i

i
Devin Fortman / Hare Trigger Games, April 2021, v1.1
Inspiration: John Harper, Emanuele Galletto, Call of Cthulhu, Vaesen, The Witcher.
Intro music: Transylvania, by Iron Maiden.
Artwork by Jakub Rozalski, used with permission.
Title and logo fonts courtesy of HPLHS Inc.
This game is licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0.
Thanks to the Wild Clump for playtesting and proofreading.

ii
 “Those that men call Werewolves or Lycanthropes call themselves the
Hounds of God, as they claim their transformation is a gift from their
creator, and they repay the gift with their tenacity, for they will pursue
an evildoer to the very gates of Hell.”
– NEIL GAIMAN, THE GRAVEYARD BOOK

The Benandanti (“Good Walkers”) are a
society of werewolves who see their
abilities as divine gifts, and use them to
protect their communities from
Malandanti (“Evil Walkers”), such as
demons, sorcerers, and undead. They
form a loose network scattered across
Southern and Eastern Europe, mainly
around the Baltic and Mediterranean.
Packs hold rituals on the solstices and
equinoxes, when they journey to the
Underworld to battle demons. If they
fight well, they can drive the demons
away from their village, bringing good
fortune and a strong harvest. If not, the
village will be plagued with bad luck
and famine until the Benandanti can
defeat the demons again.
In the Middle Ages, the Benandanti
were an open secret, known and
respected in the communities they
served. Even so, their supernatural foes
were not the only threat that packs had
to face: The Inquisition first
encountered the group in northern Italy,
and accused them of witchcraft and
heresy; as Church dogma stated that
werewolves got their powers through a
pact with Satan, and were to be burned
at the stake. Even under torture,
captured Benandanti insisted that they
weren’t in league with the Devil, but
were fighting against Hell and its
minions. The Inquisition couldn’t find
an argument with their reasoning, and
eventually had to give up and look the
other way.
CHARACTER CREATION
1. Concept: Most Benandanti are
werewolves (known as “Hounds”), but
not all are. Some, called “Seers” or
“Witches” are not shapeshifters, but
have other magical talents such as
casting rituals and dealing with spirits.
Other sorts of werecreatures might
appear in a campaign, such as a Norse
Barsark, or another wandering
shapeshifter from more distant lands.
The Benandanti are often supported by
their mundane neighbors as well,
usually indirectly, but there is nothing
stopping a normal human from fighting
alongside the pack. Write down your
character’s name, plus a few words

-1-
about their background and appearance.
If they are a shapeshifter, decide
whether they transform into a normal
looking animal, or a bipedal hybrid
form.
2. Attributes: Scores can be from -1 to
+4, with high scores being better. The
three scores start with a sum total of +1,
so you could have +1/+0/+0; +1/+1/-1;
+2/+0/-1; or even +3/-1/-1.
 Might is used for strength,
toughness, intimidation, and melee
combat.
 Agility covers dexterity, reflexes,
stealth, and ranged combat.
 Insight represents awareness,
knowledge, cunning, and willpower.
You also start with 6 Hit Points (HP)
and 2 Grit.
3. Talents: Pick two Talents for your
character. Hounds and Seers each have
access to their own Talent lists, while
any character can pick General Talents.
Other shapeshifters use the Hound list.
Players can also work with their GM to
adjust or create new Talents to suit their
character concept, if necessary. You can
add more flavor to your character by
describing what it looks like when they
use their Talents, rather than just saying
“I cast Shielding on Ondrej; he has three
points of armor.”
-2-
HOUND TALENTS
 Ghost Fang: Your teeth and claws in
werewolf form overcome
supernatural damage resistance as if
they were pure iron, and can also
damage incorporeal foes.
 Iron Pelt: You have +1 armor in
werewolf form, and add one die to
your healing rolls in either form.
These bonuses do not apply to
wounds caused by iron weapons.
 Refined Shifting: Instead of having
just an animal or hybrid form, you
can transform into either, or change
only specific parts of your body,
such as growing claws while in
human form.
 Discerning Nose: You have
advantage on tracking rolls, can
always recognize scents you’ve
encountered before, and can learn
detailed information from scent with
an Insight roll.
 Night Terror: With a Might roll, you
can terrify onlookers, usually
causing them to flee in panic. This
roll has disadvantage against most
supernatural beings, and some are
completely immune.
 Shade Cloak: The shadows come
alive to hide you, granting
advantage on stealth rolls. You can
also take advantage of this to stoke
paranoia in a target you’re stalking.
 Forest Runner: You have advantage
on rolls involving chasing, fleeing, or
traversing obstacles. You also do not
leave a visible trail unless you
choose to.
 SEER/WITCH TALENTS
 Witch Sight: You can sense the
presence of nearby spirits, and with
an Insight roll you can see them, get
an idea of their mood, and possibly
communicate with them.
 Ghost Walk: You can go into a
trance to project your soul out of
your body, effectively acting as a
ghost for a short while. Allows you
to directly engage ghosts and spirits
– and vice versa.
 Shielding: You can summon three
“floating” points of armor to
distribute amongst yourself and
your allies. Requires concentration,
giving you disadvantage on other
rolls while active.
 Guards and Wards: Anyone can
make a salt circle or ward a
doorway, but you can create magical
defenses strong enough to keep
more powerful supernatural beings
at bay... at least for a while.
 Suggestion: With some brief
conversation and an Insight roll, you
can cloud one person’s mind to issue
a simple command, such as “Forget
you saw me” or “Let us pass”.
 Sending: You can concentrate to
form a brief mental link with one
other character at a time. You can
send them a short message, and they
can reply if they pass an Insight roll.
 Familiar: You have a companion in
the form of a small animal or minor
spirit. It is loyal, fairly intelligent,
and you can communicate with it
telepathically.
-3-
GENERAL TALENTS
 Signature Weapon: Pick one type of
weapon (including teeth/claws).
You gain +1 damage with it, and one
other perk, such as: armor piercing,
long reach, or sweep/area attack.
 Herbalist: You know which plants
and fungi are edible, and can create a
variety of remedies, potions, and
poultices with an Insight roll. You
can also heal one person +1d6 HP
each rest.
 Folklorist: You are well versed in
fairy stories, legends, and “old
wives’ tales”, and have advantage on
rolls to recall or research information
about supernatural creatures.
 Sheep’s Clothing: You have a knack
for blending in with a crowd,
smoothing out social mishaps, and
generally pretending to be a normal
human; gain advantage on any
related rolls.
 Animal Empathy: You can
communicate with animals on a
basic level, and may convince them
to aid you with an Insight roll and
the right incentive (often food).
 Strength of the Pack: You are
always ready to help a packmate in
need. When you roll to assist another
character or take a hit for them, gain
advantage on your roll.
 Artificer: You have a knack for
tinkering and working with metal.
You can modify your pack's
equipment, or create specialized
tools, traps, and weapons.
4. Leveling up: Advancing a level
requires a number of Experience (Exp)
equal to the next level. Going to level 2
requires 2 Exp, level 3 requires 3 more
Exp, and so on. At each level you gain 1
Attribute point, 1 Talent, 4 Hit Points,
and 1 Grit. Characters can reach a
maximum of level 6, although they can
keep adventuring until they decide
they’re too old for “active duty”.
PACK CREATION
Before starting a campaign, players
should introduce their character
concepts, discuss everybody’s place in
the group, and come up with a shared
background for their characters.
Consider taking inspiration from real
wolf packs: the “alpha/beta/omega”
terminology is somewhat outdated, but
there is still a clear structure, and each
wolf has its own role in the hunt.
The players and game master should
work together to decide the status of the
pack when the campaign opens. Do they
have a home town and territory to
defend, or do they wander the
countryside seeking new prey? Do they
have ready access to equipment, or do
they need to scrounge for basic
supplies? What allies can the pack rely
on, and what enemies are especially
persistent – human or otherwise? The
GM may have a specific type of
campaign laid out, but players are
encouraged to contribute toward world-
building, both before and during a
game, and should suggest any themes
or elements they especially want to see
expanded upon.
-4-
ROLLING THE DICE
When your character tries to do
something risky, or resist danger, the
game master will ask for an attribute
roll based on the situation. The GM does
not roll dice for enemies in combat, so
your roll represents both your
character’s and your opponent’s “turn”.
Roll two dice (2d6) and add the relevant
attribute (Might, Agility, or Insight) to
find out how well it goes.
 A total of 1 or less is a critical miss:
the attempt fails terribly.
 A total of 6 or less is a miss: you fail
the attempt and something bad
happens as a result.
 A total of 7-9 is a partial success: you
succeed, but with a complication or
reduced effect.
 A total of 10-12 is a normal success:
you do what you were trying to do.
 A total of 13 or higher is a critical
success: you succeed with increased
effect or an extra benefit.
No matter your attributes, rolling a 1 on
both dice is a critical miss, and rolling a
6 on both dice is a critical success. In
combat, a success generally means you
deal 1d6 damage plus your Attribute
modifier; double damage on a critical
success. On a miss, your opponent deals
damage to you, and on a partial success
you both deal damage to each other.
 MODIFIERS
The GM may decide that a dice roll
should be tougher or easier based on the
situation. If the character has a
significant advantage, roll three dice
and take the two highest. If they are at a
significant disadvantage, roll three dice
and take the two lowest. Situations that
could grant advantage include:
attacking from surprise or a good
position, using the perfect tool or
weapon for the job, or being assisted by
a packmate. Situations that could
impose disadvantage include: being
surprised by an enemy, bad terrain or
visibility, or using unsuitable or
improvised equipment. If advantage
and disadvantage both apply to a roll,
they cancel out and you roll two dice as
normal.
WORKING TOGETHER
Teamwork is as important for the
Benandanti as it is for any wolf pack.
Before another player rolls, you may roll
to assist, granting them advantage if
you succeed. After someone else fails a
roll, you may roll with disadvantage to
try to mitigate the consequences, or take
the hit for them. For instance, Lukaž is
trying to fast-talk a suspicious
Inquisitor, and Nadja steps in to back up
his story. She rolls successfully, so
Lukaž gains advantage on his attempt.
If he fails anyway, Ondrej might try
offering the Inquisitor a bribe; rolling
with disadvantage to intervene before
Lukaž puts his foot in his mouth.
-5-
GRIT
Characters have points of Grit equal to
their level plus 1, which can be spent to
reroll or gain advantage on any one roll.
You must decide to reroll your action
before damage is rolled, but afterward
you may use Grit to reroll damage for
yourself or your opponent. You can also
spend Grit to introduce some element of
good fortune for your character, subject
to GM approval: “I’ve been to this town
before, I know someone who might help
us out”, or “Lucky thing there’s a table
leg here I could break off to stake this
vampire!” Besides this, Grit is used for
recovering HP, and refreshes when you
rest; see below.
If the GM wishes, they can award Grit
to players for things like coming up
with a great idea, or excellent
roleplaying moments. This “bonus” Grit
can go over the character’s normal
maximum, but is not regained during a
rest, and it disappears at the end of the
session. You can use poker chips, coins,
beads, or other tokens to represent
points of Grit.
DAMAGE AND HEALING
Failed or partially failed rolls can result
in damage to your character’s Hit
Points, especially in combat. Most
enemies deal 1d6 damage, weak
enemies or minor damage deal 1d3, and
powerful enemies or serious sources of
damage may deal 2d6 or more.
Wearing light armor such as leather
reduces physical damage by 1. Heavier
metal armor reduces damage by 2, but
slows you down and imposes
disadvantage on most Agility rolls. Any
armor impedes shapeshifting, unless it
is specially tailored to fit both forms.
When your group rests for a while, you
can heal 1d6 HP for each point of Grit
remaining, then recover any spent Grit,
and any temporary Attribute damage
you may have taken.
When you are reduced to 0 HP, make a
Might roll to see how badly you fare. On
a failure, your character dies, or suffers
some long-lasting consequence,
depending on the source of the damage.
With a successful roll, you are merely
unconscious, or otherwise out of the
action until you are healed.
When critically wounded, you can avoid
death three times by taking a permanent
Scar: Hazy (-1 Might, Agility, or
Insight), Weary (-1 Grit), or Broken (-4
max HP). Once you’ve taken all three
Scars, you can’t cheat death again.
SHAPESHIFTING
Contrary to the popular Hollywood
image of werewolves (which mostly
comes from French folklore, spread by
the medieval church), the Benandanti do
not turn into bloodthirsty lunatics at the
full moon. They are born as
werewolves, not cursed, and they retain
their identity when transformed, albeit a
little more “feral”, focused on senses
and instinct. They can shapeshift at any
time, either into a normal looking wolf,
or a bipedal hybrid form with a canine
head, tail, fur, and digitigrade legs.
-6-
In game terms, a character’s stats don’t
change when they shapeshift, but in
animal form they can attempt feats that
would be impossible as a human (and
vice versa). GMs should feel free to
apply advantage or disadvantage on
rolls depending on what shape the
character is in. For combat rolls, simply
being in werewolf form is probably not
enough to grant advantage, unless the
GM intends for a high-action game
style. Shifting will have narrative effects
as well; for instance, a character in four-
legged form can run much faster than a
human, but will be unable to hold
weapons.
Silver weapons have no extra effect on
werecreatures (another Hollywood
invention), but injuries sustained in one
form carry over to the other – a trait
often exploited by witch-finders to
determine the identity of a hunted
shapeshifter.
EQUIPMENT
Pure iron is anathema to many
supernatural creatures, so most
Benandanti carry some kind of weapon
incorporating it; ranging from simple
iron-shod clubs and staves, to sabers,
musket balls, and more exotic items like
iron-studded whips. At minimum, they
keep a sturdy iron knife at hand for
fighting, utility, and ritual use. They
also employ many traditional remedies
for the supernatural, such as protective
amulets, charms, and herbs – albeit not
always in their traditional forms, such
as a salt-filled shotgun for driving off
ghosts.
Players should write down a few
signature items for their character; they
always have those items, as well as basic
“monster-hunting” equipment, and they
don’t need to track supplies unless there
is a shortage for some reason.
RUNNING THE GAME
There are three main themes to the
adventures of the Benandanti:
Investigating mystery, hunting prey,
and evading persecution. Any given
game session should emphasize one of
these themes, but there will usually be
elements of all three. The adventure is
often kicked off with some type of
mystery to unravel: suspicious
disappearances, unexplained maladies,
or other strange events occur, and the
pack needs to find the source of the
problem. Then, they must find their
enemies’ vulnerabilities, and formulate
a plan of attack to turn the tables and
bring down their prey. And at all times
they need to be careful to not become
hunted themselves: whether by
powerful supernatural foes, agents of
the Inquisition, or an old fashioned
torch-and-pitchfork mob.
The power level of the game is kept
deliberately vague, so GMs have a lot of
flexibility setting the tone of a
campaign. This could range from high
action-adventure with the characters
carving through hordes of undead and
easily slipping past the Inquisition, to
gritty “realism” where one rogue spirit
or dedicated witch-finder could severely
test the pack’s skills and resources. It
depends on what elements of the world
the GM wants to emphasize, and how
-7-
difficult they make the obstacles and
enemies. Don’t be afraid to challenge the
players: finding solutions for seemingly
impassable problems is part of the
game, and they have plenty of
mechanical options for when things get
tough, including teamwork, Grit, and
Scars.
Metaphysics are flexible as well, and left
to GMs and players to build upon.
Magic in your game might be readily
available and easy to use (both for
characters and their enemies), or even
things like shapeshifting and basic
spells could require lengthy rituals. As
for supernatural beliefs, the Benandanti
originated from prehistoric shamanic
traditions, but by the Middle Ages most
are Christian (although certainly non-
orthodox), while some keep the old
Pagan faith alive.
PROGRESS CLOCKS
To depict progress toward a
long term outcome, the GM
can draw a “clock” with
four to eight segments. This
can represent a goal the PCs are trying
to accomplish, like a complex ritual; or
something they want to stop, like a slow
poison or an enemy rallying their
strength. Fill in or erase segments based
on the passage of time or the players’
rolls (two segments on a critical roll),
and when all segments are filled the
event is complete.
 THE FORTUNE DICE
The GM doesn’t usually roll dice, but
sometimes they need a quick answer to
a question of random chance, or NPC
reactions. When that happens, roll a
couple of dice and decide the outcome
based on the result. You can apply
advantage or disadvantage, if
appropriate. How many Inquisitors are
heading towards the party? Roll the
Fortune Dice. How suspicious are they?
Roll the Fortune Dice. (Trick question.
Inquisitors are always suspicious.)
GAME STRUCTURE
Game sessions are like episodes in a TV
show. You can run a series of “monster
of the week” adventures without much
connection between episodes, or plan a
more structured storyline that builds up
to a “season finale”. Ideally, try to mix
both styles, with some episodes directly
tied to an overarching plotline, and
some side stories for variety (which can
also include elements that relate back to
the main plot). The major villain or
threat of the season should be
introduced or at least hinted at within
the first couple episodes, at which point
it is too powerful, distant, or mysterious
to confront. As the story progresses, the
characters will learn more about the
antagonist while dealing with its
minions or other fallout. By the finale,
they have the strength and knowledge
to either hunt down their enemy in its
lair or prepare for its final attack, and
destroy it for good... unless it manages
to escape for the next season!
-8-
ADVERSARIES AND THREATS
Take inspiration from the native
mythology of whatever area the PCs are
in: If they are based in Eastern Europe,
they will mainly be dealing with figures
from Slavic folklore, but a traveling
pack could face creatures more familiar
to Western European or Scandinavian
fantasy, or more exotic beings
depending on how far they wander. Do
not just throw monsters at the party for
the sake of it; even a minor foe will have
a reason for being there that relates to
the bigger picture.
Supernatural beings are not necessarily
evil, even if their actions are sometimes
harmful toward humans. Most are
simply trying to survive and take care of
their own needs, and some are even
helpful to humans. Many of these
beings have their own ecology,
coexisting with the mundane world, and
only start causing problems when
humans do something to upset the
balance. Often, an apparently
supernatural threat is deliberately or
indirectly caused by human action; and
a seemingly mundane problem will
often have a supernatural twist.
 Spirits: Incorporeal living beings
native to this world. Most are
repelled by iron, but cannot be
harmed directly by normal means.
Often tied to a certain place or item,
which is where it’s vulnerable.
 Demons: Unnatural creatures from
other planes of existence, usually
summoned to this world by a
sorcerer. Some can be directly
harmed by iron weapons; others
must be banished or exorcised.
 Undead: Walking corpses, scheming
vampires, lost ghosts, and anything
in between. Even the corporeal ones
are usually resistant to conventional
weapons, but fire, silver, or salt may
prove more effective.
 Creatures: Many different types of
more-or-less natural beings with
supernatural abilities; the Hounds
themselves arguably belong in this
category. Many are harmed more by
iron than steel.
 Sorcerers: There are many benign
witches, sages, and seers, but a few
individuals or cults are too hungry
for power. They often summon or
manipulate other beings to further
their own schemes.
 Humans: Suspicious townsfolk and
guardsmen, plotting rulers and rival
fiefdoms, hapless fools accidentally
stirring up trouble, and the looming
threat of the Inquisition.
OTHER WORLDS
The “Good Walkers” are named for
their penchant for walking between
worlds, traveling to other planes of
reality than our own familiar one. Such
worlds may be accessed at certain places
where they intersect with Earth; either
on purpose by those knowledgeable
about such things, or accidentally by an
unwary traveler. These portals are not
one-way doors, and inhabitants from
the other side sometimes cross over to
Earth, often upsetting the natural order
until they are banished and the rift
sealed. Certain times of year or
-9-
astronomical events can also weaken the
barriers between worlds; in particular
the solstices and equinoxes.
The exact nature of the other worlds will
depend on where the pack’s adventures
take them. There may be many separate
planes of existence, or all of the
“worlds” could be different locations
within one plane. Either way, space and
time are highly fluid in these realms,
and they tend to be very dangerous for
non-natives, even the Benandanti.
Inhabitants that cannot be directly
harmed on Earth can be engaged here,
but they still have the home field
advantage.
The plane that the Benandanti are
generally most concerned with is the
Underworld: realm of unfortunate dead
souls and home to countless demons
that plague Earth when given the
chance. At the solstices and equinoxes,
all Benandanti who are able gather their
packs for the quarterly ritual: either
defending their villages from
encroaching demons, or launching an
attack into the Underworld to stop the
invaders at their source.
OTHER SETTINGS
The Benandanti were active into the
18th century before fading out,
displaced by mainstream religion and
modern rationality... or did they simply
become more secretive, hiding in plain
sight while continuing their mission? In
the 20th century, expansion of the Soviet
Union forced the Benandanti to go
further underground, but they also
dispersed across the world, as emigrants
carried their traditions with them. The
core of the group is still Eastern
European, but it’s become a global
organization for any like-minded
shapeshifters. They network, share
intelligence, and call for reinforcements
through an online forum – disguised as
a fan site for a popular “dark”
roleplaying game: “Our group’s
planning a big adventure next weekend,
but we could use a few more players.
Who’s up for game night?”
The standard setting is Southern or
Eastern Europe in the 16th-17th century,
but the Benandanti had their roots in
prehistory, and could exist into the
modern period. Thus, campaigns can
take place at pretty much any time in
history. They need not be limited to
Europe either, or even to werewolves.
There are stories all over the world of
shapeshifter societies, such as
Scandinavian bear-skins, African
leopard men, and South American
jaguar warriors. The enterprising GM
will need to do their own historical
research for those, however.
HISTORICAL NOTE
Belief in werewolves was widespread in
medieval Europe, and made up a lesser
known part of the witchcraft trials. In
fact, accused witches were usually
hanged, while the infamous burning at
the stake was more often reserved for
suspected werewolves. Thousands of
- 10 -
innocent men and women were killed
this way, and even into the eighteenth
century people would stand up in court
and accuse their neighbor of
transforming into a wolf for nefarious
purposes. Real wolves were also
brutally exterminated from large
portions of Europe; thought to be literal
servants of Satan.
The Benandanti were real groups of
people all over Southern and Eastern
Europe, who claimed they could
shapeshift into werewolves (either in
physical or spiritual form), and held
rituals throughout the year to protect
their villages from demonic attack. They
were supported by their communities,
but hunted by the Roman Catholic
Inquisition. On trial, the Benandanti
stuck to their argument that they were
fighting against the forces of Hell, and
the Inquisition gave up on them after
more than a century of torture and
persecution.
Although werewolf trials are now a
thing of the past, real wolves are still in
trouble in many regions of the world.
Countless people cling to the medieval
image of the wolf, slaughtering them at
any given opportunity. You can help
support wolves and science-based
conservation through groups such as
the International Wolf Center and
Defenders of Wildlife; and local
sanctuaries like The Wolf Mountain
Nature Center.
LITHUANIA, DECEMBER 1608. One of the PCs receives a carrier pigeon from their cousin,
a healer in a nearby town, detailing an unknown sickness and livestock attacks. This
adventure is meant to be relatively straightforward, and should take about two sessions
to complete. It can be stretched out by adding more combat encounters or red herrings,
or trimmed down to one session by being more generous with clues and removing
some elements such as the Inquisitors.

Cousin, I hope this note finds you and your associates well. I cannot say
as much for my own town. A strange malady has left many of my
patients bedridden with no cause that I can discern. Surrounding farms
have been ravaged, but by no creature that I know of. And worst, our
officials dismiss these problems as fantasy, refusing to take action. I am
at a loss, but I think this may be within your field of expertise. Please
visit Selburg soon; I would be very glad to see you. Be careful. – Kaja

SELBURG is a large town in the Duchy of
Livonia, located near the Russian
border, a couple days away from the
pack’s home village. At the time,
Livonia is part of the Polish-Lithuanian
Commonwealth, although the ruling
class is mainly German, as is the official
language. The territory has changed
hands many times, but relations with
the neighbors are quiet for now. There is
no local Benandanti pack in town, but
the PCs visit occasionally, and have a
few contacts and allies such as Kaja.
KAJA VARNIŠKIS is an expert apothecary
and healer; intelligent and deeply
concerned for her patients. She knows
the general idea of what her cousin’s
“associates” do; they have helped her
before, and she trusts them. Kaja will
tell the PCs everything she knows about
the affliction, and can show them some
of the patients, but she has no idea as to
the cause, only the symptoms.
THE ILLNESS: Dozens of villagers are
sluggish and lethargic, but numbly go
about their business. More serious cases
are completely bedridden, culminating
in about a dozen deaths so far. All of the
victims are otherwise healthy adults,
but there is no other apparent pattern

- 11 -
that Kaja can discern. What really
puzzles her about the disease is that it
does not seem to spread through a
household: in most cases, only one
family member is stricken. The sufferers
have been afflicted by the merchant and
necromancer Kirill Sakharov while
visiting his shop, and many of the
deceased have risen from their graves as
vampires under his control.
UPYR: Lesser vampires known to Slavic
folklore, appearing as feral corpses
covered in grave dirt. They are mostly
unintelligent, but can coordinate
ambushes, and turn to mist to infiltrate
or escape combat. They avoid bright
sunlight, but cloud cover, thick forests,
and buildings are fine for them. All
Upyr take half damage from normal
weapons, but double damage from fire
or silver. May be repelled by garlic, and
a stake to the heart paralyzes them.
When they bite an opponent, the victim
must make a Might save, or lose 1
temporary point of Might. Advanced
Upyr are somewhat more intelligent,
less decayed-looking, and much faster.
 Upyr: 6 HP, claws/improvised
weapons (1d6-1), or bite (1d3 armor
piercing, Might drain).
 Advanced Upyr: 10 HP,
crossbow/saber (1d6) or bite (1d3
AP, Might drain).
LIVESTOCK ATTACKS: Sheep and cattle
in surrounding farms have been killed
with their throats ripped out, but there
- 12 -
are no animal tracks or scent. Most of
the farmers blame wolves by default,
but some realize it wasn’t the work of a
normal predator. The newly spawned
Upyr are responsible, but they are
getting tired of feeding on livestock, and
will start attacking farmers, travelers,
and PCs when given the chance.
TOWN HALL: Most government officials
seem unaffected by the disease, and
dismiss the problems as normal sickness
and wolf attacks. Burgomeister Albrecht
von Selburg and a handful of other
officials have been enthralled by the
necromancer, and will interfere with the
PCs’ investigations if they get too nosey.
The pack may run into Sakharov here,
concluding a meeting with Albrecht. A
clerk, Šimon Palkas, knows that
Sakharov has some kind of influence
over the burgomeister, although he
believes it to be blackmail. He will try to
give the pack hints, but may get killed
or enthralled if he sticks his neck out too
much (i.e. if the PCs rely on him too
much).
 Town Guards: 6 HP, 1 armor,
halberds and matchlock muskets
(1d6).
 Guard Officer: 8 HP, 1 armor, saber
and wheellock pistol (1d6).
THE INN: Owner Nataža Straižys will
talk to any customers, providing local
news and directions around town. She is
a little familiar with the Benandanti; the
PCs have stayed at her inn before, and
she knows they are here to help. Nataža
takes no nonsense at her establishment,
and keeps a crossbow behind the bar for
emergencies.
THE CHURCH: Father Eckhart is worried
for his congregation, and is sure that the
illness and attacks are the work of evil
spirits. He knows vaguely of the
Benandanti, and is curious but wary of
them. Could be a useful ally for the pack
if approached the right way, but he may
turn against them if pressured by the
Inquisitors, who are technically his
superiors. A thoughtful man, not
typically a firebrand, but he could stir
up a mob with the right push.
INQUISITORS: Brother Reinhold and
Brother Bernhard show up not long
after the pack arrives, ordered to
investigate the same problems. Reinhold
is the more senior, and does most of the
talking; Bernhard is less experienced,
but provides extra muscle. They swiftly
come to the conclusion of werewolf
attacks and witchcraft, and will be
highly suspicious of the PCs (as
outsiders to Selburg), and even Kaja (as
an associate of the PCs). Their piety is
matched only by their disdain for the
villagers, most of whom would be glad
to see them go, but are too intimidated
to say so.
 Br. Reinhold: 8 HP, 1 armor, rapier
and two wheellock pistols (1d6).
 Br. Bernhard: 10 HP, mace and
crossbow (1d6).
THE NECROMANCER: A merchant and
minor sorcerer, Kirill Sakharov, is at the
root of the troubles in Selburg. He
arrived in town half a year ago,
ostensibly to sell honey, mead, and wax
imported from Russia. He appears
healthy and richly dressed, and carries a
cane of black ash with silver inlays, the
source of his powers. The players may
assume him to be a vampire; do not
disabuse them of the idea. He is not
undead, nor even especially powerful:
he is using an artifact granted by his
master allowing him to enthrall victims,
or afflict them with a life-draining
illness. Any persons killed by this
power can then be raised as Upyr under
his control. Sakharov tries to stay in the
background, misdirecting suspicion,
having his thralls interfere, and sending
Upyr after those who get too close.
When finally confronted he is likely to
run, but he always has a couple of
advanced Upyr “on call” for protection.
 Sakharov: 6 HP, cursed dagger
(d3+1 AP). Ash cane: Target makes
an Insight save each round (Miss:
obey orders, Partial: stand dazed,
Success: break free). If used outside
of combat, the victim makes a save
when first targeted, or when ordered
to do something highly dangerous or
out of character.

- 13 -
SAMPLE TIMELINE: After receiving or find another town to victimize. The
Nadja’s message, the pack takes a roads are muddy and the cart is laden
couple days to prepare and travel to with merchandise, so the PCs should be
Selburg. After seeing Nadja, they may able to catch up if they hurry.
want to talk to some town officials, and
At any point when the GM wants to
investigate the livestock attacks. If the
shake things up, the two witch-finders
pack visits one of the outlying farms,
can arrive unexpectedly, demanding
they can find some good clues, but will
answers. When the pack returns from
be ambushed by a handful of Upyr on
the farm, the pair could already be in
the way back to town. Whatever
town; or they could interrupt dinner at
officials they talk to will be dismissive
the inn, wanting to hear what the
and unhelpful, but the clerk Šimon will
strangers know about the “werewolf”
try to hint at what’s wrong, and ask to
attacks. Alternately, they might seize
meet later. Šimon will be killed,
Kaja for interrogation, on suspicion of
enthralled, or sickened either before or
using witchcraft to sicken her patients.
after the meeting; depending on how
much information the GM wants him to
give out. The group will be attacked by CAMPAIGN HOOK: Optionally, the
several advanced Upyr at the meeting, necromancer’s residence (or carriage, or
or after leaving. corpse) contains a letter with
instructions from his master, Bishop
Either way, the evidence should point
Nicolai Voronin, an ambitious Russian
them in Sakharov’s direction. When
vampire who can become a recurring
they get to the necromancer’s shop/
enemy for the pack. In an extended
townhouse, he is gone, and the place
campaign, Voronin’s forces will
shows signs of a recent hasty departure:
continue to create trouble in the region,
Sakharov has fled town in a carriage,
until the pack can confront him in his
and the pack must hunt him down to
home territory and permanently end his
make sure he doesn’t return to Selburg,
influence.

Sakharov – I trust your diplomatic mission is proceeding smoothly.

When I visit Selburg, I expect to be welcomed as a friend by Herr
Albrecht, and greeted by a multitude of new servants. Send word when
the town is adequately prepared for my arrival. – V.

- 14 -
 APPENDIX: MEDIEVAL LIVONIAN NAMES
D3/D6 MALE FEMALE SURNAMES
1-1 Antanas Anna Algirdas
1-2 Henrik Astrid Brotze
1-3 Jakub Dalia Czapnik
1-4 Johann Dijana Daukša
1-5 Jonas Elena Dönhoff
1-6 Jürgen Emilija Grybas
2-1 Justinas Greta Hirsch
2-2 Konrad Karolina Kleinas
2-3 Magnus Kasia Kozicki
2-4 Martynas Kristina Kruger
2-5 Matthias Ludmilla Lešniak
2-6 Mykolaž Magritta Mažvydas
3-1 Ondrej Marija Novak
3-2 Pavel Nadja Pulaski
3-3 Piotr Natalia Schultz
3-4 Stefan Petra Skorupka
3-5 Tomaž Renata Strauss
3-6 Vytautas Zofia Ušinskas

Pronunciation: J = “y”; Š = “sh”; Ž = “zh”.

- 15 -
 Name:
Concept:
Look:
Might
HP
Agility
Insight
Talents
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
Scars: Hazy ○ Weary ○
- 16 -
Exp
Grit
Armor
Level
Gear & Notes
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
Broken ○
A historical fantasy roleplaying game about the Benandanti, a society of
werewolves dedicated to protecting their communities from supernatural
threats. Uses a lightweight Apocalypse system based on John Harper’s
World of Dungeons. You will need a game master, some players, writing
materials, and a few six-sided dice.

Create characters including shapeshifting Hounds,

mystical Seers, and intrepid humans.

Uncover supernatural mysteries, and hunt those

that would prey upon the innocent.

A streamlined Apocalypse system emphasizes

fast dice rolls, teamwork, and player agency.

Details for players and GMs on the Benandanti,

their world, and their adversaries.

Contains an introductory adventure

set in medieval Lithuania.

- 0 -Trigger Games 2021

Devin Fortman / Hare