Magic is not only rare, it is dark and inherently dangerous. Sorcery was not meant for mortals, and this fundamental mismatch taints every casting with uncertainty. From beyond the Veil, magic draws the attention of strange and inscrutable forces, some of which find ways to impose their will on the material realm. Every time a character **attempts** to: - (i) cast a **spell,** - (ii) invoke a **blessing without favour,** - (iii) use a **magical item,** or - (iv) activate some other magical effect as the GM determines, a check must be made to determine whether a *Dark & Dangerous Magic* effect (or possibly *Divine Rebuke*) occurs. Magical items that grant **permanent “always on”** bonuses or effects (e.g., immunity to fire, or a crit range boost) are an exception and **exempt** from DDM checks. When making a DDM roll, the **type of die** used depends on the character’s level or whether they are using a magical item: | Level | DDM Die | |----------------|---------| | Level 1–3 | `dice: 1d8`| | Level 4–6 | `dice: 1d10`| | Level 7–9 | `dice: 1d12`| | Magic Item | `dice: 1d20`| If the roll is a **natural 1,** the magic functions as usual, but roll **`dice: 1d100`** for an **additional effect** from the DDM table (or, if a blessing, from the *Divine Rebuke* table). If a DDM or DR effect **does not** occur, the chance **increases by 1** for each further attempt to use magic until an effect triggers or the adventure ends. A PC’s DDM tally **resets to 1** when an effect triggers or a new adventure begins. > ### Example > *Old Man Wu* is a 3rd level Magic User with a DDM tally of 5. He attempts to cast another spell and succeeds. As a 3rd level character, he then rolls `dice: 1d8` to check for DDM. He rolls a 4, triggering a DDM effect! After the effect is resolved, *Old Man Wu’s* DDM tally resets to 1. Unless otherwise noted, DDM and *Divine Rebuke* effects are self-sustaining and last a minimum of one minute; they cannot be ended early by mortal magic. At the GM’s option, particularly deleterious effects might be lessened or reversed with a custom ritual (p.111). | `dice: 1d100` | DDM Effect | | ----- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | 1–2 | **Tentacled.** A random arm transforms into a branching, flesh-colored tentacle (Str 15). The tentacle can hold items but is incapable of spell casting. It returns to normal after `dice: 1d6` days. | | 3–4 | **Foul Beard.** You grow a beard of short rubbery tentacles that you can’t control. They shrivel and drop off after `dice: 1d6` days. | | 5–6 | **Fell Fingers.** Your fingers turn into tentacles, serpents, leeches, or something similarly creepy for `dice: 1d6` minutes. You cannot cast spells during this time. You count as Two Weapon Fighting and cause `dice: 2d6` acid or poison-based damage on a hit. | | 7 | **Dark Seed.** A *Doppelganger* magically splits from you with a hideous, slurping plop. The monster wishes to kill and replace you but may flee until a better opportunity presents itself. The monster lasts `dice: 1d12` months or until destroyed. | | 8 | **Tusks.** You sprout two-inch blackened tusks from your jaw, making eating and speech awkward (you may still cast spells). They recede in `dice: 1d6` weeks. | | 9 | **Tenuous Connection.** Your connection to magic fades for a time, imposing disadvantage on all casting checks for the next `dice: 4d6` hours. | | 10 | **Heartless.** You have no discernible heartbeat, and do not bleed. The effect lasts `dice: 1d12` months. | | 11-12 | **Rift.** A random enraged monster from the Veil (roll `dice: 1d12`: (i) *Gmorsha*, (ii) *Shade*, (iii) *Surgat*, (iv) *Doppelganger*, (v) *Infernal Minotaur*, (vi) *Gibbering Terror,* (vii) *Chuul*, (viii) *Grey Ooze*, (ix) *Invisible Stalker*, (x) *Tentacle Spawn*, (xi) *Yegnu*, (xii) *Spectre*) appears within Close range of you. The monster wreaks havoc for `dice: 1d4` minutes then vanishes. | | 13–14 | **Frost Soul.** Your skin is always cool to the touch, and your breath condensates under hard physical exertion. The effect lasts `dice: 1d12` months. | | 15–16 | **Life Leech.** All plant life within Far range of you withers and dies. | | 17 | **Behold the Secret Truth.** You gain a random Madness. | | 18 | **Breathless.** You do not breathe and cannot mimic breathing. If subject to drowning or asphyxiation, you enter a dormant state rather than die. The effect lasts `dice: 1d12` months. | | 19 | **Mucus.** Your skin oozes a foul-smelling mucus for `dice: 1d3` days. | | 20 | **Time is Mutable.** The target ages `dice: 2d6` years but gains an extra action that they must use immediately. | | 21–22 | **Rift.** A random enraged monster from the Veil (roll `dice: 1d12`: (i) _Gmorsha_, (ii) _Shade_, (iii) _Surgat_, (iv) _Doppelganger_, (v) _Infernal Minotaur_, (vi) _Gibbering Terror,_ (vii) _Chuul_, (viii) _Grey Ooze_, (ix) _Invisible Stalker_, (x) _Tentacle Spawn_, (xi) _Yegnu_, (xii) _Spectre_) appears within Close range of you. The monster wreaks havoc for `dice: 1d4` minutes then vanishes. | | 23–24 | **Spellburst.** You cast a random spell (roll `dice: 1d8`: (i) *[[Place of Perfect Night]],* (ii) *[[Glimpse the True Gods]]*, (iii) *[[Beseech the Ancient Ones]]*, (iv) *[[Gabbling of the Jade Moon]]*, (v) *[[Brain Burst]]*, (vi) *[[Strange Joining]]* (link between you and target), (vii) *[[Hellblast]]*, (viii) *[[Flesh to Stone]]*) at the intended target. The spell lasts a minimum of 1 minute (cannot be ended early by mortal magic). | | 25–26 | **Whisperer.** You speak only in a sibilant whisper for `dice: 1d12` months. | | 27 | **Called from Below.** Whenever you linger on earthen soil, worms, beetles, or other insects squirm to the surface. The effect lasts for `dice: 1d12` months. | | 28 | **Aqueous Shift.** All independent liquids within Close range turn to salt, ash, dust, or slime (GM’s call). A large body of liquid such as a pool or lake is only affected up to a depth of three feet. | | 29 | **Whisper of the Watchers.** A random creature within Close range suffers a random Madness. | | 30 | **Fey Horns.** You grow antlers from your skull in `dice: 1d4` minutes (if cut they regrow). The horns drop off after `dice: 1d12` months. | | 31–32 | **Rift.** A random enraged monster from the Veil (roll `dice: 1d12`: (i) _Gmorsha_, (ii) _Shade_, (iii) _Surgat_, (iv) _Doppelganger_, (v) _Infernal Minotaur_, (vi) _Gibbering Terror,_ (vii) _Chuul_, (viii) _Grey Ooze_, (ix) _Invisible Stalker_, (x) _Tentacle Spawn_, (xi) _Yegnu_, (xii) _Spectre_) appears within Close range of you. The monster wreaks havoc for `dice: 1d4` minutes then vanishes. | | 33–34 | **Mute.** Your lips fuse shut, preventing speech and spell casting. They return to normal in `dice: 2d12` hours. | | 35–36 | **Spellburst.** You cast a random spell (roll `dice: 1d8`: (i) *[[Place of Perfect Night]],* (ii) *[[Glimpse the True Gods]]*, (iii) *[[Beseech the Ancient Ones]]*, (iv) *[[Gabbling of the Jade Moon]]*, (v) *[[Brain Burst]]*, (vi) *[[Strange Joining]]* (link between you and target), (vii) *[[Hellblast]]*, (viii) *[[Flesh to Stone]]*) at the intended target. The spell lasts a minimum of 1 minute (cannot be ended early by mortal magic). | | 37 | **Spirit Form.** You turn *Incorporeal* for `dice: 2d6` minutes. | | 38 | **Hairless.** Over the next hour, all of your head and body hair falls out. It grows back as normal. | | 39 | **Third Eye.** You grow a fishlike eye in one palm, the center of your forehead, or at the end of your tongue (GM’s call). If the eye is uncovered, you can see perfectly in non-magical darkness up to Close range. The eye rots away after `dice: 1d10` days, leaving behind a rune scar. | | 40 | **Shadowless.** You cast no shadow. The effect lasts `dice: 1d12` months. | | 41–42 | **Rift.** A random enraged monster from the Veil (roll `dice: 1d12`: (i) _Gmorsha_, (ii) _Shade_, (iii) _Surgat_, (iv) _Doppelganger_, (v) _Infernal Minotaur_, (vi) _Gibbering Terror,_ (vii) _Chuul_, (viii) _Grey Ooze_, (ix) _Invisible Stalker_, (x) _Tentacle Spawn_, (xi) _Yegnu_, (xii) _Spectre_) appears within Close range of you. The monster wreaks havoc for `dice: 1d4` minutes then vanishes. | | 43–44 | **Devil Eyes.** Your eyes turn white, black, or another color for `dice: 1d12` months. | | 45–46 | **The Claw.** One of your forelimbs transforms into a chitinous claw. A melee attack causes `dice: 1d12+2` damage (Nat 19: snip off target’s limb, no save). The claw flakes away and returns to normal after `dice: 1d4` days. | | 47 | **Soulless.** You feel no emotions for `dice: 1d4` months; no fear, no love. Nothing. | | 48 | **Darkening.** Small open flames such as candles and torches are automatically extinguished within Close range of you. The effect lasts `dice: 1d12` months. | | 49 | **Speaker of the Void.** You speak only in a disturbing alien chittering that no-one understands. You may still cast spells. The effect lasts `dice: 1d4` months. | | 50 | **Mind Pod.** The intended target suffers a random Madness. | | 51–52 | **Conclave of Wind & Sky.** A supernatural weather event immediately occurs (storm, wind, etc). If indoors, the effect is limited to the current building level. The effect lasts `dice: 2d6` hours. | | 53–54 | **Rotting.** Your surface flesh begins to rot, starting with your extremities and spreading inwards. The effect is painful but cosmetic. It fades after `dice: 1d6` months. | | 55–56 | **Spellburst.** You cast a random spell (roll `dice: 1d8`: (i) *[[Place of Perfect Night]],* (ii) *[[Glimpse the True Gods]]*, (iii) *[[Beseech the Ancient Ones]]*, (iv) *[[Gabbling of the Jade Moon]]*, (v) *[[Brain Burst]]*, (vi) *[[Strange Joining]]* (link between you and target), (vii) *[[Hellblast]]*, (viii) *[[Flesh to Stone]]*) at the intended target. The spell lasts a minimum of 1 minute (cannot be ended early by mortal magic). | | 57 | **Bestial Fear.** For `dice: 1d12` months, small and medium-sized animals within Close range instinctively fear you, entering fight or flight mode. | | 58 | **Winged.** You sprout large membranous wings from your back, elbows, neck, or ears (GM’s call). You can fly at your normal speed. The wings wither and slough off after `dice: 2d12` hours. | | 59 | **Lightning Storm.** Electricity surges outwards from you in all directions, striking up to Far range. Everything in the area suffers a *[[Lightning Bolt]]* effect (including yourself). | | 60 | **Inner Child.** Your personality reverts to that of a `dice: 1d6+6` year-old for `dice: 1d12` days. | | 61–62 | **Rift.** A random enraged monster from the Veil (roll `dice: 1d12`: (i) _Gmorsha_, (ii) _Shade_, (iii) _Surgat_, (iv) _Doppelganger_, (v) _Infernal Minotaur_, (vi) _Gibbering Terror,_ (vii) _Chuul_, (viii) _Grey Ooze_, (ix) _Invisible Stalker_, (x) _Tentacle Spawn_, (xi) _Yegnu_, (xii) _Spectre_) appears within Close range of you. The monster wreaks havoc for `dice: 1d4` minutes then vanishes. | | 63–64 | **One Hatred.** All enemies within Close range target you above all others (they will expose themselves to free attacks due to movement in order to do so). The effect lasts `dice: 2d6` rounds. | | 65–66 | **Hollow.** You are never hungry or thirsty, and cannot abide food or drink. Even the smell makes you nauseous. The effect lasts `dice: 1d12` months. | | 67 | **Spines.** Six-inch bony spines emerge to form a line down the center of your back. They splinter and drop off after `dice: 1d12` months (if cut away, they regrow). | | 68 | **Void Pulse.** You radiate a wave of dissonance; all creatures within Close range (including you) must make a *Luck* (Will) save or suffer a random Madness. | | 69 | **Spellburst.** You cast a random spell (roll `dice: 1d8`: (i) *[[Place of Perfect Night]],* (ii) *[[Glimpse the True Gods]]*, (iii) *[[Beseech the Ancient Ones]]*, (iv) *[[Gabbling of the Jade Moon]]*, (v) *[[Brain Burst]]*, (vi) *[[Strange Joining]]* (link between you and target), (vii) *[[Hellblast]]*, (viii) *[[Flesh to Stone]]*) at the intended target. The spell lasts a minimum of 1 minute (cannot be ended early by mortal magic). | | 70 | **Divine Interference.** Roll on the *Divine Rebuke* table instead. | | 71–72 | **Rift.** A random enraged monster from the Veil (roll `dice: 1d12`: (i) _Gmorsha_, (ii) _Shade_, (iii) _Surgat_, (iv) _Doppelganger_, (v) _Infernal Minotaur_, (vi) _Gibbering Terror,_ (vii) _Chuul_, (viii) _Grey Ooze_, (ix) _Invisible Stalker_, (x) _Tentacle Spawn_, (xi) _Yegnu_, (xii) _Spectre_) appears within Melee range of you. The monster wreaks havoc for `dice: 1d4` minutes then vanishes. | | 73–74 | **Astral Coma.** You drop to the ground, unconscious and unresponsive for `dice: 2d6` minutes (no save). | | 75–76 | **Fey Ears.** Over the next `dice: 1d12` hours, your ears become pointed like an elf. The effect is permanent. | | 77 | **Forbidden Lore.** Learn a new spell, but also suffer a random Madness. If the Madness is cured, you lose the spell. | | 78 | **Stillness.** The air around you is breezeless and still. Your hair, cloak, etc., are unmoved by wind, smoke clings to you, etc. The effect lasts `dice: 1d12` months. | | 79 | **No Mercy.** All creatures within Close range lose all sense of clemency or quarter, and will not accept surrender if engaged in combat. The effect lasts `dice: 2d6` days, at which time PCs might suffer a related Madness (GM’s call). | | 80 | **Jaws.** You grow to eight feet tall, your jaws and limbs distending to grotesque proportions. You gain a powerful urge to devour your enemies. If possible, you must use your move to engage with an enemy. If in Melee you must use your action to make a bite attack causing `dice: 2d6+3` damage. On a natural 19–20 attack roll, you sever a target’s limb or head (GM discretion). After 1 minute, you return to normal. | | 81–82 | **Rift.** A random enraged monster from the Veil (roll `dice: 1d12`: (i) _Gmorsha_, (ii) _Shade_, (iii) _Surgat_, (iv) _Doppelganger_, (v) _Infernal Minotaur_, (vi) _Gibbering Terror,_ (vii) _Chuul_, (viii) _Grey Ooze_, (ix) _Invisible Stalker_, (x) _Tentacle Spawn_, (xi) _Yegnu_, (xii) _Spectre_) appears within Close range of you. The monster wreaks havoc for `dice: 1d4` minutes then vanishes. | | 83–84 | **Ironbane.** Carrying iron causes you severe nausea, and touching it causes pain (using such objects imposes disadvantage or some other penalty; GM’s call). The effect lasts `dice: 1d8` months. | | 85–86 | **Spellburst.** You cast a random spell (roll `dice: 1d8`: (i) *[[Place of Perfect Night]],* (ii) *[[Glimpse the True Gods]]*, (iii) *[[Beseech the Ancient Ones]]*, (iv) *[[Gabbling of the Jade Moon]]*, (v) *[[Brain Burst]]*, (vi) *[[Strange Joining]]* (link between you and target), (vii) *[[Hellblast]]*, (viii) *[[Flesh to Stone]]*) at the intended target. The spell lasts a minimum of 1 minute (cannot be ended early by mortal magic). | | 87 | **Diseased.** A random limb turns black, rots, and drops off over the next `dice: 1d20` hours. Roll `dice: 1d4`: (i) foot, (ii) lower leg, (iii) hand, (iv) forearm. The rot cannot be stopped once it starts, but *Starmaiden’s Miracle* restores the lost appendage. | | 88 | **Regurgitator.** You develop a wet, hacking cough, imposing disadvantage on Athletics-related checks. From time to time you cough up grubs, worms, etc. The cough subsides after `dice: 1d6` weeks. | | 89 | **Gibbering Terror.** You transform into a *Gibbering Terror* for `dice: 1d4` minutes. Your personality is substituted with the sentience of a *Gibbering Terror* until the effect ends. | | 90 | **Glimpse the True Gods.** You and all creatures within Close range gain a random Madness. | | 91–92 | **Rift.** A random enraged monster from the Veil (roll `dice: 1d12`: (i) _Gmorsha_, (ii) _Shade_, (iii) _Surgat_, (iv) _Doppelganger_, (v) _Infernal Minotaur_, (vi) _Gibbering Terror,_ (vii) _Chuul_, (viii) _Grey Ooze_, (ix) _Invisible Stalker_, (x) _Tentacle Spawn_, (xi) _Yegnu_, (xii) _Spectre_) appears within Melee range of you. The monster wreaks havoc for `dice: 1d4` minutes then vanishes. | | 93–94 | **Gravity Warp.** Gravity reverses within Close range of the target, causing those within to fall upwards until the end of the next round (no save). | | 95 | **Spellburst.** You cast a random spell (roll `dice: 1d8`: (i) *[[Place of Perfect Night]],* (ii) *[[Glimpse the True Gods]]*, (iii) *[[Beseech the Ancient Ones]]*, (iv) *[[Gabbling of the Jade Moon]]*, (v) *[[Brain Burst]]*, (vi) *[[Strange Joining]]* (link between you and target), (vii) *[[Hellblast]]*, (viii) *[[Flesh to Stone]]*) at a random Close target. The spell lasts a minimum of 1 minute (cannot be ended early by mortal magic). | | 96 | **Mutation.** You mutate into a hideous [[3 - World/Races/Interlopers/Urgot\|urgot]]. *Luck* (Con) resists, but you gain a [[Mutations\|Beneficial Mutation]] regardless. | | 97 | **Soul Harvest.** Your intended target must make a *Luck* (Will) save. On a success, they lose half their current HP. On a fail, they die, wailing horribly as some dread Veil entity siphons away their soul. | | 98 | **Nightmare Manifest.** An enraged *Balor* appears within Close range of you. It wreaks havoc for 1 minute, then vanishes. | | 99 | **Marked.** Gain the following table effect permanently. Roll `dice: 1d10`: (i) *Heartless*, (ii) *Breathless*, (iii) *Called From Below*, (iv) *Shadowless*, (v) *Regurgitator*, (vi) *Hollow*, (vii) *Darkening*, (viii) *Bestial Fear*, (ix) *Speaker of the Void*, (x) *Devil Eyes*. No mortal magic can end this effect. | | 100 | **Claimed.** Gain the following DDM effect permanently. Roll `dice: 1d8`: (i) Foul Beard, (ii) Mucus, (iii) Third Eye, (iv) The Claw, (v) Winged, (vi) Tentacled, (vii) Jaws, (viii) Spines. No mortal magic can end this effect. |