The Strange Bestiary
The screams echoing through the bloodstained corridors of Treachery's demonic fortress often emerge from hapless fools who thought to translate into the realm of Hell Frozen Over. Deep in the castle's bowels work the butchers: horrible, bestial demons that use big, dull cleavers to chop up living victims. The rise and fall of the heavy blades creates a counterpoint beat to the screams until the sound is drowned in the fountains of blood thrown up by mutilated bodies.
Butchers are towering male humanoids with significant paunches hanging low enough to conceal the "These magic-eaters—oh, that's what I calls 'em, magic-eaters—they're no good. Nasty critters with claws and teeth like you'd expect, but they go after the more, well, you knowÉ the more sorcerous types, if you get my meaning. Mostly, though, they'll steal your enchanted sword right from its scabbard or lift a, whatchacall, cypher right outta your pocket. Maker-damned thieves is what I call 'em. They eat leaves and bark and whatnot, but they got some kinda thirst for magic that I can't quite explain. More like an addiction than a hunger. It ain't right. As bad as the chronics with their dream smoke in Shalmarn, I say. Worse, maybe." .
The screams echoing through the bloodstained corridors of Treachery's demonic fortress often emerge from hapless fools who thought to translate into the realm of Hell Frozen Over. Deep in the castle's bowels work the butchers: horrible, bestial demons that use big, dull cleavers to chop up living victims. The rise and fall of the heavy blades creates a counterpoint beat to the screams until the sound is drowned in the fountains of blood thrown up by mutilated bodies..
Butchers are towering male humanoids with significant paunches hanging low enough to conceal the clotted fur of their genitals. They have great sagging breasts, spattered with gore from their grim work, and slack-mouthed faces with puffy lips glistening with blood and spittle. They keep the tops of their heads shaved, but their crude methods leave their scalps rumpled with accumulated scar tissue.
Motive: Inflict pain
Environment (Hell Frozen Over | Magic): Anywhere, usually in groups of two
Health: 27
Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound (5 points)
Movement: Short
Modifications: All tasks related to intimidation as level 9; Speed defense as level 5 due to size.
Combat: A butcher is mindless aggression incarnate. It bulls forward, sweeping a huge cleaver to slice and cut anything in its path. As its action, it can move up to a short distance as it whirls its blade. Foes in its path must succeed on a Speed defense roll to move an immediate distance out of the way. Otherwise, the butcher clips them with its weapon, inflicting damage and knocking them to the ground.
When the butcher is damaged, it looses a howl of rage and retaliates with a wild swing as an immediate reaction (that doesn't require an action). Once it makes this free attack, it cannot do so again until after it kills a creature.
Interaction: Butchers don't have much to say beyond the occasional grunt or roar. They are simple-minded brutes with one thing on their mind: killing. Sometimes, though, they can be lured into conversations regarding the quality of fresh meat.
Use: The butchers serve the demon lord Treachery as guards and cooks. They might menace characters captured by Treachery's minions or guard an important prisoner the PCs must rescue.
GM Intrusion: A swing from the butcher's cleaver seriously injures one of the character's legs. The PC cannot move more than an immediate distance until she makes a recovery roll. GM Intrusion: When the character strikes the butcher in melee, the butcher's gut splits open. Greasy innards tumble free and cause the PC to slip and fall to the ground.