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| Image: Ghoul leaning on a headstone, a human skull at its feet. Talisman board game character by Gary Chalk. |
Motivated
by this
post on Alone In The Labyrinth, and because I haven’t done a d66 table in a
while, some archetypes/ backgrounds/ careers for Ghouls.
And a possession for each, for extra seasoning.
‘My
Ghouls are not like your Ghouls’: just because you’re a mouldy necrophage doesn’t
mean you’re a bad person. They are Neutral in simple alignment terms, and with similar
extremes of good and bad as in humans. Average or better Normal Human
Intelligence.
There
are more Ghoul-kin in the world than you think. Some never fully fledge, but they
do gravitate towards professions and lifestyles where the border between
Humanity and Ghouldom narrows down.
Some
scholars believe that the transformative Ghoul-venom is simply a hyper-concentration
of (or a catalyst for) something already present within Human germ cells or even
in the environment itself.
System
and setting neutral (the original of the Silent Performer was Pre-Talkies Vamp),
but the Tanner specifically references D&D adjacent Ghast
(big smelly Ghoul). There’s nothing particularly gonzo here – I generally prefer
things to start off grounded in the mundane.
Reorder
if you prefer a different spread of probability; I just put numbers against a
list I made.
11. Compulsive
Gourmand.
You
just had to taste it all.
Custom-made
utensils.
12. Slugs
and Snails and Puppy Dog’s Tails.
You
are (or were) a rather lovable but rather creepy little kid.
Something
precious or A raggedy animal(?) companion.
13.
Avuncular Surgeon.
Plenty
of business and very little waste.
Meticulously
maintained tools.
14. Cheery
Gravedigger.
An
upstanding and necessary member of the community.
A merry tune to work by.
15. Night
Owl/ Insomniac/ Somnambulist.
You
either just like being out and about at night, or you are compelled to it.
You
don’t know, you just picked it up.
16.
Kind-eyed Mortician.
An
upstanding and necessary member of the community.
Modest,
out-of-the-way premises.
21
Jolly Butcher.
A fine
upstanding and necessary member of the community.
The
respect and confidence of your neighbourhood.
22.
Unassuming Animal Slaughterer/Deboner.
No
reason for you not be covered in gore and brains.
Gauntlets,
apron, hammer, knives.
23. Professional
Mourner.
You
might just stand unintroduced and unobtrusive at a respectful distance.
Lead-and-iron
sistrum, ashes-and-sackcloth, thick knotted rope or
Appropriate mourning garb.
24. Silent
Performer.
Subtle
or exaggerated, feted or despised.
High-contrast
make-up, possibly A pair of white gloves.
25. Wandering
Balladeer.
Mainly
‘orrible murder, dead true loves and gallows
confessions.
Inky
fingers and Dramatic flair.
26. Anatomist.
Medical
expert or enthusiastic amateur.
Bag full
of knives.
31.
Reanimator.
Not
necessarily successful.
Not
necessarily medical equipment.
32.
Demoniac.
Real
or imagined.
A
mouthful of pins and beetles.
33.
Berserker.
What
you do might be accepted or overlooked.
Mercenary’s
license.
34. Scavenger.
It
just seemed like a natural progression.
Grappling
hook.
35.
Survivor.
You
did what you had to, then you missed it, then you craved it.
Ground
razor-sharp, a highly polished human thigh bone.
36.
Hermit/ Eremite.
You
just want to be left alone.
None
of your business.
41. Necrophile.
You
love the dead, but don’t necessarily love the dead.
Antibacterial
fungicidal soap (pleasantly scented) or A little book of poems.
42. Corpse
Eating Cultist.
Whether
it’s why you joined or one of the inner mysteries, it’s what you’re doing now.
Secret
sign.
43. Careless/
Carefree.
You’re
going to get into trouble sooner rather than later.
Inaccurate
threats of blackmail.
44. The Descendant.
Scion
of an accursed and ancient line, the sins of the fathers made flesh in you.
Antiquated
signet ring or Dusty legal documents.
45. Cannibal.
You
already eat people when they’re fresh.
Alarming
cutlery.
46. Murderer.
You’ve
already gone this far.
Not all of the incriminating evidence.
51.
Ministering Angel.
Your
care of the sick, old and injured is legendary.
Natural
talent for healing.
52.
Aesthete/ Hipster.
Absolutely
committed.
Something
you wouldn’t have heard of.
53.
On Patrol.
You’ve
got a very good reason to be poking around after dark.
Badge
to flash.
54.
Florist.
You smell
nice, everyone notices that about you.
Warm
beds of moist earth.
55.
Accomplished Chef.
You
even know how to prepare lamb Amirstan.
A
Cookbook; it’s a Cookbook!
56.
Tanner.
You
smell …strongly, everyone notices that about you.
Ghast stench, if you like.
61.
Dedicated Brewer/ Vintner.
They
joke that you sleep in the cellars with your barrels.
Signature
beverage with humorous name.
62.
Survivalist/ Prepper.
You
found a solution for one of the likely problems.
Not as
much food or medical supplies as was expected.
63.
Cruel.
Even
your peers think you’re loathsome.
A hold
over people in a particular circumstance.
64.
True Innocent.
You don’t
understand why they’re going to burn you, nor they why they weep.
Tangible
blamelessness.
65.
Veteran.
Opportunities
of war in lands near and far.
Conversation
pieces, maybe a necklace of them.
66.
Hum-Ghoul.
Mummy
and Daddy both love you very much.
A
little reminder of the parent you don’t lair/live with.
