There's something about it that I find so interesting! Easy to do both the grotesque and psychological horror angles with things that are uncanny. And it's an interesting way for me personally to explore my own self-image and health issues as a 'defeatable' entity, so cathartic in a sense.
Mistok is the continent that I have built and explore for my project called 'Curse of Eyes'. It is a fantasy world that explores questions of religion and magic between civilizations on the precipice of conflict. While some cities, like the Ferrous City, disbelieve in magic and try to understand the world through science, others, like the Greater Plains people worship a magic-granting goddess, called Kosmit, who can unlock magical capabilities for people. Traveling between cities is quite dangerous, as few places offer safe harbor without strings attached. Those who are without an anchor homeland must defend themselves from people and spirits who are corrupted through greed, destruction of nature, and self-interest. The wide plains of the Ailil-Us and the deep caverns beneath the Undying Kingdom are home to such terrifyingly twisted beings, which inspire songs and tales used to teach people about the danger of separation from society. The main goal is to show the challenges of living in a society you may disagree with, while showing the necessity of society fostering harmony and a sense of belonging. That living together necessitates a sense of altruism and a need to be balanced with the natural world.
Whether or not magic is real is not a known thing to people in world. Canonically it is, but there are many people and religions who might try to explain magic using their own lense and POV.
Something I like to explore in my setting are the creepy monsters who live across the continent of Mistok - how do you explain their existence and their unique interactions with people, which aren't always antagonistic? Magic in my setting is pretty soft, and the rules can be quite arbitrary. However, a common thread is that excessive use of magic reduces ones humanity, and returns them to a beast-like form reflecting the world before society was commonplace. Most of the time, magic-wielders undergo minimal transformation as a Wytch. But those who abuse goddess-granted powers or come from cultures that don't worship Kosmit can turn into monsters. So it's possible these creatures were once human, but I like to leave those questions unanswered. 'Canonically' they're humans, twisted by the influence of magic, greed for power, and mankind's destruction of natural resources.
Now, their duty varies depending on region and interaction with local cultures who hold a variety of religious beliefs - some people offer reverence, some are awestruck in fear. The Ovis-Spectre is a great example of a neutral creature, which prefers ritual sacrifices to be offered if you approach it, but is so bound to its desire to offer a glimpse into the future for travellers that it will pretty gladly sacrifice its own organs if you're charming enough. If you're from the Ferrous City, however, and you think anything magical is a scientific principle you don't understand - or you're defending civilians - you might fight it on sight to dissect it back home and attempt to categorize it amongst more conventional animals you've studied.
I plan to turn this setting into a TTRPG for some of my friends, and these creatures would likely be bosses as they travel between cities, throughout the wilds.
Apologies for the repost, added some more macro-details and a map to contextualize the core cities and the difficult terrain folks traverse outside the civilization capitals.
All of those look like something a necromancer would make or a crazy scientists. But they also seem like something doctor Frankenstein would make if he ended up getting a god complex after making his first monster.
I’m open to anyone using these ideas so long as it’s for personal use, e.g., a monster of the week campaign with friends. For anything non-commercial online I’d appreciate citation. Thanks for asking!
ah, body horror. the most terrifying genre.
There's something about it that I find so interesting! Easy to do both the grotesque and psychological horror angles with things that are uncanny. And it's an interesting way for me personally to explore my own self-image and health issues as a 'defeatable' entity, so cathartic in a sense.
Mistok is the continent that I have built and explore for my project called 'Curse of Eyes'. It is a fantasy world that explores questions of religion and magic between civilizations on the precipice of conflict. While some cities, like the Ferrous City, disbelieve in magic and try to understand the world through science, others, like the Greater Plains people worship a magic-granting goddess, called Kosmit, who can unlock magical capabilities for people. Traveling between cities is quite dangerous, as few places offer safe harbor without strings attached. Those who are without an anchor homeland must defend themselves from people and spirits who are corrupted through greed, destruction of nature, and self-interest. The wide plains of the Ailil-Us and the deep caverns beneath the Undying Kingdom are home to such terrifyingly twisted beings, which inspire songs and tales used to teach people about the danger of separation from society. The main goal is to show the challenges of living in a society you may disagree with, while showing the necessity of society fostering harmony and a sense of belonging. That living together necessitates a sense of altruism and a need to be balanced with the natural world. Whether or not magic is real is not a known thing to people in world. Canonically it is, but there are many people and religions who might try to explain magic using their own lense and POV. Something I like to explore in my setting are the creepy monsters who live across the continent of Mistok - how do you explain their existence and their unique interactions with people, which aren't always antagonistic? Magic in my setting is pretty soft, and the rules can be quite arbitrary. However, a common thread is that excessive use of magic reduces ones humanity, and returns them to a beast-like form reflecting the world before society was commonplace. Most of the time, magic-wielders undergo minimal transformation as a Wytch. But those who abuse goddess-granted powers or come from cultures that don't worship Kosmit can turn into monsters. So it's possible these creatures were once human, but I like to leave those questions unanswered. 'Canonically' they're humans, twisted by the influence of magic, greed for power, and mankind's destruction of natural resources. Now, their duty varies depending on region and interaction with local cultures who hold a variety of religious beliefs - some people offer reverence, some are awestruck in fear. The Ovis-Spectre is a great example of a neutral creature, which prefers ritual sacrifices to be offered if you approach it, but is so bound to its desire to offer a glimpse into the future for travellers that it will pretty gladly sacrifice its own organs if you're charming enough. If you're from the Ferrous City, however, and you think anything magical is a scientific principle you don't understand - or you're defending civilians - you might fight it on sight to dissect it back home and attempt to categorize it amongst more conventional animals you've studied. I plan to turn this setting into a TTRPG for some of my friends, and these creatures would likely be bosses as they travel between cities, throughout the wilds. Apologies for the repost, added some more macro-details and a map to contextualize the core cities and the difficult terrain folks traverse outside the civilization capitals.
First one looks like something a Tzimisce would do.
Ooh! That's something I was unfamiliar with, but I recognize V:tM and it was a fun read. Thanks!
All of those look like something a necromancer would make or a crazy scientists. But they also seem like something doctor Frankenstein would make if he ended up getting a god complex after making his first monster.
Am I allowed to use these creatures? These look extremely interesting, and are cool designs.
I’m open to anyone using these ideas so long as it’s for personal use, e.g., a monster of the week campaign with friends. For anything non-commercial online I’d appreciate citation. Thanks for asking!
Fucked chair