Strange New World: The Woetree

The Woetree is a species of enormous dead-looking trees with roots reaching miles into the Underworld where they drink upon souls for nourishment.

Parasitic boring maggots fester upon the tree, suckling upon the souls within the tree until they grow into a carrion crawling two-headed worm beast. When the corpse crawlers kill sentient creatures they harvest the creature's soul, process it in their guts and store it inside of the tree by spitting up a smoky greenish-blue sap-like substance. When enough souls (roughly 1 soul per foot of the Woetree's height) are stored within the sap, a skull-shaped seed will grow within the upper roots - to be later harvested by cultists. The Death Gods of Xibalba have their cults (particularly the cults of Hun-Came ("One Death") and Vucub-Came ("Seven Death")) plant these seeds along necrotic ley-lines around the world.

Corpse Crawler
Many-legged, segmented worm stretching 9' long. A human-looking face on both ends of its body with two pairs of four tentacles stretching from their inside their mouths.

HD 3+2 (17hp), Speed x1 human
(walk or climb walls and ceilings)
AC as Leather, Intelligence 2, Morale 9
No. Appearing d3, Classification Bogey

-Actions-
Paralyzing tentacles x8 (4 from each end), +3 to hit, causes paralysis for 2d4 Turns (10-minutes) (save versus paralysis). Paralyzed victims will be level-drained (1 level/round) if the corpse crawler is left to feed.

-Defense-
A Corpse Crawler's two-headed nature means they are unable to be back-stabbed.

-Maggots-
Corpse Crawler maggots have 1HP; they do not attack other creatures but incidental contact can call for a save vs paralysis. Each tree hosts 2d20 maggots.

Strange New World: Wardens, a class inspired by The Witcher

In celebration of The Witcher series launching on Netflix, I am releasing the LotfP / BX / OSR-compatible Warden class from the Strange New World: Gazetteer in full.

Wardens are very much inspired by The Witcher, they are "Guardians - avowed by oaths, scarred by sacred tattoos and acquiesced by both crowns and religions - who use a narrow form of magic known as signs, against the strange and fearsome horrors of the new world."

Download the Warden pdf here!

So, You Killed a Santa... What's In His Sack?

“Der Belsnickel!” screamed the children as they ran from the frightening creature!

Belsnickel is one of the many dark gift-giving companions of Saint Nicholas. A disheveled, crotchety bearded man, wearing stinking furs and a devilish mask with a long tongue. His limbs are long and his body is ragged, covered in tattered and dirty clothes. He carries a long hazel switch with him, which to beat naughty children. But also a sack full of gifts - nuts and candies for good children which he will toss on the floor. If the children jump too quickly they may be struck by Belsnickel's switch.

-Belsnickel-
HD 6+1 (34hp), Speed x1 human, AC as Leather+2
Intelligence as Santa Klaus, Morale 11

-Actions-

• Toss Candy, Belsnickel throws a handful of candied nuts and fruits to the floor. Save or be lured by the candy, forced to move towards it at normal speed. If lured into range of his switch, Belsnickel may immediately attack. If Belsnickel looks for more candy, roll a d6 (-1 for each round since Belsnickel last tossed candy) he succeeds on a 1.
• Hazel Switch x2, +6 to hit / d4 damage (2d4 vs naughty creatures)

There is a 50% chance when encountering Belsnickel that there is a boy (1HD) named Black Peter assisting him.