Late Delivery: Secret Santicorn 2023

 Christmas gifts that keep on giving? 

For the OSR secret santicorn, you've been paired with wyattwashere, who wants “A list of modern/urban creatures for use in horror-investigation games like Call of Cthulhu or Delta Green. The weirder and more niche the better!”

Been on this one for a bit. 

I read through my Delta Green quickstart, and thumbed through my CoC. Through it all, the Hounds of Tindalos kept popping up in my imagination.

Good puppy (source)

So why not start from there?

<writing ensues>  

For inspiration, downloaded a glut of images from artist 0nedes, who heavily inspired a prior writing exercise, also with a dark horror/post-apocalypse vibe. 

I mean look at this cutie: 

Who could deny a darling creature like that? "Honey, it wants in!"

Additional inspiration via Dan Davis History, with a bit of Crecganford and Esoterica. Soundtrack by Cryo Chamber and other Dark Ambient channels.

So I'm not sure that I met the criteria for modern/urban, just for the fact that I created a mini-Mythos dating back to Neanderthal times and heavily influenced by Stone to early Bronze Age Indo-European cultures and myths. I mean, why use the published material when you can start from scratch? That said, I rounded up several modern references and occurrences that dovetail in with a potential 'reawakening' of beings/creatures, as well as some descriptions of the misguided or corrupted souls who may want to interact with it.

They Called Them Wolves (link permissions fixed)

Thanks also to Archon's Court for shepherding the project through this year.

Random Magic Item: Corfang's Staff

In 2014, Danish archaeologists working at a 1st Century AD dig in East Jutland came upon a grisly trophy - four pelvic bones strung on a stick.  The bones were co-located with a previously-known dig where at least 200 slain warriors had been ritually desecrated and thrown into a lake.  The Iron Age battle likely took place between Germanic tribes infighting for territory under the pressure of northern Roman expansion during the previous half-century.

A hip discovery.
(I'll show myself out....)

Onward...

The ogre mage Corfang Kontusk was one for collecting trophies from his vanquished foes, and where possible, retaining elements of their skills or abilities.  Particularly, he favored collecting pelvises from his slain opponents, for, he believed, that there was found the true 'essence' of a being.

The bones were disarticulated and flensed, then stained black in a enchantment-fixing brine for several moons until the powers of their dead owners were permanently attributed to the bones. The pelvic bones were fastened to a similarly-treated ironwood staff.

Corfang selected four heroic opponents, each bone providing a bonus or spell powers Any two powers may be used once per day, and beneficial effects may be used on the caster, or upon an ally.

The four lost foes, and their "contributions" to Corfang's Staff are (or were...):

1. Dwarven Berserker - Thalven Ironwood - Crushing Blow: benefits a +4 to hit, and 2x rolled damage.  If a natural 20 is rolled, the strike makes an automatic hit upon a 2nd hit adjacent foe, regardless of damage to the 1st foe. (1d4 combat rounds)

2. Human Sorcerer - Veselm of Thune - Chain Lightning: a branching bolt of lightning strikes up to 60' from the caster, and affects multiple (up to four) opponents - the first opponent is dealt 4d6 damage, with 1 die decreased damage per foe (3d6, 2d6, 1d6) as the bolt dissipates.

3. Human Necromancer - Kelyn Tanler - Necrotic Regeneration: A severed limb may be reattached, but it reanimates as undead. The limb itself has 1HD (besides the owner's HD) and will detach itself upon death, striking or strangling (1d4) the owner's killer until dead or turned. The limb is taut, discolored, and fetid, yielding a permanent -1 to CHA and reaction rolls.

4. Elven Illusionist - Haeron Rivalton - Displacement: -2 upon opponents to hit, (2d4 combat rounds)

Random Magic Item: Lyre of Vervor

Perfect for your chaotic evil bard....

source

Lyre of Vervor

This grisly instrument was created from the skull of the Jester/Bard Vervor after an unfortunately-timed joke put him on Prince Fervald's headsman's block (That being the Prince's second-favorite entertainment, after wandering entertainers).

The Prince's necromancer, Jeral Iamori, retrieved the unfortunate bard's head and placed it on a stake in the Singing Dunes of Arar.  Once dried, the top of the skull was cut off, and the scalp cleaned and stretched over the gap. The necromancer commissioned a hunter of some renown to hunt the Oryx of Krake, bringing back the beast's horns for the instrument's arms.  The finest silver wires formed the strings, and dark rituals re-awoke the bard's spirit, in a sense.

Effects:
The skull sings along with the tunes played on the lyre, and amplifies the effects of any bard spells or effects by 10% (or saves against roll at -2).
User may cast Fear as 7th level MU once per day
User may cast Charm monster as 7th level MU once per day
Unsleeping, the lyre may be posted as a guard, screaming and yelling at any signs of intrusion within a 100-foot radius (outdoors) or 50 foot radius (indoors).

Two Archaeological Discoveries (and associated treasure-items).

Two significant and interesting Bronze Age discoveries have recently come to light in Asia:

First, archaeologists in Siberia recently discovered a 3,900 year old suit of bone armor (take THAT rust monsters!)



The Bronze Age suit of armor was in good condition, considering, and apparently belonged to an elite warrior.  The provenance of the armor is unclear, as it does not match local culture, but is similar to items found over 600 miles away.  That said, it may have been a trade item, gift, or war spoils.

Regardless, it was a valuable and intricate piece of craftsmanship, requiring much care in fashioning and maintenance.

Secondly, to the south and east, a teenager in China found a 3,000-year-old bronze short sword or dagger in a riverbed.  He and his father opted to the proper thing, and turned it over to historical authorities, turning down offers to sell the relic to collectors.  The blade is a product of either the Shang or Zhou dynasties, and likely was an official's status symbol.

Items below: