TRIBULATIONS OF THE FLESH (GLoG class: Monster)

    You are the whisper in the night, the cry of the beast in the darkened wood. The people grab either their offerings of worship or their pitchforks and torches when you wander into the havens of civilization. The gods above have cursed you, or blessed you, however you wish to see it, with extraordinary and inhuman capabilities and shortcomings. What you make of them is up to you.

    This class is designed to be maximally flexible; you are free to make a new creature, an existing creature of myth, or a DM is welcome to create NPC Monsters, of classic or devious original design. Sky is the limit, and let these words be a canvas and not shackles.

A Whisper of a Kiss, Might and Affliction

B Balladmonger’s Scapegoat

C Demiapotheosis

D Legend Eternal, Lair

Whisper of a Kiss. You have the words of the heavens in your blood, and ambrosia runs in your veins. Choose which god sired you, through intention or accident- this is your Heritage. It grants you a small blessing that you can invoke freely, as seen below.

Might and Affliction. As the gods above hand out their gifts, they deal woe in equal measure. You have a Might and an Affliction, like the Monsters before you and the Monsters after. If you don’t have an idea, some tables are presented below for your inspiration.

    MIGHT (d10)

1 Might of the Hands (Cyclops)

2 Might of the Eyes (Gorgon)

        3 Might of Sight (Graeae)

4 Might of the Tongue (Crocotta)

        5 Might of the Wing (Keres)

6 Might of the Flesh (Empusa)

7 Might of the Storm (Charybdis)

        8 Might of Melding (Chimera)

9 Might of Plenty (Hecatonchires)

        10 Might of Styx (Eidolon)

    AFFLICTION (d6)

1 You require some substance or environment to function (Lotus-Eaters)

2 The opposite of your Might causes you great detriment (Pokemon)

3 Some condition or common object suppresses your Might (Hydra)

4 Your Might is self-corroding, or has a dark side (King Midas)

5 Your origin or current circumstances create a weakness or predicament (Minotaur)

6 A prophecy mandates for you to be weakened by some condition’s completion (Sphinx)

Balladmonger’s Scapegoat. The poets and vagabonds of the land have chosen you to be the butt of a very cruel joke, spreading word of your ‘malice’ and unnatural capabilities. You go from being a monster to a Monster; everyone has heard of you and exaggerated tales of your deeds.

Demiapotheosis. The blessings of your progenitor intensify, and your half-divinity cannot be ignored. The blessing your Heritage grants improves, as noted below.

Legend Eternal. You have crystalized into infamy. You cannot be killed save through the exploitation of your Affliction or poison. What is up with that damn poison?

Lair. You learn the location of a 2d6-room dungeon somewhere in the world ripe for your habitation, once liberated from its current owner. Its nature reflects your personality and idiosyncrasies perfectly, and it contains a conspicuously powerful magic item that will one day be looted off of your bloody corpse by some no-good upstart.

HERITAGES

This is an incomplete list of the divinities of the Eikonokosmos, these being the ones most likely to sire Monsters. However, any god or goddess can craft a Monster, intentionally or accidentally- what would a Monster born from Love look like, or the Harvest? Only time may say…

VOLCANO, Forge-Mother, Tortoise-Rider, Guardian of the Gate to Hell. Your touch can fuse metal // Your touch can fuse anything, or melt metal

DAY, Half of the Ebony Whole, Patron Sol, Phoenix Tinker. Everyone has a positive view of you upon first meeting you // You can commit up to minor atrocities without upsetting people

NIGHT, Half of the Ivory Whole, the Crow Below the Ice, Moon Tower. You can see perfectly in the dark // Nothing can make you see things as they are not

HUNGER , the Serpent Writhing in the Deep, Unending Ego, Devourer of Sharks. You can breathe underwater, and your serrated teeth can chew through wood // You are amphibious, and you can chew through iron

WAR, Faceless Automaton of Blood and Bone, Ironmonger, No Soul Begets No Dreams. Improvised weapons are as effective as normal ones // In addition, nothing can reduce the impact of your strikes

REVELRY, Wine’s Red Kiss, She Clothed in Extacy, Mother of the “Monkey”. You can drink any liquid safely // In addition, you can safely regurgitate any liquid you’ve ingested

LIES, He Crowned with Horns, Dweller in Malicious Discord. Everyone assumes what you say is falsehood // In addition, one time only, you can make a lie you say true

JOURNEYS, Walker Beyond the Holy Mount, Sparrowvoice, Swiftfoot, Manytongue. You and your companions perambulate at double speed // In addition, you can walk up walls, or on water

d12 new Monster names (in no particular order):

1 THE THING WITH VELVET FLESH

2 WINDSWEPT CLOUD OF THE SUMMER STORM

3 XEEG

4 CLAWBITER

5 CORPSE CART

6 CARRIAGE GOLEMANCER

7 SILK ON THE RED ROAD

8 THE PARCHED

9 TARNISHER

10 VENUSIAN

11 SQUELCH

12 THE SEVEN IN TWO

Thanks for reading, and happy gaming.