Thursday, September 22, 2016

And your very flesh shall be a great poem


Flesh warped over madness. Pictures Mangled By: Me
 
Just so everyone knows, the picture of the monster is a collage of 19th century illustrations. I did not draw it, just put it together. The pictures are public domain, so I am not unduly benefiting from their use.

Rawman / Sinew Soldier
Hulking form, wearing draped shadows. Bright flash, blue after images overlaying a shape rushing towards you. Humanoid, twice the height of an adult, skinless and gleaming in what little light there is. Four arms ending in snicker-snacking metal implements, snapping out to snap, stab, and rend. An eye, overly large, centered in the chest, no head, its iris a labyrinth, no pupil. A mouth embedded in its solar plexus, teeth as large as dinner knives, proportions and shapes too human. Wire-frame geometric shape hovering above where a head should be, only shoulders and blank space where the neck should be. For a moment, time hovering in suspension, it looks at you, truly sees you then the cutting begins.

Transcript Excerpt: Doctor [REDACTED]'s testimony to the Infinite City United War Council -

Doctor: Now, Lords and Ladies, we come to what the front-line soldiers call Sinew Soldiers.

They first appeared within days after the victory at Fiddler's Green. It is my contention that their appearance is directly linked to the Boon Event which occurred during the final hours of the battle.

We can see from numerous eyewitness reports that theses Sinew Soldiers targeted soldiers who were Protagonists. These monstrosities targeted the highest rated Protagonist and then went about killing the others around them, once the Protagonist had be dispatched.

Their current numbers are unknown, however, due to the amount of [REDACTED] that the Marchen expended in [REDACTED] them, it can be safely assumed that relatively few were [REDACTED] before the end of the war. 

The site of the city's United War Council during the Storyteller Wars.
 
Councilwoman [REDACTED]: Thank you doctor, that will be all.

Doctor [REDACTED]: But I have more to offer on this topic councilwoman.

Councilwoman [REDACTED]: We have heard all that we need to in order to make our decision. Thank you for your presence here today, Doctor [REDACTED].

Transcript of Interview Conducted at Rose Briar Asylum.
Lt.: Lieutenant [REDACTED]
Sgt.: Sargent [REDACTED] Ret.

Lt.: Thank you for agreeing to meet with me.
Sgt.: I wasn't given much of a choice.
Lt.: Despite that, I am grateful for your time.
Sgt.: Sure.
Lt.: I would like to talk about your experiences and impressions of your interactions with beings called Sinew Soldiers or Rawmen.
Sgt.: Interactions? You mean when I killed them, while they tried to kill me.
Lt.: Well (pause) yes. Tell me about when they tried to kill you, and you in turn killed them.
Sgt.: What do you want to know?
Lt.: According to your record, by the end of the war, your Protagonist rating was Mem. You had fought them in single combat according to numerous reports. Tell me about their tactics.
Sgt.: They moved fast, and they were graceful like a dancer. I remember staring out of the trenches, looking at one of them running at us, and thinking about ballet. They'd start by using the giant spark-bulb attached to their arm, it'd blind folks if they didn't look away. Then they'd spray everyone with that damn tooth gun of theirs.
Lt.: Two things. Firstly, is the integrated spark-bulb why you have demanded kerosene lanterns and gaslights in your room? Secondly, what do you mean when you speak about tooth-guns?
Sgt.:Funny how nobody had even seen a spark-bulb before the wars, and now they're everywhere. Hell, they even look the same. You really mean to tell me that somebody actually invented a [expletive] lamp that looks exactly like the ones on the [expletive] monsters everybody know you guys captured at the end of the war?
Lt.: I'm sorry, but I am unaware of any connection between the two.

So many souls were locked away in Rose Briar for unseen wounds earned in the Storyteller Wars.
 
Sgt.: Sure you are. Yes, I saw enough of those [expletive] things during the wars. I don't need to be blinded by them in my own [expletive] room. Also, we called them tooth-guns because they shot teeth. Teeth, like the ones in my [expletive] mouth. Roots, crown, everything. Those monsters would just hose down the trench before jumping right in.
Lt.: Then what would they do?
Sgt.: What would they do? [Begins yelling] They'd start [expletive] killing my friends, that's what'd they'd do.
Lt.: My apologies, I did not mean to upset you.
Sgt.: It doesn't matter. (Pause) They had these scissors attached to their arms, and they'd just start cutting people in half trying to get near the closest Hero. They'd stab grunts with this huge [expletive] needle attached to their other arm. Once the needle was in, it was like the [expletive] thing sucked out a guy's insides. He'd get all wrinkled and slack like a piece of rotten fruit. That's what they'd do. Flash, shoot, cut, and suck. If those things were hurt, suckin' the insides out of a guy would heal them somehow. Then there was their big [expletive] teeth. I saw one of those things bite a guy in half, then spit him out.
Lt.: And that is it? No other tactics?
Sgt.: Yes, that's [expletive] it. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to tell you to [expletive] yourself with the nearest broken bottle, then breath in as much ether as they'll let me.

What horrors, long forgotten on the battlefields, now stalk these streets?

OSR / AD&D / LotFP
Activity Cycle: Any
Alignment: Neutral (Evil)
Intelligence: High (Though they only display such intelligence in their planning and tactics)
Treasure: None.
AC: -1 / 21
Move: 70 ft.
Reach: 10 ft.
HD: 12
THAC0 / To-Hit: 8 / +12
# of Attacks: 5 (Bite, Tooth-Gun, Scissors, Flash Bulb, and Hypodermic Needle)
Bite: 1D8+3 – Does not receive the reach bonus. Can only be used on targets within normal melee range.
Tooth-Gun: 5D4 – Save versus Breath for ½ damage. Fires in a 30ft cone. May only be used every 1D3 rounds.
Scissors: 1D10+3 – On a critical hit the target must make a save versus Paralyze or lose 1D3 Strength or Dexterity (roll odd/even to decide) from the scissors severing tendons and muscles. This effect is on top of the normal bonus damage from a critical hit.
Flash Bulb: This effect does not cause any damage. When used, everyone within 30 feet, facing the front of the monster, must make a save versus Breath in order to shield their eyes from the blinding flash. Those that fail are blinded for 1 round and take the normal penalties for being unable to see. A successful save does not render a character immune to future uses of this ability.
Hypodermic Needle: 1D6+2 – If the creature has sustained damage, it may heal itself for a number of points equal to the damage done with this attack. The Rawman cannot increase its HP above its normal maximum.
All Saves: 10
Special Abilities -
Strange Sight: Sinew Soldier are capable of 'seeing' in any conditions despite light levels or obscuring smoke. They can, however, be blinded.
Unnerving Gaze: Those who first approach within 10 feet of the monster must make a save versus Paralyze. A failed save results in the character being unable to attack the monster until it has acted against them first. After this initial contact, characters no longer are effected by this ability. If the monster has already acted before them, then they are also unaffected by this ability.
See the Strongest: The monster is capable of seeing who within it's line of sight is has the highest amount of experience. Sinew Soldiers always target the strongest character first.

Experience Award: 7,500

Death sows his work across the city. Art By: Felicien Rops

Pathfinder / 3.X
CR 14
XP: 38,400
NE Large humanoid (?)
Initiative: +4;
Senses: True Sight 60 ft. Perception +13

DEFENSE
AC: 21, touch 11, flat-footed 20 (+4 Dex, +8 natural, –1 size)
HP: 114 (12d8+60)
Fort +13, Ref +8, Will +7

OFFENSE
Speed: 70 ft.
Combat: May use all of its combat abilities in a single round if it takes a full attack action.
Melee: Scissors: +16 (1D12+7), Hypodermic Needle +16 (1D6+7, Special), Bite +16 (1D10+7 No Reach)
Ranged: Tooth-Gun (5D6)
Space: 10 ft.
Reach: 10 ft.

Special Attacks
Scissors: On a critical hit, the Scissors do x2 damage. The target must make a Fortitude save (DC 21), a failed save results in the character taking 1D3 points of ability damaged to their Strength or Dexterity (roll odd/even to determine) due to the scissors cutting tendons and muscle.
Hypodermic Needle: If the creature has sustained damage, it may heal itself for a number of points equal to the damage done with this attack. The Rawman cannot increase its HP about its normal maximum. A successful critical hit results in x2 damage/healing.
Tooth-Gun: Must make a Reflex save for ½ damage (DC 21). Fires in a 30ft cone. May only be used every 1D3 rounds.
Flash Bulb: When used, everyone within 30 feet, facing the front of the monster, must make a Reflex save (DC 21) in order to shield their eyes from the blinding flash. Those that fail are blinded for 1 round and take the normal penalties for being unable to see. A successful save does not render a character immune to future uses of this ability.
Unnerving Gaze: Those who first approach within 10 feet of the monster must make a Will save (DC 21). A failed save results in the character being unable to attack the monster until it has acted against them first. After this initial contact, characters no longer are effected by this ability. If the monster has already acted before them, then they are also unaffected by this ability.

STATISTICS
Str 28, Dex 18, Con 20, Int 16, Wis 12, Cha 10
Base Attack: +9
CMB: +17
CMD: 31

Feats: Iron Will, Power Attack, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Mobility, and Spring Attack
Skills: Climb +19, Intimidate +12, Perception +13, Acrobatics +16, and Stealth +15
Languages: Does not speak, but understands any language spoken to it.

SPECIAL ABILITIES
See the Strongest: The monster is capable of seeing who within it's line of sight is has the highest amount of experience. Sinew Soldiers always target the strongest character first.

Death walks these ways, and gentles the pain of living. Art By: Jacek Malczewski

Into the Odd
Str 18, Dex 16, Wil 14, 20 hp. Armor: 1
Driven to kill the strongest.
Moves twice as fast as a normal human.
Can see who has survived the most number of adventures. They will target the strongest first.
Capable of 'seeing' in any conditions despite light levels or obscuring smoke. They can, however, be blinded.
Unnerving Gaze: Those who first approach within 10 feet of the monster must make a Will save. A failed save results in the character being unable to attack the monster until it has acted against them first. After this initial contact, characters no longer are effected by this ability. If the monster has already acted before them, then they are also unaffected by this ability.
Scissors: 1D8 and 1D3 Dex or Str (roll odd/even to decide)
Hypodermic Needle: 1D6 (½ the damage dealt heals the monster)
Tooth-Gun: 3D4 (Dex save for ½ damage)
Flash Bulb: Dex save or be blinded for 1 round
Bite: 1D10

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