Vathak 5e Racial Ecologies – The Wretched by Rick Hershey is a role playing game supplement published by Fat Goblin Games for use with Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result.
The supplement is available as an eight-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $5.16 although it was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. Two pages are the front and rear covers, one the front matter and one the Open Game License.
The Wretched starts with a short piece of fluff before explaining that the wretched have origins from scientific and magical experimentation, with Vindari scientists using bhriota rituals, romni legends and equipment to reanimate the dead to create controllable undead that could be used against the Old Ones. The scientists became sympathetic to their created and the created resisted their training. A group escaped and, though the experiment was abandoned, the knowledge lives on.
Patchwork Horror explains that the appearance varies but all have some commonalities.
Beauty in Death explains they are articulate and sensitive as well as grotesque, and that they have the emotional control of a child. They are plagued by loneliness and bitterness.
A sidebar has some more in-universe fluff.
Alone in Fear explains the wretched have no society of their own, nor lands, and live on the edges of civilisation, often fascinated by children. Human parts are commonly used to make them and they can be found in or near the vindari and romni, with large cities proving safest.
Kinship with the Strange explains the wretched find companionship with cambions, dhampir and hauntlings.
Have Faith explains many follow the teachings of the One True God.
To Belong explains that they adventure to find some way of belonging.
Names has how these are given and some examples.
The Wretched Traits has their various traits.
Vathak 5e Racial Ecologies – The Wretched in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and is short enough that these are not needed. Navigation is okay. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of errors. There are some colour illustrations. Presentation is good.
Though this is another ecology intended for the Shadows over Vathak setting, it is another that could be easily adapted to others, especially Ravenloft. The wretched are created beings, like Frankenstein’s monster, so will often be shunned. At full price this is, like others, an expensive supplement. Vathak 5e Racial Ecologies – The Wretched can be found by clicking here.
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