Shroud Ghouls

A partially revived corpse, a true abomination and horror.

Inspired by Hârn Pottage 2.1 written by Mike St-Pierre

The Church of Agrik does not normally deal in Necromancy. However, some Temples have access to Upprisa Shrouds, corrupted artifacts captured from the Church of Peoni which they have repurposed to create Shroud Ghouls, undead monstrosities which are usually used to guard treasures or catacombs. Occasionally the Agrikians release a Shroud Ghoul on its enemies such as the Kingdom of Kanday to wreak havoc.

Execution

A dead body, less than 3 days old, is wrapped in a Upprisa Shroud for 24 hours. The priest creating the Shroud Ghoul then completes a ritual that calls back a small portion of his or her soul.

Once the soul enters the body, a binding incantation is carried out, allowing the Shroud Ghoul to be given a limited set of instructions such as guard this location or do not harm priests of a particular temple. If the binding incantation is not performed, the Shroud Ghoul becomes free-willed and will attack all living humanoids.

Components and tools

Upprisa Shroud

These badly soiled and frayed burial shrouds were originally parts of much larger holy shrouds used by the followers of Peoni to Raise the Dead. They have more recently been corrupted by the magic of the God Agrik and possibly tainted by the necromantic evil of the God Morgath. Only a limited number of Shrouds are known to exist, and most are now holy relics of the Church of Agrik, scattered among the temples throughout the world.

Holy Text

The rituals and indications used to create and bind a Shroud Ghoul are found in the holy book Uppriz'Vahungi or the Scrolls of the Arvasursusav’hir.

Observance

The Shrouds power will only work once per month and then only on Peonian holy days, ie, 4^th, 12^th, 20^th, and 28^th of the month.

shroud ghouls

Appearance

Shroud Ghouls start off appearing as a normal human, with pale or greying skin and sometimes with obvious wounds or injuries. As time passes, the ghoul will begin to rot and decay, developing an intolerable odor. Hair starts to fall out, and eyes become milky. Most have a huge gross pot belly.

Shroud Ghouls are violent and attack the living on sight using their claw-like hands or weapons if available, unless given directions otherwise and will devour victims. They have no self-preservation instincts and attack relentlessly, never retreating. They will devour the living, and eating leads to them having large gross pot bellies full of rotting diseased flesh and blood. Some Shroud ghouls have burst abdomens from overeating.

Special Properties

A Shroud Ghoul can vomit blood and rotted flesh from its stomach onto an opponent. This noxious putrid slime burns the skin and can cause the victim to become violently ill. Their smell can also cause nausea.

The Shroud Ghouls occasionally retain some of their former martial skills.

Weaknesses

Shroud Ghouls are vulnerable to holy water, and it is said a sanctified Peonian holy symbol will hold them at bay.