Shade
Monster Junkie
Aswang
Freq: Very rare
# App: 1
AC: 4
Move: 12"/18"
HD: 5
% in Lair: see below
Treasure type: nil
# Att: 2
Dmg/Att: 1-3
SA: see below
SD: see below
MR: standard
Int: average-very
Alignment: Chaotic evil
Size: M (5-6 ft.)
Psionics: nil
Level/XP Value:
Aswang: V/435 + 5/hp
Balbal: V/360 + 5/hp
The Aswang, Mangalok or Boroka has the appearance of a normal human woman, and indeed exists as such by day, often living a normal village life. At night, however, she takes on her true nature, becoming a humanoid monster with a hag-like appearance, strong nails, and a very long threadlike tongue. She may also shapechange at will to the form of a huge night-bird with the head of a woman.
The Aswang can sense death in the same way as the Segben, at a distance of up to 1 mile, and will sit on the roof of a house where the corpse lies, sucking out its blood and organs through her long tongue. The tongue may be extended up to 12 ft. in length, and has a sharp point, but is so fine as to be indetectable 90% of the time, except to individuals with the ability to see invisible. She will attack the living in the same way, piercing the jugular vein with her tongue as the victim sleeps, and draining blood at the rate of 1 hp per round. Her saliva contains a local anasthetic, which requires sleeping victims to save vs poison or continue to sleep through the attack. When fully gorged (having taken blood equal to half her original hit points) the Aswang's humanoid form appears swollen as if with an advanced pregnancy, and her movement rate is halved. The Aswang is particularly vulnerable at this time, and takes great care not to be seen.
The Aswang will only fight if she cannot flee. She uses her strong nails or the talons of her avian form in self-defence, a successful hit causing 1-3 points of damage in either case.
A human may become an Aswang in one of four ways:
1) By the application of a magical ointment compounded of chicken dropping dissolved in coconut oil and mixed with human flesh and blood, along with certain other magical operations;
2) the daughters of an Aswang will inherit her condition;
3) the kiss of a dying Aswang will pass on her condition to one willing initiate;
4) an Aswang may focure her condition upon another by lacing their food with human flesh or with her own saliva.
The ointment is the secret of the transformation ability; normally hidden about the house in a stoppered bamboo tube or clay jar, it is used every night to effect the transformation. Human form may be regained by exposure to sunlight, or by washing off the ointment in fresh water. The Aswang is repelled by salt, vinegar, and certain spices in the same way as a vampire is repelled by garlic. Although the Aswang has certain vampiric tendencies, it is not classified as undead and is not vulnerable to holy symbols or other religious objects.
The Iqui is the rarer male Aswang.
The Balbal is a variant form of Aswang. It is a forest-dweller, and does not change form, always appearing as a gaunt humanoid figure with very loose skin, which it can use to glide for distances of up to 60 ft after the manner of a flying squirrel. Its tongue is thicker and stronger than that of an Aswang, and its modus operandi is to use its tongue to lift a corspe through a hole in the thatch which it has made with its strong nails. The corpse is then taken back into the forest to be devoured. In all other respects, the Balbal is identical to the Aswang.
From Imagine Magazine #25 (1985)
Freq: Very rare
# App: 1
AC: 4
Move: 12"/18"
HD: 5
% in Lair: see below
Treasure type: nil
# Att: 2
Dmg/Att: 1-3
SA: see below
SD: see below
MR: standard
Int: average-very
Alignment: Chaotic evil
Size: M (5-6 ft.)
Psionics: nil
Level/XP Value:
Aswang: V/435 + 5/hp
Balbal: V/360 + 5/hp
The Aswang, Mangalok or Boroka has the appearance of a normal human woman, and indeed exists as such by day, often living a normal village life. At night, however, she takes on her true nature, becoming a humanoid monster with a hag-like appearance, strong nails, and a very long threadlike tongue. She may also shapechange at will to the form of a huge night-bird with the head of a woman.
The Aswang can sense death in the same way as the Segben, at a distance of up to 1 mile, and will sit on the roof of a house where the corpse lies, sucking out its blood and organs through her long tongue. The tongue may be extended up to 12 ft. in length, and has a sharp point, but is so fine as to be indetectable 90% of the time, except to individuals with the ability to see invisible. She will attack the living in the same way, piercing the jugular vein with her tongue as the victim sleeps, and draining blood at the rate of 1 hp per round. Her saliva contains a local anasthetic, which requires sleeping victims to save vs poison or continue to sleep through the attack. When fully gorged (having taken blood equal to half her original hit points) the Aswang's humanoid form appears swollen as if with an advanced pregnancy, and her movement rate is halved. The Aswang is particularly vulnerable at this time, and takes great care not to be seen.
The Aswang will only fight if she cannot flee. She uses her strong nails or the talons of her avian form in self-defence, a successful hit causing 1-3 points of damage in either case.
A human may become an Aswang in one of four ways:
1) By the application of a magical ointment compounded of chicken dropping dissolved in coconut oil and mixed with human flesh and blood, along with certain other magical operations;
2) the daughters of an Aswang will inherit her condition;
3) the kiss of a dying Aswang will pass on her condition to one willing initiate;
4) an Aswang may focure her condition upon another by lacing their food with human flesh or with her own saliva.
The ointment is the secret of the transformation ability; normally hidden about the house in a stoppered bamboo tube or clay jar, it is used every night to effect the transformation. Human form may be regained by exposure to sunlight, or by washing off the ointment in fresh water. The Aswang is repelled by salt, vinegar, and certain spices in the same way as a vampire is repelled by garlic. Although the Aswang has certain vampiric tendencies, it is not classified as undead and is not vulnerable to holy symbols or other religious objects.
The Iqui is the rarer male Aswang.
The Balbal is a variant form of Aswang. It is a forest-dweller, and does not change form, always appearing as a gaunt humanoid figure with very loose skin, which it can use to glide for distances of up to 60 ft after the manner of a flying squirrel. Its tongue is thicker and stronger than that of an Aswang, and its modus operandi is to use its tongue to lift a corspe through a hole in the thatch which it has made with its strong nails. The corpse is then taken back into the forest to be devoured. In all other respects, the Balbal is identical to the Aswang.
From Imagine Magazine #25 (1985)
