How to: Stat a Black Dog in Zombie d6-lite

Let’s begin this Friday the 13th Trilogy of Terror offering with a look at the mythological Black Dog.

This will be the first of three How to Stat an Iconic Creature in Zombie d6-lite presentations for this Trilogy of Terror!

Zombie d6-lite

Black Dog

The Black Dog

A Black Dog is a ghostly manifestation found primarily to haunt the rural regions of the British Isles (though Black Dog sightings have been reported in every region of the world.)

An apparition that appears on misty, moonless nights, the Black Dog’s appearance is a strong portent of (possibly) inescapable death. Larger than a normal dog, with large, glowing eyes, the creature is also often associated with crossroads, places of execution and ancient pathways that lead to places of ruin.

The Black Dog represents a choice made poorly or in error that leads to disaster. Seeing the infernal beast is a sure sign of impending doom.

A doomed 13 bones of truth about the Black dog:

1. The Black Dog only appears at night – typically on misty evenings when disaster looms in the air.
2. The Black Dog appears as a large, wolf-like dog with a black coat and red, glowing eyes.
3. The Black Dog is a solitary manifestation that appears only to its victim.
4. However, the appearance of a Black Dog does not necessarily represent doom to the victim directly, rather it can mean disaster will befall someone close to the observer.
5. The Dog’s manifestation is not always visual, at times the presence of the ghostly apparition is felt but never seen.
6. Unlike other canines, the Black Dog is a silent creature that makes no barking or howling noises.
7. The Dog haunts places of death and decay like highland moors and cemeteries, but also places of choice (or the result of choices) like crossroads and pathways to ruined locations.
8. The Dog is incorporeal and cannot be caught. Rather, should one try to approach the creature, the beast will manifest always just beyond the approach of its victim.
9. The Dog’s appearance is a portent, a telling of the future that might be, of death or doom. Wary travelers will see the Dog as a sign they are going to their final resting place and should turn back.
10. As the Black Dog is merely a portent of doom, it cannot be reasoned with, nor can it be dispelled (save finding a safe locale and holding up for the night.)
11. Black Dogs are often associated with the Devil and are presumed to be manifestations of Demons. But this is not the case. Black Dogs are not Hellhounds. Hellhounds are a different creature. Likewise, the Black Dog apparition is sometimes confused with a werewolf. This is also not correct. An encounter with a Black Dog is a ghostly telling of a future doom. An encounter with a werewolf is a present doom.
12. Black Dog manifestations are neither evil nor good. They are simply a sign that a poor choice was made and disaster will be the outcome should the choice not be undone.
13. The doom that comes to one who experiences a Black Dog apparition isn’t always immediate, but unless the path taken (or the choice made) is altered, the doom is inescapable.

Not quite ghost, and not quite a simple wolf or other canine, the Black Dog is a fascinating creature that would make an interesting inclusion in a horror game such as Zombie d6-lite.

Let’s see how I would stat such a strange apparition.

In d6-lite format, the Black Dog would look like:

The Black Dog is a bittersweet and mysterious encounter. One must unravel the puzzle of discovering who the doom the creature represents is foretold to befall and also uncover how to undo the choice made that will lead to disaster.