April 2, 2011

Mythic Monsters-Bicorn

This is part of the A-Z Blog Challenge. Herein I will be presenting a new monster that hopefully has not been seen before in any RPG game. These will be drawn from stories and mythologies found in a variety of real-world cultures.

Bicorn

It appeared to waddle more than walk, with flabs of flesh hanging and swaying from its bones. Each step of its hooves sounded like a thunder crack as its ponderous weight hit the ground. Then it sighted its prey, the local priest. This man had done no one any harm and was a harbor in dark times, but the beast began to move with an unnatural speed toward him. There was nothing the priest could do as the beast struck him with its massive weight and sharp horns. The beast began to gorge.

An obese cow-like creature, this beast has two horns protruding from its head, often in a row, but sometimes on the sides of the head. It can come in various colorings similar to other cows; the horns can be of different colors as well.

First seen in print in The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, though likely of French origin, this monster was a rare beast that fed upon good and faithful husbands. As such it was a fat beast since it had much to choose from for its meals. This reflects a bias toward men as being fundamentally pious beings. This is in direct opposition to the Chichevache, which is tomorrow’s monster. Mention of the Bicorn is made in the Harry Potter books; apparently its horns are used in the making of Polyjuice Potion.

The Bicorn primarily feeds upon pious males, but has been known to take its meal anywhere. The Bicorn is almost a force of nature in that it lives to feed. It serves no ecological function. After it has fed on a pious male it has been known sleep for extended periods of time. One thing that drives a Bicorn into a frenzy is the appearance of a Chichevache as they are mortal enemies.

Abilities
-Bulk: It is able to throw its bulk around to good effect. A charge type of attack will find a character on the floor.
-Horns: With two horns there is a chance for an additional amount of damage with the assumption that the second horn also struck.
-Bite: Its bite is more devastating than it should be, as it rips entire clumps of flesh out of its target.

Adventures
-Men have been disappearing in the nearby villages and the characters are sent to look into the matter. After some investigation it is learned that the men were all pious in some measure. Eventually they will be able to track down the Bicorn that has been the cause of the disappearances. Of particular note, the party may wonder why the priest was never a target and if they pursue this question may discover he is in fact the leader of a necromantic cabal.

-The local priest has gone missing. There is also word that a Bicorn has been spotted in the area, so people naturally assume the Bicorn made short work of the priest. However, the priest’s daughter believes he is still alive and asks the characters to find him. In fact, the priest was kidnapped by a group of renegade poachers who believe they can sell the horns of the Bicorn for large sums of gold. In order to lure the Bicorn to them, they have staked out the priest. Can the party save the priest in time?

-The priests and laymen at a local church have been discovered dead, eaten, over a period of three weeks. All indications lead to the conclusion it is a Bicorn. Careful investigation reveals the bite marks are those of a dog and the hoof marks found nearby were faked. Someone has an insane grudge against the church because “the church let his daughter die”. Can the party stop the madman before he strikes again?

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