I believe that many of the most feared monsters of Atheles are simply creatures that adapted to other worlds, which are now thrust into our own and attempting to survive this new, terrifying environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a case study, I chose the upir as my subject. Unfortunately, my attempt went horribly wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wanted to meet an upir, who is, by all accounts, very intelligent. Perhaps, I thought, I could show him that I was no threat and thereby open a dialogue between our kinds. If we could assure him we would not harm his kind, perhaps he could convince his kind that we would not harm them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I went into his lair, and it was not as I expected. For an intelligent creature, his lair was surprisingly dingy and stunk heavily of mold and rot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He emerged from a dark corner and approached me slowly. He was cautious in his approach, but his gait, I could see, was unafraid. Then my eyes met his, and my knees weakened. The world seemed to warp before my eyes, as if I had eaten the hallucination-inducing dung of a creature of the Wastes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the last I remember for a time. I had come in secret, so I assumed that none would come to my aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Weeks later, I heard Etahn\u2019s voice calling to me from afar. I looked around me, semi-conscious and self-aware for the first time since that first gaze into the upir\u2019s eyes . . . but I was not home yet. I stood in a heavy mist, my mind heavy with sleepiness, wanting nothing more than to sink back into the darkness. But I did not. I followed Etahn\u2019s voice, and when I eventually reached him, I found him gripping my shoulders and still calling my name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When my eyes finally focused on his, a smile spread across his face and he embraced me tightly. \u201cI thought you dead,\u201d he said with relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I must assume I did the creature\u2019s bidding while under his thrall. I do not know what he forced me to do, but I do know I was covered in blood, grime, and a foul stink that took numerous scrubbings with pork fat and a brush made with coarse ank bristles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I still believe the upir can be negotiated with, but I also acknowledge I must take much greater care with my future studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014Delgon<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upir are not born as a distinct species. They are created from living Beings through the ritual of another upir. An upir retains much of what it was in life, but becomes stronger, faster, extraordinarily difficult to kill, and cursed with an insatiable hunger for the life of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apply the following changes to the base creature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Characteristics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The upir gains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n STR +6, DEX +4, INT +2, ACU +2, SOC +4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CON remains unchanged. Although an upir is undead, they still cling to their life essence, and their body has stamina and grit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Combat Value<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Increase the base creature’s CV by +3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recalculate its combat skills and attacks against its new CV, while preserving any exceptional skills, Talents, equipment, and abilities it possessed in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Class and Type<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The creature’s Class remains unchanged. Add Upir to its Type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, a teran transformed into an upir becomes Teran (Upir).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hit Points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The upir retains its normal HP, though its Fast Healing and Immortality make it considerably more difficult to destroy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Armor Value<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Increase the base creature’s AV by +2 as its undead flesh becomes unnaturally resilient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Horror<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Use the Horror rating appropriate to the upir’s new CV. Life Drain also triggers a Horror check each time the victim is drained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Life Drain<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An upir may use a Standard Action to drain the life from a creature it is touching or has grappled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The upir and victim make an opposed Heroic Action using the upir’s SOC against the victim’s ACU. If the upir wins, the victim suffers 1d8 Wither damage, and the upir regains HP equal to the damage inflicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The victim must also immediately make a Horror check (1\/1d6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dominate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An upir can overwhelm a creature’s will by meeting its gaze. As a Standard Action, the upir targets one creature within 30′ that can see its eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The upir makes an opposed Heroic Action using SOC against the target’s ACU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the upir wins, the creature falls under its influence. At the end of each of its turns, the victim may attempt another opposed Heroic Action to break free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the victim fails three times before succeeding, it becomes completely dominated for 24 hours and no longer receives additional attempts to escape during that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Create Spawn<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An upir can transform another Being into an upir through an arcane ritual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ritual must be performed at night upon an unconscious victim who has been reduced to 0 HP through Life Drain but has not yet died. The upir gives a portion of its own essence and blood to the victim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The victim awakens consumed by supernatural hunger. Once the victim feeds upon the life of another living creature, the transformation is complete and the Upir template is applied to the creature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fast Healing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An upir has Fast Healing 5, regaining 5 HP at the start of each of its turns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fast Healing does not function while the upir is exposed to direct sunlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memories of the Past<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When an upir successfully uses Life Drain, it absorbs fragments of the victim’s memories and thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The StoryGuide determines what memories are gained, with stronger or repeated feeding revealing increasingly personal information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mindless Victims<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If an upir kills a victim through Life Drain, it may choose to leave the victim’s body animated but stripped of its former mind and identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The victim rises as a mindless undead servant under the upir’s control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Immortal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An upir cannot be permanently slain through ordinary damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If reduced to 0 HP, the upir becomes incapacitated but is not destroyed and may recover through Fast Healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To permanently destroy an incapacitated upir, a wooden stake must be driven through its heart and its head severed with a silver weapon. An incapacitated upir may also be exposed to direct sunlight; it turns to ash after several minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Innate Magic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An upir possesses supernatural abilities that mimic magic but require no spellcasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An upir can use abilities equivalent to Spider\u2019s Grasp at will, and Transform once per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Light Sensitivity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While exposed to direct sunlight, the upir’s Fast Healing ceases and all of its attacks become Difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver Weakness<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Upir suffer double damage from silver weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This upir was a skilled warrior before its transformation. It still wears the ancient armor and carries the morningstar it wielded in life, though decades of undeath have turned it into a patient and ruthless predator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Life Drain<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An upir may use a Standard Action to drain the life from a creature it is touching or has grappled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The upir and victim make an opposed Heroic Action using the upir’s SOC against the victim’s ACU. If the upir wins, the victim suffers 1d8 Wither damage, and the upir regains HP equal to the damage inflicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The victim must also immediately make a Horror check (1\/1d6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dominate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An upir can overwhelm a creature’s will by meeting its gaze. As a Standard Action, the upir targets one creature within 30′ that can see its eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The upir makes an opposed Heroic Action using SOC against the target’s ACU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the upir wins, the creature falls under its influence. At the end of each of its turns, the victim may attempt another opposed Heroic Action to break free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the victim fails three times before succeeding, it becomes completely dominated for 24 hours and no longer receives additional attempts to escape during that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Create Spawn<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An upir can transform another Being into an upir through an arcane ritual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ritual must be performed at night upon an unconscious victim who has been reduced to 0 HP through Life Drain but has not yet died. The upir gives a portion of its own essence and blood to the victim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The victim awakens consumed by supernatural hunger. Once the victim feeds upon the life of another living creature, the transformation is complete and the Upir template is applied to the creature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fast Healing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An upir has Fast Healing 5, regaining 5 HP at the start of each of its turns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fast Healing does not function while the upir is exposed to direct sunlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memories of the Past<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When an upir successfully uses Life Drain, it absorbs fragments of the victim’s memories and thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The StoryGuide determines what memories are gained, with stronger or repeated feeding revealing increasingly personal information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mindless Victims<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If an upir kills a victim through Life Drain, it may choose to leave the victim’s body animated but stripped of its former mind and identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The victim rises as a mindless undead servant under the upir’s control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Immortal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An upir cannot be permanently slain through ordinary damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If reduced to 0 HP, the upir becomes incapacitated but is not destroyed and may recover through Fast Healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To permanently destroy an incapacitated upir, a wooden stake must be driven through its heart and its head severed with a silver weapon. An incapacitated upir may also be exposed to direct sunlight; it turns to ash after several minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Innate Magic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An upir possesses supernatural abilities that mimic magic but require no spellcasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An upir can use abilities equivalent to Spider\u2019s Grasp at will, and Transform once per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Light Sensitivity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While exposed to direct sunlight, the upir’s Fast Healing ceases and all of its attacks become Difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver Weakness<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Upir suffer double damage from silver weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ancient Morningstar<\/strong> Ancient Chain Shirt<\/strong>
\n\n\n\nUpir Warrior<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Upir Warrior<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Characteristics<\/strong><\/td> <\/td> CV<\/strong><\/td> 6<\/td><\/tr> Stat<\/strong><\/td> Score<\/strong><\/td> %<\/strong><\/td> <\/td> Speed<\/strong><\/td> 30\u2019<\/td><\/tr> STR<\/strong><\/td> 21<\/td> 105<\/td> <\/td> HP<\/strong><\/td> 54<\/td><\/tr> CON<\/strong><\/td> 18<\/td> 90<\/td> <\/td> Dmg Mod<\/strong><\/td> +2d6<\/td><\/tr> SIZ<\/strong><\/td> 14<\/td> 70<\/td> <\/td> AV<\/strong><\/td> 8<\/td><\/tr> INT<\/strong><\/td> 14<\/td> 70<\/td> <\/td> Class<\/strong><\/td> Being<\/td><\/tr> ACU<\/strong><\/td> 16<\/td> 80<\/td> <\/td> Type<\/strong><\/td> Undead<\/td><\/tr> DEX<\/strong><\/td> 18<\/td> 90<\/td> <\/td> Horror<\/strong><\/td> 2\/2d8+1<\/td><\/tr> SOC<\/strong><\/td> 18<\/td> 90<\/td> <\/td> Treasure<\/strong><\/td> Rich<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n \n
Legacy Items<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>An ancient enchanted morningstar carried by the upir since its mortal life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>An enchanted suit of chain armor that contributes to the upir’s AV 8.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-1572","creature","type-creature","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n