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Mythological Creatures (for Cerulean Saga)

Started by WormShade, April 10, 2008, 03:43:18 PM

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WormShade

Hello Everyone,
For my campaign setting that is currently in development, Cerulean Saga, I am working on a theme of various folkloric and mythological entities that have recently come to life, and have started making mischief all over the planet.  I have two large Unknown cultures, one of faeries (think of old Celtic myths), and one of undead (the king is based somewhat off Dracula).  However, I could use many, many more beasties, monsters, creatures, and the like for the camaign, and I was hoping you guys could help me out.  What are some of your favorite mythological monsters/creatures/etc that I can make use of?

Midgardsormr

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Midgardsormr is a Saxonized version of the Midgaard Serpent of Norse mythology.  I have an affinity for all of the Great Worms: Oroborus, Tiamat, the Ketos (or Cetus) of Greek mythology, Leviathan.
Bryan Ray
God Loves the Freaks, even when the Christians don't!
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Slapzilla

I recently took all the fey creatures from the MM and added the half-fiend template to them to create my own Unfey.  Fiendish would have worked just fine too if you want to tone it down.  I also made a version of ghost (called it a Faded... they don't really die per se, but they sink into a state of soul death) with only the Manifestation (always on, in this case) and Frightful Moan and strongly tied them to a site.

Had a Faded Dryad still attached to her Oak that had been slowly poisoned by a couple of Unfey Grigs who moved in.  They grew exploding mushrooms in the grove to protect their sleep poison brewery (the 'veins' of the tree) and didn't take kindly to the PCs who tried to help the Dryad restore her soul (save her tree).

It's a slight rule bender but applying the vampire template to plant creatures has worked well enough for me.  Zombified plants could work too.

I find that populating monsters becomes easy when I begin to use them as metaphors.  Does your Vampire King represent depravity? Then Demonic minions make sense.  Control?  Dopplegangers, Diviners and Enchanters would populate.  Savagery?  Hunters of all kinds haunt the night.  Fear?  Ghosts and Spectres... nowhere is safe.  

My Faded represented the forgotten.  The homeless guy you pass by every day who has faded as a human being and now is part of the scenery.  The old lady down the street no one visits who can only afford to eat cat food and hasen't had her garbage taken out in a month.  That kind of thing.  I find the monster ideas flow from the metaphoric theme like sweet honey.

A Night Hag as the scary witch who lives in the woods is a good one for evil, but I love the witch archetype and think of them as good.  I see them as representative of wisdom, simplicity and good secrets.  That represents itself as a very different thing.  Maybe she is a local source of potion ingredients and oral history.  At least a source of guidance or inspiration instead of something to kill in the woods.

Let us know when you find the theme.  I'm sure you'll find both monsters and adventure ideas too.  Hope this helps.  
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