Gibbet Hill by Bram Stoker

A lost short story by Bram Stoker was recently rediscovered in an archive. Its from before he wrote Dracula, so his style is there but the story doesn’t conclude in the way his usually do: you’re left at the Jamesian wallop.

Ben Tucker has recorded a version into the public domain vis Librivox. Thanks to Ben and his production team.

Blindworm of Gibbet Hill

Some statistics for the Blindworm of Gibbet Hill. The physical statistics were based on the Green Snakes of Malebolge in Thrice Told Tales (page 29).

Order: False God
Infernal Might: 10 (Animal)
Characteristics: Int +1, Per +1, Pre –6, Com +2, Str –6, Sta +2, Dex +4, Qik +3
Size: –3
Virtues and Flaws: Infamous
Personality Traits: Proud +3, Hostile +3, Merciful –4
Reputations: None
Hierarchy: 4
Combat:
Bite (fangs): Init +3, Attack +10, Defense +9, Damage –5*
*see Powers: Venomous Bite
Soak: +2
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, –1, –3, –5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: –1 (1), –3 (2), –5 (3), Incapacitated (4), Dead (5)
Abilities: Awareness 4 (prey), Brawl 2 (fangs), Hunt 4 (rodents), Latin 5 (curses), Stealth 4 (stalking prey), Survival 3 (grasslands)
Powers:
Envisioning 1 or 5 points, Init +5, Mentem.
This power allows one of two dreamlike powers. At a cost of 1 point, the demon appears in a target’s dream. The dream itself is gradually imposed upon and twisted to take a darker and more frightening tone. The demon speaks through figures in the dream. At at a cost of 5 points, the demon forces the target into a waking dream. The waking dream is a powerful hallucination of whatever the demon desires. The shocking aspects stun the victim for a round, requiring a Brave Personality roll (Ease Factor 9) to avoid an extreme reaction (retching, convulsions, abject terror). Demons use this power to manipulate the dream states of their victims. It also serves as a method to provide visions to a victim, with the end goal of leading them into corruption through a desire to obsess and hoard some object.
Obsession (Needing to know the future), 1–3 points, Init 0, Vim: This power is used only when there is a chink in the armor of virtue, through the indulgence in a venial sin. This allows the demon to impose its particular sin upon the target. Magic Resistance must be Penetrated, as normal. The victim is assaulted with sinful thoughts and acquires a Personality Trait to represent this. This Personality Trait has a score equal to the number of points used by the demon to activate the power. This becomes the target’s Obsession Trait. (Realms of Power: the Infernal, page 32)
Possession : 1 or more points, Init. +2, Mentem: If this power penetrates, the victim is under the direct control of the Blindworm. It burrows into the victim’s chest, sitting coldly like a rock where the heart should be. If the Blindworm forces the host to act against its true nature, the Blindworm must must spend 1 Might point and win a contested roll (Cruel vs whatever trait the host has which opposes the action). The Blindworm does not have the Might to trigger supernatural powers. It can, however, pass through magical wards while possessing a human, so long as this is not forced by the possession power. If the Blindworm is removed, or chooses to leave, the host dies after about three minutes.
The Serpent Oracle: 2 points, Init. +2, Mentem:
May cast any Intelligo spell for 2 Might, and automatically knows the context and likely outcome of actions made in response to the information gained. Note that the serpent answers questions by pointing toward the speaker it agrees with, so it may be necessary for its supplicants to ask a series of binary questions. This rapidly drains the serpent’s Might pool if it chooses to use its power, but it often agrees with the most dangerous or harmful thing suggested without bothering to consult its supernatural senses.
Venomous Bite, 2 points, Init +8, Animal
This is a paralysis toxin causing 2 levels of Fatigue, resisted by a Stamina roll against an Ease Factor of 9.
Weakness: The blindworm cannot touch or act against people with True Faith at all, nor against anyone touching them.
Vis: 2 pawns of Intellego vis, eyes
Appearance: Blindworms are snakelike lizards with brown to gold scales. They are called “blindworms” because their eyes are small compared to snakes, but they have sight. Similarly although they are called “deaf adders” they can sense vibrations. One odd behavior is they don’t bask like other reptiles, preferring to burrow under warm object like rocks. A standard blind worm grows to about two feet long, but this demonic creature is far longer. It remains thin enough that when it is rolled into a ball it can fit inside a chest cavity.