The closet doors opened on their own. From the darkness inside, five hands reached forth, each grabbing the doorframe. The wood beneath the clawed hands groaned as it pulled itself forward. A blackened mist, a miniature storm cloud, spilled out of the dark. Within the cloud, a half-dozen mouths of dagger-like teeth swirled and snapped. Four pairs of red eyes, spider eyes, swirled as well. They fixed themselves forward as the cloud glided toward the little girl asleep in bed.
Alternative names: El Coco
The Bogeyman’s true name has been lost to the aeons. Now he is remembered as just a story to frighten children into behaving. However, the monster is all too real.
He (if the Bogeyman can be called a “he”) is a minor god that once reveled in a shallow, hedonistic view of evil. The god was trapped away in his labyrinthine palace dimension millennia ago. This was likely when the stars changed, forcing the Great Old Ones into their slumbering deaths. Propaganda from the Elder Gods credits them as punishing the Bogeyman for his debaucheries. Over the millennia, the Bogeyman took out his frustrations over his imprisonment on the slaves staffing his palace. In his rage, the Bogeyman emptied the palace. The loneliness drove him mad.
Sometime in the past two hundred years, the wars confining the Bogeyman to the palace weakened, allowing him limited access to our world. However, through either some ancient geas or quirk of the wards binding him, the Bogeyman can only enter our world through dark, narrow spaces after sunset. Such as closets or from under beds. Now he slips into our world to steal away children, enslaving them in its palace. Few survive long. Thus, the Bogeyman is in constant search of new companions to stave off his maddening loneliness.
Prayers and spells can protect a space from the Bogeyman, preventing his entry.
Light Sensitivity: Light seems to cause the Bogeyman pain, though it does not harm him. It will instantly retreat from bright lights back to its palace if possible. Any small, shadowy space is sufficient for it to retreat.
The Bogeyman, bedroom invader
STR | 120 |
CON | 50 |
SIZ | 120 |
DEX | 60 |
INT | 60 |
POW | 100 |
Hit Points: 17
Damage Bonus: +2D6
Build: 3
Magic Points: 20
Move: 6
ATTACKS
Attacks per round: 1 (claws, teeth)
The Bogeyman attacks in a blur of ripping teeth and claws. It is a cowardly being, fleeing from most fights.
Abduct (mnvr): The Bogeyman grabs a victim, enveloping them in his dark, cloudy form. The victim can attempt to escape with an Extreme DEX roll. Exposure to bright light will force the Bogeyman to release the victim. On his next turn, the Bogeyman will slide into a small, darkened space, stealing the victim away forever.
FightingAbduct (mnvr) | 50% (32/13), damage 2D650% (25/10), special, see above |
Dodge | 20% (22/8) |
Skills
Intimidate 65%, Stealth 90%.
Armor: None, but due to the being’s immaterial nature, attacking him requires a Hard roll. All damage taken is reduced to its minimum.
Spells: None
Sanity Loss: 1/1D6 to encounter the Bogeyman.
Bruce is a sociology student and co-host of The Crypt Keepers podcast