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| Death awaits those who wrong Saint Jasper's faithful. Art By: Odilon Redon |
Pictures Mangled
by Me: Any picture with this in its caption means it is a collage
I made using 19th and early 20th century illustrations. All these
illustrations are public domain, meaning I didn't rob anyone by using
these pictures for my own gains.
Author's Note:
Here is stats and a pic of a new monster, made in honor of a
faithful dog who was killed recently. He was stolen from his yard, a
rope tied around his neck, then shot in the head. The neighbor felt
that the dog was a nuisance, thankfully it is highly illegal to do
this, and the police have been notified and are looking into the
matter. A friend of mine knew him, his name was Jasper, and he will
be missed.
Oh loyal one,
He of the pack and
the hunt,
I have been
trespassed against,
Tear from my
tormentors their flesh,
Oh loyal one please
avenge me,
Bear for me this
yoke of vengeance,
For I cannot bear
it myself.
- Prayer of the
Aggrieved to Saint Jasper.
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| The wage of sins against the faithful shall be more than just death. |
Encyclopedia
Infinica – No. 4
Saints of the Street Church
The Infinite City is
not merely a gathering of people and cultures, it is also a meeting
place of countless cultures. Cultures that can maintain their
individual identities, or merge with one another to form a culture
unique to the city.
While religions
retain their purity in temples and cathedrals, they are intertwined
and blurred on the streets into something completely 'other'. This
other is a syncretic religion is most commonly referred to as the
'Street Faith'. A religion of countless gods, goddesses, and other
beings granted sainthood and prayed to on a regular basis.
… Which brings us
to the faithful of Saint Jasper. This sub-cult within the greater
construct of the 'Street Faith' is of note due to its focus on the
figure of a dog raised to near-godhood. The origins of this sub-cult
are obscure, as with the majority of the 'Street Faith' due to its
dogma being spread solely by word of mouth.
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| Oh, kindly hound, your loyalty is divine. |
As
with any faith, the cult of Saint Jasper contains its own set of
frightening and comforting figures. Common terms applied to these
figures across faiths are angels
and demons.
Though, as with any faith, this one contains its own terminology.
While
there are many 'Hounds of Saint Jasper', the one most commonly
invoked is a demon-figure called a Tar
Wolf. This monstrous
canine figure will avenge the injuries of those who belong to Saint
Jasper's faith. Though this creature is not completely evil in
itself, it is a fearsome figure meant to instill fail in the
aggrieved and fear in the unjust.
These monstrous
wolves gain their moniker from their peculiar form. Roughly the size
of a small horse, their black fur slowly metamorphoses from hair to a
tar-like substance as it nears the spinal ridge. Unnervingly, the
“tar” drips upward, the perfect reverse reflection of what it
would do if given the normal course of gravitation. This tar will
slowly fade into oily smoke once it reaches a short height above the
creature.
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| Saint Jasper's punishments do not end with the passing from this world to the next. |
Its physicality is
further demented by its overlong snout, and disproportional teeth.
Lacking eyes, nose, or ears, it possesses a spare, but still
disconcerting, appearance.
While the City
neither affirms nor denies the possibility of claims made by any
non-licensed church, it encourages its citizens to immediately report
any sightings to the local constabulary. Remember, a faith is only
worthwhile if it benefits the City, all other faiths are parasitic.
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| Oh how you shall wail and gnash your teeth. Pictures Mangled By: Me |
As large as a
wagon, form impregnated by shadow, a canine shape padding closer,
growl rumbling within it like an avalanche. No eyes, nose, or ears,
just a thin snout and over-wide maw, teeth like shovel blades, sharp
as broken glass. Its fur is the dark of the void, becoming slick and
protean near the top portions of the body, dripping upward and
dissipating like an inverted reflection of ink in water. A voice like
screams bubbling up from tar, “WHERE ARE THEY?”
Saint Jasper's Blessed Hound of Vengeance / Tar Wolf
/ Spooky Syrup Dog
OSR
/ AD&D / LotFP
Type: Outsider
Activity Cycle: Any
Diet: The flesh of those who injure the faithful
of Saint Jasper.
Intelligence: Superhuman (Always heard in the
listeners' primary language)
Treasure: Whatever is judged appropriate by the
DM
Alignment: Neutral (May also be considered evil
due to it taking pleasure in the prolonged physical and mental
torture of those who would hurt the faithful of Saint Jasper)
No. Appearing: 1 OR 3 to 6 (1D4+2) if a
particular group has been hurting the faithful of Saint Jasper.
Armor Class: 20 / 0
Movement: 60 ft
Hit Dice: 7
THAC0/To-Hit: 11 / +9
No. of Attacks: 1
Damage: 1D8+2 (Bite) OR 2D4 (Spit Tooth and Tar.
Max Range 300 ft, No Range Penalty)
All Saves: 12
Spell Resistance: 20%
Experience: 3,000
Special Abilities
/ Attacks -
Butcher's
Eye: The
creature always knows how much more damage a target can sustain
before they die. Any damage done by the creature can be reduced to
avoid the death of a target. Tar Wolves revel in the pain of their
prey, and will seek to prolong it as long as possible.
Billowing
Etheric Tar: Once
every 1D4 rounds, the creature can expel a cloud of etheric tar in a
40 ft. cone. Anyone caught in the cone takes 3D6 cold damage (save
vs. Breath for ½ damage). Additionally, anyone caught in the area of
effect must make a save versus Magic. A failed save results in the
character(s) being effected as by a Slow
spell as the tar binds and slows the soul of the target. The effect
lasts for 7 rounds. Multiple uses of this effect only reset the
duration of the effect, and does not compound the penalties given.
Agonizing
Restoration: The
creature may opt to use this ability after a successful attack (melee
or ranged), rather than cause damage they heal their target while
inflicting an incredible amount of pain. The target must make a save
versus Paralyze, with a failed save resulting in them being paralyzed
for 7 rounds. During this time they act as if under the effects of a
Hold spell,
unable to move due to the sheer agony they are experiencing, while
their body knits itself together. Each round the character heals 1D6
points of damage. If the character takes damage while under the
effects of this ability, the effect ends.
Why
Healing?: The
Tar Wolves delight in the torture of the guilty, and are reluctant to
let it end due to the frailty of their target. They only kill their
target if it presents a true danger to the Tar Wolf, or they have
grown bored of its pain.
Flow
the Form: The
Tar Wolf can fit through any space that would allow liquid to flow
through, and moves at a rate equal to ½ their movement speed. It
takes a single round to unform or reform, during this period of time
their AC is 15 / 5 and they are unable to make normal attacks,
however, they can still use their other abilities.
Weakness
-
Lowest
of the Faithful: While
vengeance is within the purview of Saint Jasper, it is considered the
lowest of His domains. As such, the victim can call off the death and
torture of the party who had wronged them, though this can only occur
if the victim does this of their own free will. Furthermore, all the
other Hounds of Saint Jasper outrank Tar Wolves and are able to
command them as long as such commands do not violate the will of
Saint Jasper. Despite being unable to disobey such commands, they do
not enjoy it what so ever and make their displeasure known, whining
in the case of a victim's command and bearing their teeth at other
hounds.
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| A charm-comb dedicated to Saint Jasper. |
Pits
and Perils
Attacks: 1
Bite (Melee) OR Spit Tooth and Tar (Ranged – Max: 300 ft / No Range
Penalties)
Level: 4
(Always speaks in the native language of the listener)
Move: 60'
Size: Large
Side: N
(May also be considered evil due to it taking pleasure in the
prolonged physical and mental torture of those who would hurt the
faithful of Saint Jasper)
Number: 1
OR 3 to 6 (1D4+2) If a group has been hurting the faithful of Saint
Jasper.
Treasure:
Type IV
Abilities -
Butcher's
Eye: The
creature always knows how much more damage a target can sustain
before they die. Any damage done by the creature can be reduced to
avoid the death of a target. Tar Wolves revel in the pain of their
prey, and will seek to prolong it as long as possible.
Billowing
Etheric Tar: Once
every 1D4 rounds, the creature can expel a cloud of etheric tar in a
40 ft. cone. Anyone caught in the cone takes 1D4+1 hits of cold
damage (save for ½ damage). Additionally, anyone caught in the area
of effect must make another save. A failed save results in the
character(s) being slowed as the tar binds and slows the soul of the
target. The effect lasts for 4 rounds. For the duration of the effect
a character may move OR attack, but not both while spells/miracles
take 2 full rounds to complete. Multiple uses of this effect only
reset the duration of the effect, and does not compound the penalties
given.
Agonizing
Restoration: The
creature may opt to use this ability after a successful attack (melee
or ranged), rather than cause damage they heal their target while
inflicting an incredible amount of pain. The target must make a save,
with a failed save resulting in them being paralyzed for 4 rounds.
During this time they act as if under the effects of a Stun
spell/miracle,
unable to move due to the sheer agony they are experiencing, while
their body knits itself together. Each round the character heals 1D3
hits of damage. If the character takes damage while under the effects
of this ability, the effect ends.
Why
Healing?: The
Tar Wolves delight in the torture of the guilty, and are reluctant to
let it end due to the frailty of their target. They only kill their
target if it presents a true danger to the Tar Wolf, or they have
grown bored of its pain.
Flow
the Form: The
Tar Wolf can fit through any space that would allow liquid to flow
through, and moves at a rate equal to ½ their movement speed. It
takes a single round to unform or reform, during this period of time
all attacks made against them are at +1 and they are unable to make
normal attacks, however, they can still use their other abilities.
Weakness
-
Lowest
of the Faithful: While
vengeance is within the purview of Saint Jasper, it is considered the
lowest of His domains. As such, the victim can call off the death and
torture of the party who had wronged them, though this can only occur
if the victim does this of their own free will. Furthermore, all the
other Hounds of Saint Jasper outrank Tar Wolves and are able to
command them as long as such commands do not violate the will of
Saint Jasper. Despite being unable to disobey such commands, they do
not enjoy it what so ever and make their displeasure known, whining
in the case of a victim's command and bearing their teeth at other
hounds.
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| A sneak peek at the next Hound of Saint Jasper. Pictures Mangled By: Me |
Into
the Odd
Str: 16 Dex: 14
Will: 13 HP: 12 Armor: 2
Driven to torture
and kill the tormentors of the Faithful of Saint Jasper. They move at
twice the speed of a human.
Bite: 1D10
Spit Tooth and
Tar (Ranged): 2D4
Abilities -
Butcher's
Eye: The
creature always knows how much more damage a target can sustain
before they die. Any damage done by the creature can be reduced to
avoid the death of a target. Tar Wolves revel in the pain of their
prey, and will seek to prolong it as long as possible.
Billowing
Etheric Tar: Once
every 1D4 rounds, the creature can expel a cloud of etheric tar in a
40 ft. cone. Anyone caught in the cone takes 3D4 cold damage (Dex
save for ½ damage). Additionally, anyone caught in the area of
effect must make a Will save. A failed save results in the
character(s) being effected as the tar binds and slows the soul of
the target. The effect lasts for 4 rounds. For the duration of the
effect all movement rates and halved, all attacks are now Impaired,
and all Arcana require a successful Will save in order to function.
Multiple uses of this effect only reset the duration of the effect,
and does not compound the penalties given.
Agonizing
Restoration: The
creature may opt to use this ability after a successful attack (melee
or ranged), rather than cause damage they heal their target while
inflicting an incredible amount of pain. The target must make a Str
save, with a failed save resulting in them being paralyzed for 4
rounds. During this time they are unable to move or act due to the
sheer agony they are experiencing, while their body knits itself
together. Each round the character heals 1D4 points of damage. If the
character takes damage while under the effects of this ability, the
effect ends.
Why
Healing?: The
Tar Wolves delight in the torture of the guilty, and are reluctant to
let it end due to the frailty of their target. They only kill their
target if it presents a true danger to the Tar Wolf, or they have
grown bored of its pain.
Flow
the Form: The
Tar Wolf can fit through any space that would allow liquid to flow
through, and moves at a rate equal to ½ their movement speed. It
takes a single round to unform or reform, during this period of time
all attacks do an additional 1D4 points of damage and they are unable
to make normal attacks, however, they can still use their other
abilities.
Weakness
-
Lowest
of the Faithful: While
vengeance is within the purview of Saint Jasper, it is considered the
lowest of His domains. As such, the victim can call off the death and
torture of the party who had wronged them, though this can only occur
if the victim does this of their own free will. Furthermore, all the
other Hounds of Saint Jasper outrank Tar Wolves and are able to
command them as long as such commands do not violate the will of
Saint Jasper. Despite being unable to disobey such commands, they do
not enjoy it what so ever and make their displeasure known, whining
in the case of a victim's command and bearing their teeth at other
hounds.
