EDSG Episode 162 - Artificer and Ysrthgrathe

* Email from Anthony: Introducing Earthdawn at a one-shot game night. * Horrors in Depth: Artificer * Not flesh and blood; metallic, covered with wheels, levers, and pulleys. * “Steampunk” Horror. * Background: Elemental spirit summoned by dragons in the previous age and it was corrupted. * Uses Forge Trap power to convert tunnels and caverns into metallic mazes filled with deathtraps. * Provides an Earthdawn-flavored reason for the classic “trap filled labyrinth” trope. * Presence can be felt without it being a focus; converts an area but doesn’t really hunt victims. * Inspiration: Grimtooth’s Traps * Baits its converted mazes with riches and artifacts it has scavenged to draw people in. * Limited additional powers; just elemental immunities. * Primarily astral entity; difficult to get to it to destroy it. * Can provide an “alien” aesthetic, magitech in a way not usually present in Earthdawn. * Can help get around the need for “realistic” spaces you normally need for kaer design. * Straightforward in its own way, but still unique and interesting. * Ysrthgrathe * Essay supposedly written by someone possessed by the Horror itself. * Josh’s favorite entry, likely written by Caroline Spector. * Horror that features in the Immortals trilogy (Scars, Little Treasures, Worlds Without End) * Stereotypical suite of Horror powers and abilities. * Doesn’t have a mechanical gimmick, is iconic because of his personality and approach. * Vampire lord, supervillain, suave serial killer. * “Horror of Toxic Masculinity” * Likely to use methods that make its victim feel helpless and isolate them. * Very “human” in its evil, strongly relatable to real-world experiences; abusive, gaslighting. * Targets individuals, especially powerful ones, patiently works to break them. * Has a personal touch; not an impersonal force of nature like Ristul or Verjigorm. * Often uses illusion to charm and manipulate people. Infernal, offering deals and bargains. * Using Ysrthgrathe in a story arc or campaign. * Being careful not to trigger post-traumatic stress or the like in your players. Find and Follow: Email: [email protected] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeoifzUuBjez9V6wnvzom3g Twitter: @EDSGPodcast Josh on Twitter: @LoreMerchant Get product information, developer blogs, and more at www.fasagames.com FASA Games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fasagamesinc FASA Games Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/uuVwS9u Earthdawn West Marches: https://discord.gg/hhHDtXW