Copyright © 1999 by Robert J. Hall

As a rule, what is out of sight disturbs men's minds more seriously than what they see. -Julius Caesar

Priests and followers of this evil religion are horribly fascinated by every aspect of fear. Perhaps they worship this twisted god because terror is all they have known in their lives, or they see fear as a political tool to control the will of others. They may even worship the god for reasons no sane mind could fathom. Whatever the reason, all followers of the dread god are not quite in their right minds, and continued practice of this taboo religion can be expected to consume the sanity of all who hear this dark calling.

Members of this cult wear a distinctive tattoo upon their forearm, a dark brand that is applied during their initiation ceremony. This tattoo takes the form of a scorpion silhouette caught in a large spider web. Followers are careful to keep this tattoo covered during the daylight hours, as the dread god is much feared by the common people. Priests can also be distinguished by their sharpened black talons and enlarged incisors. These distinctive features can cause a strong reaction in lands where this religion is prevalent, but they are relatively easy to disguise.

During temple rituals, all priests of the terror god wear blood-red robes with black trim and a bronze or wooden mask depicting a nightmare spirit. Lesser priests are known as Dreads, while the grand cabal and head priest are given the honorific of Horror and Ultimate Horror respectively.

Continual use of the powers of this cult will gradually but inexorably drive a follower insane. The powers of terror require an already unstable mind to wield, and each use of a particular spell may lead to a burnout. Such a burnout victim requires a lengthy exposure to fearful experiences, usually at a cult temple, before the power can be used again.

The effectiveness of many of these spells is modified depending on the location of the target. If the ground is familiar and comfortable to a victim, then the effectiveness of the spell is much reduced. Likewise, if the target is on unknown and threatening ground, then the effectiveness of a spell is greatly enhanced. Familiar ground is considered a place where a person has spent at least one month of their life without fear.

The type of insanity induced by misuse of these spells is determined from the following table. Each disorder is at least a 15 point disadvantage. Existing disorders will be increased in 5 point increments. Thus, an existing 15 point phobia will become a 20 point phobia, either by becoming stronger or more common.

Note that many of these disorders can be treated by counseling, magical spells, or herbal remedies. Whatever the case, the character must still pay the appropriate character point and financial costs for the treatment or removal of the disorder.

Basic Spells

Cloak of Insects

A spell commonly used to test the nerve of initiates, this power will summon a horde of hard-shelled insects which emerge from the clothing and cover the target in a living coat. The insects will protect the body of the subject, but use of this spell is definitely not for the squeamish. Each time the subject is struck for damage, some of the insects are crushed and the cloak is weakened. After suffering repeated blows, the insects will drop off and flee for cover.

Corrupt Arcane

This spell will allow the dread priest to corrupt a magical location or object, turning the magic in upon itself and dispelling the effect. This spell is far more effective when used against powers that are mind-effecting, but less useful against power-based magic, such as Drain or Power Defense.

Invisible Slasher

Horrific claws appear out of empty air, slashing and rending the victim. The target is unable to see this mysterious attacker, contributing greatly to his terror. When used on ground that the victim finds frightful, the claws are especially deadly.

College Spells

Abomination

By summoning demonic visions from deep within the subconscious, the dread Priest can transform himself into a nightmare creature. This visage will be terrifying for all to behold, and weak-willed beings will flee in fear. This spell is even more effective on ground that is unfamiliar and threatening to an observer.

Acrophobia (Fear of Heights)

Summoning powers from the dark, inner fears of his target, the priest projects his victim to a perilous perch high above the ground. The victim will need to summon all his courage and balancing skills to remain safely on the narrow rest. When cast upon ground that is frightening to the victim, the height will be even greater and more perilous.

Arachnid Mount

By providing a suitable sacrifice, usually in the form of a rabbit or other furry mammal, the dread priest can induce a Giant Spider to serve as his mount for a time. The priest must always be on his guard, however, as the spider will eventually succumb to his base instincts and take the caster for his next meal.

Blood Scent

This insidious spell permeates the target with the scent of fresh blood. Any predators that catch the scent of this blood will be immediately drawn to the victim, and attempt to take the seemingly vulnerable prey by any means. Even small predators, like rats or dogs, will want to take bite out of the victim. No amount of bathing or cleaning will remove the scent, although it can be temporarily masked by a stronger smell. The odor will be more enticing on ground that is unfamiliar and threatening to the victim.

Claustrophobia (Fear of Closed Spaces)

Summoning powers from the dark, inner fears of his target, the priest is able to brick his victim into a small, cramped box that is completely sealed off from the outside world. The target will experience an intensely claustrophobic environment that can terrify the bravest hero. The box is even more cramped and suffocating when this spell is cast on ground that is terrifying to the victim.

Clinging Spider

The hands and legs of the dread priest gain hairy pads that allow him to cling with ease to walls or the ceiling. This spell is more effective on old, dusty walls that are covered in cobwebs, and less effective on new, clean surfaces. (A new surface is less than twenty years old, while an old surface is over a century in age.) The priest must maintain contact with the surface using at least three unshod limbs at any one time.

Creepy Crawler

This spell will summon a limited number of common natural creatures known to cause excessive fear among some individuals. These include spiders, snakes, scorpions, bats, and rats. The summoned creatures are free to act of their own accord, however, and may choose to attack or flee the scene.

Dire Fangs

The jaws of the priest become distended and take on the form of a dire beast, drooling and filled with predatory fangs. The priest can inflict a nasty wound with the bite, and the saliva will inhibit the wound from closing properly. When cast upon ground that is mysterious and terrifying to the victim, the bite is even more effective.

Dread Tattoo

The first ritual taught to an acolyte, this spell allows the caster to place a dread tattoo upon the flesh of the target. This application causes a slight burning sensation that will last for several days. The tattoo will be more deeply embedded when applied on ground which is unknown and terrifying to the subject. Hence, initiation rites are usually held at a secret site of unholy terror.

Grip of Terror

By summoning dark fears from the mind of the victim, the target can be held paralyzed with fear. These fearful thoughts prey upon the intellect of the victim, and he becomes very distraught and unable to think clearly. The fears are especially pronounced when this spell is cast on grounds that are unknown and threatening to the victim. However, these dark thoughts are relatively easy to throw off with determined help from an outside agent.

Hydrophobia (Fear of Drowning)

Summoning powers from the dark, inner fears of his target, the priest is able to form a large body of water is formed into a whirling, tumultuous cylinder. The victim is drawn into the center of the water mass and held there with powerful currents. In order to avoid drowning, the target must be an especially strong swimmer or capable of breathing underwater. The currents in the water will be even more powerful when the victim is on unknown and frightening grounds.

Noise in the Shadows

The night time holds all manner of terrors for civilized beings. The dread priest can play upon these fears by creating disturbing noises within the shadows. These creepy noises can be scurrying paws, rattling chains, creaking hinges, shifting boxes, and so on. Most beings will react with caution to these unexpected sounds, either moving to investigate or retreating from the area. The resulting distraction leaves an opening for the priest to spread further fear.

Peel Flesh

This spell allows the dread priest to peel the face and scalp from a fresh corpse, then tightly adhere the mask to his own head. The resulting disguise will have minor imperfections that might make it possible to see through the illusion, but only after a close examination by a person familiar with the victim. The disguise will be even more effective if seen on ground that is both unknown and threatening to an observer. Once this spell has been used, the corpse will be ruined and a new dead body will be needed for another disguise.

Phobia

Sometimes the dread priest will be forced to release a victim from his state of torment. In this case, he will want to continue the suffering long after the subject has gained his freedom. This ritual will plant a powerful fear deep within the psyche of the victim, causing a state of intense dread whenever a specific set of circumstances occur. The particular phobia is usually selected according to the taste of the priest and the personality of the victim. Thus, he may choose to give a warrior an intense fear of blood, while a bard may be cursed with stage fright. This phobia is more likely to take hold when the victim is on ground that is both unknown and frightening.

Roar of the Beast

Opening his mouth to expose his lengthy incisors, the dread priest erupts in a horrifying roar that can intimidate even the most stalwart foe. The roar is even more effective when used on ground that is unknown and frightening to the opponents.

Scorpion's Tail

This retaliatory spell is normally used in close combat, when the dread priest is grappling with a foe. Upon speaking a dire word of menace, a jointed tail emerges from the lower back of the Priest, ready to strike his foe with a poisonous stinger. However, only a limited number of doses of this toxin can be inflicted each day, and it requires several turns to take full effect. This poison is more effective when the victim is on unknown and terrifying ground.

Scotophobia (Fear of Darkness)

Drawing from a deep-seated fear of the night, the priest creates an area of gloom that gradually dims into a core of utter darkness. Only the courageous will press forward to find what terrors lie in the heart of this darkness. When cast upon ground that is frightening to the victim, the darkness will be even more impenetrable.

Sense Fear

This spell gives the dread priest the ability to sense fear in another being, much like a predatory animal. When the wind is in the right direction, the priest can not only sense the level of fear, but possibly even identify the source. This distinctive odor can be used to locate and track a victim for a session of horror. The fear sense will function much better when the victim is on unknown and threatening ground.

Shocking Memories

Upon striking the target with a sickly green beam of light, deeply buried childhood fears will be drawn out from the victim's subconscious. The irradiated target will gradually but inexorably succumb to a coma so profound that he can not be roused for several days. Even if healed, the victim will appear lacking in vital spirit, at least until his mind has managed to heal itself. These fears will be even more traumatic if this spell is cast upon ground that is unfamiliar and threatening to the target. This power will have no effect on the minds of the undead, or those with no Ego.

Silent Stalker

This spell will allow the dread priest to stalk his next victim from the shadows. His limbs gain the subtle spring of a predator, while his tread becomes unnaturally quiet. Any bodily odors he may emit are carefully masked to prevent his presence from being detected by watch dogs or other guardians. His sneak skills are further improved when used against an opponent that is on unknown and threatening ground.

Spider Swarm

A dark blob streaks from the hand of the dread priest, striking the target in the chest. The blob unravels into a swarm of tiny spiders that crawl all over the victim, penetrating every opening in the armor. Each spider has a small, but painful bite that keeps the victim in steady misery. The target can reduce the number of bites by spending all his time by removing all garments, then brushing off the spiders. Eventually the arachnids will escape by dropping on their silken threads and crawling away across the floor.

Spooky Aura

To increase the horrifying effect of his presence, the dread priest can cast this spell upon his favorite haunt. The area effected by this spell grows gloomy and cool, and a faint mist floats through the air. The place appears old and deserted, and there is an almost palpable aura of evil that causes the flesh to tingle in fear. This spell is especially effective when used in an area that is already threatening to any new visitors.

Talons of Torment

The face of the dread priest grows dark and his eyes begin to glow with an evil light as he unleashes burning talons to wrack his victim. As the cultist makes clawing motions with his hand, the target of this spell will stagger in pain and eventually lose consciousness under the continuing assault. Using this power on ground familiar to the victim will decrease the level of STUN damage by one point per phase.

Throw Web

This spell will allow the dread priest to hurl a sticky web of strands from the much feared giant arachnid, entangling the target in a tight ball that is difficult to escape. The threads of the web are tough, and they will protect the victim from attacks while he is being held. However, those seeking to physically free the target must also be careful not to become entangled in these sticky strands. The web is much stronger and thicker when this spell cast upon ground that is unfamiliar and threatening to the victim. The Throw Web spell takes longer than normal to cast, but does not require any effort to maintain.

Unending Horror

A diabolical spell to cast on an otherwise heroic individual, this spell can induce an intense fear that will cause the victim to flee in terror. This panic will be especially pronounced when the target is on unknown and threatening ground.

Viper Strike

By cupping his hand in the shape of a snake head, then raking his foe with his blackened talons, the dread priest can poison his victim with a nasty toxin. The venom will slowly take effect over the course of an hour, then require several days to wear off. This poison is more effective when injected on ground that is unfamiliar and threatening to the target. The priest must spend a full minute cleaning and sharpening his nails before this spell can be used again.

Unique Spells

Nightmare

One of the most powerful rituals known to the dread priest, this spell will create a horrific dream state in which the victim's worst nightmare can spring to life. The effectiveness of this spell is determined by how well the priest understands the victim. Thus the Sense Fear spell provides a good complement to the Nightmare ritual. The nightmare will become even more terrifying on ground that is unknown and threatening to the victim.

Stupefy

The victim of this spell is exposed to That Which We Were Not Meant To Know. This knowledge is so ultimately horrifying that the victim is reduced to a babbling idiot, and is unable to formulate a coherent thought. This condition will persist for several weeks, until the victim manages to bury the horror within the darkest recesses of his mind. Stupefy is one of the most difficult spells for the dread priest to master, as the dark knowledge can easily cause him to lose his own mind.

Warning Sign

This spell is usually placed on a door or trail to intimidate anybody who may be intending to intrude upon the activities of the dread priest. A threatening icon is required to give the spell substance. Often the head of a corpse, decorated in blood and impaled upon a spike, will more than suffice. When cast upon ground that is unknown and particularly frightening to a visitor, this spell is even more effective.