Gloamspawn

The Gloamspawn: Oyl-Infused Frogmen of the Black Mire

Deep within the festering marshlands known as the Fen of Drangfallylach, where the waters churn thick with ancient Oyl and the air hangs heavy with toxic fumes, an eldritch species has risen from the depths—twisted, amphibious beings known as the Gloamspawn. Once mere frogs and salamanders, these creatures have undergone an unnatural evolution, their bodies reshaped by the viscous sludge that seeps into their veins, mingling with their blood, darkening their flesh, and warping their minds.

The Transformation

The Gloamspawn were not always this way. Legends whispered in the stagnant pools of their homeland tell of an age when they were simple, servile creatures—enslaved by a species so ancient and forgotten that even their name has been lost to time. They were forced to toil in the mire, dredging the land for some arcane purpose, their captors ever vigilant, their lives devoid of freedom. But all changed when the Frog God awoke.

From beneath the tar-black bog, Thul’Zirith , the Hungering Croak, the Bloated One, emerged. A god of blood and stagnation, Thul’Zirith whispered to his suffering children, offering them liberation in exchange for fealty. Those who drank from his oozing, sanguine tongue found themselves transformed—bodies elongating, their limbs thickening with grotesque muscle, their once-vibrant skin darkened to a slick, glistening black. Their eyes, once round and innocent, became sunken pits of crimson, forever hungering.

Their minds expanded with dark knowledge. No longer were they simple-minded amphibians, but cunning, organized beings with a thirst for dominance. Under the guidance of their vampiric god, they turned on their oppressors, tearing them apart with webbed claws and needle-like fangs. They drank deep from their veins, savoring the warmth of their flesh, reveling in the ecstasy of slaughter.

Physiology & Society

The Gloamspawn stand between five and seven feet tall, their bodies unnaturally sleek, adapted for both land and water. Their skin excretes a thin film of black sludge, making them nearly invisible when submerged in the oily depths of their homeland. Their mouths are filled with serrated teeth, capable of puncturing the thickest hides, and their tongues can extend outward with terrifying speed, draining the life force from their prey.

They live in a theocratic hierarchy, ruled by the Bloodcroakers, high priests who commune directly with Thul’Zirith. These priests perform dark rituals in submerged temples carved from the bones of their former masters, where they bathe in sacrificial blood and chant guttural hymns to their insatiable god. The lesser Gloamspawn live in sprawling hive-like structures beneath the swamp, emerging only to hunt, raid, or expand their dominion.

Worship and Rituals

Every astral cycle, the Gloamspawn perform the Feast of the Drowned Moon, where captives—be they human, beast, or other—are dragged beneath the inky waters and exsanguinated. Their blood is offered to Thul’Zirith, who manifests in the depths as a massive, ever-hungry maw, gorging on the offering before retreating back into the abyss.

They believe that one day, their god will consume all light, and they will rule the eternal darkness. Until then, they hunt, they worship, and they wait.

Gloamspawn

Aquatic

Your species is native to both water and land. You cannot drown in oxygenated liquid and move at your full pace when swimming. Additionally your slimy skin gives you a +2 Stealth bonus when fully submerged in water.

Bite

You have naturally sharp teeth that cause Str + d4 damage to Grappled targets. See Natural Weapons on Page 104 for more information.

Poisonous Touch

With a successful Touch Attach (p108) or Bite, the victim must roll Vigor or suffer the affects of Mild Poison. You may always choose whether or not you use your Poisonous Touch. See page 129 for Poison and its effects.

Leaper

You can jump twice as far as listed under Movement (p92). In addition, you add +4 when leaping as part of a Wild Attack instead of the usual +2 (unless its in an enclosed or confined space where you cannot leap horizontally or vertically).

Blood Dependency

You must consume an amount of blood on an daily basis for sustenance. Without it, you become Fatigued each day until you are Incapacitated. If you go longer without it, you could perish. Each hour spent recovering and consuming enough Blood restores a level of Fatigue.

Bloodthirsty

You never take prisoners unless under the direct supervision of a superior. Your cold-blooded ruthlessness causes enemies to respond in kind, often costs vital information, creates constant enemies, and may get you in trouble with your superiors or authorities.