Page 100
Chapter 10: Threats
Monster
The Lumbering Dead
When barrier spirits cross over into Eldlandria, some are not strong enough to feed off or control a living creature. The barrier spirit is forced to inhabit and use a human corpse, creating what is commonly called the lumbering dead. Interfacing with the dead, the spirit is often driven to feed on fresh meat. The lumbering dead tend to be very slow, but they do gain strength over time. They are highly resilient to physical attacks.
Often these weaker spirits are brought over and commanded by a more powerful force, which means that the walking dead are almost always a component of greater danger.
Concept: Zombies, slow but relentless.
Base Stats (Level 1)
- AC: 12
- DR: 1d10 (Natural)
- EX-HP: 0
- HP: 20
- FORT: +4
- REF: -2
- WILL: +0
Common Attacks
- Arm swing (0 EP)
- Attack Bonus: +3
- Damage: 1d6+3(Str)
- Initiative Bonus: -2
- Empowerment Points: 10
- Base movement: 20 feet (4 squares)
Additional Equipment
- Clothing or armour: whatever they were buried in, etc.
Background
| Attribute | Score | Modifier |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 17 | +3 |
| Dexterity | 6 | -2 |
| Constitution | 18 | +4 |
| Intelligence | 8 | -1 |
| Wisdom | 8 | -1 |
| Charisma | 8 | -1 |
Attitude and Tactics
The lumbering dead are hybrids of flesh and hate. While not mindless, many are driven by instinct - the need to constantly feed. While a more powerful master can sometimes keep them in-check, gathering too large a force of lumbering dead often leads to a tip-off, as some break free in search of something to subside their hunger.
Tactically, the lumbering dead use their inability to feel pain to their advantage, and relentlessly press on and wear down their victims. If not for their extraordinary resilience, their lack of tactics would likely be disastrous. Some more powerful lumbering dead instinctively, continuously cast Steal Life until they succeed or die trying (luckily, the spell has a fairly short range).
Stories persist of humans working in coordination with spirit forces to cobble together even more powerful lumbering dead from the components of several corpses.
Lumbering Dead @ Level 2
- AC: 13
- DR: 1d12
- EX-HP: 0
- HP: 30
- FORT: +4
- REF: -2
- WILL: +1
- Strength: 19 (+4)
- Improved Arm Swing (0 EP)
- Attack Bonus: +5
- Damage: 1d8+4(Str)
- Spell: Steal Life
- 2 MP
Lumbering Dead @ Level 3
- AC: 14
- DR: 1d6 + 1d8
- EX-HP: 0
- HP: 40
- FORT: +5
- REF: -2
- WILL: +1
- Strength: 21 (+5)
- Improved Arm Swing (0 EP)
- Attack Bonus: +7
- Damage: 1d8+5(Str)
- Spell: Steal Life
- 3 MP
Player Knowledge
A good Knowledge: Common or Popular check reveals that “there be danger here”. Keep your distance and get away. Otherwise they will get you and you will become one of them.
A good Knowledge: Academic, Specific or Obscure check reveals that there have always been lumbering dead, although the barrier disaster of '49 has significantly increased their occurrence. Players can use a big weapon to get past their innate Damage Reduction. In order for a victim to become a lumbering dead, they have to die first (even then, it's rare).
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