Stone Halls & Serpent Men

Table of Contents

How to Play the Game

Meta Rules

• How to play: Read A Quick Primer for Old-School Gaming by Matthew Finch
• These rules are balanced to be equivalent to any "Compatible" fantasy game, specifically the OGL 3.5 edition. Optional rules may change this balance.
  • "White Box" options emulate the earliest version of the game, and tend to make the game harder.
  • "Old-School" options emulate the editions before Advanced, which are moderately hard but not so strict. Typically a White Box game would use all the Old-School options as well.
  • The Referee and players should discuss which optional rules are in play before starting the game.
• Units are given in metric. If you don't know metric, read "meter" as "yard", "km" as "1/2 mile", "kg" as "2 pounds", "liter" as "quart", etc.
• Unless stated otherwise, fractions of .5 or higher round up, .4999 or less round down.
• You will need a full set of polyhedral dice, including d30. d36 means to roll 1d6 as a "tens" digit, 1d6 as a "ones" digit, so there are 36 results ranging from 11 to 66.
• Every group should negotiate a "social contract"; the author's is:
  • Bring your own dice, paper, writing utensils, etc., and don't touch anyone else's.
  • Beer or other drinks are OK in moderation, but don't get drunk at the table.
  • If you say it, your character does it or says it. If you have to discuss rules, say "out of character" first.
  • I don't mind jokes or quotes at the table (Monty Python is relevant to every gaming situation), but keep it on-topic. "I don't want to get on the cart!" is fine when the players are dragging your mostly-dead body around, singing the Philosopher Song is probably not, talking about TV is right out.
  • No party infighting. Unless I have replaced your character's brain with a parasite, you don't fight other PCs. Making new PCs, getting them back to the adventure, soothing hurt feelings, it's a total waste of time.
  • No bards or other nuisance characters. If you think what you're doing would annoy other players, don't do it.
  • Every problem I present can be solved with at least two options of violence, sneakiness, puzzle-solving, and politics. Try not to use violence first all the time.
  • Don't dare me to kill you, because I will.

Setting

(This chapter is Product Identity, not Open Game Content)

This setting for Stone Halls & Serpent Men is included as an example, but other Referees are encouraged to make their own. Skip ahead to Characters if you have your own setting!

The Known World is divided into five lands: Cold northern Hyperborea, warm central Storm Islands with the Jewel Cities, grim eastern Malovia, hot southern deserts & jungles of Kush, and far western Gwyrdland.

In ancient times before Humanity, the Serpent Men ruled the world, an advanced civilization with vast cities and underground warrens, incomprehensibly powerful machines and magic. They enslaved the Elder Races of Dwarfs, Elves, Gnomes, and Goblins.

A hundred centuries ago, a long ice age began, and cold-blooded Serpent Man civilization was pushed back from Hyperborea. In those abandoned lands, a new breed of humanoid, Humans, rose to power and fought savage Beastfolk, Hobgoblins, and worse monsters.

Fifteen centuries ago, the Serpent Man civilization in the Storm Islands and Malovia collapsed under cold climate, Human assault, and rebellion by the Elder Races, and the surviving Serpent Men fled to unknown refuges. In the Storm Islands, Humans and Elder Races seized kingdoms, and fought over the limited land and resources they could reach. In Malovia, dark forces seized power, and undead and cruel dictatorships crush any resistance. Degenerate Lizard Men occupied the old ruins, knowing nothing of their greater past.

The ice age began ending two centuries ago, the glaciers melting from Hyperborea, exposing old Serpent Man ruins which may be full of great treasures. Hyperboreans and people of the Storm Islands now compete to colonize the north, and battle-hardened Hyperboreans turn their eyes on rich southern kingdoms.

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Races

• Human: Medium-size humanoids, of a variety of earthtone colors. In their legends, Humans were created by the gods from clay and given dominion over the world. Three cultures are commonly known (no difference in abilities):
  • Barbarian Humans live as their ancestors did, hearty and cruel, nomadic hunters, sometimes settling down for agriculture, fishing, and raiding.
  • Rural Humans are farmers, herders, and woodsmen, simple folk who believe in superstitions and gods, and protect their own.
  • Urban Humans are the new people of cities, cunning merchants and crafters, organized soldiers, optimistic and opportunistic empire-builders from the lowest orphan to the greatest general.
  • Earthborn are people occasionally drawn to this world through portals, defective spells, or by Demons or Elves as a torment; the most common origin world is Earth, with near-Human inhabitants. The era on Earth seems to vary, most are drawn from early 19th Century through mid-20th Century. Many die quickly in the unfamiliar environment, but some thrive. Earthborn are incompetent as mages, but strongly resistant to magic. Many Earthborn are skilled warriors, sailors, or engineers, and may advance local technology. The children of Earthborn are treated as Humans of the culture they are raised in.
• Dwarf: Stocky, hairy, short humanoids. Their legends say they were born in the body of the dead giant Ymir, from whose corpse the world was formed. They burrow into hillsides or dig deep under mountains in search of mineral wealth, and trade for any surface materials and food they need. They are legendary smiths and crafters, but also greedy, spiteful, drunkards, and leches.
  In recent decades they have discovered black powder and invented firearms, and jealously protect the secret of their manufacture and use.
• Elf: Otherworldly, graceful faerie folk, lean and androgynous humanoids, more creatures of myth than mortal people. In their legends, they were visitors from another world called Arcadia. Three cultures are commonly known (no difference in abilities):
  • High Elves (aka Sidhe) all consider themselves aristocrats and rule over slaves (most often Humans, Beastfolk, or Goblins), and often live in the falling remnants of ancient Elven or Serpent Man civilization.
  • Dark Elves worshipped Demon Princes and made sacrifices to gain power, and were driven into the Underworld for their crimes.
  • Sea Elves went into the oceans, and live in kelp forests and coral reefs. They hunt "evil" aquatic races and surface sailors who fish too much.
• Faun (fem. Fauna): Common faerie folk, smaller than Humans, with goat-like legs and small nubs of horns; male horns may grow long in spring, when they become aggressive during mating season. They live in deep woods in primitive, neolithic squalor, but have some skill at making alcoholic beverages, woodwork, and musical instruments. They have a reputation of being obsessed with drink, sex, and song, but are often more well-rounded than that.
  Fauns replace the Wood Elves of many conventional settings.
• Gnome: Small chubby humanoids. In their legends, the first Gnomes were carved from gems buried in the earth. Typically live in forests where they reshape trees or other natural structures into homes, or tunnel in the Underworld. Gnomes are quiet and magical, good-humored despite barely surviving in a world where everything is larger and wants to eat them.
• Beastfolk (aka Therionthrope): Large, strong, furry humanoids with animal-like heads, tails, sometimes other features, often canine but any mammal or sometimes birds or reptiles; usually all of a tribe will be similar with one or two exceptions who are either picked on or become leaders or shamans.
  In their legends, they were the animals who became people last, and were skipped over when the gods gave other races their protection and homelands, so they fight and take what should be theirs. Beastfolk are cruel, filthy, deliberately primitive except in weapons. Most tribes are obsessed with honor, courage, and vengeance, though Rat Beastfolk are notoriously treacherous, and Crow Beastfolk are often thieves and fences.
  Half-breeds with only minor animalistic features have long been tolerated in Beastfolk and Human cultures, and in recent decades some Beastfolk have abandoned the eternal war and are trying to be civilized, even if they're not good at it.
  Beastfolk replace the Orcs of many conventional settings.
• Half-Breed: Most intelligent species can interbreed, if not naturally then under the influence of magic spells or places of wild magic. Half-Breeds are rarely as good as either parent, but may be more adaptable.
• Monster: Intelligent non-Humans who act peacefully may join the fringes of civilization but won't be welcomed to stay long. Centaurs, Minotaurs, and Nymphs are common visitors from the Storm Islands. More dangerous beings such as Lizardmen, Gargoyles, and Hobgoblins will be allowed to trade and pass through, with more guard attention than usual.

Gods

• The Lords of Order, the Archons, also known as the Sephiroth or the Celestial Bureaucracy, have rules and regulations which prevent them from routinely interfering directly in the mortal plane. They are not without mercy, and may empower or inform mortals who may need a push in the right direction, but any deviation from their laws can result in terrible punishment.

• The Demon Princes of Chaos, also known as the Qliphoth or Outer Gods, fight each other over incomprehensible alien ideology, resources, or territory in outer planes. They rarely expose themselves to direct action in the mortal plane, but their agents are everywhere, whose dead eyes watch and scheme for their masters.

  There are 10 Archons, and 10 equivalent and opposed Demon Princes, as well as countless lesser Celestials and Demons. These names are used by educated Urban Humans, but many cultures have their own names for each.

  Archon	Demon Prince
  Kether ("Crown", aristocracy)	Thaumiel (dictatorship)
  Chokmah ("Wisdom", faith)	Chagidiel (cult, secrets)
  Binah ("Understanding", family)	Sathariel (abuse, betrayal)
  Chesed ("Kindness", bounty)	Gamichicoth (famine)
  Geburah ("Severity", judge)	Golab (theft, anarchy)
  Tiphareth ("Beauty", life, creativity)	Thagirion (undeath, despair)
  Netzach ("Victory", strength of war)	Serapel (destruction of war)
  Hod ("Splendor", learning, healing)	Samael (death, vengeance)
  Yesod ("Foundation", diplomat)	Gamaliel (disease, mutation)
  Malkuth ("Kingship", enlightenment)	Nahemoth (fear, insanity, imprisonment)

• The Old Gods, gods of nature and strange impersonal forces, have faded, those remaining are genius locii, possessing incredible power within their domain and nothing much beyond. When a mortal wanders into their realm, they may be taken as a sacrifice, or more rarely offered power in exchange for service beyond the Old God's domain.

  The Old Gods of Eastern Hyperborea are similar to the old Germanic gods, those of Western Hyperborea are from H.P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard's stories, and for other areas either create or borrow from different pantheons. Despite the grandiose names and myths, they are still limited in power and range, so Wöden dwells in a hall near Yggdrasil, an epic ash tree in the mountains above Rittermark, and will have little knowledge or influence past the Mad Mountains.

Cosmology

This is almost entirely speculative, as no mere Human has travelled beyond the edges of the Known World. It is thought that the world is a vast sphere, and things fall "down" to the center. The interior of the world is hollowed out with the Underworld, which is dungeons and caves near the surface, opening into vast chasms and endless tunnels further down, then layers of lava and fire which merge into the borderlands of Hell.

Areas closer to the interior of the world receive more mana and demonic attention. While the surface world is complex, it is mostly comprehensible and stable; the Underworld is confusing and hostile, and then purely chaotic.

Astronomy is reasonably advanced by observation and spells like Commune and Contact Outer Plane, but far from modern science. It is known that the Known World turns, and the Sun, Moon, Planetes, and Stars slowly orbit the world. The Moon and planetes are other worlds, and the stars are smaller suns set far in the distance, many of them are private realms of celestial beings. The air between worlds and stars is thinner than on top of a mountain, and special sky-ships or magic are required to travel between them.

Of other planes, a little more is known from priests, magicians, and planar beings. Old myths repeated by priests say that mortal souls go to other planes on death depending on their alignment and devotion; most magicians disagree; gods say whatever will get you to obey them.

• Material Plane: The world and all that is visible and far beyond. Most of the material plane has normal mana (magical energy) levels.
• Arcadia: Difficult to reach, an alternative Material Plane with high mana. Many of the Old Gods exist simultaneously in Arcadia and the Material, and are far more powerful in Arcadia. There is an ancient stalemate in a war between Arcadia and Heaven and Hell, but as long as the Old Gods have power, Arcadia is safe.
• Hell: Hades, Abyss, Sheol, etc., there are many hells, dimensions with twisted un-natural laws. Home to Demons. Most have far more mana than the Material Plane and seem to be on fire at all times, while some have less mana and seem to be frozen.
• Heaven: Empyrean, Elysium, Valhalla, etc., former homes of the Old Gods, now dimensions of order and tranquility. Occupied by the Archons, whatever individuality these planes once had was stamped out by the Celestial Bureaucracy. These are effectively low-mana, as non-natives are constantly "taxed" energy by the Bureaucracy.
• Pocket Dimensions: There are an infinite number of other planes which are smaller than the Material Plane, often as small as an island or an estate, floating in a foggy void, with a dome of sky above. Each pocket dimension may have its own physical and magical laws.

Calendar

The Known World is not Earth. The year (364 days) has 13 months (for convenience, use our month names, plus Veadar as the 13th month), each divided into 4 weeks of 7 days (again, use our day names). The moon's phases follow the month, so new moon is on week 1, day 1, full moon on week 3, day 1.

The current year is 30 AGN (Anno Glorien Nova) in Hyperborea, or 1420 ATR (Anno Tempestas Regina) in the Storm Islands.

Hyperborea

The southernmost peninsula of the great north, and the longest-occupied of the Human lands. There are nomads and perhaps isolated civilized areas of the north, but the coasts north of Hyperborea are dangerous with storms, icebergs, and sea monsters, and rarely sailed.

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Western Hyperborea

Region is generally Level 2 (see Adventures for how to apply that).

The plains here are dry, tall grasses, in warm seasons a thin layer of mud above permafrost. The forests are firs and pines, with some oaks and apple trees in the south, frozen in taiga in winter, almost swamps in summer. The mountains are steep granite shards with little soil or plant life above the tree line, 1500 meters up. Crossing except at a pass is grueling and often deadly.

Animals are roughly equivalent to Pleistocene Northern Europe, cold-adapted and larger than modern species. Common herbivores & omnivores include the wooly mammoth, wooly rhinocerous, musk ox, giant deer (called Cerrunos), horse, aurochs (most commonly domesticated as cattle), eohippus (dog-sized "dawn" horse), reindeer, boar, ibex, goose, rabbit, duck, sparrow, lemming, vole, and ptarmagin. Common predators are the cave bear, cave lion, giant snakes, giant lizards, spotted hyena, wolf, wolverine, eagle, fox, hawk, crow, viper, and ermine.

Haven (Level 1): The most likely place for new adventurers to begin in the area. A rural trading town at the end of an ancient stone road. Population is about 300 adult Humans and Gnomes, a few passing Dwarfs and Fauns, Beastfolk from non-hostile tribes tolerated as long as they don't stay. The Mayor (currently Gunhild) and Sheriff (currently Jorg) are elected by the local landowners, but largely citizens watch out for themselves here. The militia is most of the able-bodied adults, and routinely deal with Goblins from the Shadowsprey Forest, or barbarian cattle rustlers, or the hostile Bloodpaw Beastfolk tribe.

The town is a dozen longhalls, mostly connected, a few dozen more huts scattered around, and a market square (only fully active on Saturday & Sunday) near the well and town hall. The smithy is the only permanently-placed shop, and Knut Smith can make simple weapons, shields, and helmets, but not metal armor. Björn & Edit Hunter's tannery at the edge of town makes leather.

Haven is enclosed on the west side by a pine log stockade and watchtower, trailing off to old fences and sharpened stakes around the other sides; getting the stockade finished is a long-term plan. Outside the town walls are dozens of large ranches and farms, each fortified to some extent.

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Felder's Green (Level 2): A tiny barbarian village of two dozen adults in a longhall and a few huts, neutral to friendly to Haven but often blamed for other barbarian raids.

Goblin Hive (Level 1): A dungeon built over an extensive tunnel & cavern network buried beneath the forest. Every few years another generation of Goblins move in and stage attacks on Haven from here. They either don't know or care that Haven knows where to find them.

Shadowsprey Forest (Level 4): The darkest forest of the north, overgrown and overrun. To the north is the Faun village of Me Jahime Varjus, which in Common they just call Shadowsprey; a few hundred of them at least, maybe more out further in the woods. They trade with Haven and each warns the other of larger problems, but "allies" may be stretching the term. These are more serious hunters and wardens of the forest than commonly expected of Fauns.

To the west are spiders as large as a human, which web up the area and trap everything they can catch. The forest here is silent and pitch black. There were villages and ruins in this area, but getting to them now is too terrifying for normal people. The Fauns have some accomodation with them and can pass unharmed.

To the south are The Gravelands, dark forests full of hordes of angry undead, perhaps from tombs or a lost city, nobody goes far enough to find out.

To the east, north of Haven, are the hostile wolf-headed Bloodpaw Beastfolk, and many Goblin tribes, often led by more powerful humanoids.

Westmark Ruins (Level 5): Once a great city, until Glorien beseiged and burned it. Whether this was excessive retaliation for trade disputes, or piracy, or if the Dragon King had some other purpose, nobody knows but everyone speculates.

The ruins are now occupied only by undead and monsters. Pirates dock here for shelter from storms and to repair, but do not stay long.

The survivors of Westmark fled into the northern hills and became paleolithic barbarians, mostly herders, sometimes raiders. They have priests like Rittermark's Walker Priests, but less educated or powerful, and usually loyal only to their native tribe. More sophisticated Humans sometimes take control of a tribe and use them as a personal army.

The lands west of Westmark are badlands, rocky and dry, full of crevasses. When rain rarely falls, or snow melts and runs off, it flash floods into the ocean.

Zam Zorog (Zm'zrg in Dwarfish) (Level 3): Undermountain Dwarf civilization. The only pass through the Mad Mountains goes between massive stone and iron-barred gates, through 25km of tunnel large enough for an army, with air and light shafts every 300m. There are a number of smaller, much stronger gates into the city off of this main tunnel.

Upper tunnels are organized in broad highways, with offshoots into small neighborhood grids of tunnels and rooms, and occasional military checkpoints. These areas are all controlled by the Dwarfs, and populated by tens of thousands of the stout people. Human and Gnome visitors are welcomed, but not encouraged to stay long. Other visitors on official business may be escorted through but must be out before nightfall.

Lower tunnels and outer fringes start out the same way, but much of their work is incomplete, and these areas are infested with Kobold renegades, Goblin invaders, or other monsters. Only the most battle-crazed Dwarfs ever travel far into these areas.

The deepest floors connect into the deep Underworld, and are filled with terrible monsters.

Zam Zorog's culture is split between the Old Dwarfs, the Monarchists who are conservative, isolationist, and protectionist; and the New Dwarfs, who embrace technology, development, and trading partners.

The nominal ruler is King Ql'nf and a gaggle of aristocrats and courtiers, but the monarchy has little official power, their wealth is fading, and they have few rich or powerful allies. Poor, common, traditional Dwarfs revere them.

Chief Engineer Tr'zg is perhaps the most powerful New Dwarf, but there are many rich business Dwarfs in engineering, manufacturing, and trade who have nearly as much power. Skilled crafters and laborers are most likely to be New Dwarfs.

The Dwarfish Church of the Archons is almost entirely abandoned, only a few old priests and pathetic outcasts as acolytes, after they led the Dwarfs into too many ill-advised wars in the Underworld or even venturing Outside. Secular White Mage healers and scientific surgeons see to the people's needs now.

The Army is largely Old Dwarf, but it is considerably smaller and poorer than it used to be. Each company now has "security forces" which are perhaps the equal of an Army division. There are persistent rumors that some Old Dwarf aristocrats have found ways to work Black Magic, and that the New Dwarfs are trying to recruit Kobolds and Gnomes as allies. When civil war comes to Zam Zorog, the outcome could be a toss-up.

Lost Mountain (Level 10+): A former Dwarf stronghold taken over by the Great Dragon Fafnir, who according to legend was the Dwarfen King Ff'nr, transformed by a curse for his greed.

Eastern Hyperborea

Region is generally Level 4. Wildlife is sparser and less of the weaker types than Western Hyperborea, and more monsters instead of animals.

Glorien (Level 3): A stone-walled three-tiered city, beautifully planned in the center and around one side, a sprawling mess of slums and towers around the other. Home to over 200,000 Urban Humans, over a thousand High Elves, and tens of thousands of Beastfolk.

Glorien was founded millennia ago by an immortal magician from the Storm Islands known as the Dragon King, a cruel tyrant who demanded human sacrifices, and had militant priests known as Templars to dominate the populace.

30 years ago the Dragon King was slain by the Four Heroes, errant adventurers who became powerful and arrogant: Astraea, Grecal, Kain, and Starkad. Astraea, high priestess of Chokmah, tried to rule and outlaw the Templars, and lasted less than a year before the Templars seized control again, and she sailed south in exile. Grecal, allegedly the most powerful mortal Black Mage in the world, is the Chancellor of the Wizard's College, and keeps an uneasy truce with the Templars. Kain the Executioner, diabolist and assassin, fled into the Underworld, fearing retribution for his regicide and prior crimes. Starkad Giant-Kin, barbarian knight, returned to Rittermark, where he now rules.

Today the Templars still rule the city, somewhat directed by a Senate of merchants, priests, and mages. The Templars recruit religious initiates and bring them up in their hierarchy, as a parallel aristocracy and church; while they now venerate the Archons (mainly Kether and Geburah) and not the Dragon King, his influence carries on. All upper-level Templars are Human, but many Beastfolk are initiated and used as troops.

The secular hierarchy consists of the Gentry caste, mostly wealthy merchants, mages, and High Elves; Citizens, who are crafters, soldiers, and the more acceptable demi-humans; and Subjects, who are peasants, laborers, heretics, and filthy Beastfolk. Slavery or serfdom is not legal within the city, but this is not enforced in the farm villages outside.

The Wizard's College, a walled miniature city of high towers and shadowy courtyards, is the only institute of higher learning in Hyperborea. Black Mages who graduated from this College, or who prove their skills and pay some extortionate fees for membership, join a "Cabal" (like a school House or faction, each living in a separate tower) and are protected by their fellows. Students are brought in by Mages who typically charge several hundred GP per year to train them into competent Apprentices or beginning Black Mages in 4-8 years. The College itself is defended by Golems, Demons, and spells of dozens of Mages. Graduates are always welcomed back and can stay in the dormitories or get more permanent quarters. The Library is among the best in the world, and non-Mages may arrange access for tens of GP per day; no books or maps are to leave the building, of course.

Night's Children is a Golab and Samael cult which runs organized crime in Glorien. Extortion and protection rackets, assassination, legbreaking and thugs-for-hire, and targeted theft are their main businesses. Prostitution, gambling, and most drugs are technically legal, but the Templars violently oppose anyone doing them publicly, so Night's Children runs those in hidden locations. Not exactly a "thieves guild", but independent thieves who steal from a protected home or business, or who don't "tithe" 10% to a local boss, are likely to have accidents.

Hell's Vomit Volcano (Level 10+): A century ago, an unusual Human mining expedition dug deep in an island mountain; they did not find minerals, but the Underworld was full of wealth. When the volcano erupted, it destroyed their palaces, and created a fiery bridge to the mainland. Only monsters of Hell or fire elements dwell there now.

Troos (Level 2): A backwoods trading town, originally "Truce Village", where tribes met without conflict. Three longhalls surround a market square, and there are a few dozen huts on farms within a few hours walk. Jarl Edghard keeps peace with a maul, and doesn't worry if he's knocked sense into someone or life out of them.

Since Glorien's recent military campaign (see Death's Gate and Averus following), more and more troops have been passing through or by Troos, and a camp of followers have set up across the river. Soldiers who get drunk and come into Troos looking for trouble are a diplomatic problem, one the Jarl and Glorien's army commanders are trying not to escalate.

Rittermark (Level 5): A barbarian fortress carved from a cliffside and a sprawling mass of log pallisades around "villages" merged together, the whole making something like a city for nearly a hundred thousand barbarians who cannot run a city. King Starkad Giant-Kin can only sit on his throne when not putting down civil wars or trying to stop open raiding among his neighbors.

Each village of Rittermark or town of the surrounding area has its own Jarl, who thinks himself the equal of the King. Humans and Dwarfs are Peasants or Citizens, prisoners of monster races are slaves, other races are confusing and difficult.

The one unifying element are the Walker Priests of the Old Gods. Walkers travel among the communities, teach and heal anyone regardless of faction, and are considered absolutely neutral judges and witnesses.

Death's Gate (Level 5+): A fortress guarding the way into Averus and northern Hyperborea, constantly beseiged by Averus or Glorien forces, whoever holds it each year has a great military advantage. Glorien is attempting to drive a route north through Averus, but holding Death's Gate is difficult, and raiders from Rittermark disrupt the supply lines. The only other route north is through Shadowsprey Forest, which would be impossible even if the Fauns cooperated with Glorien, which they do not.

Averus (Level 8): A land of evil. Hot springs warm this valley up from tundra into swamp, and it is occupied by Goblin-kin and monsters. An obsidian tower juts through a portal to Hell itself, and is home to the demon Shaitan, ruler of Averus. Shaitan is typically depicted as a giant in flaming armor, but few outsiders have seen him and lived. Demons and giants rule and intimidate the lesser humanoids into working and soldiering.

Storm Islands

Jewel Cities south of Hyperborea are ruled by the Storm Queen. The Jewel Cities are trade ports on the border of the continent of Kush, in constant competition with each other. The seas are full of smaller islands rich with resources, but exploration is dangerous, and many are pirate havens. The Storm Queen never openly interferes, yet weather and nature oppose any who would oppose her.

Local rule is by members of the Noble Houses, each of which competes for wealth and the Storm Queen's favor. Everyone of any importance has some petty aristocratic title, either born or married into. The workers are just Peasants, Serfs, or Slaves. Many lower-born become sailors or pirates, ships always need crew and ask few questions.

Malovia

Malovia to the East is ruled by the Prince of All Darkness. His knights and loyal subjects are turned into free-willed undead at death, disobedient or unlucky peasants are turned into undead slaves. Any unauthorized practice of magic or heretical religions is hunted by Death Knights. The sky over Malovia is perpetually overcast, and the land is corrupt and poisoned.

Gwyrdland

Little is known about the western continent. Dense forests, endless plains, and hostile, strange inhabitants.

Gwyrdland is a patchwork of kingdoms, each with its own weird native races, strange customs. They had little or no contact with the Serpent Men.

Kush

Little is known about the southern continent. Deserts give way to jungles, and perhaps strongholds of the Serpent Men.

Northeastern Kush is much like ancient Egypt. Northwestern Kush is like Carthage, last colony of a Phoenecian-like culture that used to be in Malovia, before the Prince of All Darkness conquered it. The desert prevents easy travel to Southern Kush.

Characters

(This chapter is Open Game Content)

Copy the Character Sheet at the end of these rules.

Stats

Roll 1d4-1d4 for each of the three stats. If all three are zero or negative, the Referee may let you reroll. No stat may be raised above +6 by any means, short of becoming a god.

• Strength (ST): Muscle and physical power, health and stamina.
• Dexterity (DX): Hand-eye coordination, agility, reflexes, and balance.
• Intellect (IN): Learning, reasoning, willpower, perception, intuition, and charm.

Alternative Stat Generation Methods

1. Roll (3d6-10)/2, drop fractions: 3:-4, 4-5:-3, 6-7:-2, 8-9:-1, 10-11:+0, 12-13:+1, 14-15:+2, 16-17:+3, 18:+4.
2. Choose scores from -3 to +3, adding up to 3.

When converting from other Compatible games, scores here equal the bonuses there. ST is average of Strength & Constitution, DX is just Dexterity, IN is average of Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. 3d6 scores are (10 + stat bonus x 2), e.g. -1 is 8, +3 is 16.

Stat Loss

Stats can be lowered temporarily by starvation, heat & cold, poisons, diseases, curses, and monster attacks. If a stat is reduced to -5 or less, the character dies. Lost stat points recover 1 point (from one stat of the player's choice, or a randomly-chosen stat) per night of rest.

Stat Rolls

Stat Rolls, also called Saving Throws, are used to determine the result of any action with an uncertain outcome. The Referee chooses a stat and modifiers (or these may be suggested by the rules). If the action is a skill you don't possess (for some other profession, like Climbing, Stealth, Follow Tracks, Ancient Knowledge, etc.), take a -5 or -10 penalty, or only -2 if it is very similar to a skill you do possess (Crafter: Blacksmith attempting Weaponsmithing, etc.).

Roll 1d20 + Level + stat + modifiers. If the total is 15 or higher, you succeed; if 6-14, you fail; if 5 or less, you fail very badly. Regardless of the total, if the die roll is a natural 20, you succeed and gain some extra benefit; if it is a natural 1, you fail very badly.

Race

Choose Human, Earthborn, Dwarf, High Elf, Faun, Gnome, Beastfolk, Half-Breed, or Monster. The Referee should alter descriptions and abilities, and add or remove races, as appropriate to a campaign.

• Human:
  • Stats: +1 to any one stat.
  • Lifespan: 60 years.
• Earthborn:
  • Stats: +1 IN.
  • Forbidden Professions: Beastmaster, Alchemist, Theurgist.
  • Weapons: Firearms.
  • Magical Resistance: Saving throws against magic are +1 at Level 1, and +1 per 3 Levels, but half normal MP.
  • Lifespan: 70 years.
• Dwarf:
  • Stats: +1 ST, -1 DX.
  • Forbidden Professions: Apprentice, Beastmaster, Black Mage, Hunter, Knight.
  • Weapons: Firearms.
  • Shadowvision: Double distance seen with light sources, ignore melee penalties for darkness.
  • Underground Sense: Always knows direction and distance below ground.
  • Rich: Double starting GP.
  • Lifespan: 120 years.
• Elf:
  • Stats: +1 IN, -1 ST.
  • Forbidden Professions: Berserker, Initiate, White Mage.
  • Weapons: Medium Melee.
  • Faerie: Immune to charm & sleep powers, can sense faerie magic.
  • Keen Senses: +4 bonus to Search.
  • Poor: Halve starting GP.
  • Lifespan: 180 years? Elves do age, and are rarely seen after old age, but whether they die is a mystery.
• Faun:
  • Stats: +1 DX, -1 ST.
  • Forbidden Professions: Knight, Initiate, White Mage.
  • Weapons: Medium Missile.
  • Faerie: Immune to charm & sleep powers, can sense faerie magic.
  • Keen Senses: +4 bonus to Search.
  • Poor: Halve starting GP.
  • Lifespan: 120 years.
• Gnome:
  • Stats: +1 DX, -1 ST.
  • Forbidden Professions: Berserker, Hero, Knight, Soldier.
  • Weapons: Medium Missile.
  • Small & Sneaky: +2 bonus to Stealth.
  • Size: Small (SIZ: S) (races except Gnomes and Monsters are Size: Medium)
  • Lifespan: 90 years, but legends say the first Gnomes lived for many centuries.
• Beastfolk:
  • Appearance: Pick animal, or roll 1d20: 1-2: Wolf, 3-4: Lion, 5-6: Rat, 7-8: Bear, 9: Horse, 10: Otter, 11: Rabbit, 12: Deer, 13: Crow, 14: Hawk, 15: Eagle, 16: Owl, 17: Snake, 18: Crocodile, 19: Turtle, 20: Frog.
    Animalistic parts, roll 1d6: 1: 10%, 2-3: 25%, 4-5: 50%, 6: 75% (all fours, bestial).
  • Stats: +1 ST, -1 IN.
  • Forbidden Professions: Knight, Sage.
  • Weapons: Medium Melee.
  • Claws: Does +1 unarmed damage.
  • Tracking Scent: Sense of smell like a hunting hound, can follow trails up to 6 hours old, +4 bonus to Follow Tracks and Search for Invisible or Stealth creatures, ignores melee penalties for darkness.
  • Poor: Halve starting GP.
  • Lifespan: 40 years.
• Half-Breed:
  • Choose half the advantages and half the disadvantages of each parent, OR roll 1d20 for each attribute: 1-8: does not have attribute, 9-10: has attribute at half effectiveness (drop fractions), 11-19: has attribute, 20: weird attribute, choose from another race or make one up.
  • For example, a Half-Elf with random chance: Human +1 (9, half = no), Elf +1 IN (5, no), -1 ST (11, yes), Forbidden Berserker (9, half = not forbidden!), Initiate (15, yes forbidden), White Mage (requires Initiate), Weapons: Medium Melee (12, yes), Faerie (11, yes), Keen Senses (2, no), Simple (6, no), Lifespan (5, no = 60 years). So a bit weak, not so poor, but Half-Elf Berserker is interesting.
• Monster: The Referee may allow characters to be almost any intelligent "monster" the players have previously encountered (so in your first adventure, nobody can be a Monster).
  • The Monster character begins at Level 1, relatively young and weak.
  • Determine appropriate +1/-1 stats, and one special ability gained or upgraded at Levels 1, 5, 8, and 12.
  • Forbidden Professions: Almost all Monsters are either forbidden Apprentice and Black Mage, or Initiate and White Mage. Most Monsters are forbidden Knight (Centaurs, Demons, and Hobgoblins seem acceptable). Small/Weak Monsters are forbidden Hero. Strong Monsters are usually forbidden Assassin.
  • Humanoid Monsters use normal weapons and armor.
  • Non-humanoid Monsters cannot use most tools, but have natural Light Melee & Armor at Level 1, Medium Melee & Armor at Level 3, Heavy Melee & Armor at Level 5; no Weapon or Armor training is required for this.
  • Suggested Races: Ape-Man, Centaur, Demon, Gargoyle, Ghoul, Goblin, Harpy, Hippogriff, Hobgoblin, Lizardman, Lycanthrope (Vuln at Level 1, SA at Level 5, SD at Level 8), Manticore, Minotaur, Nymph, Ogre, Serpent Man, Troll.

Social Status (Optional)

In unsettled lands (beyond the borders of any nation), most people are free Peasants/Citizens, except those who master a trade, achieve officer rank in a military, or self-made nobles. In settled lands, the social hierarchy is established and inherited with little mobility, and finer distinctions are made.

The Referee may allow players to choose, or roll 1d20 by race or on the Unsettled column. Beastfolk roll as Barbarians, Fauns roll as Rural Humans, Dark Elves roll as High Elves, and Half-breeds roll as whichever culture raised them. Earthborn who have been in the Known World some time may roll as Urban Humans, but if they have only recently appeared, they use a special entry below and are thereafter treated as Citizens.

In settled lands, the Referee may have you roll 3d6 to determine finer rank of status, such that 3 is nearly the next status down, 18 is nearly the next status up, and there is infighting and politicial maneuvering within a social status. What events and politics will move that rank up or down are determined by the Referee, but certainly expending money and doing favors for higher status characters will be required.

Remember to apply Rich & Poor racial attributes to any GP roll. This is unfair, since the poor races also tend to have low status, but a Beastfolk "Noble" is inferior to a Human Noble.

Adventurer-like NPCs can be rolled up on these same tables, unimportant NPCs can be rolled with 2d20 taking the lower die, and important NPCs can be rolled with 2d20 taking the higher die.

• Serf/Slave: Serfs are bound by debt to the land they live and work on, but own whatever they make. Slaves are kept and forced to work, and own nothing. Only High Elves, Dark Elves, some Urban Humans, and some Beastfolk tribes keep slaves; everyone else considers it despicable.
  • Starting Equipment: 3d6 GP, Sack, Peasant Clothing (rags), 3 days Cheap Food, Club.
• Peasant: Owns their own land, but most are quite poor.
  • Starting Equipment: 3d6x2 GP, Sack, Bedroll, Peasant Clothing, Waterskin, 5 days Cheap Food, 5 days Hardtack, Tool.
• Citizen: Town dweller & laborer, or enlisted soldiers, poor to middle class.
  • Starting Equipment: 3d6x2 GP, Backpack, Bedroll, Peasant Clothing, Waterskin, 5 days Cheap Food, 5 days Hardtack, Dagger.
• Craft Master: Skilled crafters, often employing many Citizens and other crafters in training.
  • Starting Equipment: 3d6x3 GP, Backpack, Bedroll, Gentry Clothing, Waterskin, 5 days Hardtack, 5 days Iron Rations, Light Melee, Light Armor (if allowed), Donkey, Saddle Bags.
• Merchant: Well-off shop owners, traders, ship captains, and caravan bosses.
  • Starting Equipment: 3d6x5 GP, rest same as Craft Master.
• Officer: Well-off professional soldiers, anywhere from Sergeant to Captain.
  • Starting Equipment: 3d6x4 GP, Riding Horse & Saddle instead of Donkey, rest same as Craft Master.
• Gentry: Rich citizens, usually make money by lending money to other businesses.
  • Starting Equipment: 3d6x5 GP, Riding Horse & Saddle instead of Donkey, rest same as Craft Master.
• Noble: Either inherited aristocracy, or seized power by building a fortress & hiring soldiers.
  • Starting Equipment: 3d6x7 GP, Warhorse & Saddle instead of Donkey, rest same as Craft Master.
• Earthborn: Newly appeared Earthborn have limited but anachronistic supplies.
  • Starting Equipment: 3d6 SP, some paper money worth nothing, may have any or all of: Sack, 2 Belt Pouches, 50 Matches or Lighter with fuel for 50 uses, Pipeweed & Pipe or Hand-Rolling Papers, Guitar or Harmonica, Flask of Liquor, Canteen (waterskin), 1d6 days Hardtack, Outlandish Gentry Clothing, Cloak, Winter Coat, Heavy Boots.
  • Rare item, roll 1d6: 1-2: Notebook, Quill & Ink, and 1d6 other books, 3: Pocket Compass, 4: Spyglass, 5-6: Pocket/Wrist Watch.
  • Melee weapon, roll 1d6: 1-3: Steel Dagger, 4-5: Steel Rapier, 6: Steel Tool.
  • Ranged weapon, roll 1d6: 1-2: Revolver (Pistol) with 3d6x2 rounds (only reload after 6 shots, Dwarf bullets must be modified for use), 3-4: Repeating Rifle with 3d6x4 rounds (only reload after 15 shots, Dwarf bullets must be modified for use), 5: 6 Throwing Knives/Shuriken, 6: None.

Professions

Professions are areas of military or magical training; often these are specific jobs a character has been employed in.

A basic, untrained character has the following attributes, which can be improved by Professions:

• Hit Die: 1d4.
• Attacks: 1 at Level 1-10, 2 at Level 11+.
• To Hit: Untrained.
• Weapons: Light Melee, Light Missile.
• Armor: None.
• Combat Stances: Normal, Dodging, Sprinting.
• Magic Items: All trained weapons and armor, plus potions, rings, amulets, and some miscellaneous magic items.

At first level, choose two Professions from the lists below. Basic Professions have no prerequisites, while Advanced Professions require other Professions to be chosen first, e.g. you can only become a Soldier after training as Militia, and Prestige Professions require Level 4 and usually an Advanced Profession.

You will gain additional Professions at Levels 2, 4, and multiples of 4.

Most attributes are the highest of any known Professions, while Weapons, Armor, Combat Stances, Magic Items, and special skills add to those known. For example, a Militia, Berserker, Assassin has Hit Die 1d10, ignoring the base 1d4 or Militia's 1d6; Attacks are as Militia, To Hit is Militia. Weapons are base Light Melee, Light Missile, plus militia's Medium Melee, Medium Missile, plus berserker's Great Melee. Armor is militia's Light Armor, Shield. Combat Stances are base Normal, Dodging, plus militia's Offensive, Defensive, assassin's Defensive is duplicate, plus berserker's Charging.

Using a weapon you are not trained in has a -4 penalty To Hit. Using armor you are not trained in halves your movement rate and applies a -4 penalty to all actions. Magic items you are not trained in will simply not work for you.

Conversions

Most Compatible and Old-School games use predefined classes, which can be simulated with the following professions taken in order:

• Assassin: Assassin, Militia, Thief, Soldier.
• Barbarian: Militia, Berserker, Hunter.
• Cavalier: Militia, Soldier, any one, Knight, Hero.
• Cleric: Initiate, White Mage, Militia, Theurgist.
• Dwarf (Basic): Crafter, Militia, Soldier.
• Elf (Basic): Militia, Apprentice, Black Mage.
• Fighter: Militia, Soldier, any one, Hero.
• Halfling (Basic): Thief, Militia, Hunter.
• Magic-User: Apprentice, Black Mage, Sage, Alchemist.
• Monk: Pugilist, Assassin, Ninja, Thief.
• Paladin: Militia, Soldier, Initiate, Knight, White Mage.
• Ranger: Militia, Hunter, Soldier, Apprentice, Black Mage.
• Thief: Thief, Assassin, Militia, Mountebank.
• Witch: Apprentice, Beastmaster, Black Mage, Alchemist.

Basic Professions

• Apprentice: Trained with a black mage, but cannot cast spells from your own power yet.
  • Weapons: Staff.
  • Magic Items: Black Magic wands, rods, staves, and crystal balls.
  • Read Black Magic Scroll: You can read black magic scrolls and cast their spell.
  • Detect Magic: Roll 1d20 + Level + IN; if total is 15 or higher, you sense if an enchantment has been placed on a person, place or thing within 20m.
• Assassin: A warrior of the shadows who avoids sight, whether to avoid battle or to launch a devastating surprise attack.
  • Weapons: Medium Melee, Medium Missile.
  • Armor: Light Armor.
  • Combat Stances: Defensive.
  • Ambush: Attacking from hiding gives a +2 bonus To Hit, and target is surprised. At Level 3-6, this inflicts +1d6 damage; at Level 7-8, +2d6 damage; at Level 9-10, +3d6 damage; at Level 11+, this inflicts a crippling wound, +4d6 damage and a ST Drain; at Level 13+, on a natural 20 attack roll, severs the hit location like a Vorpal weapon.
  • Fastdraw (aka "Iai-Jutsu"): You can draw a weapon and attack with it in a single action, ignoring the weapon draw initiative penalty.
  • Stealth: Roll 1d20 + Level + DX, +0 in dim light, +4 in darkness, -4 in normal light; if total is 15 or higher, you can move silently and stay hidden in shadows with a movement of 3, others use Search to try to find you; if total is 14 or less, you stumble and are visible to all around.
• Beastmaster: Master of "pets", trained animals, familiars, and summoned entities.
  • Magic Points (MP): Level + IN + 1d6, if you are not also a Black Mage or White Mage. You use magic for more advanced abilities. If you become a Mage, use that profession's MP instead.
  • Beast Control: You may have any number of pets whose total Levels are less than or equal to your Level. You may dismiss a pet at any time, but then cannot get another one for at least one week.
  • Pet Trainer: You can capture or buy a non-magical animal as a pet. Training the pet takes (6 - pet's IN) weeks. It can learn (3 + pet's IN) commands, and will follow and defend you.
  • Beast-Rider: You can ride a trained pet (of at least one larger size than you) in battle, giving a +2 To Hit and Damage when attacking an enemy who is on foot.
  • Familiar Finder: At Level 4, you can magically bind a pet. The ritual takes 1 hour, costs 4 MP, makes it completely obedient to you, and gives you a mystic link. It will obey any simple command you give it, though it still has an animal's intelligence. For 1 MP, you know the direction & distance to the familiar. For 3 MP, you can "borrow" its senses and control it directly for 10 minutes per Level. If the familiar dies, you take 2d6 HP damage and cannot get a new pet for at least one week.
  • Evoker: At Level 7, you can summon & bind a living (not Undead, Unliving, or Demonic!) monster of your Level or less for 7 MP. The monster may be intelligent, but summoning & binding a humanoid is slavery, illegal in most places. Otherwise identical to Familiar Finder.
  • Summoner: At Level 11, you can summon & bind any monster of your Level or less for 11 MP. Otherwise identical to Evoker.
• Crafter: Skilled with a single practical craft or trade, such as Actor, Armorer, Artist, Blacksmith, Bowyer, Brewer, Carpenter, Cook, Engineer, Farmer, Glassblower, Jeweller, Leatherworker, Mason, Miner, Minstrel, Potter, Tailor, or Weaponsmith.
  • Craft: Can make new goods or structures of that craft type for 1/2 retail price, in 1d4 days for easy items, 2d6 days for complex items. Roll 1d20 + Level + DX; if total is 20 or higher, it is exceptional with +1 bonus; if total is 15 or higher, it is competent with no bonus; if total is 6-14, it is inferior with -1 penalty; if total is 5 or less, it is wasted effort & money.
  • Repair: Can repair broken items of that craft type for 1/4 retail price.
  • Perform: For performance trades, roll 1d20 + Level + DX; if total is 20 or higher, the performance is exceptional and earns 5x usual; if total is 15 or higher, it is competent and earns 1x usual; if total is 6-14, it is inferior and earns 1/2x usual; if total is 5 or less, it is appalling and people will demand a refund or chase you off. Usual earnings depend on the audience: street earns 1d10 CP per day, tavern earns 2d20 CP per day, court earns 2d20 SP per day.
• Initiate: A beginning religious devotee, as yet without enough faith to summon power from the gods.
  • Weapons: Staff.
  • Magic Items: White magic wands, rods, and staves.
  • Read White Magic Scroll: You can read white magic scrolls and cast their spell.
  • Detect Evil: Roll 1d20 + Level + IN; if total is 15 or higher, you sense if a target within 20m is a supernatural evil monster, undead, or has actively evil intent, or is a Black Mage of Level 5+.
  • Healer: Initiates can perform basic medical care, and know the most effective use of healing items. Healing potions and other items with a die roll for HP restored can be rerolled and the better result applied.
• Militia: Basic military training, typically competent to hold a spear and stand watch.
  • Hit Die: 1d6.
  • Attacks: 1 at Level 1-7, 2 at Level 8-14, 3 at Level 15+.
  • To Hit: Militia.
  • Weapons: Medium Melee, Medium Missile.
  • Armor: Light Armor, Shield.
  • Combat Stances: Offensive, Defensive.
• Pugilist: A brawler, martial artist, and wrestler.
  • Hit Die: 1d6.
  • Attacks: 1 at Level 1-7, 2 at Level 8-14, 3 at Level 15+.
  • To Hit: Militia.
  • Combat Stances: Defensive, Disarming, Stunning.
  • Lethal Hands: Unarmed damage increases to 1d3 for Level 1, 1d4 for Level 2-3, d6 for Level 4-5, d8 for Level 6-7, d10 for Level 8-9, d12 for Level 10-11, d20 for Level 12-15, d30 for Level 16+ (one Level worse than monsters).
  • Iron Grip: Add bonus to ST roll for Grapple, +1 for Level 1-5, +2 for Level 6-10, +3 for Level 11-15, +4 for Level 16+.
  • Improvised Weapons: Can use non-weapons as weapons, typically small objects like tin cups as Light Melee, medium objects like chairs as Medium Melee, large objects like signposts as Heavy Melee, absurd objects like tables as Great Melee if you have the ST to lift it. Thrown improvised weapons have half the range of a proper weapon. These have typical Material and breakage chances, usually as Wood.
• Sage: A scholar, more interested in dusty tomes and excavating ruins than current events.
  • Ancient Knowledge: Roll 1d20 + Level + IN; if total is 15 or higher, you know some esoteric fact or can speak and read an obscure language; if total is 14 or less, you are as ignorant as anyone else.

• Thief: Taking anything not nailed down, and using a crowbar to remove nails.
  • Climbing: Roll 1d20 + Level + DX. If total is 15 or higher, you can climb even sheer surfaces at 3m per round; if total is 14 or less, you fall.
  • Lockpicking: Roll 1d20 + Level + DX - area Level; if total is 15 or higher, you can pick a lock and disarm any traps; if total is 14 or less, you fail, your lockpicks break, and any trap goes off and hits you; if total is 5 or less, you fail as previous, and you cannot try again on that lock or trap until you have gained a Level.
  • Pickpocketing: Roll 1d20 + Level + DX - target's Level; if total is 15 or higher, you can take something from a target without their knowledge. This only works in peaceful situations or from hiding.

Advanced Professions

• Berserker (requires Militia): Channeling psychotic rage to make you an unstoppable killing machine.
  • Hit Die: 1d10.
  • Weapons: Great Melee.
  • Combat Stances: Charging.
  • Berserk Rage: (Level x 2) times per day, if wearing Partial Medium armor or lighter, you can enter a berserker rage for 1d6 rounds. During this rage, you add +1 ST and +3 Movement, are immune to fear, charm, and sleep, and you do not become unconscious if you reach 0 HP. When it ends these bonuses go away, and if you were at 0 HP or less, you die instantly.
  • Mobile Defense: When fighting with no armor, Partial Light, Light, or Partial Medium armor, gain +1 AC and +1 Movement.
• Black Mage (requires Apprentice): Mastery of the dark arts, able to bend reality with spell incantations. A character cannot learn both Black Mage and White Mage.
  • Alignment: Only Chaotic or Neutral characters can learn Black Magic.
  • Magic Points (MP): (Level + IN) x 2.
  • Cast Black Magic: Cast black magic spells by incantation.
  • Spell Knowledge: You start knowing (1 + IN) Level 1 spells, and learn 1 spell each Level. All additional spells must be found or purchased.
• Hunter (requires Militia): Wilderness survival, guiding, and guerilla warfare.
  • Weapons: Heavy Missile.
  • Combat Stances: Trapping.
  • Native Lands: Choose a biome or region you are familiar with, and gain +2 bonus on Gathering, Follow Tracks, and Stealth rolls in exactly that terrain and +0 in very similar terrain; you take -4 penalty in unfamiliar terrain (e.g. plains if you are native to taiga), or -8 in alien terrain (e.g. underground or volcanic ashlands).
  • Follow Tracks: You can find and follow tracks left up to 24 hours previously. Roll 1d20 + Level + IN; if total is 15 or higher, you are perceptive enough to follow them for up to 1km.
  • Gathering: Spend an hour gathering food, and roll 1d20 + Level + IN; if total is 15 or higher, you find enough forage, fish, and small animals to provide 1d6 cheap meals, and all the water you can use.
  • Prepare Game: If you bring down game you have tracked, SIZ S animals can be butchered for 1d6 cheap meals, SIZ M for 2d6, SIZ L for 3d6, SIZ G for 4d6. Add 1d6 per 2 Levels. Halve for Weak, add 50% for Strong.
  • Stealth: As Assassin.
• Monk (requires Initiate): An ascetic, pacifistic, isolated religious person. Monks are not "kung fu ass-kickers" (see Pugilist and Ninja instead), they're peaceful worshippers and scholars. Some Monks become White Mages, but most do not, and follow Sage, Crafter, and other peaceful professions. Old warriors and adventurers sometimes renounce violence and become Monks. Female Monks may be called Monks or Nuns, depending on sect.
  • Combat Stances: Parrying, Disarming. Most often uses Dodging.
  • Meditation: By concentrating silently for 1 hour per Level of the effect, you can expel from yourself any mental condition or curse, or temporary physical condition, poison, or disease.
  • Pacifism: Monks take vows of pacifism, and will never attack a living being, even in self-defense. Violating this oath disables your ability to use White Magic or other Monk abilities until at least 1 week of penance. On the positive side, Monks earn (Level x 10) EP for healing and protecting the innocent. The Undead, Demons, and other unliving monsters are fair game to a Monk.
  • Magic Resistance: Magic and psionic saving throw bonuses add +1 for Level 1-4, +2 for Level 5-8, +3 for Level 9-12, +4 for Level 13-16, +5 for Level 17+.
  • Protection from Evil: Can use this spell-like ability, once per day at Level 1-4, twice per day at Level 5-9, thrice per day at Level 10-14, fourice per day at Level 15+.
  • Dispel Magic: Can use this spell-like ability, once per day at Level 5-9, twice per day at Level 10-14, thrice per day at Level 15+.
  • Dispel Evil: Can use this spell-like ability, once per day at Level 9-14, twice per day at Level 15+.
• Ninja (requires Pugilist): Martial artist who has developed mystical skills, or tricks that look mystical.
  • Blind Fighting: Darkness, blindness, and fighting invisible foes are no longer handicaps. At Level 3, you ignore these penalties for melee combat. At Level 5, you can move at normal speed in familiar areas, half speed in unfamiliar areas, and retain your sense of direction and distance. At Level 7, you ignore these penalties for ranged combat if you can hear or smell the target, typically out to 20m but perhaps more on noisy gravel, etc.
  • Breath Control: You can hold your breath for 6+Level rounds before you start drowning.
  • Clinging: You can hold on to even the tiniest crevice on any surface, useful for avoiding falling, and hiding against walls and ceilings. Adds +2 to Climbing rolls, and to Stealth if hidden in inobvious places.
  • Knockback: Your unarmed attacks can carry more force than normal, sending targets back a number of meters equal to damage divided by 1 for SIZ S, 2 for SIZ M, 4 for SIZ L, 8 for SIZ G. Target must make a DX roll to stay upright, on failure is knocked prone.
  • Leaping: You can leap unusual distances, 3m for Level 1-5, 6m for Level 6-10, 9m for Level 11-15, 12m for Level 16+, half that vertically at apex. Typically used to make a kick attack or bypass chasms to reach a foe, but may also be used to leap small buildings in a single bound.
  • Smoke Escape: At Level 5, you can create smoke bombs which create a 3m diameter cloud of smoke, and learn the technique of escaping while so concealed; typically up a wall or out a window, but under furniture will do. Making smoke bombs costs 20 GP in alchemical materials and 1 day of work, then roll 1d20 + Level + IN; if the total is 15 or higher, you produce 1d6; otherwise the materials are wasted. Using a smoke bomb is automatically successful, but Climbing, Stealth, or whatever else to escape may be harder.
• Soldier (requires Militia): Veteran of at least one battle, now devoted to military training.
  • Hit Die: 1d8.
  • Attacks: 1 at Level 1-5, 2 at Level 6-10, 3 at Level 11-15, 4 at Level 16+.
  • To Hit: Soldier.
  • Weapons: Heavy Melee.
  • Armor: Medium Armor.
  • Combat Stances: Blocking, Charging, Thrusting.
• White Mage (requires Initiate): A true believer in the gods, able to channel their power into spells. A character cannot learn both Black Mage and White Mage. Note there is no alignment restriction on White Mage, but most are Lawful.
  • Magic Points (MP): (Level + IN) x 2.
  • Cast White Magic: Cast white magic spells by praying.
  • Spell Knowledge: You start knowing (1 + IN) Level 1 spells, and learn 1 spell each Level. All additional spells must be found or purchased, except that White Mages in good standing with their home temple (donating 25% of all wealth gained and obeying all Church doctrine) will be taught all new spells.
  • Create Holy Water: By casting Purify Food & Drink and Bless on a sealed bottle of water, it becomes Holy Water.

Prestige Professions

• Alchemist (requires Level 4, Black Mage): Creator of arcane artifacts.
  • Create Black Magic Scroll: You can create a magic scroll of any known spell. This takes 1 week of time per Spell Level, costs Spell Level x 100 GP for enchanted paper and ink, and expends MP equal to Spell Level on each day of preparation. On the final day, roll 1d20 + Level + IN - Spell Level; if total is 15 or higher, you create the intended scroll; if total is 6-14, you create a scroll with a random Black Magic spell of Spell Level or less; if total is 5 or less, you create a cursed scroll.
  • Create Chemical: At Level 4, you can create any non-magical chemical compound you have found the recipe for (placed by the Referee). This takes 1 day, requires an iron or ceramic cauldron (depending on recipe) and ingredients (half retail price, or 10-100 GP for unusual chemicals, or go adventuring to find them) depending on the recipe. At the end of the day, roll 1d20 + Level + IN; if the substance is hazardous, +0 for Weak, -4 for Moderate, -8 for Strong. If total is 15 or higher, you create the compound. Can create: Poison, acid, alcohol, drugs, lye, soap, perfumes, dyes, special inks, pesticide (for one species of vermin), gunpowder, and many others. Many of these can be sold for at least double the ingredient cost. There are usually non-magical processes to create these, but they take 2-10x as long and expensive apparatus.
  • Create Homonculous: At Level 5, you can create a Homonculous with a complex ritual process. This takes at least 1d4 weeks, and costs 1000 GP and a pint of your blood per week. Then roll 1d20 + Level + IN - 5. If total is 15 or higher, you create an obedient Homonculous; if total is 6-14, it is not complete, work another week and try again; if total is 5 or less, it is a rogue Homonculous, and attacks you. A successful Homonculous is bound to obey you, and has constant ESP with you. If the Homonculous dies, you take damage equal to its full HP. You can only have one Homonculous at a time.
  • Create Potion: At Level 7, you can create any magic potion you have found the recipe for (placed by the Referee). This takes 1 week of time, costs 250-1000 GP in herbs and monster body parts (or go adventuring to find them) depending on the recipe, and expends 5 MP on each day of preparation. On the final day, roll 1d20 + Level + IN - 10; if total is 15 or higher, you create three bottles of the potion; if total is 6-14, you create three bottles of random potions; if total is 5 or less, you create three bottles of poison.
  • Create Magic Item: At Level 11, you can create any magic item of your Level or less. All Alchemists know how to make a Crystal Ball of Level 11, all other items are unique. This takes 2 weeks per Item Level, costs Item Level x 1000 GP, and expends Item Level MP on each day of preparation. On the final day, roll 1d20 + Level + IN - Item Level; if total is 15 or higher, you create the intended item; if total is 6-14, you create an item with a random enchantment; if total is 5 or less, you create a cursed item.
• Hero (requires Level 4, Soldier): The epitome of foot soldiers, a Hero fights with great weapons against the greatest monsters.
  • Hit Die: 1d10.
  • Weapons: Great Melee.
  • Armor: Heavy Armor.
  • Combat Stances: Disarming, Parrying.
  • Dual Wield: Can use a weapon in each hand. Each weapon must be 1-Handed, including Medium or Light melee, Light Crossbow, or a Pistol; 1-Handed Heavy melee can only be used in main hand, paired with a lighter weapon. This gives 1 additional attack with the off-hand, at -2 to hit. Non-Heroes trying Dual Wield are at -4 to main hand and -6 to off hand.
  • Fearless: Immune to all fear effects or morale, and can face any battle without cowardice.
  • Shield Wall: Use of a shield gives an additional +2 AC against missiles to self and any ally in the same 3m map square.
  • Call to Adventure: Mundane life and tranquility saps the life of a Hero, and you must seek new adventures until the end, like Tennyson's Ulysses. For every month idle, take 1d6 HP damage which cannot be healed, but cannot reduce you below 1 HP. Once on adventure, normal healing returns.
• Knight (requires Level 4, Soldier): The highest ideal of chivalry and medieval military might.
  • Horsemanship: You can ride a horse in battle, giving a +2 To Hit and Damage when attacking an enemy who is on foot.
  • Indominatible: Gain +2 to all hazard or magical saving throws.
  • Liege Lord & Title: You must either swear fealty to a lord, or establish your own kingdom. This gives you the title of Knight, addressed as Sir or Lady. Alternately you may swear fealty to the Church, and be titled a Paladin, addressed as Brother or Sister (take Initiate and White Mage if you also want magic as a Paladin).
  • Code of Chivalry: You are expected to uphold a knight's code of honor, as given in the Song of Roland, Le Morte d'Arthur, and The Once and Future King. Failure to do so will earn you a reputation as a Blackguard, and honorable knights will seek you out to duel you.
  • Knight's Privilege: Honorable knights receive courtesy from other knights and lords met, and may be given accommodation and resupply. Knights captured by enemies will usually be ransomed rather than killed. Blackguards may receive courtesy instead from evil lords, demons, and powerful monsters; or they may not, because evil consumes its own.
• Mountebank (requires Level 4, Thief): Con artist, grifter, gambler, hustler, pitchman, and fraud.
  • Luck: Mountebanks have Luck Points equal to their (Level + IN). You can spend Luck Points to activate Mountebank skills, or 1 point to reroll any Thief or Assassin skill. Luck recovers 1 point per day, or 1 point per unassisted win of 10 GP or more in a gambling game.
  • Fast Talk: You can trick people into going into a con game, or distract them, or wheedle your way past someone. Spend 1 Luck Point, and roll 1d20 + Level + IN - target's Level; if total is 15 or higher, you get away with it; if total is 5 or less, they realize what you're pulling and get angry.
  • Hairy Eyeball: You can size up a target and gain information about them. Spend 1 Luck Point, and roll 1d20 + Level + IN - target's Level; if total is 15 or higher, you know their Level, approximate HP (tens digit), Professions, and any concealed weapons.
  • Streetwise: In a market, tavern, town, or city, you can observe people and ask around for information, without drawing attention. Spend 1 Luck Point, and roll 1d20 + Level + IN; if total is 15 or higher, you learn something useful about a person, place, or thing of interest; if total is 5 or less, you are caught and face some kind of trouble.
  • Free-Willed: Gain a +4 bonus against magical or psionic mental attack, mind reading, mind control, or paralysis (e.g. Charm, Confusion, ESP, Fear, Hold).
• Psionic (requires Level 4, IN +3, Human, Human Half-Breed, and some Monsters only): Mastering the powers of the mind. Amateurs may have "psychic" gifts, but skilled use is called "psionic". Gaining Psionics early is extremely risky, cautious characters will not take Psionics until Level 8 or higher.
  • Psionic Strength (PS): Energy used for psionics. Maximum value is (Level + IN) x 2, current level is reduced in combat. PS recovers 1 point per hour of normal activity, and fully after a night of rest.
  • Psionic Training: When Psionic is first learned, gain Psionic Blast, Mind Blank, and any one Discipline. Every Level afterwards, choose the next level higher attack or defense, and any one Discipline.
  • Psionic Sensitive: Detects the use of any psionic attack within (maximum PS x 10m). Roll 1d20 + Level + IN - (attacker's Level + IN); if total is 15 or higher, direction to the attacker, ability used, and attacker's remaining PS are learned; if total is 10-14, only direction is sensed; if total is 9 or less, no information is gained.
• Theurgist (requires Level 4, White Mage): Creator of divine artifacts.
  • Create White Magic Scroll: You can create a magic scroll of any known spell. This takes 1 week of time per spell Level, costs spell Level x 100 GP for enchanted paper and ink, and expends MP equal to spell Level on each day of preparation. On the final day, roll 1d20 + Level + IN - Spell Level; if total is 15 or higher, you create the intended scroll; if total is 6-14, you create a scroll with a random White Magic spell of Spell Level or less; if total is 5 or less, you create a cursed scroll.
  • Create Golem: At Level 9, you can create an animated guardian of your Level or less. This takes at least Golem's Level in weeks, and costs 1000 GP per week. Then roll 1d20 + Level + IN. If total is 15 or higher, you create an obedient Golem; if total is 6-14, it is not complete, work another week and try again; if total is 5 or less, it is a rogue Golem, and attacks you. A successful Golem obeys your verbal commands and any instructions written on a clay tablet and put inside its head. You can only have one Golem at a time.
  • Create Amulet: At Level 11, you can create amulets of your Level or less, which adds magic item bonus (see Treasure) to saving throw against one element or effect. This takes 1 week per Item Level, costs Item Level x 500 GP, and expends Item Level MP on each day of preparation. On the final day, roll 1d20 + Level + IN - Item Level; if total is 15 or higher, you create the intended amulet; if total is 6-14, you create an amulet against a random effect; if total is 5 or less, you create a cursed amulet.

Secondary Stats

Hit Points (HP)

Physical damage a character can survive. In some games, HP may be said to represent "luck", "skill", or "favor of the gods"; this is up to the Referee and players, but those factors already exist in attack rolls, defenses, and magic. So the premise here is that HP represent physical injuries, and more experienced characters are able to take a beating that would KO or kill a less-experienced character.

There are several variations possible for HP. All character races and Humanoid monsters should use the same system, while non-Humanoid monsters almost always use Standard Hit Points.

• Standard Hit Points: This is a hard and unforgiving way to live, or mostly die. At every Level including 1st, roll and add one Hit Die + ST, minimum 1.
• Old-School Hit Die Cap (Optional): This keeps anyone from becoming too godlike. As Standard up through Level 9. At Level 10-20, do not roll another Hit Die or add ST, instead, 1d6 or lower Hit Die adds 1 HP, 1d8 Hit Die adds 2 HP, 1d10 or higher Hit Die adds 3 HP.
• Racial Hit Points (Optional): This is more generous, encouraging combat early on, but isn't too powerful. At Level 1, add 10 + racial ST bonus x 5 to HP; so 10 or 15 for Humans depending on stat bonus choice, 5 for Elves, Fauns, and Gnomes, 15 for Dwarfs and Beastfolk.
• Mutant Hit Points (Optional): This is for very dangerous survival games, where all characters start tough but increase very little, and hazards are commensurately powerful. At Level 1, HP equal (10 + ST x 2) rolls of their Hit Die; or half that many dice for a more moderate HP total. At each Level after 1st, add bonus HP: 1d6 or lower Hit Die adds 1 HP, 1d8 Hit Die adds 2 HP, 1d10 or higher Hit Die adds 3 HP. If ST or Hit Die permanently changes, reroll all HP. For example, Jack Carter has ST +3, and is a Soldier with 1d8 Hit Die. Rolling 16d8 (3, 7, 5, 6, 8, 1, 7, 1, 8, 3, 6, 4, 6, 8, 1, 7) = 81 HP, or the moderate version is 8d8 = 38 HP. At 3rd Level, he will have gained (+2 x 2) = +4 HP.
• White Box Hit Points (Optional): This goes with any other variation, but players reroll all HP each Level, and keep the higher total.

Damage reduces HP, and can lead to death:

• At 0 HP, you are barely conscious, incapable of combat, magic, complex skills, or movement beyond a slow crawl. You can speak, but not for long.
• At negative HP down to your Level, you are unconscious. Until you are treated by someone with Healing skill (usually an Initiate), you lose 1 HP per round.
• At negative HP equal to your (Level + 1), you die.

HP recover naturally but slowly if you have 24 hours of rest, with sufficient food and water.

• At 0 HP or higher, you heal 1 HP per day.
• If you have negative HP, roll 1d20 + Level + ST; if the total is 15 or higher, heal 1 HP; if 6-14, nothing changes; if 5 or less, lose 1 HP.

Near-Death Side Effects (Optional): If you have negative HP and are healed to 0 or higher, you must roll 1d20 + ST on the following table. Negative effects can be removed with a Restoration spell, or sometimes with prosthetics.

Death is not the end:

• The Black Magic spell Animate Dead can produce free-willed undead, and Soul Jar can trap the soul and transfer it to another body, though these are Chaotic and evil practices.
• The White Magic spell Raise Dead can return the dead to life, but has penalties.
• Players with loyal henchmen can take over one of them as their new character.
• The souls of the dead go to another plane, and there are stories of heroes going there to retrieve their friends.
• Or just make a new character, starting at either the campaign's starting Level, or minimum XP of the lowest Level of the surviving party. You shouldn't be able to "fail up" to a Level above what anyone else has worked for.

Magic Points (MP)

Energy used to cast spells. MP is gained from Black Mage, White Mage, or Beastmaster Professions. Each spell costs MP equal to the Spell Level. For example, a Level 3 Black Mage with IN +4 has (3+4)x2 = 14 MP, and can cast three Level 3 spells and five Level 1 spells, etc.

MP fully recover after a night of rest.

Mana Level: Most environments (lands, or planets, or planes of existence) have normal mana levels. Mana levels increase near chaotic sources and deeper in the Underworld, decrease near lawful sources and above the world. In low-mana environments, halve a character's MP. In high-mana environments, MP recovers at a rate of (Level) MP per hour, in addition to full recovery after rest.

Alignment

Choose one. There are no "alignment languages". Typically a cooperating group should be mostly Lawful, or mostly Chaotic, with some Neutrals tolerated. The divine beings of each alignment, if any, will depend on the campaign.

• Lawful: Protects stable civilization, law & order, orthodox & reactionary.
  • Most medieval people would call Lawful "good", "holy", or "honorable"; most modern people would call it "repressive", "tyrannical", and "medieval".
• Neutral: Protects nature, promotes evolution in action, enlightened self-interest, and balance.
  • Most people are Neutral, not because they concern themselves with the ideology of balance, but out of disinterest.
• Chaotic: Protects personal freedom & liberty, change & growth, influence of Hades, chaos & confusion.
  • Most monsters and "evil" people are Chaotic, and prey on the Lawful, but anyone who lives outside of society's rules or supports a "free" society is Chaotic.

Languages

Characters know their native language, typically Common (used by Humans and Ogres), Dwarfish, Elven, Faerie (Fauns), plus a number of other languages equal to their IN if it is positive. Characters are only literate if their IN is 0 or higher, or have a literate Profession (Apprentice, Initiate, or Sage). Starting adventurers also know Common if it is not their native language. Characters can learn one new language per Level with six months of daily practice. Animal and elemental languages are normally only useful with intelligent things of that type.

To pick a random language, there's a 50% chance it will be Common, otherwise roll 1d20:

Experience & Level

Characters at the absolute start of their career have Level 1, Experience Points (EP) 0.

The Referee should usually allow player characters to start as journeyman adventurers, in which case they get 1000 EP and do one Level Up (Level 2); in particular note that this gives a third Profession.

How to Gain Experience

• Completing a quest earns (Quest's Level x 100) EP.
• Defeating a monster earns (Monster's Level x 10) EP, -50% for Weak monsters, +50% for Strong monsters. Every character who participated gets the same award.
• Completing a personal goal earns (Level x 100) EP, possible only once per Level. This includes defeating personal enemies, completing spell research, romancing someone, making a huge business deal, making a religious sacrifice, etc. The Referee may require this to cost money, if so roll d100: 01-10: Excessive costs, (Level² x 80) GP; 11-90: Normal costs, (Level² x 40) GP; 91-99: Cheaper than expected, (Level² x 20) GP; 00: Free, and get a bonus (money, potion, or scroll).

How to Level Up

When you reach a total of (Level² x 1000) EP, you go up to the next Level. It is very rare to exceed Level 10, and the maximum mortal Level is 20. Optional: The Referee may have you wait to Level Up until the start or end of a session, or require training time & some expense.

When You Level Up

• At Level 2, and Levels evenly divisible by 4, add a new Profession.
• At Levels evenly divisible by 3, add +1 to any stat, up to a maximum of +6.
• Increase Hit Points.
• If you have Black Mage or White Mage, see Spell Knowledge for that Profession.
• Increase Magic Points if your professions provide any.
• Update your Attacks and To Hit bonuses.

Starting From Nothing (Optional)

Characters are always at least Level 1 (they have a Hit Die), but can start with no Professions. This is useful for boarding school and survival campaigns, where normal young adults become adventurers. They start with -1000 EP and no Professions, only the Untrained stats. At -500 EP, they pick their first Profession. At 0 EP, they pick their second, and are full adventurers.

Equipment

(This chapter is Open Game Content)

Either use Social Status (as above) to determine starting equipment, or roll 3d6x5 (modified by racial Rich or Poor attributes) for starting Gold Pieces (GP). Use any money to buy equipment or keep some for later.

Currency is Gold Pieces (GP). There are also Platinum Pieces (PP) worth 5 GP, Electrum Pieces (ELP) worth 1/2 GP, Silver Pieces (SP) worth 1/10 GP, and Copper Pieces (CP) worth 1/50 GP.

A peasant or laborer earns 1-5 SP per week, soldiers earn 1-5 GP per week, skilled crafters and spell-casters earn at least 5 GP per week. Treat 1 SP as $10 USD for estimating prices; or in medieval (800-1400 CE) sources, 1 CP ≈ 1 farthing, 1 SP ≈ 1 pence (d), 1 GP ≈ 1 shilling (s), 20 GP ≈ 1£ sterling.

Encumbrance limits are up to the Referee. Accounting for weight slows down the game. Slots or "stones" prevent the kind of pack-ratting for contingencies that players like doing. So don't worry about it unless a player has a piano or pages of gear with no explanation.

Material & Repair (Optional)

• Broken weapons: Do half damage after the first break, and are useless after the second break.
• Wood, Stone, Bone, or Leather melee weapons: Cost 1/4x (except Staff), and break on a natural roll of 1-3 in combat.
• Bronze melee weapons: Cost 1/2x, and break on a natural roll of 1-2 in combat.
• Iron melee weapons: Cost 1x, and break on a natural roll of 1 in combat.
• Steel melee weapons: Cost 2x, and break on a roll of 1 if used against magical weapons or armor.
• Titanium melee weapons: Cost 10x, can only be made by Dwarfs or Kobolds, and never break.
• Missile weapons: Cannot usually be made from alternate materials, and break on a natural roll of 1 in combat.
• Firearms: Always made from steel (1x listed cost), and break on a natural roll of 1-2 in combat.

• Broken shields & armor: Lose 1 AC protection each time, down to +0.
• Wood & Leather shields: Cost 1/3x, and break if the opponent rolls natural 18-20 in combat.
• Leather armor: Cost 1x, and breaks if the opponent rolls natural 19-20 in combat.
• Bronze shields & armor: Cost 1/2x, and break if the opponent rolls natural 19-20 in combat.
• Iron shields & armor: Cost 1x, and break if the opponent rolls natural 20 in combat.
• Steel shields & armor: Cost 2x, and break if the opponent has magical weapons and rolls natural 20 in combat.
• Monster hide armor: Cost 5x, requires wearer to kill a monster of AC 16 or higher and skin it, adds +1 AC to leather, breaks if the opponent rols natural 20 in combat.
• Titanium shields & armor: Cost 10x, can only be made by Dwarfs or Kobolds, and never break.
• Dragon hide armor: Cost 20x, requires wearer to kill a dragon/dragonkin of AC 18 or higher and skin it with a magical knife, adds +2 AC to leather, never breaks.

Repairing weapons & armor: Costs 1/4x of the original price, per step of repair. For example, a broken iron shield (10 GP) costs 3 GP to repair; iron chainmail (50 GP) which has lost 3 AC costs 13 GP x 3 steps = 39 GP to repair.

Lifestyle & Maintenance (Optional)

Rather than deal with every petty cost, every night at an inn, every meal, you can use the following rule. Halve this Lifestyle Tax if you do account for some of these services and use the Material & Repair rules.

Characters must pay (Level² x 10) GP every month to support their lifestyle & maintain their equipment. Failure to pay this results in -1 to all attack & stat rolls, and henchman or hireling morale and loyalty. Each item of normal equipment has a 1 in 6 chance to be broken; magic items with charges lose 1d10% of charges. Every 6 months of non-payment, lose 1 point from a stat, roll 1d6: 1-2: ST, 3-4: DX, 5-6: IN. Penalties remain until all owed "lifestyle debt" is paid.

Price Lists

[A] See Thrown Explosives in Combat, does Acid hazard to all targets.
[D] Dwarf (and Kobold) technology. Tends to be large & cumbersome, not pocketable. Dwarfs of good social status (Craft Master or higher) can purchase these at full price in Dwarfish cities. Dwarfs will not sell these to non-Dwarfs (even Earthborn), and may demand they be returned for at most a 10% finder's fee. Non-Dwarf collectors will rarely buy them for 10-20% listed cost, never sell them for fear of angry Dwarfs. Kobolds murder any non-Kobold/Dwarf carrying Dwarf tech, but they'll murder anyone.
[F] See Thrown Explosives in Combat, does Fire hazard to all targets.
[H] See Thrown Explosives in Combat, does standard hazard damage to all undead or demons.
[I] Ale & Wine are Weak Intoxicants (one dose per drink), Liquor is a Moderate Intoxicant, and price may vary considerably. Pipeweed may be tobacco, marijuana, or other drugs, and price may vary considerably. Referee will have to detail specific drugs and side-effects; I suggest using Neoplastic Press' Narcosa.
[P] Poisons can be made for drink, food, contact (dries up to a mostly harmless state after 1d6 turns), or injection with a blade (dries up after 1d6 rounds). Paralytic poisons cost half as much. Careful observation will find a poison with an IN roll modified by intensity (Weak/Moderate/Strong).
[S] See Deprivation. Cheap food (any normally-cooked meal) and Street Vendor food rots after 5 days, then treat it as Poison. Iron Rations (tribal Human & Beastfolk Pemmican, Human canning jars, Dwarfish iron/tin cans of food, or Elven & Gnomish Waybread) lasts for months or years. Hardtack lasts for years, but requires double rations of water. Street vendor meat pies, old food from dungeons, monster meat, and other dubious food requires a 1d6 roll: 1-3: Acceptable, 4-5: Nauseating, make a ST roll to keep it down, 6: Poison.

Armor Class (AC) = 11 + AC bonuses.
Old-School Conversion: New AC = 20 - original rules AC.

Combat

(This chapter is Open Game Content)

To Hit Table

Sequence of Play

Combat is resolved in rounds of 10 seconds, on a battlefield map marked off in 3m squares.

1. Initiative: At the start of combat, every combatant rolls 1d20. On each round, Initiative score is the original roll + Level + DX + Initiative modifiers from equipment, -10 if they were surprised (first round only), -4 on any round where they draw a weapon, -5 if they are currently stunned.
   • In each of the following steps, every combatant acts in order of initiative from highest to lowest. If the combatant has multiple attacks, they are usually resolved all at once.
   • Stunned characters have a -5 Initiative penalty, can only use Normal stance, move at half speed, and take a -5 penalty to any attack or other action. Most combatants back off and wait it out.
   • Optional: Dexterity Rank "Holmes" Initiative. Initiative score is Level + DX + modifiers, and only identical scores roll 1d20 to determine what order they act in.
   • Optional: Continuous Initiative. Reroll Initiative each round. This makes combat more uncertain, but slows the game down.
   • Optional: Group Initiative. One player rolls Initiative for entire party, Referee rolls one Initiative for all enemies, with lowest DX, Level, and equipment modifiers of their side.
   • Optional: Multiple Attack Initiative. Modify Initiative by -5 after each Attack. So if attack 1 is at 9 Initiative, AT 2 is at 4 Init, AT 3 is at -1 Init, and so on.
2. Stance: You may choose any fighting stance allowed by your professions. Any stance modifiers last until your next round.
   • Normal: No modifiers.
   • Blocking: Requires a shield. +2 AC bonus, cannot attack for damage; instead make an attack roll against the first melee enemy who hits you, and if your roll would hit and is higher, you take no damage and the enemy is stunned for the next round.
   • Charging: -2 AC penalty, +1 damage per square moved before striking the enemy in melee; damage bonus cannot exceed weapon's damage die (i.e. charging with a Large Melee can do at most +8 damage).
   • Defensive: +2 AC bonus, -2 To Hit penalty.
   • Disarming: Requires a melee weapon. +2 AC bonus. Cannot attack for damage; instead make an attack roll against a melee enemy, and if your roll would hit, you instead remove the enemy's weapon, which flies 1 square in a random direction.
   • Dodging: +4 AC bonus, no attack or other action.
   • Offensive: +2 To Hit bonus, -2 AC penalty.
   • Parrying: Requires a melee weapon. Whenever you are attacked in melee, you may make an attack roll with your To Hit bonuses; if you roll greater than or equal to the enemy's attack roll, you parry their attack and take no damage; if you roll lower, you take damage as usual. After each parry, successful or not, add a -2 To Hit penalty for the rest of the round.
   • Sprinting: Doubles movement speed, no attack or other action. You cannot sprint more rounds in a combat than your ST score.
   • Stunning: Can be done with a melee weapon or unarmed. Cannot attack for damage; instead make an attack roll against a melee enemy, and if your roll would hit, they are stunned for 1d3 rounds. Target must be equal or smaller size, and equal or lower Level.
   • Thrusting: -1 To Hit penalty, -1 AC penalty, +2 melee damage.
   • Trapping: Requires a flexible melee weapon (flail, whip, etc.). Cannot attack for damage; instead make an attack roll, with the same size penalties as Grapple, against a melee enemy, and if your roll would hit, the enemy is knocked down and stunned for the next round. Target must be equal or smaller size, and equal or lower Level.

   The stance can be described as cautious or enraged fighting styles, or as special maneuvering. For example, a swashbuckler with Offensive stance might swing down on a line, or with Defensive might flip up a table in an enemy's face.

3. Movement: Move distance given by your armor + DX, in 3m squares. Every obstacle moved through or over costs 1 extra square of movement. Combatants can move into or through squares occupied by allies, but not by enemies.

4. Attack: Roll 1d20 + To Hit Table bonus + bonus stat for your weapon (if ST/DX, use whichever is higher). Look on the To Hit Table across from your To Hit type (Untrained, Militia, or Soldier) to your current Level, to get your To Hit bonus.
   • If you are not trained in the weapon you are using (it is not listed in Weapons for any of your Professions), you have a -4 To Hit.
   • Melee attacks against targets at least half your height below you (such as down stairs, but still within reach) are at +1 To Hit, at least half your height above you are at -1 To Hit.
   • Ranged attacks out to listed range have no modifier, out to double range has a -4 To Hit, further than double cannot hit. SIZ S targets are at -1 To Hit, SIZ L are at +1, SIZ G are at +2. Moving targets are at -1 To Hit per 12 squares moved (drop fractions).
   • Hit Location: If you are trying to hit a specific location, you have a -4 To Hit. If you just swing and want to know where you hit, roll 1d8: 1: Head, 2-4: Chest, 5: Left Arm, 6: Right Arm, 7: Left Leg, 8: Right Leg. If the target is not wearing armor on that location, it doesn't add to their AC.
   • If total is greater than or equal to target's AC + DX, you hit. If you have more than one attack, roll each of them now.
   • Critical Hit: On a natural roll of 20, you always hit, and do maximum weapon damage.
   • Fumble: On a natural roll of 1, you always miss, and the Referee may inflict other failure conditions.
   • Firing into Melee: Ranged weapon attacks always go somewhere. For any attack that misses, the Referee should count up everything breakable in the area: Friends, foes, bystanders, and valuable items, and roll a die to choose which gets hit instead. For example, an archer shoots at a Beastfolk in a melee with 3 Beastfolk, 2 allies, and a vase at the back of the room imprisoning a Demilich, misses, and rolls 1d5: 1-2 are the Beastfolk not aimed at, 3-4 are the allies, 5 is the vase.

5. Damage: On a successful hit, roll damage dice for the weapon, plus bonus stat for the weapon. Subtract the total from the target's HP. On damage of 6 or more, a significant injury occurs, based on hit location and weapon type (no mechanical effect).

6. Spell Casting: Casting a spell requires concentration; you cannot cast if you have taken any other action this round, or if you were struck for any damage since your last round, or if you were stunned. See Magic for other restrictions.

7. Grapple: Grappling is an unarmed attack.
   • Compare your & target's SIZ. A same-size target is at -5 To Hit, a smaller target is at -2 To Hit, a one-size larger target is at -8 To Hit, two-size larger cannot be grappled.
   • On a hit, you do normal unarmed damage, are grappled with the target, and both have a -4 AC penalty.
   • Every round thereafter, both make a ST roll. If you succeed and the target fails, do your unarmed damage and target cannot act. If both succeed, nothing happens but fighting for position. If you fail, target escapes the grapple and may attack you immediately.

8. Thrown Explosives: When flasks or grenades are thrown, normally no attack roll is needed out to maximum range 12m. The Referee may require a DX roll, and on failure the projectile bounces 1d4 squares in direction 1d8 (1=N, 2=NE, 3=E, 4=SE, 5=S, 6=SW, 7=W, 8=NW). Targets in the square hit are exposed to a Moderate DX hazard, all within adjacent squares are exposed to a Weak DX hazard.

9. Other: If you did not attack or cast, you can do anything else that takes a few seconds, like use a Profession skill or use an item such as a potion.

10. Morale: Monsters and NPCs check morale when outnumbered by equally powerful foes, or when damaged to half HP or less. Roll 1d20, +2 if defenders outnumber attackers, -2 if attackers outnumber defenders, +2 if defenders appear to be more powerful, -2 if attackers appear to be more powerful. If the total is 2 or less, the monster runs in terror; if 3-5, the monster withdraws or surrenders if possible, fights on if not; if 6 or higher, the monster stands firm.

Mapless Combat (Optional, Recommended for Old-School)

You can play freeform without miniatures, just use relative distances and speeds. For example, a move 9 defender can close ranks to stop a move 6 attacker from getting through. If the attacker chases and defender runs away for 3 rounds ((9-6)x3)=9 squares=27m), they are out of Javelin maximum range (12m x 2).

Weapon vs Armor Type (Optional)

This is a detailed optional rule, and only recommended for "realistic" campaigns where humanoids mostly fight humanoids in small battles, so weapon vs armor is an important strategic choice. In a monster-mashing murderhoboes game, it's extra bookkeeping for almost no value.

Different weapons are more or less effective against varying types of armor, which is represented as a bonus or penalty to the attack roll, which nullifies some of the armor's protection.

When you record a weapon on your character sheet, record next to it (L+0, M+0, H+0) so you don't have to look this up every time.

Monster armor does not use this table unless the Referee assigns an armor equivalent (e.g. a Dragon might be considered Heavy armor, and therefore spears are less effective…). Monster attacks do not use this table unless the Referee assigns a weapon equivalent (e.g. again a Dragon's claws may be considered Blades, and cut Light-armored targets with +1).

Combat Fatigue (Optional)

This is another detailed optional rule, usually only used in long sieges against superior forces.

Over long battles, combatants may become exhausted and less effective, by accumulating Fatigue Points (FP). Undead, Demon, and Unliving monsters are immune to fatigue, and monsters that only use natural weapons and defenses will not build up much fatigue.

Every round:

• Running: 1 FP
• Fighting with a Tool, Medium Melee, or Medium Missile: 1 FP
• Wearing Medium Armor (including Partial) or a Kite Shield, if not mounted: 1 FP
• Sprinting, Swimming, or Climbing: 2 FP
• Fighting with a Heavy or Great Melee, or Heavy Missile: 2 FP
• Wearing Heavy Armor (including Partial), if not mounted: 2 FP

Make a track on your sheet and use a marker to indicate current fatigue:

1               5               10              15              20
[_][_][_][_][_] [_][_][_][_][_] [_][_][_][_][_] [_][_][_][_][_] [_][_][_][_][_]
 ^

When FP reaches 10+ST, and every 3 FP after, take a cumulative penalty of -1 to-hit, -1 damage, -1 Movement, and -1 penalty to any athletic activity (Climbing, Swimming, etc.).

For every round of rest, reduce FP by 1.

Adventures

(This chapter is Product Identity, not Open Game Content)

Adventuring Hazards

Cave-In

Dungeons and underground areas may collapse from sabotage, debris buildup, water or wind erosion, explosions, or earthquakes; if a spell produces such an effect, roll 1d10, and if the roll is less than or equal to spell level, it causes a cave-in.

Everyone in the area of 2d6 squares radius must make a DX roll; if the total is 15 or higher, they avoid the falling debris; if 6-14 they take 2d6 HP damage and may be partially buried; if 5 or less, they take 4d6 HP damage and will be completely buried. Buried characters need helpers with tools to get them out. The cave-in may also block or expose passages.

Drain

Stat Drain effects require a saving throw against that stat. On failure, lose 1 point of that stat.

Hazard

When exposed to a hazard, you get a saving throw: Roll 1d20 + Level + bonus stat, +4 if it is a Weak hazard, +0 if it is a Moderate hazard, -4 if it is a Strong hazard. If total is 15 or higher, you survive unscathed; if total is 14 or less, you take 1d6 HP damage for a Weak hazard, 2d6 HP damage for a Moderate hazard, 4d6 HP damage for a Strong hazard.

• Acid saves with ST, on failure the damage is done 1d3 HP per round until the damage total is reached. If the target is wearing normal armor, it protects the wearer but loses 1 AC bonus per round until at 0 AC bonus; steel armor only loses 1 AC bonus per 2 rounds, magic or Titanium armor only loses 1 AC bonus per 3 rounds. Acid can be stopped immediately with lye; smothering with dirt allows another save; washing acid with water doubles the damage per round.
• Cold requires a save with ST every hour, Weak is below near-freezing (4°C/40°F), Moderate is below severe cold (–18°C/0°F), Strong is below lethal cold (-40°C/-40°F). Positive conditions reduce the hazard intensity by one: Being near a fire, wearing heavy clothing. Negative conditions increase the hazard intensity by one: Heavy winds, wearing metal armor. Taking any damage from Strong cold also causes DX drain from hypothermia.
• Disease saves with ST, on failure the damage is done 1d3 HP per day until the damage total is reached; no natural healing or MP recovery is possible while diseased.
• Falling saves with DX, and 3-6m is Weak, 7-9m is Moderate, 10m+ is Strong.
• Fire saves with ST, and a torch is Weak, a bonfire is Moderate, a house fire is Strong.
• Heat requires a save with ST every hour, Weak is above hot (32°C/90°F), Moderate is above severe heat (43°/110°F), Strong is above lethal heat (60°C/140°F). Positive conditions reduce the hazard intensity by one: Being in shade, wearing minimal clothing. Negative conditions increase the hazard intensity by one: Being in direct sunlight, wearing heavy clothing or metal armor. Taking any damage from Strong heat also causes ST drain from hyperthermia.
• Insanity saves with IN, does no direct damage but adds the "damage" roll to an Insanity total. Note: You cannot be affected by Insanity hazards from the same source more than once within a day. Subtract 1d6 Insanity every week of total rest, or 2d6 with strong depressants or calming drugs. While the total is 0-5, you are unaffected; while 6-10, you are slightly insane, take a -1 penalty to all IN rolls and morale rolls; while 11-20, you are moderately insane, take a -4 penalty to all IN rolls, -10 to morale rolls, and in stressful situations have a 1 in 6 chance of acting as if under a Confusion spell (Black Magic level 7); if total reaches 21+, roll a random Lesser Curse and subtract 20 Insanity.
• Intoxication (Alcohol, Drugs, Psychoactive Toxins) saves with ST, does no direct damage but adds the "damage" roll to an Intoxication total. Subtract 1d6 Intoxication every hour (sobering up), or 2d6 if strong stimulants are used. While the total is 0-5, you are unaffected; while 6-10, you are slightly intoxicated, take a -1 penalty to all DX and IN rolls but gain a +4 bonus to morale rolls; while 11-20, you are moderately intoxicated, take a -4 penalty to all DX and IN rolls but are immune to fear, morale rolls, pain (take damage but don't flinch), and ESP; while 21-30, you are incapacitated; while 31+, you vomit or otherwise expel some toxins, take 1d6 damage and reduce Intoxication by 1d6, repeatedly until below 30.
• Poison saves with ST, on failure the damage is done 1 HP per round until the damage total is reached. For example, if you are hit with a Moderate poison and fail your save, roll 2d6 and get 7, you lose 1 HP per round for 7 rounds.
• Paralytic Poison saves with ST, on failure you take no damage, but are paralyzed for the damage roll in minutes.

Light

It takes 1 round to light a fire with matches, 1d3 rounds with flint & steel, 1d6 minutes with dry sticks.

A light source fully illuminates the radius, and provides dim light out to double the radius, enough to see moving shapes but no details. Smoke, dust, and fog reduce the radius of light sources by 1/3. Shadowvision doubles the radius, so a Dwarf can see 6m light by Candle, 12m dim light.

• Take a -2 penalty to all actions in dim light.
• Take a -4 penalty to all actions in total darkness.

A draft (low wind no more than 10kmph) or a strong wind has a chance on 1d20 to blow out a light source.

Search

Roll 1d20 + Level + IN + modifiers. If the Search total is 15 or higher, it is found. Search rolls should not be a substitute for players thinking and asking good questions.

• -5 if just passing by, fighting, or moving quickly
• -5 if the detail is secret and not just obscure
• -8 for Stealth creatures or objects unless using Shadowvision or Darkvision
• -12 for Invisible creatures or objects
• +4 if the player states exactly what detail they're looking for
• +4 for Tracking Scent spotting almost all creatures
• +4 for Keen Senses to almost any Search
• Light modifiers above.

Area Level

Level: Each kingdom or region of the world should be given a Level. Anyone competent, and most monsters and treasures, will be the region's Level +/- 2, minimum 1 (roll 2d3-4 if you need a random modifier). Simple NPCs and harmless animals will usually be Level 1.

In the Underworld (dungeons, caves, etc.), the Level of beings encountered, ambient magic level, and demonic influence increases the further down one goes; this is not always linear, there are areas of more or less power even at the same depth. As a rule of thumb, increase the Level by 1 per floor, or roughly 20m depth in an open cavern. The mana level, as described in Magic Points increases from low to normal, or normal to high, around the 10th Level, and again at 20th Level.

Usually near-surface areas of the Underworld are occupied by weaker people, animals, and monsters, things which can go out on the surface to scavenge or hunt. The deeper down, the more magical power is available, and stronger monsters can rise to hunt weaker monsters, but rely on distance for defense.

Travel

An adventure map is drawn on graph or hex paper with a scale of 10km per grid. Usually some grids will be given planned encounters or places, while the rest are wilderness.

Travel speed is decided by transportation and terrain:

Exploration and tactical combat in the Underworld, urban combat in cities, and other closed-in areas is tracked by rounds and 3m squares as in Combat. The slowest movement rate in the party determines how fast the party can travel. Non-combat urban travel should be one neighborhood/district per hour in a large city, 10 minutes in a smaller town.

Weather

There are eight weather levels. Weather usually starts at level 5, "nice". In equatorial regions (Tropic of Cancer 23°N to Tropic of Capricorn 23°S), the level can never (or very rarely) be lowered below 3; further north or south, the level can never (or very rarely) be raised above 6.

At dawn of every day, the Referee should roll 1d6 to see if the weather changed. Add +1 to the roll during spring and summer.

Deprivation

Simple Deprivation: You need 1kg of food and 4L of water per day (double food requirement in cold climate, water requirement in hot climate). For every 1 day without water or 3 days without food, you cannot heal, take 1d4 damage, and lose 1 ST temporarily. A full day of rest with food and water will resume normal healing.

Advanced Deprivation (Optional): For adventures where you are far from civilization and need to carefully manage resources to survive, use these optional rules instead.

Characters have three deprivation meters: Thirst = (ST ÷ 2) + 3. Hunger = ST + 5. Sleep = (IN ÷ 2) + 3. All have a minimum of 1. These are based on the healthy maximum score, not any temporary reductions.

• Each day you drink a a full 4L of water (double in hot climate), add 1 Thirst up to maximum, otherwise reduce it by 1.
• Each day you eat 1kg of food (double in cold climate), add 1 Hunger up to maximum, otherwise reduce it by 1.
• Each night you get at least 6 hours sleep, add 1 Sleep up to maximum, otherwise reduce it by 1.
• If you get partial rations or sleep, or not every day, your meters go down by the fraction not met.

When any of these meters reach 0, temporarily reduce ST, DX, and IN by 1. For Thirst or Hunger, take 1/2 hit die as HP damage, for Sleep add 1d6 to Insanity total (as above). Reset any meters which are at 0 back to 1 less than full (minimum 1).

No stats or HP can recover without magic unless all meters have been full for 2 days.

For example, Average Man has 0 in all stats, d6 hit die, 5 HP, Thirst 3, Hunger 5, Sleep 3. On day 0, he falls in a pit. He can sleep, but can't get out and has no rations. On day 3, Thirst reaches 0, his stats are reduced to -1, takes 1/2 hit die and rolls 1, so now has 4 HP. On day 4, it rains and Average Man drinks until Thirst is full 3 and stays there. On day 5, Hunger reaches 0, his stats are reduced to -2, Hunger is set back to 4, and takes 1/2 hit die and rolls 3, so now has 1 HP. If he is not rescued by day 9, he will die when he takes 1 HP damage.

Anthropophagy: In the Known World, eating humanoid flesh is dangerous. Humans, Dwarfs & Kobolds, Elves & Faerie folk are "contract" races: Protected by Chesed (Archon of Bounty) unless they break the contract with Gamichicoth (Demon Prince of Famine). Beastfolk, Goblins, and Ogres, even halfbreeds, are always exempt and are willing anthropophages.

You can state that you're not eating out of ethics or fear, or roll 1d20 + Level + IN + 4 - days without food; if the total is 15 or higher, you resist; if the total is 6-14, you won't kill for it, but will join someone else in eating; if the total is 5 or less, you become an enthusiastic murderer and anthropophage.

If you do break the contract, roll 1d20 + Level + IN - Level of the Humanoid eaten; if the total is 15 or higher, add 1d6 Insanity; if the total is 6-14, convert into a Ghoul in weeks equal to your Level, unless you get a Remove Greater Curse first; if the total is 5 or less, convert into a Ghoul immediately.

In settings without the contract, butchering a race similar to your own or joining others in eating is a Weak Insanity hazard, and killing someone for meat is a Moderate Insanity hazard.

Swimming & Underwater Adventuring

To swim, roll 1d20 + Level + ST, plus modifiers from armor worn. If total is 15 or higher, you can swim at normal movement rate. If you fail, you get nowhere. Every failure past the first, lose 1 ST temporarily as you start drowning. If you sink and walk along the bottom, you do not need to roll, you move at half rate, but must make a ST drain roll every round as you start drowning.

If you can breathe underwater, from Water Breathing potions or spells, shapeshifting into an aquatic being, or other means, you will not drown (do not lose ST).

Normal bows, crossbows, slings, and firearms will not work underwater, and will need to dry out and be oiled before use. Bullets which get wet are ruined. Most weapons are at -4 penalty, except stabbing weapons (daggers, pitchforks, polearms, rapiers, spears). Sea Bows (which can be used underwater) cost 4x normal on the surface.

Elemental magic is dangerous underwater. Most air or gas spells simply won't work; Cloudkill creates a rapidly-diffusing blob of poison water. Earth spells will affect the sea floor just fine. Fire spells won't work. Ice spells have 2x normal area of effect. Lightning spells have 10x normal area of effect, including the caster if within range. Only Water Elementals can be summoned underwater.

Encounters

If the players enter a wilderness grid with a planned encounter, that is all that will happen there until it is cleared out. Otherwise, the Referee should roll 1d20 every hour. If the roll is less than or equal to the chance below, there is a random encounter.

In the Underworld or cities, the encounter chance is 2, checked every 10 minutes when travelling, or every 1 hour when camped.

Specific regions and dungeons should be given their own encounter tables, but the ones below represent common civilized areas and the surrounding wilderness. The easier monsters are numbered 1-12, the more dangerous monsters numbered 13-20.

People and monsters encountered should be adapted to the Level of the area; for example, a Giant in a low-level area may be a young Hill Giant, while one in a high-level area may be an adult Storm Giant. Even so, a group of monsters may be more powerful than the party, and this is OK, the players will have to learn when to run away, parley, or surrender.

• In peaceful communities, roll 1d8 on the Day Encounter table, or 1d6 on the Night Encounter table, BUT on the highest roll for that die, roll again with 1d12 or 1d20.
• Near communities or patrolled roads, roll 1d12 on the Day or Night Encounter tables.
• In Civilized regions, roll 1d20 on the Day or Night Encounter tables.
• In Evil regions, always roll 1d20 on the Night Encounter table.
• In Dungeons and Ruins, roll 1d12 for low-level, or 1d20 for high-level, on the Underworld Encounter table.
• On the surface of the ocean and in ships, roll 1d10 on the Aquatic Encounter table.
• Under the ocean, roll 1d20 on the Aquatic Encounter table.
• Under freshwater lakes and rivers, the only normal encounters are 1-2: Crabs, Giant (1d3), 3-4: Eels, Giant (1), 5-6: Snakes (1d3).
• Psionic characters, being sensitive to the supernatural and broadcasting psychic energy, will tend to encounter more psionic entities. Whenever a normal encounter would occur, roll 1d20 + total number of psionic characters + number who have used attacks or disciplines in the last 8 hours; if the total is 20 or higher, use the Psionic table. Roll 1d12 for low-level, 1d20 for high-level.

The number in parentheses is the number encountered.

[A] Roll for race as [H]. Each Aristocrat is accompanied by Knights (1d3), Guards (1d6), Servants (1d6).
[C] Roll for race as [H]. Each Priest is accompanied by Pilgrims (1d6).
[E] Evil humanoid groups of 5 or more have 1 Leader, those of 10 or more have 1 Shaman (White Mage), those of 15 or more have a second Shaman and 1 Warlock (Black Mage).
[G] Each Hobgoblin is accompanied by Goblins (1d6), and 25% chance of Bugbear (1).
[H] Humanoid. Roll 1d20 for race: 1-10: Human, 11-13: Dwarf, 14: Elf, 15: Faun, 16: Gnome, 17-19: Beastfolk, 20: Monster, roll again: 1-3: Ape-Man, 4-5: Bugbear, 6-7: Centaur, 8-10: Goblin, 11-12: Hobgoblin, 13-14: Kobold, 15-16: Lizardman, 17-18: Minotaur, 19-20: Ogre. Create these like characters.
[I] Roll 1d20: 1-8: Hill Giant, 9-12: Cloud Giant, 13-16: Fire Giant, 17-20: Frost Giant.
[L] Roll 1d20: 1-15: Normal animals, 16-17: Dire or Giant, 18-19: Normal animals led by a Lycanthrope, 20: Entire pack of Lycanthropes.
[M] Roll for race as [H]. Each Merchant is accompanied by Guards (1d3), Servants (1d3).
[MA] Each Merfolk Noble is accompanied by Merfolk Hunters (1d6+1).
[MM] Each Merfolk Merchant is accompanied by Merfolk Hunters (1d6).
[P] Must be at least Level 4, and have Psionics.
[PC] Each member of the coven is accompanied by Guards (1d6), often Charmed.
[PH] Psychic Humanoid. Roll 1d20 for race: 1-17: Human, 18: Half-Dwarf, 19: Half-Elf, 20: Half-Beastfolk.
[PL] Each psychic leader is accompanied by non-psychic followers (1d6).
[V] Each Vampire is Level 4+1d6, and is accompanied by Vampire Spawn (1d6), and 50% chance of Guards (1d3), Servants (1d3).
[W] Knights with experience hunting psychics. Determine race as Humanoid for general encounters below. Each Witch-Hunter is accompanied by Soldiers (1d6), Priests (1d2), Initiates (1d6), Servants (1d6), 2 in 6 chance of a Black Mage sworn to their cause.

Encounter Reaction

When NPCs are met, the Referee may determine their reaction, or may leave it up to chance and PC effort, rolling 1d20 on the table below with modifiers:

If the PCs approach in a hostile manner, weapons drawn, -4 penalty. If the leader speaks a common language and tries to parley, they may add their IN bonus. Add +4 for Aristocrats, Priests, Merchants, Peasants, and their retinues, +0 for Adventurers, -4 for Outlaws, -2 if majority of each group are a different race, -4 if they are natural enemies ("monsters").

Henchmen & Hirelings

Henchmen are brave mercenaries recruited to be loyal assistants in the adventuring enterprise. These types hang around the public forum in towns, or in rough dive taverns, gambling halls, and brothels, or may be companions met on the road or rescued from dungeons.

A typical henchman should be paid (Level² x 10) GP per week, plus 1/2 of a full share of treasure; specialists and spell-casters will demand 2-10x as much cash. Henchmen earn half as much XP as their leader on an adventure.

Loyalty for a henchman is very important, and is tracked by the Referee. On hiring and again every month, roll 1d20 + leader's IN + other bonuses. On hiring, only a result of Willing or Enthusiastic will accept employment, though you can coerce someone into service with threats. Add +1 Loyalty per year, up to +6. Add +1 to +2 Loyalty for high pay, +5 for gifts of magic items, -1 to -2 for low pay, -5 for no pay, -3 per step different in alignment. If you have over 4+IN henchmen, your leadership is spread too thin, and they all take -5 Loyalty.

Henchmen also serve as backup PCs. A Henchman who has served for several sessions and is still Willing or Enthusiastic (perhaps Neutral if they have been more loyal in the recent past) can advance into full player characterhood, if their leader dies. Only the leader's player can play their former henchmen.

Hirelings are merely working for money, and far less brave. A non-fighting, unskilled servant costs 1 GP per week. A typical mercenary costs (Level² x 2) GP per week, plus 1/10 of a full share of treasure; specialists and spell-casters will demand 2-10x as much cash. Hirelings demand double pay for any month they engage in combat. Hirelings earn 1/10 as much XP as their leader on an adventure, and they generally resist going into such terrifying situations.

Roll Loyalty for Hirelings as for Henchmen, but any hiring result of Neutral or better succeeds, and there is no leadership maximum.

It is common for professional adventurers to hire one or two Henchmen each, who then manage a small army of mercenary soldiers, camp followers, crafters, minstrels, and other servants.

Gambling

Adventurers spend much of their time in low places, and gambling is often used as a way to feel out a potential challenger. Modern dice and card games can be played, but may be too slow and distracting, so a couple of fast and simple dice games are described below. Play a few rounds as a stand-in for a night of gambling.

A character may use Pickpocketing to cheat, and if they succeed, they get to nudge one of the dice to any number they like, or in a card game can steal a card from the deck or another player, or swap one from their sleeve. On failure, a cheater is caught by everyone else. If there are multiple cheaters, each can make an opposed roll to notice others.

Knucklebones is a common street game, originally played with four sheep's knuckles called astragali, with the four possible sides valued 1, 3, 4, 6; modern players may use 4d6 for convenience, or 4d4 reading "2" as "6" for authenticity (everyone should use the same system). In the first pass around the table, each player antes into the pot, and rolls their knucklebones. In a second pass around the table, each player may "stand", or ante in again and reroll some or all of their knucklebones. At the end of that pass, the highest roll total wins and takes the pot. Ties split the pot evenly. The last-rolling winning player starts the next round.

Big and Small (aka Sic Bo, aka Chuck-a-Luck) is a casino dice game. Everyone makes a single bet in marked-out bet squares in front of their seat, the dealer rolls 3d6, collects from the losers, and pays out to the winners. There is a fairly large house edge, and often a house will offer other bets such as specific numbers.

Bet	Chance	Payout
Specific Three of a Kind 111, 222, 333, 444, 555, or 666	0.46%	150x
Specific Two of a Kind 11, 22, 33, 44, 55, or 66	5.82%	8x
Any Three of a Kind	2.78%	24x
Big (total 11 to 17 but not triple)	48.6%	1x
Small (total 4 to 10 but not triple)	48.6%	1x

Law & Order

Adventurers are prone to law-breaking; they have little sense of consequences, and their abilities give them a feeling of invulnerability. It is best to disabuse them of that behavior, and not allow them to run amok in town.

Every nation will have some common laws, and there are often additional laws varying from town to town. Laws are enforced by town guards, who vary from ticket-writing bureaucrats, to honorable knights, to gangs of thugs. The guards arrest and jail anyone who seems to them to be breaking a law. Judgement and sentencing is done within 1d6 days by a judge appointed by the ruler, and they may vary from honest to completely corrupt. There are no lawyers, only a plea to the judge. Arrested suspects are presumed guilty unless they can prove innocence. Character witnesses and eyewitness testimony are most important (even though considered completely unreliable by modern courts).

• Lesser Misdemeanor: Disrespect to nobles; public mischief; theft, fraud, or damage up to 10 GP value. Handled locally. Punished by a fine equal to the damage plus 1d6 x 1% of wealth, 5 or 10 lashes (1d6 HP damage per 5), and 1d6 days in jail.
• Greater Misdemeanor: Lesser assault; theft, fraud, or damage up to 100 GP value. Handled locally. Punished by a public whipping of 1d6 x 5 lashes, a fine equal to the damage plus 1d6 x 2% of wealth, and 1d6 months in jail.
• Lesser Felony: Grievous assault, theft, fraud, or damage from 10 to 100 GP value. Handled by ruler. Punished by damage plus 1d6 x 10% of wealth, 1d6 x 10 lashes, and either 1d6 years in prison, or exile.
• Greater Felony: Murder; rape; return from exile; or theft, fraud, or damage over 100 GP value. Handled by crown. Punished by loss of all wealth, and either 1d6 x 10 years in prison or hard labor, or execution.
• Treason: Handled by ruler. Punished by loss of all wealth and titles, and public torture and execution, often by disemboweling, drawing and quartering, and then displaying the head on a stake.
• Blasphemy: Minor religious offenses. Handled by church. Punished like lesser or greater misdemeanors.
• Heresy: Major defiance of doctrine, challenge to church leadership. Handled by church. Punished by loss of all wealth, and public burning at the stake.

Characters in royal or military service are subject to a higher standard. Misdemeanor crimes are treated as above, plus dishonorable discharge and often exile. Felony crimes are punished with execution.

The 1d6 rolls above are merely for a range of results, usually the Referee should decide on severity and assign numbers, which might be above 1-6 range.

"I say to you againe, doe not call up Any that you can not put downe; by the Which I meane, Any that can in Turne call up Somewhat against you, whereby your Powerfullest Devices may not be of use. Ask of the Lesser, lest the Greater shal not wish to Answer, and shal commande more than you."

—H.P. Lovecraft (1890-1937), "The Strange Case of Charles Dexter Ward"

Magic

(This chapter is Open Game Content)

Every spell has a Level, and a character cannot learn a spell with higher Level than their own experience Level. Spell Level is also the MP cost to cast the spell. Spells above Level 9 should be created by the Referee and players, and should be disturbingly powerful rituals.

Black Magic spells can only be cast by Apprentices (from scrolls) and Black Mages; White Magic spells can only be cast by Initiates (from scrolls) and White Mages.

• Spells can only be cast by someone wearing no armor, Light Armor, Target Shield, or enchanted Medium Armor or Kite Shield; non-magical metal armor blocks the flow of magical energy.
• Spells can only be cast by someone able to speak, usually mutter or whisper, and make gestures with one or both hands; a staff, wand, dagger, or other small or magical item may be held.
• Any known spell can be cast, no specific preparation is necessary.
• The target must be within range of the spell you want to cast.
• Spend MP equal to the Spell Level. If the spell has a numerical range, area of effect, or duration, each can be doubled once by spending MP equal to the Spell Level. For example, Charm Person (level 1) has R: 10m, D: 24 hours, doubling both makes the spell cost 3 MP, have R: 20m, D: 48 hours.
• The target may get a Saving Throw as explained below.

"The tomes which held Turjan's sorcery lay on the long table of black steel or were thrust helter-skelter into shelves. These were volumes compiled by many wizards of the past, untidy folios collected by the Sage, leather-bound librams setting forth the syllables of a hundred powerful spells, so cogent that Turjan's brain could know but four at a time.

Turjan found a musty portfolio, turned the heavy pages to the spell the Sage had shown him, the Call to the Violent Cloud. He stared down at the characters and they burned with an urgent power, pressing off the page as if frantic to leave the dark solitude of the book.

Turjan closed the book, forcing the spell back into oblivion. He robed himself with a short cape, tucked a blade into his belt, fitted the amulet holding Laccodel's Rune to his wrist. Then he sat down and from a journal chose the spells he would take with him. What dangers he might meet he could not know, so he selected three spells of general application: the Excellent Prismatic Spray, Phandal's Mantle of Stealth, and the Spell of the Slow Hour."

-Jack Vance (1916-2013), "Turjan of Miir"

Optional: Spell Memorization: Normally in Stone Halls & Serpent Men, a magician knows all their spells by heart and can cast any of them as long as MP remains, recreating swords & sorcery stories where barbarians must evade and outlast sorcerers. The Referee may choose instead to recreate Jack Vance's Dying Earth stories, if and only if the Referee and affected players have read these books. In this case, magicians must prepare spells by "impressing" them into their mind from a spell book, taking 10 minutes per Spell Level. According to the stories, and in White Box rules, no spell can be memorized more than once at a time. MP must still be spent, so no more total Spell Levels can be memorized than MP total. Once a spell is cast, it cannot be re-cast until re-memorized. If you have more MP than spells, you may return to your books to re-memorize spells after casting the initial set. For example, a Level 3 Black Mage with 12 MP might prepare Phantasmal Force (3), Invisibility (3), ESP (3), Magic Missile (1), Shield (1), and Hold Portal (1), taking 120 minutes.

Optional: Material Components: Some Compatible games require material components specific to a spell, which must be held and is destroyed by the casting process. The players and Referee should determine what these items are when spells are first created or learned. For each spell, record how many of each material you have bought and stored in a pouch. Materials cost 1 CP for Spell Level 1, 1 SP for Spell Level 3, (Spell Level²) GP for Spell Levels 5-7, and (Spell Level² x 5) GP for Spell Levels 9+.

Converting Compatible and Old-School Spells: The Spell Level is double minus 1, for example, an Old-School 3rd-level spell becomes Spell Level 5 here. Try to simplify the effect down to one action, spells which do many things should be multiple spells. Low-Level spell ranges should be kept short, not over 40m. Low-Level spell durations should be kept short, not over 24 hours. Almost all spells which affect others should have a saving throw, this prevents magic from being a certain solution to every problem. Spells should not have a "reversed" form depending on alignment; an opposite effect spell is a different spell, and usually in the other school of magic.

Spell Descriptions

• Range (R:) is Self (S), Touch (T), Unlimited (U), or a range in meters. A numerical range can be doubled once by spending MP equal to the Spell Level.
• Duration (D:) is Instant (I), Permanent (P), or rounds, minutes, or hours. A numerical duration can be doubled once by spending MP equal to the Spell Level. The caster can drop a spell before duration ends.
• Saving Throw (S:) is No Effect (NE) or Half Damage (HD); if not listed, there is no saving throw. Target rolls 1d20 + Level + IN - Caster's Level; if total is 15 or higher, the save is made; if total is 14 or less, it is failed. For example, a target making a save vs. Charm Person (S: NE) is unaffected, knows a spell was cast but not what. A target making a save vs. Fireball (S: HD) is still engulfed in fire, but takes half rolled damage.

Black Magic Spells

Level 1

1. Aura of Power: R: S, D: 2 hours. Dramatic lighting, gleaming eyes, voice enhancement, or other subtle illusions give the caster +1 to Encounter Reaction rolls, and INT rolls for manipulating people.
2. Charm Person: R: 10m, D: 24 hours, S: NE. Makes any intelligent living biped of equal or lower Level an obedient "friend" to the caster.
3. Darkness: R: 40m, D: 2 hours. Causes an item to emit smoky darkness, with 6m radius. Mundane lights cannot be seen in or through it, magical light counters it exactly leaving outside light to pass through.
4. Fear: R: 10m, D: Level rounds, S: NE. Makes a living target irrationally afraid of the caster, and must run away in a random direction; if trapped, target can act with a -2 penalty to all actions against the caster.
5. Hold Portal: R: T, D: 2 hours. Magically seals a door or gate so it cannot be opened or damaged by any force.
6. Light: R: 40m, D: 2 hours. Causes an item to emit magical light equivalent to a torch, with 6m radius.
7. Magic Missile: R: 40m, D: I, S: NE. Caster fires a dart of magical energy at the target, always hits unless save is made, inflicting 1d4 + Level damage. An additional missile is fired for every 3 Levels of the caster, at the same or different targets, each missile requires a saving throw.
8. Pyrokinesis: R: 40m, ST: NE. Ignites flammable objects, creating a hazard depending on size of the fire. Beings can only be set on fire if they are unusually flammable, and fail a saving throw.
9. Read Languages: R: T, D: 2 hours. Target can read any language.
10. Shield: R: S, D: 20 minutes. Creates an invisible shield that hovers in front of the caster, adding +2 AC from the forward half.
11. Sleep: R: 10m, D: 8 hours, S: NE. Causes living targets of Level 4 or less within a 3m radius to save or fall asleep, up to a total number of targets equal to the caster's Level; select targets in order from lowest HP to highest. Sleeping targets who are attacked are surprised. Any loud noise or physical blow will wake a sleeping target.
12. Ventriloquism: R: 20m, D: 20 minutes. Caster can project their voice anywhere within range.

Level 3

1. Acid Arrow: R: 40m, D: I, S: NE. Caster fires a dart of acid at the target, always hits unless save is made, inflicting a Moderate Acid hazard. An additional dart is fired for every 5 Levels of the caster, at the same or different targets, each missile requires a saving throw.
2. Detect Evil: R: 40m, D: 20 minutes. Caster can see an aura around demonic or undead monsters, or items of demonic origin.
3. Detect Invisibility: R: 40m, D: 20 minutes. Caster can see an aura around invisible beings, items, or other effects such as Clairvoyance eyes.
4. ESP: R: 20m, D: 2 hours, S: NE. Caster can read the surface thoughts of an intelligent living being and send short thoughts. Once contact has been made, the range becomes unlimited.
5. Invisibility: R: T, D: 24 hours. Target becomes invisible. Invisibility is instantly dispelled if one makes an attack or aggressive action.
6. Knock: R: 20m, D: I. One portal is unsealed and opened, regardless of locks, traps, or being stuck. If the door was secured with Hold Portal, roll 1d20 + Level + IN - area Level; if the total is 15 or higher, it is opened for your Level x 10 minutes, then relocks; if the total is 5 or less, you can never open that portal.
7. Levitate: R: T, D: 20 minutes. Target can float up or down slowly, 3m per round.
8. Locate Object: R: 60m + 10m x Level, D: I. Caster is aware of the exact direction to an object, either a common type or a specific unique object.
9. Phantasmal Force: R: 40m, D: 24 hours, S: NE. Creates an illusion of anything the caster imagines. Any being touching or being touched by it must make a saving throw, on failure it is "real" and can do damage, but anything "killed" by the illusion is unconscious but not dying at 0 HP.
10. Protection from Normal Missiles: R: 10m, D: 2 hours. Creates an invisible bubble around the caster, which intercepts all small, mundane missiles; arrows or bullets are stopped, thrown boulders, magic arrows, or energy bolts are not.
11. Sizeshift: R: T, D: 10 minutes. Each use changes target's size by one category (Small, Medium, Large, Giant). When Small, modify AC +1, ST -1, DX +1, melee damage halved; when Medium, normal; when Large, modify AC -1, ST +1, DX -1, melee damage +1d6; when Giant, modify AC -3, ST +2, DX -2, damage +2d6.
12. Terror: R: 10m, D: 10 minutes, S: NE. Makes a living target irrationally terrified of the caster and one other thing which the caster will be aware of, roll 1d6: 1: Darkness, 2: Heights/falling, 3: Open spaces, 4: Enclosed spaces, 5: Vermin (insects, arachnids, & rodents), 6: Water (any liquid). Target will flee for at least 1 round initially. Encountering a source of terror is a Weak Insanity hazard; being attacked by such is a Moderate Insanity hazard.
13. Web: R: 10m, D: 2 hours. Creates sticky spiderwebs that fill a (Level x 1m) radius. Anything in the radius or touching the webs is stuck. A path can be cut through with a sword or axe in 1 minute. If burned, the entire mass goes up as a bonfire in 1 round.

Level 5

1. Clairvoyance: R: U, D: 2 hours. Creates an invisible disembodied "eye" which moves at a movement rate of 18 at the caster's command. Caster can see and hear (Clairaudience) around the eye, and can cast magic from it.
2. Darkvision: R: T, D: 24 hours. Target can see 20m even in total darkness.
3. Dispel Magic: R: 40m, D: I, S: NE. Caster causes a spell to stop. The "target" is the resisting spell and its spell Level, not the original caster.
4. Fireball: R: 40m, D: I, S: HD. Caster hurls a ball of fire that explodes in a 6m radius sphere (in an enclosed space, blasting out to fill 33 3m cubes), inflicting 1d6 damage per Level of the caster, and anything flammable will catch fire.
5. Fly: R: T, D: 20 minutes. Target can fly at 40m per round.
6. Haste: R: 10m, D: 10 minutes. Target moves at double speed, takes an entire combat round sequence before any other beings act.
7. Lesser Curse: R: T/U, D: 1 year, S: NE. Places a Lesser Curse of your choice on the target. Requires touch, or a personal item or token (hair, nail clippings, or blood) of the victim's, in which case range is unlimited.
8. Monster Summoning: R: 10m, D: 1 round/Level. Summons up one or more monsters of a type which has been previously encountered. The monster's "Power" equals its Level, +2 if Strong, -2 if Weak, +1 per special attack/defense, +1 if intelligent, +2 if Demon, Undead, Unliving, or Ethereal, -2 if Faerie; minimum Power is 1. The caster can summon one or more such monsters whose total Power is less than or equal to Level. They must obey the caster's commands for the duration, and can be instantly banished with a command. Once the duration is up, the monsters vanish into smoke.
9. Slow: R: 10m, D: 20 minutes, S: NE. Target moves at half speed, skips every other combat round sequence.
10. Water Breathing: R: T, D: 2 hours. Target can breathe underwater and swim at full movement rate with no swimming roll needed.

Level 7

1. Charm Monster: R: 20m, D: 24 hours, S: NE. Makes any living monster of equal or lower Level an obedient "friend" to the caster.
2. Confusion: R: 40m, D: 20 minutes, S: NE. Target acts randomly, roll 1d6 each round: 1-2: Stand around confused, 3-4: Move in random direction, 5: Use a random skill on a random target, 6: Attack a random target.
3. Dimension Door: R: 120m, D: 10 minutes. Creates a magic doorway in front of the caster, and a paired magic doorway at the target location, connected to each other. While the spell is active, anyone on either side can pass through and instantly appears at the other doorway.
4. Lightning Bolt: R: 80m, D: I, S: HD. Target must be exposed to the sky, and a bolt of lightning strikes down inflicting 1d6 damage per Level of the caster, on target and anyone within 3m radius.
5. Magic Trap: R: T, D: P, S: NE. Places an invisible trap on an item, such that when that item is touched by anyone except the caster, a loud siren and flashing light alarm goes off. The caster may then cast a second spell which will be absorbed and held in the trap, and inflicted on the victim. The trap can only be seen with Detect Invisible or Find Traps spells, and removed with Dispel Magic. Once the trap goes off, the trap and second spell are gone.
6. Massmorph: R: 80m, D: 24 hours. Creates an illusion on the area making up to 100 creatures (SIZ Medium, count SIZ Small as 1/2, Large as 2, Giant as 4) within range appear to be trees appropriate to the region; in artificial environments, they become pillars or furniture instead. Those who move are revealed in their true form, but become trees again if they stop within range. Those who attack are permanently revealed.
7. Plant Growth: R: 20m, D: I. Causes plants to grow madly out of control into an impassable jungle. A path can be cut through with a sword or axe in 1 minute.
8. Polymorph: R: 20m, D: 24 hours, S: NE. Target is transformed into any creature or monster the caster has seen previously. All abilities of the creature are gained, the target keeps its own mind but is limited to the creature's communication abilities.
9. Wall of Fire: R: 20m, D: 2 hours. Creates a wall of flames up to 20m long, 3m wide, 6m high. Anything entering takes damage as a house fire.
10. Wall of Ice: R: 20m, D: 2 hours. Creates a wall of solid ice up to 20m long, 3m wide, 6m high. A path can be smashed through with a mace or axe in 1 minute.

Level 9

1. Animate Dead: R: 20m, D: I. Reanimates a dead body into undead, type depends on the Level it had in life, and whether the remains still have flesh or are skeletal. Flesh: Level 1: Zombie, 2: Ghoul, 3-4: Wight, 5-6: Mummy, 7+: Vampire. Skeletal: Level 1-2: Skeleton, 3-4: Wraith, 5+: Spectre.
2. Cloudkill: R: 20m, D: 20 minutes. Creates a cloud of toxic vapors with 6m radius, which moves away from the caster or along the wind at 3m per round. Any living being that contacts the cloud is exposed to strong poison.
3. Contact Outer Plane: R: S, D: 20 minutes, S: NE. Caster goes into a trance, makes mental contact with a powerful entity from another plane, and asks up to three questions. Each question counts as a Strong Insanity hazard; on save, the entity answers the question; on failure, the contact ends and caster suffers the consequences of insanity.
4. Greater Curse: R: T/U, D: P, S: NE. Places a Greater Curse of your choice on the target. Requires touch, or a personal item or token (hair, nail clippings, or blood) of the victim's, in which case range is unlimited.
5. Permanency: R: varies, D: P. Causes the next spell you cast (within 1 minute for fast-cast spells, within 24 hours for ritual magic) to become permanent in duration, and 5 Levels higher for the purposes of Dispel Magic, Knock, and other opposition spells. There will be a sacrificial cost to Permanency, chosen by the Referee, which may be in gold or gems (target spell Level² x 100 GP), blood (target spell Level x 10 HP), souls (trapped in a Soul Jar), experience points (target spell Level x 200 XP).
6. Soul Jar: R: T, D: I. Prepares a large gem as a soul jar, either as "trap" or "lich". A "trap" Soul Jar traps the soul of the first living intelligent being that touches it; a "lich" Soul Jar traps the soul of the creator if they die within 10m. After 24 hours, the soul can then attempt to possess the body of any living intelligent being within 80m. The target must make a saving throw; on success, the soul remains in the jar; on failure, the soul takes over the body, and the former soul of the body is trapped in the jar. If the jar is destroyed, the soul is released to its afterlife.
7. Summon Elemental: R: 80m, D: 24 hours. Summons up an Elemental of Level less than or equal to the caster. The elemental must obey the caster's commands for the duration, and can be instantly banished with a command. Once the duration is up, if it has not been banished, it is free and will probably rampage.
8. Telekinesis: R: 40m, D: 20 minutes. Caster can move objects with mental power. Up to 1000kg objects can be moved at 3m per minute (strong ST hazard if it strikes someone); up to 50kg objects can be moved at 3m per round (moderate ST hazard); up to 5kg objects can be moved at 20m per round (moderate DX hazard).
9. Teleport: R: T, D: I. Caster and optionally one person touching the caster are instantly transported to any location the caster has previously visited.
10. Transmute Rock/Mud: R: 40m, D: I. Converts up to a 20m x 20m x 3m region of unworked rock into mud, or vice versa as the caster commands. Moving through mud is at 1/10 normal speed. Foreign matter in the area is not converted.
11. Wall of Stone: R: 20m, D: 2 hours. Creates a wall of solid stone up to 20m long, 3m wide, 6m high. A tunnel can be dug through in 20 minutes with a pickaxe, 10 minutes by a Dwarf.

White Magic Spells

Level 1

1. Bless: R: 10m, D: 10 minutes. Target is given a +1 bonus To Hit, saving throws against magic and hazards, and morale.
2. Cure Light Wounds: R: T, D: I. Restores 1d6 + Level/2 HP to the target. Cures bruising, scratches, bleeding, and minor burns. If cast on undead, it inflicts that much damage.
3. Faerie Fire: R: 20m, D: 10 minutes, S: NE. Creates glowing particles swirling around target, preventing any use of Stealth, and gives a +1 bonus to attack the target.
4. Light: As Black Magic, Level 1.
5. Magic Staff (aka Shillelagh): R: T, D: 10 minutes. Caster's non-magical staff or club becomes a magic weapon in the caster's hands only, with bonus depending on caster's Level: +1 for Level 1-4, +2 for Level 5-8, +3 for Level 9-12, +4 for Level 13-16, +5 for Level 17-20.
6. Protection from Evil: R: T, D: 2 hours. Creates an aura around target that repels demonic or undead monsters, they cannot attack, fire missiles, or cast spells directly at the target.
7. Purify Food & Drink: R: T, D: I. Cleanses and blesses up to 12 meals worth of food and drink, removing any contaminants, spoilage, toxins, or curses.
8. Remove Fear: R: 10m, D: 10 minutes. Target is cured of any fear magic, and given a +4 bonus to morale and saving throws against fear, including Fear Touch.
9. Turn Evil: R: 10m, D: 20 minutes, S: NE. Makes any demonic, elemental, or undead target of equal or lower Level turn and flee from the caster.

Level 3

1. Augury: R: S, D: I. Prophecize the results of a plan or law by casting lots from labelled stones, sticks, or cards and choosing three. The Referee will secretly roll 1d20 + Level + IN; if total is 15 or higher, 2 relevant & 1 irrelevant lots are returned; if 6-14, 1 relevant, 1 irrelevant, & 1 wrong are returned; if 5 or less, 3 irrelevant or wrong. Lawful or Chaotic White Mages typically use the names of the Archons and Demon Princes, Neutrals use runes or names of Old Gods.
2. Cure Moderate Wounds: Restores 2d6 + Level HP to the target. Cures trauma, internal bleeding, concussion, and sprains and dislocations. If cast on undead, it inflicts that much damage.
3. Find Traps: R: 20m, D: 20 minutes. Caster can see an aura around any magical or mundane trap.
4. Hold Person: R: 40m, D: 20 minutes, S: NE. Target is paralyzed in place and cannot move. If target is struck, the hold is dispelled.
5. Magic Vestment: R: T, D: 10 minutes. Caster's non-magical clothing or light armor becomes magic armor while worn by the caster only, with bonus depending on caster's Level: +1 for Level 1-4, +2 for Level 5-8, +3 for Level 9-12, +4 for Level 13-16, +5 for Level 17-20.
6. Predict Weather: R: S, D: I. Caster knows what the weather will be for the next 24 hours.
7. Remove Paralysis: R: 10m, D: I. Target is cured of paralysis from monsters, poison, magic (Hold spells), or other causes.
8. Silence: R: 20m, D: 20 minutes. Creates a 6m radius where no sound can exist. Spells cannot be cast within the silent area.
9. Speak with Animals: R: 40m, D: 2 hours, S: NE. Caster can speak with an animal, and the animal will respond as if intelligent and capable of speech. The animal is cooperative about conversations, but if hostile or hungry will still eat you.

Level 5

1. Create Food & Drink: R: T, D: I. Creates a day's supply of food & drink for Level x 2 people. Typically this is honeyed bread and pure water, but variant spells can create other materials.
2. Cure Disease: R: T, D: I. Target is cured of any magical or mundane disease.
3. Dispel Magic: As Black Magic, Level 5.
4. Locate Object: As Black Magic, Level 3.
5. Neutralize Poison: R: T, D: I. Target is cured of any magical or mundane poison.
6. Obscure Object: R: T, D: 24 hours. Target object is hidden from all divination, including Locate Object, Clairvoyance, or even Commune and Contact Outer Plane.
7. Prayer: R: S, D: 10 minutes. All friendly targets within 6m radius are given a +1 bonus To Hit, saving throws against magic and hazards, and morale.
8. Remove Curse: R: T, D: I, S: NE. Target is cured of any curse. The original caster of the curse makes the saving throw (even if dead).
9. Speak With Dead: R: 10m, D: 10 minutes, S: NE. Caster calls up the soul of a corpse which has been dead no more than the caster's Level in days, and can ask up to three questions.
10. Water Walking: R: T, D: 1 hour. Target can walk on any liquid (water, mud, oil, snow, quicksand, ice, and even lava) without falling through or being harmed. If cast underwater, the target bobs up to the surface at 20m per round.

Level 7

1. Air Walking: R: T, D: 1 hour. Target can walk on air like solid ground. Ascending or descending at 45° angle is at 1/4 speed. On spell end, target is lowered slowly to the ground.
2. Circle of Protection from Evil: R: S, D: 2 hours. Creates a 3m radius aura around the caster that repels demonic or undead monsters, they cannot enter the circle, or attack, fire missiles, or cast spells directly at any target in the circle.
3. Cure Serious Wounds: Restores 4d6 + Level x 2 HP to the target. Cures broken bones, damaged but not destroyed organs, and minor brain damage with a little memory loss. If cast on undead, it inflicts that much damage.
4. Death Ward: R: T, D: 10 minutes. Target is immune to death spells (e.g. Word of Death), magical stat drain, and undead conversion. This does not protect against other causes of death.
5. Restoration: R: T, D: 10 rounds. Restores lost temporary stat points, 1 point per round starting with the stat which has lost the most points. Regrows lost limbs. Removes all Insanity and Intoxication points.
6. Sending: R: U, D: 1 minute. Caster establishes a link with a familiar person, and can have a conversation for no more than 1 minute.
7. Speak with Monsters: As Speak With Animals, Level 3, but affects monsters.
8. Summon Animals: R: 10m, D: 2 hours. Caster summons animals to assist and protect. Up to 1 large animal, 3 medium-sized animals, or 6 small animals will arrive within 1d6 minutes. The animals will obey commands but cannot speak, and have normal morale.
9. Word of Command: R: 10m, D: 24 hours, S: NE. Caster orders target person to perform an action and they must obey. The command can have up to caster's Level in words. If the action is self-destructive, the saving throw is at +4; if it is reasonable, it is at -4.

Level 9

1. Commune: R: S, D: 10 minutes. Caster can ask one question of their patron.
2. Cure Many Light Wounds: R: 10m radius, D: I. As Cure Light Wounds, Level 1, but all targets within range of the caster are affected.
3. Dispel Evil: R: 40m, D: I, S: NE. Caster causes a summoned demon or elemental to return to its native dimension, and instantly destroys undead of equal or lower Level.
4. Insect Plague: R: 80m, D: 24 hours. Summons up a swarm of insects covering 6m radius, and it moves as the caster directs up to 10m per round. Anything in the radius must make a saving throw every round or take 1d6 damage.
5. Quest: R: 10m, D: 1 year, S: NE. Target must perform a quest for the caster. Ignoring the quest causes 1 HP damage every day which cannot be healed until the quest is resumed. Failing to complete the quest within a year causes the target to either die or suffer a greater curse.
6. Raise Dead: R: T, D: I. Caster can restore life to a body which has been dead no more than the caster's Level in days, and is at least 50% complete. The target loses 1 Level, and rolls 1d6: 1-2: -1 ST, 3-4: -1 DX, 5-6: -1 IN. If any stat reaches -5, or HP reaches 0, or if Level reaches 0, the target dies forever.
7. Summon Celestial: R: 80m, D: 24 hours. Summons up a Celestial of Level less than or equal to the caster. The Celestial will carry out any "holy" (benevolent, lawful, or religiously inspired) mission assigned by the caster, but venal or chaotic missions will free the Celestial to extract vengeance. Once the duration is up, the Celestial returns to its home plane, but it cannot be banished by the caster.
8. True Seeing: R: T, D: 10 minutes. Target can see "reality". Illusion, normal & magical darkness, invisibility, shapechange, or any other alteration is seen through to the true form.
9. Word of Death: R: 10m, D: I, S: HD. Caster commands target person to die, and they lose all HP if they fail their save, half if they succeed.

"Unholy inversion of hope
Twisting the faith of the meek into hate
Driven insane by the dark one
To bring forth the foul biddings he speaks"

—The Black Dahlia Murder, "What A Horrible Night To Have A Curse"

Curse

Curses take effect immediately and cannot be cured by normal means, only by Remove Curse, or getting the caster of the curse to lift it. The curses listed are fairly straightforward, but more poetic/abstract curses like "unable to love or be loved", "be killed by your own son", etc. are also possible.

If you have a Lesser Curse and are afflicted with the same one again, it becomes the Greater Curse with the same number. If you already have that Greater Curse, roll a different one randomly.

Lesser Curses

1. Weakness: -1 ST drain.
2. Slowness: -1 DX drain.
3. Foolishness: -1 IN drain.
4. Harmlessness: -1 to attack rolls.
5. Harming: -1 to AC.
6. Stench: -1 to reaction & loyalty rolls.
7. Incompetence: -1 to non-combat stat rolls.
8. Bad Luck: -1 to half of all rolls affecting the character.
9. Poverty: Loses 25% of all owned wealth and items each day.
10. Madness: Sees or hears hallucinations.
11. Hunger: Must eat 50% more than normal.
12. Thirst: Must drink 50% more than normal.
13. Sleepiness: Must sleep 50% more than normal. For missed sleep, make an IN drain roll at -(hours missed).
14. Shadow: Personal aura with 6m radius is always in shadows (as dim light).
15. Sacrifice: Must sacrifice (Level² x 5) GP per week or gains another lesser curse.
16. Heresy: Must worship a god of opposite alignment or gains another lesser curse.
17. Chill: Personal aura with 6m radius lowers temperature by -10°C/-18°F, which may cause a hazard.
18. Heat: Personal aura with 6m radius raises temperature by +10°C/+18°F, which may cause a hazard.
19. Diseased: Carries a contagious Weak Disease which can only be cured by removing the curse.
20. Toxicity: Skin exudes a Weak Poison, bodily fluids are a Moderate poison. Must make an IN roll every week to avoid poisoning own food/drink.

Greater Curses

1. Weakness: -2 ST drain.
2. Slowness: -2 DX drain.
3. Foolishness: -2 IN drain.
4. Harmlessness: -2 to attack rolls, -1 damage with all physical attacks.
5. Harming: -2 to AC, +1 damage from all physical attacks.
6. Animus: -2 to all reaction & loyalty rolls, incites treachery in followers.
7. Incompetence: -2 to non-combat stat rolls.
8. Bad Luck: -2 to half of all rolls affecting the character.
9. Poverty: Loses all wealth and items each day, and ruins anyone who tries to help.
10. Shapeshift: Becomes a monster or animal, except for a short time each day.
11. Hunger: Must eat 100% more than normal, and half of that must be meat.
12. Thirst: Must drink 100% more than normal, and half of that must be alcoholic.
13. Sleepiness: Must sleep 100% more than normal, and cannot be awakened.
14. Darkness: Personal aura with 6m radius is always in smoky darkness.
15. Sacrifice: Must sacrifice (Level² x 10) GP per week or gains another greater curse.
16. Heresy: Must worship a god of opposite alignment or gains another greater curse.
17. Chill: Personal aura with 12m radius lowers temperature by -20°C/-36°F, which may cause a hazard.
18. Heat: Personal aura with 12m radius raises temperature by +20°C/+36°F, which may cause a hazard.
19. Diseased: Carries a contagious Strong Disease which can only be cured by removing the curse.
20. Toxicity: Skin exudes a Moderate Poison, bodily fluids are a Strong poison. Must make an IN roll every week to avoid poisoning own food/drink.

Cursed Crafting

If you have any Curse and create an item, from simply cooking to making magic items, the item is cursed or tainted. Food will be poisonous, mundane items are defective, mundane weapons and armor will break twice as often, potions will be poison, delusion, or other unpleasant effects, magic items will be cursed, summonings will be uncontrolled, unleashed with malevolence upon the world. Greater Curses produce more terrible curse side-effects. The Referee should be imaginative, fairy-talish, and malevolent. For example, a Lesser Cursed character cooking a pie, it would be poisonous, while for a Greater Cursed it might contain parasites or unleash a flock of 24 face-pecking blackbirds.

Psionics

High-level characters and monsters, and entities from outer planes, often have mental powers far beyond mortals. Mid-level characters who develop psionics early are often tragic, Lovecraftian figures, they seek power but are besieged by forces and enemies they can barely comprehend.

Psionics are not directly related to magic, and are not affected by most magic items. Psionic attacks and defenses are a mix of telepathic and telekinetic attacks. Disciplines use telepathy, telekinesis, and extra-sensory perception to produce spell-like effects.

Psionic Attacks

1. Psionic Blast: PS: 4, R: 9m. A wave of psychic hatred. Does 2d6 psychic damage, overkill inflicts Sleep (as Black Magic).
2. Mind Thrust: PS: 2, R: 12m. Short stab into the mind of the target. Does 1d6 psychic damage, overkill stuns target for 1d4 rounds.
3. Ego Whip: PS: 3, R: 18m. Overwhelms the target with self-loathing and insecurity. Does 2d6 psychic damage, overkill inflicts Confusion (as Black Magic).
4. Id Insinuation: PS: 4, R: 24m. Tricks the target's mind into attacking itself. Does 3d6 psychic damage, overkill inflicts Charm (as Black Magic).
5. Psychic Crush: PS: 5, R: 9m. Overloads the target's mind with too much energy. Does 4d6 psychic damage, overkill requires a ST saving throw from target, on success inflicts a Strong Insanity hazard, on failure instant death.

Psionic Defenses

1. Mind Blank: PS: 1, R: S. Hides your mind from an attacker.
2. Thought Shield: PS: 2, R: S. Shield fully protects a smaller area of your mind, reacting to specific attacks.
3. Mental Barrier: PS: 3, R: S. Wraps your entire mind in a wall of psychic energy.
4. Intellect Fortress: PS: 4, R: 6m radius. Creates a defensive shield around yourself and nearby allies.
5. Tower of Iron Will: PS: 5, R: 3m radius. Creates a smaller shield which is almost impenetrable.

Psionic Disciplines

1. Animal Telepathy: PS: 3. As Speak With Animals spell.
2. Clairvoyance: PS: 5. As spell.
3. Delusion: PS: 3. As Phantasmal Force spell, but only affects a single target.
4. Detect Evil: PS: 3. As spell.
5. Detect Invisibility: PS: 3. As spell.
6. Detect Magic: PS: 1. As spell.
7. Dimension Door: PS: 7. As spell.
8. ESP: PS: 5. As spell.
9. Invisibility: PS: 3. As spell.
10. Levitation: PS: 3. As spell.
11. Polymorph: PS: 7. As spell.
12. Precognition: PS: 9. As Contact Other Plane spell.
13. Pyrokinesis: PS: 3. As spell.
14. Sizeshift: PS: 3. As spell.
15. Sustenance: PS: 1. D: 24 hours. Ignores needs for food, water, and sleep, and treated as wearing either heavy clothing or no clothing for cold or hot environments.
16. Telekinesis, Greater: PS: 9. As Telekinesis spell.
17. Telekinesis, Minor: PS: 3. As Telekinesis spell, but with 1/10 masses, reduce hazards by 1 step (Strong to Moderate, Moderate to Weak).
18. Telepathy: PS: 1. R: LVL x 40m. Can speak directly into the mind of anyone within range, and hear spoken or subvocalized responses. Simple telepathy does not allow mind-reading.
19. Teleportation: PS: 9. As spell.
20. Water Walking: PS: 5. As spell.

Psionic Combat

Psionic Combat takes place in the standard combat round.

• Making a psionic attack requires concentration; you cannot attack if you have taken any other action this round, or if you were struck for any physical damage since your last round.
• Psionics can only be used if you are wearing no helmet (except the Helm of Telepathy or similar psionic artifacts).
• Psionic attacks out to listed range have no modifier, out to double range has a –4 penalty, further than double cannot hit.
• You secretly choose a psionic attack, and spend the PS cost. If the target is non-psionic, you must have at least 20 current PS before making the attack.
• Defender may secretly choose a psionic defense, and spend the PS cost; or can choose "None" if PS is running low. A defender can learn which modes an attacker might use with Psychic Sensitive, and choose an appropriate defense. Non-psionics use the "None" column.
• Roll 1d20 + Level + IN - (target's Level + IN) + attack vs. defense modifier. When multiple defenses apply, use the most negative (best defense).
• If the total is 15 or higher, the attack's effects are applied. Psychic damage reduces the target's current PS. When all PS are gone, or if applied to a non-psychic, any additional damage causes the "overkill" effect.
• For example, Darryl (Level 8, IN +3, PS 22, Attacks 1-5, Defense 1) wants to kill upstart Cameron (Level 5, IN +5, PS 20, Attack 1, Defenses 1-2), wins initiative. Darryl chooses Ego Whip (now PS 19), Cameron chooses Thought Shield (now PS 18), so Darryl rolls 1d20+8+3-(5+5)+0 = 18+1 = 19, hits and does 7 psychic damage (Cameron now has PS 11). On his initiative, Cameron does a Psionic Blast (now PS 7), Darryl only has Mind Blank (now PS 17), so Cameron rolls 1d20+5+5-(8+3)-1 = 17-1-1 = 15, which hits for 5 psychic damage (Darryl now has PS 10).

Psionic Attack vs. Defense Modifier

Some conditions add to the modifier:

Converting Old-School Psionics: PS here is 1/5 of Old-School. Psionic attack & defense are identical (modes A-E are attacks 1-5, F-J are defenses 1-5). Disciplines are a much shorter list with no physical abilities; a Fighter with many body control disciplines would be better converted as a Monk or a Mutant, if such characters exist in your campaign. Psionic characters under level 4 should be raised to level 4; psionics is unbalancing at lower levels.

Radiation & Mutation

Radiation is a rare hazard found in Serpent Man ruins, and is rated with an intensity from -6 to +6, which determines duration and damage on the table below. Any character or being exposed for that duration rolls 1d20 + Level + ST + any magical saving throw bonus - radiation intensity. On failure, the character takes the listed damage; on success, the character takes half damage, and if ST is equal to intensity, the character will mutate.

Typically a radiation hazard will have a source of +4 to +6 intensity, with a 3-12m radius, and it drops from there about 1 intensity per 20m of solid stone (quick estimate: half a dungeon map or one vertical level) or 100m of open air. For example, in a ruin with north & south sections, if ruin level 3 north has a +4 source, level 3 south is +3, level 2 north is +2, level 2 south is +1, level 1 north is +0, level 1 south is -1, the surface is -2 and drops to -6 in 400m, nothing at 500m.

When a character mutates, it develops a very high fever and nausea, and within an hour is incapacitated. After 24 hours of illness, it starts to develop the new mutation. After 48 hours, the mutation is complete and the illness ends.

For each new mutation, roll 1d12: If the roll is less than the number of mutations already possessed, roll 1d10 to choose a defect mutation; if the roll is greater, roll 1d30 to choose an advantage mutation. Characters should not be able to choose their mutation or remove it, except perhaps with the aid of a Serpent Man (but at what cost?).

Every mutation has a rank of 1 to 6, initially 1d3; if the same mutation is rolled again, just roll and add another 1d3 ranks, up to a maximum of rank 6. At each Level Up, one mutation rank can be increased by 1 (up to a maximum of 6), or decreased by 1 (down to a minimum of 1, you cannot remove your own mutation).

Most mutations take effect automatically when used, they are a "natural" part of the mutant. Attack rolls are as usual, ST for melee/touch and DX for ranged effects. Rank Damage (RDMG) for a mutation is: 1: 1d4, 2: 1d6, 3: 1d8, 4: 1d10, 5: 2d6, 6: 3d6.

Most mutations will not directly affect another mutant with the exact same power. For example, two mutants with Hypersonic Scream cannot harm or deafen each other, but other sonic attacks work; but a mutant with Chameleon Skin still cannot see another chameleon mutant, because it's not a direct effect.

Mutants with obvious mutations or who demonstrate their hidden mutations are reviled by most normal people and creatures as freaks, both because they're gross and unnatural, and because many mutants are dangerously insane.

The children of mutants are usually mutants. If both parents have the same mutation, the child will as well, at the average of their ranks. If only one does, roll 1d6: 1-3: Mutation is passed on at that parent's rank, 4-6: Mutation is lost. If the child has no mutations at all, it is no longer a mutant; if it has any, roll and add one new mutation. For example, a Mer-Folk mother with Aquatic 4, Size Decrease 1, and a Mer-Folk father with Aquatic 6, Armored Shell 4 have a child with Aquatic 5, roll 4 = no Size Decrease, roll 2 = Armored Shell 4, and for new mutation roll 64 = Venom Claws 1 (Disorienting).

Advantage Mutations

1. Aquatic: Aquatic adaptions. Rank 1-2: Webbed limbs and can swim at full movement rate, thicker skin for icy temperatures, pressure resistance, and can hold breath for rank x 15 minutes. Rank 3-4: Porous skin, which allows deep diving and breathing water for rank x 2 hours. Rank 5-6: Full gills, and can breathe water indefinitely.
2. Armored Hide: Skin is thick, leathery, and bumpy with bony ridges, providing AC equal to rank, if better than worn body armor. For example, a mutant with Armored Hide 3 wearing Light Armor +2 has the mutant's +3 AC, but wearing Medium Armor +4 has the armor's +4 AC.
3. Armored Shell: Turtle-like shell over all major body parts, like a permanent suit of plate armor, providing AC equal to rank+2. The mutant moves at half speed on land, and cannot wear other armor, but can carry a shield.
4. Burrowing: Enormous hands with sharp claws, usable as Light weapons. Digging through soft dirt is at rank x1m per round, through hard-packed dirt or wood at rank x 1m per minute, leaving a 1m wide tunnel.
5. Chameleon Skin: Can change skin color and blend into the background. Add rank to Stealth rolls, and can be used as "body paint" for disguises or decoration.
6. Egg-Laying: Normal reproduction no longer applies. Any sexual contact will cause the mutant to fertilize and grow a clutch of eggs. After 4 weeks, the mutant will be bloated and gravid, at 8 weeks, the mutant will lay rank x 2 eggs which must be protected and kept warm, and at 12 weeks, the eggs hatch. The "babies" are Homonculous clones, size and all stats half (or 1 lower if negative) of the mutant's, and age at a rate of 1 "year" per week. For each clone, roll 1d20 + rank; if roll is natural 20 or total is 15 or higher, it is insanely loyal; if 6-14, it is lazy but loyal as long as it is well-fed and not put into mortal danger; if natural 1, or 5 or less, it is a psychotic evil clone and will try to kill off the mutant. The clones cannot reproduce.
7. Energy Beams: Can project energy from a body part, out to a range of rank x 5m, usable rank times per day. Roll 1d6 for source: 1-2: Eyes, does not interfere with vision; 3: Right Hand, cannot hold a weapon or shield at the same time; 4: Left Hand, same; 5: Heart; 6: Third eye on forehead. Roll 1d6 for type: 1: Heat, does RDMG, can ignite flammable objects; 2: Light, equivalent to sunlight; 3: Electricity, does RDMG ignoring metal armor; 4: Darkness, shrouds a path 3m wide from all light and vision; 5: Radiation, does RDMG but exposure is too brief for mutation; 6: Cold, does RDMG, freezes fluids.
8. Energy Reflection: Skin reflects energy of a single type in a random direction. Roll 1d6 when the mutation is gained: 1: Heat, 2: Cold, 3: Electricity, 4: Light, 5: Sonic, 6: Radiation. Whenever the mutant would be affected, roll 1d12 to see which o'clock direction the energy is reflected. The first target in that direction is affected instead.
9. Fangs: Teeth grow larger and change the mutant's face and diet. Bite does RDMG damage. Rank 1-2: All sharp canines, only gets half nutrition from non-meat sources; 3-4: Large fangs, only gets nutrition from meat, -1 from reaction rolls with non-carnivores (may give a bonus with Beastfolk & such); 5-6: Sabretooth, only gets nutrition from raw meat, -2 from reaction rolls as previous.
10. Hearing Boost: Can hear high-pitched, low-pitched, and quiet sounds out to a distance of rank x 100m. Mutant cannot be surprised, but takes double damage or deafness duration from sonic attacks.
11. Horns: Grows a rack of horns or antlers and increasingly muscled & padded neck and head. Headbutt/impale does RDMG damage. Rank 1: Tiny nubs, can be covered with a hat; 2: Small horns, cannot be covered; 3-4: Bull-like horns; 5-6: Long antlers.
12. Hypersonic Scream: Can scream at high frequencies and power, affecting everything within rank x 10m radius, usable rank times per day. Rank 1-2 will shatter thin glass, and any living target within range must make a ST save or be deafened for 1d6 rounds. Rank 3-4 will do the same as 1-2 and any deafened target also takes RDMG. Rank 5-6 will shatter all glass, thin wood, plastic, and similar brittle materials, and any living target within range must make a ST save or be deafened for 1d6 days and take RDMG.
13. Immunity: Superior physique adds RDMG to HP (keep a note of this bonus HP, and reroll it if rank changes), and superior immune system adds rank to saves against poisons, disease, and radiation. Immune system also rejects helpful medicines, and mutant must fail a ST save to be affected by any potion.
14. Legion: Can separate limbs or digits, command them to join together, move around at any distance, and rejoin the body; up to rank parts can be separated. Most body parts have only touch and a vague sense of nearby presence and loud noises, as if blind/in darkness. Each body part takes a proportion of the mutant's HP with it. Some mutants will use a hand and ear or eye as a small mobile scout, others just use it to escape bonds.
15. Multiple Arms: Has rank additional arms, either paired below the standard arms or jutting from front or back. Add rank to unarmed melee and manipulation DX rolls, and tool-using creatures can wield one weapon per 2 extra arms, making an extra attack per round.
16. Multiple Legs: Has rank additional legs, extending back with more spinal sections, like a weird centaur if humanoid. Add rank to movement and agility-type DX rolls.
17. Musk Glands: Can spray a nearly toxic musk like a skunk's from rear-mounted glands, with a range of rank x 2m, rank times per day. Anyone sprayed in this rude fashion has a rank penalty to all reaction rolls until it is washed off, and they can be smelled from rank x 100m away.
18. Quills: Covered in porcupine-like spikes, which come off in the skin of anyone who attacks the mutant, or can be pulled and thrown like a dart, doing RDMG with rank x3m range. The mutant can make rank uses of them per day; after that, they are too thinned out to be effective.
19. Regeneration: Can recover HP fast, restoring RDMG over 10 minutes of meditation (no other activity), usable rank times per day, but needs one additional food ration per use.
20. Shapeshift: Has control over appearance for rank x 10 minutes at a time, usable rank times per day. Rank 1 or higher can change facial features and adjust height by no more than 10cm, passing as someone completely different; a specific individual can be imitated with a successful Espionage roll. Rank 3 or higher can reshape the entire body to look like any known creature, but no special abilities are gained, even flight, swimming, etc. are as the mutant's normal form. Rank 5 or higher can emulate any known creature, movement abilities are gained, but special abilities are not gained.
21. Sight Boost: Vision is superior to human. Rank 1 or higher can see into infrared and ultraviolet, allowing vision in starlight or overcast night out to rank x 100m. Rank 3 or higher has telescopic sight out to rank x 1000m. Rank 5 or higher can see from x-ray to microwave radiations, and can see through non-metal barriers up to 10cm thick. Mutant takes double damage or blindness duration from light attacks.
22. Size Decrease: Divide height and weight by rank. Take a melee attack penalty equal to rank, divide melee damage done by rank (minimum 1 point), but modify AC by +1 at rank 1-2, +2 at ranks 3-4, +3 at ranks 5-6. Mutant requires less food and drink rations, half at ranks 1-3, quarter at ranks 4-6.
23. Size Increase: Increase height by rank x 25%, weight by rank. Take a melee attack bonus equal to rank, add rank to melee damage, but modify AC by -1 at rank 1-2, -2 at ranks 3-4, -3 at ranks 5-6. Mutant requires additional food and drink rations, double at ranks 1-3, triple at ranks 4-6.
24. Smell Boost: Can detect odors at a distance of rank x 50m. Anything with a scent can be detected by direction and general distance (near, mid, far), the general type/species is known, and individuals can be remembered. Scent will be obscured by fire, water, strong winds, and other strong odors. Mutant will be knocked unconscious for 1d6 rounds by a Musk Glands spray or similar strong scents.
25. Speed Boost: Can move rank x 25% faster than normal, and at rank 4-6 gains +1 attack. Mutant requires double food and drink rations, and lifespan is reduced by rank x 10%.
26. Two-Headed: Has a second head, with its own brain and personality. The second head cannot control the body, only its own senses and mouth. It can have a different sleep/wake cycle, and keep watch, and if awake the mutant is impossible to surprise. IN score is (rank x 2 - 6). Rank 1-2: Stubborn and obnoxious; 3-4: Behaves like a normal sibling; 5-6: Demanding and superior attitude.
27. Vampirism: Drains life force from other beings. Roll 1d6: 1-2: Bite & drink blood; 3-4: Touch & drain energy; 5-6: Stab with long claw & suck juices. The drain is usable rank times per day, uses a normal unarmed melee roll to inflict RDMG, and restores the same HP to the mutant. Mutant cannot eat or drink normally, and must use Vampirism once per day for sustenance.
28. Venom: Natural attack inflicts a poison. Roll 1d6: 1-2: Bite with venom fangs, 3-4: Scratch with claw-like fingernails, 5-6: Spit poison up to 5m. Rank 1-2 poison is Weak, 3-4 is Moderate, 5-6 is Strong.
29. Webspinner: Can spew spider-like webs from spinnerets above posterior. Acts as Web spell of level equal to rank, usable rank times per day.
30. Wings: Forelimbs develop into bat-like wings, allowing flight at rank x 10m per round. The mutant can carry normal weight but no more, a passenger would have to be smaller and neither could carry any gear. Mutant's hands are still usable for fine tasks normally, but wielding melee weapons is at a -2 penalty.

Defect Mutations

1. Deformity: Hideous appearance, subtracts rank from any reaction or loyalty roll. Roll 1d6: 1: Bug eyes, 2: Extra digits, 3: Hunchback, 4: Pin head, 5: Scaly skin, 6: Scarred/melted skin.
2. Fragility: Bones are soft and rubbery, has half normal HP. Mutant can squeeze through small spaces, no less than 10cm across.
3. Hemophilia: Blood does not clot easily, so any physical injury causes bleeding, losing RDMG at 1 HP per round, unless immediately treated with medicine, magic, or a potion.
4. Immune Weakness: Vulnerable to all diseases. Saves against disease subtract rank as a penalty.
5. Mental Disorder: Mental state is unstable. Roll 1d6 for trigger: 1: Bloodshed & combat, 2: Black Magic, 3: Undead, 4: Large insects, 5: Large reptiles, 6: Large fish. Roll 1d6 for effect: 1: Paralyzed, 2: Narcoleptic collapse, 3: Mental block (pretends trigger does not exist), 4: Phobia (runs in fear), 5: Confusion as the Black Magic spell, 6: Psychotic rage at triger. When the trigger is encountered, roll 1d20 + IN - rank; if the total is 15 or higher, nothing happens; if the total is 6-14, the effect occurs for 1d6 rounds; if the total is 5 or less, the effect takes over for 1d6 hours.
6. Metabolism Reduction: Metabolism runs much slower than normal. Movement is reduced by rank, and at rank 4 or higher the mutant can only perform one action every other round. However, mutant only needs food and drink rations every (7-rank) days, and lifespan is extended by rank x 25%.
7. Missing Limb: Lacking some or all of one or two limbs. Roll 1d6: 1: Left arm, 2: Right arm, 3: Both arms, 4: Left leg, 5: Right leg, 6: Both legs. If missing an arm, subtract rank/2 as a penalty to all melee attacks, cannot use a shield or two-handed weapons. If missing both arms, subtract rank as a penalty to all melee and missile attacks and any manipulation like lockpicking, cannot use a shield or weapons. If missing one leg, subtract rank/2 from movement. If missing both legs, subtract rank from movement.
8. Sense Impairment: Weak or lacking in one sense. Rank 1-3 is weak, half distance or detail can be sensed, rank 4-6 is total sense loss. Roll 1d6: 1-2: Hearing, 3-4: Sight, 5: Smell & Taste, 6: Touch. Subtract rank from any roll where the sense would apply. Special damage against that sense is ignored.
9. Tentacles: Has no arms or legs, but has rank x 2 all-purpose tentacles. Add rank to DX rolls for movement and climbing, and to unarmed attack rolls. Take a -2 penalty to all DX rolls for manipulation of tools, archery, crafting, and such.
10. Vulnerability: Take damage from a substance or energy which is harmless to most. Roll 1d6: 1: Alcohol, 2: Copper, 3: Iron, 4: Salt, 5: Silver, 6: Sunlight. Every round of contact requires a ST roll or mutant takes RDMG.

Monsters

(This chapter is Open Game Content)

The "common" monsters are listed below, but new monsters should be created by the Referee or adapted from modules. Most monsters are always Hostile, but intelligent monsters may roll Reaction with a penalty from -1 to -5.

Glossary

• AC: Armor Class, usually equals 10+(LVL/2) for soft foes, or 10+LVL for armored foes.
• AL: Alignment. Typical for the species, individuals may vary except for Undead and Demons, who are always Chaotic.
• AT: Attacks, usually 1+(LVL/6).
• Demon, Undead, Unliving: Immune to poison, disease, sleep, charm, and do not need air, water, or food. Undead and Demons take damage from being splashed with Holy Water, but Unliving do not.
• DMG: Damage with each attack, usually d3 for Level 1, d4 for Level 2, d6 for Level 3-4, d8 for Level 5-6, d10 for Level 7-8, d12 or 2d6 for Level 9-10, d20 or 3d6 for Level 11-14, d30 or 5d6 for Level 15+.
  • Strong monsters use the next higher die or one additional die, Weak monsters use the next lower die or -1 penalty.
  • Intelligent monsters may use weapons instead of natural attacks.
  • Many Old-School monsters have attack sets of weak claw/weak claw/strong bite, in this game usually they only get one attack with their strongest damage, to speed up combats.
• EQ: Equipment. When multiple weapons or armors are given, if no previous ones were rolled they get the last one. Monster equipment is generally such of poor materials and quality that it cannot be sold; only the most intelligent monsters will have usable items. For example, a Goblin only has Leather Armor (50%), so if that roll fails it has no armor; if it fails all weapon rolls, it still gets a Dagger, the 75% only matters if another weapon is rolled.
• Ethereal: Normally exists on the Ethereal plane. These can be seen from the Material plane, but are immune to most attacks, and can pass through solid objects. They can be attacked by fire, energy beams, magic weapons, magic spells, or psionics, or by normal attacks on the Ethereal plane. The normal attacks of Ethereal monsters can affect the Material plane.
• Faerie: Immune to sleep & charm, and can sense any use of faerie magic.
• HP: Roll hit dice equal to Level. Use d6 for Normal, d4 for Weak (d3 for vermin), d8 for Strong (d10 or d12 for super strong).
• Init: Initiative, based on DX, armor, & weapons, lowered if slow.
• LVL: Level equals HD in Old-School. Followed by a modifier of Weak, Normal, Strong:
  • Weak: Fights as Untrained, has d3 or d4 Hit Dice. Hordes of smaller foes, young, and harmless animals.
  • Normal: Fights as Militia, has d6 Hit Dice.
  • Strong: Fights as Soldier, has d8, d10, or d12 Hit Dice. Monsters with bonus HP in Old-School systems. Demons, Dragons, Dinosaurs, Elementals, and Giants, as well as some leaders and "Boss" monsters.
• MV: Movement rate in 3m squares. Usually 9 for monsters, 12 for small and fast, 6 for big and heavy. If it can swim, it cannot drown.
• PR: Professions. Most monsters have none, but Assassin and Hunter are common in predators. Percentile chances of having a Profession may be given in parentheses; if an advanced Profession is rolled, they have all requirements as well.
• SA: Special Ability. Usually equivalent to spells, but do not require concentration. Therefore one ability can be used every round in addition to attacks. Unless a limit is given (e.g. "usable 3x per day"), they can be used unlimited times.
  • Old-School Level Drain should be converted to stat drain, see Shadow, Vampire, Wight and Wraith for some variations, Hazards and Stats for the rules.
  • Summon & Control abilities can be used every round, but only up to the maximum value of the roll. For example, a Werewolf summons 1d6 Wolves, on round 1 rolls 4, so 4 Wolves show up; on round 2, tries again & rolls 3, no more show up, but enemies kill 1 Wolf (leaving 3); on round 3, tries again and rolls 5, so 3 more show up giving the maximum 6.
  • Terror is like the Black Magic level 3 spell, with a longer range affecting one target or a radius which affects all targets. Monster terror has no die roll for a secondary terror.
• SD: Special Defense, usually a list of immunities: Fire, cold, acid, sleep, poison, paralysis, non-magical weapons, etc.
• Senses: Most predators have Tracking Scent. Underworld monsters often have Shadowvision like a Dwarf. Only supernatural entities have true Darkvision.
• SIZ: Size. Small (S): Up to 1m tall, Medium (M): Up to 2.5m tall, Large (L): Up to 4m tall, and Giant (G): Over 4m tall. When converting modules, Fine, Diminutive, & Tiny are Small; Medium and Large are unchanged; Huge, Gargantuan, and Colossal are Giant.
• ST, DX, IN: Most monsters have ST +(LVL/3), DX +(LVL/5), IN +(LVL/5), but can be adjusted. Animals (A) only use IN for searching and saving throws.
• TH: To Hit. Normal monsters are Militia, Strong monsters are Soldier, Weak monsters are Untrained. Record the To Hit bonus.
• TR: Treasure Value modifier for lair, individuals normally only carry a tiny fraction of this. Should be +0 for average (humanoids), -1 for poor, -2 or -3 for predators which may collect corpses & shiny things, +1 for rich, +2 or +3 for ancient loot-collecting monsters, "none" for vermin and incorporeals.
• Vuln: Vulnerabilities, often a list of effects which cause double damage or damage over time.

In the file monster_lines.txt, there are generic stat lines for every level 1-20 and weak, normal, strong power, which can be customized for specific monsters.

Bestiary

• Humanoid: Create like a player character, with Professions.
  • Adventurer: Any.
  • Aristocrat: Militia (75%), Apprentice (25%), Any (25%).
  • Priest: Initiate, White Mage, Sage.
  • Guard: Militia.
  • Knight: Militia, Soldier, Hero, Knight.
  • Merchant: Apprentice (25%), Crafter (25%).
  • Outlaw: Militia, Assassin, Hunter.
  • Peasant: Crafter (50%), Militia (25%), Hunter (25%).
  • Pilgrim: Initiate (25%).
  • Servant: Crafter (25%), Any (10%).

A-D

• Android: LVL 3, SIZ M, AL L, ST +2, DX +0, IN -1, AC 12, MV 12, Init +0, AT 1, TH +2, DMG d6, TR -2. Lifespan: 2 years. PR: Crafter, Militia. EQ: Cloth Armor (50%), Knife (50%), Club (50%).
  • Artificial beings which look exactly like Humans, Dwarfs, Elves, or rarely like other races. They were created by Serpent Men as docile replacements for rebellious slaves, but have since been abandoned to their own existence. Androids hate the natural races and want to infiltrate and replace them all, but lacking magic this seems unlikely. They travel in "pods" of 8 Androids, 1 Warrior, and 1 Scholar, or rarely make armies of several pods. They "reproduce" by assembling new Androids in chemical vats.
  • Android Warrior: LVL 3, Strong, SIZ M, AL L, ST +3, DX +1, IN -1, AC 13, MV 12, Init +1, AT 1, TH +3, DMG d6, TR -1. Lifespan: 4 years. PR: Militia, Soldier. EQ: Ring Mail (75%), Leather Armor (25%), Broadsword (50%), Short Sword (50%).
  • Android Scholar: LVL 4, Weak, SIZ M, AL L, ST -1, DX -1, IN +2, AC 12, MV 12, Init +0, AT 1, TH +1, DMG d4, TR +2. Lifespan: 6 years. PR: Apprentice, Sage. EQ: Staff (50%), Knife (50%), Magic Wand (SL 1-3 Black Magic), 1d6 random Potions, 1d6 random Black Magic scrolls.
• Ape-Man: LVL 5, SIZ L, AL N, ST +2, DX +1, IN +1, AC 13, MV 15, Init +1, AT 1, TH +3, DMG d8, TR -1. SA: Grapple.
  • Missing link between Human and Ape. Ape-Men are hunter/gatherers, but cannot make fire, and make no tools or very simple paleolithic tools. They share a simple language with other apes.
  • Forest Ape-Men aka "Sasquatch" are larger & stronger, extremely shy but will kill intruders. ST +3, Strong.
  • Jungle Ape-Men aka "Mangani" are fast climbers. Mangani sometimes deal peacefully with Humans, and have been known to raise Human foundlings. Some tribes are absolutely hostile to Humans. SA: Climbing like a Thief.
  • Alpine Ape-Men aka "Yeti" are white-furred, extremely dangerous hunters. SA: Stealth like an Assassin.
  • Avian Ape-Men aka "Flying Monkeys" are smaller and barely intelligent, but have long raptor-like wings. Feral ones are savage hunters, many are tamed by mages as scouts. SIZ M, ST +0, IN -2, MV 12/18 Flying.
• Basilisk: LVL 6, Strong, SIZ L, AL N, ST +3, DX +1, IN +1(A), AC 15, MV 6, Init +0, AT 1, TH +5, DMG d10, TR +2.
  • SA: Petrify, R: 20m, S: NE, Turns any target who can see it (including in the Ethereal plane) into a stone statue. Fighting without looking at it is like being blind, -4 To Hit. A mirror can be used to inflict Petrify on itself, roll 1d20+LVL+DX at -4 to aim without looking; on 15 or higher it may see itself, and it gets a saving throw; on 5 or less, you looked.
• Bat, Vampire: LVL 1, Weak, SIZ S, AL N, ST -1, DX +2, IN +0(A), AC 12, MV 6/18 Flying, Init +0, AT 1, TH +0, DMG d4, TR none. SA: Blood drain, damage inflicted heals the Bat.
• Bear, Black: LVL 4, Strong, SIZ M, AL N, ST +2, DX +0, IN +0(A), AC 12, MV 12, Init -1, AT 1, TH +3, DMG d8, SA: Climb, TR -2.
  • Bears prefer to grapple if facing only one or two targets.
  • Grizzly Bear: LVL 6, Strong, SIZ L, AL N, ST +4, DX +0, IN +0(A), AC 17, MV 12, Init +0, AT 2, TH +5, DMG d10, SA: Climb, Terror 3m on roar, TR +0.
  • Polar Bear: LVL 7, Strong, SIZ L, AL N, ST +5, DX +0, IN +0(A), AC 18, MV 9/12 Swim, Init +0, AT 2, TH +6, DMG d10, SA: Terror 6m on roar, TR -2.
  • Cave Bear: LVL 8, Strong, SIZ L, AL N, ST +5, DX +1, IN +1(A), AC 18, MV 9, Init +0, AT 2, TH +6, DMG d12, SA: Stealth, Terror 6m on roar, TR +0.
• Beastfolk: LVL 1, SIZ M, AL C, ST +1, DX +0, IN -1, AC 11 (17), MV 9, Init +0, AT 1, TH +1, DMG d3, TR -1. PR: Militia. EQ: Ring Mail, Kite Shield, Spear, Sling.
  • Some Beastfolk are more or less civilized, but many are savages and nomads, and enemies of all other humanoids.
  • Beastfolk Leaders, Hunters, and Warlocks should be given higher Level and statted up as characters.
• Bugbear: LVL 3, Strong, SIZ L, AL C, ST +3, DX +2, IN -1, AC 14, MV 9, Init +1, AT 1, TH +3, DMG 2d4, TR +0. PR: Assassin, Berserker. EQ: Battleaxe (50%), Maul (50%).
  • Bugbears are large goblinoid serial killers, capable of stealth but dim-witted and weird. They wear either carved pumpkins, the leathered faces of their victims, or other masks on their overly-large heads.
• Cat: LVL 1, Weak, SIZ S, AL C, ST -3, DX +3, IN +0(A), AC 10, MV 15, Init +2, AT 1, TH +0, DMG d2, SA: Climb, Stealth, TR none.
  • A large house cat, feral cat, or wildcat.
  • All Cats halve their MV after 8 rounds until they rest for 10 minutes, but can also move half speed Swimming, can jump 1/4 MV, take no damage from falling. Higher-Level individuals get normal IN, but cannot use tools; rare cats may learn Black Magic if they can find a teacher.
  • Leopard: LVL 3, SIZ M, AL C, ST +0, DX +1, IN +0(A), AC 12, MV 16, Init +1, AT 1, TH +2, DMG d6, SA: Climb, Stealth, TR -3. Also Jaguar, Ocelot. Cheetah has MV 20. Cougar (aka Panther, Puma, Mountain Lion) is Strong, ST +1, TH +3, MV 12.
  • Lion: LVL 5, Strong, SIZ L, AL C, ST +3, DX +2, IN +1(A), AC 14, MV 16, Init +1, AT 2, TH +4, DMG d8, SA: Climb, Stealth, Terror 3m on roar, TR -1.
  • Tiger: LVL 6, Strong, SIZ L, AL C, ST +4, DX +2, IN +2(A), AC 15, MV 16, Init +1, AT 2, TH +5, DMG d10, SA: Climb, Stealth, Terror 3m on roar, TR +0.
• Celestial: LVL 8, Strong, Unliving, SIZ M, AL L, ST +2, DX +3, IN +3, AC 18, MV 12/24 Flying, Init +3, AT 2, TH +6, DMG d12, TR +1. SA: Wall of Ice, Plane Shift, Summon & Control 1d6 lesser Celestials, Terror 10m radius. SD: Immune to cold, immune to non-magic weapons, 50% magic resistance. PR: Soldier (75%), Hero (50%), White Mage (50%), Psionic (10%). EQ: Holy Magic Sword (75%), Magic Spear (25%), 1d3-1 magic items.
  • A warrior angel, a minion of the Archons, humanoid with large feathered wings, half have animal heads and other features, others appear as the mortal race they're interacting with. Celestials do not care about mortal life, they only care about accomplishing their mission.
• Centaur: LVL 4, SIZ L, AL N/Any, ST +2, DX +2, IN +1, AC 14, MV 18, Init +1, AT 1, TH +2, DMG d6, TR +0. PR: Militia (75%), Hunter (25%), Sage (25%), Berserker (10%), Psionic (10%, raise IN to +3). EQ: Target Shield, Spear, Bow.
  • Most Centaurs are neolithic, nomadic hunters or herders, and keep songs, sagas, and lore by oral tradition; a few more advanced herds have stable winter camps, and have learned writing and other crafts from Humans.
• Crab, Giant: LVL 3, Strong, SIZ L, AL N, ST +3, DX -1, IN -2(A), AC 16, MV 6/12 Swimming, Init -2, AT 2, TH +3, DMG d6, TR -2.
  • Starts small, grows indefinitely as it ages. Very large old ones may possess an evil, hungry intelligence.
• Crocodile: LVL 3, SIZ M, AL N, ST +2, DX -1, IN -2(A), AC 14, MV 9/18 Swimming, Init +1, AT 1, TH +2, DMG d6, TR -1.
• Demon: LVL 8, Strong, Demon, SIZ L, AL C, ST +3, DX +1, IN +1, AC 18, MV 9/18 Flying, Init +0, AT 2, TH +6, DMG d12, TR +2. SA: Darkness, Wall of Fire, Plane Shift, Summon & Control 1d6 lesser Demons. SD: Immune to fire, immune to non-magic weapons, 50% magic resistance. PR: Assassin (50%), Black Mage (75%), Psionic (50% if IN +3 or higher). EQ: Unholy Magic Sword (25%), 1d3 magic items.
  • A warrior demon, often with an animal head on a humanoid body with bat-like wings, wreathed in flame and smoke. Other kinds of Demons will be more or less powerful, but have similar powers.
• Dog: LVL 1, SIZ M, AL N, ST +0, DX +1, IN +1(A), AC 11, MV 15, Init +0, AT 1, TH +1, DMG d4, PR: Hunter, TR none.
  • A large hound or guard dog.
• Dolphin: LVL 2, SIZ M, AL N, ST +1, DX +1, IN +1, AC 13, MV 1/24 Swimming, Init +1, AT 1, TH +1, DMG d6, TR -2. SA: Sonar 30m (sense in deep, dark water).
  • Free-roaming intelligent pack hunters, friendly but pranksters, often allied with Merfolk and Sea Elves, hate Sharks and Sea Devils. Older members of a pod may use Black Magic or White Magic.
• Dragon, Red: LVL 10, Strong, SIZ G, AL C, ST +4, DX +2, IN +4, AC 18, MV 9/24 Flying, Init +1, AT 2, TH +8, DMG 3d6, TR +4. SA: Breath weapon as Fireball (usable 3x per day), Terror 30m radius. SD: Immune to fire. PR: Apprentice (75%), Black Mage (50% if Adult, 90% if Ancient), Psionics (25% if Young, 50% if Adult, 90% if Ancient).
  • Dragons have 3 ages: Young have half Level, Adult are as listed, Ancient add 5 Levels. All true Dragons are intelligent and can speak, many are mages. There are many other colors and variants like Dragon Turtles, Quetzalcoatl, and Thunderbirds; change the base Level, breath weapon, and immunity.

E-H

• Eel, Giant: LVL 4, SIZ L, AL N, ST +2, DX +0, IN -1(A), AC 12, MV 1/12 Swimming, Init +1, AT 1, TH +2, DMG d6, TR -3.
  • Eel, Giant Electric: MV 1/9 Swimming. SA: Electric Shock (R: 20m radius, ST: H, does 3d6 shock damage).
  • Eel, Giant Lamprey: MV 1/9 Swimming. SA: Attack inflicts ST Drain as it siphons blood.
• Elemental: LVL 8, Strong, Unliving, SIZ M, AL N, ST +3, DX +0, IN +0, AC 17, MV 6 normal/36 in Element, Init +0, AT 2, TH +6, DMG d12, TR -2. SA: Elemental field (inflicts elemental hazard in 3m radius), Plane Shift. SA: Summon & Control 1d6 lesser Elementals. SD: Immune to element, immune to non-magic weapon.
  • An entity summoned from one of the elemental planes (Air, Earth, Fire, Water, or any of dozens of demi-elemental planes).
  • Elemental Wisps are Weak, Level 2, no hazard from field.
  • Elemental Hybrids (elementals in animal form, e.g. Air Serpents, Fire Salamanders, Ice Weasels, Water Horses) are Normal, Level 4, Weak hazard from field.
  • typical bound Elementals are Strong, Level 8, Moderate hazard from field.
  • Greater Elementals are Strong, Level up to 16, Strong hazard from field.
• Elf, Sea: LVL 1, Faerie, SIZ M, AL C, ST +0, DX +2, IN +0, AC 11, MV 9/18 Swimming, Init +2, AT 1, TH +1, DMG d3, TR -1. PR: Crafter (10%), Militia (50%), Soldier (10%), Hunter (50%), Assassin (10%), Thief (10%), Black Mage (25%). EQ: Leather Armor (50%), Magic Chain Mail (10%), Spear (75%), Short Sea Bow (50%), Net (25%), Dagger (50%).
• Frog, Large: LVL 2, SIZ M, AL N, ST +0, DX +0, IN -2(A), AC 12, MV 6/12 Jumping, Init +0, AT 1, TH +1, DMG d4, TR -2. SA: Tongue (grapple at 3 sq. range).
  • Frog, Giant: LVL 2, Strong, SIZ L, ST +2, AC 13, DMG d6. SA: Tongue (grapple at 4 sq. range), Swallow (consume any target subdued by grapple). Any target Swallowed cannot breathe, takes a ST drain attack every round, and can only attack from inside with a small blade or bare hands. Only killing the beast will free the target.
• Game Animal: LVL 1, Weak, SIZ M, AL N, ST -1, DX +0, IN +0, AC 10, MV 12, Init +0, AT 1, TH +0, DMG d3, TR none.
  • Typical deer or wild pig. Large game can be higher Level, and even Normal or Strong.
• Gargoyle: LVL 4, Strong, SIZ M, AL C, ST +2, DX +0, IN +0, AC 14, MV 6/12 Flying, Init -1, AT 1, TH +3, DMG d8, TR +1. SD: Immune to non-magic weapons.0
• Ghost: LVL 2, Ethereal, Undead, SIZ M, AL C, ST +0, DX +0, IN +0, AC 12, MV 9 Flying, Init +0, AT 1, TH +1, DMG d4, TR none. SA: Terror 10m. SD: Unkillable, reforms at next sunset unless Remove Curse is cast on the corpse. Vuln: Takes 1d6 damage per round in sunlight.
  • Ghosts are the souls of the dead who were unburied or had unfinished vengeance or remorse, haunting the place where they died. Ghosts are terrifying, but weak and bound close to their death site. If a Ghost succeeds in killing a person, the Ghost becomes a Wraith, and sometimes the victim becomes a Ghost.
  • Wraith: LVL 3, Ethereal, Undead, SIZ M, AL C, ST +0, DX +1, IN +0, AC 13, MV 9 Flying, Init +1, AT 1, TH +2, DMG d6, TR none. SA: Fear Touch = Drain IN, victims brought to -5 IN die and become Ghosts. Terror 30m. SD: Unkillable as above. Vuln: Takes 1d6 damage per round in sunlight. PR: Black Mage (25%)
  • Wraiths seek to slay and convert anyone who intrudes on their endless grief. In most cases they will not leave their death site, but those who do are Swarming Wraiths, and try to convert all the living. Those who remain undead for a century or more and kill many people in that time become Spectres.
  • Spectre: LVL 6, Ethereal, Undead, SIZ M, AL C, ST +0, DX +2, IN +3, AC 17, MV 12/24 Flying, Init +2, AT 2, TH +3, DMG d8, TR none. SA: Fear Touch as above. Terror 30m. Spell-Like Ability (see below). SD: Immune to non-magical weapons or mundane fire. Unkillable as above. Vuln: Takes 1d6 damage per round in sunlight. PR: Black Mage (100%).
  • Spectres are aware of their condition, want to convert all the living, and begin to command supernatural power and forces of lesser Undead. For each century of undeath, roll 1d6 for a spell-like power it can use once per day (duplicates add to uses/day): 1: Confusion (7), 2: Wall of Ice (7), 3: Animate Dead (9), 4: Greater Curse (9), 5: Telekinesis (9), 6: Teleport (9).
• Ghoul: LVL 2, Undead, SIZ M, SIZ G, AL C, ST +1, DX +0, IN +0, AC 13, MV 9, Init +0, AT 1, TH +1, DMG d4 + Paralytic Poison, TR -1. Vuln: Sunlight gives a -2 To Hit.
  • Ghouls are humanoids cursed for resorting to anthropophagy, see Deprivation. The recently-converted lose all intelligence and memory and become dumb predators, but older Ghouls gain intelligence, and may learn new skills. Feel free to add Levels, IN, Professions, and equipment.
• Giant: LVL 8, Strong, SIZ G, AL C, ST +6, DX -1, IN +0, AC 15, MV 9, Init -1, AT 2, TH +6, DMG d12, TR +1. SA: Hurls boulders or other large objects with range 20m, damage 2d8. SD: Hill Giants are immune to petrification, Fire Giants are immune to fire, Frost Giants are immune to cold, Cloud Giants are immune to lightning.
  • Giants are 4-8m tall, have different warring tribes based on elements. Hill Giants are smaller and dumber (IN -1) than the others.
  • Giant Leader: IN +1, Level 9-12, and will have magical weapons and armor.
  • Giant Shaman: IN +2, White Magic, and 1 spell per Level.
  • Giant Warlock: IN +2, Black Magic, and 1 spell per Level.
• Goblin: LVL 1, Weak, Faerie, SIZ S, AL C, ST -1, DX +0, IN +0, AC 10, MV 12, Init +0, AT 1, TH +0, DMG d3, TR -1. Vuln: Sunlight gives a -1 To Hit. PR: Assassin, Thief (25%), Militia (25%), Apprentice (25%), Crafter (10%). EQ: Leather Armor (50%), Mace (25%), Sling (25%), Short Bow (10%), Dagger (75%).
  • Runty 1m tall, big-headed, usually green-skinned freaks, they resemble feral Elf children aside from the skin & fangs. Filthy scavengers, babbling lunatics, either mystical or delusional. Once servants of the High Elves, they have scattered and bred in the wilderness, and claim their own realms now. Some of the least insane are merchants and crafters; they mostly deal with dark races, but Humans with coin, slaves, or magical gifts may be treated as paying customers.
  • Goblin Warlock: IN +1, Black Magic, and 1 spell per Level.
• Golem: LVL 9, Strong, Unliving, SIZ L, AL N, ST +6, DX -2, IN +0, AC 18, MV 6, Init +0, AT 2, TH +7, DMG 2d6, TR none. SD: Immune to non-magical weapons, +4 save vs. magic.
  • Golems can be made of various materials. Each can absorb damage from attacks of one element and heal for the intended damage, and has a special ability. Larger Golems can be up to Level 16.
  • Flesh Golem: Made of assembled body parts, absorbs lightning attacks, can use Berserk Rage 3x per day.
  • Clay Golem: Absorbs acid attacks, can cast Haste on itself 3x per day.
  • Iron Golem: Absorbs fire attacks, can cast Cloudkill 3x per day.
  • Stone Golem: Absorbs earth attacks, can cast Hold Person 3x per day.
• Gribble: LVL 2, Weak, SIZ S, AL N, ST -2, DX +1, IN -2(A), AC 11, MV 12, Init +0, AT 1, TH +0, DMG d3, TR -2 (90%)/+2 (10%).
  • An alchemical accident, a hybrid of a slime, a snarling yappy-dog ball of fur, and a gremlin (which are a fairy tale for bad children). Gribbles travel in packs of 2-12, and eat anything they can seize in the jaws that are most of their head/body. Cutting them open has a good chance to find poor loot, rarely great loot.
• Harpy: LVL 3, Weak, SIZ M, AL C, ST -1, DX +1, IN +0, AC 12, MV 6/18 Flying, Init +1, AT 1, TH +1, DMG d4, TR -1. SA: Sing as Charm Person. EQ: Javelin (50%).
• Hippogriff: LVL 3, Strong, SIZ L, AL N, ST +2, DX +1, IN +0(A), AC 13, MV 18/24 Flying, Init +1, AT 1, TH +3, DMG d6, TR -3.
• Hobgoblin: LVL 1, Faerie, SIZ M, AL C, ST +1, DX +0, IN +0, AC 11, MV 6, Init -1, AT 1, TH +2, DMG d4, TR +0. Vuln: Sunlight gives a -1 To Hit. PR: Militia, Apprentice (10%), Soldier (10%). EQ: Kite Shield (75%), Ring Mail (50%), Leather Armor (25%), Short Sword (50%), Sling (25%), Spear (75%).
  • Larger (up to 1.5m tall), saner offshoot of Goblins, but less creatively terrible and usually incapable of learning full Black Magic. Some imitate Human military organization, some remain primitive warriors working for the Goblins, others become servants of more powerful beings and Black Mages.
• Homonculous: LVL 2, Weak, Unliving, SIZ varies, AL N, ST -1, DX +1, IN +0, AC 12, MV varies, Init +1, AT 1, TH +0, DMG d3, TR +0. SA: Weak paralytic poison bite.
  • Artificial life created by Alchemists. The most common Homonculous is a small flying imp (SIZ S, MV 6/18 Flying) used as a lab assistant and spy, but they can be any size or shape, including "Clones", imitations of specific people.
• Horse, Riding: LVL 2, SIZ L, AL N, ST +2, DX +1, IN -1(A), AC 12, MV 18, Init +0, AT 1, TH +1, DMG d4, TR none.
  • Also Camel, lesser Martian Thoat, large flightless flamingo, strider bug, and so on.
  • Donkey & Mule: LVL 1, SIZ M, IN +0(A), MV 15.
  • Draft Horse: ST +4, MV 15.
  • Warhorse & greater Martian Thoat: LVL 3, ST +4, AC 13, DMG d6, EQ: Barding (50%).
  • Sea Horse is as above but can breathe underwater and MV 3/18 swimming.

I-L

• Imp: LVL 3, Strong, Demon, SIZ S, AL C, ST +0, DX +2, IN +1, AC 15, MV 6/18 Flying, Init +1, AT 1, TH +3, DMG d4, TR +0. SA: Moderate Poison claws, Invisibility, Phantasmal Force. SD: Immune to fire.
  • Lesser demons, also called Quasits. Looks like a hairless monkey with bat wings, skin is red, black, or green. Sometimes summoned by mortals, or often found as vermin & scavengers in Hell or Hell-tainted areas.
• Intellect Devourer: LVL 6, Weak, Ethereal, SIZ S, AL C, ST +1, DX +1, IN +5, AC 15, MV 15, Init +1, AT 2, TH +2, DMG d6, TR +1. PR: Assassin, Psionics (Attacks 1-4, Defenses 1-3, Invisibility, ESP).
  • SA: Possess Body: If a psychic attack gets overkill, or it physically kills the target, or it has access to a dead body with an intact brain, it can burrow into the brain and operate the body. It has none of the body's memories, but may have observed the target for some time, and speaks many languages.
  • A mass of smoky darkness in the shape of a headless hound.
• Kobold: LVL 1, Weak, SIZ S, AL C, ST -1, DX +1, IN +1, AC 11, MV 12, Init +0, AT 1, TH +0, DMG d3, TR +0. PR: Crafter (50%), Militia (25%), Soldier (10%), Assassin (25%), Thief (25%). SA: Weapons: Firearms. EQ: Chain Mail (25%), Leather Armor (50%), Rifle (10%), Pistol (25%), Short Bow (25%), Hand Axe (25%, used 2-handed), Dagger (75%).
  • Offshoot of Dwarfs, long lost in mines and become tiny and evil. They are as skilled as Dwarfs, and supply evil beings with well-crafted non-Dwarfish weapons & armor in exchange for protection. Kobold booby traps, bombs, and snipers make their lairs far more deadly than their Level suggests.
  • When converting Old-School materials using Kobolds as primitive savages, consider using Goblins instead.
• Lizardmen: LVL 2, Strong, SIZ M, AL C, ST +1, DX +0, IN +0, AC 12, MV 6/12 Swimming, Init -1, AT 1, TH +2, DMG d6, TR -2. EQ: Kite Shield (50%), Spear (50%).
• Lycanthrope: LVL 4, SIZ M (animal form may be S, M, or L), AL C, ST +2, DX +2, IN +0, AC 14, MV 9, Init +0, AT 1, TH +2, DMG 2d4, TR +0. SA: Summon & Control 1d6 animals of same type. SD: Immune to weapons which are not magic or silver. Vuln: Repelled by Wolfsbane (Moderate hazard, save with ST to approach).
  • Were (Werewolf, Wererat, etc.): Humanoids cursed with an animal form. These have limited or no control over their transformation. They must change during every full moon, cannot change during the new moon, and at other times change when angry or scared. In beast form they have animal intelligence.
  • Therianthrope (Fox-Women, Kenku, etc.): Intelligent animals with a humanoid form. These change at will to walk among humanoids and trick them, or lure them as prey.
  • Skinchanger: Ritual magicians taking an animal form. These must perform a short ritual at sunset and wear an animal skin, then change until next dawn. They may be using it to hunt, to kill people, or for religious beliefs.
  • Stats are for a typical Lycanthrope, they may be of any Level.

M-P

• Manta Ray: LVL 4, SIZ L, AL N, ST +1, DX +0, IN -2(A), AC 13, MV 1/18 Swimming, Init +0, AT 1, TH +2, DMG d6, TR -1.
  • Manticore Ray: SA: Shoot 1d6 tail spikes (R: 30m, DMG 1d6 each, usable 3x per day).
• Manticore: LVL 6, SIZ L, AL C, ST +2, DX +1, IN +1, AC 16, MV 9/18 Flying, Init +1, AT 2, TH +3, DMG d8, TR +1. SA: Shoot 1d6 tail spikes (R: 30m, DMG 1d6 each, usable 3x per day).
• Medusa: LVL 4, SIZ M, AL C, ST +1, DX +1, IN +3, AC 14, MV 9, Init +1, AT 1, TH +2, DMG d6, TR +2. SA: Petrify (as Basilisk), Head-Snakes Bite (R: 3m, DMG 1d6, inflicts Moderate Poison).
• Merfolk: LVL 1, SIZ M, AL L, ST +1, DX +0, IN +0, AC 11, MV 3/18 Swimming, Init +0, AT 1, TH +1, DMG d3, TR +0. PR: Crafter (25%), Militia (50%), Soldier (10%). EQ: Leather Armor (50%), Trident (50%), Spear (25%), Short Sea Bow (25%), Net (50%), Dagger (75%).
  • People of the sea, upper half humanoid, lower half fish-like. Many of their lower classes are half-breed Sea Devils. Merfolk villages are usually a cluster of caves, but there are a few larger towns and cities, fully enclosed in stone domes. Rarely above bronze technology.
  • Merfolk Noble: PR: Knight (50%), or Black Mage (25%), or White Mage (25%), otherwise Soldier.
  • Merfolk Hunter: PR: Hunter. EQ: Long Sea Bow (long bow which works underwater).
  • Merfolk Merchant: PR: Crater (50%), Apprentice (25%), Thief (25%).
• Minotaur: LVL 6, SIZ L, AL C, ST +3, DX +1, IN +0, AC 13, MV 9, Init +1, AT 2, TH +3, DMG d8, TR +1. PR: Soldier, Hunter. EQ: Chain Mail (50%), Leather (50%), 2-Handed Sword (25%), Halberd (25%), Battleaxe (50%).
  • Huge near-giants with cow-like heads, stern warriors and hunters of plains. Many are nomadic, but some grow or build defensive hedge or stone mazes around villages, and some settle inside dungeons (the more maze-like the better) and go out only to hunt.
• Mummy: LVL 5, Undead, SIZ M, AL C, ST +2, DX +0, IN +1, AC 16, MV 6, Init +0, AT 1, TH +3, DMG d8, TR +2. SA: Disease Touch. PR: Hero (25%), Black Mage (25%), White Mage (25%), Assassin (25%).
  • Mummies are preserved corpses which have been reanimated by their mind but no soul. When they remove their bandages, they look thin and dry, but nearly alive. They have the skills they had in life, endless time, and hatred for the living.
• Nymph: LVL 4, Strong, Faerie, SIZ M, AL N, ST +0, DX +2, IN +2, AC 16, MV 9, Init +1, AT 1, TH +3, DMG by weapon, TR -1. SA: Charm Person, Sleep, each usable 3x per day. PR: White Mage (100%). EQ: Spear (75%), Dagger (25%), Long Bow (75%), Short Bow (25%).
  • Faerie spirits, defenders of nature. Dryads are bound to trees, and can step into any tree and step out of another up to 36m away. Naiads are bound to rivers or lakes, MV 24 swimming. Sylphs are free-roaming, MV 36 flying. Typically served by a swarm of 1-3 dozen Sprites.
• Octopus, Giant: LVL 4, SIZ L, AL C, ST +2, DX +1, IN +1, AC 14, MV 3/15 Swimming, Init +1, AT 4, TH +2, DMG d4, TR +0. SA: Ink Cloud (20m radius, usable 3x per day, blocks sight).
  • Most Giant Octopi are solitary, non-tool-using, and speak only their own language, but a few do learn languages, professions, and technology from other races.
• Ogre: LVL 4, Strong, SIZ L, AL C, ST +3, DX +0, IN -1, AC 14, MV 6, Init -1, AT 1, TH +3, DMG d8, TR -1. SA: Hurls rocks and large objects with range 20m, damage d10. EQ: War Hammer (50%), Maul (50%).
  • Evil humanoids who can pass for large, ugly Humans. They often live near or among Humans, and murder for sport and food.
  • Ogre Leader: Level 5-10, and may have magical weapons and armor.
  • Ogre Warlock (or Hag): Level 5-10, and have IN +1, Black Mage, and know 1 spell per Level.
  • Sea Ogre: As above, can breathe underwater and MV 6/9 swimming.
• Psychic Parasite: LVL 4, Weak, Ethereal, SIZ S, AL N, ST -2, DX +0, IN -2(A), AC 12, MV 12 Flying, Init +0, AT 1, TH +1, DMG d3, TR -2. SD: Feeds on Psychic Energy (all PS and MP used in its vicinity heal it for a like number of HP). SA: Psionics (PS 20, Attacks 1, Defenses 1, Invisibility).
  • AKA Brain Moles, Cerebral Parasites, and Thought Eaters. Vermin of the Ethereal plane, like a flying fish with jellyfish-like stingers.

Q-T

• Rat, Giant: LVL 1, Weak, SIZ S, AL N, ST -1, DX +2, IN +0(A), AC 10, MV 12, Init +0, AT 1, TH +0, DMG d3, TR -3. SA: 25% are Diseased, and anyone bitten is exposed to a Moderate disease.
• Sea Devil: LVL 2, Strong, SIZ M, AL C, ST +2, DX -1, IN +1, AC 14, MV 9/18 Swimming, Init -1, AT 1, TH +2, DMG d6, TR +0. PR: Militia (100%), Soldier (50%), Hunter (25%), Black Mage (5%), White Mage (5%). EQ: Spear (75%), Short Sea Bow (25%), Net (50%), Dagger (75%).
  • Evil humanoid shark-people. Horribly, they can interbreed with Humans, Merfolk, and Sea Elves, and their half-breeds are indistinguishable from the other parent's race until middle age, when they transform into pure-breed Sea Devils; they are often sent to spy on and sabotage those cultures until they return to their own kind.
  • Sea Devil Leader: LVL 4, Strong, SIZ M, AL C, ST +3, DX -1, IN +3, AC 14, MV 9/18 Swimming, Init -1, AT 1, TH +3, DMG d8, TR +2. PR: As above, plus Psionics.
• Sea Monster: LVL 10, Strong, SIZ G, AL C, ST +5, DX +2, IN +2, AC 20, MV 3/21 Swimming, Init +1, AT 2, TH +8, DMG 3d6, TR +1. SA: Swallow Whole (ST: N, usable every 3 rounds, swallowed characters take a Strong Acid Hazard every round), Poison Breath (as Cloudkill, usable 3x per day). SD: Immune to cold. PR: Apprentice (75%), Black Mage (50% if Adult, 90% if Ancient).
  • Aquatic relatives of dragons. Sea Monsters have 3 ages: Young have half Level, Adult are as listed, Ancient add 5 Levels. Sea Monsters are intelligent and can speak, many are mages.
• Serpent Men: LVL 5, Strong, SIZ M, AL C, ST +2, DX +1, IN +2, AC 15, MV 6/12 Swimming, Init +0, AT 1, TH +4, DMG d8, TR +2. PR: Hero, Berserker OR Black Mage, Sage. EQ: Hero: Plate Mail, Battleaxe, Crossbow; Black Mage: Leather, Staff.
  • Serpent Men are to Lizardmen as Elves are to Humans; a similar but unrelated, ancient, dying race with great power and incomprehensible plans. They have largely been driven from the surface, and now live in underwater or underground fortress cities.
  • Stats are for a typical Serpent Man, leaders are much higher Level and have higher IN and Psionics.
• Shadow: LVL 2, Strong, Ethereal, Unliving, SIZ M, AL C, ST +0, DX +1, IN +0, AC 12, MV 12, Init +0, AT 1, TH +2, DMG d6, TR none. SA: Weakness Touch = Drain ST, victims brought to -5 ST die and become full-strength Shadows. Terror 10m. SD: Immune to non-magical weapons. Vuln: Takes 1d6 damage per round in sunlight.
  • Neither alive or dead, shadows separated from beings before their death may become independent. Shadows are cold and seek to drain warmth & health from the living, but this only creates more Shadows. Entire communities can become "ghost towns" inhabited by Shadows.
• Shark: LVL 4, SIZ M, AL N, ST +1, DX +0, IN -1(A), AC 13, MV 1/24 Swimming, Init +1, AT 1, TH +2, DMG d6, TR -2. SA: Blood Sense 1km (direction & distance to any blood in the water). +- Great White: LVL 6, Strong, SIZ L, AL N, ST +3, DX +1, IN -1(A), AC 15, MV 1/21 Swimming, Init +0, AT 2, TH +5, DMG 2d6, TR -1. SA: Blood Sense 2km.
  • Megalodon: LVL 8, Strong, SIZ G, AL N, ST +3, DX +1, IN -1(A), AC 17, MV 1/18 Swimming, Init +0, AT 2, TH +6, DMG 3d6, TR -1. SA: Blood Sense 5km.
• Skeleton: LVL 1, Weak, Undead, SIZ M, AL C, ST -1, DX +0, IN -2, AC 11, MV 12, Init +0, AT 1, TH +0, DMG d4, TR -2. EQ: Leather (25%), Shield (25%), Dagger (25%), 3 Javelins (25%), Spear (50%).
  • As seen in Ray Harryhausen movies. Skeletons are not mindless, naked bone robots, but malevolent spirits reanimating bones and typically wielding weapons and armor. Better versions are more like real soldiers, and could gain more levels:
  • Skeletal Warrior: Normal, ST +0, TH +1, TR -1. EQ: Leather (25%), Brigandine (25%), Shield (50%), Short Sword (25%), Net (25%), Short Bow (25%), Spear (75%).
  • Skeletal Knight: Strong, ST +1, MV 9, Init -1, TH +2, TR -1. EQ: Brigandine (25%), Ring Mail (50%), Shield (50%), War Axe (75%), Short Bow (25%), Broad Sword (25%).
• Slime: LVL 1, Weak, SIZ S, AL N, ST -1, DX +0, IN -2(A), AC 10, MV 6, Init -1, AT 1, TH +0, DMG d3, TR -1. SD: Immune to fire and blunt weapons. Lightning creates a second identical Slime.
  • The weakest kinds of Slime are unintelligent, only dangerous in large numbers. Larger Slimes develop new attacks, such as acid, paralytic poison, and poison. Some Slimes over Level 4 are intelligent, and may have communities, Professions, and magic items.
• Snake: LVL 1, SIZ S, AL N, ST +0, DX +2, IN -1(A), AC 12, MV 18, Init +2, AT 1, TH +1, DMG d3, TR -3. SA: Poison.
• Snake, Giant: LVL 5, Strong, SIZ L, AL N, ST +2, DX +2, IN -1(A), AC 14, MV 12, Init +0, AT 1, TH +4, DMG d8, TR -2. SA: Poison, Grapple.
• Spider, Giant: LVL 4, SIZ M, AL N, ST +2, DX +2, IN -2(A), AC 15, MV 15/6 Climbing, Init +2, AT 1, TH +2, DMG d8, TR -1. SA: Paralytic Poison Bite, Web. PR: Assassin.
  • 2m diameter tarantula-like spiders. They strike from ambush, and web up paralyzed prey for later consumption.
  • Phase Spider: LVL 5, Ethereal.
• Sprite: LVL 1, Faerie, SIZ S, AL N, ST -2, DX +2, IN +0, AC 13, MV 12/24 Flying, Init +2, AT 1, TH +1, DMG by weapon, TR -1. SA: Sleep, Invisibility, Web, each usable 3x per day. PR: Assassin (10%), Thief (25%), Black Mage (25%). EQ: Tiny Spear (50%), Tiny Short Bow (50%).
  • Small (10-30cm tall) flying nuisance faerie folk. Their weapons do half damage, but are often poisoned. May be friendly if other Faerie folk are in the group, but will still steal and prank. Semi-intelligent, but has the mentality of a bored toddler.
  • Also called Pixies (tiny, no weapons but more magic), Nixies (aquatic), Brownies (furry & more helpful), Leprechaun (greedy & cruel), or Puck (drunk, musical, & lecherous).
• Squid, Giant: LVL 6, Strong, SIZ G, AL N, ST +3, DX +1, IN -2(A), AC 16, MV 1/15 Swimming, Init +0, AT 4, TH +5, DMG d6, TR -1. SA: Ink Cloud (20m radius, usable 3x per day, blocks sight).
• Star-Hound: LVL 4, Ethereal, SIZ M, AL C, ST +2, DX +2, IN +3(A), AC 14, MV 18/6 Flying, Init +1, AT 1, TH +2, DMG d6, TR -2. SA: Terror 10m. PR: Psionics (PS 12, Attacks 1-3, Defenses 1).
  • Ghostly hunters seen as a dog-shaped distortion of space. May be sent by powers of the outer planes to kill or fetch someone from the Material plane.
• Star-Spawn: LVL 8, Strong, SIZ L, AL C, ST +3, DX +1, IN +5, AC 18, MV 6/12 Flying/18 Swimming, Init +0, AT 2, TH +6, DMG d12, TR +2. SA: Terror 30m. PR: Apprentice, Black Mage, Alchemist, Psionics (PS 26, Attacks 1-5, Defenses 1-3, 5 random disciplines).
  • Huge 3-5m tall, bloated semi-aquatic humanoids with bat-like wings, branching tentacles for limbs, a roiling mass of suckers for mouth, below eyes of burning intelligence and hate. They build vast incomprehensible cities in deep waters, with outposts in shallow coastal water where tides may expose them. They take humanoids as cattle (for they feed on intelligent brains), as parts for their machines, and experimental subjects.
• Troll: LVL 6, Strong, SIZ L, AL C, ST +4, DX +1, IN +1, AC 16, MV 9, Init +0, AT 2, TH +5, DMG d10, TR +1. SD: Regenerates 1d3 HP per round, except damage from fire or acid. Vuln: Every round of exposure to sunlight has a 1% cumulative chance to turn the Troll to stone (cannot move or attack, but has AC 20, double HP, immune to fire or acid) until nightfall. PR: Hunter (25%), Berserker (10%), Black Mage (10%).
  • Trolls are huge, ferocious beasts, with endless hunger, rage, and hate. They are also smarter than they look, and those with professions may be higher Level, and will use equipment and magic items. There may be more civilized Trolls in distant lands or underground.
  • Sea Trolls can breathe underwater and MV 9/12 swimming.

U-Z

• Vampire Spawn: LVL 4, Strong, Undead, SIZ M, AL C, ST +2, DX +2, IN +0, AC 14, MV 12, Init -1, AT 1, TH +3, DMG d8, TR +0. SA: Grapple to inflict blood drain, damage inflicted heals the Vampire Spawn. Vuln: Takes 1d6 damage per round in sunlight.
  • A new victim of a Vampire has lost most of their personality, memories, and skills, and exists only to hunt and to serve their master Vampire. After a century of undeath, they become Level 5 Vampires and are no longer controlled.
• Vampire: LVL 5, Strong, Undead, SIZ M, AL C, ST +3, DX +3, IN +1, AC 15, MV 12, Init +3, AT 1, TH +4, DMG d8, TR +2. SA: Grapple to inflict blood drain, damage inflicted heals the Vampire; Weakness Touch = Drain ST, victims brought to -5 ST die and become Vampire Spawn under the control of their killer. Vuln: Takes 1d6 damage per round in sunlight.
  • For every century of undeath, add 1 Level (100-199 years old = Level 5, 200-299 years = Level 6, etc.), 1 Profession, 1 random spell-like power, and 1 random curse (reroll duplicates).
  • Vampires with useful Professions will use weapons, armor, and magic items, and cast spells and psionics.
  • Spell-like powers (all but Regeneration & Immune) can be used (Level-4) times per day.
  • Curses marked † are only mental blocks, but disobeying them causes 1d6 damage per round.

  d10	Power	Curse
  1	Regeneration 1d3 HP per round	Must sleep in a coffin with homeland's dirt †
  2	Immune to non-magical weapons	Repelled by holy symbols †
  3	Charm Person (1)	Cannot enter a home uninvited †
  4	Summon & Control 3d6 Rats or Bats	Repelled by fire †
  5	Summon & Control 1d6 Wolves	Repelled by garlic †
  6	Animate Dead (9)	Repelled by silver †
  7	Telekinesis (9)	Must count spilled sticks, beans, or rice †
  8	Gas Form (as potion)	Cannot cross running water †
  9	Polymorph Into Bat (7)	Monstrous/rat-like appearance
  10	Invisibility (3)	Has no reflection in mirrors

• Whale: LVL 10, Strong, SIZ G, AL C, ST +6, DX +0, IN +4, AC 20, MV 0/18 Swimming, Init +1, AT 2, TH +8, DMG 4d6, TR +0. PR: Black Magic (50%), White Magic (50%), Psionic (100%).
  • Whales are intelligent, and social with their own kind, but have little to do with lesser races. They may deal with Dolphins or Sea Elves, and mostly avoid dangerous land-dwellers; they will attack ships if they feel threatened. Almost all use magic or psionics, but barely understand that tools exist.
• Wight: LVL 3, Strong, Undead, SIZ M, AL C, ST +2, DX +0, IN +0, AC 15, MV 9, Init +0, AT 1, TH +3, DMG d6, TR +1. SA: Chill Touch = Drain DX, victims brought to -5 DX die and become full-strength Wights. Vuln: Takes 1d6 damage per round in sunlight.
  • Also called Barrow Wights, Draugr, Revenants, and Grave Ghouls (no relation). Wights are angry at their tombs being entered, and seek to slay and convert any tomb robbers. In most cases they will not leave the tomb, but those who do are Swarming Wights, and try to convert all the living.

• Wolf: LVL 2, SIZ M, AL N, ST +1, DX +1, IN +1(A), AC 12, MV 18, Init +1, AT 1, TH +1, DMG d6, TR -2. PR: Hunter.

• Wolf, Dire: LVL 4, Strong, SIZ L, AL N, ST +2, DX +1, IN +1(A), AC 13, MV 18, Init +1, AT 1, TH +3, DMG d8, TR -2. PR: Hunter.

• Worm, Giant: LVL 15, Strong, SIZ G, AL N, ST +6, DX +3, IN -3(A), AC 25, MV 6/6 Burrowing/3 Swimming, Init +2, AT 3, TH +11, DMG 3d6, SA: Swallow (if 2 attacks hit), Terror 3m radius, SD: Immune to non-magical weapons, TR -2.
  • Horrific giant annelids, 2-3m wide, 20-30m long, greasy pale purple, hide so thick normal weapons are useless. Any target Swallowed cannot breathe, takes a ST drain attack every round, and can only attack from inside with a small blade or bare hands. Only killing the beast will free the target.
• Wyvern: LVL 6, Strong, SIZ M, AL N, ST +3, DX +1, IN +1(A), AC 16, MV 9/24 Flying, Init +0, AT 2, TH +5, DMG 2d8, TR +1. SA: Poison spit, range 12m.
  • Lesser dragon-kin, surprisingly clever predators.
• Zombie: LVL 2, Undead, SIZ M, AL C, ST +1, DX +0, IN -2(A), AC 12, MV 6, Init -2, AT 1, TH +1, DMG d6, TR -2. SA: Diseased bite, anyone who dies of the disease rises as a Zombie. SD: Only head damage harms a zombie, other locations do no HP; any chest and arm damage lowers its ST by 1, leg damage lowers its DX by 1.
  • Zuvembie is a zombie created by an alchemical poison that turns a person into a half-plant zombie, with some intelligence left. IN -1, SA: Summon & Control 1d6 Rats, Bats, or Pigeons (as Bat with Rat's SA); does not have diseased bite & cannot spread Zombie Plague.

Treasure

(This chapter is Open Game Content)

Distribution of Treasure

• Shares are a common way to distribute treasure for adventuring parties, mercenary bands, and pirate crews. Usually each regular member of the party will receive 1 share, the leader and specialists (black & white mages, in particular) receive 1/2 or 1 additional share. Henchmen and Hirelings each receive a fractional share. Add all the shares for living members, and divide the treasure among them.

  Many parties treat magic items as a separate category, where only full shares can divide them, and they have no cash value; other parties try to appraise them and "buy" items from the party treasury. Anything that can't be divided evenly is owned by the party treasury until someone can "buy" it, and then that cash is distributed.

• Dibs is the simple way, for small groups. If someone wants an item or gem, they call dibs, and it's theirs. Cash is usually still divided evenly. Members are responsible for paying off their Henchmen and Hirelings from their own take. Dibs often leads to arguments, betrayals, and fights, so outside of short-lived Chaotic groups it's not a good idea.

• Communal Ownership is practiced by some religious groups. Everything is group property, members just borrow it for group purposes. This only works until someone "borrows" more than others.

Treasure Value

Stone Halls & Serpent Men has a more defined economic curve than Old-School. Wealth allows characters to improve their gear, buy scrolls, accelerates experience by paying for personal goals, and increases the power of the group by hiring henchmen & hirelings (and then paying for their gear).

Total treasure and award for an adventure should average (Level² x 100) GP, double that for a rich adventure, half that for a poor adventure. Hiring salaries for adventurers are usually (Level² x 10) GP, the same as henchmen, and the rest to be made up in loot. When converting Old-School adventures, add up all the available wealth, and divide it down until it's in reasonable range.

Keep in mind the annual salary of a soldier is 52-260 GP, and of a peasant is 1/10 as much. Anyone offering excessive rewards is obscenely rich and throwing money at a problem which only powerful adventurers should be able to solve.

Random Treasure

Treasure found in the world is at the region's Level, treasure found in a character's or monster's home or lair equals their Level. For random treasure, Treasure Value is (2d3-4) + Level + monster's TR (0 or less = nothing); Treasure Type is 1d20 + Level/5 + monster's TR.

The file treasureGenerator.html has a JavaScript program to generate random treasures.

Trade Goods: Roll 1d20, amount found is (treasure value / trade good value), round up. For more portable treasures, the Referee may want to use the TR roll as the minimum roll. For example, TR roll of 9 and Trade goods for type, rolling 1d20 and getting 3 would mean (75 GP x 50 CP/GP ÷ 2 CP) = 1,875 liters of ale or chickens. So instead using 9 as the roll produces 75kg of salted fish or 75 goats.

Treasure Maps: Usually a sketch of a landmark and course from there to a cache. Roll 1d4 treasures as above, treating any more Treasure Maps as Gems.

Location, roll 1d6: 1: Unmarked (directions given in paces), 2: Tree, 3: Boulder, 4: Campsite, 5: Cave, 6: Small Dungeon, 1d3 rooms.

Protection, roll 1d6: 1: None, 2-3: Trap, 4: Animal, 5: Monster, 6: Undead.

Gems: Roll 1d20 + Level/5 + monster's TR on the Gem column, number found is (treasure value / gem value), round up; reroll if 1 gem is worth more than treasure value. For example, an Ogre (Level 4, TR -1) rolls 5 on 2d3 for value, so 5-4+4-1 = 4, 25 GP value; gem roll on 1d20 is 10, so 10+1-1 = 10, Jade (20 GP), giving (25/20, round up) = 2 Jades, a rich Ogre.

Magic item bonus is +1 for Level 1-4, +2 for Level 5-8, +3 for Level 9-12, +4 for Level 13-16, +5 for Level 17-20. A character cannot use a magic item of higher Level than they are; a Level 3 character cannot even swing a Level 5 Broadsword +2.

For any magic item, there is a 1 in 6 chance item is cursed. If a cursed item is used, it applies a Lesser Curse and cannot be discarded until Remove Curse is cast on the user. If a cursed scroll is read, it prevents the user from reading scrolls or casting magic until Remove Curse is cast on the user. Nothing affects the cursed item itself, it remains cursed.

Magic Weapons

Magic Weapons may have special abilities, roll 1d20 + Level/5, +5 for swords, +2 for daggers, -5 for blunt and ranged weapons. 10 or less: No ability, 11-15: Glows on command as torch, 16 or more: Roll 1d20 on table below. Bonuses are in addition to standard magic bonus.

Magic weapons with abilities always have a name, alignment, and intelligence. Roll 1d6: 1-2: Lawful, 3-4: Neutral, 5-6: Chaotic. Drawing a weapon of different alignment inflicts 1d6 damage per step different.

Except for Rune weapons below, they have IN 1d3-1d3. Those with IN 0 or less cannot communicate, those with IN 1 or higher can use ESP for free on the user. If the weapon and user disagree about goals or actions, user rolls 1d20 + Level + IN - (weapon's Level + IN); on a total of 15 or higher, user wins the conflict; on a total of 14 or less, the weapon controls the user's body for 1d6 hours.

If you can't think of a power-specific name, roll 1d10 twice and combine: First part: 1: Abyssal, 2: Argent, 3: Azure, 4: Black, 5: Blood, 6: Dawn, 7: Faith, 8: Fury, 9: Lord's, 10: Obsidian. Second part: 1: Blade, 2: Breaker, 3: Guard, 4: Keeper, 5: Remorse, 6: Rites, 7: Shard, 8: Song, 9: Tear, 10: Wrath. The Referee should keep extending these word tables after a few have been used.

Potions

Potions typically have a specific appearance for each effect, but some alchemists may use different processes. It is common knowledge that healing potions are bright clear red, but there are exceptions. Poison and Delusion always have the appearance of another potion. Potion effects last for (1d6+6) x 10 minutes, except Healing potions are instant effect. If a different potion is drunk while another is still in effect, something may go wrong. If either is a healing or resistance potion, nothing unusual happens. Any other combination is a strong poison.

Miscellaneus Magic Items

• Scrolls, Wands, Rods, Staves, and most Rings contain spells. Roll 1d6: 1-3: Black Magic spell, 4-6: White Magic spell. White Magic items are made by Theurgists, and all but Rings are only usable by Initiates. Black Magic items are made by Alchemists, and all but Rings are only usable by Apprentices. Rings can be used by anyone. The spell is normally cast as if by a caster of the same Level as the spell, but it may be possible to enchant it at a higher Level. The user's Level is irrelevant.

• Scrolls disintegrate after a single use. Rings and sometimes other artifacts cast the spell 3 times per day, forever. Wands, Rods, & Staves have a number of charges, each use costs 1 charge. It may be possible for a Theurgist or Alchemist to recharge these at some fraction of the production cost & time; this is up to the Referee (it makes magic more common & "technological" if they can be reused).

• Crystal Ball: Created by Alchemists at Level 11, only usable by Apprentices. Casts Clairvoyance or Locate Object 3x per day, or Contact Outer Plane 1x per week.

Artifacts

Weird magic items, which are almost always unique in each world. A few are listed below, but the Referee should create new items, or take them from modules, the D20 SRD, Old-School "eldritch" supplement artifacts, and other sources. Simple artifacts only have benefits, while more complex artifacts have risks.

• Boots of Speed: Adds 2x bonus to Movement.

• Flying Carpet: Cast Fly (1+bonus) times per day.

• Helm of Telepathy: Cast ESP (1+bonus) times per day.

• Mad God's Dice: A set of one to five perfectly-carved, sharp-edged dice, with skulls carved in place of the 1 pip. The first time each day a die is rolled, if it shows 1, it vanishes and has an effect on the roller, roll 1d6:

  1d6	Effect
  1	Diseased, as Strong Disease
  2	Smited with fire, as Moderate Fire
  3	Blessed, as spell, duration 24 hours
  4	Detect Invisibility, duration 24 hours
  5	Protection from Evil, as spell, duration 24 hours
  6	Teleported to the nearest great treasure (not necessarily safely)

• Chamber of Mechanical Life: Coffin-like device with a metal panel on top. When a person is placed inside and the lid closed, the panel glows with moving script in an unknown language, and tearing, mechanical sounds are heard; the lid cannot be opened without destroying the chamber and person. After 1d6x10 minutes, the lid re-opens. The person's most significant injury is "fixed" with a metal replacement; if there was no injury, a random part is replaced. The chamber cannot be used more than once per 24 hours, and after each use, roll 1d6, on 1 it is out of power or supplies, and can do nothing else.

  1d10	Injury	Effect
  1	Head	Brain is partially replaced. Loses 50% of past memories, professions, spells, people & places known. Loses 1 Level (minimum 1st Level). Gains +1 IN, but cannot use magic.
  2	Eyes	Gains Darkvision as spell.
  3	Ears	Gains super hearing: Can hear at double range, cannot be surprised, gains +3 Init.
  4	Arm	+1 ST per arm replaced.
  5	Hand	Replaces hand with clamp & tool hand. +1 to Lockpicking & Crafting rolls per hand replaced. Crafting takes 25% less time. Cannot feel, may "accidentally" strangle someone with clamps.
  6	Torso	Armor plating adds +2 AC.
  7	Heart	Eliminates fatigue, can travel or fight 20 hours per day.
  8	Lungs	Does not need to breathe, immune to gasses, can survive underwater or in vacuum.
  9	Digestion	Can live for 30 days on minimal food, including non-edible organics.
  10	Legs	Both legs are replaced. +3 MV.

• Sun's Core Stones: Powerful ancient sorcerers once extracted the cores of stars to produce these stones. The stone hangs on a chain loop, but fights gravity and wants to fly away. For each stone, roll three d10 for color, shape, and effect. If two stones of the same color are worn, one (choose randomly) is disabled for 24 hours, the other permanently burns out.

  1d10	Color	Shape	Effect
  1	black	sphere	+1 ST
  2	white	ellipsoid	+1 DX
  3	red	triangle	+1 IN
  4	orange	square	+50% base HP
  5	yellow	pentagon	+50% base MP
  6	green	hexagon	Regenerate 1 HP every 3 rounds
  7	blue	star	Protects against one spell and similar effects (e.g., a Teleport ward also prevents Dimension Door, teleport traps, etc.)
  8	indigo	needle	Absorbs spells of Spell Levels 1-3, heals user for HP equal to Spell Level
  9	violet	prism	Absorbs spells of Spell Levels 3-5, heals user for HP equal to Spell Level
  10	clear	dodecahedron	Absorbs spells of Spell Levels 5-9, heals user for HP equal to Spell Level

Referee's Tools

(This chapter is Product Identity, not Open Game Content)

This section is a set of tools which can be used in running adventures. They are all optional, and should only be used for guidance; see what you get from them, and modify to suit your adventures.

"Through me the way into the suffering city,
Through me the way to the eternal pain,
Through me the way that runs among the lost. …
Before me nothing but eternal things were made,
And I endure eternally.
Abandon every hope, ye who enter here."
—Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), Inferno

Escaping the Underworld

[Inspired by Jeff Rients' Table of Despair]

When a game session ends with characters still on an adventure, the Referee may choose to pause in media res, or may want to start and end each session "clean", from town or camp (especially if the same players are not always present for every session). In the latter case, each character must roll 1d20 + Level + IN - area Level, and look up the total on the table below.

Fortune Cards

[Inspired by an article… somewhere… which I have failed to attribute.]

Fortune cards can be used in character as fortune telling, or by the Referee as an adventure generation tool.

Draw three playing cards for a Fortune. The first is the beginning, the second is the complication, the third is the means or result. The cards may be affecting you or someone else.

For example, Ace of Diamonds, Queen of Clubs, Nine of Hearts = Treasure, Romance: Soldier, Fortune: Reaction/Loyalty. So rumors of treasure recently found by a warlord draw you in, you discover he's pining for a princess who thinks he's a brute, and you'll be rewarded if you help him learn/pretend to be a classier dude (Cyrano de Bergerac).

• Ace: Essential forces. Clubs: Knowledge, Diamonds: Treasure, Hearts: Love, Spades: Death.
• Two: Elemental forces: C: Earth, D: Air, H: Water, S: Fire.
• Three: Journey: C: Underground, D: Over land, H: Over water, S: Through danger.
• Four: Hostile Creatures: C: Animals, D: Hostile Races, H: Magical Creatures, S: Monsters.
• Five: Hostile People: C: Soldier, D: Black Mage, H: White Mage, S: Thief.
• Six: Hostile Weather: C: Cold, D: Wind, H: Rain, S: Snow.
• Seven: Directions: C: East, D: South, H: West, S: North.
• Eight: Information from People: C: Soldier, D: Black Mage, H: White Mage, S: Thief.
• Nine: Fortune (+2 to one roll): C: DX roll, D: IN roll, H: Reaction/Loyalty, S: ST roll.
• Ten: Resistance (+2 to one saving throw): C: Poison, D: Spell, H: Charm, S: Death or Dragon Breath.
• Jack: Betrayal: C: Soldier, D: Black Mage, H: White Mage, S: Thief.
• Queen: Romance: C: Soldier, D: Black Mage, H: White Mage, S: Thief.
• King: Alliance: C: Soldier, D: Black Mage, H: White Mage, S: Thief.
• Joker: The Impossible: Small: Illusion, Large: Other Planes.

Action Cards

[Inspired by Lion Rampant's Whimsy Cards, TORG's Drama Deck, and my own DUDE card-based freeform RPG]

Action Cards give players more control over their characters' success and failure, and can change the world in significant ways. Some Referees want a more simulationist game (which Stone Halls & Serpent Men certainly is not), or have their own systems of luck or fortune, and so these cards are optional, but recommended.

Shuffle one or more standard card decks (at least one deck per 4 players), and at the start of the game, deal each PC a number of cards equal to half their Level, rounding up (their Hand Size). Elite NPCs may be given cards as well, and use the same rules as PCs. The remaining cards are placed face-down as the draw pile.

A character may play at most one card each round, at any time; a card with a bonus or penalty only applies if played before the die roll. Once used, put the card face-up on the discard pile.

The Referee may choose to deal a single card (and the player must discard down to their Hand Size) when a character defeats an enemy or succeeds at some difficult challenge. The hand of cards is completely refilled up to a character's Hand Size at a time the Referee chooses:

• For swords-and-sorcery games, once per day of adventuring, once per month of down time.
• For high-adventure games, after 10 minutes of down time (no combat, searching, or other activities, just rest or travel).

When the draw pile is empty, shuffle the discard pile to become the new draw pile.

It is up to the Referee and players to decide if cards are kept between sessions, or discarded and refilled at the start of a session.

Every player using this should print out the table below to look up card meanings; or someone can make actual cards and print them out on cardstock.

Place Names

Naming things is hard, so let the dice help you.

Village Names: Roll d36 once for Prefix and once for Suffix. So rolls of 36, 53 gives Fenshire, 14, 51 gives Bridgemont.

Dungeon Place Names: Roll d36 once for Prefix and once for Suffix. So rolls of 43, 24 gives Morbid Crypt, 11, 56 gives Annihilation Pit. You can take the name as a hint of how to design the dungeon, or it may just be folk tale exaggeration.

Wilderness Features

Most grids will have 1d2-1 features, Evil regions will have 1d3-1 features. Features in the same or adjacent grids may be related, or not. Roll 1d6 for each feature:

1. Animal/Monster Lair
2. Community
3. Castle
4. Ruin
5. Dungeon
6. Unusual Feature

Lair

Lairs are very simple, roll 1d6: 1-2: Sheltered hillside, 1 chamber; 3-4: Cave, 1d3 chambers; 5-6: Small Dungeon, 1d4+2 chambers.

Chamber

Many features need a "Chamber" or "Trap" to be generated:

Usually all ceilings are 2d3 x 1m high; corridors are usually 1m shorter. Large characters may not be able to fit in all structures, and human-sized characters in 1m corridors are at a severe disadvantage.

Exits (including entrance) for each chamber, roll 1d6: 1: 1, 2-3: 2, 4: 3, 5-6: 1d6+1. Draw winding corridors to connect all exits. For each exit, roll 1d6: 1-3: Open tunnel, 4-6: Door.

Doors

Doors and containers in the Underworld behave oddly, almost malevolently. Any door left open but not spiked open, will close, re-lock if it is lockable, and get stuck. Chests will close and re-lock themselves. All traps will reset themselves, and sometimes change to a more dangerous trap.

Doors without Hold Portal are

For any door, choose or roll:

Trap

Most traps are found with a Search roll, remember to apply the penalties for movement. If it is not obvious how a trap is triggered, roll 1d6: 1-2: Floor stone or board responds to pressure (electrical contacts and a simple acid battery?), 3-4: Tripwire, 5-6: Magic glyph.

The intent of traps is to protect valuable contents and destroy intruders, they are not just harmless pranks. They should not be fair, they may not be survivable if triggered. A great trap walks the line between torture and extremely dark humor (that still kills you).

Trash

The Underworld is rarely fresh and clean. Roll on Trash at least once per chamber, 1d3 times in empty chambers.

Community

Roll 1d20 once for Racial Mix, and again for Primary and Secondary Race on the Community Race table. "Mix" will be races friendly to Primary or Secondary. Apply only the Primary race's Community Size modifier. For example, rolling 18 for Racial Mix: 50% Primary (roll 17) = Beastfolk, 40% Secondary (roll 7) = Rural Human, 10% Mix (mostly other Humans and Gnomes). Community Size will be 1d20-2, roll 9-2 = 7 Hamlet.

Districts are the number of distinct neighborhoods, usually with light internal walls and gates, with different castes of inhabitants. Gaining access to the higher districts may require bribes, contacts, subterfuge, tunnelling, or earning favor with higher castes.

See Castle for details of Wall and Garrison. Garrison troops will be used as town guards; Peasants train as deputies a few days a month, better troops will be full-time.

Any Hamlet or Village will have a public/farmer's market on weekends with tolerable weather. Towns and Cities will have 1 permanent market per district, higher-quality (fresh foods, foreign traders) in the rich districts, lower-quality (several days from the farm, second-hand goods) in poor districts.

There will be 1d3 taverns, 1 inn, 1 stable, & 1 general goods shop per district, with limited supplies or quality in the poor districts.

There will be 1 town hall or other administrative building in Hamlets & Villages, 1d3 in Towns, 2d6 in Cities.

There will be at least 1 Shrine per district; lower districts often have shrines to the Old Gods, while upper districts are visibly devoted to the Archons, and everywhere there are hidden shrines to the Demon Princes of Chaos.

There may be 1 bank in each upper district of a Town or City.

Communities by water will have a dock, shipbuilders, & fishermen. Fish are sold in the market or right on the dock. Sailors have their own taverns.

Shops are in addition to the above, roll 1d20 on the table below for each or make new ones.

Most shopkeepers, their families, and apprentices (1d6 people per shop) live above their shops, including taverns, inns, stables, and general goods, all considered Citizen or Craft Master. Number of additional houses equals (total population - shopkeeper population) ÷ 5. For each head of household, roll Social Status, and officer or higher work for town hall, merchants and craft masters run a caravan or business elsewhere, citizens and lower do part-time labor for others. Most houses have small gardens and a few livestock to supplement their income.

There will be 3d6x as much population living in huts on farms within 10km of the community, average 10 people per farm.

For example, rolling 12 for Village, 80 population, 6 shops, 1 district, garrison: 20 Peasants, 8 Militia, 2 Adventurers of Level 4; 3 taverns (5, 6, 1 people), 1 inn (5 people), 1 stable (1 person), 1 general goods (3 people), 1 town hall, 1 shrine, Magician (3 people), Vintner (1 person), Tinker (3 people), Armorer (2 people), Carpenter (3 people), Blacksmith (4 people), and (80-37)÷5= 9 houses. Nearby (9x80=) 720 population live on 72 farms.

Community Events

When a community is first visited, and again after a long absence, roll 2d6 for events, which may lead into new adventures, or merely provide background news to prevent the world seeming static.

Castle

Number of Castle Sections, roll 1d6: 1-4: number rolled, 5: 1d3+3, 6: 1d6+3. These can be arranged in a row, in a circle, concentric, or any combination. Terrain is often used as a defense. For example, a castle on a bluff with 3 sections may have a lower section exposed to the plains, an upper section which can only be reached through the lower section, and a fortress inside the upper section.

Either all sections of the castle have the same wall type, or roll for each section, but keep the previous roll if it was higher. For example, the 3-section castle rolling 3, 4, 3 has Earth for the lower section, then Wood for the upper section and fortress.

Roll one or two features per section.

Ditches contain monsters, roll 1d6: 1: Bears (1d3), 2: Giant Rats (3d6), 3: Giant Snakes (1d6), 4: Trolls (1d3), 5: Wolves (2d6), 6: Zombies (3d6).

Moats contain aquatic monsters, roll 1d6: 1: Giant Crabs (1d6), 2: Giant Eels (1d6), 3: Sharks (1d6), 4: Slimes (2d6), 5: Giant Snakes (1d6), 6: Sea Trolls (1d3).

Garrison in each section, roll 1d6. As with wall type, keep the roll for the previous section if it was higher.

The ruler of a castle is created as any Adventurer, typically Level 8-11 (7+1d4). 1d8 followers are Level 5-10 (4+1d6). Non-fighting inhabitants are 2d100% of the number of garrison.

Add up all defense and offense numbers to get a relative idea of how strong each castle section is. For example, rolling 17 gives the lower section Corner Towers, 3, 5 gives 100 Militia, total defense 11, offense +2; 10 gives the upper section Arrow Slits, 2, 5 gives 100 Militia, total defense 11, offense +2; 2 gives the fortress a Secret Gate, 4, 3 gives 60 Soldiers, total defense 12, offense +4. Rolling 51, 55, there are 276 non-fighting inhabitants.

Siege Warfare: To quickly resolve a siege, attackers are added up like Garrison, and start with defense 4 if standing in the open, 6 with siege towers, 8 with fortified trenches, get +2 offense for Siege Weapons. Each side rolls 1d20 + offense; if the total is the enemy's defense or higher, inflict 1d3 x 10 losses on them; higher-level units divide losses by level, e.g. 30 losses kills 10 Berserkers. Repeat until all forces are dead, flee, or surrender.

Individual heroes or monsters fighting in a siege may add +1 or +2 to offense or defense, or may carry out missions which otherwise affect the battle. If they are taken as losses, inflict 4d6 HP damage and they cannot resume fighting until healed.

Shrine

Holy sites of most religions are similar, they exist to support priests, an altar, and a location for worshippers to gather. Shrines are generally found in or near a Community, but may be standing alone as Ruins or Unusual Features.

Roll 1d6 for alignment, 1d10 for deity; change neutral Old Gods to fit local religion, or all three for other settings. Lawful groups rigidly follow the agenda of their Archon, but Neutral and Chaotic may have a deviant ideology, roll 1d10 on that column.

Most shrines are a single building in a courtyard with radius 1d3x the size of the building.

One priest is the High Priest, usually with level (1d4 + number of priests), with White Mage, and Theurgist with a Golem if level 9+. A second priest will be 3/4x that level, round up. The rest will be level 1d4; the level 1 priests will usually only be Initiate & Militia or Initiate & Sage. Each priest is accompanied by Knights (1d3, 1 level below priest) & Pilgrims (1d6, level 1, PR: Militia 50%, Initiate 25%).

The altar will contain or be built over some religious artifact. Holy items were made by the god, and destroy any undead or demons (if lawful or neutral) or celestials (if chaotic or neutral) which enter the building, or any non-priest who tries to take them. Religious items are mundane, but revered by the priests and worshippers. Relics are like Holy items, but only work in the hands of a devout priest.

Roll 1d6 for treasury, -1 for 0-2 priests, +0 for 3-4 priests, +1 for 5-6 priests, +2 for 7+ priests. Robbing the treasury may draw the attention of the god, roll 1d20 + Level; if the total is 15 or higher, the god gives the thief a Greater Curse.

In the valley of Nis the accursed waning moon shines thinly, tearing a path for its light with feeble horns through the lethal foliage of a great upas-tree. And within the depths of the valley, where the light reaches not, move forms not meant to be beheld. Rank is the herbage on each slope, where evil vines and creeping plants crawl amidst the stones of ruined palaces, twining tightly about broken columns and strange monoliths, and heaving up marble pavements laid by forgotten hands. And in trees that grow gigantic in crumbling courtyards leap little apes, while in and out of deep treasure-vaults writhe poison serpents and scaly things without a name. Vast are the stones which sleep beneath coverlets of dank moss, and mighty were the walls from which they fell. For all time did their builders erect them, and in sooth they yet serve nobly, for beneath them the grey toad makes his habitation.

At the very bottom of the valley lies the river Than, whose waters are slimy and filled with weeds. From hidden springs it rises, and to subterranean grottoes it flows, so that the Daemon of the Valley knows not why its waters are red, nor whither they are bound.

The Genie that haunts the moonbeams spake to the Daemon of the Valley, saying, "I am old, and forget much. Tell me the deeds and aspect and name of them who built these things of Stone." And the Daemon replied, "I am Memory, and am wise in lore of the past, but I too am old. These beings were like the waters of the river Than, not to be understood. Their deeds I recall not, for they were but of the moment. Their aspect I recall dimly, it was like to that of the little apes in the trees. Their name I recall clearly, for it rhymed with that of the river. These beings of yesterday were called Man."

So the Genie flew back to the thin horned moon, and the Daemon looked intently at a little ape in a tree that grew in a crumbling courtyard.

—H.P. Lovecraft (1890-1937), "Memory"

Ruin

Roll 1d6 for type:

1. Campsite
2. Tomb
3. Ruined Castle
4. Ruined Shrine
5. Ruined Village
6. Ruined Town

For the Castle, Shrine, Village, or Town, create it as normal, then roll 1d10 for destruction level (DL). For each chamber or feature, roll 1d10, and if less than or equal to the DL, that chamber or feature is trashed. Roll 1d10; if less than or equal to the DL, all population is gone and replaced with monsters; otherwise reduce the normal population by (DL x 10%).

Campsite

Roll 1d6:

1. Firepit, bedrolls (contents as a chamber)
2. Firepit, 1d3 tents (contents of each as a chamber)
3. Firepit, pavillion, 2d4 tents (contents of each tent as a chamber, pavillion as 2 chambers)
4. Hut (contents as a chamber)
5. Cave with firepit, bedrolls (contents as a chamber)
6. Cave with firepit, bedrolls, tunnel down to 1d6 more caves (each is a chamber)

Campsite "chambers" have weak treasure, TR -2 on the random treasure table; but never have magic traps, reroll 16-20 on the Trap table.

Tomb

[Inspired by a table by James M. Ward]

Occupant, roll 1d8:

1. Citizen
2. Hero
3. Knight
4. Lord
5. Black Mage
6. White Mage
7. Family, roll 1d6 twice.
8. Group, roll 1d6 on this table, 1d3+1 times.

Layout, roll 1d6:

1. 1d3 chambers under a dirt mound.
2. 1d3 chamber cave.
3. 1d3+1 chamber maze.
4. 1d6+1 chamber maze.
5. 2d6 chamber maze.
6. 3 levels, first is #1, second is 1d6+1 chamber maze, third is 2d6 chamber maze.

Normal tomb chambers only have minor treasure, TR -4 on the random treasure table.

The tomb is in a final chamber, hidden behind a secret door on the last level, with a monster and TR +4 treasure.

Dungeon

Dungeons are more extensive than Tombs or Lairs, and are usually intelligently designed as fortressess, a necessary reaction to monsters, flight, and magical warfare.

Surface entrance:

1. Hidden hole, can only be found with a detailed map & description.
2. Fortified hole, often bricked-up cliffside with stout doors and Trap defenses.
3. Small building, such as a house or Shrine.
4. Large building, such as a tower or Castle.
5. Community, which may or may not be aware of the dungeon.
6. Ruin, replacing any underworld area of the Ruin.

Choose or roll Purpose twice, for the original and current purpose of the dungeon, which can be radically different:

1d20	Purpose	Defense	Design	Features
1-2	Cavern	No	Open	Dirt, mushrooms, animals
3	Animal Warren	No	Maze	Nests
4	Humanoid Warren	No	Maze	Living quarters
5	Dwarf Workshop	Yes	Corridor Loop	Workstations
6	Cult Temple	Yes	Central Hall	Shrines
7-8	Storage	No	Central Hall	Crates, barrels, carts
9-10	Defensive Bunker	Yes	Corridor Loop	Living quarters, armory, storage
11	Prison	Yes	Central Hall	Cells, guard stations
12	Tomb	No	Corridor Loop	Coffins, wrapped corpses, shrines

Defense: Dungeon defense is about depth and funnelling enemies into kill chutes. If the original structure had defense, the entry area will be small and narrow, to prevent the enemy from massing for an assault. The next few areas will be choke points and larger rooms which the defenders can hold or fall back from. Generally there will be passages parallel to the entry areas, with murder holes to shoot in on invaders and secret doors for ambushes. The entry stairs (up to the previous floor) and the exit stairs (down to the next floor) will usually be at opposite ends of the map.

If there was no Defense originally, the entry and exit stairs are usually together in a stairwell or down the side of a large shaft.

If the current purpose has Defense but the original had none, there will be barricades or other ad-hoc structures cutting off easy access, but it will be far less effective.

• Open: Open designs are a few large open spaces connected by tunnels. If the current purpose needs more structures, wood or stone buildings are built up inside, or caves are carved into the walls. If the current purpose is Open but the original was not, walls may be knocked down, extra tunnels dug between rooms, and the interior will be returned to a wild condition.
• Central Hall: A single corridor which may turn once or twice, but eventually ends. Side corridors branch off, but rarely connect to each other. Rooms usually only connect to the hall or to one or two other rooms.
• Corridor Loop: A single corridor leading around in a wide circle (or any closed shape), with rooms built off to the sides. Rooms usually only connect to the hall or to one or two other rooms.
• Maze: An Animal Warren is generally very complex, Humanoid Warrens are like Central Halls with more cross-connections. Other structures which become Mazes dig out extra tunnels, or fill space with buildings with narrow alleys.

Dungeon Floors: Dungeons are typically divided into multiple floors, often 3-6 (roll 2d3 for random suggestion). Each floor has only a few chokepoint stairs, gates, or other access tunnels between them, possibly with a few more dug out by inhabitants since creation. The floors are usually stacked vertically downwards, but may be spread out horizontally, or cross back and forth, a "floor" can rise and fall but is a self-contained environment.

Each floor usually has a leader (often flippantly called a "boss monster") in the largest, best defended room, but may have several contending for control. The most powerful leader is going to protect itself the best, and be as far away from constant harassment by intruders (adventurers) as possible.

Unusual Feature

This can be anything such as landmarks, shrines with strange effects on worshippers, dungeons, or other adventure sites. Be creative, be weird, and be terrifying.

I have a series of index cards, one strange thing per card. As I find new ideas, I write them on a new card and shuffle it in. Once a thing's been used, it goes in a "discard" pile to recycle next campaign.

1. The Stars Are Right. At night, aurorae glow, then radiation streams down from the sky, exposed creatures must make 2 ST saves; on 2 successes, no effect; on 1 success, take 1d6 damage; on 2 failures, mutate.

2. Cloud of Abomination. A deluge of filth, rain mixed with maggots, chitinous debris, offal, oily viscera, etc. Moderate disease hazard.

3. Dream Fog. Exposed creatures must make a saving throw vs. poison or fall asleep; those who resist are at -3 to hit anything in the dense fog.

4. The Void. Bubbles of vacuum and antigravity float through the area. Exposed creatures must make a saving throw vs. breath weapon; on success, they evade it. On failure, they float helpless and asphyxiating, taking 1d3 HP damage every round for 1d6 rounds until the bubble moves on, or until pulled out by someone else.

5. Fungal Spores. Moderate disease hazard; on failure, they are infected. Stage 1: For 2d6 days, it is gestating. Stage 2: For 2d6 more days, fungal growths and seeping wounds halve movement, armor cannot be worn, all saves, attacks, and attribute rolls are at -3. Stage 3: The spores burst, inflicting 4d6 damage and spreading a new cloud of spores. Any who do survive will return to stage 2.

6. Insect Swarm. During daylight, a swarm of small biting insects will attack. Exposed creatures must make a ST save every hour; on failure, they take 1 HP damage and cannot heal that day. Heavy smoke or insect repellent will prevent any attack.

7. Quicksand. Creatures passing through the area must make a DX save; on success, the quicksand is avoided. On failure, make a DX save each round; if 3 successes are made, they escape; on each failure, take 1d3 HP damage from asphyxiation. An ally can pull the victim out.

8. Strange Skies. Lights of disturbing patterns, colors, and geometries haunt the night skies. Once per night, those who spend at least an hour watching make an IN save; on success, gain a vision of one piece of useful information; on failure, take 1 IN loss.

9. Lure of Distant Lands. A strange scent and distant drums are heard. Roll 1d4: 1: North, 2: East, 3: South, 4: West. Travel in that direction is compelling, and 25% faster; travel in other directions seems wrong, and is 25% slower.

10. Sinkhole to the Center of the Earth/404 Challenge. Lead character makes a DX save; on success, the character evades an opening crevasse; on failure, the entire party is sucked down though collapsing sand and dirt, then into an underground river, falling down for many minutes. Take 1d6 damage, and you wash up in a cave, on a rocky beach of an underground ocean, lit only by nearby lava flows. Every 1d6 hours, another creature is washed down into the cave.

11. Monolith, Black, 1x4x9. Worshipping and making a living sacrifice at the Monolith invokes its effect, once only per character.

    1d6	Effect
    1	Permanently raise a random stat by 1, up to +6.
    2	Permanently lower a random stat by 1; if it reaches -5, you die.
    3	Hallucinations and visions of Chaotic gods, Chaotic characters permanently raise IN by 1, Neutral characters take 1 temporary IN loss, Lawful characters take a Moderate Insanity hazard.
    4	Summoned before a god's seat of judgement, Lawful characters permanently raise IN by 1, Neutral characters take 1 temporary IN loss, Chaotic characters take a Moderate Insanity hazard.
    5	Granted mystic knowledge, anyone without Initiate can cast one random black magic spell of level 1d6 once per day without MP; Initiates take a Moderate Insanity hazard.
    6	Granted holy power, anyone without Apprentice can cast one random white magic spell of level 1d6 once per day without MP; Apprentices take a Moderate Insanity hazard.

12. Strange Cries. The cries rise and fall as you move around the area, but come from no visible source. Roll 1d6: 1: Crying woman or child; 2: Screaming enraged woman or child; 3: Crying man; 4: Screaming enraged man; 5: Muttering & chanting; 6: Laughter. Sleep is not possible here.

13. Glowing Water. A pool of water glows with a strange light. Once per day, when you drink, roll 1d6: 1-2: Moderate poison hazard; 3-4: Healed for 2d6 HP; 5: Moderate disease hazard; 6: make a ST save or be mutated.

14. Standing Stones. Any spell performed at noon or midnight within the ring gives a -3 penalty to victims' saving throws.

15. Lotus Field. Roll 1d6: 1: Black Lotus (causes death); 2: Blue Lotus (causes sleep); 3: Green Lotus (causes illness); 4: Jade Lotus (causes hallucination); 5: White Lotus (causes zombie-like stupor & obedience); 6: Purple Lotus (causes mutation). Make a ST save to avoid the effect. Duration is indefinite until cured.

16. Toxic Magic. Ancient evil magic has corrupted the region's aura, and spell-casting may not work properly. The caster must make an IN save; on success, the spell works as usual; on failure, the spell has some weird effects. Roll 1d6 for target: 1-2: Caster, 3-4: Random party member, 5-6: Random opponent, then roll 1d6 for effect:

    1d6	Effect
    1	Spell fails: nothing happens.
    2	Spell duration and area of effect are tripled.
    3	Spell affects a different target.
    4	Casts a different spell (including opposite school of magic) of the same level.
    5	Target mutates instantly. Unlike normal mutations, this can be removed with Remove Curse.
    6	Target changed into a monster of equal level for 24 hours. Can be removed with Remove Curse.

17. Giant Faire. Giants have marked off a field and are engaged in various sports. Footraces, wrestling, tree-tossing, boulder-tossing, "bowling" with boulders against pins made of trees. Tents tower over the field where kegs of ale, sugared bread, and roast mammoth haunches are sold. By night, the giants drink heavily and pass out. Little people may be able to sneak in and steal, but those caught will be used as either prizes or playing pieces.

18. Henge Portal. A mound with standing stones. At a given time, the trilithons (3 stone arch, as at Stonehenge) become gateways to Henge Portals elsewhere, for no more than 10 minutes. The destination portals will activate at their own time, and return to the same portal.
    Roll 1d6 for number: 1-2: 1 trilithon, 3-4: 3 trilithons, 5: 5 trilithons, 6: 7 trilithons.
    Roll 1d6 for time: 1: New Moon overhead, 2: Full Moon overhead, 3: Sunrise, 4: Noon, 5: Sunset, 6: Midnight.
    Roll 1d10 for destination: 1: Far north, 2: Far east, 3: Far south, 4: Far west, 5: Surface of the Moon (habitable), 6: Undersea (maybe habitable), 7: Arcadia, 8: Hell, 9: Heaven, 10: Another material world.

19. Shiny Bubbles. Glistening bubbles float through the area, d100 of them spread 1m apart. Only the touch of a living being will pop a bubble, roll 1d6 for effect: 1: Explodes as weak fire hazard with 3m radius; 2: Explodes as Moderate fire hazard with 6m radius; 3: Explosed as strong fire hazard with 9m radius; 4: Releases Moderate poison gas, 9m radius; 5: Showers 1d6x10 SP in 9m radius; 6: Showers 1d6 gems in 9m radius (roll 1d6 for each gem's type: 1-2: Quartz (1 GP), 3-4: Topaz (10 GP), 5: Jade (20 GP), 6: Opal (100 GP)).

20. Hateful Garden. A pretty wooded garden around a pond, full of vegetation and insects, 1d6 trees, no animals, looks like a good place to camp. Those who rest here are attacked: The grass and vines grapple, bushes and trees flail and smack with branches, flowers spray poison, and all fruit, nuts, and the water are strong poison. The trees are the only intelligent ones, and won't usually communicate.
    Grass: LVL 1, Weak, SIZ M, AL N, ST -1, DX +0, IN -3(A), AC 10, MV 0, Init +0, AT 1, TH +0, DMG 1/grapple.
    Flowers: LVL 1, Weak, SIZ S, AL N, ST -1, DX +0, IN -3(A), AC 10, MV 0, Init +0, AT 1, TH +0, DMG 1/grapple, SA: Spray Moderate poison in 3m radius.
    Vines: LVL 2, Strong, SIZ M, AL N, ST +3, DX +1, IN -1(A), AC 12, MV 0, Init -1, AT 1, TH +2, DMG d3/grapple.
    Bush: LVL 2, SIZ M, AL N, ST +2, DX -1, IN -1(A), AC 12, MV 0, Init +0, AT 1, TH +1, DMG d4, SA: strong poison berries.
    Tree: LVL 6, Strong, SIZ L/G, AL N, ST +5, DX -3, IN +1, AC 16, MV 0, Init +0, AT 2, TH +5, DMG d10, TR +3, SA: strong poison nuts.

Inspirational Movies & Literature

Stone Halls & Serpent Men should not just be cliché Tolkien-ripoff fantasy. The starting areas of Hyperborea are primitive, and occupied by some European mythical races, but players are allowed and encouraged to go beyond those, play something weird. The further afield the game goes, the weirder the local races should be, and the more advanced cultures should be. Riding to new lands gives way to sailing, then to automobiles, skyships, portals and rockets to new worlds.

Draw instead on a range of movies from action, kung fu, suspense, science fiction, fantasy, and horror; and in literature from classic weird tales, sword & sorcery, sword & planet, and space opera. A great many early pulp magazines and books are free on archive.org, and almost all can be translated directly into setting and adventures.

Stone Halls & Serpent Men: Character Sheet

Name:_____________________________________________  Player:_________________
Race:_________________    Homeland:_______________  Social Status:__________
Level:________            EP:_____________________  Alignment:______________
ST:___________
DX:___________
IN:___________            HP:________ / __________  MP:________ / __________

Initiative:___________    To Hit Melee:___________
Armor Class:__________    To Hit Missile:_________

Professions:              ________________________  ________________________
________________________  ________________________  ________________________
________________________  ________________________  ________________________

Hit Dice:________         Attacks:________          To Hit:________
Weapons:[_] Light Melee   [_] Medium Melee          [_] Heavy Melee
        [_] Light Missile [_] Medium Missile        [_] Heavy Missile
        [_] Staff         [_] Great Melee           [_] Firearms
Armor:  [_] Light Armor   [_] Medium Armor          [_] Heavy Armor
        [_] Shield
Stances:                  ________________________  ________________________
________________________  ________________________  ________________________

Languages:                ________________________  ________________________
________________________  ________________________  ________________________

Spells/Abilities:         ________________________  ________________________
________________________  ________________________  ________________________
________________________  ________________________  ________________________
________________________  ________________________  ________________________
________________________  ________________________  ________________________
________________________  ________________________  ________________________
________________________  ________________________  ________________________
________________________  ________________________  ________________________
________________________  ________________________  ________________________

Equipment:
PP (5):_____  GP (1):_______  ELP (1/2):____  SP (1/10):______  CP (1/50):_____
________________________  ________________________  ________________________
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OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a

This product is Open Game Content except for Product Identity, as per the Open Game License below. Product Identity includes Stone Halls & Serpent Men, and the following chapters: Setting, Adventures, Referee's Tools.