Cosmic Domain – A Domain of Distant Divinity

Some Cosmic Clerics revel in the horrors beyond.

“The ANCIENTS awaken!  It is my duty to see that they are ready to take hold of what was once theirs.  The time of the material plane denizens is numbered!” – Xel’lenia, Human Cleric of Cosmic and Elder God Cultist

“The space beyond is more than proof of the Gods!  While many hide away in small pocket realms of their own design, some are brave enough to face the great aether at large!  The wilds of space itself is home to many great beings and I am a disciple of them.” – Torrean Guildlight, High Elf Cleric of Cosmic and Eccentric Researcher

The Cosmic Domain offers a pinch of Lovecraft, a bit of Spelljammer and the vast knowledge of a far greater universe.

Author’s Note: I wasn’t overly fond of my original Eldritch Domain from a ways back.  So, like with the Nightmare Sorcerer becoming the Dream Sorcerer, the Cosmic Domain was created.  I wanted to come up with some abilities that scream “outer space”, but I had a bit of a struggle.  Hopefully, you enjoy.  And, if you have ideas on how to build those ideas, let me know!

 

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Monsters of Reality – Yes, Even More Planar Creatures!

“Give ya the dark for some good jink! I know tons, lots of things about distant sights and travels. Don’t let the grungy look dissuade you, I know all about the realms beyond the cage!” – Lanky, Ultroloth-blooded Tiefling Rogue/Planar Fighter, The Hive of Sigil

I’m back at it once more, bringing in some more classic monsters of the Planescape Campaign Setting. While Wizards might eventually port all of these over, I thought I’d bring my take here in the meantime. While I’ve made a reference to the current layout, I should note that my take on Planescape looks back to the AD&D take on it, mostly ignoring any newer creations (such as Post-Spellplague Forgotten Realms, new cosmology elements a la Shadowfell and Feywild, newer takes on races like Tieflings and the like) outside of respective settings such as the Nentir Vale. But, I’ve tried to make that apparent as much as possible in previous posts.

Author’s Note: December is Planescape Month, I guess? Why? Because I love Planescape, that’s why! Also, I noticed I haven’t really tackled enough lawful monsters, so here’s some more from planes of law. Plus, I wanted the squeeze in the Hellcat and the Bladeling in last time, but ran out of time. Also, I wanted to convert a creature from the Dungeon Adventure, “Deep Freeze” (again). Enjoy! Happy Crimbo!

Lovecraftian Addendum

 

I made a slight addition to my supply of Lovecraft inspired monsters, after there was request for more!  Plus, I ran out of time on the other post and wanted to squeeze one more nasty thing in there.  Here is the Gug, the Elder Thing and the Ghoul.  Please enjoy, don’t go insane though… like the last group.

Mythos Monsters – Creatures of H.P. Lovecraft

Welcome back, my cultists.  Back for more horrors from beyond the void and beyond reason?  I’m more than happy to provide.  Here are some classic creatures, as seen in the stories of H.P. Lovecraft.  Be sure to check out my other post about Lovecraft inspired monsters from last week.  They’re updated versions of earlier posts on my blog.  While they needed a new coat of paint, I’ve been eager to bring them up to date.  And, if this proves popular, I might continue to bring Lovecraftian monsters into D&D 5th Edition…  Hell, I might compile them for DM’s Guild or the like.

As for using the content in other worlds, the easiest solution is The Far Realm, a weird demiplane just outside of reality that has been messing with the multiverse since late 2E!  Barring that, there’s always the classic method of weird and aberrant things in dungeons and the underground depths (like the Underdark). And with that, here is my take on The Deep One, the Nightgaunt, the Mi-Go and the Shoggoth.

Alien Horrors from Beyond

There exists dimensions beyond our own.  And what dwells in those realms?  Entities far beyond our comprehension, of course!  Only a fool would research too deeply into such theories, as they’re liable to go mad from either dark truths or being constantly called a liar and a fool.

Author’s Note: It’s been a while since I’ve done something truly inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s brand of horror.  While my personal campaign has inject Lovecraftiana into a Barrier Peaks homage (making it more Firestorm Peak), my blog has been lacking in that.  So, let’s revisit Cosmic Horror by revisiting some of my older monsters!  Enjoy.

Bloodlines of the Planes! – More Planetouched PCs!

Planar-based parties are weird.

Planetouched.  Such a term can be used to describe humanoids that have an ancestry shared with an extraplanar creature.  The blood of fiends runs through a Tiefling, the blood of celestials in a Aasimar and the blood of elementals in Genasi.  But, these are but a handful of creatures gifted by strange sources lurking in the known multiverse.

Among their ranks are other creatures, either blessed or cursed by their strange bloodlines.

• The Changeling is the result of a union between a mundane humanoid and an ancient magical creature empowered by corrupting sorcery, a hag or a bodach.
• Dream-Touched are born from the powers of two fallen archfey; one of pleasant dreams and one from nightmares.
• The Eldritch-Touched is an unfortunate creation of mad cultists, victims of dark gods and overly curious lunatics.
• Fey Dog Barkers are the result of Fey Dogs who wandered too far into the Maddening Winds of Pandemonium… those who didn’t go insane were changed, perhaps for the better.
• Finally, the Vitalborn are a race of creatures much like the Genasi.  Their elemental nature, however, comes from the Positive and Negative planes.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Not 1, but 5 new races!  (Well, 3 new races, a sub race and a remake)  I wanted to continue my planar/weird fantasy theme with some more player options.  Most of this started with a player wanting a hag-blooded tiefling in an early 5e game… which didn’t quite feel thematically right to me.  Though, it ended with the loss of famous meme “Gabe the Dog”… otherwise, the sub-race wouldn’t exist.  Granted, Fey Dog was a meme-based joke creation to begin with.

All in all, I got carried away with a whole assortment of planar themed racial options at your disposal!  While they need some playtesting (and some more than others), I’m still happy I managed to get all of this done.  Enjoy.

Antumbra, the Lady of Dreams – A Lost Fey Patron/Ally for D&D 5th Edition

 

The lost queen of the dream realm, Antumbra is considered the good answer to Penumbra’s reign of terror.  Unfortunately, Punembra is responsible for her disappearance.  What exactly happened to her remains a mystery, but it’s possible that she was slain and her powers were stolen.  Considering Penumbra isn’t any stronger and remains angry towards those who bring up her name, this is likely not the case.  Many who treat her as a divine source of inspiration claim that her essence lingers somewhere in the boundless universe.  However, the exact locations is unknown.  Those who claim to know are more than likely liars or out of their minds.

To many, she is not only a protector of good dreams and sleep, but of good health as a whole.  For aeons, many traversed the strange lands of dream for her legendary healing talents.  Illnesses of body, mind and soul; all of which posed little issue to her.  Granted, her neutrality towards material plane politics and faiths caused almost as many to turn away from her, as she had little interest in spurring on conflict.  Some travelers simply sought out advice in hopes of living out their greatest dreams.  As a master of dreams, she came to understand the aspirations of many sleepers.  This has lead to many cults and covenants dedicated to her strange fey power.  However, she feared the extra attention might bring the ire and jealousy of her unhinged brother.  In an effort to prevent this, she did all she could to protect him and ensure his wellness.

Her personality was a trusting one, as she saw good in all things.  Perhaps one of her greatest strengths was also a glaring weakness.  Her corrupt brother exploited her nature in a time of his own weakness.  He had nearly been crushed by a rival court.  As a family member of the same fey court, she was obligated to aid him.  Upon being helped back to normal, he seized the chance to banish her.  Knowledge beyond that action is all but lost.  All that is known is the realm of dreams was taken over by him and twisted into a vile hellscape of his design.  Wherever Altumbra is, her control over the realm is all but severed.

Author’s Note:  One of my good friends brought to my attention that Penumbra had a sister in his backstory and there was a lot of unused potential in her story.  Even though she was banished, whose to say the players can’t find her and make plans from there?  With that, I decided to expand upon Antumbra a bit more.  Hope you enjoy.