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strangeness and junk

@probablystrangerpgideas-blog / probablystrangerpgideas-blog.tumblr.com

Hello, you can call me Rhys or Strange. Come here for strange and exotic RPG encounter/setting suggestions, be they alien, creepy, or even just fascinating. Or stupid. Mostly stupid, actually. Ask if you want something tagged. (Nonbinary, pansexual, They/them pronouns)
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weepycat

peak fantasy environment designs:

  • floaty islands
  • glowing mushrooms
  • bigger versions of normal animals
  • animalistic dragons
  • deep, sentient forests
  • sky/space whales
  • crystal clutters
  • multiple moons
  • planet rings visible from the ground
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Monster Spotlight: Vanth

CR 7

Neutral Medium Outsider

Pathfinder Bestiary 4, pg. 221

When people think of “Psychopomp,” they may unintentionally consider the Vanth. These vulture-masked, skeletal creatures often shroud themselves in their own wings to appear as robed figures, standing silently at the edges of the River of Souls, +1 adamantine scythes in hand as they usher the stream towards the Boneyard. Though they do not chase down mortals while they still live, the Vanth hold no patience for souls who try and flee from the River, dragging them back with their blade if they must and slamming them right on Pharasma’s doorstep. Possibly with two broken legs, if they’re especially flighty. With Locate Creature at 3/day, it’s difficult to escape them once they’ve caught your scent.

It’s not all bad, though. The Vanth are the first line of defense against predators on the River, chopping up hags and daemons which prowl them and chasing other invaders off to keep their charges safe. They’re also Pharasma’s footsoldiers, heading towards the front lines of any battle with their at-will Greater Teleport, scythes at the ready. They dispatch all threats with dual swings of their scythe, each dealing 2d4+7 damage that can be doubled via use of their Vital Strike feat when the situation calls for it. If they can’t get in range to use their weapon right away, they also have a 3/day Searing Light to blast a target with 5d6 points of concentrated SUN, damage which raises to 10d6 when used on Undead, and 10d8 when used against any creatures especially vulnerable to sunburn.

Creatures a Vanth may struggle with fighting can also be slapped with one of its 3/day Bestow Curses, allowing them to sap ability scores, steal actions, and other such terrors. Vanth are often not without backup, meaning those curses will compound quickly. Almost as quickly as the damage! Those scythes are MEAN and it’s difficult to stop the creatures from using them, because the Vanth can summon or dismiss their scythes with just a thought. Destroying them WILL set the creature back a bit (at the cost of keeping you from looting it), forcing them to rely on their 1d6+4 damage claws, but they can summon a new one an hour later and–again–can use Greater Teleport at will if they need to.

Any creature that steals or consumes souls is in for a painful lesson on how seriously the Psychopomps take their duties. Even if the Vanth cannot overcome a particular thief, they can always seek help from their greater allies… Or, you know, just more Vanth.

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Normal Horoscope:

Aries: It will be an exciting morning Aries! That powdered nun corpse you have in the basement will finally come in handy.

Taurus: Someone who has been in your life for a long time is going through a tough process right now. Give them the privacy they need to replace their endocrine system with clockwork.

Gemini: The more people brag about you, the physically larger you will become.

Cancer: That mystery thats been hanging over your head? Its not going away anytime soon. Or ever! It is literally never going away!

Leo: If you’re ever feeling directionless, check your inner compass. Now you have one direction: North.

Virgo: Everything you do carries your own signature mark. An easily traceable signature mark.

Libra: Careful who you inject your trust into. 

Scorpio: Keep your wits about you when a wolf in a funny hat challenges you to a game of texas holdem for your soul.

Ophiuchus: The angry ghost of James Buchanan will send you an email today.

Sagittarius: Clarity is not created, it is thrust upon the furtive souls that never wished for any of this.

Capricorn: Well lookee what we go here, a full shipment of mannequins that look exactly like you except with minor errors in body part proportions. Whoda thunk?

Aquarius: Speak softly, carry a big stick, hide a gun inside the stick just in case the bastard is outside of sick range.

Pisces: You will break down into tears when you are minding your own business having a nice panic and are suddenly interrupted with an intense overwhelming calm.

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