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Ethergeist Specter

—

by

Dale
in

From: Forsaken Alchemists Abode

Lore: The Ethergeist Specter came into existence as a tragic consequence of Arion’s reckless pursuit of forbidden alchemical experiments. Seeking to uncover the secrets of the ethereal plane and bend it to his will, Arion attempted to harness its energies through a powerful alchemical reaction. However, his hubris led to disastrous results, causing a violent explosion that consumed both the laboratory and himself.

From the remnants of this cataclysmic event, the Ethergeist Specter emerged—a manifestation of the lingering energies and emotions that were present during the explosion. It became an eternal guardian of the most valuable and dangerous alchemical secrets, forever bound to the forsaken laboratory. Its form appears as a shimmering, ghostly apparition, draped in a flowing robe, and wields a spectral staff crackling with arcane energy.

Specific Tier One Stats for the Ethergeist Specter:

  • Hit Points: 18
  • Armor Class: 14
  • Strength: 10 (+0)
  • Dexterity: 16 (+3)
  • Constitution: 12 (+1)
  • Intelligence: 14 (+2)
  • Wisdom: 15 (+2)
  • Charisma: 17 (+3)

Skills:

  • Stealth: +5
  • Arcana: +4
  • Perception: +4

Appearance: The Ethergeist Specter appears as a shimmering, ghostly figure draped in a flowing, tattered robe. Its form is translucent, giving it an ethereal and otherworldly appearance. The specter carries a spectral staff that crackles with arcane energy, adding to its haunting and powerful aura.

Size: Medium

Requirements: The Ethergeist Specter is bound to the forsaken laboratory where it came into existence. It cannot venture beyond its boundaries, remaining forever connected to its place of origin.

Tags: Spectral, Guardian, Arcane, Ethereal, Haunting, Illusory, Bound, Mystical, Shimmering, Protective

Attacks:

  • Ethereal Burst: Ranged Spell Attack, +5 to hit, range 60 ft., one target. Hit: 1d8 + 3 force damage.
  • Phase Shift: The Ethergeist Specter can move through solid objects and walls as if they were not there. It can use this ability to strategically reposition itself during combat or escape from danger.
  • Ephemeral Illusions: As an action, the Ethergeist Specter can conjure illusory images and sounds, creating the illusion of additional spectral figures or eerie sounds to disorient and deter intruders. Creatures within 30 ft. must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for one minute. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.

Emotions: The Ethergeist Specter is not capable of feeling emotions in the way living beings do. Its existence revolves around its duty as a guardian, protecting the alchemical secrets and knowledge within the forsaken laboratory from intruders and those who might misuse it.

Age: The Ethergeist Specter is a manifestation of lingering energies, existing as long as the forsaken laboratory stands. It is effectively ageless.

Height: Approximately 6 feet

Weight: Weightless (ethereal form)

Speed: Fly 40 ft. (hover)

Shimmering Lament of the Ethergeist Specter

In the shadowed epochs of Saṃsāra, where the whispers of the ethereal plane still lingered in the dark, a tale was inscribed in a language so ancient that its origins were lost to the birth of magic, a tongue of shimmering echoes and forgotten runes that predated the first alchemists. This is the story of the Ethergeist Specter, a spectral guardian born from tragedy within the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, and of the alchemist whose hubris birthed an eternal sentinel of forbidden knowledge.

The tale begins in an age when Saṃsāra was a realm of burgeoning magic, its forests and mountains hiding workshops where alchemists sought to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos. In a dense forest, far from the eyes of civilization, Arion the Unbound built his laboratory, a sprawling structure of stone and wood known as the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode. Arion was a figure of legend, a reclusive alchemist whose genius was matched only by his hubris. He sought to bend the ethereal plane to his will, harnessing its energies to unlock the secrets of immortality and power beyond mortal understanding. To this end, he delved into forbidden alchemical experiments, his ambition blinding him to the dangers of tampering with forces beyond his control.

Arion’s most perilous experiment was a ritual to channel the raw energies of the ethereal plane into a single alchemical reaction, a process he believed would grant him dominion over the spirits that dwelled within. He prepared the ritual in the deepest chamber of the Abode, where the air was thick with the scent of brimstone and the hum of arcane energy. He inscribed runes of binding on the stone floor, their lines glowing with an otherworldly light, and placed a crystalline vessel at the center, a conduit for the ethereal energies he sought to harness. As he chanted in an ancient tongue, the chamber trembled, the runes flaring with a blinding light, and the vessel began to glow with a shimmering, ghostly aura.

But Arion’s hubris led to disaster. The ethereal energies proved too volatile, their power overwhelming the vessel’s capacity to contain them. A violent explosion erupted, consuming the laboratory in a wave of arcane energy that tore through stone and wood alike. The blast claimed Arion’s life, his body disintegrating into the ether, and the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode was left in ruins, its chambers scorched and its secrets scattered. From the remnants of this cataclysmic event, the Ethergeist Specter emerged—a manifestation of the lingering energies and emotions that had been present during the explosion, a shimmering, ghostly figure draped in a flowing, tattered robe, its spectral staff crackling with arcane energy.

The Ethergeist Specter became an eternal guardian of the Abode, forever bound to the place of its creation. Its translucent form hovered through the ruined halls, its presence a haunting reminder of Arion’s failure. It took on the duty of protecting the most valuable and dangerous alchemical secrets, the tomes and artifacts that held the knowledge of the ethereal plane. The Specter’s mastery over its ethereal nature allowed it to move through solid objects, its form phasing through walls and floors with ease, and it wielded its spectral staff to unleash bursts of arcane energy against intruders. It could conjure ephemeral illusions, creating ghostly figures and eerie sounds to disorient and deter those who sought to plunder the Abode’s secrets.

Centuries passed, and the Ethergeist Specter’s legend grew, its name whispered in fear by those who knew of the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode. The forest reclaimed the structure, vines and foliage entwining its walls, but the Specter remained, its ageless form untouched by the ravages of time. It guarded the Abode’s secrets with unwavering dedication, its existence revolving around its duty to protect the knowledge within from those who might misuse it. Adventurers who ventured into the Abode faced its wrath, their minds clouded by illusions and their bodies struck by ethereal bursts, but the Specter’s actions were not born of malice—only a cold, unyielding purpose.

The turning point came when a young scholar named Elara, driven by tales of Arion’s lost knowledge, ventured into the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode. She sought a ritual to banish a malevolent spirit that plagued her village, believing that Arion’s experiments with the ethereal plane held the key. The Abode was a labyrinth of crumbling chambers, its air thick with the scent of mildew and alchemical fumes, and Elara soon encountered the Ethergeist Specter, its shimmering form emerging from the shadows with a crackle of arcane energy. It conjured illusions to deter her, ghostly figures whispering warnings of doom, but Elara stood her ground, her resolve unshaken.

Instead of fighting, Elara spoke to the Specter, her voice steady as she explained her purpose. She recognized the lingering energies of Arion’s failure in its form, sensing the sorrow and duty that bound it to the Abode. The Specter, though incapable of emotion, was intrigued by her determination, its spectral staff dimming as it listened. It used its ethereal burst to test her, striking her with a wave of force that left her shaken but unharmed, and when she did not flee, it phased through a wall, leading her to a hidden chamber where Arion’s most dangerous tomes were kept.

The chamber was a vault of forbidden knowledge, its shelves lined with scrolls and artifacts that pulsed with ethereal energy. The Specter hovered silently as Elara searched, its countless eyes watching her every move. She found a ritual to banish spirits, its pages inscribed with runes that matched those on the Specter’s staff, but the ritual required a sacrifice—a piece of the caster’s own essence to anchor the spell. Elara hesitated, knowing the cost could be her life, but the Specter’s illusions whispered a final warning, showing her the destruction the malevolent spirit would bring if left unchecked.

With a heavy heart, Elara performed the ritual, channeling her essence into the spell as the Specter watched. The ritual succeeded, banishing the spirit from her village, but the cost was steep—Elara’s life force was drained, leaving her a hollow shell. The Ethergeist Specter, its duty fulfilled, faded into the shadows, its shimmering form dissipating as the Abode’s secrets were once again sealed away. Elara’s sacrifice became a legend in her village, a tale of bravery and loss, and the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode remained hidden, its guardian waiting for the next seeker to brave its halls.

The story of the Ethergeist Specter spread across Saṃsāra, a tale of tragedy and duty, of a spectral guardian born from hubris that endured beyond its creator’s fall. The Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode stood as a monument to Arion’s failure, its secrets guarded by the Specter, a shimmering lament for the price of forbidden knowledge.

Moral of the Story: The pursuit of forbidden knowledge may birth eternal guardians, but the echoes of hubris linger in their duty, reminding us that the greatest secrets come at a cost that even the ethereal cannot escape.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition): In Call of Cthulhu, the Ethergeist Specter is a spectral entity haunting the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a derelict laboratory steeped in forbidden knowledge. Its ethereal nature and arcane abilities make it a formidable foe for investigators, fitting the game’s cosmic horror theme.

Ethergeist Specter

  • Guardian of Forbidden Secrets
  • STR 40
  • CON 50
  • SIZ 50
  • DEX 70
  • INT 70
  • POW 80
  • HP 10
  • Damage Bonus 0
  • Build 0
  • Move 10 (hovering)
  • Sanity Loss 1/1D6 (seeing its shimmering form and crackling staff)
  • Attacks
    • Ethereal Burst 50% (25/10), damage 1D8 (force, range 20 yards)
    • Ephemeral Illusions (Special): The Specter conjures illusions within 10 yards, causing targets to make a Hard POW roll or suffer a -20% penalty to all actions for 1D4 rounds due to fear (Sanity loss 0/1D4 if failed).
  • Armor: None (immune to mundane weapons; magical attacks deal half damage; immune to physical harm while ethereal).
  • Skills: Stealth 70%, Occult 80%, Perception 60%
  • Special Abilities
    • Ethereal Nature: The Specter is immune to physical damage from non-magical sources and cannot be grappled or restrained by mundane means.
    • Phase Shift: The Specter can move through solid objects as a free action, allowing it to reposition or escape. It can use this ability once per round.
    • Bound Guardian: The Specter cannot leave the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode and will protect its alchemical secrets at all costs. Investigators can attempt to banish it with a Hard Occult roll (requires a ritual taking 1D4 hours), costing 1D6 Sanity on success.
  • Description: The Ethergeist Specter appears as a shimmering, ghostly figure draped in a flowing, tattered robe. Its translucent form hovers with an eerie grace, wielding a spectral staff that crackles with arcane energy. It guards the laboratory’s secrets with cold determination.
  • Gameplay Notes: The Ethergeist Specter fits Call of Cthulhu’s horror tone as a spectral guardian of forbidden knowledge. Its Ethereal Burst and Ephemeral Illusions pose psychological and physical threats, while Phase Shift makes it elusive. The Bound Guardian ability encourages investigators to seek a ritual to banish it, fitting the system’s focus on investigation and survival. Its stats make it a moderate threat for low-level investigators, balanced by its lack of physical durability.

Blades in the Dark: In Blades in the Dark, the Ethergeist Specter is a Tier II spectral entity haunting the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a forgotten lab in Doskvol’s undercity. It’s a moderate threat for a crew, with abilities that challenge their resolve and tactics.

Ethergeist Specter

  • (Tier II)
  • Threat Level: Moderate (Scale 1, individual entity)
  • Traits: Spectral, Arcane, Guardian
  • Quality: 2 (attacks and defenses)
  • Magnitude: 2 (durability and area of effect)
  • Clocks
    • Banish the Specter: 6 segments
    • Appease Its Duty: 6 segments
  • Actions
    • Ethereal Burst: Roll its Quality (2 dice), range 20 feet. On a 6, the target takes Level 2 Harm (“Arcane Shock”). On a 4-5, Level 1 Harm (“Shaken”). On a 1-3, the target avoids the burst but takes 1 Stress.
    • Ephemeral Illusions: Roll its Quality (2 dice), affects all in a zone. On a 6, targets take 2 Stress and are Dazed (Limited effect on actions) for one turn unless they resist with Resolve (Risky, Standard effect). On a 4-5, targets take 1 Stress. On a 1-3, the illusions fail to take hold.
  • Special Abilities
    • Ethereal Nature: Immune to physical harm from Tier I or lower sources. Tier II sources deal half segments to its banish clock. Tier III or higher sources deal full segments.
    • Phase Shift: The Specter can move through solid objects as a free action once per turn, gaining +1 effect on its next Stealth or attack action.
    • Bound Guardian: The Specter cannot leave the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode. The crew can appease it (via a 6-segment clock, filled through Attune, Consort, or Study actions), granting access to a Tier II alchemical secret (e.g., a formula granting +1d to Tinker for one score).
  • Description: A shimmering, ghostly figure draped in a tattered robe, the Ethergeist Specter hovers with an eerie grace. Its translucent form wields a spectral staff crackling with arcane energy, guarding the lab’s secrets with cold determination.
  • Gameplay Notes: The Ethergeist Specter fits Blades in the Dark’s dark tone as a spectral guardian in a forgotten lab. Its Tier II rating makes it a moderate threat, with Ethereal Burst and Ephemeral Illusions challenging the crew’s resilience. Phase Shift emphasizes its elusiveness, encouraging Attune or clever tactics. Bound Guardian offers a non-combat solution, fitting the system’s focus on heists and risk-reward decisions.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition): In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, the Ethergeist Specter is a CR 3 undead guarding the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a dungeon of ancient alchemy. It’s a moderate challenge for a party of level 2-4 adventurers, with ethereal abilities.

Ethergeist Specter

  • Medium Undead, Neutral
  • Armor Class 14
  • Hit Points 36 (8d8)
  • Speed 0 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover)
  • STR 10 (+0) | DEX 16 (+3) | CON 12 (+1) | INT 14 (+2) | WIS 15 (+2) | CHA 17 (+3)
  • Skills Arcana +4, Perception +4, Stealth +5
  • Damage Resistances Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, Thunder; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from nonmagical attacks
  • Damage Immunities Necrotic, Poison
  • Condition Immunities Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Grappled, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned, Prone, Restrained
  • Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 14
  • Languages Understands Common but cannot speak
  • Challenge 3 (700 XP)
  • Proficiency Bonus +2
  • Traits
    • Incorporeal Movement: The Specter can move through objects and creatures as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.
    • Bound Guardian: The Specter cannot leave the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode and will protect its alchemical secrets at all costs.
  • Actions
    • Ethereal Burst: Ranged Spell Attack: +5 to hit, range 60 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) force damage.
    • Ephemeral Illusions: The Specter conjures illusions within 30 feet. Creatures in the area must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. This ability recharges on a 5-6.
  • Description: The Ethergeist Specter appears as a shimmering, ghostly figure draped in a tattered robe. Its translucent form hovers with an eerie grace, wielding a spectral staff crackling with arcane energy. It guards the lab’s secrets with cold determination.
  • Gameplay Notes: The Ethergeist Specter fits D&D’s high-fantasy setting as a spectral undead with ethereal abilities. Its CR 3 rating makes it a moderate challenge, with Ethereal Burst providing a ranged threat and Ephemeral Illusions adding a fear effect. Incorporeal Movement makes it elusive, encouraging magical attacks or area effects. Bound Guardian ties it to the Abode, fitting the system’s focus on dungeon exploration and tactical combat.

Knave (2nd Edition): In Knave 2nd Edition, the Ethergeist Specter is a level 3 undead guarding the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a dungeon of ancient alchemy. Its mechanics are streamlined to fit Knave’s minimalist system, focusing on its ethereal nature.

Ethergeist Specter

  • (Level 3)
  • HD 3 (15 HP)
  • Armor 14 (ethereal form)
  • Move 40 ft. (hovering)
  • Morale 7 (bound to its duty)
  • Attacks 1 (Ethereal Burst, +3 to hit, 1d8+3 force damage)
  • Special
    • Ephemeral Illusions: The Specter conjures illusions within 30 feet. Targets must make a DC 14 Wisdom save or be frightened for 1 minute (can repeat the save each round to end the effect). This ability can be used 3 times per day.
    • Phase Shift: The Specter can move through solid objects as a free action once per round, gaining +2 to its Armor against attacks until its next turn.
    • Ethereal Nature: Immune to nonmagical weapons; takes half damage from magical weapons unless they deal radiant damage.
    • Bound Guardian: The Specter cannot leave the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode and will protect its alchemical secrets at all costs.
  • Treasure
    • 1d4 ethereal shards (worth 20 sp each)
    • A spectral fragment (grants +1 to saves against magic, 1 use)
  • Description: The Ethergeist Specter appears as a shimmering, ghostly figure draped in a tattered robe. Its translucent form hovers with an eerie grace, wielding a spectral staff crackling with arcane energy. It guards the lab’s secrets with cold determination.
  • Gameplay Notes: The Ethergeist Specter fits Knave’s old-school style as an ethereal undead guardian. Its level 3 stats make it a moderate threat, with Ethereal Burst and Ephemeral Illusions posing challenges, encouraging players to use magical attacks or light sources. Phase Shift makes it elusive, while Bound Guardian ties it to the Abode, fitting Knave’s focus on exploration and problem-solving. Its treasure rewards engagement, balanced by its ethereal resistances.

Fate Core System: In Fate Core, the Ethergeist Specter is a spectral entity haunting the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a derelict laboratory filled with forbidden knowledge. Fate’s narrative focus highlights its ethereal nature and guardian role, making it a challenging but potentially negotiable entity.

Ethergeist Specter

  • Aspects
    • High Concept: Ethereal Guardian of Alchemical Secrets
    • Trouble: Bound to the Forsaken Abode
    • Other Aspects: Shimmering Arcane Apparition, Master of Illusions, Haunting Duty
  • Skills
    • Great (+4): Deceive
    • Good (+3): Stealth, Fight
    • Fair (+2): Notice, Lore (Arcane)
    • Average (+1): Will, Provoke
  • Stunts
    • Ethereal Burst: When the Specter attacks with Fight, it can target a character in the same or an adjacent zone, dealing 2 stress on a success.
    • Ephemeral Illusions: Once per scene, the Specter can create a situation aspect, “Haunting Visions,” in its zone, imposing a -2 penalty to all actions for one exchange. Affected characters can resist with a Good (+3) Will roll, taking 1 mental stress on failure.
    • Phase Shift: The Specter can spend a fate point to move through solid objects as a free action, ignoring obstacles, and gain +2 to its next Stealth or attack roll.
  • Stress
    • Physical: [ ] [ ]
    • Mental: [ ] [ ]
  • Consequences
    • Mild (2):
    • Moderate (4):
  • Description: The Ethergeist Specter appears as a shimmering, ghostly figure draped in a tattered robe. Its translucent form hovers with an eerie grace, wielding a spectral staff crackling with arcane energy. It guards the lab’s secrets with cold determination.
  • Gameplay Notes: The Ethergeist Specter fits Fate’s narrative-driven system as a haunting guardian. Its aspects encourage roleplay—players can invoke “Bound to the Forsaken Abode” to limit its movement or “Haunting Duty” to appeal to its purpose. Ethereal Burst and Ephemeral Illusions pose threats, while Phase Shift makes it elusive. The lack of severe consequences reflects its ethereal nature, fitting Fate’s focus on story and character interaction.

Numenera (Cypher System): In Numenera, the Ethergeist Specter is a level 3 spectral entity within the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a Ninth World ruin filled with alchemical technology. It’s a guardian of ancient secrets, blending the system’s weird science with its ethereal nature.

Ethergeist Specter

  • (Level 3)
  • Motive: Protect the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode
  • Environment: Found within the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a derelict lab
  • Health: 9
  • Damage Inflicted: 3 (Ethereal Burst)
  • Armor: 0 (ethereal form)
  • Movement: Immediate (hovering)
  • Modifications: Stealth as level 4; Speed defense as level 2 due to ethereal nature.
  • Combat
    • Ethereal Burst: The Specter inflicts 3 damage (force) with a ranged attack (long range).
    • Ephemeral Illusions: The Specter conjures illusions within short range. Targets must succeed on a level 3 Intellect task or be hindered (all tasks one step more difficult) for 1 minute due to fear. Targets can repeat the task each round to end the effect. This ability can be used 3 times per day.
  • Interaction: The Specter is bound to guard the Abode’s secrets but can be reasoned with. A level 3 Intellect task (using persuasion or occult knowledge) can convince it to allow access to a secret (e.g., a cypher granting +2 to Stealth for 1 hour). Failure provokes it to attack.
  • Use: The Specter guards a key area of the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, such as a hidden vault of alchemical tomes. It can be a combat encounter or a negotiable obstacle if approached with respect.
  • Loot
    • 1-2 cyphers (e.g., ethereal shards that grant invisibility for 1 round, 1 use)
    • A spectral fragment (can be used as an artifact, granting +1 to Intellect tasks, depletion 1 in 1d10).
  • Description: The Ethergeist Specter appears as a shimmering, ghostly figure draped in a tattered robe. Its translucent form hovers with an eerie grace, wielding a spectral staff crackling with arcane energy. It guards the lab’s secrets with cold determination.
  • Gameplay Notes: The Ethergeist Specter fits Numenera’s sci-fi-fantasy blend, its ethereal nature tying into the Ninth World’s numenera. Its level 3 stats make it a moderate challenge, with Ethereal Burst and Ephemeral Illusions posing threats. The interaction mechanic encourages players to negotiate, reflecting Cypher’s focus on discovery and problem-solving. Its lack of armor and direct physical attacks balance its abilities.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition): In Pathfinder 2nd Edition, the Ethergeist Specter is a level 4 undead guarding the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a dungeon of ancient alchemy. It’s a moderate challenge for a party of level 2-4 characters, with ethereal abilities.

Ethergeist Specter

  • Medium Undead, Neutral
  • Perception +10; darkvision
  • Languages Understands Common (cannot speak)
  • Skills Arcana +9, Perception +10, Stealth +11
  • Str +0, Dex +3, Con +1, Int +2, Wis +2, Cha +3
  • AC 18; Fort +7, Ref +9, Will +10
  • HP 50; Immunities death effects, disease, paralyzed, poison, unconscious; Resistances acid 5, cold 5, fire 5, electricity 5, nonmagical physical 5
  • Incorporeal The Specter takes half damage from nonmagical attacks unless they deal force or positive energy damage. It cannot be grappled or restrained by nonmagical means.
  • Speed Fly 40 ft. (hover)
  • Arcane Innate Spells DC 20, attack +12
  • At Will: detect magic
  • 3/day: illusory scene (as Ephemeral Illusions, DC 20 Will save or frightened 1, frightened 2 on critical failure)
  • Melee [one-action] Spectral Touch +11 (finesse, magical), Damage 2d6+3 necrotic
  • Ranged [one-action] Ethereal Burst +12 (range 60 feet), Damage 2d8+3 force
  • Phase Shift [one-action] The Specter moves through solid objects, ignoring difficult terrain and obstacles, for up to 40 feet. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object. It can use this ability 3 times per day.
  • Bound Guardian The Specter cannot leave the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode and will protect its alchemical secrets at all costs.
  • Description: The Ethergeist Specter appears as a shimmering, ghostly figure draped in a tattered robe. Its translucent form hovers with an eerie grace, wielding a spectral staff crackling with arcane energy. It guards the lab’s secrets with cold determination.
  • Gameplay Notes: The Ethergeist Specter fits Pathfinder’s high-fantasy setting as an ethereal undead. Its level 4 stats make it a moderate encounter, with Ethereal Burst and Illusory Scene (via Ephemeral Illusions) posing threats, and Phase Shift making it elusive. Bound Guardian ties it to the Abode, encouraging exploration. Its resistances and immunities are balanced by its moderate HP, fitting the system’s focus on tactical combat and skill use.

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition): In Savage Worlds, the Ethergeist Specter is a Wild Card undead guarding the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a mystical workshop in a high-magic setting. It’s a moderate challenge for a party of Novice to Seasoned characters, with ethereal abilities.

Ethergeist Specter

  • (Wild Card)
  • Attributes Agility d8, Smarts d8, Spirit d8, Strength d4, Vigor d6
  • Skills Fighting d6, Notice d8, Occult d10, Stealth d10
  • Pace 6 (hovering); Parry 5; Toughness 5
  • Edges Arcane Resistance
  • Hindrances None
  • Special Abilities
    • Ethereal: Immune to poison, disease, and effects targeting living minds (e.g., Fear, Test); +2 to recover from Shaken; no additional damage from called shots; takes half damage from nonmagical attacks unless they deal radiant damage.
    • Ethereal Burst: Shooting d8, 12/24/48, 2d6 damage (force).
    • Ephemeral Illusions: The Specter conjures illusions in a Medium Blast Template. Targets must make a Spirit roll at -2 or be Shaken for 1 round due to fear. This ability can be used 3 times per encounter.
    • Phase Shift: The Specter can move through solid objects as a free action once per round, gaining +2 to its next Stealth or attack roll. It takes 1d6 damage if it ends its turn inside an object.
    • Bound Guardian: The Specter cannot leave the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode and will protect its alchemical secrets at all costs.
  • Gear: None (its staff can be salvaged as a relic, granting +1 to Occult rolls, 1 use per day).
  • Description: The Ethergeist Specter appears as a shimmering, ghostly figure draped in a tattered robe. Its translucent form hovers with an eerie grace, wielding a spectral staff crackling with arcane energy. It guards the lab’s secrets with cold determination.
  • Gameplay Notes: The Ethergeist Specter fits Savage Worlds’ fast-paced style as an ethereal undead with versatile abilities. Its Wild Card status makes it a notable threat, with Ethereal Burst and Ephemeral Illusions posing challenges, and Phase Shift making it elusive. Bound Guardian ties it to the Abode, encouraging exploration. Its ethereal nature is balanced by its moderate Toughness, fitting the system’s focus on dynamic encounters.

Shadowrun (6th Edition): In Shadowrun, the Ethergeist Specter is a spectral entity haunting the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a hidden astral site in the Sixth World. It blends ancient alchemical magic with an ethereal presence, serving as a moderate challenge for a runner team.

Ethergeist Specter

  • (Professional Rating 3)
  • Attributes: Body 3 | Agility 6 | Reaction 6 | Strength 2 | Charisma 5 | Intuition 5 | Logic 5 | Willpower 6 | Edge 4 | Essence 0 | Magic 4 | Initiative 11 + 2d6
  • Skills: Astral Combat 5, Perception 5, Sorcery 6, Stealth 7, Conjuring 4
  • Qualities: Spirit (immune to toxins, diseases, and effects targeting living minds; no Essence; does not heal naturally), Arcane Resistance (+2 dice to resist spells), Astral Form (can only be harmed by astral or magical attacks unless materialized)
  • Attacks
    • Ethereal Burst: 4S, Attack Rating 8, Near range (Sorcery + Magic vs. Intuition + Willpower).
    • Materialize: As a Complex Action, the Specter can materialize, gaining a physical form (Body 3, Defense Rating 9, Damage Resistance 6). While materialized, it can be harmed by physical attacks but loses its Astral Form immunity.
  • Defenses
    • Defense Rating 9 (Intuition 5 + Armor 4, while materialized)
    • Damage Resistance 6 (Body 3 + Armor 3, while materialized)
  • Powers
    • Ephemeral Illusions: As a Complex Action, the Specter conjures illusions in a 5-meter radius (Sorcery + Magic vs. Willpower + Intuition). Targets must succeed on a Willpower + Intuition test (threshold 2) or suffer -2 dice to all actions for 1D4 combat turns due to fear (Sanity loss 0/1D4 if failed).
    • Phase Shift: As a Minor Action, the Specter can move through solid objects, ignoring obstacles, for up to 10 meters, 3 times per encounter. It takes 1D6 Stun damage if it ends its turn inside an object.
    • Bound Guardian: The Specter cannot leave the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode and will protect its alchemical secrets at all costs. Runners can attempt to banish it with a Conjuring + Magic test (threshold 3), costing 1D4 Stun damage on success.
  • Gear
    • Ethereal Robes (Armor 4, integrated into its form)
    • Spectral Shard (can be looted, worth 500¥, grants +2 dice to Astral tests for 1 hour).
  • Description: The Ethergeist Specter appears as a shimmering, ghostly figure draped in a tattered robe. Its translucent form hovers with an eerie grace, wielding a spectral staff crackling with arcane energy. It guards the lab’s secrets with cold determination.
  • Gameplay Notes: The Ethergeist Specter fits Shadowrun’s cyberpunk-fantasy blend as a spectral guardian in a hidden astral site. Its Professional Rating 3 makes it a moderate challenge, with Ethereal Burst and Ephemeral Illusions posing threats, and Phase Shift making it elusive. Bound Guardian encourages runners to banish it, fitting the system’s focus on tactical runs and astral challenges. Its stats are balanced for a mid-level team, with Edge allowing it to resist critical glitches.

Starfinder (1st Edition): In Starfinder, the Ethergeist Specter is a CR 4 undead guarding the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a derelict space station or planetary ruin filled with ancient alchemical tech. It’s a moderate challenge for a party of level 3-5 characters.

Ethergeist Specter

  • CR 4
  • Medium Undead (Incorporeal)
  • XP 1,200
  • Init +3; Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Low-Light Vision; Perception +10
  • Defense
    • HP 50
    • EAC 16; KAC 17
    • Fort +4; Ref +4; Will +9
    • Defensive Abilities Incorporeal (immune to nonmagical attacks; magical attacks deal half damage unless they deal force or positive energy); Immunities death effects, disease, paralyzed, poison, sleep, stunning
  • Offense
    • Speed Fly 40 ft. (perfect)
    • Melee Spectral Touch +9 (2d6+4 necrotic, incorporeal touch)
    • Ranged Ethereal Burst +11 (2d8+4 force, range 60 ft.)
    • Special Attacks Ephemeral Illusions (DC 15 Will save or shaken for 1d4 rounds)
  • Statistics: Str —; Dex +3; Con —; Int +2; Wis +2; Cha +3
  • Skills: Mysticism +12, Perception +10, Stealth +11
  • Languages Telepathy 100 ft.
  • Other Abilities Phase Shift, Bound Guardian
  • Special Abilities
    • Ephemeral Illusions: The Specter conjures illusions within 30 feet as a standard action. Creatures in the area must succeed on a DC 15 Will save or be shaken for 1d4 rounds. This ability can be used 3 times per day.
    • Phase Shift: The Specter can move through solid objects for up to 40 feet as a move action, 3 times per day. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.
    • Bound Guardian: The Specter cannot leave the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode and will protect its alchemical secrets at all costs.
  • Description: The Ethergeist Specter appears as a shimmering, ghostly figure draped in a tattered robe. Its translucent form hovers with an eerie grace, wielding a spectral staff crackling with arcane energy. It guards the lab’s secrets with cold determination.
  • Gameplay Notes: The Ethergeist Specter fits Starfinder’s sci-fi-fantasy setting as an undead entity in a forgotten ruin. Its CR 4 stats make it a moderate challenge, with Ethereal Burst and Ephemeral Illusions (shaken condition) posing threats, and Phase Shift making it elusive. Bound Guardian ties it to the Abode, encouraging exploration. Its incorporeal nature is balanced by its moderate HP, fitting the system’s focus on tactical combat and exploration.

Traveller (2nd Edition, Mongoose Publishing): In Traveller, the Ethergeist Specter is a spectral entity guarding the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, an ancient alien ruin on a frontier world. It blends advanced tech with ethereal mysticism, serving as a moderate challenge for a party of adventurers.

Ethergeist Specter

  • (Spectral Entity)
  • Hull 3 (equivalent to 30 HP)
  • Armor 0 (ethereal form)
  • Speed 10 meters/round (hovering)
  • Traits Spectral (immune to poison, disease, vacuum, and effects targeting living minds; takes half damage from non-energy weapons)
  • Skills Ranged Combat (Energy) 2, Stealth 3, Science (Occult) 3, Recon 2
  • Attacks: Ethereal Burst: Ranged Combat (Energy) 2, 2d6 damage (force, range 20/40/80 meters).
  • Special Abilities
    • Ephemeral Illusions: The Specter conjures illusions within 10 meters. Targets must make a Difficult (10+) Intelligence check or suffer a -2 DM to all actions for 1D4 rounds due to fear. This ability can be used 3 times per encounter.
    • Phase Shift: The Specter can move through solid objects as a minor action, ignoring obstacles, for up to 10 meters, 3 times per encounter. It takes 1D6 damage if it ends its turn inside an object.
    • Bound Guardian: The Specter cannot leave the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode and will protect its alchemical secrets at all costs.
  • Gear: Ethereal Essence (can be salvaged, worth Cr500, grants +2 DM to Stealth checks for 1 hour).
  • Description: The Ethergeist Specter appears as a shimmering, ghostly figure draped in a tattered robe. Its translucent form hovers with an eerie grace, wielding a spectral staff crackling with arcane energy. It guards the lab’s secrets with cold determination.
  • Gameplay Notes: The Ethergeist Specter fits Traveller’s sci-fi setting as a spectral entity in an alien ruin. Its stats make it a moderate threat, with Ethereal Burst and Ephemeral Illusions posing challenges, and Phase Shift making it elusive. Bound Guardian ties it to the Abode, encouraging exploration. Its spectral nature is balanced by its low Hull, fitting Traveller’s focus on problem-solving and survival.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition): In Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, the Ethergeist Specter is a spectral entity guarding the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a ruined alchemical workshop in the Old World. It’s a moderate foe for a party of 2nd-3rd tier characters, blending dark magic with an ethereal presence.

Ethergeist Specter

  • (Spectral Entity)
  • M 6 (hovering) | WS 40 | BS 45 | S 20 | T 30 | I 50 | Ag 50 | Dex 40 | Int 50 | WP 60 | Fel 40 | W 12
  • Traits
    • Ethereal (immune to nonmagical weapons; can pass through solid objects; immune to Fear, Terror, poison, disease, and effects targeting living minds)
    • Dark Vision (sees perfectly in darkness)
    • Magical Resistance (gains +20 to resist spells and magical effects)
    • Unstable (if reduced to 0 Wounds, it dissipates but reforms after 1D10 days unless destroyed with a magical attack)
  • Skills: Lore (Magic) 70, Perception 60, Stealth 70, Ranged (Magic) 55
  • Talents: Aethyric Attunement (+10 to Channeling tests), Frightening (causes Fear)
  • Attacks: Ethereal Burst: Ranged (Magic) 55, 6 damage (force, ignores Armor Points, range 20/40/80 yards).
  • Special Rules
    • Ephemeral Illusions: The Specter conjures illusions within 10 yards. Targets must make a Challenging (+0) Willpower test or gain the Stunned condition for 1D4 rounds due to fear. This ability can be used 3 times per encounter.
    • Phase Shift: The Specter can move through solid objects as a move action, ignoring obstacles, for up to 10 yards, 3 times per encounter. It takes 1D10 damage if it ends its turn inside an object.
    • Bound Guardian: The Specter cannot leave the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode and will protect its alchemical secrets at all costs.
  • Trappings: Ethereal Shard (can be looted, worth 10 gc, grants +10 to Lore (Magic) tests for 1 hour).
  • Description: The Ethergeist Specter appears as a shimmering, ghostly figure draped in a tattered robe. Its translucent form hovers with an eerie grace, wielding a spectral staff crackling with arcane energy. It guards the lab’s secrets with cold determination.
  • Gameplay Notes: The Ethergeist Specter fits WFRP’s grimdark fantasy as a spectral entity in a ruined workshop. Its stats make it a moderate foe, with Ethereal Burst and Ephemeral Illusions posing threats, and Phase Shift making it elusive. Bound Guardian ties it to the Abode, encouraging exploration. Its Ethereal trait is balanced by its moderate Wounds, making it a fitting challenge for a mid-tier party in the Old World.