#RPGaDay2024 Day 3 – Demonology

For day 3 of #RPGaDay2024, I’ll continue with Skala Wyzwania’s alternative prompt challenge list. For more information, see David Chapman’s Autocratik blog post for RPG a Day 2024.

The RPG challenge theme for today is Demonology. Rolling a 1d10 for the quest. The result is 7, Create a Simple Mechanic. Let’s see…

The Auspice of the Nocturnal Potentates

After the breaking of the Constellation of the High and the Night of Weeping Starfire, the constellations of the heavenly vault are thrown in disarray, the starts of the Nocturnal Potentates cross the sky, and their presence in the night is chaotic and unpredictable, refusing the attempts of learned sages and scholars to trace their patterns. Most children in the land now bear the dark demonic auspice of the constellation in the sky the night of their birth. Roll 1d12 to determine the constellation and the effect it has on them.

1. Blessed – The sky was empty that night, no dark auspice on your blood.
2. Tears of Mishafan – Anguish: Disadvantage on rolls related to resisting or recovering from mental suffering. Gain Advantage and darkness when purposefully causing anguish to the innocent.
3. The Eyes of Roshan – Fear: Disadvantage on rolls related to overcoming or recovering from fear. Gain Advantage and darkness when causing fear in the innocent.
4. The Flail of Gerran – Wrath: Disadvantage or rolls to control your wrath. Give in to wrath and gain Advantage and darkness when hurting the innocent through action or words.
5. The Three-Headed Snake – Despair: Disadvantage on rolls to recover from hopelessness or defeat. Gain Advantage and darkness when causing despair in the innocent.
6. The Dark Lady – Jealousy: Disadvantage on rolls to resist jealousy. Gain Advantage and darkness when fomenting despair in the innocent.
7. The Lost Child – Loneliness: Disadvantage on rolls when facing enemies alone or recovering from emotional, overwhelming loneliness. Gain Advantage and darkness when leaving the innocent to face danger or hardships alone.
8. Bloody Hands – Shame: Disadvantage on rolls related to healing the character in combat. Gain Advantage on your next roll and darkness for ignoring a wounded innocent who needs healing.
9. The Broken Rocker – Boredom: Disadvantage or rolls during downtime or moments of boredom.
10. The Scattered Toys of Gris – Disdain: Disadvantage of social situations where others show contempt.
11. The Dead Brother – Betrayal: Gain Advantage and darkness for a scene when betraying an ally.
12. Cursed – Two constellations, vie for the night, roll twice, and ignore a roll of 1 or 12.

Rules clarification: I’ll use the Advantage/Disadvantage concept, but if you do not use these rules, substitute for an appropriate bonus/penalty and the corresponding rule. Darkness can be any corruption rule in your game, and if there is none, each corruption point is an appropriate penalty to resist the effects and powers of demonic creatures and their servants.

What do you think? Are you enjoying these little world-building exercises via the challenges? Would you rather see me do the more traditional prompts? Let me know in the comments.

I hope you participate in #RPGaDay2024. Don’t forget to tag your contribution with the hashtag and share it with us here, on your socials, and in the #RPGaDay 2024 Facebook Group.

See you tomorrow.