Legions of the Demon Sultan Greg

Humans are a resource. Soldiers alive or dead, and sacrifices to evoke forth yet more demons. Beyond these roles they are to farm and breed. The wheels of this empire are greased with blood.
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Each group of human soldiers is accompanied by a Resurrector. Others are used in specific roles.

RESURRECTOR - HD 3 - AC 17 - 7 NEEDLE-TIPPED TENTACLES +2 1D4 + SPECIAL - MORALE 10 - MOV AS MALICIOUS BALLOON.
A milky white floating orb, marred by the seven tentacles bursting from the base and the dark patches seeming to swim beneath the tight, taught skin. Any killed by these tentacles is bound to the will of the Resurrector, who is likewise bound to the will of the Demon Sultan. They will always strike the weakest, especially their own brood of soldiers.

MANBREAKERS - HD 6 - AC 18 - 2 MAULING ATTACKS +4 1D10 +3 OR GORE +3 1D12+6 - MORALE 12 - MOVE AS HUGE GORILLA
A quadruped with a pair of arms fit for an elephant, matching the dull grey tusks jutting from the mess of bone armour plates. These plates bristle with spikes, with d6 impaled bodies upon them. Each body impaled on these spikes give the Manbreaker an extra d4 HP. Tearing one loose deals 1d6 damage. They don't care.

SHRIKEBEASTS - HD2 - AC 15 - GRAPPLE +3 - MORALE 9 - MOV AS SKELETAL BIRD
Skeletal things festooned with pilfered feathers - especially those of the Nilfenbergian Crows. They swoop down, snatching individuals in their pair of tentacles which worm from between the ribs, dropping them into the massed pikemen marching beneath the banner of the Sultanate.

Hexcrawling in Southern Otica

Players decided to planeshop AGAIN, so goodbye Otica. They spent a decent amount of time hexcrawling about, trying to fight elves and instead fucking about with dangerous dangerous things.

The way I ran it is with a THING in every hex, plus random encounters to make things messy and complicated and fun. In future I'd probably not have something in every hex? But maybe. I don't know.

d8	Weather
1-4	Scorching Heat
5-6	Rain
7-8	Heavy Storms

d6	River Encounters
1	1d4 Crocodile
2	1d2 Couatl
3	Natives on rafts
4	Drowned Jealous Dead (see below)
5	Frog Swarm
6	Roll on Jungle Encounter

d12	Jungle Encounters
1	Arboreal Vampire, displaced.
2	Native patrol
3	1d2 werejaguars
4	Dismounted elf patrol
5	Stranglevines
6	Podsnakes (see below)
7	World Tortoise (see below)
8	Stirge Flock
9	Vicious Monkey group
10	Hunting Wyvern
11	Su Monster
12	Basilisk

d12	Open Ground Encounters
1	Elf Patrol, mounted, 50% chance of these guys
2	Elf Patrol, mounted, 50% chance of these guys
3	Basking Lizards (see below)
4	Hunting Wyvern
5	Podsnakes (see below)
6	Word Tortoise (see below)
7	Native patrol
8	Running Lizards (see below) – 50% chance ridden by natives with lances.
9	Sprinting Spider – as a giant spider but REALLY fast
10	Pteranodon
11	Harpies
12	Dead Knights (see below)

Monsters new to Otica

Note on fast creatures - creatures which are notably quick make a run-by attack. They don't engage normally - to reflect them sprinting past and making an attack, players are at -2 to hit them for the brief period they are adjacent. This applies to mounted combatants too.

Drowned Jealous Dead

HD 2 - AC as Leather - 2d10 Appear - Morale 8 - Attack is to grapple and drown, +5 to grapple checks.

Podsnakes

They bundle into d8 groups of 5, which attempt to drop onto people and crush them to death.

per snake: HD 1 AC AS LEATHER MORALE 10

World Tortoise

HD 10 AC AS PLATE +2 BITE +5 2D8 MORALE 5

They have knowledge as old as the trees. Natives revere them. Elves kill them on sight, and Isp has a 2000sp bounty on them. He turns them into knowledge soup.

Basking Lizard

3d10 appearing. HD 3 - AC AS CHAIN - BITE +3 1D10+3/CLAW +2 1D8 +3 - MORALE 8

They only have the energy to attack when it's sunny.

Running Lizards

2d10 appearing. Faster than a galloping horse. HD 2 AC AS CHAIN (from speed) - CLAW +2 1D8 +2. Once a single person is killed, they will attempt to drag the corpse away rather than fight on.

Hexes

I'm using the numbers here but they're not massively important and are in the order I wrote them, so it's mostly for reference between them.

2613 Jungle

A blood crazed elf is rampaging, killing everything in the area. She touched the bloodstone in 2413. HD3/BITE 1D4/AC AS CHAIN/M12

2413 Open Ground

The stubby ruin of a wizard tower in blue bricks. It's hard to see without almost walking into it. The ground floor is empty. The first basement is trashed, filled with animal corpses. 30% chance of a pack of wild dogs brutally fighting to the death. The second basement level contained a large, red stone, set into an altar. It stinks of cooked meat. Touching the stone causes a save vs magic. If failed, the character enters into a blood frenzy for 3d4 days. The stone is worth up to 8000sp.

2213 Open Ground

A dead giant, now a hill. Spilling blood atop the hill awakens the giant. When standing, it is the size of a cathedral. HD 30. The tortoises know. Surrounding the central hill are 8 smaller hills, which are the brood of the eldest. HD 10, smash for 2d12 if not avoided.

2314 Open Ground

Six dead elves, trampled to death by their missing horses (hiding in 2215). The horses were driven mad by the Treefisher Spirit. 2HD, AC AS LEATHER, Invisible, and hides in a tree. Attacks through poison darts. Today he carries (1d6) 1. Strength Sapping 2. Madness 3. Anti-coagulant 4. Lust 5.Sleep 6. Death. All effects can be saved against.

2215 Open Ground, Riverside

Six confused, scared horses w/ 3 weeks rations between them. 50% glad to see people, otherwise they bolt.

Ruined riverhouse, containing the Eternal Witch. She reanimates if disturbed - the spirit is bound to her shawl. She demands a new body, which she possess when someone dons the shawl. She will cast summon until she gets her way. Destroying the shawl will banish her, or attacking the spirit with magic. (int 18 wis 14 cha 12). Inside the shawl are the spells summon, phantasmal psychedelia. Outside the riverhouse is her hateful tortoise familiar, who wants the witch destroyed so he can leave and seek a new master. He will help any who can kill her, and he will give the location of the spellbook he has hidden from the witch.

2015 Open Ground, Riverside

Skulljar village (see BROKEN SYSTEM 000). Contains a Pyromancy Crown - once a week, this crown can cause (2xlevel)d6 damage worth of flames to explode out from the wearer. They are dealt the lowest 3 damage dice rolled. Worth 6000sp.

1914 Open Ground

A giant reptilian creature which wanders around on it's stilt-legs, served by a nomadic native group. HD 10 - AC 12 - KICK -4 FOR 2D10+5

1815 Jungle, Riverside

A ruined, flooded riverside keep. The armoury is somewhat decayed, but still had a suit of plate, 3 suits of chain and 5 heavy crossbows with 10 bolts each. It is currently inhabited by 80 eel-men, who are a jovial, happy folk. They swam up from the underground sea, but the tunnel collapsed, stranding them above ground. They are guarded by 20 Coral Knights, who are also the leaders of the group. 3HD/AC AS PLATE/HARPOON +3 1D8+3. The armour of a coral knight is weightless in water.

2316 Open Ground

Desmodesmus, Chained Demon of Plague. The chains are enchanted, and any demon clasped by them is utterly bound to the will of the holder, and must protect them beyond death. The problem is the holder is dead, and has been for a hundred years, and Desmodesmus is terrible bored. He wants most of all to be free, but a new master is preferable to this. He will inform the characters he is still bound to protect the holder of the chain to the best of his ability. There is a useless spellbook which Desmodesmus will use to bargain with. HD 8 / AC AS CHAIN (IMMUNE TO 3 MISSILES PER ROUND) / SLAM 1D10+4+ DISEASE (1 week to fester, then -2 to con each day. Save every day, 3 saves in a row means cured). The chains are worth 5000sp.

1811 Jungle

Barrowmounds of Endilack, a foreign king. 

He bears the Eye of Beckonings, an oversized blackly jeweled eye. If used to replace a living creatures eye, that creature takes -2 to all ranged attacks, as the eye does not see this world. Instead, it sees a pocket realm containing the revenants of what was killed by the previous inhabitants of the pocket realm. The host of the eye can beckon them forth, and bid them kill an enemy, or group of enemies.. They must be released every 3 days, or they come for the host. Revenants have 1 more HD than the normal creature. If they are all destroyed, the eye becomes useless. Worth 8000sp.

Endilack also bears a Sword of Wounding, the injuries of which do not heal. The wielder develops the corresponding scar for every wound inflicted by the blade 1d8+1 damage. 3000sp.

Endilack: As wight but wielding the Sword of Wounding. Guarded by 3 elite skeleton guards. 3HD-AC AS CHAIN - OBSIDIAN SWORD 1D6+2. The swords break on a to-hit of 1-5.

Crested Mercenaries, Dogs of War

They wear their taint with pride, hiding not their fur nor horns nor feathers. They are known best for their mercenary wanderings, serving well among any company - given a monetary incentive. They enjoy all the vices of men, especially on campaign, and are generally found to be hospitable to those willing stay in their midst. Though obviously abominations, Inquisitors cannot help but note how much like good folk they are.

Crested Soldiers fight as first level fighters, equipped appropriate to their role in battle. They have morale 11 unless noted otherwise.

d8	The warband is led by...
1	Red Alexander - A Feathered One not taking after a bird of prey, Red Alexander was forced to earn his moniker and the respect of his men in several bloody campaigns against rival warbands. This done, he has flourished and is noted for his well-planned and executed strategies. His last employment was for the House of Ulster, driving out the Witch-men from the forests. The head of the Witch-men chieftain still screams from the warbands standard. Red Alexander - 4th Level Fighter, 30HP, Chain, Longsword. Chieftain’s Head - Once per day, this head can scream a curse, causing an effect similar to Fear as cast by a fifth level MU. Worth 4000sp. Fifty Swordsmen-in-Chain, Thirty Crossbowmen, Ten Mounted Skirmisher-Scouts. 7000sp per month.
2	Dmitri of the Seven - Dmitri bears the horns common to the Hounds, although eight horns is far above the normal two, marking one out for great success. One of these horns was destroyed fighting Western barbarians. Dmitri is accompanied at all times by his Shaman-Chronicler, Blesitus, who is learned in the traditional religion of the Crested Soldiers. He also knows when to lie, whispering to Dmitri of the Seven Horned Hound Prophecy. Dmitri’s band has not had employment for some time, emerging from the Brokejaw mountains after a significant absence. Dmitri is donned in archaic armour, previously unseen, and the warband is diminished. Dmitri of the Seven - 7th Level Fighter, 50HP, Regal Gambit, Greatsword. Blesitus, Shaman-Chronicler, 4th Level MU, 16HP, Leather, Knife. Has access to all level appropriate spells. Regal Gambit - This armour appears as intricate plate, but is infact entirely glamour, offering no protection. To be able to strike the wearer, the attacker must save vs magic or else throw down arms. Worth 7000sp Twenty-Seven Swordsmen-in-Chain, Ten Archers, Seven Spearmen-in-Chain. 4000sp per month until they recoup losses.
3	Gallows Darren - Darren is a small, quiet Hound, bearing no horns nor a muscular stature. The loyalty and precision of his forces betrays what must be a truly horrific training regimen, the men utterly broken to his commands. They are often used on special tasks requiring small numbers and discretion, something the unit is perfectly capable of. Darren is never seen fighting, nor commanding his troops directly - they simply step to on their own initiative. They were last spotted touring battlefields where their brothers had fallen. Gallows Darren - 5th Level Magic User, 22HP, Leather, Blankrod. Has access to all appropriate spells. Blankrod - This polished ivory rod is about half-covered in tiny carvings, which seem to shift. Close examination reveals them to be entire levels, recorded in miniscule script. Each life recorded here corresponds to one of the fleshy automatons in Darren’s band. Breaking the rod releases them, killing Darren does not. Worth 10000sp. One hundred Swordsmen-in-Chain, Thirty Archers, Twenty Spearmen-in-Chain, Twenty Armoured Horsemen. 10000sp per month.
4	Julian - Julian is a haughty Feathered One, clearly hawk-headed. He is justifiably proud of the achievements the warband has accrued under his leadership, although some mutter his officers are more than a little unacknowledged for their parts. The top three officers are planning to have Julian tragically, accidentally killed during their next assignment as revenge for this glory-hounding. They most recently pulled off a fantastic ambush against a unit of knights errant. Julian - 2nd Level Fighter, 16HP, Chain, Halberd. Seventy Swordsmen-in-Chain, Twenty Archers, Twenty Spearmen-in-Leather, Twelve Skirmishing Cavalry, Ten Armoured Horsemen. 9000sp per month
5	Snarl - Although her name elicits sniggers, it cannot be denied that she is an elite within an elite. No ordinary Hound, she bears the head of a wolf proudly. Perhaps one of the most expensive bands, she has yet to fail her assigned task. Her troops are nearly fanatically dedicated, and she only accepts Horned Hounds in her number, something which has soured relations with other Crested Warbands. Her warband is currently engaged in assisting the free city of Larbuck against the Empire. Snarl, 8th Level Fighter, 62HP, Plate, Variety of Weapons, Slaughter Ring. Slaughter Ring - Snarl bears the Slaughter Ring, although none know of it, including her - she believes it to be merely a marriage band from her runaway spouse. The ring grants immunity to mind-altering effects during combat, and grants the wielder 18 strength when a weapon is in their hands. However, they are unable to find meaning or joy in anything but the slaughter of combat, and will take their own lives in they cannot find it. Worth 6000sp. Forty Knights, variety of weapons. Often fight on foot. 8000sp per month.
6	Harold the Bastard - Once an adventurer, a merchant and prince, Harold has returned to what he does best - paid killing. Utterly unscrupulous and incredibly knowledgable. His mongrel head is at odds with his gentlemanly speech and taste.Thanks to his many adventures, he knows an expert in almost any given matter he cannot claim experience in himself, leading to strings of very specialist jobs. His small group have all been through the crucible together, and fight as second level fighters. Harold the Bastard - 9th Level Specialist, Leather, Rapier and Sling. Thirty Mixed Infantry, Variety of Arms and Armour, Twenty Crossbowmen, Two Mounted Skirmishers, 5000sp per month.
7	Yellow Edgar - A crow that makes his own corpses, Edgar’s forces are known for leaving no prisoners, ruthlessly slaying those who fall. He frequently chafes with his employers over scavenger’s rights.The yellow moniker stems from the hideous livery he and his troops began their careers in, though many now bear the arms and armour associated with Imperial Knights. Most recently, they have been seen transporting a huge amount of scavenged material towards a mercantile capital, spoils from the latest employment. Yellow Edgar - 6th Level Specialist, Leather, Longsword, Longbow. One Hundred Mixed Soldiers, can be configured to fight in any manner as needed. 8000sp + scavengers rights per month.
8	Anthony the Learned - A known dabbler in magical arts, many do not trust him nor his men, whispering of dark pacts made with darker spirits. It is widely known his feathers are burnt, and appears old beyond his years. He jumps at the chance to fight sorcerous foes, if given access to arcane loot recovered. His soldiers are often replaced, and their morale is low. Heavy drinking is common. They whisper of the terrible things Anthony has done, and has bargained with. They were spotted most recently emerging from an ancient barrow-complex, laden with grave-goods better left buried, no doubt. Anthony the Learned - 8th Level Magic User, Leather, Four Bound 6HD Demons (as Summon), all spells appropriate to his level. Forty Swordsmen-in-Chain, Twenty Priests-of-the-Steppe, Twenty Light Horsemen, 6000sp per month. Morale 8.