There are about 40 monsters in Bridewell. I’m going to playtest in Trophy Gold, maybe Into the Odd, two systems that are easy to stat for, so here is a dual bestiary. This is why I wrote the other week. I’ll write about ten at a time, I suppose. Content Warning: Horror, implied abuse, murder.

Khumush-spawn. Magist-experiments, serpentine, winged, undying, rotting. TG. Endurance: 6. Weaknesses: Sunlight, kindness. Habits: Starved, curious, friendly or guarding. Defences. Freeze-constrict, lightning-bite. ITO. HP 4. Armour 0. STR . 10 DEX 13. WIL 5. Attacks: Lightning-bite 1d6. Can constrict as a serpent, 1d4/turn blizzard.

Corpse-knight. Cursed Knights Belour, soul-trapped in mummified husks. TG. Endurance 7. Weaknesses: Holiness, self-doubt. Hulking, whiplike, crawling, falling apart, cruel, pragmatic, rough. Defences. Already dead. Random blizzard–dragon power. ITO. HP 6. Armour 2. STR 15. DEX 8. WIL 12. Attacks: Axe 1d8. Blizzard-dragon powers: 1. Blizzard-breath; 2. Lightning-eyes; 3. Icy-ground; 4. Wings; 5. Avalanche-strength; 6. Snow-blind.

Magist. Long-dead, brain-rotted arcane laboratorians. TG. Endurance 7. Weaknesses: Not-gods, confusion. Skittering, snake-spined, bone-spurred or oozing tar. Defences: Already dead. Just One Savage Spell. ITO. HP 6. Armour 0. STR 8. DEX 12. WIL 16. Attacks: Just One Savage Spell. 1. Blood Blast; 2. Explode Flesh; 3. Rot Eyes; 4. Were-Mega-Mantis; 5. Bone-whip; 6. Melt.

Mourning Ghost. Beautiful but beaten. TG. Endurance 8. Weaknesses: Light, kindness. Angry, weeping, screeching, clawing, clinging. Terrible, painful song. ITO. HP 8. Armour 1. STR 8. DEX 16. WIL 14. Attacks: Song 1d6, pain-wracking, WILL save for half.

Rook Swarm. Black, screaming, tiny blades, tiny picks. TG. Endurance 3. Weakness: Fire. Vengeful, Feeding, Cleaning, Swarming, Dropping. Envelop, Swoop. ITO. HP 1. Armour 0. STR 10. DEX 18. WIL 6. Attacks: 1d6 claws and beaks. Separate: Impair attacks against the swarm.

Possessing Ghost. Rabid, animal, grimace-sneer-roar. TG. Endurance 8. Weaknesses: Holiness. Habits Vengeance, sedition, seduction. Defences Possession, Devour, Shred. ITO. HP 5. Armour 0. STR 15. DEX 15. WIL 10. Attacks: Teeth 1d6, Possession on failed WIL save.

Skeletal Lamtern-Bearer. Haggard, calcified arm, lantern both glowing and not. TG. Endurance. 5 Weakness: Fulfilment. Habits Single-minded, forgetful, blameful, suspicious, grandiose. Defences. Charge. Alight. Reveal. ITO. HP 4. Armour 2. STR 15. DEX 10. WIL 10. Attacks: Sword d8. Charge d10 and crush.

Shambling Corpse. Dead. Barely holding it together. Travel in packs. Souls? TG. Endurance 3. Weakness Dismemberment. Habits Groping, teaching, bursting from earth, concealing, surprising. Defences Soul-stealing, infectious. ITO. HP 1. Armour 0. STR 12. DEX 8. WIL 8. Attacks: Bite 1d6. Soul-steal or rotting infection on failed CON save.

Ghost-light. Levitate candle-flame, balefully gazing. TG. Endurance 4. Weakness Intangible. Habits Luring, singing, giggling, running, stomping. Defences Intangible, ghost-burning. ITO. HP 3. Armour 1. STR 7. DEX 13. WIL 13. Attacks: Ghost-fire 1d6. Intangible: Magic or holiness to injure.

Mummified corpse-parts. Leathery, flapping, slapping. TG. Endurance 3. Weakness Water. Habits: Guardians of Holy Places, come in groups. Defences. Wrestle, restrain, steal weapon. ITO. HP 1. Armour 1. STR 12. DEX 8. WIL 8. Attacks: Body-slam 1d6. Restrain on failed STR save. Steal weapon on failed DEX save.

There! My first few creatures, some exciting, some prototypical.

4th June, 2023

Idle Cartulary