Haunting Howl

From: Spectral Lupines

Tier One Stats:

• Additional Damage: Necrotic damage equal to the Spectral Lupine’s level
• Life Drain: The Spectral Lupine is healed for an amount equal to half the necrotic damage dealt
• Skills: No specific skills affected, but the additional necrotic damage and life drain can impact combat encounters and the Spectral Lupine’s survivability.
• Cost: The Haunting Howl is a rare and powerful spectral weapon. Its cost could be approximately 800 gold pieces or equivalent value in your game system.
• Tags: Spectral, Life Drain, Necrotic, Fang, Offensive, Sustenance, Dark Magic, Spirit Realm, Legendary, Ritualistic, Ethereal, Combat Enhancement, Vampiric, Cursed, Essence, Healing, Haunting, Soulbound, Phantom, Nightmarish, Ghostly, Eerie
• Item Type: Weapon (Fang)
• Rarity: Rare
• Magical: Yes

Spectral/Necrotic: Yes

Lore: The Haunting Howl is a legendary weapon rumored to be forged in the depths of the spirit realm. It takes the form of a shimmering, ethereal fang, embodying the ghostly essence of the Spectral Lupine’s haunting presence. Legends tell of ancient rituals performed by spectral shamans to imbue the weapon with the power to drain the life force of its victims.

Use: The Haunting Howl grants the Spectral Lupine enhanced offensive capabilities and the ability to sustain itself through the drain of life force. Here are its primary uses:

• Additional Necrotic Damage: When the Spectral Lupine bites with the Haunting Howl, it deals additional necrotic damage equal to its level. This extra damage can make the Lupine’s attacks more potent, particularly against creatures vulnerable to necrotic damage or resistant to other forms of attack.
• Life Drain: The Haunting Howl has a chance to drain the target’s life force upon a successful hit. The Spectral Lupine is healed for an amount equal to half the necrotic damage dealt. This life drain ability can provide the Lupine with sustained survivability, allowing it to replenish its vitality during combat encounters.
• Strategic Healing: The life drain effect of the Haunting Howl can be strategically employed to heal the Spectral Lupine when it is in dire need of health. By targeting weaker foes or focusing on draining the life force of enemies vulnerable to necrotic damage, the Lupine can regain lost hit points and continue to fight with increased resilience.
• Spectral Theme and Aesthetic: The Haunting Howl adds a thematic and aesthetic element to the Spectral Lupine’s presence. It emphasizes its ghostly nature and enhances the eerie atmosphere surrounding the creature. The shimmering, ethereal fang is visually striking and reinforces the haunting presence of the Lupine.

Coveted Item: Due to its rarity and the powerful abilities, it possesses, the Haunting Howl may draw the attention of those who seek power, necromantic artifacts, or a means to harness spectral energies. Adventurers, necromancers, or factions interested in dark magic may be interested in acquiring or possessing the weapon. This can lead to quests, encounters, or rivalries involving the Spectral Lupine and those who desire the Haunting Howl.

In the world of Saṃsāra, the Haunting Howl would be a rare and coveted item, traded primarily in specialized shops dealing with dark magic, necromantic artifacts, and spectral-themed goods. These shops are often found in the more obscure, shadowy corners of society, where necromancers, occultists, and those with an affinity for the spectral realm congregate. Here’s a breakdown of the types of shops and how this item might be bought and sold in different settings, along with the cost:

• Necromancer’s Sanctum (Cost: 1,200 gold pieces)
  • Location: Hidden deep in darkened alleys, underground lairs, or near ancient ruins steeped in death and decay, these establishments cater to those who walk the path of necromancy. The shop is often dimly lit, filled with the soft glow of cursed candles, and decorated with items made from bones, skulls, and ethereal substances.
  • Shopkeepers: These are often experienced necromancers or dark sages with vast knowledge of death magic and the spectral plane. They typically deal in items that draw on the forces of death, souls, and the undead.
  • Transaction Style: Acquiring the Haunting Howl here would involve more than just gold. Buyers may be asked to perform rituals, offer the soul of a defeated enemy, or trade lesser necromantic artifacts as part of the deal.
• Spectral Bazaar (Cost: 1,000 gold pieces)
  • Location: Found in remote, ghostly cities, these spectral bazaars appear during certain lunar phases or spiritual conjunctions. Shops within these bazaars deal only with items from the spirit realm, vanishing into the ether once the spiritual energy wanes.
  • Shopkeepers: Ghostly merchants, spectral shaman, or ethereal entities known as Spirit Brokers. They understand the essence of the Haunting Howl and may offer it to those who prove their affinity with the spirit world through trials or offerings.
  • Transaction Style: Trade in this market often involves spiritual currency—such as soul essences or life force—and can include services to the spirits or securing specific rituals that help open spiritual pathways.
• Occult Curio Shop (Cost: 900 gold pieces)
  • Location: Nestled in the corners of bustling cities, these shops are frequented by occultists, warlocks, and adventurers seeking hidden knowledge or dark power. The storefronts are usually nondescript from the outside but filled with arcane relics, forbidden tomes, and curiosities tied to the mystical arts within.
  • Shopkeepers: The keepers of these shops tend to be eccentric scholars of the dark arts, dabblers in necromancy, or former adventurers who have returned from distant, cursed lands.
  • Transaction Style: The item might be sold to knowledgeable customers, but there could be additional costs such as securing the favor of local factions interested in dark relics. In some cases, buyers may be offered discounts if they have affiliations with occult societies or possess a rare necromantic object to trade.
• Hidden Auction Houses (Cost: 2,000 gold pieces)
  • Location: These highly exclusive auctions take place in hidden chambers beneath wealthy cities, often organized by powerful guilds, criminal syndicates, or secret necromantic cults. These auctions are where powerful artifacts like the Haunting Howl are fiercely bid on by the elite.
  • Participants: Attendees include wealthy nobles dabbling in dark magic, necromancer lords, and collectors of rare and forbidden relics. Deals often take place behind closed doors, with promises of future alliances or betrayals negotiated along with the price.
  • Transaction Style: The auction could start at a steep price, and bidding wars might raise the cost dramatically. Buyers are expected to pay upfront in rare gems, enchanted currency, or by pledging their services to the auction house or its powerful benefactors.
• Wandering Spirit Market (Cost: 750 gold pieces)
  • Location: These elusive marketplaces appear only to those who know how to access the spirit realm. The market might materialize on misty nights near forgotten battlefields, cursed forests, or ancient temples to the dead.
  • Shopkeepers: Ethereal traders from beyond the veil. These beings exist partially within the spirit world and offer relics tied to the dead, such as the Haunting Howl.
  • Transaction Style: This market operates on the fringes of the physical world, so payments can be made in unique magical currencies such as soul fragments, ancient scrolls, or offerings that appease the spectral denizens of Saṃsāra.

In each of these locations, the Haunting Howl is not only a rare item but also considered a significant magical relic. Its price fluctuates based on the shop’s clientele, the rarity of spectral or necromantic items in the region, and the influence of local demand for spectral weapons. While 800 gold pieces might be its baseline price, factors like exclusivity, power, and the rarity of the item’s components could drive the price significantly higher.

The Haunting Howl, with its necrotic damage and life-draining abilities, plays a unique role in combat and defense across different environments in Saṃsāra. This spectral weapon, wielded by the Spectral Lupine, can influence tactics based on terrain, magical presence, and the nature of enemies faced. Below are examples of how this item could be used for both offense and defense in varying settings:

• Haunted Forests and Cursed Woods
  • Offense: In an environment rich with spectral energy, such as haunted forests or cursed woods, the Haunting Howl thrives. When the Spectral Lupine strikes, the weapon’s necrotic damage is amplified by the pervasive dark magic in the air, allowing it to tear through creatures that are either corrupted by or sensitive to death magic. The presence of wandering spirits or cursed wildlife makes this environment ideal for the Haunting Howl to not only damage enemies but also feed off their essence. The Spectral Lupine would use hit-and-run tactics, weaving through the shadows and striking at vital moments, exploiting the life drain to stay at peak health while gradually wearing down its opponents.
  • Defense: The dense foliage and spectral energy allow the Spectral Lupine to remain concealed and use the Haunting Howl as a defensive tool. The life-drain effect lets the Lupine recover from any damage sustained, ensuring it can continue fighting. By selectively targeting weaker creatures first, the Lupine can heal itself mid-combat, bolstering its chances of survival against stronger foes.
• Urban Combat in Shadowed Cities
  • Offense: In the alleyways and darkened streets of cities steeped in intrigue and crime, the Haunting Howl can be used to strike swiftly and disappear into the shadows. The Lupine would wait for moments when its prey is cornered or unsuspecting, striking with a lethal bite that delivers necrotic damage, draining their life force. Against humanoid enemies, the Haunting Howl becomes a potent weapon to disrupt organized formations or assassinate key targets. Its necrotic energy bypasses traditional armor, making it ideal in close-quarter urban warfare.
  • Defense: The Spectral Lupine would use narrow streets and rooftops to its advantage, disappearing into shadows after each strike. In this environment, it relies heavily on the life-drain effect to sustain itself, recovering from damage taken in the skirmish and using the close quarters to stay out of reach of ranged attacks. The Haunting Howl grants it the ability to survive prolonged engagements, as every successful attack helps restore its vitality, making it resilient in urban environments where escape may not always be an option.
• Battlefields and War Zones
  • Offense: In large-scale combat, such as on an open battlefield, the Haunting Howl allows the Spectral Lupine to act as a disruptor. It can tear through the enemy’s front line, dealing devastating necrotic damage and weakening morale as enemies watch their comrades wither from the inside out. Against large groups of foes, the Haunting Howl provides an opportunity for the Spectral Lupine to strike at the heart of the opposition, draining life force to stay active on the battlefield. Its mobility and stealth enable it to move between ranks, targeting vulnerable enemies or spellcasters.
  • Defense: While the open space of a battlefield leaves the Lupine exposed, its use of life drain ensures that it can maintain stamina. By attacking weaker units first, it can sustain itself, outlasting less resilient enemies and allowing it to retreat and regroup when needed. The Haunting Howl provides a defensive fallback, where the Lupine can recover from damage sustained during larger encounters.
• Dark Caverns and Underground Dungeons
  • Offense: The darkness of caverns and dungeons gives the Spectral Lupine a significant advantage, as it can use the Haunting Howl in surprise attacks. Against dungeon creatures that thrive in such environments, like undead or subterranean beasts, the necrotic damage bypasses their typical resistances, allowing the Lupine to deal direct and powerful hits. This spectral weapon also plays into the nature of dungeon delving, where quick, efficient kills are needed to avoid being overwhelmed by multiple foes.
  • Defense: The Lupine would use the environment to move quickly between tight passages, avoiding direct confrontation while utilizing the life-drain ability to patch up injuries sustained from traps or monster attacks. In narrow corridors, the Lupine can limit the angles of attack, ensuring it remains in control of engagements. The life-draining properties of the Haunting Howl allow it to conserve resources, reducing the need for healing items or spells.
• Spirit-Infused Fields or Graveyards
  • Offense: In areas where spirits linger—such as graveyards or spirit-infused fields—the Haunting Howl reaches its full potential. The Spectral Lupine uses the abundant necrotic energy in these places to enhance its own power. Against enemies that rely on physical strength or elemental forces, the necrotic damage delivered by the Haunting Howl serves as a debilitating force, with each strike weakening the enemy’s life force. Spectral enemies, drawn from the same source as the weapon, may even take additional damage.
  • Defense: Graveyards and similar locations tend to be saturated with dark magic, making the Lupine’s life drain even more effective. It can continuously replenish its health as it engages foes in this type of environment, making it a durable combatant. The Lupine could also employ defensive strategies by using its connection to the spirit realm to navigate through spiritual barriers or unseen paths, allowing it to strike from unexpected angles.
• Aetheric Planes or Shadow Realms
  • Offense: On planes infused with raw magical energy or within shadow realms where physical laws are bent, the Haunting Howl can transcend its normal limitations. Necrotic damage here would be even more effective against magical constructs or entities that exist partially in both the material and ethereal worlds. The Spectral Lupine’s attacks may cause widespread terror among planar beings unused to such potent weapons of life-draining magic, and its strikes could destabilize enemies who rely on their spiritual essence.
  • Defense: In these planes, the Spectral Lupine could use its life-drain ability not only for healing but also to defend against magical attacks that sap its vitality. With the Haunting Howl, it can remain intact even when facing more potent magical or spiritual forces, as the life drain helps it survive extended battles in otherworldly environments.

In each of these environments, the Haunting Howl is both an offensive and defensive tool. Its necrotic damage ensures the Spectral Lupine can quickly dispatch foes, especially in dark and necromantic settings, while its life drain allows it to sustain itself through combat, turning otherwise dire situations into opportunities for survival. Thematically, this weapon amplifies the Lupine’s spectral and haunting presence, making it a terror in battle and a master of survival.

Perception of Activation: Haunting Howl — When the Haunting Howl is activated, the sensory and extra-sensory experience is deeply tied to its spectral and necrotic nature. Below is what is perceived across the five senses, as well as multiple extra-sensory perceptions:

• Sight
  • Perception: The fang glows with an intensified aura, its pale blue and violet light becoming brighter. Necrotic energy swirls around it, forming wispy tendrils of darkness. The air around the weapon dims, as though it is pulling light into itself, creating a faint aura of shadow.
  • Description: The visual transformation is immediate and eerie, with the fang appearing as if it is absorbing life from the surroundings. This shadowy field seems to warp vision, creating a surreal, ghostly atmosphere.
  • Positives: The weapon’s activation creates a visual deterrent, intimidating enemies and establishing the Spectral Lupine as a supernatural force. It may also provide a tactical advantage by dimming the environment, making it harder for enemies to see clearly.
  • Negatives: The eerie glow and shadows can also draw unwanted attention. Allies may find the sudden darkening of the area disorienting, and enemies sensitive to necrotic energy may detect the activation.
• Sound
  • Perception: A low, ghostly howl resonates from the fang, accompanied by the faint sound of whispers and the rustling of ethereal winds. This howl grows louder as the weapon strikes, creating a terrifying crescendo that echoes unnaturally, as though originating from multiple directions.
  • Description: The sound seems to carry the despair of the spirits trapped within, rising in pitch as the fang draws life force from its victims. At times, the howl may be accompanied by disembodied voices, making it feel as if unseen forces are present.
  • Positives: The haunting sound strikes fear into opponents, lowering their morale and making them hesitant to approach. It can unnerve even the most stalwart foes, disrupting concentration and tactics.
  • Negatives: The sound is unsettling not just to enemies but to allies as well. The eerie howling and whispers can create an atmosphere of dread, potentially distracting companions or causing them to question the nature of the weapon. In stealth situations, the sound may betray the Spectral Lupine’s presence.
• Touch
  • Perception: The weapon feels colder than usual when activated, the chill spreading up the Spectral Lupine’s form. This cold is not merely physical but seems to drain warmth and vitality from the environment. Touching the fang directly would cause a numbing sensation, as though the life force is being siphoned away.
  • Description: This coldness is felt as a necrotic chill that seeps into the bones, making the user feel as if they are momentarily detached from the world of the living. It provides a tactile reminder of the power flowing through the fang, enhancing the sensation of control over life and death.
  • Positives: The numbing cold can bolster the Spectral Lupine’s sense of focus, allowing it to channel the life-draining magic more effectively. The chill also serves as a psychological deterrent to those who may try to disarm or strike the fang, as touching it directly feels unnerving.
  • Negatives: Prolonged exposure to this necrotic chill can be exhausting to the user, potentially draining stamina or causing physical discomfort over time. The sensation of cold may also affect companions who are close to the Spectral Lupine, making them uncomfortable or even weakening them.
• Smell
  • Perception: The air becomes thick with the scent of decay and old bones, as if the environment itself is being touched by death. There is a faint, acrid odor akin to burnt incense, with underlying notes of damp earth and decomposing organic matter.
  • Description: The scent of decay is strong and unpleasant, evoking the sense of being near a graveyard or ancient battlefield. The odor is not overwhelming but persistent, clinging to the surroundings like an invisible miasma.
  • Positives: The scent of death can weaken the resolve of nearby enemies, making them hesitant to stay within the affected area. The association with necrotic magic can also intimidate opponents who may fear its effects.
  • Negatives: The smell of decay can be nauseating to both allies and enemies, potentially making prolonged exposure uncomfortable. It can also disrupt natural environments, alerting creatures or beings sensitive to the scent of death.
• Taste
  • Perception: The air itself seems to take on a metallic, bitter taste when the fang is activated. It’s as though the life force drawn from enemies has affected the surrounding atmosphere, creating a taste reminiscent of cold iron or blood.
  • Description: This metallic taste lingers on the tongue, further reinforcing the sense of being in the presence of necrotic power. It’s subtle but persistent, affecting even those who do not engage in direct combat.
  • Positives: The taste may sharpen the user’s awareness, reinforcing their focus on life and death energy. It serves as a visceral reminder of the weapon’s power and the life force it drains from its victims.
  • Negatives: The bitterness may become distracting over time, affecting concentration or inducing discomfort in the user and nearby companions. It could also be unsettling to those unaccustomed to the sensation.
• Extra-Sensory Perceptions (ESP)
  • Aura Perception
    • Perception: A dark aura manifests around the weapon, visible only to those attuned to necromancy or spiritual energies. This aura is dense with death magic, radiating coldness and despair.
    • Positives: Those attuned to dark magic may find themselves empowered by this aura, drawing strength from the spectral energy it exudes. It provides a clear visual indication of the weapon’s power to allies who can see it.
    • Negatives: Sensitive individuals may feel overwhelmed by the darkness of the aura, becoming unnerved or even physically ill. Opponents who perceive the aura may recognize the danger posed by the weapon, making them more likely to target the Spectral Lupine.
  • Life Force Sensation
    • Perception: The user feels an intuitive connection to the life force of nearby creatures. When the weapon strikes, they sense the life energy being drawn into the fang, replenishing their own vitality. This sensation is almost addictive, as the flow of life energy becomes intoxicating.
    • Positives: This heightened awareness allows the Spectral Lupine to gauge the strength of its enemies and sense when they are vulnerable. It can also help the Lupine time its strikes to maximize the effect of the life drain, increasing its own survivability in battle.
    • Negatives: The constant pull of life energy can become overwhelming, tempting the user to over-rely on the weapon’s life-draining ability. Prolonged use may lead to an overdependence on necrotic energy, dulling the Lupine’s connection to other forms of magic or vitality.
  • Temporal Distortion
    • Perception: Time seems to distort slightly when the weapon is activated. To the Spectral Lupine, moments of intense combat stretch and elongate, as if the world is slowing down around it. This perception allows for more precise strikes and strategic maneuvers.
    • Positives: The Lupine can use this temporal distortion to gain a tactical edge, reacting faster and planning its moves with uncanny precision. The sensation of slowed time can help it avoid danger and optimize the life-draining effects of the fang.
    • Negatives: This distorted perception may cause disorientation once the weapon is deactivated, leading to a brief period of confusion. Additionally, the sensation of slowing time may cause the Lupine to underestimate the speed of its opponents, leading to miscalculations in combat.
• Overall Pros and Cons
  • Positives:
    • Enhances combat effectiveness through necrotic damage and life drain.
    • Creates an intimidating aura that weakens enemy morale.
    • Provides tactical advantages like darkness, fear, and heightened sensory awareness.
    • Allows the Spectral Lupine to sustain itself in combat by absorbing life force.
  • Negatives:
    • Can disrupt allies with unsettling sensory effects like sounds, smells, and visual distortion.
    • Over-reliance on necrotic energy may cause spiritual or physical exhaustion.
    • Draws attention to the Spectral Lupine, making stealth difficult.
    • Potential disorientation from time distortion and aura perception.

Crafting Recipe: Haunting Howl Replica

• Materials Needed:
  • Spectral Fang (1) – A ghostly fang harvested from a Spectral Lupine, found in haunted forests or spirit-infused graveyards.
  • Necrotic Essence (3 vials) – Condensed energy collected from necromantic spells or rituals, obtainable by siphoning death energy from defeated undead or performing necromantic rites.
  • Ethereal Binding Thread (2 spools) – Thread woven from ethereal spider silk, found in the nests of Ethereal Weavers in hidden caves or shadowy realms. Used to bind the spectral energy to the physical form.
  • Shimmering Aether Crystal (1) – A rare crystal that refracts light with a ghostly, pale blue hue. Found in areas where the material and ethereal planes converge.
  • Ghostwood Handle (1) – A handle carved from the wood of a tree that grows in a graveyard or cursed forest, imbued with faint death magic.
  • Grave Dust (2 handfuls) – Ash-like dust from ancient, undisturbed graves. Required to strengthen the necrotic link between the fang and its wielder.
  • Blood of the Fallen (1 vial) – Blood of a creature who has been slain by necrotic magic, used to anoint the weapon during crafting.
• Tools Required:
  • Enchanter’s Athame – A ritual dagger used for carving runes and channeling necrotic magic into the fang.
  • Alchemist’s Mortar and Pestle – Used for grinding the Grave Dust and mixing it with the Necrotic Essence.
  • Arcane Forge – A specially constructed forge powered by necromantic energy to infuse the spectral materials with death magic.
  • Binding Needle – A magical needle forged from shadowsteel, used to sew the Ethereal Binding Thread around the spectral fang.
  • Runic Carving Tools – Used to carve necromantic runes into the fang and the handle, allowing the two to bond together.
• Skill Requirements:
  • Necromancy (Expert Level) – Required to harness and control the necrotic energy needed to bind the life-draining properties of the weapon.
  • Enchanting (Intermediate Level) – The ability to weave magical properties into items and channel spectral and death energies into physical objects.
  • Runecrafting (Intermediate Level) – Essential for carving necromantic runes into the fang and handle to activate the spectral properties.
  • Alchemy (Basic Level) – To properly mix the necrotic essences and prepare the materials needed for infusion.
• Crafting Steps:
  • Harvest the Spectral Fang:
    • Begin by tracking down a Spectral Lupine in a haunted or cursed location. Once defeated, carefully extract its largest fang while ensuring it retains its spectral properties. This must be done under the light of a full moon to preserve its ghostly nature.
  • Prepare the Necrotic Essence Mixture:
    • Using the Alchemist’s Mortar and Pestle, grind the Grave Dust into a fine powder. Mix it with the Necrotic Essence to form a viscous, dark mixture. This concoction will be used to coat the fang, binding necrotic energy to the weapon.
  • Carve Necromantic Runes:
    • Using the Runic Carving Tools, carefully carve necromantic runes into the Spectral Fang. These runes must align with the flow of death energy, allowing the necrotic essence to bond with the weapon. Take care to inscribe the runes precisely to ensure the fang channels the necrotic damage properly.
  • Forge the Ghostwood Handle:
    • At the Arcane Forge, heat the Ghostwood Handle until it begins to faintly glow. During the forging process, chant a necromantic incantation to infuse the wood with death magic. This will allow the handle to support the spectral energy of the fang.
  • Bind the Fang to the Handle:
    • Using the Binding Needle and Ethereal Binding Thread, sew the Spectral Fang to the Ghostwood Handle. Wrap the thread tightly around the base of the fang, ensuring it is securely bound. As you work, infuse the thread with Necrotic Essence from the mixture, further binding the spectral energy into the weapon.
  • Infuse the Weapon with Necrotic Energy:
    • Place the assembled weapon in the Arcane Forge. Slowly drip the Blood of the Fallen over the fang, allowing the blood to seep into the runes and binding thread. The blood will activate the life-draining properties of the fang. Heat the weapon for exactly one hour, during which time the spectral and necrotic energies will fully integrate.
  • Embed the Shimmering Aether Crystal:
    • Once the weapon has cooled, embed the Shimmering Aether Crystal into the base of the handle. This crystal acts as a conduit, enhancing the spectral nature of the Haunting Howl and amplifying its necrotic power.
  • Final Enchantment Ritual:
    • Complete the crafting process with a necromantic ritual. Place the weapon on an altar surrounded by necromantic symbols, and chant the binding incantation, invoking spirits from the spectral realm. These spirits will ensure the weapon’s life-draining abilities remain potent. The ritual takes two hours and must be conducted in silence, under the guidance of a necromancer.

Result: Once complete, the crafted Haunting Howl Replica will retain many of the abilities of the original, including its additional necrotic damage and life-draining effects. Though not quite as powerful as the legendary version, it is still a potent weapon for those skilled in necromantic magic.

Tale of the Haunting Howl: The Fang of the Spirit Wolf

Long ago, in a place of shadowy trees and fog that never lifted, there was a creature of the moon’s dark side. It walked with the dead winds, and its breath could call the old spirits to rise. This was the Spectral Lupine, a wolf without body but with great hunger for life. The Lupine did not have teeth of bone, but fangs made of the stuff between life and death, that place where souls wander and forget the light.

One night when the sky was broken, and the stars bled, the Spectral Lupine found a village lost to the world. Its people had long since vanished, their bodies buried, their names no longer spoken by living tongues. But their bones called out to the wolf, and the Lupine heeded their cry. In the village, there was one shaman, old and weak, who had not yet followed his people into the ground. The shaman spoke to the Lupine, offering a deal with words learned from a time before words.

The deal was this: the wolf would give the shaman a fang, a single fang of its ghostly form. With this, the shaman would craft a weapon of great power, one that would allow the dead to live again by taking the life of others. In return, the shaman promised the wolf that with each bite, more souls would follow the Lupine into the land of forgotten shadows.

The wolf agreed. It tore from its own mouth the Haunting Howl, a fang wrapped in coldness and mist. The shaman took it, hands shaking with the weight of the spirit magic within. He bound it with threads of light stolen from the moon and dipped it in the blood of kings long turned to dust. He chanted in words that made the air heavy, and the wolves in the hills howled without stopping.

When the weapon was done, the shaman, now weak with age and weariness, looked upon it with eyes that saw more than life. He knew the weapon was hungry, just as the Spectral Lupine had been. It thirsted for the warmth of life, and it would drain any soul it touched. The shaman thought to hide it away, but the weapon called to him, like a whisper of wind through the bones of the earth.

In his last breath, the shaman wielded the Haunting Howl and struck down a nearby tree that had stood for a hundred years. From the tree flowed not sap, but life itself, like a stream of light pulled from the heart of the world. The shaman fell dead with a smile, for he knew that the weapon had done as promised: it had brought life to the dead, but at the cost of his own.

The Haunting Howl remained, its cold edge biting into the world like a ghost’s hunger that could never be filled. Warriors, necromancers, and kings sought the fang, for they believed it would grant them eternal life. But the fang only took and took, never giving back what was lost.

The tales say the Spectral Lupine still roams, searching for the fang it lost. Wherever the weapon is used, the wolf’s shadow follows, and the howl of the dead echoes in the night.

Moral of the Story: What is taken from the dead belongs only to the dead. The hunger for life that comes from death leaves nothing behind but shadows.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Haunting Howl

• Type: Mythos Weapon (Spectral Fang)
• Damage: 1d6+2 Necrotic Damage (bypasses normal armor)
• Special: Life Drain – Heals the wielder for half the damage dealt (rounded down). This healing is applied immediately after the attack if it is successful.
• Mythos Power: When wielded, the weapon taps into necrotic energy, corrupting the wielder’s mind. Each time it is used, the wielder must make a SAN Roll (1/1D4 Sanity loss on a failure) due to the weapon’s direct connection to the undead and otherworldly forces.
• Additional Effects: If wielded in a place of death (graveyard, battlefield, haunted ruins), the damage increases to 1d8+2. The wielder also gains +10% to Necromancy or Occult rolls while attuned to the weapon.
• Cost: 800 Mythos Power equivalent (to balance with Mythos artifacts).

Blades in the Dark

Haunting Howl

• (Rare)
• Type: Weapon (Arcane, Necrotic)
• Load: 1 (light, due to its ethereal nature)
• Special Ability:
  • Necrotic Strike: Deals Level 2 Harm on a successful attack, manifesting as necrotic damage that saps the life force of the target. The wielder heals for 1 Stress or 1 Armor tick for each successful attack due to the life-draining properties.
  • Spectral Attunement: When wielded, the user is considered to be in a “risky” position when dealing with spirits or supernatural entities, as the weapon draws their attention.
• Activation Cost: 1 Stress per use of the weapon’s abilities (for life drain and enhanced damage).
• Position: Risky
• Effect: Great (due to the necrotic damage and life drain)
• Attunement Roll: Roll to Attune with the weapon and draw upon its power. On a failure, gain a Level 1 Harm (Necrotic Backlash).

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Haunting Howl

• (Rare, Requires Attunement)
• Weapon (Fang), melee weapon, rare (requires attunement by a creature of necromantic affinity or a Spectral Lupine)
• Damage: 1d8+2 piercing + 1d6 necrotic damage
• Life Drain: When you deal necrotic damage to a creature, you regain hit points equal to half the necrotic damage dealt (rounded down). If the target dies from this necrotic damage, you gain temporary hit points equal to your character level.
• Special Ability: Ghostly Howl – Once per long rest, you can release a terrifying howl using the weapon. Each creature within 30 feet of you that can hear the howl must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you for 1 minute.
• Attunement Restriction: Only creatures aligned with death, undeath, or necromancy may attune to the weapon.
• Cost: 800 GP (or equivalent magic item price).

Knave

Haunting Howl

• (Rare)
• Type: Weapon (Spectral Fang)
• Damage: 1d6 necrotic damage
• Special: When you deal damage, you regain health equal to half of the damage dealt (rounded down).
• Special Ability: Spectral Strike – On a successful attack roll of 18+, you deal an additional 1d6 necrotic damage.
• Additional Effect: The weapon also causes spirits and the dead to follow or linger around the wielder, creating a haunting atmosphere. Spirits will not attack, but they may interfere or attract unwanted attention from enemies sensitive to the supernatural.
• Cost: 800 silver.

Fate Core

Haunting Howl

• Aspect: “Spectral Fang of the Spirit Wolf”
• Description: A ghostly, ethereal fang that deals necrotic damage and drains life force from enemies. It hums with dark energy, drawing the attention of spirits and the dead.
• Invoke: Use the Haunting Howl to deal necrotic damage and heal. Gain a +2 bonus on attacks involving necrotic energy or spirit-related actions, particularly in haunted or cursed locations.
• Compel: The weapon draws the attention of spirits or other dark forces. The GM can compel the Aspect to cause complications, such as ghostly entities pursuing the wielder or dark magic corrupting the user’s actions.
• Mechanics:
  • Necrotic Strike: When you attack with the Haunting Howl, you can invoke it to gain +2 to your Attack Roll. On a success, you also heal 1 point of physical stress.
  • Spectral Call: Once per session, you can use the weapon to call upon the spirits of the dead, creating an advantage such as “Terrified Opponents” or “Haunted Battlefield”.
  • Cost: A Fate Point is spent each time necrotic healing is triggered.

Numenera & Cypher System

Haunting Howl

• Level: 5
• Type: Artifact
• Effect: When wielded, the Haunting Howl deals 5 points of necrotic damage on a successful melee attack.
• Life Drain: Heals the user for half the necrotic damage dealt (rounded down). This ability can only activate once per target per encounter.
• Depletion: 1 in 1d20 – Each time the weapon is used, there is a 1 in 20 chance that it loses its spectral power and becomes a normal, mundane fang.
• Special Abilities:
  • Necrotic Wave: Once per day, you can release a wave of necrotic energy from the fang, dealing 5 points of necrotic damage to all creatures in an immediate area and healing you for half the damage dealt.
  • Spiritual Magnet: The weapon may attract spirits or spectral beings, making encounters with the supernatural more frequent.
• Price: 800 Shins (or adjusted based on GM’s setting).

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Haunting Howl

• (Rare, Requires Attunement by a Necromancer or Spirit Affinity)
• Weapon: +1 Striking Fang
• Damage: 1d6 piercing + 1d6 necrotic damage
• Traits: Uncommon, Magical, Necrotic, Spirit-Bound
• Life Drain: On a successful attack, the wielder regains hit points equal to half the necrotic damage dealt (rounded down). This effect only triggers once per round.
• Special Action – Ghostly Howl:
  • Once per day as a two-action activity, you release a terrifying spectral howl. All creatures within 30 feet must make a DC 18 Will save or become Frightened 2 for 1 minute. Creatures that critically fail are also Paralyzed for 1 round.
  • Spirit Beacon: While the Haunting Howl is in your possession, you are constantly surrounded by a faint, ghostly aura. Undead and spirits will be drawn to you, though they may not always be hostile.
• Price: 800 GP (or equivalent based on item pricing rules).

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

Haunting Howl

• Type: Artifact (Spectral Weapon)
• Damage: Str+d6 + 2 Necrotic Damage
• Special Abilities:
  • Life Drain: When you deal necrotic damage, you heal a number of Wounds or Fatigue levels equal to half the necrotic damage dealt (rounded down). This effect can only trigger once per round.
  • Terrifying Howl: As an Action, you may cause the fang to emit a spectral howl. All enemies within 6 inches (12 yards) must make a Fear check or be Shaken. Those who critically fail are also Panicked for 1 round.
  • Undead Attraction: The weapon exudes an aura of death, which makes it a magnet for spirits and undead. These creatures may be drawn to the wielder, either as allies or adversaries, depending on the circumstances.
• Edges: The wielder gains the “Spirit Warrior” Edge while attuned to the weapon, granting a +2 bonus to Occult rolls when dealing with undead or spiritual creatures.
• Deactivation: On a roll of 1 on the Fighting die (regardless of Wild Die), the weapon’s necrotic power weakens temporarily, dealing normal Str+d6 damage until the end of the next encounter.
• Cost: Rare (800 Silver equivalent based on setting).

Shadowrun (6th Edition)

Haunting Howl

• Type: Weapon Focus (Spectral Fang)
• Damage: Str+2P (Physical) + 2D (Necrotic/Drain)
• Accuracy: 6
• Reach: 1
• Special Effects:
  • Life Drain: When dealing necrotic damage, the wielder gains 1 Health (up to max) for every 2 damage inflicted. If the target dies as a result, the wielder gains an additional 2 Health.
  • Necrotic Essence: Counts as a Weapon Focus (Rating 3). In addition to physical damage, the fang deals 2 Drain Damage, bypassing normal armor. This necrotic damage can only be resisted with Willpower + Intuition.
  • Spiritual Bond: The fang can attract paranormal entities or restless spirits. The GM may trigger paranormal encounters due to the weapon’s spiritual energy.
• Foci Bonding Cost: 15 Karma (or as adjusted by GM).
• Cost: ¥30,000 (or adjusted by GM).

Starfinder

Haunting Howl

• (Level 7, Rare, Magic Weapon)
• Type: Melee Weapon (Fang)
• Damage: 1d8 piercing + 1d6 necrotic damage
• Critical: Frightened – On a critical hit, the target must succeed on a DC 17 Will Save or become Frightened for 1 round.
• Special Properties:
  • Life Drain: When the wielder deals necrotic damage, they regain Stamina Points equal to half the necrotic damage dealt (rounded down). This ability can be used once per round.
  • Spectral Strike: This weapon counts as a Ghost Killer and Ethereal weapon, allowing it to hit incorporeal creatures as if they were fully corporeal.
  • Capacity: None (no ammunition required, magical).
• Usage: Draws power from necrotic energy surrounding its wielder.
• Bulk: 1
• Cost: 8,500 credits.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Haunting Howl

• Type: Melee Weapon (Artifact)
• Damage: 2D+1 necrotic (ignores traditional armor)
• Special Traits:
  • Life Drain: On a successful hit, the wielder heals 1D Endurance Points (EP) for every 2D damage dealt. This allows the wielder to regenerate health during combat, though it cannot raise EP beyond the maximum.
  • Terrifying Presence: The wielder may choose to activate the Howl once per day. All enemies within 6 meters must roll 2D versus 8+ or suffer a -2 DM penalty on attacks due to fear for 1 round.
  • Spirit Magnet: The weapon’s necrotic properties attract the attention of paranormal entities, sometimes leading to encounters with spirits or wraiths.
• Cost: N/A (artifact-level; GM discretion for price).

Warhammer (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition)

Haunting Howl

• Type: Magical Weapon (Spectral Fang)
• Damage: +2 Damage
• Qualities: Damaging, Necrotic, Ignores Armor, Magical
• Special Rules:
  • Necrotic Strike: Adds +2 Necrotic Damage on a successful hit. This damage ignores armor but may be resisted with Toughness.
  • Life Drain: The wielder recovers Wounds equal to half the necrotic damage dealt (rounded down). This healing cannot exceed the wielder’s maximum Wounds.
  • Howl of the Spirits: Once per day, the weapon may emit a soul-chilling howl. All enemies within 24 yards must pass a Cool Test (Difficulty 4) or gain the Broken condition for 1d5 rounds.
  • Dark Aura: The weapon exudes a subtle but palpable dark aura, which may draw the attention of witch hunters, necromancers, or spiritual entities.
• Encumbrance: 1
• Value: 1,200 gold crowns (or as determined by GM).