A few weeks ago, I created a group of eldritch-like beings for my fantasy world that a series of novels will take place in. Then I started working on a JRPG/anime themed fantasy setting, which you can watch on Youtube. During the last session, I decided to pull the eldritch beings into this new setting instead, and made some adjustments.

Origin

Previously, these beings were from a shadow or void plane. They migrated into the mortal/material plane but instead of attacking people or eating them, they decided to join them. Their new origin story is that two second-level deities, one being the god of birth rites and the other the god of funeral rites, tried to make their own group of mortals. It backfired, resulting in beings with twisted or incomplete forms, but because they did have souls, the two deities couldn't get rid of them.

Instead, they hid them in a pocket dimension, which was essentially a bleak and dark prison. Another second-level deity, the god of sowing, discovered them and set them free. The first-level deity within the same domain, nature, decreed that if these beings could live as they are, then they deserved life as mortals. And so, they live.

Appearances

Their appearances didn't really change much. They still often have tentacles that appear from their back, fangs, and horns. Their true forms are still quite horrifying, sometimes barely tangible. However, they keep these forms hidden, either because they're ashamed of them or because it's simply more convenient to look like everyone else.

They also now apply magic to help with this illusion of normalcy.

Culture

This also stayed close to the original idea. Since they had first lived within a pocked dimension shadow land, they though the mortal world was a utopia. They became enamored by food and drink, and created the world's largest, most comprehensive library.

This was a pretty fast blog entry that mostly rehashed some things, I'll admit. But I've been doing a lot of worldbuilding lately, so I'm counting this. :P

This week, I started creating a world setting for JRPG-themed TTRPG games, such as Fabula Ultima. Several of my inspirational touchstones that I am using as my "vibe guide" are isekai anime, The Faraway Paladin, AFK Journey, and the artwork in Fabula Ultima. I started using What's My Foundation? as a guide, and created my world's origin mythos and divine pantheon.

The Origin (in brief)

The world was created by the Dreamer as they slumbered. As they slept, they created other beings like them, who would be the First host of the gods. Together, they created the world and mortals, and when the Dreamer awakened, they found all that they created to be real. The dreamer then went on a journey to experience what they created, but awake.

I really liked this idea because it really ties in that romantic idea of wanderlust and adventure. One of my inspirations was Ryuutama, a TTRPG in which it is often seen as a thing you just do to go on an extended journey. Sometimes it's a rite of passage, but not always. But people are generally expected to go on a journey at some point in their life and I liked that idea.

The Pantheon (in brief)

There are three categories of divine beings. The First host are those that were created by the Dreamer, who dreamed of ending their solitude. The Second host are those created by the First. The Third host are divine beings brought forth by a combination of mortal belief, magic, and time. These include deities such as mountain gods, a regional harvest god, or an ascended saint.

I don't yet have a who's-who of the pantheon, but the idea is that the First reign over the elements for their domains while the Second reign over broad emotional concepts. Examples would be love, knowledge, and wealth, and these domains would likely reside within one of the elemental domains. The Third are overseers of individual features, peoples, or objects, such as an animal that absorbed magic and local belief, and now lives on indefinitely to protect its forest home.

Most of my inspirational touchstones feature numerous gods that impact or influence mortals in various ways. With this kind of quantity, there is great potential for heavenly political drama, divinity interfering for good or ill in the lives of mortals, and characters that have sworn themselves to a deity in return for a divine blessing.

The Arcane (in brief)

Nearly every mortal is born with a capacity for magic, but this capacity varies in size from person to person. A person also needs to have the ability to access that magical energy; the innate talent for this skill also varies, but can be trained to a degree.

The specifics for actually casting magic will be intentionally left vague. Is it cast via spoken spells that do nothing when simply written? Are runes required? Casting components? These details will not be decided on since the purpose of this world is to make it agnostic enough that you can drop a TTRPG system into, which usually have their own magic mechanics.

For example, both Legends of Akeroth and Drakonym require spellcasters to have one free hand and the ability to speak, besides the action currencies. Drakonym also includes an optional magic rune circle mechanic. These would be annoying to shoehorn in if this world relies on Fullmetal Alchemist-style magic casting.

Just the Beginning

The info above, as stated in their headers, are brief description of everything that I've come up with so far. If you'd like to keep tabs on the world's development, you can follow me on Twitch or join our Discord server. Once this world is deemed playable, I'll be giving the notes on it to server members in the form of a PDF. Twitch subscribers will be able to download the Obsidian vault that houses all of the notes, so they'd be able to start filling in their own lore or start playing a game.

Decided to make a creature today while following along the Elegant Fantasy Creature Generator. I had a REALLY busy week and wanted to do something a little less taxing on the pink matter residing in my skull today.

CW: Animal abuse mention

Rolled Descriptors

• Mental Faculty: Smart animal
• Domination Pigmentation: Green
• Random Features: Tactile Savant (main sense is touch), Scarification, Flight
• Finishing Touches: Treacherous
• Horrifier: Devouring (eats people)

• Attitude Randomizer: Ignoring
• Animal (Off my character deck): Bear

Putting it Together

A Vaekar is a creature that resembles a griffon but resembles a bear instead of an eagle. They usually have mossy green fur that blends in well with forest and swamp environments and have keen eyesight.

This specific Vaekar, however, has been blinded. Captured as a youngling by vicious poachers, this Vaekar wears an intimidating sprawl of scars carved into its fur in order to make it look fierce. Unbeknownst to the villains, however, Vaekar are intelligent enough to learn single words and their meanings, and began to pick up on the habits and routines of the poachers. Vaekar are carnivores, but they typically only eat fish and small game.

The poachers became an...acquired taste.

When the adventurers encounter this Vaekar, they are sympathetic. Blind, grounded, and reliant on touch, it quickly endears itself to them by playing hard-to-get. But it bides its time, pretending to slowly warm to the adventurers to lull them into a false sense of friendship so it can experience that delicious taste again.

I'm back at it again with some snippets for a thing-that-may-happen. But this time, I utilized the Game Master Apprentice's card decks!

Relic Ideas

Family Memento + Restless Spirit + Concealed Pistol

A pistol considered to be a family heirloom or memento is revealed to be attached to a restless spirit. Instead of firing bullets, it fires the equivalent of spirit or magical energy that matches the entity possessing it. It will only fire if the spirit feels like helping you, though.

Tiny metal figurines + Ancient Power + Pride

A game set similar or equivalent to chess includes tiny metal figurines and looks innocent enough. However, it is a relic belonging to a deity, demon, or entity related to pride. If a player gives into the ancient sin of pride while playing, their soul becomes trapped inside one of the figurines.

Villain Ideas

Proving a legend true + Treachery + Murder

A villain was led to believe they were the chosen one; however, they were betrayed by the person, people, or faction that encouraged this belief. It was revealed that the chosen one was someone else all along. In their rage, the villain murders who was responsible for this treachery, and seeks to prove they're the chosen. What is this "chosen one" destined to do, and is the "real" chosen one actually the destined person, or was it actually the villain as they believe?

Offer you can't refuse + Prayer book + Fortress + Burdened

A deity has made this villain an offer they cannot refuse in exchange for carrying out their desires. They frequently consult a prayer book, which is how the deity converses with them, and their base is a fortress of devout believers. The villain, however, feels burdened by this partnership; what do they have at stake?