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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Jul 14, 2024 8:52:25 GMT -5
I really dig the Dragonbane stuff and I'm taking inspiration from the Bestiary by adding quotes to the monster entries I create for my campaign. Here is one example for the Cult of Grax. Do you do anything similar?
“The offers of peace and unity from the Graxian Cultists are seductive lies. Their peace comes from fear and intimidation. Their unity comes from blind obedience to the tenets of their dark lord. They offer a life bound to service of the world snake – not to convert followers but to CONQUER! Be mindful and wary of these charlatans. Do not entertain their offers and stray from the true faith. It will cost you everything - up to and including your very soul!”
- Thomas Salinas, High Priest Church of the One God
I'm working on quotes for every one of my monsters this morning. Maybe I'll have some more to post or an updated entry with the quote and a picture included as well sometime later...
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Jul 14, 2024 9:53:11 GMT -5
Something like this for the Tangle Tree...
“I was one of the lucky ones that did not choose to nap under the tree that day. We were on lunch break at the mine. Some of the guys decided to nap under one of the trees just like we always have in the past. When it was time to return to work, we noticed a few guys were missing and assumed no one woke them up. We heard shouts from the man that went to the trees to get them. There were tools laying on the ground around the base of the tree – the rest is horrible! There were vines wrapped around one of the men pulling him towards a gaping maw of teeth in the trunk of the tee itself! Trenton, the worker, was struggling to free himself and had a look of terror in his eyes. Fortunately for him, several of us had tools and began cutting the vines. We were able to rescue him, but the other two fellows were not as fortunate. The only proof they were ever there was their tools scattered on the ground. We set fire to that tree, and it let out a scream and even bled like a man until it died. I’m used to dealing with bandits or robbers, but I never thought I would have to worry about trees eating people of all things! Now we stuck a torch close to nearby trees when we go to the mine. EVERY TIME. You just never know.”
- Aldren Trask, mine worker (overheard in the local tavern over a mug of ale)
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Jul 14, 2024 10:58:14 GMT -5
This should work for the lizard-like humanoid Slarns.
“I’ve never seen one but my uncle has – I KNOW they’re real! It wasn’t in this small town. He was in the capital on a job and worked with one of them. He says they’re like us – not really like us but if a lizard looked like us. They walk like us and talk like us but don’t wear armor because their skin is tough as steel. He even shared a meal with one of them. We don’t see many of them because they keep to their own places mostly. Even more so than the Elves. At least that’s what my uncle said.”
- Serafina Ericson, young local girl (gossiping with her friends)
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Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Jul 16, 2024 18:10:57 GMT -5
I'm enjoying these monster entries, how many are you planning on doing?
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Jul 17, 2024 0:08:05 GMT -5
I'm enjoying these monster entries, how many are you planning on doing? Thanks! One for every monster I'm using in my setting book. At least 4 or 5 more but I aim to include more monsters. I'm guessing 20 or more. I'll post a full entry of a monster in the coming days... |
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Jul 19, 2024 5:01:33 GMT -5
For anyone interested, here's a mockup of a possible layout with quote, art, and stats all included. Tangle Tree v2.pdf (139.2 KB) |
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Jul 19, 2024 16:15:56 GMT -5
Let's see if my screenshot skills are still u[ to par...  |
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Jul 20, 2024 10:47:25 GMT -5
Back to the quotes. This is actually pretty fun to come up with these little bits. I'll be uploading a new monster pdf when I get all of these complete.
Goatrils
“Pa says they ain’t all bad – he even trades wit’ some uv ‘em from time to time. He says they look scary at first but ya get used t’seein’ their goat heads un fur the more ya see ‘em. Out here ‘way from the big city ya have t’ trade wit’ those ya can. We don’t have the lux’ry uv nearby merchants. Pa also says t’ stick t’ the one ya trust. Some uv them ARE jus’ as foul as they look.”
- Abby May, rural girl (talking to a friend)
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Jul 20, 2024 18:33:06 GMT -5
This one will probably get some revision before using, but it's a start.
Rat Folk
“Unlike some of the other beast men created and used in the armies of the mad sorceress Lorena, the rat folk have retained very little from their human heritage. They are more intelligent than the rats they are derived from, but nowhere near human, elf, or dwarf. In many ways, the rat folk are just larger rats that can walk on two legs like the other races and can even use some simple tools and weapons that gather in a mockery of civilization. Rat folk can best be considered vermin much as the rats that were used in the dark magical rituals to originally create them.”
- handwritten note added to the Journals of War tome in the Library of Alleria
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Jul 20, 2024 20:23:52 GMT -5
Battle-Raised
“The servants of the dark gods have unleashed ever more sinister forces against the civilized peoples. These creatures appear to be zombies at first glance but are something else, something...more! These creatures often use the very weapons they would use in life and it almost seems like they work together at times. It was a challenging fight but we overcame one pretty early into it, but that’s when things changed. The remaining creatures seemed to fight harder, move faster, and became more difficult to strike as the battle continued and more of them fell. Maybe it was just fatigue but that last creature fought with such ferocity that I feared several of us would be lost by the time it was vanquished.”
- Eli Hughes, Squad Leader (reporting to the Company Commander of the local militia)
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Jul 21, 2024 8:14:39 GMT -5
Bone Guardian
“These foul creatures might be the best example of the ever-darker power unearthed by those practicing the sinister magic of necromancy. Nearly indistinguishable from reanimated skeletons, the Bone Guardians are something else entirely. They appear to attract and command skeletons that are nearby and can even regenerate themselves through some sort of dark magic. Some have even suggested that these imitations of life are made even more complete by an almost human-like capacity to lead and think in combat. It is imperative that we learn more about combating this new threat to all civilized people.”
- Field report sent by the local parish of the Church of the One God to the High Priest Thomas Salinas
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Jul 21, 2024 12:29:50 GMT -5
Pallid Ones Night Visitors
“We were right in the middle of changing the guards on shift when the merchant Joseph approached in a state of panic. It took a few moments, but we finally got him calmed down enough so we could understand what he was saying. I normally wouldn’t have believed a story about strange creatures coming down from the sky and taking people away, but he was so adamant that we decided to go check it out. After we agreed, Joseph took off in a run that was very difficult to keep up with. Down in the clearing by the docks is where we saw them! A group of four small beings like dwarves – except these weren’t dwarves – with large heads and large eyes were leading three of the dock workers towards disk-shaped object in the clearing. The workers seemed to be in some sort of daze and were staring ahead as they walked. By this time we had snuck up to the outskirts of the clearing and were hidden by the trees and bushes on the perimeter. Glancing silently amongst ourselves, the members of the night guard knew we had to act now! I nodded and we made our attack. One of these beings immediately ran to the disk as a door opened allowing entry. Two of them tried to stop us while the remaining one tried to get the dock workers to continue walking towards the disk. The small rods they pulled from their belts must have been magical because they shot out some sort of magical power that caused one of the bushes to catch fire when they shot wildly at us. We struck down two of the creatures before the last one reached the disk. He used the rod to burn their bodies as he watched us from the doorway. Suddenly, the door closed as we approached the disk and there were lights like shining jewels ablaze around the disk and it lifted up from the ground and flew away into the night!”
- account of events from the city guard
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Post by Admin Pete on Jul 21, 2024 18:57:04 GMT -5
Pallid Ones “We were right in the middle of changing the guards on shift when the merchant Joseph approached in a state of panic. It took a few moments but we finally got him calmed down enough so we could understand what he was saying. I normally wouldn’t have believed a story about strange creatures coming down from the sky and taking people away but he was so adamant that we decided to go check it out. After we agreed, Joseph took off in a run that was very difficult to keep up with. Down in the clearing by the docks is where we saw them! A group of four small beings like dwarves – except these weren’t dwarves – with large heads and large eyes were leading three of the dock workers towards disk-shaped object in the clearing. The workers seemed to be in some sort of daze and were staring ahead as they walked. By this time we had snuck up to the outskirts of the clearing and were hidden by the trees and bushes on the perimeter. Glancing silently amongs ourselves, the members of the night guard knew we had to act now! I nodded and we made our attack. One of these beings immediately ran to the disk as a door opened allowing entry. Two of them tried to stop us while the remaining one tried to get the dock workers to continue walking towards the disk. The small rods they pulled from their belts must have been magical because they shot out some sort of magical power that caused one of the bushes to catch fire when they shot wildly at us. We struck down two of the creatures before the last one reached the disk. He used the rod to burn their bodies as he watched us from the doorway. Suddenly, the door closed as we approached the disk and there were lights like shining jewels ablaze around the disk and it lifted up from the ground and flew away into the night!”
- account of events from the city guardNow you just need to write the book that this teases. |
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Jul 22, 2024 2:13:23 GMT -5
Pallid Ones “We were right in the middle of changing the guards on shift when the merchant Joseph approached in a state of panic. It took a few moments but we finally got him calmed down enough so we could understand what he was saying. I normally wouldn’t have believed a story about strange creatures coming down from the sky and taking people away but he was so adamant that we decided to go check it out. After we agreed, Joseph took off in a run that was very difficult to keep up with. Down in the clearing by the docks is where we saw them! A group of four small beings like dwarves – except these weren’t dwarves – with large heads and large eyes were leading three of the dock workers towards disk-shaped object in the clearing. The workers seemed to be in some sort of daze and were staring ahead as they walked. By this time we had snuck up to the outskirts of the clearing and were hidden by the trees and bushes on the perimeter. Glancing silently amongs ourselves, the members of the night guard knew we had to act now! I nodded and we made our attack. One of these beings immediately ran to the disk as a door opened allowing entry. Two of them tried to stop us while the remaining one tried to get the dock workers to continue walking towards the disk. The small rods they pulled from their belts must have been magical because they shot out some sort of magical power that caused one of the bushes to catch fire when they shot wildly at us. We struck down two of the creatures before the last one reached the disk. He used the rod to burn their bodies as he watched us from the doorway. Suddenly, the door closed as we approached the disk and there were lights like shining jewels ablaze around the disk and it lifted up from the ground and flew away into the night!”
- account of events from the city guardNow you just need to write the book that this teases. I'll do an outline & see what happens... |
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Jul 22, 2024 15:56:23 GMT -5
Now you just need to write the book that this teases. I'll do an outline & see what happens... Aiming for a short story but you never know... |
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dervish
Wanderer
New arrival, brought here by a wild search engine.
Posts: 42
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Post by dervish on Aug 23, 2024 21:36:07 GMT -5
Out of curiosity, have you considered writing some of these quotes from conflicting POVs? E.g. goblins described as barely intelligent under-beings from a city that's spent its time exterminating them, and then the anthropologist writing about their understanding of nature and eagerness for actually fair trade?
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Aug 24, 2024 8:57:21 GMT -5
Out of curiosity, have you considered writing some of these quotes from conflicting POVs? E.g. goblins described as barely intelligent under-beings from a city that's spent its time exterminating them, and then the anthropologist writing about their understanding of nature and eagerness for actually fair trade? That is something I hadn't considered yet, but it IS a great idea! Have an Exalt, dervish. I'm going to see what I can come up with. I think it's an intriguing idea and would lead to a further bit of worldbuilding and immersion.  |
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Sept 7, 2024 10:37:05 GMT -5
I'm still working on new quotes and revising some of the old ones in this thread. I'm definitely going to include some opposing viewpoint quotes in some of the entries, (Thanks for the great idea, dervish!) Obviously, every single entry doesn't have to lead to combat. I also made a blog entry on this idea at Monster Entries Inspired by Dragonbane but it's shorter than this thread. On a related note, I'm changing the name of Pallid Ones to either Night Visitors or something similar. I just think it fits better. |
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