In Life: Thorgrim was a devout cleric of nature, a protector of the dwarven people. His faith was absolute, and he was revered for his wisdom and power. However, a deep-seated pride and a growing thirst for knowledge led him down a dark path. He began experimenting with forbidden magics, seeking to extend life and increase power. His experiments corrupted him, transforming him into a creature of shadow and death.
In Undeath: Bound in a ritual by Ja’acob Hardfoot, Thorgrim was trapped within a living tomb. The tomb was a marvel of dwarven engineering, infused with divine magic to suppress Thorgrim's power. However, over millennia, the magic has weakened. Now, Thorgrim's essence seeps out, corrupting the land and influencing those susceptible to his dark allure.
Personality: Thorgrim is a complex and manipulative creature. Once a pillar of the community, he now revels in his corruption. He sees himself as a god, betrayed by a world unworthy of his power. His voice is deep and resonant, carrying an echo of his former authority. He is a master of deception, able to appear as a benevolent figure, offering wisdom and power to those he seeks to corrupt.
Goals
Power: Thorgrim's ultimate goal is to break free from his prison and reshape the world in his image. He sees himself as a superior being destined to rule.
Corruption: To achieve his goal, he must amass power. He plans to do this by corrupting powerful individuals and turning them into his servants.
Revenge: He harbors a deep hatred for the clerics who imprisoned him and seeks to destroy their legacy.
The Corruption
Thorgrim's power manifests as a subtle, insidious force. It can appear as a whisper in the mind, a tempting offer of greater strength, wisdom, or wealth. Those susceptible to corruption are often those with deep-seated desires or insecurities.
The Tomb
The tomb is a powerful artifact in its own right. It is a massive, underground structure filled with dwarven craftsmanship. As the tomb weakens, strange phenomena begin to occur: tremors, unnatural growths, and whispers can be heard. These are signs that Thorgrim's power is growing.
The Corruption Die
To represent the growing influence of Thorgrim, introduce a d4 called the Corruption Die. This die is rolled whenever a character accepts a boon from Thorgrim. The sum of the Corruption Die over time will elevate the character’s level of corruption as defined by the table below.
Corruption Level
Corruption Score
Mild
5
Moderate
10
Severe
15
Once the character’s sum of Corruption reaches the necessary amount to gain a new level of corruption, consult the table below to determine what form the corruption takes.
Mild Corruption Effects
d10
Effect Description
1
Fear and Intimidation. You become more susceptible to fear and intimidation. You have disadvantage on saving throws against fear effects.
2
Nightmares or Visions. You are plagued by nightmares or visions of Thorgrim. You gain one level of exhaustion whenever you finish a long rest.
3
Gnawing Conscience. Your conscience begins to gnaw at you. You gain disadvantage on Deception checks.
4
Impatience. You become increasingly impatient and reckless. You have disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.
5
Isolation. You find it difficult to connect with others. You have disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks.
6
Paranoia. You become increasingly paranoid and distrustful. You have disadvantage on Insight checks.
7
Addiction. You develop an addiction to power. Whenever you use a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, roll a d4. On a 1, you must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or suffer one level of exhaustion.
8
Appetite for Darkness. You develop a taste for the macabre and violent. You have advantage on Intimidation checks.
9
Weakened Resolve. Your resolve begins to weaken. You have disadvantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened.
10
Self-Doubt. You begin to doubt your own abilities. You have disadvantage on ability checks that rely on your Charisma modifier.
Moderate Corruption Effects
d10
Effect Description
1
Dark Aura. You gain a dark aura that frightens animals and makes others uneasy. Animals within 10 feet of you are frightened of you. Creatures have disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks to interact with you.
2
Resistance to Healing. You become more resistant to healing spells. You have resistance to necrotic damage, but healing spells cast on you have half their normal effect.
3
Connection to Thorgrim. Your connection to Thorgrim grows stronger. You can cast Detect Thoughts once per day without expending a spell slot. However, you can only target creatures within 30 feet of you, and the spell reveals Thorgrim's thoughts along with the target's.
4
Enhanced Senses. Your senses become heightened, granting you advantage on Perception checks.
5
Twisted Magic. Your magic begins to take on a darker tone. You gain advantage on spell attack rolls but disadvantage on saving throws against spells.
6
Hunger for Power. Your desire for power grows insatiable. You gain advantage on Intimidation checks but disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks.
7
Physical Transformation. Subtle changes begin to occur to your physical appearance. You gain a +1 bonus to Constitution but a -1 penalty to Charisma.
8
Nightmare Fuel. Your dreams become increasingly disturbing, granting you disadvantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks.
9
Reduced Empathy. You find it difficult to empathize with others. You have disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks.
10
Shadowy Steps. You move with unnatural grace and speed. You gain a bonus to your Dexterity score.
Severe Corruption Effects
d10
Effect Description
1
Physical Transformation. Your physical appearance begins to change dramatically, reflecting your growing darkness. You sprout horns or claws, or your skin turns pale and sickly. You gain vulnerability to radiant damage.
2
Immunity to Healing. You become immune to healing spells. You cannot be healed by any spell or magical effect.
3
Undead Hunger. You develop an insatiable hunger for living flesh. You must feed on a creature at least once per day or suffer one level of exhaustion.
4
Unholy Resilience. You gain resistance to all damage except radiant and psychic.
5
Shadow Form. You can cast the Shadow Form spell at will.
6
Life Drain. You can drain life from others to heal yourself. When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can regain hit points equal to half the damage dealt.
7
Madness. You descend into madness. You have disadvantage on all ability checks and saving throws.
8
Soul Corruption. Your soul becomes tainted. You cannot be resurrected by divine magic.
9
Death Dealer. You gain the ability to cast Chill Touch at will.
10
Master of Deception. You become a master of deception and manipulation. You have advantage on Deception, Charisma (Intimidation), and Charisma (Persuasion) checks.
Boons
Of course, gaining Corruption isn’t a tempting prospect unless it comes with substantial benefits. Thorgrim offers the following increasingly powerful boons designed to entice characters to increase their level of Corruption. Each category of boons leads the character to the next level of Corruption, and each option at each level can only be chosen once.
Minor Boons (Leading to Mild Corruption)
These boons offer small, immediate benefits but carry the risk of mild corruption.
Enhanced Ability: Increase one ability score by 1.
Skill Proficiency: Gain proficiency in one skill.
Minor Magic Item: Obtain a minor magic item of your choice.
Extra Attack: Gain one additional attack with a bonus action on your turn.
Spellcasting Ability: Increase your spellcasting ability modifier by 1.
Hit Point Increase: Gain temporary hit points equal to your level.
Resistance: Gain resistance to one damage type.
Language: Learn one additional language.
Feat: Gain one feat.
Lucky Charm: Roll an additional d20 when making an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw. You must use the highest result.
Major Boons (Leading to Moderate Corruption)
These boons offer significant power but carry the risk of moderate corruption.
Ability Score Increase: Increase two ability scores by 1.
Expertise: Double your proficiency bonus on two skills.
Magical Weapon or Armor: Obtain a magic weapon or armor of your choice.
Extra Attack: Gain an additional attack on your action.
Spellcasting Ability: Increase your spellcasting ability modifier by 2.
Hit Point Increase: Gain temporary hit points equal to twice your level.
Damage Resistance: Gain resistance to two damage types.
Cantrip: Learn one additional cantrip.
Superior Feat: Gain a powerful feat that grants significant benefits.
Lucky Die: Gain a d4 that you can roll once per turn to add to an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw.
Extreme Boons (Leading to Severe Corruption)
These boons offer immense power but carry the risk of severe corruption.
Ability Score Increase: Increase three ability scores by 1.
Master of All: Gain proficiency in all skills.
Legendary Item: Obtain a legendary magic item of your choice.
Extra Action: Take a bonus action on each of your turns.
Spellcasting Mastery: Increase your spellcasting ability modifier by 3 and gain the ability to cast one additional spell of each level.
Indomitable Resilience: Gain temporary hit points equal to three times your level and immunity to one damage type.
Damage Immunity: Gain immunity to two damage types.
Spellcasting Focus: Gain a spellcasting focus that grants you additional benefits.
Epic Feat: Gain an incredibly powerful feat that grants extraordinary abilities.
Divine Intervention: Gain the ability to call upon a powerful entity once per long rest to aid you in a difficult situation.
Overall Effect of Corruption
A character's Corruption score grants Thorgrim a bonus to all attack rolls or ability checks made against the character and/or an increase to any saving throw DC the character makes to resist Thorgrim. This bonus is equal to the character's current Corruption score.
The Monster: Thorgrim Stoneheart
In Life: Thorgrim was a devout cleric of nature, a protector of the dwarven people. His faith was absolute, and he was revered for his wisdom and power. However, a deep-seated pride and a growing thirst for knowledge led him down a dark path. He began experimenting with forbidden magics, seeking to extend life and increase power. His experiments corrupted him, transforming him into a creature of shadow and death.
In Undeath: Bound in a ritual by Ja’acob Hardfoot, Thorgrim was trapped within a living tomb. The tomb was a marvel of dwarven engineering, infused with divine magic to suppress Thorgrim's power. However, over millennia, the magic has weakened. Now, Thorgrim's essence seeps out, corrupting the land and influencing those susceptible to his dark allure.
Personality: Thorgrim is a complex and manipulative creature. Once a pillar of the community, he now revels in his corruption. He sees himself as a god, betrayed by a world unworthy of his power. His voice is deep and resonant, carrying an echo of his former authority. He is a master of deception, able to appear as a benevolent figure, offering wisdom and power to those he seeks to corrupt.
Goals
Power: Thorgrim's ultimate goal is to break free from his prison and reshape the world in his image. He sees himself as a superior being destined to rule.
Corruption: To achieve his goal, he must amass power. He plans to do this by corrupting powerful individuals and turning them into his servants.
Revenge: He harbors a deep hatred for the clerics who imprisoned him and seeks to destroy their legacy.
The Corruption
Thorgrim's power manifests as a subtle, insidious force. It can appear as a whisper in the mind, a tempting offer of greater strength, wisdom, or wealth. Those susceptible to corruption are often those with deep-seated desires or insecurities.
The Tomb
The tomb is a powerful artifact in its own right. It is a massive, underground structure filled with dwarven craftsmanship. As the tomb weakens, strange phenomena begin to occur: tremors, unnatural growths, and whispers can be heard. These are signs that Thorgrim's power is growing.
The Corruption Die
To represent the growing influence of Thorgrim, introduce a d4 called the Corruption Die. This die is rolled whenever a character accepts a boon from Thorgrim. The sum of the Corruption Die over time will elevate the character’s level of corruption as defined by the table below.
Corruption Level
Corruption Score
Mild
5
Moderate
10
Severe
15
Once the character’s sum of Corruption reaches the necessary amount to gain a new level of corruption, consult the table below to determine what form the corruption takes.
Mild Corruption Effects
d10
Effect Description
1
Fear and Intimidation. You become more susceptible to fear and intimidation. You have disadvantage on saving throws against fear effects.
2
Nightmares or Visions. You are plagued by nightmares or visions of Thorgrim. You gain one level of exhaustion whenever you finish a long rest.
3
Gnawing Conscience. Your conscience begins to gnaw at you. You gain disadvantage on Deception checks.
4
Impatience. You become increasingly impatient and reckless. You have disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.
5
Isolation. You find it difficult to connect with others. You have disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks.
6
Paranoia. You become increasingly paranoid and distrustful. You have disadvantage on Insight checks.
7
Addiction. You develop an addiction to power. Whenever you use a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, roll a d4. On a 1, you must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or suffer one level of exhaustion.
8
Appetite for Darkness. You develop a taste for the macabre and violent. You have advantage on Intimidation checks.
9
Weakened Resolve. Your resolve begins to weaken. You have disadvantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened.
10
Self-Doubt. You begin to doubt your own abilities. You have disadvantage on ability checks that rely on your Charisma modifier.
Moderate Corruption Effects
d10
Effect Description
1
Dark Aura. You gain a dark aura that frightens animals and makes others uneasy. Animals within 10 feet of you are frightened of you. Creatures have disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks to interact with you.
2
Resistance to Healing. You become more resistant to healing spells. You have resistance to necrotic damage, but healing spells cast on you have half their normal effect.
3
Connection to Thorgrim. Your connection to Thorgrim grows stronger. You can cast Detect Thoughts once per day without expending a spell slot. However, you can only target creatures within 30 feet of you, and the spell reveals Thorgrim's thoughts along with the target's.
4
Enhanced Senses. Your senses become heightened, granting you advantage on Perception checks.
5
Twisted Magic. Your magic begins to take on a darker tone. You gain advantage on spell attack rolls but disadvantage on saving throws against spells.
6
Hunger for Power. Your desire for power grows insatiable. You gain advantage on Intimidation checks but disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks.
7
Physical Transformation. Subtle changes begin to occur to your physical appearance. You gain a +1 bonus to Constitution but a -1 penalty to Charisma.
8
Nightmare Fuel. Your dreams become increasingly disturbing, granting you disadvantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks.
9
Reduced Empathy. You find it difficult to empathize with others. You have disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks.
10
Shadowy Steps. You move with unnatural grace and speed. You gain a bonus to your Dexterity score.
Severe Corruption Effects
d10
Effect Description
1
Physical Transformation. Your physical appearance begins to change dramatically, reflecting your growing darkness. You sprout horns or claws, or your skin turns pale and sickly. You gain vulnerability to radiant damage.
2
Immunity to Healing. You become immune to healing spells. You cannot be healed by any spell or magical effect.
3
Undead Hunger. You develop an insatiable hunger for living flesh. You must feed on a creature at least once per day or suffer one level of exhaustion.
4
Unholy Resilience. You gain resistance to all damage except radiant and psychic.
5
Shadow Form. You can cast the Shadow Form spell at will.
6
Life Drain. You can drain life from others to heal yourself. When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can regain hit points equal to half the damage dealt.
7
Madness. You descend into madness. You have disadvantage on all ability checks and saving throws.
8
Soul Corruption. Your soul becomes tainted. You cannot be resurrected by divine magic.
9
Death Dealer. You gain the ability to cast Chill Touch at will.
10
Master of Deception. You become a master of deception and manipulation. You have advantage on Deception, Charisma (Intimidation), and Charisma (Persuasion) checks.
Boons
Of course, gaining Corruption isn’t a tempting prospect unless it comes with substantial benefits. Thorgrim offers the following increasingly powerful boons designed to entice characters to increase their level of Corruption. Each category of boons leads the character to the next level of Corruption, and each option at each level can only be chosen once.
Minor Boons (Leading to Mild Corruption)
These boons offer small, immediate benefits but carry the risk of mild corruption.
Major Boons (Leading to Moderate Corruption)
These boons offer significant power but carry the risk of moderate corruption.
Extreme Boons (Leading to Severe Corruption)
These boons offer immense power but carry the risk of severe corruption.
Overall Effect of Corruption
A character's Corruption score grants Thorgrim a bonus to all attack rolls or ability checks made against the character and/or an increase to any saving throw DC the character makes to resist Thorgrim. This bonus is equal to the character's current Corruption score.
C. Foster Payne
"If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around."