The spell of the wendigo is a fascinating and terrifying concept that has its roots in Native American folklore. The wendigo is a mythical creature or entity that is said to have a insatiable hunger for human flesh. According to legend, the wendigo is created when a person resorts to cannibalism in extreme circumstances. The act of consuming human flesh is believed to transform the person into a wendigo, cursed with an eternal craving for human flesh. The spell of the wendigo is said to have a powerful hold over those who encounter it. The wendigo's presence is often associated with feelings of dread, fear, and a profound sense of hunger.
By the early 20th century, the term wendigo psychosis was being used by psychologists and missionaries to describe a culture-bound syndrome among Native and First Nations people whose symptoms included delusions of becoming possessed by an evil spirit, depression, violence, a compulsion for human flesh, and, in some cases, cannibalism. The syndrome was also diagnosed retroactively in historical cases of cannibalism in North America. However, the existence of the syndrome is disputed by some scientists.
The tribal shaman, Jack Fiddler, and his brother, Joseph Fiddler, were charged with the murder of Joseph s daughter-in-law, whom they had strangled to prevent her from becoming possessed by a wendigo. Some people are believed to be more susceptible to becoming possessed by a wendigo, including those who are greedy or gluttonous as well as those who are suffering from hunger or starvation.
The wendigo's presence is often associated with feelings of dread, fear, and a profound sense of hunger. It is said that the wendigo's spell can be so strong that it compels individuals to abandon all reason and instincts, and act solely upon their insatiable desire for human flesh. The spell of the wendigo is often depicted as a form of possession, where the wendigo takes control of an individual and forces them to commit acts of violence and cannibalism.
The Wendigo
Am I missing something or is their insanely cool ability to whisk away people seriously squandered here?
Correct me if I'm doing this wrong (and I would love to be wrong here):
Round one: moving up to their target (not a problem with Fly Speed 100), attacking and hitting with their claw, and then maintaining that grab.
Player fails to escape the grab.
Round two: casting Wind Walk, the player fails his save, and then windwalking away.
Okay, so Wind Walk has a 10 minute casting time but the stat block sure seems to suggest that's not the case for Wendigos. But read closely - Ride the Wind doesn't cast the spell, it's triggered by the spell's casting.
So what is it? Does the Wendigo spend ten minutes to cast the spell. or does it cast the spell as part of a single reaction? Both options seem equally absurdly powered (underpowered and overpowered respectively).
And Wind Walk only contains a speed rating expressed as miles per hour since it expressly doesn't work during combat.
Sure 20 miles per hour corresponds to a Speed of 200 (though with limits on direction changes etc), which makes sense for a creature that can move that far using two actions each round.
But it would still be nice if the stat block expressly pointed out the differences between Wendigo-walk and regular Wind Walk.
If the Wendigo can Ride the Wind after merely grabbing a creature, the ability feels very powerful and borderline broken - It can start its round by making a Claw attack, and then end that round 200 feet away, all but ensuring the allies of its prey cannot come to its assistance. (This isn't what the rules actually say)
If the Wendigo can Ride the Wind after ten minutes. no, that's just silly. (Still, it's what the RAW tells me)
But even if the Wendigo were to cast Wind Walk using the regular two actions, it would still be kind of slow, since the action economy then all but forces it to grab the target on a previous round before actually making its escape.
Actually, to be playable I would think the Wendigo needs a different ability, one that is cast (much) faster but moves (much) slower and generally is geared towards regular encounter mode.
But since I don't want this thread to be moved into Homebrew, I will have to create a different post for this there.
Any insight would be welcome. Are there any rules I have misinterpreted or overlooked? Have you GMed a Wendigo fight? Have you survived a Wendigo as a player?
The first known written mention of the wendigo appears in a 1636 report by Paul Le Jeune, a French Jesuit missionary living among the Algonquin people in what is now Quebec. Le Jeune described a woman who warns of an atchen that had eaten some tribal members nearby and that “would eat a great many more of them if he were not called elsewhere.”
Those who have been under the spell of the wendigo often describe a feeling of being overcome by an intense primal urge, driven by an overwhelming hunger that cannot be satisfied. The spell of the wendigo is believed to be contagious, with the wendigo's influence spreading to those who come into contact with it. It is said that mere exposure to the wendigo's presence can cause an individual to become possessed and fall victim to its curse. This further adds to the fear and fascination associated with the spell of the wendigo. In conclusion, the spell of the wendigo is a chilling concept that encapsulates the terrifying power that myths and legends can hold over the human imagination. The idea of being consumed by an insatiable hunger and losing control to an ancient curse is a haunting one. The spell of the wendigo serves as a cautionary tale, a reminder of the consequences of giving in to our darkest desires and the danger of succumbing to the lure of the unknown..
Reviews for "Hunting the Wendigo: The Search for Elusive Evidence"
1. John - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really excited to read "The Spell of the Wendigo" as I am a big fan of supernatural horror. However, I found the plot to be quite predictable and the characters to be underdeveloped. The writing style lacked depth and failed to build any real suspense or tension. Overall, I was disappointed with the story and felt it was a missed opportunity to explore the terrifying nature of the wendigo.
2. Sarah - 1 out of 5 stars - "The Spell of the Wendigo" was a complete letdown for me. The pacing was incredibly slow and the story dragged on unnecessarily. The plot lacked originality and the characters felt one-dimensional. I struggled to connect with any of them and found myself not caring about what happened. The ending was particularly anticlimactic and left me feeling unsatisfied. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling horror read.
3. Mike - 2 out of 5 stars - While I appreciate the effort to create a chilling tale in "The Spell of the Wendigo," I found the execution to be subpar. The writing style was inconsistent, with awkward sentences and repetitive phrases. The dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. Additionally, the attempts at suspense rarely hit the mark, leaving me unimpressed. Overall, the book fell short of its potential and failed to deliver the scares I was hoping for.
4. Emily - 2 out of 5 stars - I found "The Spell of the Wendigo" to be a lackluster horror novel. The story attempted to introduce a unique mythological creature, but the execution was poorly done. There was a lack of world-building and the explanation of the wendigo's powers felt rushed and unconvincing. The characters also lacked depth and often made irrational decisions that did not contribute to the overall plot. While the concept had potential, the book fell short in delivering a truly engaging and terrifying experience.