[Day 14] Dorsht, the Crow-Bear

 Dorsht, the Crow-Bear

If one leaves Schleswig with its colorful facades and despondent citizens and travel north-west for about three days, one comes to the remnants of a village. The houses are made from sturdy pine and solid clay. The main street is dusty and empty. Not asould is around, and even rats seem to have fled for plackes with richer pickings. This was the village of Dorsht
The people of Dorsht begged the Schleswig king for water and relief from tithes as they battled with drought and thirst. The king is said to have been unmoved by their stark plight, or else their messages never reached him. In any case the villagers died of thirst before any help arrived.



Perhaps some force from the Valley of Unfortunate Undead reached out to the people of Dorsht even as they died. Perhaps their will and despair was simply strong enough to persist in some strangeway after death. In any case the Crow-Bear takes its name and burning hatred from the village.

The first one sees of the Crow-Bear is a small dust storm. It may appear anywhere between Schleswig and the Valley of Unfortunate Undead when sky has been dry for a week. As the Crow-Bear approaches, grit stings the eyes and dust parches the throats. By this point it is impossible to outrun it.

The Crow-Bear is tall and the color of road-dust. It is lean, like a bear fresh out of hibernation and where a bear’s head would be is that of a carrion crow instead. Its eyes are stern and black.

The Crow-Bear’s ultimate goal is to seek revenge against the king of Schleswig, even if the one now sitting on the throne is a different man than the one who wronged the people of Dorsht. People bearing the king’s colors will be savagely killed as though they were the man himself. The Crow-Bear is patient, and might dog a group of traveler’s for days, hiding nearby in its own perpetual dust storm. Some say it can be bought off with an offering of water.

The Crow-Bear shows mercy and even concern for those who are thirsting. It will attempt to lead such people to water, and will refrain from visiting its murderous vengeance upon them.


Hp 18, Morale 8, thick fur +d2, claw d8

Special: Due to the dust storm ranged attacks against the Crow-Bear are very difficult (DR14). As the creature is a revenant of sorts it is uncertain whether it can be killed for good. 

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