Friday, September 22, 2017

GAMING STRANGE TALES FROM A CHINESE STUDIO 27: WAILING GHOSTS

I have been making NPCs, monsters and scenarios inspired by Pu Songling's Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio. For each entry I take two or more stories from the Penguin Edition translated by John Minford and make gameable material.

Today I am doing Wailing Ghosts (#27). This one is about ghosts who haunt the house of a local official. He placates them with rituals and food. One of his guards falls ill, and when he awakens appears to have been one of the ghosts. 

WAILING GHOST
Wailing Ghosts are non-physical but torment the living with their incessant cries. They occasionally possess those who are ill or weak, taking them over until an exorcism is performed. 

Defenses: Hardiness nil, Evade nil, Parry nil, Stealth nil, Wits 7, Resolve 8
Skills: Command: 2d10, Deception: 3d10, Talent (Singing): 3d10, Detect: 1d10

Wounds: None

Powers
Possess: A Wailing Ghost can attempt to take possession of someone who is sick or wounded. Anyone with reduced Hardiness or suffering from Wounds is vulnerable. Roll 2d10 against Resolve of the Target. On a Success they take possession of the person. 

Distracting Cry: Wailing Ghosts create a distracting cacophony with their singing until they get what they want from people. Make a Talent (Singing) roll against Wits of all who can hear them. On a Success the targets suffer -1d10 to all Mental, Knowedge and Relevant Specialist Skills due to distraction. 

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