Ultimate Bestiary: The Dreaded Accursed for 5th Edition!

The Final Days Are Upon Us
about 5 years ago – Wed, May 01, 2019 at 08:23:58 PM

Well here we are, the end is in sight, and what a journey it has been so far. 

Our previous record for the amount of people backing a project was 3,094 for Treacherous Traps, but you have all knocked that one out of the park - 3,352 at time of typing. I think that's the makings of a horde (though the technical definition escapes me). Thank you all so much. 

Now, let's give this dread tome the send off it deserves - share it around on social media, yell at people in the park, train flocks of crows to spell out ominous messages about it, you know the drill. 

Maybe don't yell at people in the park though.

Anyway, here's another preview...

Grave dirt cakes its form like a picked-at scab, yet the details beneath the flaking crust are plain to see. One eye is clouded, and maggots writhe where the other would have sat. Reaching out a hand black with jellied, pooling blood, the creature opens its weeping sore of a mouth and heaves out a wordless exhalation of fetid air. Putting one bloated foot in front of the other, clumsily, as if controlled by an inexpert puppeteer, it shambles forward.

One detail of note is the report of merfolk in the area, who claim to have come across a whale-fall some months after the ship’s disappearance. Among the usual hagfish and scavenging crabs was a walking corpse clad in the rotting remnants of sailor’s garb, also feasting on the carcass. The merfolk understandably kept their distance, but the zombie’s presence suggests an altogether darker fate befell the crew than a simple storm or pirate raid. 

-Report on the disappearance of trading vessel Mermaid’s Purse 

Ralph: Zombies are conceptually pretty simple when it comes right down to it, but I think the potential for them to be utterly horrifying is often overlooked. As much as, mechanically speaking, they’re really just fodder for an undead horde, the concept of once-recognisable people being transformed into mindless, shambolic killing machines is just awful (especially if you view it through the eyes of hapless townsfolk rather than a group of powerful adventurers).

We’ve got a wide selection of statblocks in the book, with multiple fantasy races reacting to their reanimation in subtly different ways. There are also two different overarching categories, with slow shambling zombies representing the classic D&D animated corpse, and the quicker and more dangerous plague-born allowing for more of a 28 Days Later or Left 4 Dead-style spreading contagion. All I’ll say is that it’s all fun and games until a zombie troll comes a-knocking…

Until tomorrow,

Ralph and Lou

Dog Might (and Mighty Dogs)
about 5 years ago – Mon, Apr 29, 2019 at 06:46:15 PM

Who's a good boy then?

Is it you? Is it you? 

Well, I hope so, because you're getting a treat anyway! If you take a look at the main page, you'll notice we've added some rather pretty add-ons:

The crazy Viking Lumberjacks at Dog Might Games have created a one-of-a-kind GM Screen specifically for your accursed campaigns. Expertly crafted out of Flame Birch wood and stained in a custom 'Dreaded Green' finish, these mind blowing screens are fully sculpted and come with a load of awesome features.

• Break apart magnetic design for easy storage next to your rulebooks.
• Each panel measures roughly 12" x 9", large enough to hold a full piece of paper and oriented in Landscape format to allow easy access to your players and table.
• Metal rods hold your screen together firmly and allow full rotation of each screen to fit your table and GM style.
• 18 Embedded magnets on the back of the screen for holding 2 included Plexiglass panels for note taking or steel bearings for posting charts and tables. 10 Bearings are included with every Screen to pin your papers and notes.
• Inline initiative track along the top of every panel. Comes with 6 Plexiglass initiative trackers great for use with dry or wet erase markers.
• Each panel is crafted from 0.625" solid, kiln dried hardwood. Our screens are created from hand selected boards, banded together horizontally to prevent movement of the wood for a lifetime of use.

As well as the GM screen, there's also a dice sheath featuring the very fetching apocryphal lich adept, with room to transport a full set of dice and a miniature in style. 

If these really take your fancy and you simply can't live without them (and who could blame you), we've added an additional pledge level -MASTER OF UNDEATH- where you can pick up absolutely everything - hardcover, PDF, both reference decks, GM screen AND dice sheath with a nice little discount. 

And wouldn't you know, there's another preview for you as well. I see a bad moon rising, folks...

The body spasms as the eyes darken into black pools glistening in the moonlight. Bones crack and shift, growing like the limbs of a grotesque insect, twitching under the skin. Another convulsion, coupled with a cry of pain, turning into an animal roar as the face begins to lengthen, distorting with the skull beneath it. Fangs erupt from the screaming mouth, glistening with strings of saliva. Wiry hair spreads like a mold. Throwing back its head, it howls; the night and the hunt and the scent of fear given one terrible voice. 

The man is gone. There is only the beast.

To this humble scholar, it seems that lycanthropy is little different to the druidic craft of beastshaping. I propose that, should the alterations to the original spells be discovered, it would be no great effort to recreate its effects, though perhaps with animals easier to manage. Were-chameleons perhaps. I was always fond of chameleons. 

-Druth, itinerant druid

Ralph: Skinchangers are pretty prevalent across world mythologies, differing in the small details, but broadly very similar. For the most part, these myths tap into the paranoia that some people within a community are not as they seem, and this is really the core concept we've built around with lycanthropes. There are a lot of different divisions and subdivisions within their ranks; not only between the different species, but also a moral and philosophical divide between those who engage with their animal side and those who attempt to repress it. Lycanthropes share an uneasy kinship with one another, and will rally together against existential threats to their kind as a whole but, for the most part, the two main factions want as little to do with each other as possible (or each want to see the other destroyed). I think this has the potential for a lot of interesting stories, as former enemies might be forced to rally together in the face of a greater threat (*cough*vampires*cough*). 

Lycanthropy, along with vampirism, is one of the player options I am most looking forward to getting stuck into. The plan is for these to function more like classes than races, allowing a player to gain some very cool, thematic abilities without being completely overpowered. How will the rest of the party react when one character develops a sudden and suspicious penchant for rare and bloody steaks (to say nothing of the shedding...)?

We used to be werewolves (but we're alright n-awooooooooo),

-Ralph and Lou

Eight! Eight Days Left! Ah Ah Ah!
about 5 years ago – Wed, Apr 24, 2019 at 08:49:50 PM

Hey fiends, 

Here we are on the verge of the final week. From experience, this is where it starts to get crazy, so strap in. Thanks for helping us spread the word far and wide; it's been so exciting seeing the response so far. Now to make sure we stick the landing and end this thing on a high note, such that the heavens themselves might tremble at what we have wrought, that all those with blood in their veins shall look to us for mercy and be left wanting...

I mean...that is to say...

With your help, we've achieved a lot so far, and the first of our FREE PDF adventures has been unlocked! We thought we'd delve into one of the major players in that adventure today and give you a preview of everyone's favourite blood-suckers...

A cloud of bats flits in front of the thin slash of a moon. The squeaking mass of fur and leathern wings swirls together tighter and tighter, manifesting into a lean, poised form. From the edge of the rooftop, it peers into the gloom of the street. Hunger flashes in its eyes and, for an instant, its perfect oil portrait of a face is twisted into a terrible, ravening thing before returning to civility with a twitch. A lone figure picks its way through the darkness below, glancing behind like a hunted beast. The creature grins, fangs glinting in the moonlight, and leaps.

When the conversation turns to her early history, Ilandrei’s brilliant eyes flash with an aspect I did not expect to see; dare I say she looked vulnerable?

“I remember it clearly, of course,” she relates. “Mortals do not remember their births, so it is difficult to relate the feeling of it. It hurt at first, the bite, but as the blood began to drain from me, it felt… I hesitate to say pleasurable, but there was a sense of acceptance, of inevitability. That I was being fed upon was simply a fact of my life. I was only dimly aware of him stopping to bite his hand and offer it to me but, when he did, the desire to feed was overwhelming. That was pleasurable. It was the taste of life itself. Every other time I’ve fed, I think, is just a pale imitation of that first time.”

I ask about the vampire that turned her (her ‘sire’, she quickly informs me). 

“We run into each other from time to time. If you live long enough, that tends to happen. We mostly move in different circles, however.”

When asked if they are estranged, she chuckles. It is her power to make one feel at once a child and the most important person in the world. 

“My dear, he is closer to me than you can imagine. You would not understand, perhaps, but a sire is at once your parent, your most intimate lover, and part of yourself. We are never apart, truly.”

I begin to change the subject, but Ilandrei comments that I might be more comfortable were I to remove my kerchief and undo a few of my shirt buttons. At this point, I terminate the interview and beat a hasty retreat into the sunlight.

-Vars Limri, Conversations With Monsters

Lou: I was nervous about writing vampires because everybody has already. Some fans love them for their great power and possibility, and some avoid them like the plague to spare them from unfortunate teenage romance novel associations...

Vampires are also difficult to write because, like other humanoids, they are individuals – intelligent and charismatic with their own agendas, thoughts, passions and eccentricities. It would be extremely difficult to write a one-page overview of ‘humans’, for example: vampires create the same problem. I hope we have provided identifiers, commonalities and interesting flavour, particularly in the documents, where opportunities present to explore elements that may have been otherwise unexplored, such as a literal interview with a vampire (see above!), or the recount of a failing gourmand who thinks he can save his career by tapping into a particular vampire’s penchant for spicy food (!).

Vampires are neither living or dead and they have always fascinated horror aficionados, gamers, role-players, readers and audiences alike. They are just scary. I couldn’t put it better than Quynel Varvenos, author of ‘VAMPYR’ – ‘We fear the vampire for their spark of humanity. For the fear that within our family, or our neighbors, or our lovers, lurks a sleeping monster waiting for release.’

Stay Tasty,

Lou and Ralph

We Live! I Mean... We Are Live
about 5 years ago – Mon, Apr 22, 2019 at 01:30:44 AM

Greetings all,

Just a quick update to let you know we have just started our live Q&A. We will be discussing all things to do with Dreaded Accursed, the Kickstarter, and the unlocked stretch goals, as well as revealing the details of a very exciting giveaway and the next stretch goals! Not to mention a game of Accursed Jeopardy...

If you're around, interested, and/or have any questions, come and join in the fun! 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s3Z_Gw37xw&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2R6K9qovwqH42g0cggJHXJZdBCte7oM2HOO4v1G4U7k3_kWAIsGNjvY9Y 

See you there,

Ralph, Lou, and Megan

(Un)Living for the Weekend
about 5 years ago – Sun, Apr 21, 2019 at 12:13:47 AM

Hey gang,

Bit of a longer one this time. A few bits of admin to start off with, and then a ghoulish preview...

First things first, those original stretch goals have been devoured entirely, having just wolfed down Additional Artwork, which should serve to make the book even MORE beautiful and/or macabre. So, um... probably time to add some more, right? Got a little one and a few biggies (and, most importantly, FREE biggies) planned, more details to come soon! 

Secondly, apologies it took a while to get you more information about the Q&A, but these things happen with holidays and jetlag and an overall lack of good tea. We will be broadcasting at 2PM PST on Sunday April 21st (that's 10PM GMT, and 6AM KST, so Megan won't be staying up until 4 in the morning again). Come and join us if you've got any questions about the book, or any topics you'd like us to discuss. We'll be posting a link here and all our social media as soon as we go live. 

As we've said before, and will continue to say, we are blown away by the response to this project, thank you all so much! 

-Ralph and Lou

Now, onto the preview. We're hoping to get a few more of these out before the end of the campaign to whet your appetites for the book to come. First up, ghouls...

The stench hangs thick in the still air: putrefaction allowed to ferment and grow angry in the dank darkness. Wet gulping is punctuated by the cracking of old bones as something gorges itself in the shadows. With a grunt, a hunched shape separates itself from the mound of carrion and turns, pale bulging eyes glinting with the dying light. Any semblance of humanity in the face is lost as the jaw gapes wider and wider: a jagged cavity of stinking rot and ravenous hunger.  

Ghastly Ghouly, what do you hear? I hear him shout and scream with fear 

Ghastly Ghouly, what do you smell? I smell his blood and his guts as well 

Ghastly Ghouly what will you do? Boil his bones for a ghoulish stew 

Ghastly Ghouly coming for you! 

-Counting chant for a children’s game. Ghastly Ghouly must keep their eyes closed and is roundly mocked until they can catch and ‘eat’ one of the other children.  

Ralph: Ghouls was the first chapter I wrote for Dreaded Accursed. They’re kind of a weird bunch; they’re undead, but act more like creatures except for the insatiable hunger, sometimes they’re intelligent, sometimes they’re ravening beasts; it seems everyone has their own idea of what a ghoul is, and not all of the ideas mesh together. In D&D, a lot of ghoul lore has to do with trademarked characters, so we were somewhat forced to go in our own direction with them, which I’m rather glad of. 

Our ghouls are interlopers from a theoretical and nameless ‘ghoul plane’, a lifeless place of bone dust and carrion under a scab-red sky; none have ever seen it and returned (or at least, returned with their minds intact), but we can assume that creatures there obey different natural laws to our own - ghouls are life, Jim, but not as we know it…

Of course, the question of import is whether the ghouls native to the ‘ghoul plane’, or is that simply the latest in a string of planes they have inhabited and stripped bare of life?