Eldritch Abomination/Tabletop Games: Difference between revisions

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[[File:magic_cosmic_horror_5192.jpg|link=Magic: The Gathering|right|Meet the [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=2093 Cosmic Horror].]]

* ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' has whole races of Eldritch Abominations; from 3rd edition onwards, they have been increasingly linked with the Far Realm, [[Eldritch Location|an impossibly vast, incomprehensible place]] far beyond the cosmology of most ''D&D'' settings. A 3.5 sourcebook, ''Lords of Madness'', gave greater detail to the "Aberration" creature type, which is mainly used for such creatures (many of the weirder/most horrible Outsider-type creatures also count).

** One of the various backstories of Asmodeus, the Lord of Nessus and King of Hell, is that he is actually one of these. What others see when dealing with him [[Fighting a Shadow|is actually an advanced illusion]]. Asmodeus' real body is that of a titanic, ''miles long'' serpentine creature who is still injured from being thrown into hell. Because he was some sort of [[Time Abyss|primordial entity who predated the Gods]], and who literally created the Nine Hells when the Gods threw him into them.

** The [[Sourcebook]] ''Summoners'' includes some other examples, such as the chthonians of the Underworld (known as the "neverborn" since they exist in the realm of the dead, but cannot be reliably said to have ever been alive) and certain Supernal beings. Said Supernal beings include the [[God in Human Form|Ochema]], avatars of the [[Big Bad|Exarchs]] in ''Seers Of The Throne''. [[Humanoid Abomination|Sure, they look]] [[Pride|(and act)]] [[Humanoid Abomination|like people]], [[Starfish Aliens|but look at them with Mage Sight]]... Unlike many examples, this is actually because they're ''less'' corrupted than everything else: [[Crapsack World|The Fallen World]] simply [[Divide by Zero|can't handle]] [[Heaven|Supernal]] beings like them... Although they stay significantly longer than and don't cause unintentional damage like Abyssal creatures, since they're ''supposed'' to be a part of the natural order of reality.

** In addition to mentioning the above Chthonians, ''[[Geist: The Sin Eaters]]'' features Kerberoi -- wholly alien in mindset, bizarre in appearance, and nearly unstoppable, they exist solely to enforce the Old Laws of the Dead Domains. Geists can also border on this -- they're universally completely or near-completely alien in mindset, and varying degrees of bizarre in appearance.

** The [[Fair Folk|True Fae]] of ''[[Changeling: The Lost]]'' deserve a mention. Now, they're more recognizable than their stablemates above, capable of great [[Pride]], vanity and twisted creativity, but they are ultimately alien, incredibly powerful and terrifying beings with [[Evil Cannot Comprehend Good|no concept of empathy, kindness or selflessness]], capable of rending souls and striking pacts with aspects of reality itself, and within their [[Reality Is Out to Lunch|home dimension]] they are capable of [[Reality Warper|just about anything]], and can twist their kidnapped human subjects to meet their needs. That they happen to have inspired [[Fairy Tales]] perhaps only makes them ''more'' frightening. And do you wanna know how they're born? {{spoiler|[[And Then John Was a Zombie|No. No, you don't.]]}}

** The sourcebook ''Second Sight'' has a pretty good chapter on building your own abomination, a [[Misanthrope Supreme]] or [[Fallen Hero]] to serve as their high priest, and a cult to worship them. The creation example is a being of dissonant sound. (Although one suggested weakness for this being -- music of unity -- seemed uncannily reminiscent of ''[[Ghostbusters]] 2''.)