Vigour and Grip through Experience, gain +1 Grip and

Your character has two measures of sur- Vigour.

vival: Vigour and Grip.
Vigour is like other games’ hit points, and
represents their health and fighting spirit.
To determine your character's starting Vi-
gour, take their Brawn and add 6.
Grip combines stamina, mana and sanity. It
is spent on re-rolls and used on character
Advancements, and is depleted when fac-
ing psychologically damaging monsters or
environments. To determine your charac-
ter's starting Grip, take their Will and add
4.
Throughout play, characters gain new Ad-
vancements. For each Advancement gained
Vigour can never exceed 5 + Brawn +
Number of Advancements. Grip has no cap.
Archetypes
Characters begin with an Archetype repre-
senting who they are and what they did be-
fore becoming a Cryptdigger.
The Cryptdigger’s Guide to Survival contains
13 Archetypes: Believer, Cabalist, Cut-
throat, Dastard, Everyman, Farlander,
Freeblade, Outcast, Physiker, Protagonist,
Scholar and Veteran—detailed in the
Archetypes Zini (Zini 2).
The character also starts with an Advance-
ment (Zini 3).
Zini 1: Character Creation
Published by SoulMuppet Publishing (www.soulmuppet.co.uk)
Written by Zachary Cox and Nicholas Spence | Art by Ben Brown | Layout by Lone Archivist
Editing by Vi Huntsman (MRC), Fiona Geist (MRC), and James M Hewitt
Stats
Best Left Buried has three Stats:
Brawn, Wit and Will.
Brawn represents the character’s physical
strength, endurance and vital force.
Wit represents a character’s physical,
mental and social agility.
Will represents a character’s intellect and
the power of their mind.
Best Left Buried characters start with:
+2 to one stat, +1 to another,+0 to the last
If a Stat is positive, add it to any Stat
Checks using it; conversely subtract a neg-
ative Stat from Stat Checks using it.

Equipment Table
D6 1 2 3 4 5 6

1 Chain Manacles Caltrops Dose of Poison Chalk Book of Magic

2 Shovel Whetstone Lockpicks Flask of Acid Compass Book of Alchemy

3 Grease 10 Foot Pole Silk Rope Hooded Lantern Antitoxin Book of History

4 Crowbar Grappling Hook Lock and Key Alchemist’s Fire Writing Kit Book of Religion

5 Mirror on a Book of
Pickaxe Bullseye Lantern Set of Files Holy Water
Handle Mythology

6 Hammer and Musical Dose of Book of

Bear Trap Bag of Marbles
Chisel Instrument Medicine Languages
Equipment
Characters start play with a toolkit of useful
Items and Weapons. They always have the
following:
50’ Rope, 3 Torches, A Backpack, A
Bedroll, 1 week’s worth of Rations and
Basic Armour
If you feel brave, refer to Equipment (back
page) for random generation with multi-
ples of D6.
Every character gets two weapons:
Equipment is a key tool in the Cryptdig-
gers’ arsenal. While Archetypes provide
skills, and Advancements grant raw power,
Equipment leverages their skills to solve
problems. Very few problems can’t be
solved with time and the right equipment.
Inventory
Pieces of Equipment are physical objects
that must be stored somewhere. Assume
most Cryptdiggers are laden with belts,
pouches and backpacks to store their
equipment. While adventuring, a character
can carry:
• An item in each hand OR a large item in
both hands.
• Two easily accessible items on a belt or
scabbard
• Whatever equipment fits within a back-
pack or similar container.
Wherever they are, items fill Inventory
Slots according to the number of hands it
takes to comfortably hold them. The
Doomsayer’s word is final. For example:
• A Sword fills 1 Slot.
• A Greatsword fills 2 Slots.
• A pouch of coins fills 1 Slot.
• Basic Armour fills 2 Slots.
• Heavy Armour fills 4 Slots.
In total, characters cannot comfortably
carry more Inventory Slots than 12 + (Will
or Wit) (whichever is higher) + double their
Brawn.
Characters who carry more Slots than this
are Against the Odds on all Brawn Checks
and any Stat Checks requiring quick move-
ment.
Importantly, Treasure also occupies In-
ventory Slots.
Using Equipment
At the Doomsayer’s discretion, equipment
might grant the Upper Hand on Stat
Checks, make Impossible Stat Checks pos-
sible or make possible Stat Checks Trivial.
Some Equipment listed in bold has a spe-
cific effect, listed below:
Medicine: Each character can take a minute
outside of combat to use a dose of Medicine
once daily restoring 1 Vigour. Medicine
might be bandages, tonics, salves or herbal
painkillers.
Venom: Applying this simple poison to a
weapon, adds D3 damage to its next suc-
cessful attack. It can be mixed with food or
drink to deal the imbiber D3 damage.
Alchemist’s Fire: A sealed clay jar of oil
that combusts in naked air, often used by
Crytpdiggers to set objects aflame. Can be
thrown with a Wit Check or poured out.
Books: Over an hour, a character can study
the book that contains relevant informa-
tion. At the end of this time, the Doom-
sayer will provide whatever useful infor-
mation can be gathered from the book. A
Wit Check may be required to find specific
relevant information, or to study particu-
larly complex or confusing books. The in-
formation in the book will not always be
perfectly accurate.
Weapons
Weapon types have specific mechanical
effects. When choosing a weapon, decide its
type. Unless otherwise described, weapons
deal normal damage, have no Initiative
modifier, can be wielded in one hand and
attack at melee range. See Weapons (back
page).
Hand Weapons are for Cryptdiggers who
prize flexibility. They include broadswords,
hand axes and maces. They can be wielded
one-handed for normal damage, freeing
the off hand for a shield or similar item, or
two-handed to inflict an additional point of
damage.
Heavy Weapons are large and powerful
weapons. They include greatswords, bat-
tleaxes and warhammers. Wielding them
requires two hands. They inflict an addi-
tional point of damage, but reduce Initia-
tive by 1. They also do serious damage to
monsters, if the dice used to calculate
damage is a 5 or 6, the target suffers an In-
jury (Zini 5), instead of 6 as normal.
Light Weapons are smaller and less lethal,
relying on Wit’s finesse and flourish rather
than Brawn’s brute strength. They include
daggers, rapiers and scimitars. They can be
wielded one- handed for normal damage,
freeing the off hand for a shield or similar
item, or two-handed to increase Initiative
by 1.
Long Weapons are large shafted weapons
ideal for weaker Cryptdiggers who want to
maintain distance from dangerous foes.
They include spears, halberds or other
pole-arms. They can be wielded one-
handed for normal damage, freeing the off
hand for a shield or similar item, or two-
handed to inflict an additional point of
damage. Either way, they can attack ene-
mies at short and melee range, but are
cumbersome and reduce Initiative by 1.
Throwing Weapons are projectile weapons.
They include daggers, throwing axes and
javelins. They can attack enemies at short
range for normal damage, or in melee
range for one less point of damage. The Stat
used is determined by the weapon’s fla-
vour: axes or javelins use Brawn while
darts or daggers use Wit. Throwing
Weapons taken at character creation come
in groups of three.
Ranged Weapons attack enemies from afar.
They include crossbows, shortbows and
longbows. Wielding them requires two
hands. They can attack enemies at short or
long range, but attacks against enemies in
the same Zone are Against The Odds.
Without ammunition, characters cannot
attack with a Ranged Weapon.
Improvised Weapons: Sometimes Crypt-
diggers don’t have a proper weapon and
have to improvise. When attacking with an
Improvised Weapon or their fists, charac-
ters attack with Brawn, always attack
Against The Odds and deal half the normal
damage, rounding up. If it makes sense,
because of the target, situation or weapon,
for an attack to deal more damage than
normal for an Improvised Weapon, count
it as a weapon of a different type.
Shields and Armour
All Best Left Buried creatures have an Ar-
mour score determined by their equipment.
An unarmoured character has 7 Armour.
Basic Armour: Standard armour for Crypt-
diggers is made of heavy boiled leather and
chainmail, and a protective helmet, pro-
viding 8 Armour.
Plate Armour: Solid interlocking plates or
scales of metal, worn over heavy boiled
leather and chainmail, which provides 9
Armour. However, it is heavy and cumber-
some, granting -1 Initiative. Furthermore,
if the character does not have at least 2
Brawn, all Stat Checks are Against The
Odds, they cannot Escape and always have
Initiative 0.
Shield: Boards of wood or metal worn on
the wielder’s off hand to deflect enemy at-
tacks, increasing their Armour by 1.
Protagonist
Protagonists are shining beacons of hope.
None doubt the nobility and honour of these
knights and general do-gooders.
Saving the Day: Twice per Adventuring
Day, while engaging in feats of heroism,
you can re-roll one die used in a Stat Check
or Attack.
Saviour of the People: The common folk
adore Protagonists, granting the Upper
Hand on Wit Checks when convincing
friendly NPCs to aid in heroic deeds.
No Stain on My Honour: Heroes never lie.
Protagonists and are Against The Odds on
Wit Checks to deceive an NPC. If they suc-
ceed, they take a Grip Check.
I Shall Protect Thee!: Protagonists never
stand by while their friends die. When an
enemy uses a Finish Them! move on a
downed ally, they must attempt a Heroic
Rescue if possible regardless of danger.
Scholar
Scholars are invested in accumulating arcane
and esoteric knowledge.
Forbidden Knowledge: Once per Adventur-
ing Day, you can ask the Doomsayer a
question to which the Scholar might have
uncovered the answer while researching
forgotten tomes, the wisdom of elders or
obscure libraries. The Doomsayer names a
price in Grip—steeper for chthonic, archaic
or unanswerable questions—which the
Scholar can pay to receive the answer.
Pendulum Sanity: The secrets of esoteric
knowledge lead to Scholars developing
coping mechanisms. When taking an
Affliction, they reset their Grip to 11.
Mindcracked: Scholars are susceptible to a
thirst for secrets. The first time each Ad-
venturing Day they spend or lose 1 Grip,
they lose an additional point.
Veteran
Veterans are masters of the Crypt, having
spent plenty of time below the earth, digging
for exotic treasures.
Years of Experience: Veterans have seen a
fair share of unutterable terrors. Before
play, decide with your Doomsayer which
creatures you might have experience fight-
ing. When fighting these creatures, their
first Attack of each combat has the Upper
Hand. They also have the Upper Hand on
Observation Checks to notice the crea-
tures, or any omens they are present.
Danger Sense: Veterans have learned to
spot the Crypt’s many dangers, gaining the
Upper Hand on Observation Checks to de-
tect potential dangers, such as traps or am-
bushes, in the Crypt and similar environ-
ments.
Battle-Scarred: Most Veterans have previ-
ously suffered a (randomly rolled) Injury
before play begins (Zini 5). If this Injury re-
sults in death, re-roll it.
Zini 2: Character Archetypes
Published by SoulMuppet Publishing (www.soulmuppet.co.uk)
Written by Zachary Cox and Nicholas Spence | Art by Ben Brown | Layout by Lone Archivist
Editing by Vi Huntsman (MRC), Fiona Geist (MRC), and James M Hewitt
wilderness or a city’s dangerous area. An
Adventuring Day ends when characters rest
for 4+ hours. Abilities usable during ‘An
Adventuring Day’ should never be used in a
camp on the surface.
Believer Cabalist
Holy folk, guided by gods’ voices and putting Cultists or wizards’ apprentices whose un‐
their faith in some higher being. pleasant, terrifying or otherworldly past expe‐
Holy Mission: Each Believer has a Holy riences allow them to handle the underworld
Mission. Once per Adventuring Day, if en- better than most adventurers.
acting their Holy Mission the player can re- Been There Done That: Cabalists’ strange
roll one die used in a Stat Check or Attack. experiences allow them to shrug off what
This mission could be destroying heathens, terrifies others. The first time each Adven-
evangelizing or gathering funds for temple turing Day a Cabalist would spend or lose 1
construction. The Holy Mission may be Grip, they keep that point.
dictated by the religion’s tenets, a leader’s I’ve Seen Things: Experts at sacrilege,
instructions, or saintly visions. most Cabalists have seen many awful
I Am No Preacher, I Am A Prophet: Believ- things. Cabalists have the Upper Hand on
ers have the Upper Hand on Wit or Will Grip Checks.
Checks to spread their god’s word or per- Already Slightly Gone: Cabalists are a little
suade fellow practitioners. unhinged, beginning play with an Afflic-
Hand of the Holy: Believers act with surety tion, either chosen or rolled randomly (Zini
of divine guidance, beginning play with the 5).
Affliction: Guided by the Gods, or another
Affliction (Zini 5) that fits better.
Cut-Throat
Cut-Throats are criminals and unsavoury folk:
thugs, ruffians, thieves, assassins or general
lowlifes. They will lie, cheat and murder to get
whatever they want—and do even worse for
what they need.
Silver Tongue: Cut-Throats have the Upper
Hand on Wit Checks to deceive.
Tricks of the Trade: Cut-Throats excel
outside the traditional legal sphere. Once
per Adventuring Day, while engaging in il-
legal activities—such as scaling a sheer
surface, breaking a lock or performing leg-
erdemain—you can re-roll one die used in
a Wit Check.
Honour Amongst Thieves: Cut-Throats
are unlikely to stick their necks out for oth-
ers but even the worst criminals adhere to
the Code. Cut-Throats can only attempt a
Heroic Rescue when saving another Cut-
Throat.
Dastards
Dastards are charlatans, tricksters and fast-
talkers: mountebanks, bastards of a noble
house, swashbucklers or pirates—all charis‐
matic and flamboyant.
You Magnificent Dastard: Up to three
times per Adventuring Day, while employ-
ing an obnoxiously daring solution to a po-
tentially simple problem (swinging from
chandeliers, elaborate blackmail schemes,
anything involving disguise), you can re-
roll one die used in a Wit Check or Wit
based Attack.
Lovable Rogue: Dastards possess a certain
ineffable charm, granting the Upper Hand
for Wit Checks interacting with non-hos-
tile NPCs.
At Home In The City: Most Dastards lived
comfortable lives and are not hardened for
the Crypt. Dastards are Against The Odds
on Grip Checks.
Everyman
Not every Cryptdigger fits an Archetype. Not
everyone is a glorious hero, professional thief
or sinister cultist. Sometimes, you’re an Every‐
man.
Probably Good at Something: Everymen
have a niche skill from their prior life and
have the Upper Hand attempting it or
something involving it.
Probably Bad at Something Else: Every-
men have a skill, vice, drawback or negative
personality trait that makes actions involv-
ing it Against The Odds.
Examples
Poacher: Good at tracking and navigating
in woodland. Bad at interacting with Nobil-
ity and Landowners.
Town Drunk: Good at resisting the effects
of ingested Alcohol and Poisons. Bad at try-
ing to move carefully or balancing.
Travellers
Wanderers who seek adventure in Lendal util‐
ising the skills learn on the way. While some
may be Lendalians on a long journey, some
may be from foreign lands.
They Were Lucky To Get This Far: Travel-
ling halfway around the world only to die in
a Crypt is an awful shame. Up to twice per
Adventuring Day, while the character is at
less than half their Maximum Vigour, re-
roll one die used in a Stat Check or Attack.
Well Travelled: Agree on a speciality with
your Doomsayer. The character has the Up-
per Hand on Stat Checks or Observation
Checks related to it.
Sense of Wonder: Travellers are sometimes
Against The Odds on Observation Checks
and potentially some Stat Checks when
visiting a new settlement or experiencing
an unfamiliar culture for the first time.
Freeblade
Freeblades are heroes of a financial bent—
rather than saving the world or watching it
burn, they desire payment as mercenaries,
professional soldiers, assassins for hire or
spell-swords.
Soldier of Fortune: Freeblades constantly
risk all for pay. Once per Adventuring Day,
if it results in immediate financial gain (ex-
ample: quest completion, treasure acquisi-
tion or bounty capture), you can re-roll one
die used in a Stat Check or Attack.
I’m A Professional: Freeblades navigate
the job market adroitly, gaining the Upper
Hand on Wit Checks related to seeking (or
negotiating with) a potential employer.
Heart of Gold: Freeblades cannot resist the
glint of coin and are Against The Odds on
Will Checks resisting bribery.
Outcast
Outcasts adventure because they don’t fit in
anywhere else including: hedge knights, lone
wizards, brooding rangers or asocial hermits—
uniformly grim, fiercely capable survivors.
True Grit: Outcasts are grizzled folk used to
the worst the world offers. The first time
each Adventuring Day an Outcast would
spend or lose 1 Grip, they keep that point.
Home In The Wild: Outcasts are skilled
survivalists, gaining the Upper Hand on
Will Checks to forage or navigate wilder-
ness.
Not A People Person: Most Outcasts live
outside society’s boundaries and are
Against The Odds on Wit Checks when in-
teracting with NPCs.
Physiker
Physikers are medical folks who somehow en‐
listed in a Cryptdigging company: disgraced
barber-surgeons, medical researchers or mili‐
tary field doctors.
I’m A Doctor, Not A...: Once per Adventur-
ing Day, you can re-roll one die used in a
Stat Check where medical experience is
relevant.
Field Surgery: With 4 hours of uninter-
rupted work, the Physiker may make one
attempt to heal another character’s recent
Injury. If the Physiker passes a Wit Check
and the patient passes a Brawn Check, the
Injury is healed. If both fail, the Patient
rolls a second Injury. Regardless of out-
come, both characters lose 1 Grip.
Do No Harm: Physikers aren’t skilled com-
batants and their first Attack each combat
is Against The Odds.
possible Observation Checks possible. The
process is disorientating and often disrupts
other senses, so Observation Checks not
amplified by Otherwordly Perception while
it is active are Against The Odds.
Radiant Blade (Holy)
Before making an Attack, spend 1 Grip to
gain the Upper Hand and deal an extra D3
damage (magical for any relevant Ad-
vancement and Adaptations) if it lands.
Rallying Shout (Martial/Holy/Bardic/Commanding)
In combat, the character can take an action
to grant 1 Vigour to each ally who can hear
them.
Restored Vigour
The character immediately returns to their
Max Vigour (5 + Brawn + Number of Ad-
vancements).
Shadow Glamours (Devious/Arcane/Bardic)
Spend 1 Grip to do one of the following:
• Gain the Upper Hand on a Wit Check to
hide.
• Make all Observation Checks to spot the
character Against The Odds for one
round.
• Alter the character’s visual appearance
(clothing, facial detail, hair, etc.) for one
minute. These hese changes are visual
only, and do not affect the other senses.
Shieldwall (Martial/Commanding)
Spend 1 Grip to reduce the damage of a
non-magical Attack by D3 or destroy a
shield the character is holding to reduce
damage to 0.
Spirits of the Beyond (Arcane/Holy)
Spend 1 Grip and an action to reanimate a
corpse (stats below) to serve the character
for a single combat, or five minutes.
Animated Corpse (Undead)
Armour 8 | Vigour 8
BRAWN 1 | WIT 0 | WILL 0
Prying Hands (Hand Weapon)
Tough As Nails
Increase Maximum Vigour by 1 for each
Advancement the character has. When they
suffer an Injury, spend 1 Grip to roll twice
on the Injury table and choose your pre-
ferred result.
Toxic Blades (Devious/Technical)
When taking this Advancement, choose 2
Poisons that the character can make from
the following: Brittleskinned, Dulling (-1
Will), Hex-Addled, Maiming (-1 Brawn),
Paralysing (-1 Wit).
At the end of evach Adventuring Day spend
1 Grip to prepare a dose of one type of Poi-
son.
Each time Toxic Blades is taken, gain 2 new
Poison types and the ability to make an ad-
ditional Poison each day.
Trap Breaker (Devious/Technical)
The character has the Upper Hand on Stat
Checks to make, modify or disable traps or
secret doors, and on Observation Checks to
detect them.
Weapons Master (Martial/Commanding/Technical)
Choose a Weapon type. Spend 1 Grip to gain
the Upper Hand on Attacks with that
weapon type until combat ends.
Each time Weapons Master is taken,
choose an additional Weapon type.
Witch's Curse (Arcane/Bardic/Druidic/Holy)
Spend Grip (minimum 1) equal to any Stat
of a creature within short range to curse it.
The target is Against The Odds on their
next 3 Stat Checks or Attacks using that
Stat.
Zini 3: Advancements
Published by SoulMuppet Publishing (www.soulmuppet.co.uk)
Written by Zachary Cox and Nicholas Spence | Art by Ben Brown | Layout by Lone Archivist
Editing by Vi Huntsman (MRC), Fiona Geist (MRC), and James M Hewitt
Advancements are abilities that make
characters better adventurers—potentially
granting a magical power or trained special
move or increasing their Stats.
Gaining New Advancements
Characters gather Experience through play
by accumulating treasurve, passing Grip
Journeyman Advancements
Arcane Wards (Arcane)
When the character is hit by an Attack,
spend 1 Grip to reduce the damage by their
Will.
Using Arcane Wards multiple times is
straining. Each subsequent use in a single
combat increases its Grip Cost by 1. (1 the
first time, 2 the second, 3 the third, etc).
Battle Frenzy (Martial)
Spend 2 Grip to enter a Battle Frenzy until
combat ends, granting the character the
Upper Hand on melee Attacks, and causing
any Attacks made against them to be
Against The Odds. While in a Battle Frenzy
they must move into melee with the near-
est enemy and Attack if possible. By spend-
ing 1 Grip, the Battle Frenzy ends early.
Checks and enacting cunning plans. When-
ever a character attains 8 Experience, re-
seting it to zero, they add a new Advance-
ment and gain 1 Vigour and Grip.
Child of Prophecy
Luck guides this character toward their
destiny. Roll a D6 at the start of each Ad-
venturing Day. The result can replace a sin-
gle die roll, regardless of who rolled it.
Choose to replace the roll after rolling but
before applying the outcome.
This advancement is exclusive to character
creation or, if the Doomsayer allows, fol-
lowing a weird or wonderful act of destiny.
Concoctionist (Arcane/Druidic/Technical)
At the end of each Adventuring Day, the
character can brew up to half their Will in
Potions for 1 Grip each.
When taking this Advancement, choose 2
Potion types they can brew: Amorphous,
Aquatic, Blinking, Flamewreathed, Fire-
breathing, Hex-Proof, Nimble, Shadow-
clad or Woundknitting.
Concoctionist can be taken multiple times,
learning 2 Potion types each time.
Chemiker’s Charges (Devious/Technical)
With a few hours’ work in a surface camp
and access to appropriate equipment, the
character can fashion one of the following
Chemiker’s Charges:
Jerrodine Fire: Popularized by Jerrodi-
ans clearing out giant rat nests. Fills the
Zone with flames, setting every creature
and flammable object aflame for D3
damage at the start of each turn per turn
until doused.
Dupontiane Gloop: Fashioned from
gelatinous pine sap, this coats a Zone in
sticky residue to slow movement, forc-
ing creatures that try to move through or
out of that Zone to make a Brawn Check
or remain stationary.
Calmyne Smoke Bombs: A grenade
beloved by Calmyn’s crime families. Fills
a Zone with thick smoke, rendering Ob-
servation Checks and Attacks made
through or in it Against The Odds.
A character with Chemiker’s Charges can
either set a Charge with a fuse up to a min-
ute long or throw it with an action to a
Zone in short range. Either way, the effects
last 1 minute. Charges expire 3 days after
creation.
Charges are volatile and may interact
poorly with each other. When a character
takes damage while carrying a charge, roll
a D6. If the result is equal to or less than the
number of Charges, they all explode.
Ears of the Owl
All Observation Checks relying on hearing
have the Upper Hand.
Eldritch Pact
The character pacts with a powerful extra-
planar creature like a Cinderbeast, Herald
or Beyonder, promising servitude in ex-
change for world-bending power. Immedi-
ately choose 2 more available Advance-
ments as gifts from their patron.
Make a note that they were gained from an
Eldritch Pact and do not grant additional
Vigour or Grip nor count towards requisite
Advancements to become Titled.
Touching such powerful beings’ minds ad-
versely affects one’s health, granting a
random Affliction, either chosen or rolled
randomly (see Zini 5).
Eldritch Pacts always return to bite. Pa-
trons may demand confusing or difficult
favours, which must be fulfilled. Conse-
quences for refusing can be dire, including
but not limited to, additional Afflictions or
Injuries, loss of Vigour or Grip, Stat reduc-
tion, revoking the Eldritch Pact’s Advance-
ments or even death.
Extra Brawn
Increases the character’s Brawn by 1. Re-
member to recalculate Maximum Vigour.
Extra Grip
Increases the character’s Grip by 3.
Extra Will
Increases the character’s Will by 1.
Extra Wit
Increases the character’s Wit by 1.
Eyes of the Hawk
All Observation Checks relying on sight
have the Upper Hand.
Fire & Lightning Strange (Arcane/Druidic)
When taking this advancement, choose an
element or magical substance: fire, ice, wa-
ter, lightning, thorns, gravity etc. The
character can magically strike down ene-
mies with this element.
Spend 1 to 3 Grip and an action to make a
Will based Attack (always with the Upper
Hand) against an enemy within short
range. Multiply the damage by the Grip
Cost. This damage is magical for any rele-
vant Advancements and Adaptations.
Fire & Lightning Strange can be taken
multiple times, granting a new element
each time. Specify which of your elements
you use each time you attack with the Ad-
vancement.
Flurry of Blows (Martial/Devious)
Spend 1 Grip when making an Attack with a
weapon held in one hand to make a second
Against The Odds attack on the same turn.
The Holy Song of War (Holy/Bardic/Commanding)
For 1 Grip and an action, the character can
grant the Song of War to a number of crea-
tures up to their Will. This grants the crea-
ture(s) the Upper Hand to a single Attack
Roll or Stat Check of their choice for a sin-
gle combat or five minutes, whichever is
shorter.
Horde Killer (Martial/Commanding)
When enemies Gang Up on the character,
negate the first two instances of the Upper
Hand.
I See Truth In The Stars (Arcane/Holy/Druidic)
At the end of an Adventuring Day, spend
any amount of Grip to receive cryptic vi-
sions from dreaming, stargazing or bone
throwing. The more Grip spent, the less
cryptic the Doomsayer’s description of the
next Adventuring Day’s events is.
Knife From The Shadows (Devious)
When the character Attacks an enemy who
is unaware of them, they have the Upper
Hand and deal double damage.
Lay On Hands (Holy/Bardic)
For 1 Grip and an action, roll D3 + Will. An-
other character of your choice gains Vigour
equal to the result.
Marksman’s Aim (Martial/Devious/Druidic)
The character can take an action to line up
a shot, examining their target and its
movement. The following turn, they can
make an Attack against their target with
the Upper Hand using a Ranged Weapon,
and ignoring any penalties of cover or ob-
scuration.
The Doomsayer may allow the use of
Marksman’s Aim before combat starts,
provided the character has time to do so,
granting the Upper Hand on their first At-
tack.
Master of Deceit (Devious/Bardic)
The character has the Upper Hand on Wit
Checks when lying to NPCs.
My Shining Armour Gleams (Martial/Commanding)
Non-magical Attacks against the character
are Against The Odds.
Nimble Dodge (Devious/Commanding/Technical)
All Wit Checks made to Escape are Trivial.
Nose of the Dog
All Observation Checks relying on smell
have the Upper Hand.
Otherwordly Perception (Arcane/Druidic)
When taking this Advancement, choose 2
supernatural senses that the character can
activate from the following:
Eyes of Cinder: Peer through non-
supernatural darkness as if there is low
light.
Herald's Gaze: See through less than 6
inches of a natural substance like dirt,
stone or wood. Unnatural or man-made
substances, such as metal, leather or
glass are opaque.
Fargone Taste: Taste a distant object as
if it was in their mouth.
Whispers of the Seer: Be able to hear
distant conversations as if a whisper.
Thermomancy: Know the exact temper-
ature of a distant object without touch-
ing it.
Stain of the Arcane: Tell if Arcane magic
has been cast in an area, and the identity
of the mage if the character has seen
them cast a spell before.
Spend 1 Grip to amplify the character’s
normal senses with one of the supernatural
abilities they possess for 5 minutes.
This may grant them the Upper Hand on
certain Observation Checks, or make Im-
Multiple Instances
Each instance of the Upper Hand cancels
out an instance of Against the Odds, and
vice versa. If a character with a crowbar
(Upper Hand) tries opening a rotten
wooden door (Upper Hand) while waist
deep in water (Against the Odds), the Stat
Check is made with the Upper Hand, as the
two circumstances granting the Upper
Hand outnumber the one Against the Odds.
However, if the door turns out to be blocked
by something on the other side (Against
the Odds), they all cancel each other out
and you roll 2D6 normally.
Having multiple instances of the Upper
Hand or Against the Odds does not grant
extra dice.
A Stat Check with three or more instances
of the Upper Hand after cancelling is
Trivial. It succeeds automatically.
A Stat Check with three or more instances
of Against the Odds after cancelling is
Impossible. It fails automatically.
Exertion
After you roll a Stat Check, Observation
Check or Attack or an opponent rolls an
Attack against you—but before the
Doomsayer narrates the roll’s result—you
may spend any amount of Grip, re-rolling
one die for each Grip you spend.
Regardless of the outcome, the new results
stand. You can never use Exertion to re-roll
a die you have already re-rolled.
Observation Checks
Observation Checks are made to discern an
environment’s unusual features—to see,
smell or hear something that isn’t trivial to
notice.
Following the Doomsayer's general
description of a location, players may ask
for further details, potentially requiring an
Observation Check. Alternatively, the
Doomsayer may request an Observation
Check to notice hidden details or dangers
such as traps or enemies.
Unlike Stat Checks, an Observation Check
has no modifier: simply roll 2D6 against a
target of 9+ to succeed, otherwise the
Check fails.
Grip Checks
Characters make a Grip Check whenever
they’re exposed to a terrifying, mind-
bending or unfathomable event, monster or
Zini 4: Rules
Published by SoulMuppet Publishing (www.soulmuppet.co.uk)
environment. Make a Will Check. If they
Written by Zachary Cox and Nicholas Spence | Art by Ben Brown | Layout by Lone Archivist
pass, they are shaken but remain level- Editing by Vi Huntsman (MRC), Fiona Geist (MRC), and James M Hewitt
headed, gaining a point of Experience;
otherwise they lose 1 Grip. The Upper Hand
Resting The Doomsayer grants the Upper Hand to
At the end of each Adventuring Day, you tasks that are easier than an average Stat
must rest. Depending on the rest and food’s Check—whether due to an Advancement,
training, equipment or environmental
quality, you gain a different quantity of
Vigour and perhaps even some Grip as circumstance. For example, a door is easier
to force open with help, using a crowbar or
determined by the Doomsayer.
if the door’s planks are sodden; this would
Dying grant those attempts the Upper Hand.
When a character is reduced to 0 Grip, they With the Upper Hand, roll 3D6 and discard
die from a heart attack or are otherwise the lowest die before adding the appro-
removed from the player’s control. priate Stat as usual.
When a character is reduced to 0 Vigour, Against The Odds
their situation is dire. Flip a coin:
The Doomsayer grants Against The Odds
Tails: they die. Grab a spare from character to tasks harder than an average Stat
creation or make a new one. Work with the Check—whether due to an Advancement’s
Doomsayer on introducing your character adverse effects, a Consequence, lack of
when narratively appropriate. training or equipment or environmental
Heads: they are knocked Unconscious and circumstances. For example, a door is
can do nothing but slowly bleed. After D6 harder to force open when someone is
hours they return to consciousness with an injured, in waist deep water or if the door is
Injury and an Affliction. They don't receive well constructed or jammed, making those
the Grip they would normally get for taking attempts Against The Odds.
on these Consequences (Zini 5). Nearly
When Against The Odds, roll 3D6 and
dying is brutal. discard the highest die before adding the
When waking from Unconsciousness, they appropriate Stat as usual.
return with 1 Vigour. You may spend up to
6 Grip to grant your character additional
Vigour at a rate of 1:1.
Combat
In combat, time is strictly divided into
Rounds, each counting as about 10 seconds
of in-game time. Each Round, creatures
take Turns in an order determined by their
Initiative. A creature only moves and acts
on their Turn—not during others’.
Initiative
To determine a Round’s Initiative order
each creature rolls a D3 and adds their Wit
and any modifiers from their weapon,
Advancements or Adaptations.
Creatures act in turn from highest to lowest
Initiative.
In the event of a tie, the creature with the
higher Wit acts first—in cases of tied Wit,
characters act before monsters. When two
characters are tied, the players decide who
goes first. When two monsters are tied, the
Doomsayer decides their order.
If a creature is Surprised (not prepared for
combat) they skip their first Turn.
Zones
A combat area is called a Zone which
represents the space traversable in one
turn. It might be a large, open, circular
space about 20 metres across, a heavily
obstructed cramped space slowing
movement or a sheer cliff.
The Doomsayer should map out or describe
each Zone’s details, explaining any barriers
that might impede moving from one Zone
to another.
A normal character can move from one
Zone to any adjacent Zone during their
Turn. Faster creatures may move two (or
more) Zones.
• A creature can attack an enemy in the
same Zone with a melee ranged weapon.
• A creature can attack an enemy in an
adjacent Zone with a short ranged
weapon.
• A creature can attack enemies within 5
Zones with a long ranged weapon.
Some Zones are Impassable, you cannot
move through them without specific
Advancements or Adaptations.
Turns
Each Turn, a character can move one Zone
and use an action to do any of the
following:
Attack Characters can Attack with a
weapon held in their hands or on their belt.
If Attacking with a sheathed weapon, they
swap it for what they’re holding, or drop
what they’re holding if it doesn’t fit in their
belt.
Rush Characters can Rush to pass through
an additional Zone, doubling their travel
distance.
Escape See Escape (page opposite).
Use an Advancement or Adaptation –
Many Advancements and Adaptations
require spending an action to use.
Finish Them! See Dying (back page).
Grappling Attempt to grapple a creature in
melee range.
If a character wants to try something that is
not listed in the normal rules, it might
require an action. During combat a
character cannot use any items in their
backpack, only items from their hands or
belt.
Attacking
The target of an Attack must be in weapon
range and visible—an Observation Check
can be made to locate a hidden target.
1. Determine the enemy’s Armour.
2. Roll 3D6. Choose two of the dice and add
the appropriate Stat for this type of
Attack. If the total meets or exceeds the
Target Number, the attacker success-
fully hits the enemy. If no two of the dice
(with the added Stat) can meet the
Armour Target Number, the attack
misses.
3. On a successful hit, the remaining die
serves as damage. Subtract its value
from the target’s Vigour, plus any
modifiers from the attacker’s weapon.
When attacking with the Upper Hand, roll
4D6 and discard the lowest die.
When attacking Against the Odds, roll 4D6
and discard the highest die.
Trivial attacks hit automatically: roll 2D6
and inflict damage equal to the highest die,
modified as normal.
Impossible attacks have no effect.
Monsters and Ganging Up
Monsters work like characters: moving,
determining Initiative and taking turns.
Identical monsters share Initiative and act
simultaneously even if they take different
actions.
When a monster Attacks, decide its target.
If 2+ identical monsters in the same Zone
attack a single target with the same wea-
pon, Advancement or Adaptation, roll a
single attack with an instance of the Up-
per Hand for each monster beyond the first.
Escape
A character who attempts to leave a Zone
containing a monster must make a Wit
Check. If they fail, they must either remain
in the original Zone, or be Attacked by one
of the monsters in the Zone as they leave.
The character may make the Wit Check
Trivial by forfeiting their action for the
turn.
Status Conditions
Most status conditons persist for a single
turn but some last for a minute or until
combat ends. They might be broken early
with a successful Stat Check.
Blinded: Attacks made by the creature
are Against The Odds and sight based
Observation Checks are Impossible.
Deafened: Sound based Observation
Checks are Impossible for the creature.
Restrained: A Restrained creature can
take an action but cannot move on their
turn.
Stunned: A Stunned creature may move
but cannot take an action on their turn.
Immobilised: An Immobilised creature
can neither act or move on their turn.
Grappling
As an action, a character can grapple a tar-
get in melee range. The grappler makes a
Brawn Check, Restraining the target if they
pass. To escape, removing this condition,
the target must use their action on a Wit or
Brawn Check, breaking the grapple and re-
gaining their movement on a success.
Otherwise, the grapple continues. The tar-
get can take other actions while grappled.
The grappler must use their action each
turn to continue Restraining the target, if
they do not, the grapple is automatically
broken.
Finish Them!
While in combat, an enemy might use Fin-
ish Them! on an Unconscious character,
using their action to kill them. This can on-
ly be prevented by another character using
their next action to make a Heroic Rescue:
moving into the Unconscious character’s
Zone. To prevent their death, the Heroic
Rescuer also skips their next turn.
Only characters in the same or adjacent
Zone can make a Heroic Rescue. A Heroic
Rescuer leaving a monster’s Zone must
make a Wit Check to Escape as usual.
Characters aren’t obligated to perform a
Heroic Rescue on their allies, especially
since it could very well get them killed.
Silver Fingers (Growing Affliction)
The character develops an uncontrollable
urge to steal things, Triggered by any easy
opportunity; pass a Will Check or spend 1
Grip, or else attempt to steal it.
Solace In The Bottle (Growing Affliction)
The character develops reliance on drugs or
alcohol to dull their mind. If resting with-
out partaking, the character must pass a
Will Check to regenerate any Vigour or
Grip. While addled they are Against The
Odds for Wit Checks relying on sudden re-
actions, but have the Upper Hand on Grip
Checks triggered by a monster or environ-
ment.
The Glorious Blaze (Growing Affliction)
The character develops a love for the thrill
of arson. The Glorious Blaze is Triggered
by a good opportunity to set something on
fire. Pass a Will Check or spend 1 Grip or
else attempt to set it on fire. Recover 1 ad-
ditional Vigour if a rest is spent lovingly
watching a burning fire, gazing at its silky,
luscious descent into embers.
They Are Watching (Character Flaw)
The character develops a belief the world is
secretly run by a cult, secret society or or-
ganisation run by humans or demi-hu-
mans, demons, ancient gods or aliens. All
players should take a minute brainstorming
Injuries
D6 1 2
the cult’s exact nature. Characterised by
general paranoia, strange tricks to avoid
persecution and detection or checking other
creatures for obscure details to reveal their
inhumanity or shadowy cult membership.
Unholy Communion (Special Affliction)
The character is contacted through dreams
and visions by a Cinderbeast, Herald, Beyon-
der or other supernatural force offering
power in exchange for service. This entails
either service to a powerful, evil being or a
destructive rebuke. The next time they gain
an Advancement they must take Eldritch
Pact, or permanently reduce their maximum
Grip to 5 as they are wracked by their an-
gered patron’s psychic vengeance.
Injuries
Characters can take an Injury at any time
provided there is narrative justification such
as a failed Stat Check or severe combat dam-
age.
Voluntary Injuries reset your Grip to 5.
Characters also suffer an Injury upon taking
6 damage from a single die, or from some
Weapons, Advancements or Adaptations.
This does not restore any Grip.
Roll a D3 and a D6 on the table to determine
a random Injury.
3
Zini 5: Consequences
Published by SoulMuppet Publishing (www.soulmuppet.co.uk)
Written by Zachary Cox and Nicholas Spence | Art by Ben Brown | Layout by Lone Archivist
Editing by Vi Huntsman (MRC), Fiona Geist (MRC), and James M Hewitt
nate events in the Crypt or means of coping
with the Crypt’s weird and terrible obsta-
cles.
Consequences are divided into Injuries
(physical wounds) and Afflictions (delu-
sions and mental health issues) developed
due to the Crypt’s terrifying and mind-
bending inhabitants and environments.
You can develop an Affliction at any point
outside combat. Injuries, however, happen
when narratively justified, such as a failed
Stat Check or combat damage.
Roleplaying characters who develop draw-
backs from Cryptdigging is great fun.
Knowing why your Veteran is an alcoholic
makes pretending easier. Remembering
when your Cultist lost their hand only
makes victories in spite of it deeper.

Take an Affliction without

You are Dead (a monster loses
1 regaining any Grip (a monster
2D6 Vigour instead)
Loose an arm or hand. Two
2 handed tasks are Against the
Odds or Impossible.
3 -1 Brawn
4 Lose D3 Vigour
Attacks are Against the Odds for
5 5 minutes, or until Combat ends,
whichever is sooner.
You are Unconscious (a monster
loses 2D6 Vigour instead)
Loose a foot or leg. Moving a
Zone takes two rounds. Tasks
requiring bipedalism are Against
the Odds or Impossible.
-1 Wit
Lose D3 Vigour
Stat Checks are Against the Odds
for 5 minutes, or until Combat
ends, whichever is sooner.
Afflictions
Voluntarily taking an Affliction resets Grip
loses 2D6 Vigour instead)
to 10. Roll a D3 and a D6 on the table to de-
Lose an eye. Observation Checks termine a random Affliction, or talk with
relying on sight are Against the
the Doomsayer to pick one that’s themati-
Odds.
cally appropriate.
-1 Will
There are three Affliction types:
Lose D3 Grip
Character Flaws
Observation Checks are Against
the Odds for 5 minutes, or until Growing Afflictions
Combat ends, whichever is Special Afflictions
sooner.

6 No Effect No Effect No Effect

Character Flaws
A Character Flaw relies on delusion and so-
cial roleplaying. If a player fails to roleplay
a Character Flaw properly (Hoardlust
afflicted character giving money to beggars
or Despair of Worthiness afflicted charac-
ter appearing confident or arrogant), the
Doomsayer should warn them before de-
ducting Grip points for unchanged behav-
ior. A Character Flaw is a manifestation of
psychological trauma, not a cheap and easy
means of recovering Grip, and should not
be misused.
If you roll a Character Flaw the character
already has, roleplay it as worsening (with
increased Grip Costs for failure) or re-roll.
Growing Afflictions
Growing Afflictions usually involve rolling
Will Checks to avoid certain behaviours.
When a character first develops a Growing
Affliction, the associated Will Checks are
with the Upper Hand. If the character takes
the same Growing Affliction a second time,
the Will Checks are taken normally. A third
time, the Will Checks are Against The
Odds, and a fourth time the Will Checks
become Impossible. A character this psy-
chologically damaged should probably be
retired for a new character.
Growing Afflictions often have Triggers.
Some are Triggered by interaction with an
environment, monster or opportunity. For
example, Silver Fingers entails compulsive
theft and is Triggered whenever there’s
something easily stolen. The Doomsayer or
the player may suggest a Trigger, as can
other players—but don’t expect to keep
your friends for long if you’re regularly
pointing out their character’s Afflictions.
For some Afflictions, such as Bitter Grudge
or Debilitating Dread, the player and
Doomsayer decide on the Trigger. It should
be something relating to a monster or envi-
ronmental feature they’ve faced recently,
ideally one they spent a large amount of
Grip fighting or surviving.
Special Afflictions
Special Afflictions have mechanical effects
but do not revolve around Will Checks.
Characters cannot develop the same Spe-
cial Affliction more than once. If you roll a
Special Affliction you already have, re-roll.
List of Afflictions
Bitter Grudge (Growing Affliction)
The afflicted develops an encompassing
hatred of a certain monster type or foe.
When Triggered, roll a successful Will
Check or spend 1 Grip. If you do not, the
afflicted is Against The Odds when at-
tempting any actions other than attacking
and destroying the Trigger.
Brittle Minded (Special Affliction)
The character is rocked and half broken by
repeated exposure to horrors. All future
Grip Checks are Against The Odds.
Debilitating Dread (Growing Affliction)
The character develops an irrational (or
highly rational) fear of a certain environ-
ment, monster type or foe, which can re-
duce them to a shivering wreck. When
Triggered you must roll a successful Will
Check or spend 1 Grip or the afflicted is
Against The Odds attempting any actions
save running and hiding from the Trigger
until the threat passes.
Deep Despair (Character Flaw)
The character develops a deep and fore-
boding sense of self hatred characterised by
meekness, inaction or lack of confidence.
They undersell their abilities and lack mo-
tivation.
Feasting Dreams (Growing Affliction)
The character develops persistent, harsh
and terrifying nightmares. Regenerating
Vigour or Grip from sleep or rest requires a
successful Will Check.
Frothing Rage (Growing Affliction)
The character develops fits of uncontrol-
lable anger in battle. When combat starts,
pass a Will Check or spend 1 Grip to resist
the rage. Otherwise, the character must
spend the whole combat attacking relent-
lessly, spending Grip on their strongest at-
tacks and abilities to destroy the present
foe. During this time, all melee attacks have
the Upper Hand, but the Doomsayer will
not allow tactical or coordinated actions.
Guided By The Gods (Character Flaw)
The character develops a belief that a di-
vine figure—a Herald, Cinderbeast, Beyon-
der, one of their masters or something else
entirely—has chosen them to fulfil some
sacred quest or mission. Characterised by
self-righteousness, arrogance or belief that
divine providence guides their actions and
they can do no wrong. The divine isn’t nec-
essarily real.
Hoardlust (Character Flaw)
The character develops an unhealthy love
for gold and treasure, sometimes called
Dragon-Sickness, characterised by selfish-
ness, mercenary behavior and avarice.
Cryptdigging leaves some hollow, reducing
their desires to accumulating money and
material wealth. To gather worldly posses-
sions they are prepared to backstab or be-
tray others. Given the choice of saving an
ally or escaping with treasure, they un-
equivocally take the money and run.
I Am The Fire (Character Flaw)
The character develops arrogant confi-
dence in their abilities, belief they are more
skilled than any Cryptdigger or Crypt-
Thing. They might dismiss even their com-
panions’ sagest advice as, naturally, their
plan is superior. They might even mock and
patronise their fellow allies with character-
istic arrogance, selfishness and abusive-
ness.
I Shall Be Clean (Growing Affliction)
The character develops a neurotic hatred
for dirt, filth, slime, blood and the Crypt’s
other unclean elements. Each night they
sleep without somehow bathing or cleans-
ing themselves, they must pass a Will
Check to regenerate any Vigour or Grip.
Lost And Without Hope (Character Flaw)
The character has seen too much evil in the
Crypt, they’ve realised the world is
doomed, and before society collapses they
must prepare for the Apocalypse. They
must repent for their sins and purify their
bodies and souls by mutilating themselves
with tattoos or piercings or deliberate
wounds. Characterised by a lack of respect
for their own mortality, apathy to the con-
sequences of their actions or long, hazy
endtime rants to any listener.
Love of the Dirt (Growing Affliction)
The character develops a hatred of cleanli-
ness and order, a refusal to clean and a love
of wallowing in dirt, filth, blood, slime and
the Crypt’s other unclean elements. Even-
tually, their body begins decaying. For each
instance of this Affliction they become in-
creasingly disgusting to interact with and
are Against The Odds for Wit Checks to in-
teract with non-hostile creatures. They
might also be barred from certain social
environments outside the Crypt. Whenever
they try to rest after somehow being bathed
or cleansed, they must pass a Will Check to
regenerate any Vigour or Grip.
Man-Eater (Growing Affliction)
The character develops a taste for human
or demi-human flesh and blood. If resting
without consuming human or demi-human
flesh they must pass a Will Check to regen-
erate any Vigour or Grip. Obviously, canni-
bals are hunted down and killed by society,
so this is usually hidden—no one wants
their Cryptdigging companions to eat their
corpses.
Monster Moods
Not every monster should attack on sight;
Best Left Buried becomes too lethal in that
case. For ideas, assign a monster one of the
following categories, and roll for its mood
or activity when first encountered. This
idea borrows heavily from Troika, which
rocks.
These, even more than other random
tables, are guidelines and not rules. If a roll Zini 6: Monsters
doesn't make sense, re-roll or replace it. Published by SoulMuppet Publishing (www.soulmuppet.co.uk)
Written by Zachary Cox and Nicholas Spence | Art by Ben Brown | Layout by Lone Archivist
Editing by Vi Huntsman (MRC), Fiona Geist (MRC), and James M Hewitt

unless it poses a beastly challenge for

Monster Moods high level characters. Players like
hitting monsters, so increase Vigour
General Abominations Great Beasts Critters Hunter- Guards
D6 Horror, Demon, Dragon, Manticore, Rats, Goblins, Birds Gatherers Soldiers, Orcs, instead or give it an Advancement like
Elemental Giant Rats, Goblins, Birds Bandits
Ironshelled or Hex-Proof.
1 Helpful Skulking Sleepy Distracted Cautious Distracted
• List what the monster is good and bad
at, to increase its flavour. It has the
2 Friendly Gibbering Satiated Inquisitive Unobservant Tenacious
Upper Hand on things it is good at and is
Against The Odds at things it is bad at.
3 Indifferent Feeding Bored Skittish Friendly Lazy
To convert monsters from D20 roleplaying
4 Wary Sleeping Hungry Opportunistic Lurking Corruptible games, give D6 Vigour and 1 Grip per “Hit
Die”. Armour 8 is about 10 AC, increased by
5 Unfriendly Hungry Ravenous Hungry Unfriendly Arguing one for every two points of AC.

6 Hostile Aggressive Enraged Playful Scheming Alert

More Monster Moods

D6 Constructs Cultists Otherworlders Brigands Civilians
Rats, Goblins, Birds Wizards, Priests, Imps, Elementals, Raiders, Bandits, Merchant, Captive,
Acolytes Poltergeists Adventurers Slave

1 Oblivious Enraptured Nattering Argumentative Fearful

2 Confused Suspicious Etherial Plundering Confused

Monster Adaptations
3 Indifferent Paranoid Destructive Resting Shocked Give a monster any Advancements that
make sense, or one of the Adaptations
4 Defensive Deceptive Deceitful Unaware Supplicative listed inside.
If a monster with no Grip has an
5 Implacable Ensorcelled Furious Curious Helpful
Advancement requiring Grip, it spends 2
Vigour for each point of Grip instead.
6 Enraged Violent Dispassionate Violent Panicking
Acidic: Spend 2 Grip to damage a metal
tool, Weapon or Armour in the same Zone.
This permanently reduces damage or Ar-
mour by 1, or imposes Against The Odds on
the tool’s Stat Checks. If 3 of these effects
stack, the object breaks.
Amorphous: Spend 1 Grip to don a new
form which may be obvious (like a Slime
taking a new shape) or impossible to detect
(like a Doppelgänger or other sinister
shapeshifter).
Aquatic: This aquatic or amphibious crea-
ture has the Upper Hand on underwater
Stat Checks.
Beetle-Flesh: When killed, the monster
turns into a swarm of rats, bats, worms or
insects. If they are not all destroyed, it re-
forms in D6 days.
Blinking: Spend 1 Grip as an action to dis-
appear from view and move up to D3 Zones
away. Wit Checks to Escape with this
movement are Trivial.
Bloodthirsty: The monster has the Upper
Hand to Attack targets with less than half
their Maximum Vigour.
Bloodscent: The monster has the Upper
Hand on Observation Checks to detect tar-
gets with less than half their Maximum Vi-
gour.
Brittleskinned: Attacks against the mon-
ster have the Upper Hand.
Compressible: The monster is unimpeded
in tight spaces, possibly quickening or al-
lowing movement through some Impass-
able zones.
Corpsemover: Spend 1 Grip as an action to
make a humanoid corpse do something un-
natural, like glow, stand up or dance.
Devour: As an action, attempt to consume a
creature it has Restrained via in the same
Zone. The target must pass a Brawn or Wit
Check or is Restrained and can make a
Brawn or Wit Check on their next turn to
Escape. On a subsequent turn the monster
can repeat the action to make their target
pass another Brawn Check or Wit Check or
be fully consumed. The end result varies by
the Monster, but usually the target loses
Vigour and Grip, suffers Injuries or even
dies.
Disguise: The monster can pass as a mun-
dane object like a statue, a floor, a wall or
furniture. Observation Checks may be re-
quired to notice it.
Disorganised: Each additional Upper Hand
gained from Ganging Up requires 3 identi-
cal monsters instead of 2. Example: 2 mon-
sters: Normal, 3 monsters: Upper Hand, 4
monsters: Upper Hand, 5 monsters: Upper
Hand, 6 monsters: 2x Upper Hand.
Elemental: Choose an elemental type for
the monster. Its attacks count as magical
and deal that element’s damage. Also, At-
tacks of that element against the monster
are Against The Odds.
Ethereal: Attacks from non-magical
Weapons against the monster are Against
The Odds.
Fearsome: The first time a character sees
the monster, they must roll a Grip Check.
Fear of the Light: The monster’s Stat
Checks, Observation Checks and Attacks
are Against The Odds while in sunlight.
Fire-Breathing: The monster can use 1-2
Vigour as Grip on a 1:1 basis to use Fire &
Lightning Strange (Zini 3).
Flame-Wreathed: If a creature ends its
turn in the same Zone as one or more mon-
sters with this Adaptation, it loses 1 Vigour.
Monsters with this Adaptation are un-
affected.
Flesh-Gorging: As an action, the monster
can feast on a recently deceased corpse, re-
covering D6 Vigour on a successful Brawn
Check.
Flying: The monster can use its move to fly
into Zones in the air.
Gelatinous Grip: This monster’s Attacks
Restrain creatures who fail a Brawn Check.
Restrained creatures must use their action
to roll a Brawn or Wit Check to escape.
Hex-Addled: This monster is Against The
Odds on Stat Checks to resist magical
effects, and magical Attacks against the
monster have the Upper Hand.
Hex-Proof: This monster has the Upper
Hand on Stat Checks to resist magical
effects, and magical Attacks against the
monster are Against The Odds.
Hulking: Ranged Attacks made against the
monster have the Upper Hand.
Ironshelled: Weapon Attacks against the
monster are Against The Odds.
Lifedrinker: The monster regains 1 Vigour
for every 2 damage it inflicts, rounding up.
Luminescent: The monster fills a number
of Zones with light. Depending on its
power, this may be its Zone, every adjacent
Zone or even more.
Nimble: The monster has the Upper Hand
on Wit Checks to Escape.
Otherworldly Gaze: As an action, the mon-
ster’s gaze can force a creature to make an
Against The Odds Grip Check. If they fail,
they lose D3 Grip.
Quick Reflexes: Wit Checks made by crea-
tures trying to Escape the monster are
Against The Odds.
Rampage: Once per round when the Mon-
ster takes damage, it may immediately
make an Attack against a target in its Zone.
Razorclawed: The monster’s Attacks have
the Upper Hand.
Resistance: The Monster has the Upper
Hand on Stat Checks to resist 1 type of
damage (fire, slashing, bludgeoning, pierc-
ing, acid, lightning etc.) and Attacks of this
damage type are Against The Odds.
Petrifying Gaze: As an action the monster
can force an enemy in the same or adjacent
Zone to pass a Will Check or be Immobi-
lized as they begin turning to stone. If the
monster targets the same creature on a
subsequent turn, and they fail another Will
Check the target is fully turned to stone.
Powerful holy magic is required to restore
them, returning them to life Unconscious.
Shadowclad: While the monster is in
shadow, Observation Checks to notice it
are Against The Odds.
Soulfeast: The monster gains D3 Vigour
upon killing a creature.
Spider-Climb: The monster can stick to
walls or ceilings, quickening its movement
or allowing passage through some Impass-
able Zones.
Slippery: Attempts to Grapple or otherwise
Restrain the monster are Against The Odds.
Undead: The monster cannot be targeted
by mind altering magics and does not have
to eat, breathe or drink. Reduce its Initia-
tive by 1.
Unstoppable: This monster never rolls In-
juries; instead, it takes 1D6 additional
damage when Injured.
Violent End: The monster explodes when it
dies. Every creature in its Zone must pass a
Wit Check or take D3 damage.
Weakness: The monster is Against The
Odds on Stat Checks to resist 1 type of
damage (fire, slashing, bludgeoning, pierc-
ing, acid, lightning etc.) and Attacks
against it using this damage have the Up-
per Hand.
Wound-Knitting: The monster recovers D3
Vigour at the start of each of its turns. De-
pending on the monster, this might be dis-
abled by acid, cold, holy or fire damage.