Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Crux 1
Crux 1
Crux 1
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the first issue of Crux: The Pandemonium Scriptures! This publica-
tion was inspired by TSR's Dragon and Palladium's Rifter. However, Crux is sold
at-cost, meaning that no matter how many copies are sold, I won't see a nickel of
profit (now watch this fucker sell a thousand copies).
Spaniard out.
Neoplastic Press
Cary, North Carolina
CONTRIBUTORS
Enrique Cachafeiro, Writer Anthony "Ars Mysteriorum" Holtberg, Writer
Enrique is a frequent contributor to the Neoplastic Born in Billings, MT and raised in Sioux Falls, SD,
Press forums, where he posts under the name Anthony Holtberg is very familiar with the term "the
Dremmen. Middle of Nowhere." Naturally, this lead to playing
RPG's as much as possible in his youth (a youth
Adam Chowles which extended into his adulthood, and he hopes it
adam@adamchowles.co.uk stays that way). Anthony is preparing to go to gradu-
www.adamchowles.co.uk ate school, where he will attain his Master's Degree
Adam was born and raised in the seaside town of in Western Esotericism, and from there a Doctorate
Torquay, England. He had an interest in drawing and in Theology. Armed with these lofty pieces of paper,
fantasy art right from an early age, and it's something he hopes they will aid in his subtle takeover of the
that's stayed with him and been a driving force in his world. Until that point he's content to have aspira-
life. So it's fantastic to now have a career that allows tions of helping to found a fully accredited Esoteric
him to indulge in both. He graduated from Plymouth Studies program and to bring a candle of scholarly
University in Graphic Design in 2001 and since then learning where mostly ignorant fears, stereotypes,
he's been slowly building a freelance illustration and superstitions reside. If he manages to create, or
career with an aim of making it a full-time job. help create, a few RPGs and RPG supplements
Chowles has also recently been involved in Raging along the way... Well, all the better!
Psycho Comics' Night Warrior online comic project
as an Art Director and it's already enjoying success, Alexandre "Kobayashi" Jeannette, Writer
with a print issue released and a PSP UMD release sam_lowry1@yahoo.fr
scheduled for release next year. He has high hopes http://livresdelours.blogspot.com
for Dread: The First Book of Pandemonium, and with Alexandre Jeannette lives in France where he works
any luck, it will see the beginning of his career as a as a freelance journalist in the videogame industry.
freelance fantasy artist. When he's tired of killing people on his PC and is not
busy reading or watching movies and TV shows, he
George Cotronis, Cover Artist studies Shiatsu and Systema. He has already written
www.vonhelvete.com two short rpgs and plans to write some more. He
George Cotronis is the main designer and artist hopes to play a role in Rafael Chandler's scheme to
behind Helvete Studios, a design studio based in boost the twelve-sided dice production industry by
Sweden. Helvete Studios provides artwork and writing and designing game aids for Dread: The First
design services for the music and RPG market. Book of Pandemonium.
CARNATION
by Rafael “Spaniard” Chandler
Christina Rood walked the streets at room, drawn by some urge that she didn't
night. Dead city. Dead man staggering know how to ignore. She turned on the light
towards her, mouth a crimson hole, crushed and stared at herself in the mirror. Her face
and broken. Arms mangled, bone and was dark in spots that resembled bruises.
shredded muscle roped with yellowish Yet, she had no recollection of being struck.
strands of fat tissue. He hissed, wailed. It was something to ponder on anoth-
She blinked, and it was a homeless er day. Something was amiss, just beneath
man shuffling out of an alley. Bottle clutched her skin. The way her jaw rang, like some
to his breast like a stillborn infant. Reek of bell struck gently, was strange, somehow
vomit, cigarettes, and whiskey. alien, and yet vaguely familiar. She imag-
Christina walked past him. Twenty- ined her mouth full of loose teeth, the roots
one, dark eyed, dark haired, she saw the turned to rotted strands of stringy flesh,
decay around her the way that no one else gums bleeding. Absently, she probed an
could. She could smell the stench of putre- incisor with her tongue, and stiffened as the
faction on the sweat that dried on sheets tooth gave way, accompanied by the cop-
after sex. She could taste the rot in her food. pery tang of blood. She spat a crimson wad
Everything spiraled into the grave, where into the sink, mystified, and opened her lips.
she knew that the dirt would keep her warm. In her reflection, she saw blood ooz-
She stalked the city at night. Steam ing from her gums, trickling over teeth which
from manholes, insects buzzing around pointed in various directions, skewed at odd
streetlight in the black summer heat. Distant angles. Curious, she reached up and took
sounds of traffic, air conditioners humming, hold of one tooth, slippery with blood and
music from a nightclub booming muffled a saliva. Clutching the sink with one hand,
block away. she carefully wiggled the tooth. There was
There was something, an itch, a sub- no pain, only a numb warmth mixed with
tle vibration in her lips and tongue. She spurts of guilty pleasure. She tore the tooth
ached to assuage it, but wasn't sure how. from its socket. Leaning over so that the
She climbed the stairs of her apartment now steady stream of blood would trickle
building and wondered at the sense of antic- into the sink, she lay the tooth on the ceram-
ipation that charged her body. What revela- ic toothbrush-holder under the mirror.
tions did her flesh contain? Trembling with anticipation, Christi yanked
Christina would need it later. She out the cuspid adjacent, and then the next
stripped and crawled into bed. In her tooth and the next. For moments, the only
dreams, she saw a monstrous toad with a sounds were her rapid breathing, occasion-
woman’s face. It spoke to her of liberation. al gasps, and the soft wet wrench of sun-
She listened. dered roots, followed by the tiny clink of
Hours later, she emerged from bed enamel on porcelain.
tired and cold. She went straight to the bath- When it was done, Christi stared at
4
Fiction: Carnation
the glistening strawberry ruin of her mouth, ran her palms up and down her ribs, prepar-
bleeding worse than before, but pure and ing herself.
soft and scarlet, devoid of intruding white All inhibitions abandoned, she dug
bone. The purple spots had intensified and into the meat just above her larynx and
were now spreading with alarming speed. At pulled. The sensation was akin to that of
their origins, about her cheekbones and removing a splinter from her flesh, minus
mouth, the skin was softening, like that of a the pain.
plum ripened past maturity. Yet, under the She continued to yank gobbets from
skin, did there not lurk more intransigent her throat, peeling back skin to expose
bone? Christi began to grasp the signifi- ropes of maroon muscle, yellowish fatty tis-
cance of what she was doing. Gently, she sue, and bluish veins. Her nipples hardened
tucked two fingers under her tongue and as she felt the slow wet warmth of blood
pushed the heel of her other hand under her spreading down her breast to her belly, her
upper jaw. Eyes squeezed shut, braced for thighs. Had she been capable of sound, she
agony, she shoved. There was no pain. might have moaned, but she could not; she
Instead, she felt an almost unbear- lurched and trembled, and her eyelids flut-
able frisson that ran along the inside her tered. Finally, she reached the last impedi-
mouth and down the length of her esopha- ment: her sternum. As if acting on their own
gus. Gasping, jaw askew, she again volition, her fingers peeled the flesh from
grabbed the sink, this time with both hands, the hard breastplate with a veteran sur-
nearly unable to stand. Waves of pleasure geon's skill. The spasms of delight that
washed up her thighs and ran warm, strong exploded in her nerve endings weakened
fingers under her rib cage and across her her knees and hastened her fingers. Intent
belly, bringing muffled cries from the red on savoring each surge, she forced herself
wreck of her mouth. Shuddering, she ripped to pause and catch her breath.
the clumsy jaw off and dropped it into the Her hands opened another door, slid-
sink. Too good, too sweet, too bright; tears ing under the sternum, the left hooking
of ecstasy blossomed in her eyes and she between the clavicles, and the right cupping
unknowingly ground her hips against the her xyphoid process from beneath. With a
cold white ceramic of the sink. Awed by the grunt, she yanked the plate of hard bone
sudden exposure of flesh's mystery, Christi from her chest and dropped it into the sink.
stared at the wound. Her tongue, thick and This dark red fruit, this fluttering delicacy,
purple, dangled from it; irritated, she ripped was her salvation. There, pulsing amidst the
it out and dropped it into the sink. carnage, was her sweet heart, her
Bliss. This cleansing was bliss. For true love, and she stared at its reflection in
several minutes, Christi just admired her the mirror with wondering eyes. This was
handiwork. Warmed by afterglow, she neat- the absolute bliss of self-love, self-discov-
ened the hole by tearing off wet strings of ery, and it was her happiness that guided
flesh surrounding her cheeks and throat. her fingers now.
Her bra ricocheted off the beige tile on the Tears of joy streaming down her
wall and hung from the hot water knob; her face, she eased herself from her cavity and
shirt landed in the bathtub. Satisfied, she lifted herself up to the light.
5
Optional Rules
OPTIONAL RULES
by Alexandre "Kobayashi" Jeannette
Disciplines
Lore: If a character has a sense score of 5
or 6 then he has access to the Discipline of
Lore. This is recorded in the Discipline field
on the character sheet. During gameplay
the Lore discipline can help the cabal to
identify the demon. Each time the use of
one of his skills gives the player a clue
about the demon, he makes one mark. The
player can then choose to roll one die for
each mark he has. As I love my dice con-
ventions to be consistant (rolling high is
good), each dice giving a result superior or
equal to 10 gives a clue about the demon.
Experience
A new option for advancement: Signature
weapon: one of the disciple's weapon
inflicts one additional damage point. This is
applied to a weapon the Disciple has used
to slain a demon. It now cannot be lost or
broken.
Initiative
Fighter with the highest Combat score goes
first, then the next highest score, etc. In Headquarters
case of a tie, Disciples act before NPCs. Definitely useless for a one-shot, but detail-
ing the Cabal's headquarters could come in
Armor handy if you're planning to run a campaign.
Do not roll armor. Damage is directly sub- Once character creation is done, players
tracted from the armor value. can define the Cabal's headquarters (see
p. 152). They have 3 points to spend in facil-
ities for their headquarters. Each facility has
three levels. One point buys one level.
6
Optional Rules
INSPIRATIONS
OVERVIEW
BACKGROUND
CHARACTERS
There are many books and RPGs about the
Wild West. Don't miss Pinnacle's You are the last survivor of a tribe wiped out
Deadlands, PIG's Coyote Trail, or Kenzer's by the US Army, or a former slave, or a bit-
Aces & Eights, to name a few. Last but not ter Confederate soldier... You were nearly
least, grab a copy of Vincent Baker's Dogs killed by a demon, then saved by a mysteri-
in the Vineyard; this should give you inspi- ous mentor. He taught you how to fight back
ration for Dread, no matter what era you and send the demons back to Hell. Saddle
choose to play in. And, of course, don't for- up!
get about the biggest online RPG source-
book: Wikipedia. SKILLS
Riding
Jobs: US Cavalry, Cowboy, Gaucho
8
Setting: The Good, the Bad, and the Disciple
There’s no armor in the west, so keep your head low or shoot first.
9
Scenario: The Demon Bride
OBJECTIVES
SYNOPSIS
10
Scenario: The Demon Bride
TRIGGER
THE DEMON
11
Scenario: The Demon Bride
12
Scenraio: The Demon Bride
13
Setting: The Thin Dark Line
INSPIRATIONS
OVERVIEW
14
Setting: The Thin Dark Line
EQUIPMENT
Just because it’s a war doesn’t mean you can have armor. Duck and cover! The
Disciples’ equipment is supplied by the Army, but they can try to obtain more by
using Cash.
15
Setting: The Thin Dark Line
GEAR COST
Field telephone 2
Hidden camera 4
Metal detector 5
Silencer 4
Nothing will destroy a tank except for another tank, a bazooka, or a mine (or a grenade tossed
inside it, so that we have all of our Hollywood cliches).
* Firing at the front of the tank, the player determines damage as usual
* When firing at the back of the tank, damage is doubled
* When firing beneath the tank, damage is tripled
Any target that a tank fires on (except another tank) is destroyed. If it's a building, any person
inside is allowed a Strength check against difficulty 9. If failed, the margine of failure indicates
how much Life is lost.
Sneaking up on the tank may require some roleplaying, or a successful Strength or Driving
check, depending on the situation.
16
Setting: The Thin Dark Line
BACKGROUND
17
Scenario: A Cold Day in Hell
OBJECTIVES SYNOPSIS
1. Defend the village The village where the Disciples are sta-
2. Find the spy tioned is plagued by a Vuiloma demon
3. Destroy the Tiger tank (Dread, page 233). It has possessed the
4. Kill or capture the Summoner mayor of Soulmagne. However, the demon
doesn't know that there is a Nazi spy in the
TRIGGER village. He was wounded on his way back to
the German lines, ad he took refuge in the
Winter 1944. The Disciples are stuck with a village, posing as an escaped French POW.
US Army platoon in the Belgian village of
Soulmagne. They are ordered to stop a part One of the American soldiers saw him sab-
of the 5th Panzer Army heading in their otage their communications equipment, and
direction. While they're waiting for the was killed before he could raise the alarm.
German troops, the dead body of a commu-
nications officer is found in the village. The And for the good news:
comm equipment has been sabotaged. * The weather is too cloudy for an airstrike
and there's no artillery support yet.
What do you do? * The Cabal is an independant unit;
Disciples cannot give orders to other sol-
diers.
18
Scenario: A Cold Day in Hell
TIMETABLE
Day one
19
Scenario: A Cold Day in Hell
Each clever tactic the players use gives Barnes, crazy medic
them one additional die (up to 3). Examples Pick your favorite character from M.A.S.H.
include preparation of kill zones, the use of and there you go.
mines, and sniper attacks.
Failure means that the group loses a num- Johanna, pretty dumb girl
ber of men equal to the margin of failure. This one fell in love with the French refugee
Half of them are too wounded to fight. (Werner) and will do anything to protect him.
20
Scenario: A Cold Day in Hell
Watch any good war movie (see the inspira- Wermacht soldiers
tions on page 14) and fill in the details as Strength 2, Sense 2, Soul 2
the game advances. Some things to keep in Life 5, Armor 0
mind: Skills: Soldier 4
* It's a freezing winter Weapons: SMG 3
* The village is surrounded by a thick forest
* The village population is old, with a few Waffen SS
young women Strength 2, Sense 2, Soul 2
* The villagers are tired of the war; they've Life 5, Armor 0
buried most of their sons. American soldiers Skills: Soldier 2, Intimidation 2
just mean more trouble and more deaths. Weapons: SMG 3 or rifle 4
21
Scenario: Unnatural Selection
22
Scenario: Unnatural Selection
To make matters worse, Christy contacted As Dave forced open the back door, he saw
Chapman later that night. It was the sim- Jenny. Jenny saw him, dropped the glass,
plest form of blackmail: give me twenty and started to scream. The Phoriag demon
thousand dollars or I tell your wife. But emerged, seized Dave and Christy, and
Chapman knew exactly what would happen. sent them to Li'Crast, then pulled itself back
He'd pay, and Christy would go away, but inside Jenny just in time for the police to
then she'd come back. And she'd keep com- enter the room.
ing back. There was only one way to finish
this, and John knew what he had to do. He She told them that a masked intruder had
told Christy to come by while Carol was at broken in through the back door and had
work and Jenny was at school. After calling grabbed her arm. Preliminary tests revealed
in sick, he loaded his revolver and waited. trace evidence of cocaine on the broken
But while he waited, something was hap- glass. However, the authorities are
pening at school. extremely suspicious at this point. However,
there was nothing that they could charge
While Jenny was talking to guidance coun- Jenny with, so it wasn't possible to take her
selor Vincent Wong, it happened again. This into custody.
time, it happened in his office, and the door
was closed. No one in the nearby offices Last night, the Phoriag took over Jenny's
heard anything, and his door never opened. body and butchered a family of four across
There was no way that Wong could fit town. It tore three of them limb from limb,
through the office's narrow windows. But he and sent the other -- receptionist Anne
was gone just the same. Police investigated Meechum -- to Li'Crast. When the demon
his disappearance as a missing persons has taken one or two more victims, the peo-
case, suspicious of Jenny's testimony. ple trapped in its hell dimension (Christy
Barton, Dave Ervin, Roger Vandemay,
They drove her home, and Chapman Vincent Wong, and Anne Meechum) will be
opened the door expecting to see Christy. hunted and killed.
Confused, he saw Jenny and two police offi-
cers. While they explained what was going Because Dave Ervin seems to have van-
on, Jenny went into the kitchen to get some- ished, a contract has been put out, and col-
thing to drink. lectors are searching for him. It's only a mat-
ter of time before evidence points them to
Dave and Christy, not realizing that there Chapman.
were police at the front door, were preparing
to break into the house. They planned to Jenny is still at large, and no one knows
force open the back door, shoot Chapman, where she's gone.
plant a suicide note and some pictures of
Christy, and convince everyone that
Chapman had killed himself out of guilt. In
their drug-fueled delirium, it made perfect
sense.
23
Scenario: Unnatural Selection
24
Scenario: Unnatural Selection
25
Unnatural Selection
CHRISTY’S APARTMENT
26
Unnatural Selection
27
New Demons
28
New Demons
AVOMIAD DEMON
by Rafael Chandler
Type: Stalker
Strength 1
Sense 9
Soul 5
Life 19
Wrath 20
29
New Demons
30
New Demons
EPEXIANT DEMON
by Rafael Chandler
Type: Defiler
Strength 5
Sense 3
Soul 7
Life 15
Wrath 24
31
New Demons
Type: Stalker
Strength 1
Sense 9
Soul 6
Life 19
Wrath 20
33
New Demons
AKASTIEC DEMON
by Rafael Chandler
Strength 2 Strength 4
Sense 8 Sense 1
Soul 5 Soul 1
Life 15 Life 12
Wrath 25 Wrath 12
The Akastiec demon resembles a twelve-
foot tapeworm with serrated teeth. Native to
the blasted plains of Li'Crast, the Akastiec is
a massive serpentine demon that coils
through the dusty rocks of that hellish realm.
The demon's body is covered with glittering
purple and crimson scales, which make it
visible from a great distance at it undulates
rapidly towards its prey.
The demon feeds on any kind of flesh, but it If cornered or outnumbered, the Akastiec
prefers to consume those who are dying or will flee, preferring the taste of meat that
injured. Near battlefields and hospitals, the doesn’t fight back.
demon slithers in search of fresh meat.
If two or more demons are gathered togeth-
Slow-witted and easily confused, the demon er, however, or if the Akastiec has allies of
will also attack when startled or discovered, some kind, it will go into a battle frenzy and
and it is quite powerful. The Akastiec tends fight to the death.
to crush its victims in its powerful coils.
However, though it typically prefers the
The demon also bites with its jagged teeth, meat of those who are near death, it is also
and can sting with the barb at the end of its fond of that which was only recently born,
tail. By killing two points of Wrath, after a and regards newborns as a delicacy.
successful tail attack, the demon can lay an
egg in the skin of its host. Within seconds,
the egg hatches, and the larva within grows
to full-size: the Numeac, a six-inch insectile
parasite with a dense and near-impenetra-
ble exoskeleton. It can perform this maneu-
ver over and over again.
34
New Demons
NA’VAAD DEMON
by Rafael Chandler
Type: Hunter
Strength 8
Sense 6
Soul 1
Life 27
Wrath 12
35
These resource documents will help you streamline
your Dread game.
Summary: Re-write what was last Summary: Your skin and body Summary: The victim’s speech Summary: You gain mastery of Summary: Anyone within 10 ft. of
written with a writing implement become dark grey, hard, and becomes babbling or grunts and hand-to-hand combat. Reroll all you, including yourself, cannot
(pen, pencil, typewriter, computer heavy, like iron. You gain +1 to his writing becomes gibberish. It attack and defense dice lower attack for the duration.
keyboard, etc.) unarmed attacks and immunity to is impossible for the target to than 5.
metal weapons (bullets, knives, communicate with others for the Limit: Arms may still be pulled
Limit: The writing (if by hand) will etc). duration. Limit: If the reroll is still under 5, it back for a punch and guns may be
be your own, not the last user of counts as a 5. aimed. Also, this spell does not
the implement. Limit: Weapons not made of metal Limit: Target can still understand effect demons.
(punches, kicks, wooden others.
weapons, fire, magic, etc.) do
damage to you as usual. Roll: Magic vs. Soul.
Summary: The target perceives Summary: The target becomes Summary: A ten-foot high, ten- Summary: You learn a secret kept Summary: You vomit up stinging
everyone (even loved ones) as an enamored of you and will foot-wide wall of invisible force by the victim (computer acid and blood into the face of an
enemy, trusting no one with any reasonably do anything you ask. appears. The wall can shape itself passwords, names locations) the opponent. If successful the victim
valuable or personal information. After 5 mins the relationships to fit smaller spaces when cast. target would never willingly is blinded and disoriented and
Every question will sound like an reverts to whatever it was before. This barrier acts like armor at divulge. loses 2 dice on all successive
interrogation and he will refuse to rating 9 and lasts until destroyed actions for the duration.
cooperate with anyone for the Limit: The target will not harm the duration elapses. Limit: The Director will inform you
duration. himself or others. what secret your character has Roll: Magic vs. Defend
Limit: The wall’s shape cannot be learned.
Roll: Magic vs. Soul. Roll: Magic vs. Soul. changed after the spell is cast.
Roll: Magic vs. Soul.
Summary: Mystic green fire coils Summary: You temporarily Summary: A deafening clanging Summary: The victim perceives Summary: Your hands transform
around your hands allowing you become superlative in every way. sound erupts from your mouth another (selected by you) to be into massive, crab-like claws. For
to deflect attacks. For every point
The round after you cast this, add stunning all those within 20 ft. repulsive, and will do anything to the duration, you receive an extra
you drop your Attack Score you 6 dice to your next roll, regardless (except your allies who only hear avoid him, regardless of their die for all attacks with the claws,
gain two dice to your Defend rollswhether it’s a skill check, attribute you yelling). For the duration all previous relationship. The victim which inflict +4 damage.
for the duration. check, or combat. After that, you those effected lose 2 dice to any may become hysterical or violent
return to normal with no side- rolls made. if forced to stay in the person’s Limit: You will not be able to drive,
Limit: The number of points effects other than a slight presence. open doors, or hold a flashlight
dropped from your Attack Score is headache. Roll: Magic vs. Soul of each while the spell is in effect.
static and must be determined affected. Roll: Magic vs. Soul.
when you cast the spell. Limit: The 12-die maximum still
applies.
Dread: The First Book of Pandemonium Spell Cards
Capaneus Carapace Carnation Char Chela
Attack Defense Defense Attack Non-lethal Combat
Duration: 3 rounds (15 seconds) Duration: 12 rounds (1 minute) Duration: 12 rounds (1 minute) Duration: Immediate Duration: 3 rounds (15 seconds)
Range: 1 Range: 1 Range: 3 Range: 3 Range: 1
Summary: You become utterly Summary: Blood seeps from your Summary: A large, blood-colored Summary: A glowing sphere Summary: One of your hands
proficient with whatever weapon pores and hardens outside your cloud pours from your mouth and appears around a small, inanimate becomes a massive, lobster-like
you’re holding. You gain +2 dice clothing forming weightless, solid floats towards a wounded ally to heal object (a gun, grenade, steering claw. The claw is bright, silvery
whenever attacking or defending armor of any shape you like. You him. Between 1-9 wounds are healed, wheel, etc.) rendering it brittle and and intangible. If it makes contact
with a weapon in hand. This gain an extra die when defending but you take some damage in return. useless. Picking the object up with a person, it will pass through
means a kick receives the same against physical attacks and an You take 1 wound for healing 1-3 makes it crumble into ash. The them and drain a point of
bonus as long as you’re holding a extra two when defending against wounds, 2 for 4-6, and 3 for 7-9. The spell has a range of 50 ft. and can Strength. If the victim reaches 0,
weapon. magical attacks. cloud moves 20 ft. per round despite affect an area up to 3 ft. in then he loses consciousness for
winds and obstacles. diameter. roughly 24 hours. Strength returns
Limit: If you lose or don’t have a at a rate of 1 point per day.
weapon, the bonus does not apply Limit: The cloud cannot go through Limit: Living tissue is not affected.
until you procure another. solid objects, like an airtight window.
However, If the window has cracks in
it, the cloud can seep through.
Chelicerae Chiaroscuro Cognito Confession Confound
Grotesque Investigation Manipulation Manipulation Manipulation
Duration: 2 rounds (10 seconds) Duration: 5 minutes Duration: 12 rounds (1 minute) Duration: 2 rounds (10 seconds) Duration: 4 rounds (20 seconds)
Range: 1 Range: 3 Range: 1 Range: 2 Range: 2
Summary: A monstrous pair of 4- Summary: For the caster, all the Summary: You immediately Summary: The victim spills his Summary: The target becomes
foot, insect-like mandibles erupt color in the world fades to black and become a familiar and friendly guts, answering and confessing to confused and unable to remember
from your torso. The initial pain white. One person the caster face to whoever sees you. Anyone every question you ask without what just happened. He will
causes 1 point of damage to you. chooses (human only) becomes seeing you will recognize you as a hesitation. believe any explanation and is
You gain 2 dice to your Attack bright red. The caster can see this friend, family member, co-worker, extremely impressionable for the
score and +2 to the damage you person through any object (walls, etc. and will respond accordingly. Limit: The victim knows duration.
inflict. When the spell is over, people, etc.). If far away, the person something has been done to him
whatever you’re wearing is is a red dot on the horizon. If close Limit: If someone sees you cast He may think he’s been drugged Limit: After the duration ends, he
shredded, but the mandibles enough, the caster can see what the the spell, they will see your face or hypnotized. When the spell will greet further explanations with
retract into your abdomen leaving person is wearing and doing. melt and change. Also, you have ends, he may hate you or even skepticism, but will believe
no scar. no idea who the person sees. react with violence. anything you told him the first 20
Limit: The caster must have met the Lastly, if you walk into a room with secs.
person face-to-face and must know many people, each of them sees a Roll: Magic vs. Soul.
his name. different friendly face.
Crepusculus Culebra Denial Diablerie Discern
Attack Attack Defense Manipulation Investigation
Duration: 2 rounds (10 seconds) Duration: 3 rounds (15 seconds) Duration: 3 rounds (15 seconds) Duration: 12 rounds (1 minute) Duration: Immediate
Range: 1 Range: 1 Range: 1 Range: 2 Range: 2
Summary: A demonic shadow Summary: Your left hand becomes Summary: You become immune to Summary: Demonic apparitions Summary: You can see the secret
rises from the ground. It attacks the head of a snake. Your gain 1 all magic and supernatural effects appear to attack anyone within 30 nature of a person (drug use,
anyone threatening or attacking die to attacks with the snake head for the duration. This includes ft. of you causing everyone suicidal urges, etc). If the victim is
you with an Attack score equal to and +2 to damage. The victim spells cast by humans, Demons, around you to run or collapse on a demon, haunted or being stalked
your Soul and damage +1 with its takes an additional point of and Angels. the ground in terror, reducing their by a dark entity, it is revealed in
tentacles and fangs. All other damage the following round from Strength scores to 1. shimmering images in the air
attributes are at 1. the snake’s poisonous venom. behind the target’s back.
Roll: Magic vs. Soul of each
Limit: It has only two modes: affected. Roll: Magic vs. Soul.
attacking and standing still. No
other commands may be issued.
Dread: The First Book of Pandemonium Spell Cards
Dresden Duress Eloign Emeute Energumen
Crowd Control Demon-bane Attack Crowd Control Attack
Duration: 1 round (5 seconds) Duration: 1 round (5 seconds) Duration: Immediate Duration: 2 rounds (10 seconds) Duration: 3 rounds (15 seconds)
Range: 2 Range: 2 Range: 3 Range: 2 Range: 1
Summary: Everyone around you Summary: A demon recoils in pain, Summary: You commence an Summary: Victims see apparitions Summary: You’re energized, and
within 30 ft. (except allies) unable to attack for the duration and attack, disappear in a brilliant of ghouls and skeletons rising your speed and reflexes are
experiences the horror of the will answer any questions asked. flash of light, and reappear behind from the earth. Guillotines are augmented. Your movements
Dresden firestorm of 1945. your opponent to finish the attack. erected, and tearful nobles are become a blur and your body
Overcome with horrific Limit: Any offensive action breaks If your opponent is within 100 ft. in decapitated while a bloody crowd seems to vibrate. For the duration,
hallucinations, the targets take 2 the spell and the demon can move any direction, the spell succeeds cheers. The nobles and masses Strength is 7, but Sense and Soul
wounds, are unable to act for that (and attack) again and my attack the automatically. are all decaying, gore-covered are 1. When the spell ends, all
round, and will act last the caster of Duress automatically. corpses. All targets within 30 ft. scores return to normal.
following round. Answers to questions cannot be Limit: If your opponent’s back is (except allies) drop whatever they
lies, but may be indirect. Confronted to a wall, you appear in front of are holding and Strength is Limits: Conversation and thinking
Roll: Magic vs. Soul of each with yes/no questions, the demon him. If there’s no place for you to reduced to 1 for the duration. are difficult in this manic state.
affected. must answer yes or no. appear or he’s over 100 ft. away,
the spell fails. Roll: Magic vs. Soul of each
Roll: Magic vs. Soul. affected.
Excoriate Fortress Frostbite Gaunt Gird
Attack Defense Attack Stealth Attack
Duration: Immediate Duration: 3 rounds (15 seconds) Duration: Immediate Duration: 2 rounds (10 seconds) Duration: 3 rounds (15 seconds)
Range: 3 Range: 1 Range: 3 Range: 1 Range: 1
Summary: The victim is engulfed Summary: Your hands blaze with Summary: An icy wind strikes Summary: Blood sprays from your Summary: Great blades of stone
in a cloud of splinters and chunks green flame making you an your target, paralyzing him nose and your skin tightens, turning appear in your hands. The blades
of wood. These begin to whirl impregnable fortress. You can completely. the victim loses a greyish-blue. You can now walk deal +1 damage, like normal
around him in an ever- now block punches, kicks, arrows, point of Strength, falls to the through solid any solid objects, swords. however, while holding
accelerating vortex, shredding blades, and bullets with ease. For ground, and loses consciousness including people, vehicles, and walls them, your Defend score goes up
skin and fabric. the duration, your Defend score is for 10 secs. The blast of wind can and can climb or descend through by 1 and you gain an additional 2
an 8 against any type of attack, be move through walls and go solid matter. dice when defending against
Limit: Range of 50 ft. it physical or magical. around corners. magical attacks (for a total of 3
Limit: Clothing and anything carried extra dice vs. magic).
Roll: Magic vs. Defend, damage Limit: If you attack, the spell ends Roll: Magic vs. Soul. drops to the floor and cannot be
equal to the difference if you’re immediately. taken with you. If you are still Limit: While these blades are
successful. moving when the spell ends, your weightless for you, they weigh 100
Life drops to 1 and you return to lbs. each for anyone else
where you started. attempting to use them.
Glossolalia Hemophage Inferno Jade Leviathan
Special Grotesque Attack Attack Manipulation
Duration: Immediate Duration: 2 minutes Duration: Immediate Duration: 2 rounds (10 seconds) Duration: 2 minutes
Range: 2 Range: 1 Range: 1 Range: 1 Range: 2
Summary: Your tongue snakes out Summary: You create dozens of Summary: A great wall of flame Summary: One of your hands Summary: The victim sees you as
of your mouth like tentacle and eyeless, white, foot-long leeches converges on the victim, burning becomes a shimmering blade of a horrifying demon with fangs,
wraps itself around the throat of that crawl over the victim’s body flesh, clothing , and possessions. translucent, incorporeal jade. Any claws, wings, and/or burning eyes.
the victim. Then it snaps back into draining blood and strength. The The Disciple must be very close to successful hit paralyzes the victim
your mouth, and for the next victim loses consciousness briefly the victim, and thus suffers 3 for 2 rnds (10 secs) making him Limit: To everyone else, you look
minute your victim is unable to (2 minutes), and wakes up with no points of damage. unable to move, speak or cast normal.
speak and you can talk with his/ memory of what happened. spells. It’s possible to paralyze
her voice. To someone on the Roll: Magic vs. Strength, damage two targets before the duration Roll: Magic vs. Soul.
telephone, or over an intercom, Roll: Magic vs. Soul. equal to twice the difference if ends.
you sound exactly like your you’re successful.
victim. Limit: Paralyzed targets can still
see and hear as normal.
Summary: Arcs of lightning Summary: Your words damage Summary: You grow thick spikes Summary: Red rain falls from the Summary: A thin sheen of
converge on the victim, draining demons. Any demon within 20 ft. of bone all over your body. It’s height of roughly 50 ft, affecting shimmering flames spreads over
his Soul score. If teh victim’s Soul of you suddenly sports grotesque painful, but you take no damage. any within 30 ft (except allies). your body emitting light, but no
score drops to 0, he becomes wounds when you speak. Anyone who touches or strikes Victims become weak and heat. 2 points of damage are
utterly catatonic. Any Soul points you takes 1 point of damage. If confused with Strength and Sense subtracted from any damage you
lost when this spell is cast will be Roll: Magic vs. Soul, damage you attack someone with bare scores falling to 1 for 2 rounds (10 receive.
restored within 30 secs (6 rounds). equal to the difference if you’re hands, then you get +2 to damage. secs).
successful. Limit: The armor disappears once
Roll: Magic vs. Soul, damage Limit: The rain is an illusion, those it absorbs 10 points of damage or
equal to the difference if you’re standing in it do not get wet. the duration runs out, whichever
successful. comes first.
Summary: You can absorb the Summary: You develop narrow Summary: A massive force rises Summary: You’re able to see brief Summary: You and your victim are
skill of anyone you touch. For the pupils, like a cat and can see in from the ground, flinging anything images from ten to thirty minutes in trapped inside a 50 ft. diameter
duration, you can absorb and use almost no light. With drastic it touches into the air. This force is the future for about five or six sphere of energy that extends
as many skills as you want. changes in light, your eyes accompanied by a deafening seconds. even underground. Nothing can
respond immediately where mot boom. If cast at a person’s feet, enter it, and nothing can leave.
Limit: You must touch the skin of other would be blinded. that person will be flung 30-feet Limit: The Director describes the Any other living creature caught
the person who has the skill, high (with applicable falling images you see. You’re able to see inside the sphere is shunted out
memories or personality are not Limit: In total darkness you are damage). A heavier object, like a faces (unless they’re obscured), by inexorable force. The sphere
absorbed. blind, as usual. In the dark you vehicle, will spin out of control locations, and clues . remains until either you or your
cannot see colors, only in sepia- and crash. The spell effects victim are dead.
and-white. everything within a 10 ft. radius of Roll: Difficulty 8 Magic. If the roll is a
the blast. 12 or higher, the player can control Limit: This spell cannot be
the vision to a limited degree (focus, reversed.
POV, and vision length).
Dread: The First Book of Pandemonium Spell Cards
Phantasmo Refuge Schatten Sclera Scossa
Special Demon-bane Attack Manipulation Non-lethal Combat
Duration: 12 rounds (1 minute) Duration: 9 rounds (45 seconds) Duration: 4 rounds (20 seconds) Duration: 6 rounds (30 seconds) Duration: 3 rounds (15 seconds)
Range: 1 Range: 1 Range: 3 Range: 2 Range: 1
Summary: You become invisible Summary: A sphere of glowing Summary: Your enemy is attacked Summary: Your eyes turn Summary: Your eyes turn jet black
and inaudible to everyone but energy, 15 ft. in radius, surrounds by his own shadow, which you completely red and you can with pale, wispy clouds racing
your victim for the duration. you. So long as you are in the control. Your mind is transferred paralyze a victim with your stare along the surface. For the
You’re not intangible or spectral, sphere, you are immune to magic. into the shadow, with your Soul so he can’t move or speak. The duration, you can deliver kicks
it’s just that no one else can see Demons and Angels are also used as the shadow’s Combat victim will no necessarily fall over.
capable of knocking anyone
or hear you. unable to physically enter it. score. unconscious in a single blow in
Limit: You must be able to see the addition to normal damage. The
Limit: None, except that it lasts a Limit: People may leave the Limit: The spell ends when the victim (though the victim need not victim regains consciousness in
minute. sphere, if someone enters it, the shadow takes takes 6 points of see you) and be within 30 ft. 2-3 mins.
spell is cancelled. You must also damage. If your body is disturbed
maintain the sphere, any other in any way, the spell ends. Roll: Magic vs. Soul. Roll: Magic vs. Soul.
actions end the spell. Demons and
Angels may also throw damaging
objects into the sphere. Like a car.
Seismos Sentinel Smilodon Sombra Stratus
Attack Defense Special Stealth Flight
Duration: 2 rounds (10 seconds) Duration: 6 hours Duration: 5 rounds (25 seconds) Duration: 12 rounds (1 minute) Duration: 4 rounds (20 seconds)
Range: 3 Range: 3 Range: 1 Range: 1 Range: 1
Summary: Black waves of shadow Summary: For the duration, you
Summary: You punch the ground, Summary: An invisible sphere, 50 Summary: Your eyes glow softly converge on you, transforming you can jump 30 ft. straight up or 40 ft.
sending shockwaves that shatters ft. in diameter, is created around green and your pupils narrow to into a cloud of dark smoke. You across. With a running jump, you
glass, crushes trees, and stuns you. For the duration, any creature cat-like slits. Your skin pales, your cannot be harmed by physical attacks can leap a distance of 60 ft. A
victims (only those you specify) more than 2 ft. high/long or teeth lengthen and sharpen, and in this state and can move 10 ft. per jump kick with this spell deals +2
for 10 secs. For the first round The weighing more than 30 lbs. claws of bone erupt from your round Through openings as narrow as damage.
target is knocked prone and may passing through the field cause an fingertips. For the duration, you a pin’s head. You can cancel the spell
take no action. For the second alarm (only audible to those within can: see clearly in the dark, detect at any time, but if in mid-air, you will Limit: A running jump requires 10
round, victims take –2 dice to all the sphere to sound. a heartbeat 50 ft. away, use the take falling damage. You may revert ft. of clear space.
back and forth for the duration (each
actions. Hunter skill with a score of 2 (or transformation requires 1 round).
add 2 to your existing score), and
Roll: Magic vs. Soul of each your claws deal +1 damage. Limit: You may not attack or cast
affected. spells while transformed and any solid
objects (including clothes) on your
person are left behind.
Sunder Swarm Sycorax Tirade Valence
Special Defense Attack/Defense Manipulation Defense
Duration: 2 rounds (10 seconds) Duration: 4 rounds (20 seconds) Duration: 4 rounds (20 seconds) Duration: 3 rounds (15 seconds) Duration: 4 rounds (20 seconds)
Range: 1 Range: 1 Range: 3 Range: 2 Range: 1
Summary: Your hands are imbued Summary: A glowing swarm of Summary: Your skin becomes Summary: Your victim begins to Summary: A spinning disc of
with power. You can punch locusts whirls around you. For the rough and brown, like tree bark, scream uncontrollably, causing energy, 8 ft. in diameter, appears
through steel, stone brick, wood, duration, when you fail to defend and you can lift small objects up everyone within 20 ft. to drop what before you and drains kinetic
and people. Your bare hands deal against an attack or a spell, you to 100 ft. away with your mind and they’re holding. Your victim energy of anything passing
+3 damage (or +1 to a weapon’s may make a second attempt with wield them as weapons or call continues screaming, but is through it. You gain 3 dice to
existing bonus). half as many dice, rounded up. them to your hands. Your tough otherwise paralyzed for the Defend for the duration. You may
Example: A failed roll with 4 dice skin also subtracts 1 point of any duration. Everyone else is free to cast this on another person.
Roll: Punching through solid results in a second attempt with 2 damage you take. act after the initial shock.
objects requires a Strength check: dice.
Wood – Difficulty 2, Brick – Roll: Magic vs. Soul (victim only).
Difficulty 4, Steel – Difficulty 6.
Dread: The First Book of Pandemonium Spell Cards
Veneno Viscera Vore Warstorm Wither
Attack Grotesque Non-lethal Combat Attack Manipulation
Duration: 3 rounds (15 seconds) Duration: 3 rounds (15 seconds) Duration: 4 rounds (20 seconds) Duration: Immediate Duration: 2 rounds (10 seconds)
Range: 1 Range: 2 Range: 1 Range: 1 Range: 2
Summary: Your hands trail black Summary: Glistening serpents Summary: Your teeth elongate and Summary: You blur, lit by ghastly Summary: The victim suddenly
streams of venom that float in the air and lampreys erupt from your your mouth widens grotesquely. white flames. You can attack up to withers and shrivels up. His hair
like blood in water. Make a Magic vs. abdomen, never fully exiting your For the duration, a bite attack six opponents in one round, each turns white, his eyes become
Soul check to attack. If successful, body. These serpents can crush does normal damage, but also with your full Combat score (plus milky, his muscles shrink, and his
you poison your enemy, who suffers and bite any target within 6 ft. drains 1 point of the victim’s applicable bonus dice). skin sags. For the duration, the
a point of damage upon contact and Strength and restores 3 points of victim may only roll one die for
each round after for the duration. The Roll: Magic vs. Defend, damage damage to you. At 0 Strength, the Limit: You take 2 points of damage any physical activity, including
effects are cumulative, so multiple equal to twice the difference if victim passes out. for each opponent you attack. Combat and Strength checks.
attacks can result in a maximum of 6 you’re successful.
points of damage on one target (1st Limit: The effect is only an
attack - 3 points over 3 rnds., 2nd - 2 illusion.
points over 2 rnds., 3rd – 1 point).
VEHICLES (COST)
Motorcycle, Used................. (9)
Car, Used........................ (11)
Truck, Used...................... (12)
You survived the Slasher Epidemic of the 1980s.
The government captured you and froze you in cryogenic stasis.
Believe it or not, things are about to get a lot worse.
retrograde. a new game by rafael chandler. coming in 2009 from neoplastic press.