Strife:Bloodforged Gore Guide

Foreword:

Bloodforged as described in the PDF are grotesque warriors of The Reach utilising strange blood magic to contort themselves and enemies alike, the pinnacle of which is transforming into the monstrous Beast of Blood. As written in the PDF this is described as a gory Lurcher yet it's important to make note that whilst Lurchers would be a common transformation this is not the only form a Beast of Blood can or should take. A Beast of Blood could take the form of anything within the parameters allowed by a GM, be it a Twisted Spriggan whose branches are tightly wound tendons and muscles dripping wet with pulsing veins or a Gaping Dire Wolf whose face splits open vertically to reveal lashing tendrils ready to engorge on flesh. This guide hopes to outline some examples of how the Beast of Blood could be utilised in an aesthetic manner, gameplay changes can also be made to the abilities of the Beast of Blood itself to better match your own unique take on the monster but this will just cover the abilities in the PDF.

Bloodstone Lurcher:

The base PDF Beast of Blood is the Bloodstone Lurcher which is a powerful and imposing figure made of blackened flesh that looks and feels like volcanic rock, in it's centre a writhing mass of blood vessels and sinew continuously stir in an almost convulsing state. The limbs of the Bloodstone Lurcher are powerful trunk like bludgeoning weapons with hollow shards of bone like protrusions jutting forth allowing to cause powerful gashes and suck the essential fluids from any wounds in it's prey. Somewhat stunted back legs have unnaturally swollen muscles that burst in a shower of blood as the Lurcher pounces, slamming down with an unexpected ferocity as it showers those below in a crimson mask from the unexpected display.

Twisted Spriggan:

The gnarled branch like limbs of a normal Spriggan are remade by twisted arteries, tendons and sinews to produce wet and dripping appendages to grapple and engorge upon prey with. Meeting at the centre of these gruesome limbs is a torso of a hardened obsidian like flesh with an obtruding jaw that pushes forward with serrated teeth of the same blackened flesh on a muscular piston of great strength. Where the head of the Twisted Spriggan should be there is a girthy tentacle like appendage with barbed hollow hooks to latch onto and drain their prey of any life whilst contracting to squeeze what is left out of their now mutilated corpse. As the Twisted Spriggan feeds it violently contracts its limbs to produce pools of claret and a high pitched trilling sound that pierces through all that hear it.

Gaping Wolf:

Where should sit the head of a Dire Wolf instead lies the horrific maw of a Gaping Wolf, with its face split open vertically to show a cluster of frantically lashing viscera sucking tendrils with bladed tips to bore entry holes into its prey. Front legs that end abruptly to turn into hard blackened flesh from which scythe like claws emerge at strange angles, unblinking and bloodshot eyes sprouting from its chest with a thick clear carapace shell over the top of them. Disturbingly thin hind legs stretch with open sinew and bone to an immense length providing a bipedal gait of great speed as it's back bursts open in gouts of viscera to show its true immense maw of razor sharp spines that make up the four rows of teeth which draw flesh back to feed the Gaping Wolf.