harper, Torb, and Stiff: Plaguemask Makers to the Aristocracy
80. Bloody Bones 39. Unusual Skins
81. The Broken Satyr 40. The Scorpion Market
82. The Doppelganger 41. Oils of Pleasure
83. The Screaming Ogre 42. Potion Bottles of All Sizes — Leaded Glass Guaranteed Unbreakable
84. Mother Pig-Wife 43. The Rare Dog Market
85. Sister Morlock 44. Hair Oils and Wigs
86. The Gargoyle Baby 45. The Codpiece Mart
87. Octavia the Leech Girl 46. Buckles and Dog’s Paws
88. Minitar the Mite-Child 47. Trendtam’s Ship Hire Company
89. The Three-Faced Hag 48. The Cabb’e Courtyards
90. The Ugly Mermaid 49. The People Breakers — Torture Implement Makers by Royal Appointment
91. Dare you meet the Howling Dog-Boy? 50. The Junk Yard
92. Lydia the Octopus Mother 51. The Clockery
93. The Eight-Legged Spider Piglet 52. The Crockery
94. The River’s Daughter 53. J. Poultryman Organ Maker by Royal Appointment
95. The Coiling Worm Whore 54. Marl Feather — Luxury Narrowboat Fitters
96. Pagg the Kobold Man 55. The Chitin Museum and Workshop
97. The Double-Cockerel 56. Ambergris
98. Scaly Jabe 57. Spectacles, Monocles and Tinted Eyeware
99. The Five Sisters of Misery 58. Rufftall’s Familiaral Suppliers
100. Slithering Habb the Lamprey Man 59. The Absinthe Quarter
60. The Rarest Bibliophiles
188
 GM Guide
61. The Clothing Flea Market Quarter 12. A man selling lucky horseshoes
62. Golden Eggs 13. A kettle seller
63. The Harpsichord Warehouse 14. A man selling large wooden badgers
64. Strange Leather 15. A woman selling lucky rabbit’s feet
65. The Renders 16. Dried apples
66. Elizabeth Pegg — Tapestry Weaver 17. A charcoal seller
67. Silk Underthings 18. Pork pies
68. The Secret Scroll Case Workshop 19. A basket weaver
69. Bubble Pipes and Hookahs 20. Apple fritters
70. Astronomical Spyglasses 21. A beautiful woman selling perfumed oils
71. J. Harris Towd’s Leechery and Physikers 22. Eel pies
72. Y. Collic’s Barbers and Surgeons 23. A foreign sock seller
73. The Thrall Obedience Shop 24. Plum pudding
74. Carved Doors and Portals 25. A rope splicer
75. The Lych Gate Maker 26. Spiced ale
76. Screens and Lacquer Panels 27. A very fat man sells pickled lemons
77. Gargoyle Chandeliers 28. A betel nut seller has his wares on a carpet at his feet
78. Strange Woodwinds 29. Fresh turnips
79. The Handcart Market 30. A goodwife selling feather pillows and quilts
80. Hutt’s Armour Enamelers 31. A bucket maker
81. The Alchymic Supply District 32. A fortune teller and her tarot cards
82. Materials and Other Magik Components 33. A fishwife sells fish from a basket
83. The Down-at-Heel Sword Mart 34. A dwarf sells ropes of onions
84. Kaptwell Wine Importers 35. Jellied eels
85. The Leaded Window Workshop 36. A young woman sells hot codlings (baked apples)
86. Sebb’s Writing Boxes by Royal Appointment 37. Mulled small beer
87. Jobb’s Alchymic Snuff 38. A fishmonger
88. Gerin’s Talking Mynah Birds 39. An old woman sells elderberry hair dye
89. Rooftop Scarecrows 40. Two children sell cotton bootlaces
90. Urched’s Masterwork Crossbow Craftsmen 41. A woman with a cow sells fresh milk
91. J. Chard — Peacock and Rare Poultry Importers 42. A young chimney sweep looking for work
92. G. Rubb — Goblin Pet Trainers 43. A dwarf sells coal from a barrow
93. N. Pearsly Undertakers and Stone Monument Makers 44. A tikka seller, his colourful wares spread out in jars before him
94. Antiquities 45. Charcoal cooked corn
95. Strong Nome Grog 46. Candied Fruit
96. The Toby Jug Quarter 47. A man cooks noodles in a giant wok
97. The Old Shop Auctionhouse 48. A trio of goodwives take in laundry
98. Quadd and Ruptuk — Masterwork Topiarists 49. Fried chaap (potato) with onions and beet slices
99. Gnome Thrones and Luxury Chairs 50. An old woman sells garlic
100. The Lightning Rod Highrooms 51. A line of seamstresses repair clothing
52. Baskets of wool are sold by goodwives
53. Wurst sausage and sauerkraut
100 Street Traders 54. Garlic snails
55. A gnomish chandler (wax, soap and candle goods)
As well as those lucky enough to have shops, windows to sell goods at or 56. Spiced scrumpy
alleyways to work from, there are a countless host of traders who work out 57. A young girl selling mint, parsley and other herbs
of carts, carry their wares in wheelbarrows, or lay them out on cloth mats 58. A failed apothecary
on the streets. These people are variously referred to as costermongers, 59. A snuff seller
hawkers, or, more rudely, screechers because their ceaseless cries to tout 60. A barber
their goods. Several streets echo to the sound of running battles between 61. Cockles and mussels
traders — who is loudest, who has the sweetest singing voice, who is the 62. A salt seller
funniest — and often-successful traders can gather huge crowds. 63. Incense trader
Often, traders are more concerned with their Perform checks than their 64. Goosefat seller
professional skills. 65. Horse meat for sale
By far the most successful of street traders are those who sell food; 66. Clay pipes
people in the city are always hungry, and having food close at hand makes 67. Tool repairs
that hunger more during the day. All the objects on this list are intended to 68. Hare soup
be available to the general populace. They should almost all cost a copper 69. Quill seller
piece or thereabouts. Foods generally are cooked in big pots on site. 70. Hot cross buns
71. Corkscrew maker
1. Boiled beef and cabbage 72. Neatsfoot oil
2. A crow seller 73. A knife sharpener
3. Pickled cabbages and meat pie 74. A man selling puppies
4. Fish and fry 75. A cobbler repairs shoes
5. An armour polisher 76. Cold mutton
6. Toffee apples 77. Spice cakes
7. Hot chestnuts 78. Lark pie
8. A faith healer 79. Wreaths and garlands
9. Rice balls 80. A thimble seller
10. A young lad selling saddle soap 81. A man sells calvados
11. A hawker selling goat meat
189
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
of a sphinx — for a rich client of necromantic abilities and questionable
motives. Given 1d6 days, Jack can usually arrange for the delivery (often
from a theft) of items up to a value of 1,250 gp. For this service, he charges
a 20% commission.
You could use Jack as a way to get characters rare and unusual
components, as a link to adventures, or as a fence for more dubious items
they wish to sell.

2. Habb: The Street Crier

The dwarf Habb (LN male street dwarf minstrel†) carries an enormous
megaphone with him at all times. He is dressed in the livery of a city
official, and his hair and beard are neatly trimmed and oiled. Sadly, his
voice is irritatingly high, but the city officials think it is — on the face
of things — distinctive enough to draw the requisite attention from the
crowds (and secretly they find its grating effects on all who hear as highly
amusing). Habb has a morose disposition and seems genuinely gladdened
by bad news. He is a good source of local gossip, and all Charisma checks
to gather information from him are made with advantage, though he
requires a small consideration of 5 gp for this information.
Habb makes a great way to introduce characters to an adventure, or
he could be a secondary source of useful information if a trail in another
adventure goes cold.

3. Lucy: The Lavender Lady

Growing old but still beautiful, Lucy (NE female human wererat)
carries her baskets of lavender into the inns and shops and businesses
of the city. She takes great pride in her appearance and always wears
82. Hot crabs expensive perfume made from her wares. She’s also one of a great many
83. A man selling his pig wererats in the city who were cast out by their families. She has the air
84. Tallow candles of a down-at-the-heels noble, which is essentially what she is. Her line
85. A silk seller of illicit work is as a confidence (wo)man. She reels in victims and then
86. Shinbone dice ruins them, or ruins them and then kills them, or just kills them and eats
87. Fresh vegetables them. Lucy keeps her wererat ancestry secret and works covertly for the
88. Rollmop herrings Anarchists within the city.
89. Salted fish A great wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing, Lucy could be a deadly enemy, a
90. The muffin man sinister friend, or a surprising accomplice.
91. Tripe and onions
92. A tea merchant fallen on hard times
93. A trio of very old women sell pickled oysters 4. Tupper: The Honest Cabbie
94. Dodo stew Tupper (N male gnome commoner) is a scruffy cabbie who drives a
95. Pork sausages and onions small open-topped carriage about town, dragged by a horse one step from
96. Lavender seller the knackers-yard. He wears a top hat and fine, but well-worn clothes. He
97. A canary seller never shuts up from morning to night and beyond, and has an opinion about
98. A woodcutter selling logs everything and everyone in the city. Tupper is truly a coward and is being
99. A bootblack used by various groups as a spy. He’s easily bullied and soon complies with
100. Lard seller any reasonable suggestion, providing it doesn’t cause him pain.
Tupper could be a useful (though unreliable) informant or spy for the
characters, or perhaps someone who is spying on them (who could likely
20 Blight Locals be turned with suitable incentive).
These NPCs have a little more flesh on their bones so to speak. They are
given better descriptions, some character traits, and motivations to enable 5. Unnamed: The Invisible Tramp
you to use them in your adventures on short notice. When using NPCs, Something wheezes beneath a tramp’s clothes as it leans upon a heavy
try to give them a little backstory and motivation to explain the reasons staff. It has a mangy terrier at its side and a begging bowl in its hand.
for their actions. A small effort can create memorable friends and villains This is Unnamed (N female mongrelman†), a beggar of the Invisibles
from the most unlikely sources. The author recalls in particular Petal the caste. If unmasked, she is revealed to have a scaled, lizard-like head with
pit-bull, pet of one character, who had a pathological hatred of one of the a tuft of fur on the right side and tusks on the right side of her mouth. She
other characters. This caused all kinds of issues as the characters were says nothing, for fear her garbled voice would give her away, and she has
pirates on the same ship. no wish to be back in the freakshows from which she so recently escaped.
She has no name, but she knows the shows and pleasure piers of the city
1. Jack Slack: The Street Spiv from bitter personal experience. Her dog is well trained and exceedingly
loyal to her.
Jack Slack (CN male human burglar†) wears a black longcoat and has The unnamed tramp mongrelman is a good friend to be eyes and ears
high leather boots of good quality. He has tinted spectacles and an overly among the lower castes or perhaps as an insight into the worst side of the
long nose. His walk is hurried and furtive, and he speaks in the same way city as she is set upon by a band of young roughs for no reason other than
with a slight nasal quality to his voice from a frequently broken nose. her race.
Jack prides himself that he can get hold of anything given enough time.
He once arranged for the purchase of a singular set of ashes — those

190
 GM Guide
where, having thwarted one of Rodwell’s smuggling operations in their
6. Hassibelius Joppi Shortstone IV: first adventure, the characters spend the rest of the campaign being
The Would-Be Merchant occasionally harassed by the obsessive doppelganger.

Joppi Shortstone (CG male gnome commoner) is ugly, but you cannot
truly hold that against him. He wears ridiculously flamboyant attire, which 10. Tammin the Shopkeep
is probably easier to hold against him, especially the hat, which is nearly Tammin (NE female gnome commoner) is very petite and quiet. She
4 feet tall and has all the colours of the rainbow in an eye-searing pattern. dresses plainly and tries not to attract attention. Her shop sells all manner
Trade and commerce, commerce and trade, one day Joppi knows he’ll of interesting bric-a-brac, and occasionally something rare or of great
be rich — one day. He has a different trade each week; this week it’s value appears inexplicable among her wares. Tammin doesn’t seem to
tortoises — the buying, selling and cooking thereof. Next week it could be know the value of her goods, and her slight frame and easy nature make
scarves or mittens, or maritime insurance, and so on. One of life’s eternal her a prime target for villains.
optimists, Joppi is annoyingly cheerful but has great contacts in trade. He Tammin has something in her cellar, something that needs feeding
also has an unrivalled knowledge of the local markets, and one day he’ll regularly. She acts the innocent feeble woman, but in truth, she is nothing
cotton to the fact that guiding is much more profitable than selling. Until of the sort. She uses her innocent nature to lure lone visitors into her cellar
then, he’ll undoubtedly be a fixture in the various markets and souks of to “see something new that’s just come in.” Down in the cellar is her lover,
the city. a drider named Sakkarriss. He makes sure to clean up any scraps left over
With such a fantastic knowledge of the city, Joppi would be useful as a from the victim.
guide, leading the characters to places they never knew existed below or You could use Tammin as an adventure seed. Perhaps the characters
above them. learn that several people have gone missing near her shop and the finger
of guilt points at her. Maybe Sakkarriss grows hungrier - his corpulent
7. Maid Muggwood: The Insane Elf frame needs endlessly feeding, and his hunger could become unbearable
from the infrequent scraps he’s fed. Tammin cannot bring enough food
The Maid Muggwood (CN female high elf berserker armed with a to him, and he starts to stalk the city at night to look for prey — likely
longsword and shortsword instead of greataxe, uses the two-weapon inadvertently leaving a trail of clues back to his abode beneath the shop.
fighting style, and has indefinite madness) is a sad case. This elven lady
has gone to seed. She looks as though she’s slept rough forever, and her
hefty blanket is wrapped about her shoulders, covering her painfully thin 11. Vros Harbstorl: The Gablemaester
clothing and body. Maid Muggwood has seen something that unhinged Vros Harbstorl (NG male human master thief†) has a scythe on his back
her - she talks in strange rhymes, and sobs uncontrollably at the sight of and dresses in a heavy waxed coat. Under this coat are an array of magic
a bird eating a worm or a character staring at her. She has lucid moments, knives and daggers. Vros is grim, a man of few words — unfriendly, some
and occasional bouts of incredible violence. She is often taken for an easy would say — but he has a heart of gold, just no words to match. Few
victim, something many an attacker soon regrets. professions are more dangerous than gablemaester, the people that take to
What has she seen that has unhinged her so? Maid Muggwood could be the gables above the city to keep them free from gable spiders and worse.
one of many elves who lose their way in the city that have been exposed to Vros could lead the characters into many adventures, as a guide across
something terrible or is stalked by something impossible. Has she been affected rooftop paths and ropeways, a henchman to help root out evil, or as a
by Between and may happen to know a way to reach that strange land? hunter of the scrimshaw gargoyles and beasts that haunt the upper spires
of the city.
8. Bok: The Bouncer
Bok (N male half-orc frenzied berserker† with proficiency musical
instruments (mandolin)) is one of the most massive half-orcs the PCs have
12. Saluk: The Foreigner
ever set eyes on. He favours his human side, and it’s only his claw-like She dresses strangely, with veils and silks and furs, gold drips from her
nails that give him away — that and his eyebrows which meet on his fingers and bells ring from her toes. Hidden beneath her veil, Saluk (CN
prominent forehead. He seemingly has more tattoos than skin. Bok has female human Ashurian† summoner†) has no lower jaw, and she has come
little to say, but when he does say something, it’s best to listen. Bok is to the city to try to find a magical cure for this hideous injury obtained
surprisingly gentle, unless pushed, in which case he’s downright sadistic. during a fight with a demon she accidentally summoned. Saluk cannot talk
He’s been in too many fights, however, to enjoy them, and just gets on but is a master at pantomime, and uses her foreign looks to her advantage
with his job, acting as a bouncer or security guard at various city events. in communication. Some of the more bigoted locals often hurl abuse at her
Bok prefers to talk music these days, and is a first-rate mandolin player. out of either anger or fear.
Bok could make a useful friend, assuming characters don’t judge him Perhaps Saluk hires the characters to help her, or maybe the demon that
by his cover as everyone else does. Once he is befriended, he is unlikely injured her torments her still.
to give up on the friendship.

9. Rodwell: 13. Honest Jobe:

Officer of the Watch and Smuggler The Sprawlmason in the Know
Constable Rodwell (NE doppelganger with the additional traits of an Honest Jobe (LE male hill dwarf veteran) is lithe and muscular, his head
inspector of the watch†) has one of those forgettable faces, ordinary in clean-shaven. This dwarf squints in the sunlight and spits far too frequently.
every way. Even his voice is so ordinary that it’s boring to listen to, and He has a hoarse voice (caused by shouting up endless scaffolding), and
he has so little to say. loves money more than anything. He whistles all day, and has a pet parrot he
Rodwell, however, is a consummate villain, operating as he does within refers to as Mother. Jobe knows the city well, and has an excellent working
the law as a low-ranking city constable as well as a smuggler. He has knowledge of both the below and aboveground portions. His knowledge
contacts along both banks of the river and countless henchmen. The of Underneath, however, is truly superior, and he’s been hired on many
doppelganger is obsessive, however, and once he makes an enemy, he occasions to draw maps for adventurers. However, he charges a premium:
never forgets. his Intelligence (History) check result x 5 gp.
To the GM, Rodwell is one of those recurring villains that could be Jobe could be used to bring the characters into an adventure below
encountered many times in many different forms, always lurks just out ground. Perhaps someone has been taken by ghouls, and the characters
of sight, never risking open assault but stirring up enemies seemingly are hired to go into the Underneath immediately and need to get
from nowhere. You could use him as an unusual addition to a campaign information fast.
191
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Munsange is employed by a balor demon as a spy within the city.
Covertly, he passes his information (often the locations of targets) to a
small cult called the Brotherhood of the Impossible Angel, a group of
demon-worshipping kidnappers and extortionists.
For GMs, Munsange could be used either as the focus for a whole
adventure or an agent as part of a wider plot. He particularly enjoys using
an alluring shape to trick a witless pervert into the clutches of him and his
sisters who dwell in a twisted abyssal corner of Between that hangs on the
edges of the city itself.

17. Fenis: The Corner-Doxy with a Secret

What a beauty! With cascading blonde curls and a voluptuous figure, Fenis
(NE female human wererat with the traits and abilities of a warden† and
Charisma 19) smiles knowingly as she walks the streets. Her voice may be
coarse, but she says pretty things, and her attire is revealing and pleasing to
look upon. She knows she’s beautiful and uses it to her advantage. As an agent
of the Family, Fenis is a corner-doxy of the highest calibre, a honey trap that
has caught hundreds of willing victims over the years. She’s married to the
Family, but her appallingly huge husband Tam (CN male half-orc wererat
with the abilities and traits of a berserker) is never far away.
Fenis gives you several options for adventure. If the characters work
with the Family, she makes a useful and colourful ally; as an enemy, she
makes a beautiful and dangerous foe.

14. Mother Witchram: The Landlady 18. Ollman: The Jaded Fisherman
Bedridden Mother Witchram (CE female human alchymic-undying † Looking older than the sea, Ollman (LG male briny† warden†) hauls
commoner) is a tyrant who runs her lodgings with an iron fist. She is at his nets, his hands calloused to leather. His face is unmistakably and
vast and hasn’t left her bed in 17 years, preferring to feast on sweetmeats disturbingly fish-like, his wide eyes seemingly lidless. Ollman has plenty
and cakes and just-cooked meat. Her tongue is the foulest in this area of to say - he’s a source of the best fishermen’s tales and stories of beasts on
the city, and her temper is legendary. Her screaming insults can often be the high seas. Ollman is a good man, although half-skum have a hard time
heard from several streets away. There seems to be no end to the number in many parts of the city and tend to keep to their own. He’s an expert on
of brutish sons she has at her disposal nor the various cousins and family the seas hereabouts, and knows what lies above and below the seas within
at their call. Crossing Witchram is dangerous indeed. a month’s journey from the city.
Perhaps the characters rent rooms or a building from her and accidentally Ollman could serve a potential ferryman or as an expert on the river. He
earn her ire with her confusing and endlessly increasing prices, or maybe is distrustful, however, and getting information out of him won’t be easy.
they kill one of her tenants or damage her property in an unrelated fight. He lives and eats and drinks in the briny taverns and markets by the Lyme,
She can become a good foil for the characters, who may be deterred from places where being anything other than half-skum can make life difficult.
physically attacking her due to her disabilities or the threat of endless sons
and friends in high places. 19. Rudd Ruddwell: The Master Smith
The sweat glistens on Rudd Ruddwell’s (CG female hill dwarf veteran)
15. Slender Somwell: The Tragic Innkeeper brow and drips down her goatee. She wears very little beyond sturdy
He looks dead, he does. His name is Caspice Somwell, or Slender shoes and a leather smith’s apron, and her cinder-scarred musculature is
(N male halfling berserker with an Intelligence of 3) to any friends he absolutely frightening. Rudd is a colourful character - she can swear, spit,
still has. His eyes are hollow and rheumy, his mouth slack. He stares at and belch with the best. When she drinks, she doesn’t stop until she falls
nothing, simply stares. Somwell ventured into Between 7 years ago to find over. Full of tall tales, most of which are embellished, Rudd remembers
a friend’s daughter who had vanished and came back changed. His wife, when adventuring was proper adventuring, when owlbears were 20 feet
Patty Somwell (NG female halfling commoner), who loves him dearly, tall, and girallons hunted in packs of 40 minimum.
runs the tavern they own, The Distressed Lamb, and helps him as much as Rudd could make a useful ally, as a henchman or as a masterwork
she can. Left feebleminded by the experience, Somwell is beyond mortal weaponsmith. She may drink in the same tavern as the characterss, where
cures. Occasionally, however, he fixates upon customers, sitting with them her loud jokes and belches bring her to everyone’s attention.
and attempting to play cards (which he frankly can’t manage).
Use Somwell as a warning of the dangers of Between and as an unusual
and slightly sinister NPC presence. 20. Number Six: The Dead Messenger
No matter how much padding the hefty coat has, it’s still obviously a
16. Capid Munsange: skeleton underneath. Number Six (N female human skeleton) obviously
has nothing to say and merely acts as a messenger, operating between two
The Treacherous Street Juggler points in the city. Her owner, the Merchant Gernwell (LE male human
Dressed in peculiarly bright clothing, this jester-juggler is seen at many noble), uses animated skeletons, as many aristocrats do, to fetch and carry
street corners. He says little but smiles often. Capid Munsange is a quasit and deliver. Some strangers find this use of the undead abhorrent and

• •
with the following changes: destroy them — something that carries a fine for destruction of property
Capid Munsange is size Medium. in Castorhage. In general, sensitive owners send out their undead servitors
by night or heavily disguised.

•
It has a Constitution of 15 and 52 (8d8+16) hit points Are the characters approached by a skeleton bearing a message to begin
It has an enhanced shapechanger ability that allows it to assume an adventure? Do skeletons operate in other more mundane jobs or does
the destruction of one undead cause problems for the characters? All are

•
humanoid forms
ways that Number Six can figure into a Blight campaign.
It is disguised as a male human minstrel†
192
 GM Guide
Insectum – addictive insect-based drugs used by many in

Appendix B: Castorhage
Jack’s Candle – a rumoured part of the Canker thought to be
intelligent and responsible for burking many of its victims

A Blight Lexicon Knackers-Yard — also knackery; a slaughterhouse for horses

and other animals that have been retired due to age or infirmity
and are intended for rendering rather than consumption
Many terms and phrases are commonly used in the Blight that Knight of the City (K.C.) — a minor and relatively obscure
may be less well known beyond its crowded streets. A sampling noble title occasionally bestowed by the Queen or Crown Justices
of some of these terms is provided below that you can use to Legalese – also turnees; the minor legal clerks employed by the
sprinkle throughout your game to add a measure of local flavour courts and barristers for the endless paperwork and procedure of
to the NPCs. the Courts and particularly BookTown
Little Sis – also sis; a gold shekel (1 gp)
Æ – abbreviation of ævum, meaning “Age at Time of Death” Lowfolk — primary commoner caste of the city
(High Boros) Lych Field — cemetery
Ancients, The — giant and monstrous creatures of prehistory Made, The — commonly encountered forms of lesser undead
sometimes found in fossilised remains in the vicinity of and constructs cheaply made and used for mindless labour
Castorhage; more proper term is “Leviathans” Milliner — a maker of women’s boots
Astromancer — magical practitioner who combines astrology Mortimata – also mortomata; simple automata made of flesh
with the physical laws of astronomy (common term outside of and bone and muscle preserved and animated by alchemy and/or
Castorhage as well) necromancy
Bibliomerchant — BookTown bookseller Navvy — a labourer employed in construction of a road or
Blight, The — city of Castorhage, usually disparaging canal
Blighter — resident of Castorhage, always disparaging Old Ones — semi-mythical ancient peoples thought
Boater — water-gypsy boatman, usually Viroeni or halfling responsible for leaving stone circles and cave paintings behind,
Burke — to smother often conflated with Ancient Ones/Andøvan culture
Canker, The — thick fogs that arise off the river and envelop Physiker — a physician, a doctor; a professor employed as a
parts of the city that have a reputation for choking the life from private tutor (common term outside of Castorhage as well)
the sleeping, the weak and the helpless Pil – a silver pilaster (1 sp)
Coolie — a servant/labourer (usually indentured) Prahu-Punter — also punter; narrowboat pilots of the Lyme
Corner-Doxy — a street prostitute, a harlot (usually cheap) and the Sinks hired to ferry passengers and renowned for their
Costermonger — also hawker or screecher; a street vendor singing ability
Deadbook, The — death, usually by murder or other violence; Punkahwallah — a servant employed to manually operate a
to be “put in the Deadbook” is to be killed punkah ceiling fan; a practice originally imported from Far Jaati
Esquire — common title of gentry, barristers, and the well-to- Punter — also prahu-punter (see above); a patron of prostitutes
do; often shortened to Squire (derogatory)
Fetch, The — secret undead inhabitants of the city serving the Queen’s Men — officers of the City Watch
vampire-god Beltane Sadhu — a holy man, likely of Jaata origin
Fireman — a labourer employed to stoke the furnaces of Savant — high-ranking university professor position
manufactories or seagoing vessels with steam-driven paddle Steeplejack — a worker specialised in constructing or
wheels repairing steeples and other precarious roof features
Flagonfist — a tavern server (common term outside of Tanner – a copper common (1 cp)
Castorhage as well) Triad – a Xi’en criminal organization or thieves’ guild
Gablemaester — folk employed to patrols the rooftops of the Tongawallah – driver of rickshaws and handcarts
city and keep the worst of the vermin and riffraff under control Tout – a street seller who pesters and cajoles passers-by
Ghat — river temple composed of stone steps, of Jaata origin UnderMaester — local ward political position appointed by
Gill – a quarter pint parish watch commanders
Gong — night soil wastes thrown into the gutter Urger — a person who sells horseracing tips on the street
Gong Farmer — a night soil collector who pushes a cart along Waggoner — a book of nautical charts and notes
the street each morning Wynds — winding, often steep alleys of the city
Great Dark — unexplored subterranean realms below the Yīshī — honorary Xaon title for the mistress of an apothecary
Underneath
Hege – adjectival demonym for something of Xi’en
manufacture or tradition, short for Xi’en Hegemony (usually used
in Castorhage for items of Gtsang origin as well)

193
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
a burly man next to it. Almost immediately, 28 goblins erupt seemingly

Appendix C: from everywhere, grabbing merchandise, stabbing vendors and customers

alike, and smashing anything they can’t carry with them.

Sample Encounters We Three Things

The party notices a group of three men dressed in soot-stained

in the Blight
overcoats, each bearing two dark valises. Hideous, Murk, and Snurg
(CE male human thugs) are small-time thugs and couriers for some of
Castorhage’s seedier groups. The brutes could not appear more different:
The types of encounters that can occur in a city such as Castorhage Hideous is tall and lean with sallow eyes and a vapid expression; Murk is
— sitting as it does on the edge of Between — are virtually limitless. of medium height and build but appears almost insubstantial; and Snurg is
However, some are more unique to the city than others. Below are short and squat, nearly as wide as he is tall, with a vicious look about him.
provided a bare-bones sampling of some of the types of encounters to be What the men carry in their satchels is up to the GM. It can be anything
had in the Blight so they can be lifted whole cloth or simply to serve as the from sensitive stolen trade agreements to body parts heading for disposal
basis for other encounters of your own devising. or delivery as warnings.
Note: The sample encounters include those that appear in the Blight  
Maladies Card Deck as 13 Unwanted Attentions and Deviancies. We Jack’s Candle
included them here for those who did not purchase that supplement, but
also because we had more than 13 such encounters that we wanted to A fog bank of the Canker roils down the street. Wispy tendrils seem to
provide for GMs to use in bringing their Blight campaigns to life. snatch and grab at buildings as it moves quickly down the lane at a speed
of 40 feet. Anyone enveloped by the cloud finds all sound muffled as if
under a silence spell. In addition, the fog gives concealment to anything
Magic Fingers within 5 feet and total concealment beyond 5 feet. Shapes seem to move
Lucinda Farenthol, an attractive masseuse with nimble fingers, strong within the fog and reveal themselves to be 1d3 spectres (with the Naiadic
hands, and an aura of sensuality, offers invigorating massages for weary Between† template applied). These spectres never leave the greater
travellers and uptight adventurers. She insinuates that she can offer more cloudbank but attack anything that comes within its vaporous confines.
than her healing hands and attentive ear for the right price. If someone The cloud passes on after 1d6 rounds, taking the spectres with it.
takes her up on offer, Lucinda leads that person to her private quarters  
for an intimate session. She barters almost anything, most notably The Cat
information from previous clients. When she gains her mark’s trust, she
drops all pretences and assumes her true form as a green hag, using her A mangy tabby sits in the middle of the alleyway ahead. It does not
magical touch to sap her quarry’s strength. appear afraid or intimidated in any way by the party. If the cat is treated
kindly, it meanders its way through the entire party, rubbing against legs
and walking between feet and generally making a nuisance of itself. This
The Ripper creature is actually a Between-cat†. Any PCs treating it well or feeding it
A blood-curdling scream from an adjacent alleyway momentarily
drowns out the cacophony of voices in the claustrophobic streets. A
quick peek into the dank alley confirms the worst suspicions. Torrents of
blood pour from a young woman’s throat torn asunder. A gentleman with
a black wool overcoat, ebony cane, black shoes, and vicious, unnatural
claws stained wetly crimson hurriedly races from the scene and then
inexplicably vanishes into thin air. Dissatisfied by the unwelcome
intrusion, the serial killer known as The Bogeyman (NE night hag with
the Adult Between template applied; capable of shapeshifting into any
gendered humanoid form) stalking Castorhage’s streets resumes his
search for another victim.

The Wailing Willow

An unnatural weeping willow tree growing in this dungy cul-de-sac
takes its name to extremes. It bleeds whenever somebody cuts a branch
or twig. Even more disconcerting, it wails in agony, sobbing for hours
after the damage. Children goad one another to cut branches from the
tree to prove their bravery. Recently, Erza Manni (N female young half-
elf warden†) has taken it upon herself to defend the tree and has made
her home under the tree’s drooping branches. Erza has quickly assumed
the role of a stern, militant guardian. She currently holds a younger boy
(N male human commoner) prisoner, claiming he has committed crimes
against Nature. Erza plans to hang him at dawn.

Market Mayhem
The market bustles with activity as vendors look to sell all manner
of items — clothing, baskets, fruit of questionable quality, and more —
and shoppers look for the best deals. A clamour of voices, each person
shouting over the next, makes normal conversation all but impossible. In
one of those bizarre moments where everybody seems to stop speaking
at once, a pain-filled scream rises. A crudely made iron sword protrudes
outward from the side of a large covered basket and pierces the thigh of
194
 GM Guide
Cold Case
A heavy rainstorm has eroded the soil from the weed-choked yard of a
small house. In the yard is a small, overgrown vegetable garden. Within the
garden, an exposed skeletal human hand pokes through where the soil has
washed away. Examination reveals a full, buried skeleton dressed in the
rotting remains of a once-fine dress. The skeleton still wears a small silver
ring (2 gp) and a set of garnet earrings are caught in the folds of its collar
(200 gp). A despicable nobleman buried this woman here after murdering
her more than a year ago. The house owner is entirely innocent of any crime
but may have witnessed something. Specifics are left to the GM.
 
Drunken Sailor
In a dockside tavern, a drunken mariner, Urthgar (CN male human
[Heldring] berserker), challenges the largest character to a fight for some
imagined slight. He offers the option of fighting with fists or (nonmagical)
clubs. If he is refused, he attacks with his club anyway. Urthgar has the
poisoned condition due to his intoxication. If Urthgar is defeated but
survives, he offers to serve as a henchman to the character for 1 month. If
victorious, he passes out shortly thereafter.

Riddle Me This
A large sedan chair comes to a stop next to the party, and the curtain
is pulled back by one of its 8 burly chairmen (LN male human thugs) to
reveal an androsphinx reclining inside. The sphinx informs that party that
a sidereal oracle has determined that they must pass a test of wisdom. She
asks them, “What makes the crooked right?” If they answer “90 degrees,”
she commends them and provides them with some valuable clue to an
adventure or a monetary reward of 1,000 gp. If they fail to answer correctly,
she orders her guards to attack and beat them into unconsciousness for
their lack of perspicacious.

Seafood Special
gains a luck point. Within the next 24 hours, you can apply this luck point A weathered old man wearing the waxed overcoat of a fisherman lurches
to a single attack, saving throw, or ability check and add 1d6 to that roll. unsteadily down the street singing a sea chanty between swigs from a
You must declare you are using it prior to the roll. Should any character bottle. Upon sighting the characters, he stops and proclaims that they have
mistreat or attempt to frighten the cat away, it hisses loudly, turns its head the smell of the sea about them before transforming into a weretiger and
and walks around a corner, completely vanishing if searched for. Any attacking. If he is killed, inside his coat can be found the jawbones of 7
such character who frightens or attacks the cat has disadvantage to all fishermen he has killed and collected trophies from. Among these are a
Charisma-related checks for 24 hours. total of 15 teeth with gold crowns worth 5 gp each.

Child’s Play A Tangled Weave

In an adjacent alley, a child’s cries can be heard along with the An alleyway between two sagging tenements has been completely
shuffling of feet and rustling of trash. If investigated, the party discovers curtained off like a grand stage. A barker (NE male halfling sneakthief†)
a man dressed in dirty clothes who smells like rancid wine trying to stands outside and calls for passers-by to step right up and see the Beautiful
strangle a small child. Assuming they intervene, they are in for a nasty Esmel perform her exotic dances for only the discriminating eye for the
surprise. The man is a vagrant who has been dominated by the vampire low, low admission price of only 2 sp. The barker takes the admission and
(CE male human vampire) into his current actions. While the characters allows entrants (no more than two at a time) to step behind the curtain to
deal with the vagrant (N male human commoner), the vampire tries to see the spectacle and tells them to exit out the back when they’re done.
dominate the strongest-looking character, turning to gaseous form once Behind the curtain, the alleyway is filled with the web constructs of 2
its ruse is discovered. It orders any dominated character to attack the Large gable spiders and an ettercap who is in league with the barker.
rest of the group. They attempt to quickly silence and subdue spectators before the next are
  allowed in.

Down the Rabbit Hole

Pub Crawlers
A large white rabbit appears from under a hedge and scampers off
into an open manhole in the street. The hole drops 10 feet down into A barroom brawl spills out into an alley and knocks over a large stack of
the sewers. The rabbit seems to have disappeared, but a black top hat barrels. As the barrels tumble into the street, night-slugs spring out of them
sits on the walkway adjacent to the sewer flow channel. Inside the hat and scatter in all directions looking for cover with 4 night-slugs (N male
are a wand (non-magical), a carefully folded, 20-foot-long chain of night-slug† spies) armed with clubs and rusty daggers charging straight
knotted coloured scarves, a deck of trick cards that always reveal an ace for the party. The characters happen to be standing directly in front of a
of spades, and 3 magic carrots. The carrots each summon a large white sewer grate that the creatures are heading for, and they are willing to fight
rabbit, which uses the giant rat statistics, for 10 rounds if broken in half their way through in their desperation to escape. If the characters think to
and placed in the hat.  step out of the way, the night-slugs charge harmlessly past and disappear
   into the sewer. Otherwise, they fight viciously in their attempt to escape.

195
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Hellish Hack Dark Dealings
A coarse cab being drawn by a hyme† pulls up next to the Two dark stalkers approach the party and try to hire them for 100
party. The driver, a bearded devil, offers the characters gp per person to destroy a pack of floating balls of light that has
a ride to anywhere they want — at a steep discount. Of recently invaded their Underneath domicile and hurt their eyes with
course, anyone foolish enough to get into the the constant radiance. Their description sounds a great deal like
cab is soon beset by the devil and the pack of will-o’-wisps, though they don’t know what they’re called. In
6 hell hounds that lurk in hiding nearby. If the truth, a squad of 9 sprites masquerading as will-o’-wisps has
devil is defeated but the hyme survives, the taken up residence in the dark stalkers’ home and arrogantly
characters can take possession of the foul- comport themselves as if they own the place. They don’t
tempered beast and its cab for their own use. take kindly to intrusive characters and tell them to shove
off in no uncertain terms. If the characters refuse to
fight the sprites, they have to contend with
On the Rooftops the stalkers and 11 dark creepers angry
A gablemaester falls from above and at their betrayal. The sprites will not
lands, dead, at the characters’ feet. Looking assist the characters.
up, they catch a glimpse of the arachnoid
forms he was apparently fighting and can hear
screams of terror. A nearby scaffold provides A Growing Blight
access to the rooftop 70 feet above where the As night falls, the characters spot a drunk
characters find a drider and 2 phase spiders lying asleep in a darkened alley. Barely visible
that have captured a pair of gnome children beyond him is a growing expanse of spreading
in their webs. The characters have just blight that overtakes the insensate wino at any moment.
enough time to step in to save them If the characters attempt to save the man or destroy the
from a horrible fate. If searched, the blight, they come under attack from 6 violet fungus
gablemaester’s corpse has a gablemaester’s allied with the spreading fungal growth. If saved, the
kit† that the characters can claim if they like. drunk (N male human noble) proves to be connected to one of the noble
houses of the city and can provide the characters with valuable contacts
and adventure hooks.
Fire in the Hole
As the last rays of the sun touch the city’s rooftops, a group of city
workers picks through the smouldering remains of a building that has Between Standoff
recently burned down. One of them causes a pile of rubble to shift and The party comes upon a standoff between 5 constables (N male
exposes a formerly hidden subbasement. Pouring from the exposed cellar human guards) and 9 Between-cats. The constables seem to be intent
are the Tunnel People who had set the fire from below the previous night. on rounding up the cats and placing them in a number of small cages
These 7 morlocks† attack for 3 rounds and try to drag as many people as they have piled nearby, and the Between-cats seem equally determined to
possible with them back into the uncovered tunnel. avoid being captured. Both sides are intent on standing their ground, and
neither retreats. Unless the characters depart immediately, they can choose
to side with one group or the other but will be drawn into the combat that
Lovers’ Lane starts immediately. If the characters linger but do not join a side, each side
A well-to-do couple sits together on an ornate iron bench overlooking attacks them, assuming that they are in league with the other.
the river below as the moon reflects off its dark surface. However, even
a cursory inspection reveals that they are entirely unmoving — they
don’t even breathe. Examination reveals that they appear to have recently Agent Provocateur
drowned, though their clothes and hair are completely dry. A moon angel A shopkeeper or some other local NPC the party knows approaches and
lurks at the edge of the river not far away and recently killed this couple. tells them that he just saw a monster transform into a man in a nearby alley
It uses its hypnotic song to try to entrance the characters as well. and start spying on the nearby market. He points out a nearby Xi’en man
who does look rather suspicious. If approached, the man proves to be a
Triad collector (CN male human Xi’en burglar†) out collecting protection
Gamecocks money from local merchants and immediately attacks the characters,
The characters arrive at a tavern where cockfights are being held. They assuming they are from a rival gang. He is joined by 3 Triad thugs who
have the opportunity to wager on these fights if they want. Eventually, join him from the nearby crowds. The shopkeeper who sent the characters
someone accidentally overturns a table lamp and starts a small fire. In the is actually a doppelganger of the Veil who wanted to send a warning to
panicked confusion that follows, the characters find themselves facing 3 the local Triad.
Blight cockerels still wearing their fighting spurs that have escaped from
their handlers. If the characters kill the cockerels, they must still contend
with Mot Porkchop (CN male half-orc berserker), the owner of the The Walrus and the Carpenter
establishment and the birds. He demands 200 gp for each cockerel slain Behind a pile of lumber at a construction site near the river, the party
or injured and attacks with his 2 bouncers (CN male human veterans) if stumbles upon a Lyme walrus† devouring the corpse of a construction
his demands aren’t met. worker he just killed. It immediately tries to spin a tale to explain itself
and uses its fascinating story ability. If successful, it attempts to lead one
or more character into the river where it can slay them at its leisure. If it
is unable to subdue the characters in this way, it whistles and alerts the 3
cutpurses (CE male human characters) it has been working with. They
arrive to help in 1d3 rounds.

196
 GM Guide
heart (takes 1 round to reach), killing him instantly. How-

Appendix D: New ever, in the following round it then bursts through into the
oesophagus and unleashes swarm of insects (or other set-
ting-appropriate swarm) that pours forth from the victim’s

Magic of the Blight mouth and attacks anyone present.

If a swallower chooses, he can discard the plague scarab
before it activates by regurgitating it. Once a plague
Following are some of the magic and alchymical items that are found scarab has been activated, it is destroyed and cannot be
in the Blight. used again.

ALCHEMIST’S DART POTION OF BARKSKIN

Weapon (dart), uncommon Potion, uncommon

You have a bonus of +1 to attack and damage rolls made You drink this potion, your skin has a rough, bark‑like ap-
with this magical dart.  A creature struck by it must make pearance, and your AC can’t be less than 16, regardless
a successful DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or be entangled of what kind of armor you are wearing. The effects of the
as if it were hit with an alchemist’s bag†. potion lasts 1 hour.

ASSASSIN’S DAGGER POTION OF BLUR

Weapon (dagger), very rare (requires attunement) Potion, rare

You gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with When you drink this potion your body becomes blurred, shift-
this magic weapon. This weapon scores a critical hit on a ing and wavering to all who can see you. For the duration,
roll of 18-20. any creature has disadvantage on attack rolls against
you. An attacker is immune to the effect if it doesn’t rely
BETWEEN RING on sight, as with blindsight, or can see through illusions, as
Ring, rare with truesight.

This plain, unadorned ring is typically made of iron or some POTION OF ENHANCE ABILITY
other common metal and bears signs of tarnish, rust, or Potion, rare
some flaw that cannot be polished away or repaired.
It also includes something of the tainted essence of Be- When you drink this potion, you are bestowed with a mag-
tween in its composition, giving it a slightly greasy feel to ical enhancement. Each potion is brewed to provide
the touch. enhancement to a specific ability and lasts one hour. The
A wearer of a Between ring gains a +2 bonus to AC against following potion types are available:
any creature with the Between subtype or Between Crea- Bear’s Endurance. The target has advantage on Constitution
ture template. In addition, the wearer can make an un- checks. It also gains 2d6 temporary hit points, which are
armed attack against such a creature with the hand that lost when the spell ends.
is wearing the ring as if he had the Stunning Strike ability Bull’s Strength. The target has advantage on Strength
(DC 12 Constitution saving throw) three times per day. If checks, and his or her carrying capacity doubles.
the wearer already has the Stunning Strike ability (e.g. the Cat’s Grace. The target has advantage on Dexterity checks.
character is a monk), then they gain a +2 bonus to the It also doesn’t take damage from falling 20 feet or less if it
attack and damage rolls and the Stunning Strike uses the isn’t incapacitated.
Ki save DC for that character. Eagle’s Splendor. The target has advantage on Charisma
Curse. When a Between ring is worn, the wearer must make checks.
a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or be unable to voluntarily Fox’s Cunning. The target has advantage on Intelligence
remove it. It never fits well: sometimes it feels too loose checks.
(though it never falls off), and sometimes it squeezes much Owl’s Wisdom. The target has advantage on Wisdom
too tightly, causing pain and a discolouration in the finger. checks.
Each day there is a 1-in-20 chance that it tightens, caus-
ing 1 point of damage from the constriction. If a Between These potions function as if cast using a 2nd level spell slot. The
ring ever constricts for 5 days in a row without the wearer price for these varies, but are usually in excess of 1,000 gp.
receiving any magical healing, the finger it is worn on
dies and becomes necrotic, eventually falling off in 1d4+4 POTION OF SPEAK WITH DEAD
days. The loss of this finger deals 2d4 points of damage but Potion, very rare
is one way for a wearer who has failed his Wisdom saving
throw to remove the ring. A remove curse spell or similar When you drink this potion and then touch a corpse of your
magic will also allow the wearer to remove the ring. choice within range, you grant that corpse the semblance
of life and intelligence, allowing it to answer questions you
PLAGUE SCARAB pose. The corpse must still have a mouth and can’t be
Wondrous item, uncommon undead. This cannot be used on a corpse that was the
target of a speak with dead spell or potion within the last
Used primarily to prevent information being tortured out of 10 days. The potion effects last for 10 minutes.
them by a clandestine group calling themselves the Hid- Until the effect of the potion ends, you can ask the corpse
den Knights of the Capitol, this small item appears much up to five questions. The corpse knows only what it knew
like a typical, if tiny, scarab medallion or brooch. However, in life, including the languages it knew. Answers are usu-
when swallowed, it lodges in the individual’s stomach and ally brief, cryptic, or repetitive, and the corpse is under no
remains in place. Thereafter, the swallower can activate compulsion to offer a truthful answer if you are hostile to
the scarab with a thought. Once activated, the plague it or it recognizes you as an enemy. This effect doesn’t re-
scarab burrows from its resting place to the swallower’s turn the creature’s soul to its body, only its animating spirit.

197
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Thus, the corpse can’t learn new information, doesn’t SPYING PANE
comprehend anything that has happened since it died, Wonderous Item, very rare
and can’t speculate about future events.
This polished mithral mirror with an ornate copper frame is
REAVER 4 feet long and 2 feet wide. It can be hung or placed on
Weapon (any sword), legendary (requires attunement by a a surface and then activated or deactivated by speak-
creature of evil alignment) ing a command word. The spying pane forms a link with
any mirror or framed art object such as a painting that
Reaver is Demoriel’s finely crafted unholy longsword. Those it touches while activated, up to a maximum of 20 such
that wield it gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls objects. Each such link permits the user to look through the
made with this weapon, which deals psychic damage in- linked object’s frame as though it was a window. Touch-
stead of slashing damage. When a celestial creature takes ing the object to the spying pane a second time cancels
damage from Reaver, it suffers an extra 1d8 psychic dam- the link, and if the maximum number of links has been
age. The sword emits a dim purple light in a 15-foot radius. reached, linking a new object to the speculum breaks the
Demoriel was once a powerful angel that made her home oldest existing link. A link is also broken if the distance be-
in the heavens among the other angels. In the Celestial tween the spying pane and the object exceeds 600 feet.
Hierarchy, she was a member of the Cherubim and served When activated, the surface of the spying pane displays
alongside Gabriel, Raphael, and Ophaniel. During the Un- a grid of the currently linked views; touching one of the
holy Schism, she sided with Lucifer and aided him by se- views enlarges the window to its actual size or the size of
ducing another Cherub wherein Lucifer caught the angel the mirror, whichever is the smallest. Touching it again re-
unaware and murdered him on the spot. stores the grid. A spying pane can be used for as long as
When Lucifer was thrown down from the good-aligned 10 minutes a day, in increments of 1 minute. These incre-
planes, Demoriel was beside him; cast out for the sin of ments do not need to be consecutive.
slaying another angel and spilling the blood of an angel in
the outer planes. When Lucifer envisioned Hell, Demoriel VOICE MASK
envisioned herself on the throne next to him, serving as Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)
Hell’s Queen. Unfortunately for her, she became one of his
many concubines but never his bride, for the Great Upris- This mask has 4 charges. While wearing this apparently nor-
ing occurred in Hell and the other arch-devils moved to mal black facemask, you can use an action and expend
destroy Lucifer and his court. When Lucifer was removed 1 charge to alter your voice. The wearer can decide what
from Hell’s Throne and took up residence in a pocket their voice sounds like (similar to the alter self spell). The
plane called Infernus, Demoriel followed. Once again, she effect lasts for 1 hour or until the user removes the mask,
was denied her place on the throne next to Lucifer as he ends the effect with a bonus action, or uses another
took a devil named Shabiri as his consort. Though Demo- charge. The mask regains 1d4 expended charges daily at
riel remains ever loyal to Lucifer, she does not trust nor like dawn.
Shabiri. For now, she waits until her time comes when she
can discredit or destroy Shabiri and replace her as Luci- WAND OF COLOR SPRAY
fer’s consort. Wand, uncommon (requires attunement by a spellcaster)
Though Lucifer no longer rules Hell, Demoriel still serves him
unswervingly. She follows no other, though she is more This wand has 7 charges.  While holding it you can expend 1
than willing to lead other creatures to their demise by charge as an action to cast the color spray spell from it. 
feigning loyalty to them. She has a particularly vile hatred The wand regains 1d6+1 expended charges daily at dawn. 
for celestials (more than other devils do it seems) and en- If you expend the wand’s last charge, roll a d20.  On a 1,
joys corrupting and destroying them. the wand erupts in a pile of glitter and is destroyed.
Demoriel attacks with her spell-like abilities, attempting to
charm the strongest opponents she faces. If forced into WAND OF DAYLIGHT
melee, she attacks with her spell-like abilities and long- Wand, uncommon (requires attunement by a spellcaster)
sword, Reaver, or summons other devils to fight for her
while she maintains a position away from the immediate This wand has 7 charges. While holding it, you can use an
fight. action to expend 1 of its charges to cast the daylight spell
(save DC 15) from it.
SCYTHE OF SPEED The wand regains 1d6 + 1 expended charges daily at dawn.
Weapon (scythe), very rare (requires attunement) If you expend the wand’s last charge, roll a d20. On a 1,
the wand crumbles into ashes and is destroyed. 
You gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with
this magic weapon. In addition, you can use a bonus ac- WAND OF ENLARGE AND REDUCE
tion to make one attack with it as a bonus action on each Wand, uncommon (requires attunement by a spellcaster)
of your turns.
This wand has 7 charges. While holding it, you can use an
SHATTERSPIKE action to expend 1 of its charges to cast the enlarge/re-
Weapon (any sword), very rare (requires attunement) duce spell (save DC 15) from it.
The wand regains 1d6 + 1 expended charges daily at dawn.
You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made If you expend the wand’s last charge, roll a d20. On a 1,
with this magic weapon. When you successfully hit with the wand crumbles into ashes and is destroyed. 
this weapon, the target must make a DC 12 Constitution
saving throw or begin to bleed profusely. The target loses THE WEATHER VANE MORTOMATA
5 (1d10) hit points from bleeding at the start of each of Wondrous item, uncommon
its turns for 1 minute, unless a DC 12 Wisdom (Medicine)
check is made to staunch the bleeding or until the target Popular in the city, mortomata are a combination of ani-
receives magical healing. mated object and animated dead. The weather vane is a

198
 GM Guide
sphere with a circular opening, and within there is a series more common by the day, as are the poor wretches who drag their rotting
of depictions of weather types in a circle, from fair to foul. and failing carcasses into the dark places away from sight and seems
The undead, featherless crow that sits inside the mortoma- likely only to expand with the recent Corpse Act of 1770.
ta points at the type of weather it expects. The weather The latest great visionaries of such rebirth extol the (so far) secret and
vane is 75% accurate but vague. The only weather incre- unseen experiments of the great surgeon-artists who, they claim, have
ments are “fair,” “changeable,” “stormy,” and “dry.” succeeded in forging new life from Between creatures and mortal flesh.

ELIXIR OF LIFE
The Staff of Life (a.k.a. The Elixir) Potion, very rare

A living creature that is not of the aberration, celestial, con-

“More a curse than a blessing…” struct, elemental, or fiend type that is injected with elixir
of life (an infusion process that takes an hour and requires
For some, life must go on no matter what the cost. The dabblings of either a helpless or willing recipient) must make an imme-
arcane physicians into the stuff of life was always going to be dangerous. diate Constitution saving throw based on the quality of
Elixir of life — “The Elixir” or “Staff of Life” as is it sometimes known the elixir. Creatures that are immune to poison or necrotic
among the whispers of the Lowfolk — comes from feeding a particular damage are not affected by the elixir. If the saving throw
species of Between worm with flesh and blood of the mundane world — is successful, the creature dies and rises again in 1d4 hours
living flesh and blood, and the healthier and fresher the blood used, the as a “Reborn” with the alchymic-undying† template. If the
better the quality of elixir. Worms are then either injected (in many cases) saving throw is failed, the individual immediately dies and
or held in an artificially made womb known as the Cuckoo Womb into rises in 1d10 minutes as an undead creature with the al-
which the subject is immersed. chymic-unliving†.
The Cuckoo Womb is used in general to create new forms or hybrid If the elixir is applied to a creature of the appropriate types
creatures from the parts of others harvested using a particularly unpleasant (as described above) that has died within the last 24 hours
ritual involving injecting the creature with elixir and farming off the parts but whose corpse is still relatively intact, the creature still
that are required. The parts are crudely sewn or affixed together in hopes gets a Constitution saving throw as if it were still alive with
that the Cuckoo Womb and the elixir do the rest — although they often outcome of becoming either an alchymic-undying or an
do not. The minor works of many celebrated golem-stitchers slither or alchymic-unliving creature, but the saving throw is made
drag themselves through the city as a result of this process, unable to at a cumulative +1 penalty to the DC of the saving throw
die without destruction. Theirs is a pitiful existence, and one that often for every 2 hours since it died (not including the hour re-
leads to diabolic revenge. Artisans of this trade — Golem-Stitchers and quired for infusion).
Homuncule Wives and Cadaver-Surgeons — are usually drawn into If used in conjunction with a Cuckoo Womb and pieces of
the profession through reading or through association; there is no level only partial cadavers in order to create a new-made form
requirement to carry out such work, only a steady hand and brutal soul. of life (as adjudicated by the GM), the elixir likewise has
The true and purest elixir of life commands a high price, at least 20,000 a quality-based saving throw to determine the stability of
gp per dose, and even this price comes with no guarantee of success. Of this outcome. If this saving throw is successful, the resulting
course, where every genuine artefact is found, fakes soon follow, and creature is stable as a new type of living creature. If the
cheaper and less-stable versions of the elixir have flooded darker parts save is unsuccessful, the new-made creature is unsuccess-
of the market. That the undeath that follows is agonizing or that some ful, is in extensive pain, and dies in 1d4 days as its body
subjects are prone to appalling unmaking as the threads of the elixir literally falls apart.
dissolve, taking their hosts with them, makes the elixir not merely a boon,
but a weapon in some eyes. Many see the forced injection of the elixir into Anything of medium-grade elixir or lower is unpredictable, short lived,
workers as being of incalculable benefit; true, the servant withers in terms and prone to sudden violent unravelling. For each year of life or unlife
of their personality and vital spark and living relationships, but their skills for low-grade elixir, each month for pig-grade elixir, and each week for
remain! What price for a manufactury of unliving workers who toil day street-grade elixir, the initial Constitution saving throw must be made
and night and never need rest yet have the intelligence and abilities that again or the creature rapidly (and often revoltingly) unmakes itself just as
typical examples of the animated dead do not. Some call this concept the if a new-made creature had failed its initial saving throw. There are some
“New Utopia.” Many in the city claim that such manufacturies not only exceptional cases (again at the GM’s discretion), where such an unmaking
exist already but are thriving, and it can only be a matter of time before does not fully destroy the creature but instead forces it to live in a pain-
everyone in the city is aware of an unliving. Forced undeath is becoming filled, half-life of indeterminate length and horror.

Elixir of Life
Reborn Creature New-Made Creature
Elixir Quality Price (per dose) CL Cost (Per Dose)
Save DC (per dose) Save DC (per dose)
True Elixir 20,000 gp 9th 5 5 10,000 gp
Medium-Grade Elixir 5,000 gp 7th 15 10 5,000 gp
Low-Grade Elixir 1,000 gp 5th 25 15 500 gp
Pig-Grade Elixir** 500 gp 3rd — 20 250 gp
Street-Grade Elixir 100 gp — — 25 50 gp

* Made from actual pig blood and flesh rather than humanoid.

199
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City
Designation of Product Identity: The following items are hereby designated as Product Product Identity. The owner of any Product Identity used in Open Game Content shall retain
Identity as provided in section 1(e) of the Open Game License: Any and all material or all rights, title and interest in and to that Product Identity.
content that could be claimed as Product Identity pursuant to section 1(e), below, is hereby 8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate which
claimed as product identity, including but not limited to: 1. The name “Frog God Games” as portions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game Content.
well as all logos and identifying marks of Frog God Games, LLC, including but not limited 9. Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions of
to the Frog God logo and the phrase “Adventures worth winning,” as well as the trade dress this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and distrib-
of Frog God Games products; 2. The product name “The Lost Lands,” “The Blight: Richard ute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License.
Pett’s Crooked City,” “The Blight,” “Between,” as well as any and all Frog God Games 10. Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with every copy of the
product names referenced in the work; 3. All artwork, illustration, graphic design, maps, Open Game Content You Distribute.
and cartography, including any text contained within such artwork, illustration, maps or 11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open Game Content
cartography; 4. The proper names, personality, descriptions and/or motivations of all artifacts, using the name of any Contributor unless You have written permission from the Contributor
characters, races, countries, geographic locations, plane or planes of existence, gods, deities, to do so.
events, magic items, organizations and/or groups unique to this book, but not their stat blocks 12. Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this
or other game mechanic descriptions (if any), and also excluding any such names when they License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute, judicial order, or
are included in monster, spell or feat names. 5. Any other content previously designated as governmental regulation then You may not Use any Open Game Material so affected.
Product Identity is hereby designated as Product Identity and is used with permission and/or 13. Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all
pursuant to license. terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of the breach. All
This printing is done under version 1.0a of the Open Game License, below. sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.
Notice of Open Game Content: This product contains Open Game Content, as defined in the 14. Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such provision
Open Game License, below. Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of the shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.
Open Game License. 15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Designation of Open Game Content: Subject to the Product Identity Designation herein, Open Game License v 1.0a © 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
the following material is designated as Open Game Content. (1) all monster statistics, System Reference Document 5.1. Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Mike
descriptions of special abilities, and sentences including game mechanics such as die rolls, Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Rodney Thompson, Peter Lee, James Wyatt, Robert
probabilities, and/or other material required to be open game content as part of the game J. Schwalb, Bruce R. Cordell, Chris Sims, and Steve Townshend, based on original material
rules, or previously released as Open Game Content, (2) all portions of spell descriptions by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
that include rules-specific definitions of the effect of the spells, and all material previously Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook © 2009, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Jason Bulmahn,
released as Open Game Content, (3) all other descriptions of game-rule effects specifying based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.
die rolls or other mechanic features of the game, whether in traps, magic items, hazards, or Pathfinder RPG Bestiary, © 2009, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Jason Bulmahn, based on
anywhere else in the text, (4) all previously released Open Game Content, material required material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.
to be Open Game Content under the terms of the Open Game License, and public domain Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 2, © 2010, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors Wolfgang
material anywhere in the text. Baur, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, Graeme Davis, Crystal Frasier, Joshua J. Frost, Tim
Use of Content from The Tome of Horrors Complete: This product contains or referenc- Hitchcock, Brandon Hodge, James Jacobs, Steve Kenson, Hal MacLean, Martin Mason, Rob
es content from The Tome of Horrors Complete and/or other monster Tomes by Frog God McCreary, Erik Mona, Jason Nelson, Patrick Renie, Sean K Reynolds, F. Wesley Schneider,
Games. Such content is used by permission and an abbreviated Section 15 entry has been Owen K.C. Stephens, James L. Sutter, Russ Taylor, and Greg A. Vaughan, based on material by
approved. Citation to monsters from The Tome of Horrors Complete or other monster Tomes Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.
must be done by citation to that original work. The Book of Taverns © 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc; Author Chris Jones.
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a The following text is the property of Wizards of Chaos Rising, © 2003, Necromancer Games, Inc; Author James Collura.
the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc. (“Wizards”). All Rights Elemental Moon © 2007, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author: Lance Hawvermale.
Reserved. Glades of Death © 2004 Necromancer Games, Inc.; Authors: Patrick Lawinger, Jeff Hark-
1. Definitions: (a) “Contributors” means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have ness, and Gary Schotter.
contributed Open Game Content; (b) “Derivative Material” means copyrighted material in- Shades of Gray © 2006, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author: Michael R. Proteau.
cluding derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages), potation, The Diamond Fortress © 2005 Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author: Phillip Larwood.
modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment Trouble at Durbenford © 2004 Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author: Robert J Schwalb.
or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) “Dis- Dead Man’s Chest © 2013, Frog God Games LLC; Authors: Lance Hawvermale, Rob
tribute” means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or Mason, Robert Hunter, Patrick Goulah, Greg Ragland, Matt McGee, Chris Bernhardt, Casey
otherwise distribute; (d) “Open Game Content” means the game mechanic and includes the W. Christofferson, Chad Coulter, Skeeter Green, and Travis Hawvermale, with additional
methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not embody the contributions by Erica Balsley, Lindsey Barrentine, Jay Decker, Rachel Mason, and Nadine
Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly Oatmeyer.
identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this Dunes of Desolation © 2014, Frog God Games LLC; Author: Tom Knauss.
License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically ex- Mountains of Madness © 2017, Frog God Games LLC; Author: Tom Knauss.
cludes Product Identity; (e) “Product Identity” means product and product line names, logos Marshes of Malice © 2017, Frog God Games LLC; Author: Tom Knauss.
and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures; characters; stories, storylines, The Slumbering Tsar Saga © 2012, Frog God Game: Author: Greg A. Vaughan.
plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, Razor Coast © 2013, Frog God Games, LLC; Authors: Lou Agresta, Tim Hitchcock, John
likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and graphic, photographic and other visual or au- Ling, and Nicolas Logue.
dio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, Freebooter’s Guide © 2013 Frog God Games, LLC; Authors: Lou Agresta, Tim Hitchcock,
teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, Tom Knauss, John Ling, RA McReynolds, and Greg Vaughan.
equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; The Lost Lands: The Lost City of Barakus, © 2003 2014 Frog God Games & Necromancer
and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product identity by the Games.; Authors W.D.B. Kenower, Bill Webb.
owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the Open Game Content; (f) Sword of Air, © 2014, Frog God Games, LLC; Authors: Bill Webb, Casey Christofferson, Greg
“Trademark” means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto, designs that are used by a Contrib- Ragland, and Vicki Potter.
utor to identify itself or its products or the associated products contributed to the Open Game The Lost Lands: Cults of the Sundered Kingdoms © 2015, Frog God Games LLC: Authors:
License by the Contributor; (g) “Use”, “Used” or “Using” means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, David Brohman, Casey W. Christofferson, Patrick Lawinger, and Greg A. Vaughan.
format, modify, translate and otherwise create Derivative Material of Open Game Content; (h) Borderland Provinces © 2015, Frog God Games, LLC: Matthew J. Finch, Greg A. Vaughan,
“You” or “Your” means the licensee in terms of this agreement. and Bill Webb.
2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indi- The Lost Lands: The Northlands Saga Complete © 2015, Frog God Games, LLC; Authors:
cating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. You Kenneth Spencer, Greg A. Vaughan, and Kevin Wright.
must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to The Lost Lands: Bard’s Gate © 2016, Frog God Games, LLC; Authors: Casey W. Christ-
or subtracted from this License except as described by the License itself. No other terms or offerson, Matt Finch, Skeeter Green, and Greg A. Vaughan with additional new material by
conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this License. James M. Spahn; Based on original content from Necromancer Games.
3. Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance The Tome of Horrors Complete, © 2011, Necromancer Games, Inc., published and distributed
of the terms of this License. by Frog God Games; Author Scott Green.
4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contrib- Tome of Horrors 4, Copyright 2013, Frog God Games, LLC; Authors: Erica Balsley, Casey
utors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license with the exact Christofferson, Jim Collura, Lance Hawvermale, Patrick Lawinger, Phillip Larwood, Greg
terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content. A. Vaughan, and Bill Webb, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip
5. Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original material as Williams.
Open Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation and/or Fifth Edition Foes, ©2015, Frog God Games
You have sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed by this License. The Tome of Blighted Horrors, © 2016, Frog God Games, LLC; Authors John Ling, Authors
6. Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this Richard Pett, Pete Pollard, Alistair Rigg, Jeffrey Swank, and Greg A. Vaughan.
License to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any Open Game Content TB1: The Crooked Nail, © 2017, Frog God Games, LLC; Author: Brandon Hodge.
You are copying, modifying or distributing, and You must add the title, the copyright date, TB2: Horror in the Sinks, © 2016, Frog God Games, LLC; Author: Alistair Rigg.
and the copyright holder’s name to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game TB3: Bloody Jack, © 2016, Frog God Games, LLC; Author: Greg A. Vaughan.
Content you Distribute. TB4: The Crucible, © 2016, Frog God Games, LLC; Author: Richard Pett.
7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as an TB5: The Children of the Harvest, © 2017, Frog God Games, LLC; Author: Bill Webb.
indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement The Blight: Richard Pett’s Crooked City, © 2016, Frog God Games, LLC; Authors Richard
with the owner of each element of that Product Identity. You agree not to indicate compati- Pett, Pete Pollard, Alistair Rigg, and Greg A. Vaughan.
bility or co-adaptability with any Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction with a
work containing Open Game Content except as expressly licensed in another, independent
Agreement with the owner of such Trademark or Registered Trademark. The use of any Prod-
uct Identity in Open Game Content does not constitute a challenge to the ownership of that

200
 The Blight: Richard Pett's Crooked City

Richard Pett’s Crooked City

GM Guide
A deluxe easy reference guide to The Blight, this book is intended for the GM’s use only.
Included within are the new races, classes, skills, feats, and abilities of the The Blight
Player’s Handbook along with the GM information, details of Between, and new monsters
included in the Cylcopædia Infestarum section of The Blight: Richard Pett’s Crooked
City campaign book, all combined together into a single easily referenced resource for
GMs to use without having to carry the entire campaign book with them. It is also an
excellent tool to have at the game table when running adventures out of the campaign book
to prevent the need for flipping back and forth between pages of that book in order to
access the rules information in the Cyclopædia Infestarum in its beginning chapters.

A valuable addition to any Blight campaign, doon’t get caught unprepared without
The Blight GM Guide because you’ve such entered the wrong side of town . . .

Warning!
This product contains materials that may not be suitable for all audiences.
It is recommended for use by individuals age 13 and older.

ISBN 978-1-62283-331-3

Frog God
Games
202