Yila-Keranuz
PatronDCC ANNUAL · p.110
Open source p.110Patron Taint
| 1 | The caster’s blood begins to grow cold. When the first occurrence of this taint manifests, the caster becomes sluggish in cold weather, reducing his speed by 5’ and suffering a -1 initiative penalty. If the result is rolled a second time, the initiative penalty is increased to -2 and he suffers 1d3 damage for each hour or part thereof he spends in temperatures of 60° F or less. If the result is rolled a third time, the caster goes torpid in cold conditions, effectively becoming paralyzed until he is removed to a place of warmth for 1 hour or more. |
| 2 | The caster’s tongue increases in size. It regularly lolls from his mouth and licks his lips like a writhing worm. If this result is rolled a second time, the tongue increases in size and grotesqueness, resulting in the permanent loss of 1 point of Personality. If this taint occurs a third time, the Personality loss increases to -2 points and the tongue becomes large enough to act as an impediment to the caster’s speech. He becomes difficult to understand (a DC 10 Intelligence check is required by any listener attempting to deduce what the caster is saying) and his spells suffer “loss, failure, or worse” results on a spell check result of a natural 1 or 2. |
| 3 | The caster develops a taste for warm climates. When this taint is first rolled, the caster must make a DC 5 Will save each month he is away from a sub-tropical, tropical, or hot desert environment. If the save fails, the caster succumbs to an uncontrollable urge to travel to the nearest such location and remain there for 1d7 days. Only physical restraint will stop him from traveling and he will walk the distance if he lacks the money to make more efficient travel arrangements. After the indicated time is spent living in the desirable climate, he no longer suffers from the urge and can travel at will. If this result is rolled a second time, the Will save increases to DC 10 and the caster must spend 2d7 days in the preferred environment. If this result occurs a third time, the caster must permanently move to such a locale and will only venture away from his beloved heat for 1d4 days each month. |
| 4 | The ancient battles Yila-Keranuz waged against the followers of the Serpent and the Toad echo through the caster’s mind, instilling in him a hatred for such creatures and those who pay homage to them. The first time this result is rolled, the distaste is minor and the caster suffers a -2 penalty to all social rolls made with snakeor toad-like humanoids and those who worship powers associated with those animals. If the result is rolled a second time, the caster must make a DC 8 Will save to avoid attacking these creatures as well as normal snakes and toads when encountering them. If this result is rolled a third time, the DC increases to 14 and, even if the caster restrains his hatred, he still suffers a -4 penalty to all social interactions with such creatures. |
| 5 | The caster becomes a carrier for salmonella and is by no means immune to the disease. Unless strict sanitation practices are vigilantly followed, the caster and anyone coming into prolonged contact with him must make a DC 5 Fortitude save each week or lose 1d3 points of temporary Stamina. The ability loss heals as normal. If this result is rolled a second time, the DC increases to 8 and the Stamina loss rises to 1d4. If rolled a third time, the Fort save rises to DC 12 and the Stamina loss is 1d5. Spell effects that neutralize disease have no effect on this patron taint but some divine sources of healing might temporarily negate the taint for a short time at the judge’s discretion. |
| 6 | The caster grows a reptile’s tail, beginning with a short stub easily concealed by clothing. If this result is rolled a second time, the tail grows to 3’ in length and 1’ in diameter at its base. It may still be concealed by robes or flowing gowns. If this result occurs a third time, the tail grows to 6’ in length. The appendage cannot be concealed by mere clothing and its unnatural nature imparts a -1 penalty to Personality. At the judge’s discretion, the tail might improve the caster’s initial reaction to reptilian races. |
Spellburn
| 1 | A pair of spectral lizards with glittering eyes climb down the caster’s arms as he casts his spell. At the height of the incantation, the lizards pounce, biting into the caster’s skin and tearing at his flesh. The phantasmal wounds inflict stat point loss. |
| 2 | Yila-Keranuz assists the caster with his spell, but requires the caster give completely of himself to wreak havoc upon his foes. The caster must spellburn at least six points from his physical abilities to invoke a potentially phenomenal success. In return for giving his all, Yila-Keranuz matches the spellburn at a 2:3 ratio (for every two points of spellburn the caster performs, he gains +3 to his spell check). If the spell check results in the complete destruction of the caster’s foes, he immediately heals a number of points of stat damage equal to his half his CL (rounded down) as Yila-Keranuz rewards him for his success. |
| 3 | The caster’s skin slowly becomes scaly as he casts his spell, transforming into true scales at the moment the spell is completed. A moment after the spell’s energy disperses, the scaly skin rips and tears, sloughing off completely by the end of the round. The trauma to the flesh and its sliding away manifests as physical stat point loss. |
| 4 | Yila-Keranuz refuses to aid his servant unless the caster demonstrates patience. The caster cannot spellburn this round, but if he purposely delays his spell until the next casting time increment required for the spell (his action, the following round, turn, hour, etc. as indicated in the spell’s description), he enjoys a two-for-one bonus on spent ability points when spellburning. The spell is automatically delayed until the indicated time so long as the caster does not move or suffer damage. If either of those events occur, the spell automatically fails to go off, and the caster has a 50% chance of losing the spell for the day as if he failed the spell check. |
ila-Keranuz is ancient and patient. He arose in the Primordial Days, crawling from the ooze to grasp the primeval world in his scaly claws. In that prehistoric epoch, Yila-Keranuz contested with Serbok and Schaphigroadaz for dominance, his fervent worshipers battling those of the Serpent and the Toad. When the end came in a flash of burning light and clouds of choking ash, Yila-Keranuz slipped into hibernation, awaiting a time when he and his children would once again dominate the world. Now, eons later, the Lizard King has awoken once again. His minions, although diminished in size and number, remain dedicated to their master and work anew to impose his will across myriad lands. Yila-Keranuz is mocked by his enemies as slow and lumbering, a clumsy thing left behind when the world moved on. He is content to allow his foes to believe these accusations for he knows that triumph is the ultimate reward for patience. Yila-Keranuz is often the patron of wizards who prefer vengeance and survival over flashy magics and devastating first strikes. The Lizard King also counts a fair number of warriors amongst his loyal followers. These men and women honor his fortitude and his lethality. In the ancient days, YilaKeranuz was served by the dinosaurs, but their numbers are scant and their intellect reduced in the current era. Nevertheless, some survivors from the Primordial Days still honor Yila-Keranuz with the Old Rites in verdant, steaming jungles and in secluded mountainous valleys. He and his followers remain dedicated foes of Serbok and Schaphigroadaz, seeking to thwart the schemes of Serpent and Toad at every turn. Those sorcerer servants binding themselves to the Lizard King will likely become soldiers in this scaly war. Invoke Patron check results: 12-13 Yila-Keranuz rewards the patient servant. If the caster performs no action other than movement on the following round, the Lizard King grants him a +1d bonus to his next attack or spell check on the subsequent round. 14-17 A mass of small venomous lizards swarms one the caster’s opponents inflicting damage plus Strength loss. A DC 13 Fort save reduces the damage to and no ability loss. 18-19 Yila-Keranuz imparts the lizard’s resilience upon his servant. The caster becomes immune to non-magical heat (including heatstroke, dehydration caused by arid climes, sunburn, and similar calamities) and gains a bonus to saving throws against magical fire. His skin takes on a scaly appearance that grants a AC bonus and the caster gains a temporary 10 hit points. These benefits vanish after +CL hours. The temporary hit points are lost first if the caster suffers damage. 20-23 The Lizard King dispatches a giant lizard (see DCC RPG core rulebook, p. 420) with maximum hit points to serve the caster for +CL turns. The lizard can be ridden as a mount, will guard the caster while he sleeps, and attacks its master’s enemies upon command. 24-27 Yila-Keranuz transforms the caster into a huge lizard/man hybrid. Now standing 8’ tall and bearing colorful scales and a lizard’s head, the caster gains to his attacks, damage, and AC, and receives an additional 20 temporary hit points. He also gains to all saving throws against heat and poison. The transformation lasts for +CL turns. 28-29 Yila-Keranuz calls upon one of its ancient servants from the distant past and summons a pterodactyl (DCC RPG, p. 424) for the caster’s use. This creature serves the caster as the giant lizard in result 20-23 above for +CL days before vanishing. If slain before this time, the pterodactyl disappears in a burst of fetid, humid air. The Lizard King is not pleased his gift was sorely used and the next invoke patron check by the caster suffers a penalty. 30-31 As above, but the caster is gifted with a small tyrannosaurus rex to aid him. The beast can be ridden as a mount, will guard the caster while he sleeps, and attacks its master’s enemies upon command. It remains in the caster’s presence for +CL days before vanishing. If slain before this time, the tyrannosaurus rex disappears in a burst of fetid, humid air. The Lizard King is not pleased his gift was sorely used and the next invoke patron check by the caster suffers a penalty. Tyrannosaurus Rex: Init ; Atk bite melee (); AC 15; HD ; MV 50’; Act ; SP none; SV Fort , Ref , Will ; AL N. 32+ The Lizard King gifts the caster with the ability to go into a prolonged hibernation and avoid the ravages of age. The caster’s body enters a state of suspended animation identical to death one hour after casting invoke patron with this spell check result. Beginning at that time, the caster no longer requires food or drink and does not age for the duration of his hibernation. The suspended animation lasts for up to 100 years per CL, but the caster can stipulate an earlier end to the hibernation before he goes into the suspended state if he desires. He awakens automatically when the hibernation ends or at the time he stipulated before entering hibernation. While hibernating, the caster’s mind is in a meditative state and largely unaware of events occurring around his body. However, any attack or injury to his body has a chance of rousing his body and mind from suspended animation. Whenever the caster’s body suffers damage he can attempt a DC 14 Intelligence check to end the hibernation and awaken early to deal with the danger to life and limb. If he fails, he may try again to awaken the next time he suffers damage, continuing the process until the hibernation ends or he is slain. However, he must invoke patron again and achieve this result to return to hibernation if the suspended state ends prematurely due to physical damage.