From: oakes@jupiter.nmt.edu (David Oakes)
Subject: creatures of tharkold
X-Gated-By: The Black Marble Wombat@morticia.cnns.unt.edu
X-Gated-From: torg mailing list
Organization: University of North Texas
X-Gatemail-Version: 1.0b
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 22:10:01 GMT


and you thought i would forget, didnt you?

here is the first of my submitted creatures, my favorite,
and somehow the one i think is least likely to win

in the event that it did:
"the following is copyright WEG, reprinted without permission"

since i am bitter, lazy, and busy, clinton's creatures will not be posted
(they all got in, buy the book)

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'Breed are probably the most hated and truly despised life form on all of 
Tharkold.  The Race feel that they are yet another degradation at the hands 
of the demons.  The Tharkoldu see them as the Race's attempt to weaken the 
demons as a whole.  Neither side will accept them, and both call them an 
abomination.  The 'Breed are hated by both sides because they are of both 
sides: 'Breed is a derogatory abbreviation for Half<#0106>breed.  They are 
a mixture of both Race and Tharkoldu, both human and demon.  How this came 
about is unknown.  It should be impossible for humans and demons to interbreed,
much less interbreed true.  But the very existence of the 'Breed proves that
humans and demons _are_ compatible, at least in genetics if not in ideologies.
This hatred has placed the 'Breed in an interesting position in the War.  
Being living proof that human and demon can work together, the 'Breed are 
the only beings on Tharkold that belive in peace, understanding, and equality.
This alone is reason enough for Race and Tharkoldu to destroy them on sight.

Due to the interaction of human and demon, the flesh of the 'breed is not as 
stable as that of the parent races.  The 'Breed are more prone to genetic 
disorders such as albinism or even flesh so sensitive that normal water will 
eat away at it like acid.  Most 'Breed are horribly deformed, with human, 
demon, animal, and unknown features mixing in a most haphazard way.  It is a 
very rare 'Breed that can pass for human for long.  But while flesh is their 
curse, it is also their strength.  All 'Breed  possess a limited form of 
shapeshifting that grants them a second and more powerful "Wild Form."   

The "Wild Form" <SR>usually enhances one of the physical stats, though mental 
enhancements are common among 'Breed magicians.  Less common is a spiritual 
enhancement - there have only been three in recorded 'Breed history.  (It 
should be noted that 'Breed live much longer than humans, possibly as long as 
demons.)  Charisma is never enhanced in the "Wild Form" - the 'Breed actually 
becomes more monstrous, as their natural abilities and appearance is enhanced
to make them more fierce.  In areas with a magic axiom below 12, the 'Breed 
lose their "Wild Form" and all its benefits.  They also lose any disabilities 
due to their mixed parentage such as damage from light or water.  They do 
retain their standard form though, with all of its deformities.  

Core Earth has stories of creatures of the night stealing human children and 
leaving monster babies behind.  In Tharkold, these stories of "changelings" 
run much deeper.  Since the more human-looking 'Breed may walk among the Race 
undetectable in the low magic zones that the Race call home, many of them do 
so, and will marry, and even have children.  Though technically 'Breed, these 
children appear perfectly normal and exhibit no magical abilities for as long 
as they reside in the low magic areas.  Many a Race soldier has heard stories 
of two buddies finding shelter during a fight only to discover that the current
occupant has "changed" in the heat of battle into some horrible flesh eating 
beast,  killing one before dying at the hands of the other.  Most of these 
stories can be attributed to battle fatigue, guilt over desertion, and the 
willingness of the Race to see those that are different from what they are as 
evil.  But the actual number of the "changelings" is higher than the Race 
leaders are willing to admit, even to themselves...

Domain:  Due to the fact that they can survive in areas of low magic and are 
usually capable of defending themselves from the occasional demon hunting 
party, 'Breed can be found anywhere on Tharkold, from the heart of the Free 
Nations to the center of Dzis itself.  Due to the fact that they are not well 
liked in either of these regions, the 'Breed are most often found in the most 
desolate of the Dead Lands, avoiding most other sentients out of fear.  Many 
'Breed have made their way to the realm on Core Earth in an attempt to escape 
the oppression of their home cosm.

Standard 'Breed
   DEXTERITY 8
   Unarmed Combat 10, melee weapons 10, 
   dodge 11, stealth 12
   STRENGTH 10
   TOUGHNESS 15
   PERCEPTION 8
   Languages 9, find 10
   MIND 8
   CHARISMA 7
   Taunt 10
   SPIRIT 9
   Intimidate 12, faith (Peace) 10
   Additional Skills:  two at +2 adds
   Possibility Potential:  some (20)
   Natural Tools:  Most 'Breed exhibit some form of claws or fangs or horns in 
   their normal form, and some 'Breed will gain natural weaponry only in their
   "Wild Form."  The more human-looking 'Breed have them in neither form.
   natural weaponry, damage value STR+3/13
   Note:  These numbers are for the 'Breed in normal form.  In "Wild Form," the
   'Breed adds one package (three points) to a single stat, also increasing the
   skills based on that stat.  This stat is chosen before play, and once set, 
   it never changes.  Possibility rated 'Breed may have more than one package
   in their "Wild Form" at a cost of one possibility per adventure.  
   These enhancements are due to the Law of Ferocity, and while in "Wild Form,"
   the 'Breed must act accordingly:  all attacks MUST be all out, and all other
   interactions will be violent in the extreme.  
   This is why physical enhancements are the most common.  
   The thing to remember with the 'Breed is variety.
   No two should look alike.  Many of them may be similar, and all of them are
   basically humanoid in standard form, but there will always be something that
   makes them different from the rest.

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if i dont get any death threats from overstuffed mailboxes,
i might get some of the others out by the weekend
(no, really, my thesis comes first...)

dave "no, really!" oakes
Newsgroups: alt.games.torg