Warning! Violence and the Supernatural The fictional World of Rifts® is violent, deadly and filled with supernatural monsters. Other dimensional beings often referred to as "demons," torment, stalk and prey on humans. Other alien life forms, monsters, gods and demigods, as well as magic, insanity, and war are all elements in this book. Some parents may find the violence, magic and supernatural elements of the game inappropriate for young readers/players. We suggest parental discretion. Please note that none of us at ® condone or encourage the occult, the practice of magic, the use of drugs, or violence.

Sample file

An epic world book for the Rifts® series. Compatible with the entire Palladium Books® Megaverse®!

1 Dedicated to John Zeleznik who continues to work his artistic magic on one great cover after another - not to mention dynamic black and white on SkraypersTM and more books to come.

- Kevin Siembieda, 1998

The cover is by John Zeleznik, and depicts a Gypsy Sorcerer summoning spirits from a fire. Behind her is one of the few rebuilt cities of West em Russia - probably Kiev.

PDF Edition - March 2016

Copyright 1998 Palladium Books Inc. & Kevin Siembieda All rights reserved, world wide, under the Universal Copyright Convention. No part of this book may be reproduced in part or whole, in any form or by any means, without permission from the publisher, except for brief quotes for use in reviews. All incidents, situations, institutions, governments and people are fictional and any similarity, without satiric intent, of char­ acters or persons living or dead, is strictly coincidental. Palladium Books®, Rifts®, RECON®, ® and Megaverse® are registered trademarks owned and licensed by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. Triax & The NGR, Mindwerks, New West, Lone Star, Psyscape, , Coalition States, Erin Tarn, Emperor Prosek, Splugorth, Lords of Magic, Chi-Town, Skelebots, SAMAS, Dog Boys, Dog Pack, Techno-Wizard, Ley Line Walker, Shifter, Cyber-Knight, Psi-Stalker, Simvan, Brodkil, Juicer, Crazy, 'Borg, 'Bot, D-Bee, Hero-Knight, War-Knight, Ectohunter, Smoke Soldier, Cyborg Shocktrooper, Light Machine, Heavy Machine, Mega-Steed, Megahorse, Wingrider, Mystic Kuznya, Old Believer, Night Witch, Hidden Witch, Beguiler, The Slayer, Morozko Frost Demon, Nightfeeder, Wolf-Serpent and other names, titles and likenesses of characters are trademarks owned bySample Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. file Palladium On-Line: www.palladiumbooks.com

Rifts® World Book 18: Mystic Russia™ is published by Palladium Books Inc., 39074 Webb Court, Westland, MI 48185. Printed in the USA.

2 [ffiJ1JlJ!I II II 1111 [11li1!1 III !lHlill UH i M l1lJJUbY1illI [illm lill_llli

Written by: Kevin Siembieda

Additional Text & Concepts for Spells: Mark Sumimoto Randi Cartier

Editors: Alex Marciniszyn Jim Osten Wayne Smith

Proofreader: Julius Rosenstein

Cover Painting: John Zeleznik Interior Artists: Wayne Breaux Jr. Ramon Perez Jr. Scott Johnson Michael Dubisch Michael Wilson Mark Dudley (DSS) Brandon C. Clark (DSS) Ka Xiong (DSS) Drunken Style Studio

Art Direction, Maps & Keylining: Kevin Siembieda Cover Logo: Niklas Brandt Typography: Maryann Siembieda

Based on the RPGrules, characters, concepts and Megaverse® created by Kevin Siembieda. PalladiumSample Books On-Line: www.palladiumbooks.com file Special Thanks to Mark and Randi for their contributions to the spells, to all my artists, and to Maryann, Alex, Jim, Jules, Wayne and the rest of the Palladium demon-stompers.

- Kevin Siembieda, 1998

3 Contents Rifts®Russia & The Superuatural . 10 Other O.C. c. Abilities & Bonuses . 90 How Russians view the various O.C.C.s. 10 Necromancy Magic . . . . 91 Who is acceptable? . 11 Bone Magic ...... 91 Russian Ley Lines . . . . 12 Necro-Magic Descriptions . . . . 92 The Demon Plague . . . . 12 Available Common Spell Magic . 106

The Peasant Homestead 12 Born Mystic O.C.C. • . . . . . 107

The Heart of Winter .. 13 Russian Fire Sorcerer O.C.C. . . • . 109 The Inhuman Menace . 14 Living Fire Magic ...... 111

Adventurers & Demons 15 Mystic Kuznya O.C.C. . . • • • • . • 118

Supernatural Horrors •• 16 Supernatural P.S. Damage Table. 120 Lesser Russian Demons 18 Special O.C.C. Skills ...... 121 The Unclean . . . 18 Magical Equipment ...... 121

The Demon Claw · 20 The Magical Metal Creations of the Mystic Kuznya 123 Hell Horse .. 22 The Drain of Creation ...... 123 Il'ya Demons ... 24 Magical Weapon Features ...... 123 Kaluga Hag .... 26 Magic Bonuses From Different Types of Metal . 124 Kladovik Guardian . 28 Notable Lesser Magic Items ..... 125

Midnight Demon . 30 Greater Magic Items ...... 125

Nalet ..... 33 The Russian Ley Line Walker O.C.C. • •...•••• 126

Stone Demon . 34 The Russian Shifter/Summoner O.C.C. • • • . • • • • 127

Water Demon 36 The Old Believer O.C.C. . . . • • • . • • • • 127 Wood Demon 38 Special O.C.C. Abilities . 128 SerpentHound . .40 Nature Magic ...... 130

Greater Russian Demons •••• 42 The Slayer O.C.C. • . • • . . . 136 Khitaka Abductor . . . .42 Special Slayer O.C. c. Abilities 136

Nightfeeder4 ...... · 5 Russian Gypsies . • • . 139

Koshchei the Deathless Ones · 46 The Gypsy Code . . . 141 Morozko Frost Demon. . .48 The Gypsy Language 141 WhirlwindAir Demon . 50 The Gypsy Wagon . . 141 Wolf-Serpent...... 53 Russia's Link to North America . 143

Woodland Spirits •..••. 56 Gypsy O.C.C.s . . • • . . • • • • • • • • 143 Domovoi - House Spirit 57 Traditional GypsyThief O.C.C. .... 143 Leshii - Forest Spirit . 59 Traditional GypsyWizard-Th iefO.C.C.. 145 Polevoi - Field Spirit . . 61 Traditional Gypsy Seer O.C. c. 146 Rusalka - Air Spirit. . . 63 Gypsy Fortune Teller O.C.C. 148 Vodianoi - Water Spirit 64 Gypsy Witch O.C.C. . . . . 150 Russian Firebird . 67 Gifted One (Healer) O.C.C. 151 Spirit Wolf . 68 Layer of Laws O.C. c. . 152 Man-Wolf . 69 Gypsy Beguiler O.C.C. 153 Werebeasts . 71 Gypsy Enforcer O.C.C. 155

Vampires .. 71 More on the Sovietski . • 157 Russian Magic 72 Thunderbolt Assault Truck. 158 Russian Witches . 73 Bulldog, All-Weather Vehicle . 160 The Pact Witch . . 73 Thundersword, Multi-Combat Platform . 162

Night Witch O.C.C. · • 73 Groundthunder, Heavy Tank. 164 Demon Helpers .. 74 Hailstorm, Hover Tank. . 166

Notable Vulnerabilities · . 75 Maelstrom, Hover Tank . . . 169

Spoiling Magic ... · . 76 Other Russian Vehicles . . . 171

Hidden Witch O.C.C . . . • • 79 Rules clarifications on dodging energy blasts . 171

The Inner Demon ... · . 81 Experience Tables ...... 172 The NecromancerSample O.C.C•.. · . 83 Map of Russian Ley Lines . . file• • . • • • • . • . 173 Special Abilities . . . . 87 Union with the Dead . . . . 87 Additional appendages . . . 88 Animate and control the Dead . 89 Impervious to Vampires . . . . 90

4 Quick Find Tables Gypsy Fortune Teller D.C.C...... 148 Gypsy Healer/The GiftedDne D.C.C.. 151 Gypsy Layer of Laws D.C.C.. 152 Creatures of Magic (see Woodland Spirits) . · . . . 56 Deathless Dnes (Koshchei) ...... 46 Gypsy SeerD.C.C...... 146 Gypsy ThiefD.C.C...... 143 Demon General (Koshchei) ...... · ...46 79) . Demon Helpers . · ...74 Gypsy WitchD. C.C. (see Hidden Witch 150 Demons: Greater. .42 Gypsy Wizard-ThiefD.C. C...... 145 Demons: Groups. 16 Demons: Helpers · 74 Optional Player O.C.C.s Demons: Inner Demon · 81 18 Demons: Lesser . . . . Night Witch ...... · 73 Demons: Russian ... · . 16 Woodland Spirit: Domovoi . 57 · 53 Demons: Tempter (Wolf-Serpent). . Woodland Spirit: Leshii .. · 59

Devil Wolf (see Man-Wolf).... 69 Woodland Spirit: Polevoi . · 61 · 171 Dodging Energy Blasts ...... Woodland Spirit: Rusalka . · . 63

· Dream Ghost (see Midnight Demon) . 30 Woodland Spirit: Vodianoi · . 64

· Elemental Demon: Air: Whirlwind .. 50 Woodland Spirit: Spirit Wolf . · 68 · 40 Elemental Demon: Fire: SerpentHound Woodland Spirit: Man-Wolf. · . 69 Elemental Demon: Frost. . . . · 48

Elemental Demon: Stone . · 34 Russian Magic Elemental Demon: Water . . . · 36

Elemental Demon: Wood ... · 38 Bone Magic Gypsy Witch (see Hidden Witch) . · 79 Assemble Bones (2) . 92 Ley Lines ...... 12 Bone & Joint Bonding (2) . 92 Ley Lines: Portals to North America ... 143 Bone of Invisibility (180) . 102 Ley Lines: Map of Ley Lines of Russia .. 173 Bone Scepter (160) · . 102 Magic: Fire ..... 111 Bone Staff (210) ...... · . 103 Magic: Nature . . . . . 130 Crawling Bones (5) .... · . 93 Magic: Necro-Magic . · . 92 Fragile Bone to Wood (5) . · . 93 Magic: SmithlKuznya . 123 Fragile Bone to Stone (10-60) . · 97 Magic: SmithlKuznyaD.C.C. Equipment. . 121 Fragile Bone to M.D.C. Bone (40) · . 99 Magic: SmithIKuznya Magic Items of Note 125 Rattling Bones (2) ...... · . 92 Magic: Spoiling . . 76 Talking Bones (3) ...... · . 92 Peasant Homestead · 12 Note: Double P.P.E. cost if not a Necromancer. Poison Pimples . . · .26

Poison Tongue . . . · . 26 Living Fire Magic • • ...... ••..••.•••.• 111 Poison Touch (Necro-Magic) . · 98 Fire: Level One . • • • . • . . . . • • • . • • . . • • . • 111 Poison: Demon Charms . . . . · . 79 Cloud of Smoke (2) . 111 Poison: Spoiling Magic . . . . · 76 Finger Sparks (2) . . . . . 111 Russia's Link to North America. 143 New Fire (1) ...... 111 Sovietski Combat Vehicles · 157 Pluck & Handle Flame (4). 111 Supernatural P.S. (Table) . · 120 Smoke Smell (1) ...... 112 Woodland Spirits ..... · . 56

Fire: Level Two ••..••••••.••••.••••.• 112 Russian Player O.C.C.s Bright Sun (5) . . . . . 112 Column of Smoke (3) . . . 112 BornMystic D.C.C. . . 107 Extinguish Fire (4). . . . . 112 Fire SorcererD. C.C.. . 109 Locate & IdentifyFire (4) . 112 Hidden Witch D.C.C. . 79 Toxic Smoke Cloud (5) . . 112 Ley Line WalkerD. C.C .. 126

Mystic KuznyaD.C.C . 118 Fire: Level Three . • . . . • . . • • . . • . . . • . . . • 112 NecromancerSampleD. C.C. . 83 Circle of Flame (6) file112 DId BelieverD. C.C.. 127 Fire Fist (8) . . . 112 ShifterD. C.C...... 127 Insect Chaser (5). . 113 SlayerD. C.C...... 136 Ignite Fire (3) . . . 113 Gypsy BeguilerD.C.C. 153 Impervious to Fire (5) . 114 Gypsy EnforcerD. C.C...... 155 M.D. Torchfire (8). . . 114

5 Fire: Level Four ••••••••••••••••••••• 114 Hold Tight with Bee's Wax (5+) ...... 131 Blessing fromSvarozhich (8) ...... 114 Make Honey Medicine (7-10) ...... 131 Climb Smoke (8) ...... 114 Negate Spoiling Magic (10) ...... 132 Fireblast (10) . . . 114

Firebolt (7). . . . . 114 Nature: Level Five •••••••••••••••••••• 132 Fire Meld (10) . . . 115 Glimpse of the Future (15) ...... 132 Fire Shield (10) . . 114 Rope of Steel (12) ...... 132

Fire: Level Five •••••••••••••••••••••• 115 Nature Level Six ••••••••••••••••••••• 132 Armor ofSvarozhich (15) . . 115 Magic Knots (4+) ...... 132 BonfIre of PurifIcation (15) . 115 Strength of the Earth (12) ...... 133 Fire Ball (10) ...... 115

Fumigate Insects (12) . . . 115 Nature: Level Seven • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 133 Spiral Fire Blast (15) . . . 115 Living Bones of Stone (24) ...... 133

Fire: Level Six •••••••••••••••••••••• 115 Nature: Level Eight ..... 133 Fire Blossom (20) . . . 115 Living Bones of Air (28) . . . 133 Fire Sword (20) ...... 116 Demon's Mock Funeral (40) 133 Healing Fire (20) ...... 116 Swords to Snakes (25)...... 133 Perun's Celestial Fire Bolt (20) ...... 116

Nature Level Nine •••••••••••••••••••• 134

Fire: Level Seven . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 116 Enchant the Mighty Rooster (45) ...... 134 Ballistic Fire (25) ...... 116 Magic Egg (70) ...... 134 BonfIre of Expulsion (35) ...... 116 Speed of the Snail (50) ...... 134 Fire Gout (20) ...... 117

Perun's Scourge (25) ...... 117 Nature: Level Ten • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 134 Healing Water (50+)...... 134

Fire: Level Eight • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 117 Snakes to Swords (25+) ...... 135 Torch & Wheel (40) ...... 117

Nature: Level Eleven ••••••••••••••••••• 135

Fire: Level Nine • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 117 Circle Dance (200) ...... 135 Desiccate the Supernatural (50) ...... 117 Protective Magic Ring (140) ...... 135 Dragonfrre (20) ...... 118 Summon Fog (140) ...... 135 Fire: Level Ten - None

Fire: Level Eleven - None Nature: Level Twelve •••••••••••••••••• 135

Fire: Level Twelve • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 118 Bee's Wax Effigy (280) ...... 135 Metamorphosis: Smoke (220) ...... 118 Calm Storms (200) ...... 136 Summon Rain (200) ...... 136

Nature Magic . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 130

Nature: Level One • • • • • . . . • • • • • • • • • • • • 130 Necro-Magic •••••••••••••••••••••••92

Crunching EggShell (2). . . . 130 Necro: Level One . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 92 Melt Bee's Wax (2) . . 130 Animate Body Parts (2) ...... 92 Sacred Oath (0) ...... 130 Assemble Bones (2) ...... 92 Bone & Joint Bonding (2) . . . . . 92

Nature: Level Two •••••••••••••••••••• 130 Rattling Bones (2) . . . . . 92 Glue with Bee's Wax (4) ...... 130 Talking Bones (3) ...... 92 The Bee's Friend (4)...... 130

Make Honey & Syrup Candy (6) . 130 Necro: Level Two •••••••••••••••••••••93 Sustained by the Earth (5) ...... 130 Crawling Bones (5) ...... 93 Fragile Bone to Wood (5) ...... 93

Nature: Level Three • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 130 Hide Among the Dead (5) ...... 93 Bake Magic Kulich (7) ...... 130 Stench of the Dead (6) ...... 93 Bless FoodSample (8) ...... 131 file Seal a Wound with Bee's Wax (7) ...... 131 Necro: Level Three. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 94 Accelerated Decay (8)...... 94

Nature: Level Four. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 131 Object Read the Dead (8) ...... 94 Bee's Wax Disguise (10) ...... 131 Recognize the Master (8 or 30) ...... 95 Colored Egg (10) ...... 131 Recognize the Undead (8) ...... 95

6