Hellfire Steed 5 (15)

High Noon at Midnight

Intermittently ridden straight out of Hell by demons wearing borrowed flesh, the Damned, and others seeking to escape the accursed underworld, hellfire steeds are demonic, fire-dripping destriers. Their manes are boiling napalm, their glowing red hooves leave prints that burn and smolder for days, and a single demonic horn curls from their brows. Once free of Hell, these steeds typically buck their riders and race off across the prairielands, setting blazes as they go, apparently seeking to wreak as much havoc as they can before they're reclaimed by Hell.

Motive: Havoc and suffering

Environment: Almost anywhere; sometimes ridden as a mount by the powerful or foolish

Health: 21

Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound (5 points)

Armor: 1 (10 against fire)

Combat: Hellfire steeds attack twice each round with their horn.

Hellfire steeds also have one or more of the following traits.

• Fires of the Underworld. Anyone not chosen as a rider by the hellfire steed that ends a turn within immediate range of the creature takes 2 points of damage from hellish heat.
• Lifedraining Horn. The hellfire steed deals an additional 5 points of Speed damage (ignores Armor) with its horn attack once every few minutes, gaining that drained life as health.
• Render Immune to Fire. If the hellfire steed is compelled or agrees to serve as a mount, the steed's rider takes no damage from the steed's Fires of the Underworld and gains +2 Armor against fire from other sources while riding.
• From Hell. Once per year, a hellfire steed can emerge from or enter Hell through a transitory portal, bearing riders if it chooses.
• Death Gallop. If killed, a hellfire steed's body animates one last time, galloping a long distance before turning to ash. Everyone along its final route takes 5 points of fire damage on a failed Speed defense roll.

Interaction: Though usually driven by demonic desire, hellfire steeds are fully sapient and can speak all languages. They may negotiate with someone seeking to use them as a mount, but only in return for a promise of committing atrocities.

Use: Stuck in Hell or a similarly hellish place, characters may have to ask a hellfire steed for a ride out.

Loot: A hellfire steed's horn is a sought after alchemists ingredient; a full horn is a very expensive item.

GM Intrusion: The steed decides it no longer wants the character as a rider and takes back their immunity to fire.