A Nameless Thing

This thing is referred to as The Defiler by Dwarves.
Description

It can be described as Bat-­like with luminous skin.

Before you see it, you hear a deafening sound or scream.

What you see first is that swarms of insects or other vermin are crawling before it.

Rumour: The Dwarves spoke of many horrors haunting the Grey Mountains. Emerging from who knows where, they crawled into the mines, killing and destroying. Eventually the Dwarves managed to drive them out, but one of them just wouldn't go away. It is said that it was Thorin I who defeated and drove it away, in a long duel that took place in the dark depths of the mine.

Where the Thing is remembered: In the private library of Elrond, in Rivendell, there is a parchment entirely dedicated to the creature, with many indications about its habits and the places where it might lurk.

The Defiler Attribute Level
9
Endurance Might Hate Parry Armour
110 3 9 — 4

Combat proficiencies:

  • Crush (hooves, paws) 3 (9/12, Break Shield)
  • Bite (bite, beak) 3 (7/14, Pierce)

Fell abilities

  • Horrible Strength. If the creature hits and causes a Piercing Blow, spend 1 Hate to make the target’s Protection roll Ill-favoured.
  • Great Leap. Spend 1 Hate to attack any Player-hero, in any combat stance, including Rearward.
  • Strike Fear. Spend 1 Hate to make all Player-­heroes in sight gain a number of Shadow points (Dread) equal to the Might rating of the creature. Those who fail their Shadow test are daunted and cannot spend Hope for the rest of the fight.
  • Thick Hide. Spend 1 Hate point to gain (2d) on a Protection roll.
  • Deadly Wound. Wounded targets make an Ill-favoured Feat die roll to determine the severity of the injury.
  • Hate Sunlight. The thing loses 1 Hate at the start of each round it is exposed to the full light of the sun.
  • Hideous Toughness. The creature is unaffected by unarmed attacks. Additionally, when an attack inflicts damage to the creature that would cause it to go to zero Endurance, it causes a Piercing Blow instead. Then, if the creature is still alive its Endurance score is set back at half its maximum rating.