OSR Statblock - Uncle Greggo
With apologies to Buttersafe
HD: 5 (22 hp) / AC: As chain / Attacks: Touch +5 (Anchoring) / Speeds: As a horse
Fearless: Immune to terror, fear, & morale.
Anchoring: When a Greggo is first seen, the viewer must Save or become anchored. Success grants immunity to anchoring from this Greggo (except via touch). Anchored victims possess complete false memories and will insist on the creature’s identity (”That’s Uncle Greggo”). They rationalize all contradictions.
Unanchoring: Anchored victims who are confronted with undeniable proof of impossibility (census records, extended isolated interrogation revealing contradictions, etc.) may Save again. On success, they remember everything and take 1d20 nonlethal psychic damage from the cognitive whiplash. On failure, they become violently hostile to interrogators.
Errors: Greggo confidently states erroneous facts on a regular basis — birthdays, shared events, names of other family members. Anchored victims rationalize errors (i.e. “He always jokes like that”). Unanchored observers can notice the error, but the anchored will never believe it as being one.
Feeding: A Greggo feeds on 1 anchored victim at a time, starting with the earliest victim. The victim becomes lethargic (disadvantage everywhere it’s applicable, including combat); Greggo attempts to remain within 100’ of that person (typically by staying in their home). After 1 week of feeding on the same victim, they die of “natural causes” & Greggo heals to full HP. Greggo takes 2 damage per night where no feeding occurs.
A relation or old friend. It’s just a normal person. Never describe it in clear or absolute terms. If players try to look close, emphasize the point. Greggo is just a normal person in plain clothes. They’re just plain clothes. He’s just a normal person.
A Greggo tries to build a network of anchors for self-protection, knows when someone hasn’t been anchored, tries to leverage their relationships with anchors against any immune hostiles, & flees if cornered.
I was (un)wisely reading Buttersafe today and found a lovely comic, and I just had to throw something together for it quick.
Merry Christmas!
