The Vyrminous Hack

Vyrmhack
The world is dying, and from
its corpse spill vyrmin.
Vyrmhack is a small-scale
wargame with role-playing
elements. Players take on the
role of a single or band of
characters who explore, fight,
and survive in a dark
fantastical land. It is meant
to be compatible with most
old-school game modules and
wargame-style scenarios.

What you need

Players will need paper,
pencils, and some six-sided
dice (d6). While not
necessary, players may also
bring models to represent
their characters and
adversaries, pieces of scenery
to represent the terrain, and
a measuring-tape or grid to
measure distances.

Scale and distance

Distances in Vyrmhack are
listed in feet, typically in
multiples of 5ft. For players
using measuring tape, grids,
or models, 5ft represents 1”
inch, or 1 space with human-
sized characters filling spaces
of 1” inch or 1 space.
5’ feet = 1” inch = 1 space

Chapters
Character Creation.......... 02
Traits...................... 04
Equipment................... 06
Playing the Game............ 08
Exploration................. 10
Sorcery..................... 12
Miracles.................... 14
Monsters and Adversaries.... 16
Maladies.................... 18
Lords....................... 19
Artifacts & Loot............ 20

1
 You are Vyrmin...
Scoundrel, cutthroat, beggar,
bastard; you are a desperate
soul who scours a life in the
bloody and cursed corners of
this world with only your
flesh, wits, and tools to help
you. How far will you push
yourself to survive?
2
Characters created in Vyrmhack
have the following
characteristics listed on
their character sheet:
LEVEL (LVL)
Your overall strength, used to
determine additional Vitality,
actions, and bonus to certain
rolls.
VITALITY (V)
The amount of physical harm
you can suffer before being
knocked out or killed. If your
Vitality ever drops to 0, your
character is slain.
STRAIN (S)
The amount of physical or
mental exertion a character
has undertaken. If your Strain
is greater than your Vitality,
your character is knocked out
and gains a Scar.
STRENGTH (STR)
Measure of physical strength,
constitution and resilience.
Used for: Melee attacks,
Inventory capacity, feats of
strength, resisting poison or
disease.
DEXTERITY (DEX)
Measure of agility, speed, and
accuracy. Used for: Ranged
attacks, Avoiding hazards,
feats of agility, dodging.
WISDOM (WIS)
Measure of mental fortitude,
knowledge and guile.
Used for: Casting spells,
Finding secrets, resisting
magic and fear.
BACKGROUND
Words or phrases that grant
the character a bonus on rolls
related to the words or
phrase.
TRAITS
Boons and maladies gained from
succeeding or suffering over
the course of play.
 Character 2D6
1-3
EXAMPLE BACKGROUNDS

Creation 1
2
Murderous Ranger
Zealous Blacksmith
Characters start at Level 1
3 Cunning Courtier
1 Starting Vitality: Roll d6
and add your level. 4 Indomitable Gong-farmer
2 Starting Strain: Starts at 0 5 Impassive Plague Doctor
(is accrued during play) 6 Prophetic Scholar
3 Starting STR, DEX, and WIS: 4-6
Roll four d6 and discard the
highest. Assign each of the 1 Melancholy Sellsword
remaining values to an 2 Crazed Apothecary
ability of your choice. 3 Choleric Midwife
4 Background: Pick (or create) 4 Frenzied Prisoner
a vocation or acquired
skills. So long as an 5 Furtive Purse-cutter
argument can be made that 6 Roving Charlatan
your background would benefit 5-6
you during certain tasks or
saves, you may add your LVL 1 Ancient Hedgewitch
to any necessary rolls or 2 Fanatic Auger
automatically bypass tasks 3 Star-gazing Nomad
(Referee’s discretion).
4 Notable Baker
5 Starting Traits: Pick or
randomly select 1 Boon, and 5 Cruel Horseman
1 Scar or Mutation. 6 Disillusioned Cultist
6 Inventory: You have a number
of inventory slots equal to
your STR + 1.
7 Starting Equipment: Pick or
randomly select 1 weapon,
1 tool, & 1 piece of armor.
Alternatively, eschew tools
and armor and begin with a
Spellbook or Fealty to a
Deity.
Each party of characters begin
with a rundown camp at the
edge of civilization, 3 days
of rations between them, and
someone or something that is
looking for them…

Advancement
Each time a character survives
an adventure they gain:
1 +1 LVL
2 Roll d6 + LVL for Vitality
Use new value unless the old
value was higher.
3 +1 to STR, DEX, or WIS.
4 You may gain 1 random
Mutation.

3
 Traits
Boons
2D6 BOONS
1-2
1-2 Noble Duelist: Advantage
on defense and attacks
against single opponent.
Disadvantage on attacks
when flanked.
3-4 Unchained Berzerker: When
attacking in melee, deal
light damage to everyone
within range, friend or
foe.
5-6 Decrepit Magus:-1 STR, -1
DEX, and -1 V, may cast 1
spell per LVL without
gaining Strain.
3-4
1-2 Frenzied Dervish: 1 extra
action for each empty
inventory slot, up to
level; cannot have more
than 1 Armor.
3-4 Despised Cutthroat: Always
have a dagger and
lockpick, all social
reactions are decreased by
one tier (friendly to
neutral, neutral to
hostile)
5-6 Mute Assassin: Cannot be
spotted in low-light and
always considered hidden
when not in melee, cannot
speak or vocalize.
5-6
1-2 Superstitious Sellsword:
All weapons gain 1
additional ability in your
hands. Cannot wield
sorceries or miracles.
3-4 Wretched Godling: You
cannot die. Each time you
are slain, reduce LVL by 1
if able and gain a scar.
5-6 Paranoid Fanatic: Gain 2
daily Favor for miracles
instead of 1. Destroy any
spellbook that you find and
you cannot hold audience
with rival faiths.
4
Scars
2D6 SCARS
1-3
1 Missing Eye: If gained
again, permanently
blinded.
2 Destroyed Leg: Movement
halved. If gained again,
movement is 5ft.
3 Maimed Hand: Cannot wield
heavy weapons. If gained
again cannot wield
standard weapons.
4 Speared Organs: Always
start with 1 Strain.
If gained again, increase
by 1.
5 Frail Constitution:
Disadvantage on avoiding
poison or illness.
6 Night Phobia: Roll WIS
when in low-light or
darker, or become
frightened.
4-6
1 Deaf: Cannot hear or issue
commands.
2 Broken Back: Lose 1
inventory space. If gained
again, increase by 1.
3 Nightmares: You only heal
1 Vitality from resting.
4 Vertigo: Jumping is always
at disadvantage, cannot
climb without tools or
assistance.
5 Twisted Guts: 1-in-6
chance that you waste a
ration whenever you eat.
6 Violent: Roll WIS at the
start of combat, otherwise
you charge blindly towards
the nearest opponent.
 Mutations 5-6
1 A twitching tail sprouts
2D6 MUTATIONS from the base of your spine.
1-2 2 Soft, glistening scales grow
1 Feathers sprout from you and in patches on your skin.
a beak begins to emerge. 3 Verminous Form: Your body
2 Blind, milky eyes emerge lengthens and sprouts
from under your skin. countless twitching limbs.
You can swim 60ft, climb
3 You skin goes translucent. 30ft without tools, and can
4 Fell Visage: A second cruel cling to walls like a
face appears on your body, spider. However, you no
independent and intelligent. longer have the facilities
It is a skilled assistant on to use most tools.
all things academic and 4 Befouled: You body becomes a
arcane, but causes symbiotic breeding ground of
practitioners of sorcery to pestilence. You are immune
be hostile towards you; the to poison and disease. Each
Fell Visage is not to be day, those in close contact
trusted… with you have a 1-in-6
5 Vampyr: You need only eat chance of picking up a
once a week, but your body random disease.
can only sustain itself on 5 Locus of Sorcery: Casting
fresh blood. You must sup Sorceries never costs
from the corpse of freshly Strain, however, failed
slain mortal or beast to casting rolls are always
feed your hunger. considered Critical
6 Nightling: Your body becomes Failures.
attuned to the dark. You can 6 Powder Jinx: The air
see perfectly in low-light crackles with dangerous
environments, but being static around you. All
exposed to daylight is black-powder weapons always
considered hazardous misfire if the wielder has
terrain. line of sight to you.
3-4
1 Calcified fractal protrusions
sprout from your joints.
2 Your skin grows slimy and
and pebbled like a slug.
3 Fur sprouts from your back
and mane like a wolf.
4 Unseen Eyes: Your eyes
disappear from your face,
you instead see through the
eyes of any nearby being
that you are aware of.
5 Writhing Limbs: Your limbs
become slithering tendril
appendages. Feats of agility
and fine motor-skills are
always at advantage, but you
can no longer wield heavy
weapons.
6 Iron Maiden: Your body and
armor meld into one. Any
armor you were wearing can
never be broken, but also
cannot be removed.

5
 Equipment
Tools Weapons
Tools allow characters to Unarmed: 1 damage
perform tasks that they would Light Weapons: d6[-] damage
be incapable of or allow them and take up 1 Inventory Slot.
to successfully bypass a roll
they would normally make. Standard Weapons: d6 damage
and take up 2 Inventory Slots.
Inventory: Tools typically
take up 1 inventory space. Heavy Weapons: d6[+] damage
Larger or cumbersome tools may and take up 3 Inventory Slots.
take up 2 or more. Each weapon has an Ability and
EXAMPLE ITEMS a Critical
Torch - See in the dark. Ranged weapons require
ammunition to fire which takes
Bandages - Stop bleeding. up an inventory slot. If more
Grappling Hook - Climb than 1 shot is fired in an
distances greater than your encounter the ammunition is
normal movement allows. removed at the end of the
Lockpick - Unlock doors. encounter.
Ranged weapons do not have a
Armor range unless specified. It is
assumed they can reach most
Each piece of Armor takes up 2 targets within line of sight.
inventory slots. D6 WEAPON WEIGHT
When hit with a weapon, 1-2 Light
subtract 1 damage for each
piece of unbroken Armor in 3-5 Standard
inventory or sacrifice 1 piece 6 Heavy
of Armor to negate all damage 2D6 WEAPON ABILITY
from a single hit.
1-3 4-6
Armor sacrificed or broken is
not removed from inventory, 1 Ranged 1 Ranged
instead it is considered 2 Thrown 2 Thrown
broken and provides no benefits 3 Brace 3 Pierce
unless repaired.
4 Flail 4 Weighted
Trading 5
6
Parry
Versatile 6
5 Batter
Black-Powder
Gold and coin have little
value in the rotted world. D6 WEAPON CRITICAL
Each time you trade with a 1 Bash 4 Hew
merchant or other, roll to 2 Bleed 5 Repel
determine what they can or are
willing to trade. Trades are 3 Disarm 6 Sunder
at a weight or alike basis.
2 tools for 1 armor, 1 spell- d6 listed with a [+] or
book for 1 spellbook etc. [-] refer to Advantage [+]
D6 BARTER PRICES and Disadvantage [-].
1 Scarce 1 trade allowed. See pg. 08.
2-3 Steep 2 for 1
4-5 Middling 1 for 1
6 Plentiful 1 for 1 +1 free.

6
Weapon Abilities Weapon Criticals
BATTER BASH
On successful hits, opponent Opponent is knocked down. Must
rolls STR, if they fail they spend an action to stand up on
gain 1 Strain their turn.
BLACK-POWDER BLEED
Deals +d6 damage. Makes ranged Deals 1 damage at the start of
attacks and requires black- the round until staunched.
powder ammo. Can only be fired DISARM
once per turn and reloading
takes an action. Opponent drops their weapon if
Misfire: Damages wielder when able, otherwise they gain 1
an unsuccessful double is Strain.
rolled. Light, 1 damage. HEW
Standard, damage as light Ignore opponent’s armor.
weapon. Heavy, damage as
standard weapon. REPEL
BRACE You may disengage from your
opponent or push your opponent
Once per round, you may make a out of melee range.
free attack against an
opponent that charged you. SUNDER
FLAIL Break 1 piece of opponent’s
armor, otherwise they gain 1
Once per round, you may make a Strain.
single attack roll on all
opponents in melee range.
PARRY
May counter-attack in melee
without gaining Strain.
PIERCE
Ignore 1 of opponent’s armor
when determining damage.
THROW
May be thrown. Range based on
weight, remove from inventory
if thrown. Light 30ft,
Standard 20ft, Heavy 10ft.
VERSATILE
Can be wielded with STR or DEX
to attack or defend. If
attacking with DEX, opponent
must defend with DEX.
WEIGHTED
If you move and attack in the
same turn, roll to attack at
advantage.
RANGED
Makes ranged attacks and
requires ammunition. Rate of
fire based on weight.
Light, no rate-of-fire penalty.
Standard, may only be fired up
to LVL each turn. Heavy, may
only be fired once per turn.

7
 Playing the Game
Rolling Dice
During play, if a character
attempts a task where the
outcome is risky or uncertain,
they may roll a 3d6 and add
the value of the appropriate
trait to overcome it.
A value of 12 or greater is
considered a success
A success or failure with
doubles is considered a
Critical and Critical Failure
respectively.
6,6 is always a success, while
1,1 is always a failure.
STR – Tasks of strength, brute
force, or physical fortitude.
DEX – Tasks of agility,
precision, or speed.
WIS – Tasks of courage,
perception, or cunning.
Skills – Characters may add
their LVL to the roll if they
have a relevant skill.
Characters with the necessary
tools and/or skills may bypass
the roll entirely at the
Referee’s discretion. Simple
and mundane tasks do not
require rolls.
Rolling at Advantage[+] and
Disadvantage[-]: Rolling at
advantage means rolling an
additional dice and removing
the lowest result.
Rolling at disadvantage means
rolling an additional dice and
removing the highest result.
8
Combat
Start of Combat
When characters enter combat
roll one d6 for them and one
for their adversaries; highest
value goes first.
Actions
Characters can perform one of
the actions on their turn:
Move: Move 30ft across open
terrain, climb 15ft, or swim
15ft. Charge: If you end your
movement within striking
distance of an opponent, you
may make one attack.
Attack: Strike an opponent in
melee range or fire at them
with a ranged weapon.
Disengage: Step out of melee
range from an opponent. The
opponent may spend 1 Strain to
make an attack against you.
Cast a Spell: Cast a spell or
use a magic item you have.
Pick-up/Use an Item: Use an
item from your inventory, pick
something up, use a
contraption you can reach.
Additional Actions and
Inventory: A character may
perform one additional action
if they have any open or
unfilled inventory slots.
Using Strain
Characters may gain Strain to
perform additional actions.
Mark 1 Strain on your
character each time you do
this. You may do this a number
of times on your turn equal to
your LVL.
If a character has more Strain
than they have Vitality, they
are knocked out. Accrued
Strain is removed at the end
of each encounter.
Removing Strain: You may spend
their turn to recover,
removing 1 Strain per LVL.
Attacking
MELEE
Casting Spells
Casting a spell is an action.
Attacker and Defender both Each spell lasts 10 minutes
roll STR (and LVL if relevant unless stated otherwise.
skill). If the Attacker’s roll
is successful and greater than Some spells allow an opponent
the Defender’s, attack hits. a WIS roll to avoid some of
the harm.
If the roll is unsuccessful or
less than the Defender’s roll, Many spells increase in power
the attack misses or is based on LVL of the caster.
deflected. SORCERIES
If the rolls are equal, both Require a Spellbook and WIS
sides roll for damage. roll to perform.
If either side is unarmed, the MIRACLES
opposing side rolls at
Require Fealty and Favor from
advantage.
a deity to invoke.
Counter-attack: If the
Defender’s roll was successful
and higher than the Attacker,
they may spend a Strain to
inflict a hit on the Attacker.
Flanked: If attacked by
multiple opponents, defense is
rolled at disadvantage.
RANGE
Attacker must have a line of
sight to Defender and not be
engaged in melee.
Attacker and Defender both
roll DEX (and LVL if relevant
skill). If the Attacker’s roll
is successful and greater than
the Defender’s, attack hits.
If the roll is unsuccessful or
less than the Defender’s roll,
the attack misses or is
dodged.
If the Defender is behind
cover, engaged in melee, or
partially concealed, they may
roll at advantage.
DAMAGE
For successful hits, roll
damage and subtract it from
the opponent’s Vitality.
Criticals deal maximum damage
and apply their weapon’s
critical effect.
ARMOR
Characters with Armor may
subtract 1 damage for each
piece of unbroken Armor in
their inventory or sacrifice 1
piece of Armor to negate all
damage from a single hit.

9
 Exploration
Games of Vyrmhack can take
place anywhere from haunted
crypt cities, forgotten elder
dungeons, to forbidden ancient
woodlands.
The following are guidelines
for various aspects of
exploration and play.
TIME AND TRAVEL
On average, characters travel
12 miles/day on open land or
roads. Rough terrain 6/day.
LIGHT AND DARKNESS
Characters in low-light like
that of a torch or common
lantern can see up to 10ft
away, attempting actions
outside of that range is done
at disadvantage. All actions
in total darkness are done at
disadvantage.
TERRAIN
Rough Terrain: Movement
through rough terrain is
halved. Examples: Frigid mire,
boulder field, broken bones.
Hazardous Terrain: Movement
through hazardous terrain
requires a DEX roll, failure
deals 1 damage that ignores
armor. Examples: Piercing
thorns, acid tides, brushfires.
JUMPING
A character can jump half of
their movement with a
successful DEX roll, failure
causing them to fall.
10
FALLING OR BEING THROWN
Characters falling 10ft or
more must roll DEX or be
knocked down. Characters
suffer d6 damage for each 5ft
beyond this, a DEX roll halves
this damage.
Characters who are thrown and
collide into a wall suffer
damage as if they had fallen
distance equal to the throw.
WANDERING ENCOUNTERS
Unless in a place of security
or isolation, there is a 50%
chance that something stumbles
across your path each day.
REACTION ROLLS
Anytime characters stumble
across a random creature or
traveler, roll to see what
their demeanor or mood towards
the characters.
d6 Reactions
1 Friendly
2-4 Indifferent
5-6 Hostile
Improving Mood: Characters may
roll WIS (+LVL if skilled) to
improve the reaction one tier.
STARVATION
For each day a character has
gone without eating they gain
1 Strain that cannot be
recovered until they get
something to eat.
Rest
What little respite there is
in this world must be bought
with toil and hardship. Those
who manage to survive another
day count themselves lucky and
prepare for the next one under
the cover of night.
Characters who find a suitable
place to set up camp or
hideout for the night may
perform one of the following
activities for themselves.
Recover – Regain d6[-]
vitality.
Tend – Heal another for d6[-]
vitality. Requires tool or
skill.
Patrol – No wandering
encounters or ambushes during
the night.
Forage – Gain d6[-] rations.
Ritual – Cast a spell.
Sorceries do not require a WIS
roll or Strain.
Invocation – Gain Daily Favor
with chosen deity.
Repair – Fix a single broken
tool, weapon, or piece of
armor. Requires tool or skill.
Craft – Create a single
mundane object, simple tool,
or ammunition. Requires tool
or skill.
11
Status Effects
Blinded: Attacks and rolls to
avoid danger are at
disadvantage.
Exhausted: Gain 1 Strain and
lose 1 Inventory slot until
you rest. This can be gained
multiple times and stacks.
Frightened: Attacks and skills
are at disadvantage. Reroll
WIS at the beginning of your
turn to shake off the fear.
Knocked Down: Must spend an
action to stand up, attacks
against you are at advantage.
Poisoned: Roll STR or gain
1d6[-] Strain. Each day, roll
STR; Success: poison is cured.
Failure: gain 1 Strain. Strain
lost this way cannot be
regained until the poison is
cured. Drinking an antidote or
visiting a healer allows a STR
reroll.
Stunned: Lose one action at
the start of your turn to
shake off the effect.
 Sorcery
Magic gained from study and
experimentation upon the
forces and natural orders of
the world. Observed by
orthodox scholars and fell
warlocks alike, sorceries
exist as recorded documents to
be exploited by the wielder.
Casting Sorceries
Any character may attempt to
cast a sorcery once per day if
they wield its spellbook.
Roll WIS to cast, success
meaning the spell was properly
performed, failure means the
spell fails, and a critical
Failure means a Catastrophe
occurs.
A spell may be cast again in
the same day but costs an
additional Strain for each
cast (second cast 2 Strain,
third cast 3 Strain, etc.)
12
Spellbooks
“Spellbooks” is a catch-all
term for the objects that
contain sorceries. Spellbooks
can come in any shape or form,
with the more powerful ones
containing greater magics and
greater burden to carry.
D6 SPELLBOOKS
1-3 1 Slot 1 spell
Charm, scroll, votive, bone
4-5 2 Slots d6[-] spells
Grimoire, relic, scepter
6 3 Slots d6 spells
Tablet, sculpture, corpse
D6 SORCERY CATASTROPHES
1 Drained – A vacuum of will
and energy opens within the
caster. Gain d6[+] Strain.
2 Corrupted – Twisted forces
permeate the space where the
veil has thinned. The
spellbook is Corrupted,
using a corrupted spellbook
deals d6[-] damage.
3 Detonation – A cascading
chain reaction of magic.
Deal d6 damage to self and
everyone within 30ft.
4 Mutation – Orders unseen
converge upon your form.
Random Mutation (pg 05).
5 Storm – The aether of the
word roils with displeasure.
For d6[-] days, all open or
unsheltered spaces become:
d6 Storms
[1-3] Low-light; choking ash,
chilling fog, vaporous ozone.
[4-5] Rough terrain; Downpour,
rain of blood, sleet drifts.
[6] Hazardous terrain; Hail,
sky fire, rain of vermin.
6 Visitation – In your dreams
you are visited by a being
that should not be
disturbed… You cannot
recover Vitality unless
tended to by another.
 The Urdflame
Hidden in the bowels of the
world lies the Urdflame, a
ceaseless fire that burns
without fuel or kindling.
Rising from the land where the
ground weakens, it is a
terrifying force to those who
watch it burn without end.
Those who study it speak for
its purifying qualities; after
all, what cleanses better than
fire undying?
Urdfire Sorceries
BURNING VISAGE
A cascade of fire, a visage of
ruin hides within. d6 damage
per LVL to target in line of
sight, target rolls WIS or
becomes frightened.
PURIFIED FLAME
An internal fire to burn away
impurities. Remove any
illness, poison, or disease.
Roll WIS to dispel a curse.
CINDER COMMUNION
The fire nourishes those who
observe it. You may eat a
source of fire in place of a
meal or ration.
FIRE WALK
Join with the flame and let it
lead your steps. You may walk
into one source of fire and
exit another within 100ft per
LVL, doing so deals 1d6 damage
to you.
13
The Goldenthorne
Crawling across the land is
the shimmering Goldenthorne,
a dangerous weed that feeds on
blood and buries entire
landscapes in its piercing
grasp. The inquisitorial
warlocks marvel at its powers
of resurgence and catch
whispers of the tyrannical
intelligence that guides its
expansion.
Goldenthorne Sorceries
ENSORCEL WITH THORNS
Golden vines with cruel thorns
wreath your weapon. Melee
weapon gains the Bleed
critical. If the weapon
already has Bleed, normal
attacks cause Bleed.
GOLDTHORNE SURGE
The ground quakes as brier
explode from the earth. Summon
one 5ft patch of hazardous
terrain per LVL. Objects or
structures caught in the patch
are rooted in place.
MANACLES OF GOLD
The wicked thorns punish
duplicity. Vines wrap around
the wrists of someone you
touch, they suffer d6[-]
anytime they tell a lie.
PENITENCE OF BRIERS
Sacrifice is rewarded with
strength. Suffer Bleed, all
rolls are at advantage until
the bleeding is staunched.
 Miracles

Magic
gifted by a
Daily Favor
divine being Each evening or rest, a
that attempts character can perform an
to enthrone Invocation for 1 Favor. Unless
their will used to cast a Miracle, this
upon the Favor is lost at the end of
world. Invoked the day.
by pious
hermits and Gaining Favor
zealous Characters can gain Favor
theocrats, through acts of service to
miracles exist as their deity.
extensions of deities EXAMPLE ACTS OF SERVICE
and their esoteric
agendas. Greater acts - Convert another.
of worship are granted - Sacrifice a magical object or
greater miracles, steep and treasure.
dangerous bargains to the - Defeat a worshiper of an
pious fools who would worship opposing deity.
conniving gods.
- Pilgrimage to a holy site.
Divine Fealty - Willfully deny yourself a
To gain or cast miracles, you boon or tool.
must swear fealty to a deity.
Each has their own Gaining Miracles
requirements and punishments. Each time a character survives
an adventure they may forgo
Casting Miracles the additional LVL and
Miracles require Favor to advancement, instead gaining
cast. Favor is gained by an additional Miracle from
performing acts of fealty and their deity.
spent to cast Miracles.
Each Miracle costs 1 Favor to
cast and a character can hold
any amount of Favor.

14
 Saulg, The Body
The unshaped matriarch, the
lord of resurgence, the body
that shall never die. Saulg is
the gift of unceasing life and
a united world beyond the
reach of death. To the wise,
such a blessing is a curse
unlike any other…
Fealty: You must never strike
a killing blow. Wasting
precious living flesh is
sacrilege.
Curse: Vitality is permanently
reduced by half.
INITIATION - MENDING
Touch another, restore them of
d6[-] Vitality per LVL.
2ND - TRANSPOSE BODY
Touch another, swap any
diseases, status effects, and
damage suffered between self
and other, roll DEX to avoid.
3RD - AUTO-COMMUNION
Suffer 1d6[-] damage, gain
1d6[+] ration.
FINAL - BLESSING OF ABUNDANCE
Touch another, restore them of
d6[+] Vitality per LVL, roll
DEX to avoid. If the Vitality
gained from this exceeds the
target’s maximum, they
detonate into a shower of
still-living gore. Defeated,
but not technically slain...
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Qo, The Star
The lord in the void, the
light of command, the star who
rules with silence. Their body
drifts across the night sky, a
slow and watchful light,
whispering their commands in
stardust. Those who follow
will be bathed in starlight
and those who lead others
astray will be left in night…
Fealty: Hold no fealty or
audience to mortal lords. Only
the cosmic can guide the
mortal.
Curse: Blinded permanently.
INITIATION - COMMAND
Issue a simple command to 1
other per LVL who can hear
you, they must obey it so long
as it does not harm them. WIS
roll to resist.
2ND - UNSEEN HAND
Become invisible for 1 turn
per LVL.
3RD - CROWN OF VOID
For one turn per LVL, all who
gaze upon you are blinded. DEX
or WIS roll to avoid or
resist.
FINAL - COSMIC SCEPTER
Issue a command to a single
being who can understand you.
They must obey it or be struck
with a torrent of cosmic light
for d6 damage per LVL, roll
DEX for half damage.
 Monsters and Adversaries
The rotting land attracts
monsters as a soft corpse
attracts flies.
Despots and brigands prey on
the undefended while beasts
new and old spring from the
recesses of the dying world.
ROLLS AND LVL
All rolls for monster are made
using their LVL.
MORALE
Listed under a monster’s stats
is their Morale.
When harmed or in danger,
there is a chance a monster
will flee if able.
LYNNORM
Mighty wyrms that gnawed at
the roots of creation, what
they found was already rotted.
LVL 10 | V30 | 5 Armor
Fights to the death
Vicious Maw: 2d6 damage Pierce
Tail Slap: Roll STR or DEX or
be thrown d6[-]x5ft away
Rotted Breath: Once per day,
all in 30 x 5ft line roll STR
or be poisoned.
Terror: When attacked, roll
WIS or become frightened.
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Creating New Adversaries
VITALITY
1-2 Frail 1 V/LVL
3-5 Average d6+LVL
6 Strong d6 V/LVL
MORALE
1 Flees if injured
2-3 1-in-6 flees if injured
4 Flees at half health
5 1-in-6 flees at half health
6 Fights to the death
ATTACKS
Pick or roll a weapon (pg 06)
Select additional abilities,
magic, or hazards to make the
adversary stand out.
BRIAR WIGHT
A wavering body wreathed in
golden vines and thorns.
LVL 3 | V8 | 2 Armor
Fights to the death.
Slam: d6, Crit. Bleed
Goldthorne Mantle: All in
melee range roll DEX or suffer
d6[-] damage.
Just a Corpse: Slain if Armor
reaches 0.
Spawn: Those slain by a Briar
Wight rise as one in 1d6 days.
MUSKETEER
A ruthless brigand, armed with
a powerful firearm.
LVL 2 | V5 | 1 Armor
Flees if wounded.
Knife: d6[-]
Musket: 2d6 Blackpowder
Venal Mercenary: Can be bribed
and hired, for a time…
CHARRED WARLOCK
Clad in bandages and reeking
of burnt flesh, a spiteful moth
who danced too close to the
uncaring Urdflame.
LVL 5 | V6 | 0 Armor
1-in-6 Flees if wounded.
Immune to Fire
Spells: Knows 2 random Urdfire
Sorceries
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HOBBE
Small mischievous beings that
arrived when the world died.
LVL 1 | V3 | 0 Armor
Flees if wounded.
Shiv: 1d6[-]
Swipe: Roll DEX or a random
item or armor is stolen.
FALLEN KNIGHT
Graceless warriors in
tarnished armor, scorned by
their lord for unspoken
transgressions.
LVL 4 | V10 | 3 Armor
1-in-6 Flees at half health.
Claymore: d6[+] Heavy
Riposte: Counter-attacks do
not cost Strain.
Hateful: Fights to the death
if opponent has sworn an oath
to a lord.
 Maladies
As the land rots, so too do
the bodies of mortal-kind…
Diseases
Each day roll STR or suffer
the effects of the disease.
These effects are persistent
and cannot be removed or
healed until the disease is
cured.
Curing a Disease: Each disease
lists its possible cures, from
consecutive save to specific
tools or tasks.
D6 DISEASES
1 Gnarl Pox: Roots sprout and
wrap around you, threatening
to encase you into a
Gnarlwood tree.
Effect: -1 STR, double
damage from fire. When your
STR reaches 0, your body
gives in to the vines and
you are slowly bound into a
Gnarlwood. Cure: 3
consecutive saves, or a
painful surgery by an
experienced gardener.
2 Omenstone: Patches of dark
stone creep across your
body, slowly calcifying you.
Effect: -5ft Movement, -1
DEX, gain 1 Armor in your
inventory. When your DEX
reaches 0, you are
permanently turned to stone.
Cure: 3 consecutive saves,
or a mineral oil crafted by
an experience apothecary.
3 Moon Rot: The rays of the
sundered moon cause your
flesh to melt and decay.
Effect: When exposed to
moonlight, lose d6[-] V.
Cure: 1 week underground,
away from moonlight.
4 Bone Weevils: Painful
burrowing worms gnaw and
propagate in your marrow.
Effect: Whenever you suffer
damage, lose an additional
d6[-] V. Cure: Painful
surgery by an experienced
surgeon.
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5 Emberwort: A fire takes root
in your heart, burning you
away slowly.
Effect: Whenever you gain
Strain, gain an additional
1, if your Strain exceeds
your current vitality you
burst into flame for d6[+]
damage. Cure: 2 consecutive
saves or a bath of salt and
snow.
6 Slivering: Thin, deep cuts
appear across you,
threatening to unwind you
like a spool of thread.
Effect: You must spend your
rest in the evening
rewinding your body or lose
d6 V. Cure: 3 consecutive
saves, or be sewn together
with thread of unalloyed
silver.
Curses
Each day roll WIS or suffer
the effects of the Curse.
Curing a Curse: Some spells
have the ability to purge
curses. Otherwise, you must
visit a site of great magic or
divine power.
2d6 Possible Curses
1-2
1 Always considered
frightened.
2 Reaction rolls are always
hostile.
3 d6[-] rations spoil.
3-4
1 Tools break in your hands.
2 Cannot gain divine Favor.
3 Sorcery targets are always
random.
5-6
1 Cannot wield weapons.
2 Ranged projectiles always
target you.
3 Must eat double to avoid
starving.
 Lords
Despotic mortals who sit upon
rotting thrones, desperately
clinging to ill-gotten power
and wealth.
It is they who killed the
world and they would rather
rule an empire of rot and dust
than give even an inch of
their station.
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Service to a Lord
Through enlistment or threat,
characters can enter into the
service of a lord. Doing so
grants them food, shelter, and
even a share of treasure; so
long as they obey the requests
of their tyrannical master.
2D6 RANDOM LORD QUALITIES
1-3 4-6
1 Violent Braggart
2 Crazed Manipulator
3 Sloven Glutton
4 Decrepit Coward
5 Idiotic Liar
6 Petulant Sadist
VALUABLES
Treasures and trinkets from
the gilded eras, hoarded and
sought by the Lords in a
senseless pursuit of grandeur.
Valuables can be traded for 2x
their weight in mundane items.
1 Slot Valuable = Ration x 2
= Tool x 2
= Armor x 1
Any Valuables found while
completing a task for a Lord
must be given over to them.
Failing to do so has a 1-in-6
chance of upsetting them...
Service Length
One-off – 1 Valuable [1 slot]
Season – 1 Valuable [1 slot],
Choice of Equipment.
Year – d6 Valuables [1 slot],
Choice of Equipment, Lodging.
Lifetime – d6[+] Valuables
[1 slot], Choice of Equipment,
Lodging, 1 Artifact.
BREAKING SERVICE
Reneging on a task or being
caught subverting a Lord’s
will is met with violence.
They are dangerous adversaries
who hold sway with all manner
of mercenary and monster.
 Artifacts & Loot
Artifacts Loot
1 Storm Stone: A chunk of stone Each adversary is typically
polished by rain, gray like carrying or guarding one piece
storm-clouds. of loot per LVL.
2 Slots. Once per day, you
may change the weather to to 2D6 RANDOM LOOT
create clear skies, low- 1-3
light, rough terrain, or
hazardous terrain. 1-4 Something Useful: Tool
2 Crown of Hunger: A loathsome 5-6 Something to Eat: Ration
crown woven of vines and 4-5
sinew, set with teeth and
gnawed bones. 1-3 Something Deadly: Weapon
2 Slots. You may devour any 4-6 Something Hard: 1 Armor
number of rations and go
without food for an equal 6
amount of days. Once per day, 1-2 Something Valuable:
you may also devour a tool, 1-4: Common, 1 slot.
weapon or armor in place of a 5: Grand d6[-] slots.
meal. 6: Massive d6 slots
3 Helm of Terror: A iron helm
crowned in terrible horns, Valuables can be traded
its face set to appear as a for double their weight in
screaming demon. mundane items.
2 Slots, Armor 1. All who can 3-4 Something Magical: Random
see you must roll WIS or Spellbook
become Frightened. Once per
day you may cause one 5-6 Something Powerful:
frightened adversary to flee Random Artifact
from your presence.
4 Resurgent Rings: Two rings of
tarnished gold, one set with
a grinning face, the other
screaming in terror.
1 Slot. Two parties who wear
these rings transfer their
consciousness, swapping
bodies. This effect ends when
both rings are removed;
alternatively, the effect is
permanent if one of the
bodies are slain...
5 Stone-cast Hammer: A cudgel
of ironstone, hints of form
and decoration are hidden by
ages of wear.
3 Slots. Ignores and destroys
1 Armor on hit, destroys 2
Armor on Crit. Can tunnel
through stone at 5ft/turn or
3mi./day.
Hope you enjoy this game!
6 Unharrowed Mantle: A great
suit of armor, blackened with Stay tuned for hopefully
fire, utterly impenetrable. more Vyrmhack material in
5 Slots, Armor 4. You are the future including
impervious to fire, cold, or scenarios and settings!
acid while protected in this
armor. - Charlie F-A, 2023

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