The Dresden Files > DFRPG Resource Collection

various more-obscure mythical creatures

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vultur:
Sorry to reply so late, but...

Very cool creatures!

I'd question why the Siren has Aquatic, though; originally, they were bird-creatures that lived on an island, not swimmers.

Sanctaphrax:
Welcome back, vultur. I was wondering what had happened to you.

Anyway, the Siren has Aquatic because some legends portray them as mermaids. Really, the mythological accounts of Sirens are rather inconsistent. (Hence the SHROUDED IN MYSTERY aspect).

devonapple:
Jiang Shi (Hopping Zombies)

High Concept: Hopping Zombie
Aspects: Your Breath My Sustenance, Mindless Servitor

Powers
Claws [-1]
Supernatural Sense [-1] Breath using Alertness
Breath Drinker [-1] Similar to Emotional Vampire
Feeding Dependency [+1] which will affect the following:
   Inhuman Strength [-2]
   Inhuman Toughness [-2]
    Inhuman Recovery [-2]
The Catch (+2)
   Weapons made of copper coins wrapped in red silk thread;
   Air magic confuses them/blinds them (they save at Mediocre against such Maneuvers);
   Taoist Binding spells on yellow paper;

Origins
When a Jade Court Vampire drains the magic from some spellcasters or minor talents, they can opt to put out the victim's eyes and replace the practitioner's soul with a spirit of hunger that derives sustenance from mortal breath. The resulting creature, a Jiang Shi, is a mindless, blind zombie which the Jade Court can control utterly, but unfortunately it must move around by hopping, as the rest of its body is almost completely overtaken with rigor mortis. It navigates by detecting air currents, especially to track down mortals and steal their breath. Holding one's breath is a good way to avoid detection, but it takes a discipline and fortitude to keep it up long enough for them to pass by. Some spellcasters have found out that they can confuse or even immobilize these creatures by disrupting the air around them. The Jade Court occasionally take advantage of this by sealing jiang shi in airtight boxes and deploying them as traps for the unwary.

Unlike normal zombies, these require no drummer to keep them animated and obedient.

Refresh: -6

Penanggalan (Flying Heads)
High Concept: Blood-sucking Flying Head
Aspects: I Leave My Body To Hunt At Night, Corrupter of Fertility

Powers
Blood Drinker [-1]
Feeding Dependency: Blood [+1] which will affect the following:
   Inhuman Recovery [-2]
   Inhuman Toughness [-2]
The Catch [+2]
   Weapons made of copper coins wrapped in red silk thread;
   Destroying or hiding its body;
   Daylight (when in its night form)
Venomous Bite [-3]
Grasping Entrails [-1] Might +2 for Grappling
Flight [-1]

Optional Powers
   Channelling [-2] or Evocation [-3]
   Rituals [-2] or Thaumaturgy [-3]

Traits
Pretends to be a normal human by day. Separates from its body at night; must return to its body before sunrise or it will die. Sunlight will hurt it in its fiendish form. The fiendish energy which keeps it intact is inscribed along its neck in a series of indecipherable, soft red sigils, barely distinguishable from henna or tattoos. The Penanggalan, when detached from its host body, becomes sharp-featured, feral, with a long, prehensile tongue and venomous fangs. Its head sprouts oily black beetle wings that click when they fly, and their entrails twine and grapple beneath the head like like tentacles.

Refresh: -7

Origin

I have two options for their genesis:


* Would-be sorcerers can make compacts with the Jade Court in exchange for magical power, but when one of them breaks the oath, they are horribly and painfully transformed into Penanggalan. Most are left to fend for themselves, but the Jade Court maintains a great deal of them for special missions. Aspect: I Broke My Oath to the Jade Court.
* When a Jade Court Vampire drinks the magical energy of a Wizard, Sorcerer, or Warlock, they sometimes summon a vengeful demonic intelligence into the corpse. These Penanggalan obey the Jade Court Vampires, for the most part. Spellcasters may occasionally volunteer for this, rather than suffer a worse fate, and such Penanggalan retain their original spellcasting abilities. Aspect: Grudging Servitor of the Jade Court.

Tempus Corvus:
As a total Greek/Roman Mythology nerd, I'd like to see stats for the Stymphalian Birds. One of the Labors of Heracles, they were vicious, and had metal feathers that they could rain down on people like arrows. Scared away by loud noises (Obviously that would have to be altered. Maybe something that dampens sound, similar to the myrk?

Sanctaphrax:
Stymphalian Bird (Hydrophobe)

High Concept: Stymphalian Bird
Other Aspects: Maneater, Afraid Of Noise, Sacred To Ares
Skills:
Good: Weapons
Fair: Survival, Athletics
Average: Alertness, Intimidation, Endurance
Powers:
Wings [-1]
Diminutive Size [-1]
Breath Weapon [-2]
Inhuman Speed [-2]
Inhuman Toughness [-2]
The Catch (unknown) [+0]
Total Refresh Cost:
-8
Refresh Total:
-6

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