The Vodyanoy or Vodnik is a male freshwater spirit from Slavic folklore that I think has some horrifying potential in games like Mork Borg. I first came across it in The Slumbering Ursine Dunes and really enjoyed my players running into it in The Golden Barge, but sadly covid hit and the game went on permanent hiatus. So why not stat it up for Mork Borg? This encounter would be best placed around Lake Onda if you’re running the Mork Borg setting, also sorry ya’ll idk how to type a fuckin’ undulaut on my laptop.
The Vodnik
Spiteful Water Spirit
HP: 18 Morale: 9
Rubber-skin: -d2; min damage from piercing/slashing
+1 damage from blunt weapons; Immune to fire.
Tentacle: d4 + special
Special: Drowner; DR14 Agility test on hit or grappled;
take d4 damage from drowning if in water until Vodnik is dead.
Captured: 200s
Corpse: 55s
Tentacles: 25s
From a distance The Vodnik is the silhouette of a man in a ragged coat with waterlogged hat, but that is where the similarities end. It’s skin is like that of shining black rubber, featureless save for the occasional tumor or growth. It’s face eyeless and mouth always grinning, pipe clenched between gnarled, blackened teeth. Wet. Always dripping wet no matter how far from water he is, water falls constantly from the brim of his hat and the filthy black coat onto the ground where is feet should be. The Vodnik seems float about two inches off the ground when not in his lake. His hands seem like that of a normal man, but when angered they change to grotesque tentacles and several more crawl out from beneath his coat. A puff from his pipe causes a temporary madness that allows mortals to enter his realm beneath the lake. If it is offered do not refuse, otherwise you will surely drown. His hands seem like the silhouette of a normal man’s, but if The Vodnik is angered they quickly shift into grotesque tentacles, several more crawl out from beneath his filthy brown coat.
The people of Yevchodnik depend on the lake to survive and therefore hold many superstitions surrounding it. They both fear and revere The Vodnik, offering small sacrifices of tobacco is common among fishermen and in dire situations, when the fish have all dried up, they offer up young women to be taken as his wife. If it is dusk or dawn it is not uncommon to catch a glimpse of The Vodnik floating on a log, puffing away at his pipe out of the corner of your eye.
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What’s Happening at the Lake?
1
An emaciated fisherman weeps on the shore of Lake Onda. He has come to check his nets and they all have been torn.
2
There is an eerie and unnatural silence only broken by the occasional ripple or splash of water. Smells of fishrot, pipe tobacco, and tea.
3
A little boy fishing alone says a rhyme* and leave’s a pinch of tobacco in the lake.
4
5d20 porcelain teapots are left in meticulous stacks on top of rocks, logs, and driftwood. There is a heavy fog and the muted sound of violin seems to come from beneath the lake; somber, melancholic. Smashing the teapots will anger The Vodnik.
5
The Vodnik is there smoking his pipe, sitting on a log; in a good mood.
6
Fishmonger cultists attempt to sacrifice a young woman. She is: d4
Struggling; being violently dragged to the lake.
Drugged; euphoric, incoherent babbling.
Gently weeping; believes this is the only way to save her starving village.
Fanatic believer; overjoyed to become The Vodnik’s wife.
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What does The Vodnik want?
1
To trap the souls of young women into teapots in order to keep his wife eternally young.
2
A midwife to deliver his son.
3
A twisted and miserable faerie has stolen his wife and cursed him with drought. All will suffer as he suffers until her return.
4
The bones of a particularly clever fisherman that he has been unable to trick. Will make a marvelous pipe.
*Mr. Vodnik here’s your gift, now let me catch a tasty fish.*
The Vodnik is the personification of poverty, pettiness and spite, Sisyphean drudgery, and loneliness. When The Vodnik is unhappy, which is nearly always, his misery will leak out into the surrounding area, must be something in the water. The villagers around Lake Onda have become increasingly cruel and vindictive, petty squabbles quickly turn to brawls, duels, and blood feuds.
Only the drunk, drugged, exhausted, raving mad, or starving may enter The Vodnik’s mirror realm beneath the lake, this is where he is most vulnerable and when he is most likely to strike up a deal. If any time is spent in the realm beneath the lake 1d10 days has passed, roll on The Calendar of Nechrubel accordingly. If The Vodnik is killed in the lake a black ichor creeps out from its body and spreads into the lake and kills all of the fish. In 1d6 days the fish will grow limbs and crawl out from the lake, their rotting bodies attack and kill all living things they come across. If any of these fish are eaten save toughness or they cause sickness.
