Author Topic: Darkling  (Read 1437 times)

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Offline brole

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Darkling
« on: August 18, 2021, 09:20:35 AM »
Demon Familiar, from Conjuror base list Demon Mastery "....summons a very minor demon, such as a Darkling."

I had a flick through some of the books but I can't find Darklings.

Anyone know what book they are in or generated stats for them?
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Offline EltonJ

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Re: Darkling
« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2021, 12:40:46 PM »
They're not in Creatures and Monsters.

Online jdale

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Re: Darkling
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2021, 06:50:25 PM »
I don't see "Darkling" listed by that name in the comprehensive creature index in the back of Creatures & Treasures III.

I think the more important part of the spell description is "As Familiar on the Gate Mastery closed Essence spell list". In RMSS, the equivalent spell explicitly defines this as a familiar-type animal (e.g. a cat) that happens to have a demonic type spirit (but no special abilities), and I think that's the intent here.
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Offline Hurin

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Re: Darkling
« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2021, 12:01:01 AM »
This is a bit of a stretch, but I wonder if they meant 'Dark Wispling' from the Elemental Companion.

Edit: No, I see that the summon was a demon, and the Dark Wispling is an elemental, so probably not.
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Offline OLF, i.e. Olf Le Fol

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Re: Darkling
« Reply #4 on: August 20, 2021, 04:25:32 AM »
Also, the RoCo. II was published in January 1987 whereas the E.C. was published in January 1989, so it's doubtful the former would reference the latter… ;)

If anything, one should check the books that were released by that time, which are just "The Cloudlords of Tanara" (January 1984), "The Iron Wind" (January 1984) and "Robin Hood" (January 1987).
The world was then consumed by darkness, and mankind was devoured alive and cast into hell, led by a jubilant 紗羽. She rejoiced in being able to continue serving the gods, thus perpetuating her travels across worlds to destroy them. She looked at her doll and, remembering their promises, told her: "You see, my dear, we succeeded! We've become legends! We've become villains! We've become witches!" She then laughed with a joyful, childlike laughter, just as she kept doing for all of eternity.

Offline terefang

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Re: Darkling
« Reply #5 on: August 21, 2021, 04:50:33 PM »
lol

monster hunting in books
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Offline brole

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Re: Darkling
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2021, 01:05:15 AM »
lol

monster hunting in books

5gp for the brave adventurer who can capture a Darkling for the Grand Archive to study and catalogue.
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Offline pantsorama

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Re: Darkling
« Reply #7 on: August 23, 2021, 02:33:28 PM »
Darkling Duck?

Offline brole

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Re: Darkling
« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2021, 05:16:19 AM »
Having searched through what RM & ME I could I found no darkling creature.

One 'solution' I've come up with involves the use of Larva from AD&D 1st ed. as a "very minor demon" familiar.
Although it may break size rules, it is a fairly hapless creature and may form a challenge to carry around.

Using the original C&T section on converting AD&D monsters into RM here is my conversion of the Larva from MM 1st ed into RM2.

Larva
Level 1
Base Rate 25' (0)
Max Pace: 1.5
MS: SL
AQ: VS
Size M
Hits 25A
AT 3(0)
Attack: 18Ti

The familiar can be 'upgraded' as spell states demon can "advance in experience."
This involves HR use of spells and rituals to create a Quasit also from MM 1st ed.
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Offline netbat

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Re: Darkling
« Reply #9 on: August 27, 2021, 10:59:09 AM »
The first reference to a darkling in rpgs that I could find was in Ravenloft. Since the RoCo II was earlier, I wonder if it was a mis-translation of something published in the Italian or other European versions? I remember there were a number of RM players from Italy, France, Spain and the Nordic countries back then.
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Offline OLF, i.e. Olf Le Fol

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Re: Darkling
« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2021, 11:04:26 AM »
As a note, the C&T II mentions at p71, in the "15.4 ARMOR" section, an item called a "Darkling Leather". Since a Darkling was apparently skinned in order to make said armor, I'd suggest the OP to track such an armor, then the guy who made it, so as to ask him where he was able to find this laincursed Darkling! ;D
The world was then consumed by darkness, and mankind was devoured alive and cast into hell, led by a jubilant 紗羽. She rejoiced in being able to continue serving the gods, thus perpetuating her travels across worlds to destroy them. She looked at her doll and, remembering their promises, told her: "You see, my dear, we succeeded! We've become legends! We've become villains! We've become witches!" She then laughed with a joyful, childlike laughter, just as she kept doing for all of eternity.

Offline Spectre771

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Re: Darkling
« Reply #11 on: September 22, 2021, 09:23:47 AM »
This has been rolling around in the back of my mind since it was posted.  I know we've been looking at the publication date and the books around that time, but I think the Darkling stats were in a book after the publication date.  Sort of "Oops, we got all these questions about a Darkling, here it is."  I have to do more delving.
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Offline EltonJ

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Re: Darkling
« Reply #12 on: September 30, 2021, 12:06:28 PM »
Do you have the RMCII?  If so, you can substitute one of the Spirits' stats for a darkling.

Offline terefang

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Re: Darkling
« Reply #13 on: September 30, 2021, 02:59:05 PM »
maybe the wording "Darkling" is an unfortunate use of the more proper "Demonic/Devilish" ?
I'd swallow cthulhu whole, with sushi and soy-sauce.

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