Bakemono

Bakemono

In my previous post on D&D I was musing about the 1e Oriental Adventure materials and good old fashion Orcs after considerable thought and good old fashion bashing I have decided how to make the Bakemono work for OD&D at least for me. Basically I created three sizes Small, Medium, and Large stat wise these correspond to OD&D's Goblins, Orcs, and Hobgoblins. I kept the classic aversion of light for all three kinds. I am using the Orcs as the cultural template. This is a bit of a work in progress.

Basically what makes them different then the traditional Goblin, Orc or Hobgoblin is the following: 

1) Tribes and bands are mixed of all sizes.
2) Every Bakemono has a number of crazy mutations.
3) They come in a wide range of colors.

Basic Stats

Bakemono

No. Enc: 20-400 

Alignment: Chaos or Neutrality

Movement: (s) 6” (m) 9” (l) 9”

Armor Class: (s) 6 (m) 6 (l) 5

Hit Dice: (s) 1-1 (m) 1 (l) 1+1

Attacks: (s) 1 (weapon) (m) 1 (l) 1

Damage: (s) 1d6 (m) 1d6 (l) 1d6

Save: (s) F1 (m) F1 (l) F2

% in Lair: (s) 50% (m) 50% (l) 30%

Treasure Type: (s) 1-6 gp each (m) D (l) D

Size: (s) 4’ (m) 5-6’ (l) 6 1/2’+

Bakemono hate daylight and other strong illumination. When fighting in full daylight or bright light they must subtract 1 from their Morale Rating, as well as 1 from any die rolled. The bakemono come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. No two creatures are alike. The bakemono are both surface dwellers and underground dwellers. There are several different sizes of bakemono. Bakemono are carnivores. They have a great weakness for sake and strong drink. Bakemono are quarrelsome and factious. If bakemono of different kinds approach within a charge move of each other, and they are not meleed by the enemy, they will attack each other unless a score of 4 or better is rolled on an “Obedience die.”

Bakemono typically lair in either a cave complex (die 1-4) or abandoned temples or villages (die 5-6), preferring to drive the rightful inhabitants out instead of building their own homes. The cave complex will be guarded by sentries. The village or temple lairs are always in bad repair, having the appearance of being long deserted.  40% of the time village will be protected by a ditch and palisade defense, 1 light catapult per 50 bakemono, and a high central tower of some kind. Bakemono found in a cave will possibly have a strong leader/[protector types, as will those in villages. They seldom make their own weapons or armor, preferring to use items they have scavenged and looted on their raids. When a large force is encountered, 20% of the bakemono have an Armor Class of -1 their norm, gained from some piece of armor worn. These pieces are in poor repair and have often been drastically altered to fit the particular bakemono. As such, they cannot be worn by player characters.

For every 20 members in the band, there is a lieutenant of greater larger size these monsters having +1 morale. This lieutenant (HD 2, Damage 1d6 + 2, AC 5) receives his orders from the oni (or ogre mage, another large bakemono, troll, ogre or powerful Fighting Man or Magic User) and commands absolutely the 20 bakemono under him.

                                                Cave Complex        Villages

7th to 9th level Fighting-Man          Nil                      25%/100 

11th level Magic User                    Nil                      10%/100

Dragon                                      10%/100                 Nil

1-6 Ogre Mages, Ogre               10%/50                 15%/50

1-4 Oni, Troll                               10%/100                Nil

Bakemono will defend their lair without morale checks until they are outnumbered by 3 to 1.

A force of small type bakemono is typically equipped as follows, modify for larger ones:

Katana                                             5%

Naginata and short sword              20%

Spear                                             40%

Tetsubo and short sword               10%

Short sword and short bow            10%

Chain and shunken                         5%               

Kusari-gama and trident                10%

See OD&D rules on Hobgoblins, Goblins and Orcs for other ideas.

Half-Bakemono

Bakemono of all sizes can produce offspring with each other and with humans and dwarves. Bakemono mixes with Bakemono will produce a child that takes after one of the parents. However mixes of human or dwarves produce offspring that do not have sensitivity to light, and generally have less distorting body traits. (Roll 1d4 for number of mutations) Note:  I am considering giving female bakemono special seduction or charm abilities that the males lack and half-bakemono females would have that ability as well. 

Bakemono Mutations

There are many theories on the origin of bakemono. It is rumored that bakemono were once normal humans or dwarves but accidental exposure to a dark magic in the mists of time created them. Others surmise they were created by evil beings or magic users using dark magic on once human or dwarf victims. Still others suggest they are the result of evil creatures mating with humans. It has also been suggested that these creatures are simply part of the natural order created by the gods. 

After determine Base Skin Color, Eye Color, Pattern and Size roll 1d6 to determine number of mutations outside of the humanoid body the creature may have. You may wish a tribe to have something in common or nothing at all in common. When considering mutations you may wish to include from time to time something fantastic like a breath weapon for instance to surprise the PCs with. Bellow is just some ideas to help get the ideas rolling.

Base Skin Color                      Size             

                                                

1 White                             1-3 Large Size  

2 Brown                            4-8 Small Size

3 Black                             9-12 Medium Size 

4 Blue                                    

5 Red                                 Body Mutations

6 Green                      

7 Grey                        Ears (floppy, bat, large, animal)

8 Orange                    Disfigured Face (One half of face distorted)

9 Purple                      Mandibles

10 Yellow                    Horn(s) or Antler(s)

11 Pink                       Hunchback

12 Re-roll                    Stumpy or Corckscrew Tail    

                                    Animal legs and feet (goat, deer, pig, equine, camelid, feline, canine, frog)

Pattern                         Crab Claw Hand 

                                     Fur

 1-3 No Pattern             Scales

 4 Camoflogue             Feathers

 5 Stripped                     Tusks

 6 Patched                     Armor Like Skin  

                                      Multiple Arms (4 or 6)

Eye Color                      Bow Legs                         

                                       Missing Limbs (one leg or arm)

1 Green                           Useless Wings (bat, bird, insect)        

2 Yellow                          Beard                          

3 Red                              Nose (big, beak, pig, other animal, flat)      

4 Black                          Eyes (one, multiple, bulging, insect)        

5 Grey                             Other     

6 Orange                              

This is based on ideas in Chainmail, OD&D 3 original books, Oriental Adventures, and Monster Compendium Kara-Tur Appendix.