Weeping Larva
“The season changing seems to draw people here to the bridge. Is it the view of the wooded landscape or is it something else? The Spring brings winds of new hopes and opportunities; the Autumn slowly closes the door on the year, and one remembers loved ones and reflects inward.
“This rural county has one well-known bridge, where people swear, they hear the wailing cries of a baby said to have perished decades ago. It hides on this abandoned road located in the west of the county, now taken over by age and the elements, and here lays the remains of a rusted bridge crossing the creek in the hills. The changes of the seasons draw them here where people claim to hear the eerie cries of a child late at night; hence, the name the Crybaby Bridge or Wailing’s Crossing. Cries reportedly can be heard late in the night and wailing can bring a person to tears and the trees begin to sway in despair.
“The legend can be traced back to the 1920’s when the newly constructed bridge was the scene of tragedy. A family of 3, father, mother and daughter were picnicking in a field near the newly constructed bridge. The family never returned home, eventually the father and mother were found just outside the picnicking area both were horribly slaughtered and tied to the base of the bridge. The daughter was never found.
“Rumors also have it that every 3 or 4 years a person or a couple visit the bridge and never return. Investigations suggest they may have fallen into the creek and were washed away downstream. Yet, every year this area draws new visitors to view the hillside, hope and reflect.”
*—Jane Wickens, WCTH (last recorded message before leaving to investigate the county bridge)
The Crybaby is the offspring of Shub-Niggurath in a larval state hiding under cover, such as trees logs, cervices in the hillside and under man-made structures, in this case a bridge. The large slug type creature is approximately 3 foot long with developing mouths, tentacles, and appendages. It is covered will a slimy dark thick skin to help protect it. Eventually the Crybaby will shed its outer shell to become a Dark Young.
The Crybaby psychically draws people to the bridge based on their strong desire or severe loss. It hides within the darkness under the bridge, crying, calling out. If any human venture to seek out the source the cries, the Crybaby will try to remain hidden leeching 1D6 Magic Points each round until the person collapses. After the victim falls, the creature lays on the prostrated body and drains the figure of bodily fluids.
If ever in danger the Crybaby’s crying sound turns into a skreiching wail calling for its siblings in the area. To hear the Wailing Cry disrupts the listener’s ability to concentrate (Penalty Dice for all tests involving mental faculties) and also causes 1D6 sanity loss per round. However, besides its cries, wailings and thick hide, the larva is pretty defenseless until its siblings arrive.
SPECIAL POWERS
Spells:
Wailing Cry (Call Dark Young). The wailing calls Crybaby’s siblings, Dark Young, for assistance. To hear the Wailing Cry disrupts the listener’s ability to concentrate (Penalty Dice for all tests involving mental faculties) and also causes 1D6 sanity loss per round.
Crybaby, larval offspring of Shub-Niggurath with small tentacles and mouths cover by greasy slick dark thick skin.
STR: 35
CON: 50
SIZ: 30
DEX: 60
POW: 60
HP: 8
Damage Bonus: None
Build: 0
Magic Points: 12
Move: 1
ATTACKS
Attacks per round: 1
Fighting attacks: Crybaby can try to grab and bite if approached. However, its most powerful attach is to drain magic points from the victim until the person passes out.
Grab: 60%, damage-1D3 from tentacle digging into flesh.
Bite: 40% if human is still mobile, damage 1D10 draining the victim of blood. 80% if human is down, damage-2D10 draining the victim of bodily fluids each round.
Leech Magic: 75% draws 1D6 magic points from the victim each round.
Dodge: 30%
Armor: 3-point thick hide.
Skills: Psychically sense great loss or desire 80%
Draw Human 75%Sanity Loss: 1/1D4 sanity loss when an investigator first sees the creature.
