Worldbuilding: The Ben-Nadi

The Ben-Nadi are a cult of assassins that was founded just over a decade ago by Drago Hirobi, also know as the Seneschal. Drago claims that Nyx, the Goddess of Night and Mother of Monsters, came to him in a vision and instructed him on what he needed to do to create the cult. He even claims that those he recruits are chosen by Nyx to join.

Currently, the Ben-Nadi have 47 members and have quickly garnered a reputation for their ruthlessness and efficiency. Rumors insist that after murdering Prince Gonard of Waloria that nobles from all over the Western seaboard began seeking out the Ben-Nadi for contracts to fulfill.

Once chosen to join the Ben-Nadi, members are heavily recruited and no one is currently known to turn have turned down membership. Obedience to the Seneschal's tenets are required and included a wide variety of strange taboos. After being chosen, a recruit has close to six months of training before being assigned a target to murder. Only after that assignment is fulfilled successfully is a recruit considered a full member and failure means execution.

Members are trained in social situations, combat, acting, disguise, and the art of stealth. Rumors claim that members also have training in shadow magics.

While some scoff at the boogeymen that the Ben-Nadi have become, far more in the know point at how quickly their reputation has grown in such a short time.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition: Disruptor

DISRUPTOR

Magic weapon (laser pistol)

• It deals 3d8 necrotic damage, [Ammunition (range 40/120), reload (50 shots)]

• You gain a +1 on attack and damage rolls with this weapon.

• When you hit with an attack wielding the disruptor and roll a natural 18 or higher, the target's Speed is reduced to 0 until the beginning of your next turn.

Numenera's Cyphers for Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition

I'm a big of fan of Monte Cook Game's Numenera setting, which is a mix of science fiction and fantasy set a billion years in the future. However, I'm not too keen on the Cypher System that powers it.

Last week, there were some cryptic hints that MCG might do some kind of conversion of Numenera to DnD 5E. I hope this happens. I think it could be a win-win for the company and the property.

It got me thinking of importing some of the Ninth World's ideas into my current DnD 5E game that I'm getting ready to go back to.

One of those things are the setting's cyphers, strange and sometime ancient pieces of tech that are indistinguishable from magic. They are, essentially, one use magic items that the PC's get access to randomly.

To use a Cypher in 5E, it remains a one use item and lasts as long as it says. If it inflicts damage, the amount is equal to the level of the cypher, often a random amount. The level of the cypher is also added to 8 to determine any Saving Throw DCs that are necessary.

Thoughts?

Dungeon Crawl Classics: Gremlin

GREMLIN  for Dungeon Crawl Classics

Init +5; Atk claws +1 melee (1d4); AC 17; HD 1d6; MV 40’; 
Act 1d20; SP Infravision 90';SV Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +0; AL C. 

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X: M for Savage Worlds

Frankenstein's Monster, calling himself M, has worked with Fu Manchu within the Si-Fan for the last 30 years. The Devil Doctor has used M's infernal gifts to wreak havoc and cause misery.

M 
AKA Frankenstein's Monster
Wild Card

Attributes: Agility d10, Smarts d10, Spirit d8, 
   Strength d12+1, Vigor d12

Skills:  Athletics d10, Common Knowledge d10, 
   Fighting d10, Intimidation d10, Notice d8, 
   Persuasion d8, Stealth d8

Pace: 8; Parry: 7; Toughness: 13 (2)

Edges: Calculating, Martial Warrior, No Mercy, 
   Sweep (Improved)

Special Abilities:
• Unarmed: Str+d6.

• Armor: 2.

• Hardy.
• Fear.

• Fearless.

• Size 1.

• Undead.

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Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition: Quinox

A quinox is a sorcerer who joins the legions of hell in the Blood War. Once transformed from their mortal frailties, they become beings of light and shadow that delight in harrying their demonic foes and anyone who stands against them.

QUINOX
medium fiend (devil), lawful evil
________________________________________________

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 47 (8d8 + 9) 

Speed 35 ft., fly 35 ft.
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   Str                  Dex                Con           
12 (+2)          17 (+3)         13 (+1)  
   Int                  Wis                Cha
14 (+2)          12 (+1)         16 (+3)

__________________________________________


Skills Arcana +5, Stealth +6
Damage Resistances Necrotic, Radiant; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks that aren't Silvered
Damage Immunities Poison
Condition Immunities Poison

Senses Darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 11

Languages Common, Draconic, Infernal
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)

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Devil's Sight. Magical darkness doesn’t impede the quinox's darkvision.

Magic Resistance. The quinox has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Magic Weapons. The quinox's weapon attacks are magical.

Shadow Stealth. While in dim light or darkness, the quinox can take the Hide action as a bonus action.

__________________________________________

ACTIONS

Multiattack. The quinox makes three attacks: two with its shadow whip and one with its light lance.

Shadow Whip. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) necrotic damage.

Light Lance. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (3d10 + 3) radiant damage.

Shadow Bomb (Recharge 5-6). The quinox casts darkness at a point within 120 feet of it, requiring no components. Charisma is its spellcasting ability for this spell. While the spell persists, the quinox can move the area of darkness up to 35 feet as a bonus action.

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1,000 Faces: Obadiah Cornwallis

Obadiah Cornwallis
Male Vampire

Ability Scores:
Str 20      Dex 18      Con 20
Int 13      Wis 15       Cha 13 


Traits:
Assassin
Patient
Observant

Role: Obadiah is relatively young vampire, but was a dogged opponent of undead and monsters in his life. His supernatural gifts make him an especially deadly foe because he knows how a monster hunter thinks.

He travels the the countryside in a large covered wagon that is driven by his sister and protector, Barbarella. Barb assisted him in life as a hunter and has become blood bound to him in his undeath, something that truly bothers Obadiah.