EDSG Episode 162 - Artificer and Ysrthgrathe - a podcast by Josh H & Dan B

from 2023-03-08T06:00:53

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* Email from Anthony: Introducing Earthdawn at a one-shot game night.

* Horrors in Depth: Artificer

* Not flesh and blood; metallic, covered with wheels, levers, and pulleys.

* “Steampunk” Horror.

* Background: Elemental spirit summoned by dragons in the previous age and it was corrupted.

* Uses Forge Trap power to convert tunnels and caverns into metallic mazes filled with deathtraps.

* Provides an Earthdawn-flavored reason for the classic “trap filled labyrinth” trope.

* Presence can be felt without it being a focus; converts an area but doesn’t really hunt victims.

* Inspiration: Grimtooth’s Traps

* Baits its converted mazes with riches and artifacts it has scavenged to draw people in.

* Limited additional powers; just elemental immunities.

* Primarily astral entity; difficult to get to it to destroy it.

* Can provide an “alien” aesthetic, magitech in a way not usually present in Earthdawn.

* Can help get around the need for “realistic” spaces you normally need for kaer design.

* Straightforward in its own way, but still unique and interesting.

* Ysrthgrathe

* Essay supposedly written by someone possessed by the Horror itself.

* Josh’s favorite entry, likely written by Caroline Spector.

* Horror that features in the Immortals trilogy (Scars, Little Treasures, Worlds Without End)

* Stereotypical suite of Horror powers and abilities.

* Doesn’t have a mechanical gimmick, is iconic because of his personality and approach.

* Vampire lord, supervillain, suave serial killer.

* “Horror of Toxic Masculinity”

* Likely to use methods that make its victim feel helpless and isolate them.

* Very “human” in its evil, strongly relatable to real-world experiences; abusive, gaslighting.

* Targets individuals, especially powerful ones, patiently works to break them.

* Has a personal touch; not an impersonal force of nature like Ristul or Verjigorm.

* Often uses illusion to charm and manipulate people. Infernal, offering deals and bargains.

* Using Ysrthgrathe in a story arc or campaign.

* Being careful not to trigger post-traumatic stress or the like in your players.

Find and Follow:

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Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW

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Further podcasts by Josh H & Dan B