Chapter VII: LEGENDSThe world of OUBLIETTE is rife with urban legends, mythologies and tall tales. Some are true to their source while others exaggerate. What follows are numerous legends in our world… and how they are actually presented in the campaign.
ÆSIROn the continent of Hyperborea was born a Neo-Sapien woman, blessed with the power to grew apples that bestowed powers to humans. Iðunn’s apples created the Æsir- beings bestowed with powers that put them on a higher plateau. Many gained a much higher intellect and used their advanced understanding to create a technological utopia. Despite the state of the rest of the world, Hyperborea was thousands of years ahead of social expectations and their capital city, Thule, was a shinning beacon.
With the destruction of Hyperborea came the evacuation of many of the Æsir. The royal family boarded a ship and made their way to the what is now modern Scandinavia. Other ships made way for Greece and Egypt where the clans would go on to become the pantheons of those respective cultures.
The powers an Æsir grants seem to be random, however all Æsir receive an immunity to aging.
ANGELSThe world of OUBLIETTE uses a monotheistic belief system- the Judeo-Christian God created the heavens and the earth, man and beast and everything that ever was. As such, heaven and hell exist and both are populated by the begins known as angels.
SERAPHIM (Power Level 5 / Minion Level 7)
STR 12 (+1), DEX 16 (+3), CON 14 (+2), INT 10, WIS 20 (+5), CHA 12 (+1)
SKILLS: Handle Animal 4 (+5), Intimidate 6 (+7), Knowledge (history) 10, Knowledge (theology) 10, Notice 4 (+9), Perform (singing) 6 (+7)
FEATS: Attack Specialization (sword), Attractive, Dedication, Defensive Roll 3, Favored Environment (air) 4, Improved Initiative, Inspire, Power Attack
POWERS: Comprehend 2 (languages [read, speak and understand]) Flight 3 (75 MPH; Alternate Powers: Super-Movement 1 [Dimensional Movement]; Drawbacks: Power Loss [wings, 1 points]), Hellfire Control 5 (Alternate Powers: Emotion Control 5, Healing 5, Strike 5 [Power Feats: Mighty]), Morph 3
COMBAT: Attack +0 (+2 sword), Grapple +1, Damage +1, Defense +2 (+1 flat-footed), Knockback -0, Initiative +7
SAVES: Toughness +5 (+2 flat-footed), Fortitude +6, Reflex +4, Will +9
Abilities 24 + Skills 10 (40 ranks) + Feats 13 + Powers 35 + Combat 4 + Saves 9 = 95 points
ARCANAIn the old days, humanity used magic and sorcery as a way to describe phenomena beyond their understanding. These days we truly understand that the magical things they encountered have a reasonable explanation. Today, mankind is no closer to understanding arcana- the catchall for magic, sorcery, enchantment and such rituals. Indeed, many people are convinced that such powers are idle fantasies- nonexistent in the world in which we live in.
The truth is that the Grigori taught mankind to wield arcane might many thousands of years ago. One such human, an elder known as Aurelius, transcribed all that they taught and cobbled it together as the Book of the Grigori. When the deluge wiped out many, seemingly claiming the knowledge of arcana with it, the tome survived… passed on to a young woman descended of the Aurelius.
Having married Ham, one of Noah’s sons, the Aurelius’ daughter survived the destruction of the antediluvian era and gave birth to a new tradition. Her son Canaan was entrusted with the tome then and given the task of protecting mankind from the things detailed within- that which had brought about the deluge in the first place.
Today, there are but two ways for mankind to learn to channel arcane energies- one is to be taught by the Aurelius- the guardian of the Book of the Grigori. The other is to be trained up by those who originally taught such forbidden arts- the Fallen Grigori themselves.
ASTRAL PLANEThe Astral Plane exists as a mirror world- an invisible layer over the material plane, invisible to the naked eye. Once one crosses over to this dimension, they find themselves in an environment exactly matching the physical plane- save that they cannot interact with the people or structures in any way, shape, or form.
Hallowed ground does not exist within the Astral Plane. Where graveyards and churches would be in the real world, only a black pillar blazing upward into infinity exists in the Astral Plane. It is unknown what would happen were one to enter the Astral Plane from a graveyard- though many have theorized that such an action would obliterate the being from time itself, not just destroying them but ensuring that they never existed.
The Aurelius, Doctor Steven O. White, noted that Nephilim brought into the Astral Plane have a much more limited ability to control their movements and also are left with a horribly uncomfortable feeling; this sensation grows the longer they remain in the Astral Plane.
ATLANTISFirst mentioned in Plato’s writings, the legendary island was purportedly a naval powerhouse which had conquered most of Europe and Africa millennia before Plato’s own time. After a failed attempt to invade the powerful nation, Atlantis was said to have sunk into the ocean.
The truth is that Atlantis was fashioned from the Chicxulub meteor by the Æsir Mímir. The fortress, constructed mostly of the tektite Mithral, was a floating fortress used by the Gibborim to jail the Nephilim they defeated. When Apocatastasis made a move to liberate those kept on the rock, Aryan gave his life to sink the vessel deep into the ocean.
DIVIn Persian mythology, a div is a being who lives for chaos. Divs resemble bipedal beasts- their facial appearance may resemble lions or pigs, monkeys or horses… Generally, their body is covered in pale, chalk-white hair and their hands are tipped with claws.
The truth is, div are servants of Asmodeus, creatures specially bred in the deepest bowels of Hell by his magical fusion of humans and animals. The twisted result is a terrible fiend the Fallen long ago used to manipulate Leviathan to his side. Since Leviathan’s defection, the div are occasionally unleashed by Asmodeus for his mere amusement.
DIV (Power Level 5 / Minion Level 4)
STR 20 (+5), DEX 16 (+3), CON 18 (+4), INT 6 (-2), WIS 10, CHA 6 (-2)
SKILLS: Climb 2 (+7), Notice 4, Stealth 4 (+7), Survival 4, Swim 2 (+7)
FEATS: All-out Attack, Power Attack
POWERS: Leaping 3 (x10), Speed 3 (50 MPH), Strike 3 (Power Feats: Improved Critical, Mighty), Super-Senses 4 (Additional Senses: Low-Light Vision, Scent, Tracking, Ultra-Hearing)
COMBAT: Attack +2, Grapple +7, Damage +5, Defense +6 (+3 flat-footed), Knockback -2, Initiative +3
SAVES: Toughness +4, Fortitude +7, Reflex +5, Will +2
Abilities 16 + Skills 4 (16 ranks) + Feats 2 + Powers 15 + Combat 16 + Saves 7 = 60 points
DREAMTIMEAustralia’s indigenous peoples have long believed in two forms of time. One is the material world, an objective reality we all interface with on a daily basis. The other is considered more real than reality. What happens in this other plane constructs the values and laws of Aboriginal society.
It is the Dreamtime, and there are those born in this life with the power to contact the Dreamtime… and to walk its infinite pathways.
Whenever any living being slumbers, the subconscious reaches out to a realm of infinite possibilities known as the Dreamtime. Humans, with their logical thinking and doubts, typically hold less control over this plane than the animals who sojourn here do; this is why many people have nightmares where they are helpless against animals- in the Dreamtime, they truly are helpless.
Humans possessing some level of psionic talent typically are at home in the Dreamtime and have a greater mastery over the environment. These people can enter the dreams of others or even manipulate the scene’s outcome. Others take advantage of other aspects of the Dreamtime- utilizing the communication with all life to learn and grow.
HYPERBOREAMany ages ago there existed an eighth continent- the continent of Hyperborea. The land extended through what is today known as the Nordic Seas; Greenland was once a part of the great continent until the nation’s untimely destruction several millennia ago.
Hyperborea was home to a great woman- a Neo-Sapien who was capable of cultivating apples that bestowed humans with fantastic powers. Overtime, a great man was empowered with these powers- Mímir was blessed with uncanny intellect and unparalleled wisdom. With such mental faculties, he engineered a new empire and helped to evolve an ancient civilization into a nation more advanced than the empires of today.
This great power came at a terrible cost though. Mímir was loyal to Óðr Óðinn, the emperor of Hyperborea. The man and his children ruled the land from their capital, Thule, and the other noble clans hungered for his power.
With their own Æsirian abilities, the other clans waged war on Thule and terrible forces were evoked in the nation’s defense. Ultimately, the superior technology Mímir developed destroyed Hyperborea- shattering the continent into pieces and sinking a majority of it into the waters.
Still, the legacy lives on; many of the Æsir escaped, taking some of the artifacts developed in their homeland with them. Today, these items are known as Hyperborean artifacts and each year many turn up in the hands of the unwitting.
THE IMPERIAL REGALIA OF JAPANThe sword, the shield, and the gem- collectively they are known as the Imperial Regalia of Japan. For ages, these three items have been the subject of many myths. They have long been evoked into modern tales of fantasy and heroism- appearing in manga, anime, video games and even American comics.
The simple truth is that they were the raiment worn by a noble from the lost continent of Hyperborea. The young hero was stranded in a foreign land as his armada had been sunk in a terrible storm. Still, the young prince used the weapons to slay Orochi- the eight-headed wyrm attacking the simple island nation. The man became a national hero- who began to share his mystical knowledge with the people. Indeed, it was from him that the ninja arts were born.
Though his name has been forever lost to history, his arms are immortalized in the hearts of the Japanese. Kusanagi no Tsurugi, the sword, is capable of controlling the wind. The shield, Yata no Kagami, can deflect attacks back at the wearer’s opponent. Lastly, the jewel Yasakani no Magatama is capable of turning whoever carries it into an unstoppable juggernaut with a manipulation of sheer force.
The items have passed hands over the years- transfiguring those who wield them into heroes of legend. They have since resurfaced- recently stolen by the criminal Jacquelyn Webber. She was detained of them however, and the legendary artifacts have begun to create new legends once more in a new age…
KUSANAGI NO TSURUGI
Device 7 - Deflect 2 (all ranged attacks; Extras: Action [Reaction, +3]), Air Control 7 (Alternate Powers: Blast, Tornado, Wind), Flight 3 (Flaws: Gliding [-1]), Strike 3 (Power Feats: Improved Critical, Mighty)
YASAKANI NO MAGATAMA
Device 7 - Force Field 5 (Extras: Impervious [+1]), Immovable 5 (Extras: Unstoppable [+1]), Kinetic Control 6 (Alternate Powers: Paralyze, Speed and Telekinesis)
YATA NO KAGAMI
Device 7 – Reflection Field 4, Shield 3
THE JERSEY DEVILIt is said that as Mrs. Deborah Leeds was giving birth to her thirteenth child she exclaimed that she would rather bear the devil’s son than give birth to another Leeds. It was then that the midwife screamed as the gruesome sight of the swaddling babe. Cloven hooves, claws, wings and tail marked the child as something less than human.
According to the legend, the child devoured the other twelve children to flee through the chimney. Since the 18th century, the creature has been believed to dwell deep in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
In actuality, Damian Leeds is the son of Leviathan. Born with a hideous physique, the young boy is cursed with several immunities- which have helped him to survive the last three hundred years of existence. Still, the Nephilim is insane from his experiences and is more animal than man. During the hunt for the Sephirot, the Illuminati and Nock encountered and captured the beast- turning it over to Alcatraz Island for alleged crimes dating back over numerous decades. When the government deemed it unconstitutional to hold the half-man for alleged attacks, O.S.I.R. stole the beast away…
NEPHILIMThousands of years ago, Semyazza convinced the Grigori to act on their lustful desires and mate with the human women they had been set upon to watch. The seraphim who mated with mankind found that their passion had created the Nephilim- half-human, half-angelic cambion capable of wielding the energy known as hellfire.
POPO BAWAWidely believed to be an evil djinni unleashed in the 1970s to wreak vengeance, the demonic beast is believed to attack men as they sleep soundly where he overpowers them and brutally sodomizes them. To further add to the legend’s incredulity, it is said that Popo Bawa’s attacks fluctuate with the election cycle of Zanzibar.
The Vindicators IV and the Aurelius investigated the attacks in the late 1970s, with the Aurelius forced to return in the early 21st century. They discovered that Popo Bawa is in fact an Æsirian div named Imran- a nocturnal shapeshifter who takes the form of a child during the day.
POPO BAWA (Power Level 7)
STR 22 (+6), DEX 16 (+3), CON 20 (+5), INT 8 (-1), WIS 12 (+1), CHA 8 (-1)
SKILLS: Climb 3 (+9), Intimidate 5 (+4), Language 1 (English, Swahili), Notice 4 (+5), Stealth 4 (+7), Survival 4 (+5), Swim 3 (+9)
FEATS: All-out Attack, Fearsome Presence 5, Power Attack
POWERS: Flight 2 (20 MPH; Drawbacks: Power Loss [wings, 1 point]), Immunity 1 (aging), Leaping 2 (x10), Morph 3 (single form; Power Feats: Metamorph), Paralyze 5 (Extras: Range [Perception, +2]), Speed 2 (50 MPH), Strike 3 (Power Feats: Improved Critical, Mighty), Super-Senses 4 (Additional Senses: Low-Light Vision, Scent, Tracking, Ultra-Hearing), Teleport 2 (Drawbacks: Noticeable [1 point])
COMBAT: Attack +4, Grapple +10, Damage +6, Defense +4 (+2 flat-footed), Knockback -2, Initiative +3
SAVES: Toughness +5, Fortitude +8, Reflex +4, Will +2
Abilities 26 + Skills 6 (24 ranks) + Feats 7 + Powers 44 + Combat 16 + Saves 6 = 105 points
RAKSHASAIn Hindu mythology, the rakshasa are demonic man-eaters who were wicked humans in previous incarnations. They were notorious for disturbing sacrifices, desecrating graves, possessing mortals and pestering priests.
The Hyperboreans created the rakshasa to minister to their daily needs- needing the genetically engineered spirits as simple servants. When the island continent sank into the oceans, the device binding the creatures was destroyed, giving them a measure of freedom. Fortunately, rakshasa were only available to the most wealthy of Hyperborean citizens, meaning that not many existed to begin with. Thanks to the efforts of hunters, the number of these carnivorous shapechangers has depleted to less than a dozen.
SEA MONSTERSLake Okanagan. Loch Ness. Lake Tianchi. These lakes have one thing in common- they were hotbeds of monster sightings. Countless people claim to have seen Nessie, Champ, Ogopogo… the list goes on and on.
These creatures indeed exist, albeit as the twisted cambion spawned by Leviathan’s tendencies toward bestiality.
SHTRIGABelieved to be a witch that could siphon the spiritus vitae from a person while they slept- the shtriga would drain the life force from children- finding a better taste the younger their victims were. It is believed that these beings could change their shape- taking on the form of an insect and were only vulnerable whilst feeding.
SPRING-HEELED JACKDuring the Victorian era, England was plagued by sightings of a terrifying man capable of leaping extraordinarily high. As the sightings increased, a diabolical image was collected. Over time, many began to fantasize about the fantastic origins such a being held- ranging from ingenious devices to Jack being the devil himself.
The truth is that Spring-heeled Jack’s real name is Jack Dawkins and he is a tulpa, a being born from the mind of Charles Dickens. The first recorded appearance of Spring-heeled Jack occurred in 1837- when Bentley’s Miscellany began to publish the serial that would later be collected as Oliver Twist. One of the characters, more popularly known as the Artful Dodger, took on a life of his own and became the villainous Spring-heeled Jack.
TENGUTULPAA thoughtform is an consciousness manifested. They are created through sheer willpower- and only by the most powerful minds. While this typically means psions are among the most capable of creating a tulpa, leaving a psionic imprint of themselves in this realm, several humans have created tulpa as well.
Walter B. Gibson, writing under the name Maxwell Grant, created the Shadow. During the 1930s and 1940s, his stories were in demand and Gibson fervently churned out tale after tale- subconsciously creating the tulpa of Kent Allard who frequently “haunts” Gibson’s former apartment in Greenwich Village. As well, Charles Dickens- long accredited for birthing some the most well-imagined characters in literature -gave birth to a tulpa whilst penning the serials that composed Oliver Twist.
At the time of his horrific murder, Lucas Howell left a psychic imprint of himself behind. This tulpa of himself aided the New Vindicators through the White War before eventually fading away.
YETIMore commonly known as the Abominable Snowman, the Yeti is purported to be an apelike creature that inhabits the Himalayas.
The Yeti is actually a man, a hero who dwells in the mountains through Tibet. In a secluded monastery, the monks that tend the temple choose one from among them to wear the amulet of Meh-Teh, which imbues its wearer with uncanny strength and various cold-based powers. Defender of the mountain, the yeti gets his powers from this hyperborean artifact.