CREATURES FROM MYTH AND LEGEND

GHUL
(Middle East)

Val	CHA	Cost	Roll	Notes
20	STR	10	13-	Lift 400 kg; 4d6 HTH Damage [2]
15	DEX	15	12-	OCV:  5/DCV:  5
18	CON	16	13-
8	BODY	-4	11-
10	INT	0	11-	PER Roll 11-
10	EGO	0	11-	ECV:  3
20	PRE	10	13-	PRE Attack:  4d6
4	COM	-3	10-

6	PD	2		Total:  6 PD (0 rPD)
5	ED	1		Total:  5 ED (0 rED)
3	SPD	5		Phases:  4, 8, 12
8	REC	0
36	END	0
30	STUN	3		Total Characteristic Cost:  55

Movement:	Running:	6"/12"
		Leaping:	4"/8"
		Swimming:	2"/4"

Cost	Powers & Skills
10	Bite:  HKA 1/2d6 (1d6+1 w/STR), END 1
8	Claws:  HKA 1/2d6 (1d6+1 w/STR); Reduced Penetration (-1/4), END 1
98	Return To Life:  Healing 16 BODY, Resurrection, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), 
	Persistent (+1/2), Trigger (Activating the Trigger is an Action that takes no time, Trigger resets 
	automatically, immediately after it activates; trigger actives if the ghul is hit a second time 
	while dead; +1); Power Only Works When Trigger Is Activated (-2), Extra Time (Regeneration-Only) 
	1 Turn (Post-Segment 12) (Character May Take No Other Actions; -1 1/2), Resurrection Only (-1/2), 
	Self Only (-1/2)
17	Mimic Voices:  Hearing Group Images 1" radius, -4 to PER Rolls, Reduced Endurance 
	(0 END; +1/2); Set Effect (only to mimic voices; -1/2)
41	Form Of A Beautiful Woman (or Man):  Shape Shift  (Sight, Hearing, Smell/Taste and Touch 
	Groups, any humanoid shape), Makeover, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2); Shape Shift Doesn't Affect 
	The Ghul's Feet (-1/4)

	Skills
10	+2 with HTH Combat
5	Cunning:  +1 with Intellect Skills

3	Climbing 12-
4	Language:  Arabic (Classical) (idiomatic)
3	Mimic Voices:  Mimicry 11-
3	Shadowing 11-
3	Stealth 12-
3	Tracking 11-

Total Powers & Skill Cost:  208
Total Cost:  263

75+	Disadvantages
0	Physical Limitation:  Human Sized
15	Psychological Limitation:  Insatiable Hunger For Human Flesh (Common, Strong)
10	Reputation:  desert-dwelling flesh-eating jinn, 11-
163	Experience Points

Total Disadvantage Points:  263

Ecology: The ghul (plural: ghilan) is a monster found in Arabic folklore. They are a form of jinn (a type of supernatural being) and are said to be the children of Iblis, the Muslim Prince of Darkness. Ghilan dwell deep in the deserts and wastelands of the Middle East. They may also inhabit ruins, graveyards, and mountainous areas. They seem to be solitary creatures who rarely associate with others of their kind. The ghilan are noted for their hunger, and typically prey upon humans. They usually target lone travelers or otherwise isolated individuals, calling to them in the voices of their companions or loved ones, luring them off the trail and into the ghul's clutches.

The ghul can be either male or female, with the female called a ghulah. Ghilan are capable of changing their form, although their feet will always be in the shape of an ass's hooves. The females tend to take the form of a beautiful women, using this shape to gain a traveler's trust in order to lure him to his doom. It is said the only way to kill a ghul is to strike it dead with a single blow, as a second blow will give the creature renewed life.

These creatures are also known by the names Algul, Ghilan (plural), Ghoul, Ghulah (female), and Si'lat.

Personality/Motivation: The primary motivation behind a ghul's actions is hunger. They are said to be insatiable, and especially lust after the flesh and blood of humans.

Powers/Tactics: A ghul prefers to strike by surprise, and will either assume the form of a beautiful woman (or man) in order to approach a potential victim, or use its mimicry ability to lure an unsuspecting victim away from his companions and out into the wilderness. Once their target has dropped his guard, they will attack with their claws, trying to grapple with the intended victim so their teeth can be brought into play.

Anyone attacked by a ghul can escape if he can strike the ghul dead with a single blow. Care must be taken to not strike the ghul a second time, as it will then rise up—whole, healed and ready to continue the fight.

Appearance: A ghul is a ugly humanoid of fearsome appearance, with sharps claws and teeth used to rend its prey. They are noted shape changers, however, and often assume more pleasing forms when attempting to lure a potential victim to his doom.

Designer's Notes: The Arabic ghul was a creature that represented a certain fear of the dead, graveyards, and things that were unclean. Mohammed denied the existence of the ghul, while Marco Polo stated that ghouls, griffins, and good faith were three things people spoke about that did not exist. It makes an excellent creature for Fantasy Hero games, as it has instant name recognition (especially to those familiar with certain other fantasy role-playing games) but its unique powers will certainly surprise the unsuspecting.

The ghul's "Return to Life" power requires some careful examination by the GM. Almost all descriptions of the creature stat it can be "killed by a single blow" and a second blow would return it to life. The write-up gives the ghul 8 BODY. This is a fairly low BODY score, but not low enough for anyone armed with 1d6+1 HKA sword reduce the ghul to -8 BODY in a single blow (unless one uses hit locations). The best option would be for the ghul to fall dead from any blow that reduced the ghul from 8 BODY to 0 in a single shot (thus "killing" it in a single blow). If a single blow does not kill the ghul, the fight proceeds as normal.

As for coming back to life, it should be pointed out that the second blow doesn't have to have be delivered by the same person. If two people are fighting a ghul, and the first person "kills" it and the second swings anyway, "just to make sure," the ghul will spring right back up again (if it even fell in the first place).

Ghul Hero Designer File


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