Moss beast
Context
This character is an original creation. We often call these “homemades” or “homebrewed” – think home cooking or craft beer.
Many of these characters were created to take part in tabletop role-playing game sessions. Others were invented as a creative writing exercise, often as part of a community event.
This particular creature was the product of a 1995 dream. The creature didn’t have a name so, we’ve gone with something generic.
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Background
- Other Aliases: Moss Demon.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: None.
- Base of Operations: Swamp.
- Height: 6’6″ (1.98m). Weight: 1,600 lbs (726 Kg., 05 APs).
- Eyes: Green. Hair: Brown covered in green moss.
Powers & Abilities
Light doesn’t hurt it, though it’s stronger at night. It will pursue trespassers even in the day.
It won’t enter holy land or come near blessed symbols. It won’t enter holy ground at all.
The creature:
- Can regen killing damage in about an hour.
- Can detect those entering its land from about two miles out.
- Has night vision.
- Has a heightened sense of smell.
- Can breathe underwater.
- Can lie dormant, resting unmoving. In this state, it’s almost undetectable. You’d look right over it as a stone or stump covered in moss.
- Causes animals to become docile around it.
- Doesn’t need to eat, living off the sun alone.
- Can’t be tracked. The land actually changes to hide its tracks.
It is far more intelligent than you might think. However, it doesn’t understand any human language.
Also, because of its plant/animal mystic anatomy, it is extremely resistant to control powers. Animal based control won’t work since it’s also plant. Plant based control won’t work since it’s also an animal.
History
A woman in her early twenties was excited for a romantic weekend with her boyfriend. She planned to join him at a cabin by a lake.
The cabin backed up to a swamp. Off-the-beaten path.
After parking her truck, she hiked about a mile towards the lake. The scene was breath-taking. Everything seemed perfect at the start.
Only a light fog drifted lazily onto the lake. Wisps of fog gave the cabin an eerie feel.
Monster mash
Then to her horror, she saw her boyfriend’s mangled body. Killed by this horrific large beast standing still and silent nearby.
It was something like a grey-brown werewolf with moss over its fur. But it was as large as a grizzly!
It lunged, chasing her into the swamp. She ran hard but the creature was relentless. It made some swipes at her with its claws but left only scratches.
In the dream, the crosses at the ruined church were high/Celtic crosses like the rightmost one.
We’re standing on holy ground
Jumping over a crumbling low stone wall, she noted the creature did not follow. She stood on a mound of earth, the broken remains of a church.
The creature paced a bit then disappeared back into the swamp. It wouldn’t enter the holy ground.
The fog seemed to thicken and soon the sun was setting. When she started to move off the ground, the creature would come at her again.
She thought maybe, if the ground was what it’s afraid of she’d just throw some at it. This did not work, once the dirt left the area it lost its power.
Standing on the promises of God my savior
The holy ground, she surmised, has the power of… “God?” Is that right? Up to this point in her life, she had always considered herself an atheist.
With night deepening, she grabbed a large stone cross and began dragging it. Her heart pounding when she stepped off the holy ground, trusting in the old cross.
The creature came from hiding but slowed quickly, then only stood by and watched. It wouldn’t go near the stone cross.
With all her strength and morning drawing near; she dragged the cross all the way to her vehicle and escaped.
(NOTE: To me this is a great ending. But the dream went on…)
Am I the crazy one?
When she described what happened, others believed she was crazy.
She found herself under investigation when authorities found her boyfriend’s body, but no creature.
Description
Kind of like a moss-covered werewolf.
Its head is wolf-like but its body is more bear like.
It has heavy over-long claws.
The Moss Beast walks upright but can drop to all fours.
Personality
This creature is quiet and sedentary most of the time. It likes the calm and quiet of the swamp. Even the animals native to the swamp become calmer and quieter.
I imagine it sounds more like a bear than anything else.
When trespassers enter its swamp it will pursue and slay them. Or at least chase them from the swamp.
Quotes
“Grrraaaawwwrrr.”
“Chuff, Hawufff, Chuff !” (Loudly coughing each sound out)
This picture (and the header) were artificially generated. See our FAQ.
DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Moss Beast
A 737 points Character.
| Dex: 03 | Str: 07 | Bod: 06 |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 04 | Min: 08 |
| Inf: 01 | Aur: 00 | Spi: 07 |
| Init: 008 | HP: 000 |
Powers:
Analytic Smell/Tracking Scent: 04, Claws: 08, Fog: 05, Life Sense: 11, Mind Over Matter: 08, Regeneration: 05, Solar Sustenance: 15, Ultra-Vision: 04
Bonuses and Limitations:
The Moss Beast does have the Tracking scent but usually just relies on its Life Sense power.
Skills:
Military Science (Camouflage, Tracking): 06
Bonuses and Limitations:
Military Science (Camouflage, Tracking) is a Powered Skill. The Tracking Subskill may only be used to obscure its own trail.
Advantages:
Stabilization (BODY and MIND), Miscellaneous: Animal Friendship: The attitude of animals is never less than Friendly (and more often Awestruck / Enamored) on the Attitude Adjustment Table. Animals will act lethargic around it when the Moss Beast is at rest.
Connections:
None
Drawbacks:
Catastrophic Irrational Fear of Holy items and land, Strange Appearance.
Motivation:
Psychopath.
Occupation:
Territorial Beast.
Wealth:
000
This picture was artificially generated. See our FAQ.
Design notes
I gave it Mind over Matter. This would come into play when it’s barely defeated, “phew”. Then, as with many horror movie monsters, it springs back up for one final attack.
The Moss Beast seems to be a good candidate for the “Unwanted Power” Motivation. It just wants to be left alone. Kind of like the Incredible Hulk. Only, it totally will kill you if it gets the chance. So, I’ve gone with “Psychopath” instead.
What with the fear of Holy items, maybe it should be Moss Demon? I’ll put it as an alias.
Source of Character: This creature and it’s story came from a dream from 1995.
Helper(s): Angie Vaughn, Wikipedia.
Writeup completed on the 10th of July, 2021.