Al-Mi'raj

And I'm back.

LINGER NOT ON THE STAT BLOCK

 

Al-Mi’raj

When the scholar and mad priest Jezirat of Kemet first travelled the lands beyond the temple-cities of his homeland he documented many strange and fabulous things in parts of the world so close to the ken of eastern civilization yet so backward and isolated no-one saw fit to keep a record. Exactly what possessed Jezirat to venture into these backwater regions of the world none can say. He was mad.

But nevertheless of all the unusual creatures thought lost to folklore perhaps the most eerie Jezirat came across was what he called Al-Mi’raj. He wrote of it:

“Also in this place [The Isles of Nennyn] their lives an animal that is in form a very large hare or rabbit. However it has yellow fur and its head is stripped of all skin and flesh leaving it bone bare. Its eye sockets possess a deathly and unreal light that’s gaze, I’m told withers crops. Most strange of all however is the creature’s horn. From the centre of its forehead grows a single black and curved horn like that of a goat. The animal moves with great speed and although it takes the shape of a rabbit it takes great joy in flesh and will hunt game larger then itself, using its worrisome horn as a weapon. Upon occasion, as I’m told, one of the creatures will take the life of one of the pygmy Nennish Islanders and eat their flesh. 

Not only for this reason do the Nennish fear and hate the creature, but also because it is said to be a bringer of disease and plague. Whether this is true or not the Nennish treat it as such are quick to summon witches to dispatch the beast as few mortal trappers are willing to make the attempt, believing the beast to be cursed. Having witnessed one first hand attack, dismember and feed upon a kid-goat, I fear they may be right. 

It is further said that if cursed by the animal the only way to lift the curse is to devour a piece of the animals black heart, a dangerous act as if the folklore is true this part is very poisonous.

In truth I am beginning to suspect that these animals are not true creatures but the manifestation of some malign demon or god sent out to bring pestilence and chaos to the world. In many ways they are the ultimate inversion; a the body of a prey animal in a conspicuous tone, the body of a herbivore ingesting flesh and blood, a dead and rotten skull rising from a still living neck…” 

In his native tongue Al-Mi’raj means “The Ladder”. It is unknown exactly why Jezirat of Kemet chose to name the creature so but it is worth remembering he was not dubbed the Mad Priest for nothing. 

For reasons known only to them the native Nennish-halfling folk themselves refer to the sinister creature as the wopletinger.

Al-Mi’raj  (or Wopletinger)

Size:                       Small (3’ long)                                             

Move:                     18”

Armour Class:      14

Hit Dice:                1

Attacks:                 Horn

Damage:                 1d6

Saves:                     8             

                -6 penalties vs. magical attacks 

Al-Mi’raj can bestow quick and minor curses on their enemies with its baleful demon-eyes. Roll d6:

1.         1. -1d6 decrease to a random ability score

2.        2.    -4 penalty on attack rolls, saves, and checks (-2 for skills)

3.     3.   All food tastes like ash. All drink tastes like piss. Saving throw to stomach anything.

4.        4.     You become aware of the horrible true nature of al-mi’raj. Save or you are paralysed immediately with fear and suffer a -8 penalty to your saving throws so shaken up are you for the duration of the curse.

5.        5.    You stink. Sounds silly no? Well you stink so bad people need to make saving throws to be in the same room as you. You stink so bad flies think you’re dead and lay their eggs in you.

6.         6.    Al-Mi’raj has created an empathetic connection with you and when it dies it will try and take up possession of your body. Adventure in of itself.

These curses (except 6) last until the al-mi'raj is slain.