Sages of Dread

Master of Dark Knowledge

Similar to Scholars of Dread, this variant is thought to either evolve from that creature after it causes enough death, chaos, and madness, or, as others theorize, to be created when the Sanity loss required to make a Scholar of Dread exceeds fifty points in a single Sanity check. Either way, they share the same appearance, abilities, immunities, and vulnerabilities as a Scholar of Dread (see Scholar of Dread).

The difference between the two is that Sages of Dread appear a bit less disheveled, and are never mentally unstable. They are always fully cognizant, often hiding their true nature by covering their vacant eye sockets with glasses, low-pulled hats, hoods, or masks. They have a few more skills, mainly those that let them move about human society more easily, and a higher chance of knowing spells. They never attack to kill unless forced to defend themselves. Rather, their main goal is to educate others, sharing the dark knowledge they now possess, insights the human mind was never meant to comprehend.

They have one additional ability that Scholars of Dread lack. This is an attack called The Gift. Sages of Dread possess the ability to instantaneously share the dark, mind-shattering knowledge that created them with another human mind through physical contact. This requires a successful grapple attack, but only if the victim is resisting. Often a Sage of Dread pretends to be human and simply offers its hand in greeting. Those who accept the contact are subjected to this attack.

Once a human is grasped by a Sage of Dread they must make a POW check. If successful, they immediately lose 1D10 Sanity points as unholy visions, blasphemous knowledge, and alien omnipotence flood their minds. It also permanently increases their Cthulhu Mythos score by 2%-5% (1D4+1) and stuns them for 2 to 5 (1D4+1) minutes. A Hard success on that POW check reduces the Sanity loss by half and negates both the stunning and the increase to their Cthulhu Mythos score.

Should they fail, their mind is bombarded helplessly with such dark knowledge. They become stunned for between five and thirty minutes (5D6) and take 1 HP of physical damage as they bleed from their noses, ears, and tear ducts. They lose between 10 and 50 (5D10+5) Sanity points, and gain half that same number of Cthulhu Mythos points. A person can only be affected by this attack once before they become immune to it, while those who initially resisted it with a successful POW roll can be attacked by it again. In most cases the victim is driven insane by the experience, and 50% of the time a portion or all of their hair turns white.

Sage of Dread

Characteristic averages (rolls)

Average Damage Bonus: +1D4. Average Build: +1. Average Magic Points: 18. Move: 8.

Attacks per round: 1. Fighting attacks: Brawl or simple melee weapon.

• Fighting (Brawl) 55% (20/8), damage 1D3+DB
• Fighting (any weapon skill they had in life, Keeper’s choice)
• The Gift (maneuver): when a successful grapple attack is made, the victim’s mind becomes filled with eldritch, blasphemous knowledge (see above)
• Dodge 25%

Armor: Half damage from terrestrial matter; immune to gas, poison, and disease; 1 point of tough, leathery skin. Regenerates 1 Hit Point per hour.

Skills: Charm 50%, Cthulhu Mythos 90%, Disguise 70%, Fast Talk 60%, Persuade 40%, Occult 75%, Spot Hidden 95%.

Spells: 60% chance of knowing 2D6 spells (Keeper’s choice).

Sanity Loss: 1/1D6 to see a Sage of Dread.

Oscar Rios

Golden Goblin Press, Cthulhu’s Dark Cults, Ripples from Carcosa

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