Curse of Vengeance

Curse of Vengeance by Thogreer Screamsong

“What a wonderful night to have a curse…”

Introduction

Inspired by the gothic video game platform adventures of yesteryear, as well as other horror action themes, Curse of Vengeance takes you on the journey of the ancient monsters of Transylvania fighting back against the hunters who have antagonized their kind for generations.  After the fall of Dracula and other nightmarish icons, these creatures of the night have faded into near obscurity, biding their time for their return.  Curse of Vengeance is a Tabletop Roleplaying Game (TTRPG) that involves a combination of journaling, game mechanics, roleplay, and group storytelling. 

Content Warning

While this game has been designed around simple horror figure tropes (blood, vampires, werewolves, monsters, etc.) a table of players could decide to take things to a darker, more grisly place when it comes to telling their horror adventures.  If you and the other players think this might be the case (or if you’re not already 100% sure of everyone’s expectations) you should consider discussing appropriate safety tools so that everyone is comfortable.  A large number of resources are available for using safety tools in the context of TTRPGs, and you should seek them out. But put simply, give players the opportunity to avoid topics that make them uncomfortable (gratuitous blood and gore, specific forms of violence, or *any* other topics) and keep lines of communication open so that those players can share any concerns they might have with the rest of the group. Be respectful to one another, because the best games will come from a table where everyone feels comfortable enough to contribute. 

What You’ll Need

The game is played with a one standard deck of playing cards and at least one 10-sided die (d10) per player (a six sided die can be used to randomly roll for the final boss).  You will also need paper and a writing utensil to keep notes and journal.  Digital equivalents for dice and note-taking are widely available of course.  You can also use the Character Sheet at the end of this document to manage the game. Note that for any use of a d10 marked 0 - 9, that a roll of 0 should be considered a 10.

Game Summary

1. Create a character, choosing its form, damage, pet, & minion. Each has a type, which should be noted for combat. None have any advantage over another and should be chosen for personal preference.
2. Develop a character backstory by journaling or roleplaying with others. A series of prompts will help get you started.
3. Set up the Hunt, where you will spend one week seeking Vengeance. A standard deck of playing cards will serve as an oracle to shape seven nights for each player.
4. Play out the week, journaling and/or roleplaying each night using a deck of cards as an oracle and a d10 to resolve any combat. At the end of the week, collectively face a final battle.
5. Journal or roleplay a reflection on what your character experienced and what is to come in the future.

The Setting & Story

Imagine a time when all manner of creatures stalked over the countryside, reveling in the darkness while the most powerful supernatural being known to the world reigned in his foreboding castle.

Such power naturally draws the ire of others, as well as those who seek power themselves.  During Dracula’s reign, humans founded their own communities and cities, and created their own petty squabbles.  It was only a matter of time that some of them seek a change to the status quo, no matter how much violence or bloodshed would occur in the process.

Over time, despite frequent religious objection, families of warriors were able to acquire the aid of magicians, pirates, and even traitorous vampires in a bid to destroy the creatures of the night.  Some clans were able to take the profession of “Vampire Hunters” and the strongest, whip-wielding mercenaries among them, eventually destroyed the vampire lord.

It is said that Dracula may return when sufficient numbers of his followers retake the land and build a place that is ready to inhabit the damned.  But since the vampire’s downfall, the human cities grow, the hunters gained strength, and the number of creatures dwindles to but a few. 

Now, five forces amidst those remaining have banded together to overthrow the human overlords who ravaged the land for generations.  The Children of Dracula - the vampiric heirs in blood and spirit, drawn from the shadows are looking to increase their numbers and restore their lord to power.  The Saarloos Syndicate - werewolf shapeshifters are able to walk amidst men when not in the form of a wolf, or a monstrous beast between the two.  Ichthian Warriors - fierce creatures of the sea, hiding beneath the water, are ready to retake some slightly drier lands if it means reducing the populations of the humans destroying their environment.  The Mages of Zelriya, followers of a human disciple of the lord of vampires now wield dark magic spells and seek to reshape the world of man.  The Order of the Damned, revenants of unknown origin, have awakened from the dead with mysterious purpose, and stand ready to serve other creatures of the night in restoring the land to its former glory.

Submission & Updates

Curse of Vengeance was submitted to the Video Game Hacks TTRPG Jam, hosted by Lucky Newt Games in July 2022.

While this game is complete in its current form, future updates may include changes and additional content. If you purchase this game, you will be entitled to all future updates published on this platform.