John had been trapped in the lab with that thing. Security unlocked the lab and was attacked by what looked like a mound of translucent-opaque gelatinous agony festering in what was John’s lab coat and pants. The creature with John was nowhere to be found. After the other thing in the room was put down, the scientists speculated that it was the remains of our friend John, who had transformed into some sort of proto-creature. His cells had been reduced to a smaller genetic code. He had recorded a brief voice mail to an associate saying, ‘it needs to finish the story….’
Scribe Vampires come from the Monkey Head Nebula (NGC 2174) and usually only encounter cultists, crazed sorcerers, or the rare occult-oriented scientist that foolishly summon them. The attraction is that these creatures are believed to have recorded forbidden lore and are willing to negotiate with anyone—for a price. That price is for the ink upon which they write. The ink is the genetic material, DNA and RNA components, that all creatures on Earth have. A Scribe Vampire has no reservation about just taking what it needs and leaving the victim in a de-evolved primordial state. It forcibly drains the material directly, with its gossamer pseudopods, as it transforms the victim into the state that fits the genetic code left behind.
In 2006, an astrophysicist named Carl Tan sacrificed two of his research staff to these beings and attained information that drove him mad. One important thing that he said before he died of wounds inflicted from former staff was that these creatures were in the Monkey Head Nebula (NGC 2174), 6,400 light-years away, and that they have volumes and volumes yet to write.
Scribe Vampires appear as human-sized, almond-shaped oyster shells with a volcanic marbling crust that floats upon the will of the creature, defying all physics. The creatures open their outer shell to engulf victims and food with a barbed maw and gelatinous, almost gossamer-like, pseudopods. It loves recording the universe and the chaotic madness that abounds infinity. In pre-historical times, these creatures were contacted by cautious wizards to attain forbidden knowledge without having to commune with the Old Ones. It is speculated, in some texts, that Shoggoths are merely the genetic remnants of the sacrifice that Elder Things made to know more.
Scribe Vampires of the Monkey Head Nebula (NGC 2174)
char.
STR
CON
SIZ
DEX
INT
POW
roll
(6D6+5) × 5
(2D6+6) × 5
3D6 × 5
(2D6+1) × 5
5D6 × 5
(4D6+2) × 5
average
130
65
50–55
40
90
80
Average Hit Points: 12
Average Damage Bonus: +2D6
Average Build: 1
Average Magic Points: 16
Move: 8 / 9 flying
Combat
Attacks per round: 3 (2 pseudopods and a bite)
Uses paralyzing pseudopods and biting with its maw.
Pseudopods: These gossamer translucent extensions reach out and strike at opponents in an almost nightmarish manner. They appear not of this Earth and hit hard despite seeming fragile and wispy. A successful hit deals bludgeoning damage and connects the struck target to the vast library of the Scribe Vampire’s homeworld. The experience paralyzes the individual for 1D6 rounds unless they win an opposed POW. and cost (1/1D6) SAN.
Transforming Bite: The maw of the monster does normal physical bite damage and additional draining some of the victim’s RNA and DNA material which is an opposed check between the person’s CON against the creature’s POW as it siphons the genetic material away in one round and de-evolving 1D4 rounds. What the character turns into is up to the Keeper’s discretion; a proto-human is a given default. Victims may suffer a range of SAN loss depending on how severe the de-evolution is (1/1D4, 1/1D6, 1/1D8 SAN loss). People witnessing the transformation must roll SAN (1/2D8).
Pseudopods 45% (22/9), damage 1D6 + DB + Paralysis and 1/1D6 SAN (see Pseudopods, above)
Bite 55% (27/11), damage 1D8 + DB + Transformation (see Transforming Bite, above)
Dodge 45% (22/9)
Skills: Telepathic Communication 85%.
Armor: 6-point shell; damage by bullets is halved.
Spells: 80% chance of knowing 1D4 spells.
Sanity Loss: 1/1D8 Sanity points to encounter the Scribe Vampire.
The Human Leftovers
De-Evolved Proto Humans
Big bulbous eyes with no pupils, overarching brow, a thin pointy long nose, pale blubbery skin scarred by blocks of fused chitinous hair, and slumped posture. What used to be hands are now a disfigured collection of spikes with errant claw-like fingers protruding out of a clubbed fist. These creatures are always hungry and will see other humans as food to be hunted and killed. It will be imprinted to the Scribe Vampire as a mother figure or God. Remnants of what the creature once was will be stripped away by the Scribe Vampire.
De-Evolved Proto-Humans
char.
STR
CON
SIZ
DEX
INT
POW
roll
3D6 × 5
2D6 × 5
3D6 × 5
2D6 × 5
(2D6–1) × 5
(2D6+1) × 5
average
50–55
35
50–55
35
30
40
Average Hit Points: 8–9
Average Damage Bonus: None
Average Build: 0
Average Magic Points: 7
Move: 8
Combat
Attacks per round: 1
Attacks with claws or clubbed or spiked hands to overpower prey for food.
Fighting 35% (17/7), damage 1D8 + DB
Dodge 30% (15/6)
Skills: Spot Hidden 40%. Does not retain previous skills.
Armor: 2 points from rubbery thick or chitinous skin.
Spells: None.
Sanity Loss: 0/1D6 SAN loss.
