OCTOBER MONSTERS FOR RIGHTEOUS BLOOD RUTHLESS BLADES

Art by Jackie Musto 

In the spirit of October I am converting monster entries from Strange Tales of Songling for Righteous Blood Ruthless Blades. These are supernatural creatures inspired by Pu Songling's Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio. I will be doing a few monsters each post and not including every monster as Jeremy and I have been developing certain creatures for an intended expansion. Today I am going to cover Ghosts. Ghosts can come in endless variety and these are just a handful of example. 

BITTEN GHOST
Bitten Ghosts often come at night when people are falling asleep. Their exact nature is not well known, but they typically appear as recently deceased corpse in mourning or burial attire. They have pale and bloated features, with enigmatic expressions that induce fright. Bitten Ghosts press themselves on a victim's body, pinning them with great force so they can draw out their life energy through their nostrils. 

Defenses: Hardiness 7, Evade 6, Wits 6

Key Skills: Life Drain: 3d10, External Arts: 2d10, Muscle: 4d10, Speed: 0d10

Max Wounds: 5
Type: Ghost 
Resist: 0

POWERS

Bitten Vulnerability: Bitten Ghosts are vulnerable to human bites. When bitten they recoil and flee, and take 2 Extra Wounds from such attacks. 

Weight of Many Corpses: Their body presses heavily on victims. On a Successful External Arts roll the target is pinned and must make a Muscle Roll TN 8 to lift the Ghost off their body. 

Life Drain: A bitten ghost can draw out a person's life by inhaling near the target's mouth with their nostrils. Roll 3d10 against Evade. On a Success, the target loses 1 Hardiness which recovers at a rate of 1 per week. 

Immunities: Bitten ghosts are immune to mundane attacks but vulnerable to Signature Abilities, rituals and magic weapons. Each one is also vulnerable to a key substance based on its history and all are susceptible to human teeth. 

INVISIBLE GHOST 
Invisible Ghosts cannot be seen by the human eye. However, animals can sense them and are able to harm them as well. These ghosts are both playful and vindictive. They often haunt a chamber or hall to frighten away the residents so they can have the place to themselves. Provided they are not interfered with, they leave people elsewhere in the abode alone. If any dare enter their space, they attack through the night. 

Defenses: Hardiness 4, Evade 4, Wits 7

Key Skills: Attack: 3d10, Detect: 3d10, Speed: 4d10, Muscle: 1d10

Max Wounds: 5
Type: Ghost 
Resist: 0

POWERS

Invisible: Invisible Ghosts are unseen and hard to strike. In order to hit them, one must first make a Detect Roll against TN 8. Otherwise the attack is made at -3d10. Animals can see and harm invisible ghosts. 

Attack: Invisible Ghosts attack by throwing objects. They can hurl anything for 4d10 damage. 

Immunities: Invisible Ghosts are immune to mundane attacks and any Signature Ability that isn't magic or specifies it affects Ghosts. They can be hurt by Peach Wood swords however (so a person wielding one with a Signature Ability, could affect them). 

LOVING GHOST 
Loving Ghosts are benevolent spirits who cannot be eligible for reincarnation until they've dealt with some unresolved matter of fate regarding a lover they had in their previous life. They typically help their former lover deal with a present challenge or difficulty. Their presence is highly disruptive because they usually arrive after their lover has reincarnated many times. A person who meets their Loving Ghost becomes greatly confused as memories of their previous life come flooding to the foreground and overwhelm them. 

Defenses: Hardiness 4, Evade 5, Wits 6

Key Skills: Attack: 1d10, Detect: 2d10, Speed: 3d10, Fly: 2d10, Muscle: 1d10

Max Wounds: 3
Type: Ghost 
Resist: 0

POWERS

Awaken: When a Loving Ghost is in the presence of their former lover, that person forgets their present life, and the memories of a previous life spent with the ghost dominate their mind. This is very disorienting and the effect remains until the Loving Ghost can move on. 

Fly: Loving Ghosts can fly freely. 

Immunities: Loving Ghosts are immune to Mundane Attacks and Signature Abilities that are not magical. They are affected by magic and sunlight (causes 2d10 damage each round of exposure). They can also be harmed by weapons made from objects dear to their former lover. 

PEONY GHOST

A Peony Ghost is the returned spirit of a person who was offered a shortcut to rebirth if they can find true love for three years. They are sustained by feelings of affection and usually seek out a spouse so they can marry and have children. However, if they are ever discovered to be a ghost by their spouse, they must return to Diyu (Hell) and face their full punishment before being reborn (averting this requires extreme means contending with the ghostly officials and demons of diyu). They look human unless they are exposed to light from direct candle or the sun (moonlight, reflected light, and distant candle light has no effect on them). When exposed to these by sun light, they are seen for what they truly are: a rotting corpse. Still they are able to live as normal people, eating, having children and all the rest. They also have the ability to dampen and freeze a person's heart with a touch (though each life they take in this way creates additional challenges they must face when reborn). 

Defenses: Hardiness 5, Evade 6, Wits 7

Key Skills: Attack: 2d10, Persuade: 2d10, Empathy: 2d10, Speed: 2d10, Detect: 2d10, Religion: 2d10 

Max Wounds: 4
Type: Ghost
Resist: 1

POWERS

Heart Touch: By pressing their palms to a person's chest, Peony Ghosts can chill it and even cause death. Roll Attack against Evade. On a Success the target is Drained of 2 Hardiness as their heart chills. When they reach 0 Hardiness their heart is frozen and they die. 

Deathless: A Peony Ghost regenerates 1 wound per hour and returns in 1 day if destroyed. 

Weakness: Sun and direct flame will reveal a Peony Ghost to be nothing more than a rotting corpse. If this is ever discovered by their spouse, they must return to Diyu and face punishment. If they eat or drink anything made from Peonies they are permanently destroyed.