《Slayerbat's Monster Manual》Prologue and General Overview
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It is truly a wonderful thing to be told that people enjoy your monsters enough to want to use them. This book is for those of you that wish to use them in your campaigns, or perhaps even your own stories. It is more of a guide than anything else, and you are free to change things as you see fit. Every chapter, save for this one, will feature a monster or specific subspecies of a certain monster. It will explain where they are found, their diet, and so on. The author notes will provide ideas for how to use them in your campaigns. You do not have to read this book if you do not want to, as everything within it will be in other series that I plan on writing. Though this book marks the end of Oswald's overviews.
I plan on updating this book monthly with fan suggestions as to what the next monster will be. The first actual chapter will feature the Harper Spiders, as that was the one most well received. Some of the depictions within this book will be very graphic, and otherwise disturbing. Especially when we get to the Banshee. I will put a warning at the top of those chapters, but they will not be spoilered. With all that said, and the fact that I feel this more properly summarizes what this book is about. I will begin by explaining how the general multiverse works, as well as the pyramid of power. These are general guidelines that everything in my worlds follow.
To properly explain the pyramid, I figured I should start from the top down, and explain the creatures there. If you have a problem with religious stuff, or find your own faith lacking after reading these words; I bear no responsibility, and you must understand this is merely something made for my worlds. That everything written here, should hold no sway over your real life.
At the top of the pyramid, is the beginning and the end. The Alpha, and the Omega. That which exists, and does not exist. For all intents and purposes it is, "God." As someone running campaigns you can consider yourself this entity if you would like, or you can accept there are things you do not want to touch. As a rule of thumb, this figure should never become a part of any campaign or setting. It is literally within everything, and does not exist at the same time. It's goal is simply to expand, and continue existing. It does not care for any hero's plight. It does not care for any villain about to commit a heinous deed. It simply is, and it creates universes based on the actions of others.
The whole of everything is a multiverse, that separates and grows based on the actions and reactions of others within it. If an entity were to destroy a universe, then there would be five separate universes; one where it was not destroyed, one where it was damaged, one where the device or entity could not destroy it, one where the universe overcame the entity/device, one where heroes saved the universe, and one where villains saved the world against a worse threat. Naturally there are infinite possibilities for every outcome, but the point is established. The one at the top will make no moves, because it simply does not care. It is content, because more universes have been made, and more stories are to be told.
Below the top, are thirteen entities known as the TWINs. TWIN is a word that turns into more words in a scrawling matrix to properly define what they are. They are entities that feed off any creature capable of thought, as well as the concepts behind them. They exist in the void, with vessels that move through existence and multiple universes. They are entities too powerful to exist in a universe without breaking it, but they can also create new universes and destroy them at will. Their vessels are marked with their color, and their forms can be changed as they desire. Though you only need to look for the color that marks them. Naturally they deserve their own little chapter in the monster manual, but the general idea is they cannot be defeated. Even if you are to defeat them, that is because they allowed you to, or they seek to make you into their next vessel.
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There is one TWIN that stands above the others, and they are known as the second. This reflects the fact that there is always a mingling between the levels even on the highest scales. As for what happens when one vessel fights another, well universes are rapidly destroyed and recreated with slight alterations. These vessels will always fight on par with whatever they are fighting with. Essentially a level lock where they make it a very difficult battle. The one with more experience will win, including any player fighting them one on one. Naturally they can flare up and show more power, but honestly they work behind the scenes as the true puppet masters making everything work.
Below the TWINs, are the void dwelling horrors. Your eldritch universe eaters, your dark kin, your light kin, true angels, and true demons. While TWINs are able to destroy entire multiverses at a time, yes there are more than one, these creatures are only able to destroy or create what they are directly connected to. As an example, let's suggest that there is a universe completely devoid of life, versus one that is teeming with life. These void dwelling horrors can kill either, but they cannot kill both because they are too far removed from each other. Whereas a TWIN can easily destroy/corrupt, or whatever have you, to either.
The void dwellers need to come into contact with that which exists, to survive. The TWINs do not need anything, as they can subsist on themselves alone. Void dwellers are those that can exist without existence surrounding them. They can pop up anywhere in the void, and typically move from universe to universe to either create more, or destroy. They care no more about what might be inside a universe, than you care about the bacteria on your food.
These creatures number in the hundreds, and have offspring in the thousands. These offspring make up the next level down, and are met with true gods, and other such things. The true gods, and void dweller offspring exist in more than one universe at a time and are able to shape it as they see fit. This is as far as any sentient creature we can understand goes. Even if a person were to become a vessel, their perspective would change a lot with all that power. Their soul replaced by a core, from the TWIN itself. The creatures on this level need universes to exist, and can travel through the void to get to other universes. While in the void between said universes they are at their weakest. They typically are the ones attempting to fight off void dwellers, and establish how a universe itself works.
True gods do not need the worship of followers in order to do what they want. Their entire being cannot be summoned on one universe, without the universe breaking apart. Summoning one of these creatures will destroy the universe, while only really wounding the entity in question. They will move to other universes, but repeatedly doing the same thing to them is the best way to completely destroy them. At least without getting something higher up on the pyramid involved.
What lies below baby void dwellers, and true gods, are the ones that influence the universe or worlds within it. These are entities that cannot exist in the void without some form of protection. They will cease to be otherwise, and are considered dead for all intents and purposes. These creatures are known as gods, demons, and angels. There are lesser and greater versions of each. Angels and demons can be created by their respective gods, with their own archangels holding power enough to rival the god that created them. Gods can create something from nothing, or use something in the area to create or recreate almost anything that was a part of the universe.
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The gods within a universe typically have domains in which they can affect what they will. Their angels or demons are more powerful within their domain. They are able to do anything a force of nature can do, but they do require worship to be able to actually affect a singular world or area upon that world. Otherwise they are sending the appropriate entities to act on their behalf. The gods and such on this level do need worship in order to actively change an area or affect certain people. To them the passage of a life is only a mere blink away. Most would sleep, and steadily grow their power through such, only waking to fight threats from outside their domain. What defines this level on the pyramid is the ability to create from nothing besides one's own power.
There is a lot of overlap going further down, as we reach the level of demigods, lesser gods, forces of nature and so on. Where there is only one at the top, thirteen beneath, hundreds below, thousands more down, and billions farther still. You reach the point where the number is virtually infinite, as there are infinite universes. These entities are able to move mountains, destroy planets, or even harness the power of a black hole without destroying the universe no matter how hard they try. They cannot create from nothing, but they can usually transfer their powers. They can encompass an idea, or otherwise begin the steps towards becoming an actual godly figure. If they die, typically that will be the end for them, unless they have the powers to keep themselves from dying.
Naturally anything on this level and below will just cease to be without protection if they try to move from one world to another. Usually with the help of something higher up, or a very clear understanding of how to keep existing. The power of these beings can be buffed with the worship and beliefs of others. This is where the, 'gods,' of Xentos are on the pyramid.
Below the demigods, forces of nature and so on. We have the Supernatural. This is where most entities lie in Xentos. From the King all the way to Richard. If you are able to do magic, or use some kind of force beyond physical might, you are a supernatural entity. The limit of these powers naturally rely heavily on not being able to move mountains by yourself or yelling loud enough. If you can fly without wings you are super natural. If you can scream and kill people, you guessed it! Supernatural! It doesn't have to make sense, you have an advantage beyond your physical strength and so you are here.
Below supernatural is anything that has sentience. Can be aliens, people, smart robots, and so on. Sentience itself is an advantage, as you are able to perceive the world, and react in ways beyond simple movements. You can plan ahead, and use the resources around you to carve tools. You are technically on the same level as those beasts with sharp claws and venom, but at least you can think!
Then you got your apex predators, prey animals below them, all the way down to single celled organisms. Lots of back and forth play on the lower levels of the pyramid. The most important thing, is the fact that someone is where they are because they can do this without weapons. If you pick up an axe that can slay demigods, that doesn't put you on their level. The axe is just on their level and you are using it as a tool. The pyramid reflects what you can do on your own, without being in a special bubble that makes you more skilled. Sentience does grant you the benefit of being able to outsmart your opponent, but it doesn't actually make you more capable if you can't use it properly.
Below is the general template I'll be using going forward for the monsters. As well as an explanation towards what it means.
Name: (The name of the species of the monster or creature in question)
Race: (Beast, Monster, Person essentially)
Sub-race: (Insect, Mammal, etc.)
Biology: (How they look, and what they can do)
World: (The worlds they tend to appear in. Such as Derthune, or Xentos)
Habitat: (Where they can be found on such worlds)
Diet: (What they eat)
Relationships: (What factions are associate with them within the world at large)
Creation: (Lore on how they were made and why.)
Purpose: (Their goals in a sense, what they seek to do)
Lore: (Will have some overlap with the above, but will generally explain what they have already done as a race.)
Naturally I will add more, or take stuff away as people make suggestions. I'm posting this prologue to get some last minute helps before fully fleshing out everything going forward. I'll also take suggestions from people based on polls and what I read in the comments. These suggestions can be vague, but I would appreciate those that are more to the point.
As for how the worlds all work together. I just mentioned Derthune above. Essentially Derthune is something known as a nexus world. Basically a universe that establishes links to other universes. They have dungeons, and I plan on explaining that much later and in more depth after I finish with Xentos. Xentos itself is anchored to Derthune through their true god's abilities, and other plot related reasons. Xentos is a normal universe that is on the lower end of power, without any actual gods to properly protect it.
I won't say much more, given that it gets into spoiler territory for the other stories, but know things will get pretty far out there. I realize this overview is rather lacking in that it doesn't properly explain how the worlds work and leaves more questions than answers. Feel free to ask them in the comments below, and I'll update this overview with important questions and answers.
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