I'm invested now, why cosmic horror for Donnie? Also could you tell me what cosmic horror is, I've never heard of it before.

-g

Cosmic horror is the type of horror that delves into how irrelevant we are in the grand scheme of the universe. It's basically existentialism as a genre! Key features include eldritch horrors, magic, and monsters beyond our comprehension. It is also sometimes called "Lovecraftian horror" after the author H.P. Lovecraft, who wrote iconic books such as The Call of Cthulhu and The Shadow Over Innsmouth. A big part of those stories is the concept of forbidden knowledge- that learning too much can lead to our downfall as humans, as there are some things that we simply are not supposed to know.

Really, choosing this genre for Donnie was a no-brainer. He has a never-ending thirst for knowledge, a need to understand everything around him. Putting him in a setting where he literally cannot understand what is going on around him- or where receiving the information he craves so badly would hinder rather than help him- would be the ultimate nightmare. Beings capable of destroying reality as we know it would be his biggest fear.

I also think it would be interesting if Donnie was the only one really impacted by this genre. He's the only turtle who has a special interest in research and data collection, so I'd like to think that the others would be mostly unphased by his particular fear. In comparison, I'd like to think that at least one other brother fears each of the other three genres; Leo and Mikey would dislike paranormal horror, Raph would dislike slashers, and I like to believe that all four brothers really don't like psychological horror. Donnie is sort of alone in that way.

i have something to add to the micolash's death conversation from yesterday lol, more specifically what happens after you kill him in the nightmare: there's an H.P. Lovecraft story called Out Of The Aeons which is about a mummy that can also mummify anyone who looks at it. it turns out the mummy was a priest named t'yog, who was mummified by magical means after challenging a demon, and that, again, despite being totally mummified and presumed dead for thousands of years, t'yog's brain is still fully alive and conscious, because magic- he only appears dead from the outside. i think or at least LIKE to think it could be possible that micolash is like t'yog- you already have the similarity of micolash's "mummy" having supernatural properties, being able to draw anyone who touches it into the same nightmare he was drawn into, and the fact that he "died" in a comparably fantastical scenario. so in that case, maybe he actually DOES wake up, but instead of waking up in a normal, living body, he's now imprisoned in his own rotted corpse. because he was never actually dead in the first place, not even in base reality- or at least his brain wasn't. fun!

Oh damn- This reminds me of that meme someone drew of Micolash "waking up" realizing he's dead and going 'I am booboo the fool' fdsjhhds But at the same time, fucked up concept. (well, isn't it called Lovecraftian HORROR for a reason? xd)

I never read anything from Lovecraft, I am only learning of some things he written via conversations exactly like this! Like how I've learned that Rom might have been a reference to an "idiot god" that didn't even realize their (huge) power. Sometimes I wonder whether my vision of Soulsborne lore would differ much had I learned of what inspired them. What you brought up just now adds so much clarity! It fits in so well that I think it SHOULD have been the implication.

Was Lovecraft Ableist? An Examination of "Lovecraftian Madness", Part 1: At the Mountains of Madness

Those passingly familiar with the writings of H.P. Lovecraft are probably familiar with some version of these claims:

"Lovecraft was ableist! He wrote all the time about characters being 'driven to madness' by incomprehensible revelations, which is basically like saying you can get mental illness from looking at something scary."

"Actually, Lovecraft wasn't being ableist. He wasn't even thinking of mental illness when he wrote that; he was talking about (emotional distress/alien influences/whatever was happening at the end of Flatland)."

So I decided to do some digging into these claims. I checked out a couple of Lovecraft's stories best known for their association with mental shenanigans: The Call of Cthulhu, known for its titular character's brain-melting impact on several people in the story, and At the Mountains of Madness, which, as one might imagine, uses the word a whole awful lot.

Now first off, I would like to acknowledge that this does not constitute a comprehensive review of Lovecraft's work. However, when it comes to people's understanding of Lovecraft's takes on madness/mental illness/etc., it is these two stories in specific that people tend to think of, alleging scenes from one or the other where characters see Things Man Was Not Meant To See and lose their entire minds about it.

So how accurate are these claims?

Well, before I get into it, I should mention that there are going to be spoilers here. For At the Mountains of Madness in this post, and The Call of Cthulhu later. So if you want to hop off and read them first, now's your chance.

(Be aware, though, that The Call of Cthulhu is one of the most vilely racist and disfigurmisic of Lovecraft's stories. Read at your own discretion.)

So, to start with, I thought I'd look into the claim about "Lovecraftian madness", particularly regarding its alleged meaning within the context of the stories. And to do that, I cracked open At the Mountains of Madness. If you're not familiar with the plot of this book, or need a refresher, it's about members of an Antarctic geology expedition who accidentally discover the remains of a pre-human civilization of large alien sea cucumbers, also known as "Great Old Ones".

(Inb4 "nuu, the Great Old Ones are gods, these were Elder Things!" This is a popular misconception that At the Mountains of Madness does not bear out. It uses both terms interchangeably.)

This story, as you might imagine, uses the word "madness" quite liberally. It appears 20 times throughout the story, mostly in a mix of repeated title drops and the narrator speculating on the cause of a particularly shocking event that occurs midway through the story.

So let's look at the title drops first. The phrase "mountains of madness", or some variation thereof, appears ten different times in the text, disconnected from any allegations of mental illness or bizarre behavior. So what on Earth is the narrator talking about?

Well, here's an explanation in his own words:

Little by little, however, they rose grimly into the western sky; allowing us to distinguish various bare, bleak, blackish summits, and to catch the curious sense of phantasy which they inspired as seen in the reddish antarctic light against the provocative background of iridescent ice-dust clouds. In the whole spectacle there was a persistent, pervasive hint of stupendous secrecy and potential revelation; as if these stark, nightmare spires marked the pylons of a frightful gateway into forbidden spheres of dream, and complex gulfs of remote time, space, and ultra-dimensionality. I could not help feeling that they were evil things—mountains of madness whose farther slopes looked out over some accursed ultimate abyss. That seething, half-luminous cloud-background held ineffable suggestions of a vague, ethereal beyondness far more than terrestrially spatial; and gave appalling reminders of the utter remoteness, separateness, desolation, and aeon-long death of this untrodden and unfathomed austral world.

As we can see from this description, the narrator is having a bit of a reaction to the sight of these mountains. They seem impossible and half-real, in a way that he finds both threatening and almost awe-inspiring, and he suspects that they contain all manner of hidden secrets that he and his team could discover if they probed further.

So initially, the titular madness is just the projection of his own reaction, which he's mistaken for an objective quality - a belief that seems to be borne out when the mountains do, in fact, turn out to be full of weird shit. They're the Mountains of What The Fuck Is Going On Here. The Mountains of Things That Make No Rational Sense.

One might argue that this is still code for mental illness, as the term "madness" is frequently used to imply that nonsensical thoughts stem from a fundamentally damaged mind - but this would be an anachronism, as I learned when researching the history of the term. The neutral usage came first; people didn't really start to use "madness" in that way until well after Lovecraft's time.

(To be fair, the term 'madness' was absolutely used to discredit and pathologize people, especially women and minorities who objected to mistreatment by those with more power - but through a somewhat different lens, as I go into in more detail below.)

This leads us to the second way the word is used, which at first blush does look like a synonym for mental illness:

We had by that time agreed not to transmit anything suggesting madness on the part of Lake’s men, and it surely looked like madness to find six imperfect monstrosities carefully buried upright in nine-foot snow graves…

…the madness of a lone survivor might have conceived the inconceivable—a wild trip across the monstrous mountains and a descent into the unknown primal masonry—

But, because of the aforementioned research, I am now aware that that is not exactly true. This is certainly referring to mental phenomena - specifically, a (speculated) pattern of nonsensical behavior stemming from a state of mental irrationality. However, based on the way 'madness' was used in literature, this was not the same as an accusation of mental illness. It wasn't even an accusation of a specific problem; any number of irrational episodes could be considered madness, from panic attacks to dissociation. It was simply a way of saying that someone was not in their right mind at the moment, which is the narrator's best guess for why a bunch of people would massacre each other but also lovingly bury the valuable research specimens they had unearthed just a day before.

This is the kind of "madness" that was used against vulnerable people - not the concept that they were mentally ill, but accusations that they were simply In No State To Be Rational. It was essentially the same as how "hysteria" is used today. Of course, attributing an event you can't explain to Some Kind Of Hysteria(TM) is still a dick move, but it's not the same as insinuating mental illness.

Now, before I wrap this part up, I want to touch on another common misconception that just bugs me - the idea that a character in the story was just overwhelmingly terrified by what he saw in the mountains, to the point where it drove him mad!!!

The character in question is Danforth, the narrator's companion during the final leg of the story where he explores the ancient ruins. And to an extent, these claims are true, but the circumstances are stripped of context to the point where Danforth looks like a blithering xenophobe, and not a guy who had just suffered a harrowing brush with death and then, while fleeing for his life, accidentally noticed something that made the experience even worse.

Because that's what actually happened. The journey through the ruins is actually mostly free of terror - sure, there's some disparaging commentary about "decadence" on the part of the narrator (being used here as a synonym for degeneracy), but the overall tone is one of fascination. The things they've found are unexplainable and bizarre, but they're also the archaeological find of the millennium, and that is the spirit that the characters approach their exploration in.

So what is it that actually tips Danforth over the edge? Well, if you mind spoilers, here's the part where the post ends for you. Otherwise, read on:

As they are exploring the ruins of the Old Ones' city, the protagonists find their way into a path that leads down into an underground cave system. Having found evidence that the creatures they're tracking has gone into those caves, they follow, eventually tracking down a majority of the creatures who have been slaughtered horribly. Still, they hear the Old Ones' greeting call in the distance - "Tekeli-li!" so they continue deeper into the caves.

It is here they encounter the Shoggoth, either one of the beings that overthrew the Old Ones' enslavement, or one of their descendants. This is the creature they saw in a fresco some time back, messily decapitating their former masters, the same style of execution that the freshly dead Old Ones had suffered. The creature advances on them with unknown intent, and it is around then that the protagonist remembers a fact about Shoggoths:

They are excellent vocal mimics.

The sound the characters were following wasn't a potentially friendly alien at all. It was the thing that killed them.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we look into the other Lovecraft story most commonly pointed to for this topic: The Call of Cthulhu, a story that's notorious for being racist but not so much for what we'll be looking at.

It’s October! The month in which I watch even more horror movies than usual. Each year I tend to have a theme to help narrow down what to watch. So far I’ve done Zombie Films, Werewolf Films, Vampire Films, Slasher Films and Ghost Films. This year’s theme will be Cosmic/Eldritch Horror (or as most know it as Lovecraftian Horror.

This list isn’t going to contain every film in the world that is base on H.P. Lovecraft's works, have elements of it or is inspired by it. These are just the ones that I liked the most (that doesn't necessary mean they're all good though) and would recommend to others if they’re interested in this subgenre. So, in no particular order check out these films...

In the Mouth of Madness (1994) -- is an American supernatural horror film directed and scored by John Carpenter and written by Michael De Luca. It stars Sam Neill, Julie Carmen, Jürgen Prochnow, David Warner and Charlton Heston.

When horror novelist Sutter Cane goes missing, freelance insurance investigator John Trent scrutinizes the claim made by his publisher, Jackson Harglow. He's to retrieve a yet-to-be-released manuscript and ascertain the writer's whereabouts. Accompanied by the novelist's editor, Linda Styles, and disturbed by nightmares from reading Cane's other novels, Trent makes an eerie nighttime trek to a supernatural town in New Hampshire.

In the Mouth of Madness pays tribute to the works of author H. P. Lovecraft in its exploration of insanity, and its title is derived from the Lovecraft novella At the Mountains of Madness.

Color Out of Space (2019) -- is an American science fiction Lovecraftian horror film directed and co-written by Richard Stanley, based on the short story "The Colour Out of Space" by H. P. Lovecraft. It stars Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson, Elliot Knight, Madeleine Arthur, Brendan Meyer, Q'orianka Kilcher and Tommy Chong. 

The Gardner family moves to a remote farmstead in rural New England to escape the hustle of the 21st century. They are busy adapting to their new life when a meteorite crashes into their front yard, melts into the earth, and infects both the land and the properties of space-time with a strange, otherworldly colour.

The Void (2016) -- is an Canadian Lovecraftian horror film written and directed by Steven Kostanski and Jeremy Gillespie, and produced by Jonathan Bronfman and Casey Walker. It stars Aaron Poole, Kenneth Welsh, Daniel Fathers, Kathleen Munroe, and Ellen Wong.

In the middle of a routine patrol, officer Daniel Carter happens upon a blood-soaked figure limping down a deserted stretch of road. He rushes the young man to a nearby rural hospital staffed by a skeleton crew, only to become trapped by a gathering of hooded cultists, and grotesque creatures.

The Lighthouse (2019) -- is an American film directed and produced by Robert Eggers, from a screenplay he wrote with his brother Max Eggers. It stars Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson as nineteenth-century lighthouse keepers in turmoil after being marooned at a remote New England outpost by a wild storm.

Cold Skin (2017) -- is an French-Spanish science fiction-horror film directed by Xavier Gens and based on the 2002 novel of the same name by Albert Sánchez Piñol.

On the edge of the Antarctic Circle, a ship approaches a desolate island, far from all shipping lanes. On board is a young man who is on his way to assume the post of weather observer and live in solitude at the end of the earth. He finds no trace of the man he has been sent to replace, just a deranged castaway who has witnessed a horror he refuses to name. For the next twelve months, his entire world will consist of a deserted cabin, trees, rocks, silence and the surrounding sea.

Note: I wasn't gonna include this but after watching The Lighthouse I figured why not. It certainly fits with the theme.

Underwater (2020) -- is an American science fiction action horror film directed by William Eubank. The film stars Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel, Jessica Henwick, John Gallagher Jr., Mamoudou Athie, and T.J. Miller.

After an earthquake destroys their underwater station, six researchers must navigate two miles along the dangerous, unknown depths of the ocean floor to make it to safety in a race against time.

Offseason (2021) - is an American supernatural horror film written and directed by Mickey Keating. It stars Jocelin Donahue, Joe Swanberg, Richard Brake, and Melora Walters.

Upon receiving a mysterious letter that her mother's grave has been vandalized, Marie quickly returns to the isolated offshore island where she's buried. Just as she arrives, the island closes for the season as the bridges get raised until springtime. Left stranded, Marie soon realizes that something is not quite right as she has one strange interaction after another. She must now unveil the mystery behind her mother's troubled past to make it out alive.

Annihilation (2018) -- is an science fiction psychological horror film written and directed by Alex Garland, based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer. It stars Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Tuva Novotny, and Oscar Isaac.

The story follows a group of explorers who enter "The Shimmer", a mysterious quarantined zone of mutating plants and animals caused by an alien presence.

Lena, a biologist and former soldier, joins a mission to uncover what happened to her husband inside Area X -- a mysterious quarantined zone that is expanding across the American coastline. Once inside, the expedition discovers a world of mutated landscapes and creatures, as dangerous as it is beautiful, that threatens both their lives and their sanity.

Event Horizon (1997) -- is an science fiction horror film directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and written by Philip Eisner. It stars Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, Kathleen Quinlan and Joely Richardson.

Set in 2047, it follows a crew of astronauts sent on a rescue mission after a missing spaceship, the Event Horizon, spontaneously appears in orbit around Neptune, only to discover that a sinister force has come back with it.

The Mist (2007) -- (also known as Stephen King's The Mist) is an American science-fiction horror film based on the 1980 novella The Mist by Stephen King. The film was written and directed by Frank Darabont. The film features an ensemble cast, including Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Nathan Gamble, Andre Braugher, Sam Witwer, Toby Jones, Frances Sternhagen, Buck Taylor, Robert Treveiler, William Sadler, Alexa Davalos, David Jensen, Chris Owen, Andy Stahl, and future The Walking Dead stars Jeffrey DeMunn, Laurie Holden, Melissa McBride, and Juan Gabriel Pareja.

After a violent storm, a dense cloud of mist envelops a small Maine town, trapping artist David Drayton and his five-year-old son in a local grocery store with other people. They soon discover that the mist conceals deadly horrors that threaten their lives, and worse, their sanity.

The Cellar (2022) -- is an supernatural horror film written and directed by Brendan Muldowney. It's an international co-production between Ireland and Belgium. It also starsElisha Cuthbert and Eoin Macken.

It follows a family whose daughter mysteriously vanishes in the cellar of the large estate they have just moved into.

Glorious (2022) -- is an American comedy horror film directed by Rebekah McKendry, and starring Ryan Kwanten and J. K. Simmons.

The film involves a heartbroken man who encounters a strange, all-knowing entity in a rest stop bathroom stall.

Bonus:

These are either based on Lovecraft's works, have Lovecraftian influence and references or gives off strong feels like one (even unintentionally).

Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities (2022)

The Rig (2023)

Stranger Things - Season 2

True Detective - Season 1

Four Single Player Videogames to play this Spooky Season (faint of heart edition)

Don't like horror? Me neither! (Unless it's those cheesy horror flicks like Paranormal Activity or games like FNAF). You can count me out of playing games like Mortuary Assistant, Madison, Soma, and depending on the day, even Backrooms. So I bring this list of single player games for your playing pleasure that are in festive theme but won't give you nightmares.

1. Bayonetta 1

The first installment of an extremely popular series, heavily referred to as one of the greatest games developed of all time, with a rocking’ OST to boot. Here, you play as the titular Bayonetta, an amnesiac Umbra Witch; The only thing that she knows about herself is that she has the left eye of “The Eyes of the World, a deeply desired artifact pair that are sought for by Umbra Witches and Lumen Sages alike (they are opposing factions that want absolutely nothing to do with the other). In the very first installment, help her in finding the right eye, as well as regain her lost memories.

Price: $19.99 USD (BUT until October 13th, it is on a 75% discount and can be yours for only $4.99 USD)

Platforms: Windows/MAC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox.

2. NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD

Take on the manager role for your friend, an up-and-coming live streamer, and social media personality named Kawaii Angel Chan, who likes you a little too much. Watch her slowly gain followers and subscribers while also managing her personal life as well. In this game, it depends on how you respond to both her as a content creator, as well as her real self-offline. With endings that could be good, like becoming her romantic partner, or even bad endings like Angel being cancelled online and her career being ended for good.

Price: $15.99 USD.

Platform(s): Windows/MAC via Steam, Nintendo Switch (upcoming).

3. Little Witch in the Woods

Nothing says faint of heart like a good old’ fashioned farming simulator. Play as Ellie, a Witch in training, who looks to help people with the power of magic. Forage ingredients for potions, fish, and (of course) talk to cats, in addition to the townspeople and form friendships and the bond of a lifetime. Explore the world far and wide, and you could also uncover the secrets of said world as well. If you liked Stardew Valley, you would like this game for sure!

Price: $15.99 USD (Disclaimer: this game is currently in Early Access, so in its current version, it is playable, but still in development).

Platforms: Windows/Mac via Steam, Xbox/ Xbox Cloud.

4. Sucker for Love: First Date

One day you, the main character (who happens to be obsessed with the Occult and likewise topics such as H.P. Lovecraft Mythos) decide to do a summoning ritual thinking nothing would come out of it, just for you to be proven wrong, but in the good way. In this dating simulator, charm three heroines, who all happen to be Lovecraftian creatures, each with their own unique routes and personalities to boot. Romance one of the girls or die trying in this light hearted and comedic story!

Price: $9.99 USD.

Platforms: Windows/MAC via Steam.

Anyways, thank you for taking the time to read this, and if you do end up trying one of these games, tell me what you think, or if you have any recommendations that I missed, definitely leave them in the comments! HAPPY HALLOWEEN SEASON 😺!!!

Cosmic Eldritch Entity, Cthulhu

Selective, Indie RP blog writing/roleplaying since 2010 Mun and Muses are 21+ Multiship and Multiverse friendly, plot in IMs, no discord

Tracking: chewsyourfate Follows Back From: @deepseawarlock

fc: rom.an reig.ns

[ The following roleplay blog delves into the eerie and unsettling world of Cthulhu, a character derived from the works of H.P. Lovecraft. It explores dark and macabre themes, and delves into the realm of cosmic horror. Please be aware that the content presented may contain disturbing and unsettling elements, including graphic descriptions and themes of madness, despair, and otherworldly terror. Reader discretion is advised. This blog is intended for mature audiences who have an interest in Lovecraftian horror and are comfortable with exploring the depths of the unknown. It is important to remember that the content presented is purely fictional and should not be taken as endorsement or promotion of any real-world beliefs, practices, or ideologies.]

Biography:

Cthulhu, an ancient cosmic entity of unfathomable power and horror, exists beyond the comprehension of mortal minds. Described as an immense, octopus-like being with a grotesque mix of human, dragon, and alien features, Cthulhu dwells in the sunken city of R'lyeh, resting in a death-like slumber beneath the depths of the ocean.

Legend tells of Cthulhu's origins in the distant past when Earth was ruled by alien deities known as the Great Old Ones. Cthulhu is considered one of the most formidable among them, representing chaos, madness, and the insignificance of mankind in the grand tapestry of the universe.

Throughout the ages, Cthulhu has been worshipped by cults and secret societies, drawn to its dark allure and the promise of unimaginable power. Its mere presence can induce madness and despair, as the human mind struggles to comprehend its otherworldly form and the existential dread it embodies.

Though largely dormant, Cthulhu's influence seeps into the dreams and nightmares of humanity, whispering ancient secrets and driving those who dare to uncover its mysteries to the brink of insanity. It is said that when the stars align and the stars are right, Cthulhu shall rise from its slumber, heralding an era of chaos and the subjugation of mankind.

In a unique twist, here Cthulhu has taken upon a human form, concealing its true cosmic nature behind a mortal guise. Adopting the name Kai Manu, it walks among humanity, observing and manipulating from the shadows. "Kai" is a unisex name of Hawaiian origin, meaning "sea" or "ocean," which aligns with Cthulhu's deep-sea origins. "Manu" is a Polynesian name that means "bird" or "spirit," reflecting the ancient and otherworldly nature of Cthulhu.

Kai Manu appears as an enigmatic figure, with piercing eyes that seem to hold ancient knowledge and a presence that exudes an aura of unease. Despite its human appearance, there are subtle hints that betray its true nature—an otherworldly grace, an unnerving aura, and an underlying sense of something not quite right.

Through this chosen form, Cthulhu seamlessly integrates itself into human society, maneuvering through various circles and power structures to further its own inscrutable agenda. Its interactions are carefully calculated, as it subtly influences events and individuals, sowing seeds of discord and madness.

Yet, despite its human guise, Kai Manu remains a vessel for the immense power and cosmic horror that lies within. There are moments when the façade cracks, revealing glimpses of its true form—tentacles writhing beneath its skin, eyes that glow with an otherworldly light, and a voice that resonates with an ancient, alien timbre.

While its motivations and ultimate goals remain shrouded in mystery, one thing is certain: even in this human form, Cthulhu remains an entity of immense power and malevolence, capable of unleashing untold destruction and chaos upon an unsuspecting world. The question lingers: What grand design does this human guise serve, and what horrors lie in wait when the true nature of Cthulhu is revealed?

H.R. Giger's Necronomicon - H.R. Giger Review

I wouldn't say I'm an artwork connoisseur by any means. I can appreciate art when I see it, but modern art leaves me pretty cold, so I don't know that I get it. However, when I love art, I really love it. I love looking at Salvador Dali's work and I wouldn't say I love looking at H.R. Giger's work, but I think it's incredible. His art book, H.R. Giger's Necronomicon has probably his most famous work of art, because it clearly was the inspiration for the alien in the film Alien.

Giger's work in like fascinating. The longer I stare at it, the more unnerved I get by it. I think it's fitting that this book is called Necronomicon, clearly taken from horror author H.P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft describes his protagonists in multiple stories being unable to look at, or describe an esoteric item or creature lest they lose their mind and that feeling, of wanting to look away, but being fascinated by what I'm seeing and then needing to look away as I get increasingly more unnerved is exactly the feeling I have looking at Giger's artwork. In closing, I don't know that I could give Giger a higher praise than this, but if Hell is a place that exists and if for some reason I was to end up there and it could be individualized per person, putting me in a Giger-esque hell for eternity would be the stuff of my nightmares and I would hate it. Quick aside - But one critique about the Alien franchise and it is a franchise I love and have a lot of affection for, but they really lose the horror aspect for me after the first film. Sure, the Xenomorphs are big creepy bug looking creatures, but like my description of Giger's artwork, when the xenomorphs lose that mechanical horror aspect, as if they could be both machine and organic tissue, so you're really not sure what you're looking at, that's just the epitome of Lovecraftian horror and honestly I don't think anyone does that better than Giger.

5/5

SCAREFIELD Unleashes "Ancient Evil" - A Thrash Metal Epic with a Lovecraftian Twist!

New EP, NIGHTMARE TALES, Out NOW! SCAREFIELD, the electrifying, horror infused force in the world of thrash metal, SIMONE MANULI and MARKUS KRISTOFFERSSON, is set to shake the foundations of the music scene with their latest single and accompanying animated music video, “Ancient Evil.” This track is part of their highly anticipated EP, NIGHTMARE TALES, an H.P. Lovecraft inspired masterpiece that…

View On WordPress

KR’S LIST OF 6 UNDERRATED HORROR FLICKS FOR HALLOWEEN

Hey, gang! Burned out from repeat viewings of the entire Nightmare on Elm Street series, Friday the 13th series, or even the Halloween series? Never fear, because I’ve got recommendations for some of the most underrated and quite frankly, often overlooked horror flicks to check out this Halloween season. So in no particular order, this is my list of 6 underrated horror flicks to check out during Halloween!

6) VAULT OF HORROR

Despite the wraparound story, the lack of an actual Vault-Keeper, and the fact that none of the stories are adapted from the actual EC horror comics series of the same name, 1973’s follow-up to “Tales from the Crypt” by Amicus might as well be considered a superior sequel to the first film. With 4 out of 5 excellent stories that capture the feel & tone of the comics as well as excellent performances from Terry-Thomas & Doctor Who alumni Tom Baker, Vault of Horror is a criminally underrated anthology film that I can’t recommend highly enough.

5) SILENT RAGE

Chuck Norris fights Jason Voorhees. I can’t describe this movie any further than those 5 aforementioned words. A movie where Chuck Norris fights a unstoppable killer resurrected through the wonders of science. Despite lacking a good soundtrack (aside from the closing credits) and somewhat slow pacing in the middle, the mood & suspense makes this early Norris flick an excellent movie if you dig horror movies and/or if you wanna watch Chuck Norris roundhouse kick a genetically altered killing machine into oblivion on Halloween night.

4) TETSUO: THE IRON MAN

This tale about a salaryman slowly turning into a metal being may possibly be the most twisted horror movie hailing from Japan that I’ve seen in recent memory. And I’m not kidding when I say that. It’s a crazed fusion of Cronenburg body-horror & psychological horror that will leave you blown away or comatose upon witnessing the insanity this film has to offer. While I wish the movie was longer, Tetsuo the Iron Man is one wild ride that’ll keep you glued to your seat until the movie ends. Recommended if you like body-horror flicks or want to see a guy’s particular body part turn into a power drill (Again, I’m not kidding).

3) DEEPSTAR SIX

From the creator of Friday the 13th comes a pleasant surprise of a monster movie that was released in 1989 where you had 5+ underwater sci-fi flicks. With good performances from the cast including Miguel Ferrer & some awesome creature effects, Deepstar Six, despite me preferring Leviathan over this, has a lot of positives going for it that I cannot ignore adding this to my recommendation list. Watch it!

2) H.P. LOVECRAFT’S FROM BEYOND

Following off the heels of his earlier hit by the name of Re-Animator, the late Stuart Gordon once again brings one of Lovecraft’s short stories to the big screen (which is only the length of the opening scene in the movie btw). Where Re-Animator felt more like a splatter fest of a horror comedy, From Beyond is true Lovecraftian horror strengthen by performances from the cast including the underrated Jeffrey Combs & Ken Foree, awesome special effects, and a creepy soundtrack. Oh, and Barbara Crampton in a dominatrix outfit. Highly recommended for fans of Re-Animator, Stuart Gordon & H.P. Lovecraft.

1) THE BURNING

While the slasher genre has Freddy, Michael Myers, Chucky & Jason, nobody ever talks about Cropsy, based on the urban legend. Enter 1981’s “The Burning”. This movie has everything: Dimwitted campers getting hacked with gardening sheers, Tom Savini doing the special effects, early film appearances by Jason Alexander & Holly Hunter, a soundtrack composed by Rick Wakeman of Yes fame, and the list goes on. The one thing that kinda holds it back nowadays is the fact that the movie was produced & written by the notorious Weinstein brothers, which is unfortunate because this is a good movie. But if you can get past that, “The Burning” is a true slasher classic that you should watch.

And with that, I hope you get some enjoyment out of these horror flicks. I may have some more underrated flicks to recommend that were left off the list, but the aforementioned titles should get you started.

Until next time, this is KR signing off!

And happy Halloween!

BLUT AUS NORD Release New Album "Nahab" on August 25th, Details Revealed

“Nahab“, the second part of BLUT AUS NORD‘s “Disharmonium” album series, will be unleashed onto the world on August 25th. As a first taste of these impending Lovecraftian nightmares, Debemur Morti Productions dare unveil full details about the forthcoming record. “Disharmonium – Nahab” finds BLUT AUS NORD returning, as if by compulsion, to the weird otherworlds of H.P. Lovecraft to reflect them…

View On WordPress

Magenta Nightmare by Johanna Saarenpää

Nyarlathotep (2001, Christian Matzke)

1/14/20

Long by Loneanimator

Dreams and Nightmares: Hunters, Gods and the manifestation of great knowledge

Warning: Spoilers for Bloodborne and its story for the entire post below, you have been warned:

Concept of Dreams and Nightmares

In Bloodborne, Dreams and Nightmares are something created by a Great One, creatures with immense power comparable to gods. With these powers, they can create a space in an unknown realm that can replicate or in some cases, completely transport the locations of the waking world. Interestingly enough, nightmares tend to stack on top of each other physically. It is not known why and you can only see nightmares above you and not below.

We only know of four dreams and nightmares; The Hunter's Dream, The Hunters' Nightmare, Nightmare Frontier and Mensis Nightmare. Each of these are created by the Moon Presence, Kos, an unknown Loran Great One and the Brain of Mensis respectively. There are also different reasons as to why these were created, I will get into them later.

Unlike most of Bloodborne, dreams and nightmares actually have a direct connections to the literature of H.P Lovecraft, most of the concept has been altered, such as them being created only by gods, while the dream world in Lovecraftian literature is a pre-established realm or set of realms. Though, similar themes such as being able to physically send yourself there, but the traditional method is usually with cosmic assistance, is shared.

(Author's Note: The Lovecraftian Mythos is so large at this point, if I get any of this wrong, let me know please. I will fix it asap!)

Known Dreams and Nightmares

As mentioned before, there are four known dreams and nightmares and I explained the origin of them, at least to our best guesses and what the game tells us.

The most iconic and recognizable of them is the Hunter's Dream. It is a dream that was created from the memory of the Old Hunter's Workshop that was established by Gehrman. This dream was created by Flora, better known as the Moon Presence when Gehrman and Laurence sacrificed a Child of Blood to create a deal with the Moon Presence. Gehrman was the only of the two taken, as Laurence was going to come back with Yharnam, the Pthumerian Queen's, child. But  he lost himself in the ruins of Pthumeru and died, unbeknownst to Gehrman. This dream only contains Gehrman, an animated doll as well as any Hunter that is chosen by the Moon Presence to live out a certain duty. The doll was something that existed in the previous iteration of the workshop, her use was unknown, however, she was created in the image of Gehrman's apprentice, Maria. It seems the care she was given in the waking world seemed to give her a bit of life and Flora assisted in the realization, completely animating her and also giving her the voice of Maria. It is not clear, however, if it was completely Flora's doing as the doll has eyes on the back of her own glass eyes. "Eyes on the inside" a statement that is stated to mean someone or something has ascended due to their insight. Regardless, the doll has been given the ability to transform bloodlust and the urge to become a beast into strength and she is passive with the Moon Presence as she prays to it to give the Hunter a safe wake. Another inhabitant, or really, inhabitants of the dream are Messengers. Souls of dead deformed children. It is unknown why they are there or how, but they are tiny and they seem to show emotion and expression. An interesting thing to note is that messengers show up also in the Nightmare Frontier but I will get to that later.

The Nightmare Frontier is a space of incredibly large and winding geometry. Unlike all the others, the origin of this nightmare, as in who created it is unknown. It is possible the large Amygdala we see at the end of the level created it, but nothing suggests this. We do know, however, the place it was created from, which is Loran. The same Loran we can visit via a chalice. A small amount of creatures reside here, such as trolls. Though, two interesting enemies are here. Those being Crawlers and Winter Lanters. The aforementioned Messengers also lie here... but underneath the Crawlers bodies. Unfortunately, to guess what this means would mean making something up. The same is with the Wintern Lanters as their massive head is made up of Messengers. Another incredibly intriguing and unexplained detail is their relation to the Plain Doll, as their figure resembles her to an uncanny level, the Plain Doll is also the seeming only one of her kind and she was made by Gehrman to resemble only one specific person. So it seems Messengers are integral to the dreams and nightmares, but there is absolutely no way to explain this. Another interesting part of the frontier is the large Amygdala we see at the end of the level. It is, of course, like the others we see, however, it is noticeably larger and has orange eyes, unlike and of the others. Something to note is that other kinds of Amygdala are known as Lesser Amygdala, as this one is just an Amygdala. The reason for this is unexplained, presumably they are a species but the specifics are not stated.

The Nightmare of Mensis was created by the encaptured Great One, known as the Brain of Mensis. A Great One of completely unknown origin. Though the origin of the location seems to be just that the entire school of Mensis was transported to the dream realm as Edgar, someone who was not sleeping as he would have no reason to, is found there. However, Micolash, somebody who is dreaming, is. The brain inflicts, frenzy, or madness, why or how is unknown. Regardless, the nightmare is hosted by Micolash, who is the leader of the Mensis school and who wishes to converse with Kos. He has the child of Yharnam, Mergo as it is protected by his wet nurse. Yharnam's ghost herself is also there, in resentment most likely and there so she can see her child safe. The origin of the wet nurse is unknown. She is described as a Great One but nothing really suggests this other than her ability to clone herself, fly and create a plume of shadow. The school of Mensis is also inhabited by tiny people in tight fit armor and large women in similar armor, they are suggested to also be protectors of Mergo.

Last, we have the Hunters' Nightmare. It is a multi-layered nightmare but also one that is considered a complete one. It was created by Kos and her resentment for the Hunters who killed her and her child. It is also the place that holds the minds of all Hunters who fall to bloodlust, becoming a purgatory. The first segment of it contains a defiled version of Yharnam, with rivers of blood, incredibly reminiscent of one of the Buddhist hells along with Ludwig, an old leader of the hunter's Executioner faction, but one who fell to bloodlust. However, he is different as he found the Moonlight Greatsword that contained the knowledge of the cosmos. It brings Ludwig clarity, which allows him sentience past his transformation and even allows him to speak clearly, unlike other beasts. His arena is also reminiscent of the same hell, as in the same one, a horse demon who tortures the souls in a river of blood resides. The next part of the nightmare is the Research Hall. In its namesake it was a way for the Healing Church to research and experiment on the people of Yharnam. The location of this hall is hidden to us in the waking world but it is the inside and upper floors of the Astral Clocktower we can see in Yharnam. The enemies of the hall are odd, as some of them are people who have incredibly enlarged heads. These are experiments of the church who have had water pumped in their heads so that they may gain insight and gain the ability of conversing. This was actually a success as Adeline, a passive patient, is able to ascend into something more as we give her brain fluid. She gives us the Milkweed rune, which is said that it was a whisper of a celestial attendant, presumably a Great One. It also gives us insight that Lumenflower, previously just assumed as a flower, is now given the role of assisting in searching for a greater truth, or eldritch knowledge. At the top of the hall, are early iterations of Celestial Emissaries, called living failures. Humans who were transformed into kin or attempts of kin. Their heads are overinflated, though they are able to cast magic meaning their transformation was somewhat successful. They also reside against a giant Lumenflower. And lastly in the hall, now the very top of the tower, is Maria, Gehrman's apprentice. She resides in the tower, sitting alone in a chair. It seems as if she slit her wrists, assuming she was trying to attempt suicide in the waking world or in the dream due to the immense guilt she felt by the hamlet massacre. However, it was most likely the former since she has her Rakuyo, a weapon she threw away in disgust and most definitely did not get another copy of, most likely a punishment for her by Kos. Regardless, when the Hunter approaches, she attempts to kill the them in hopes they will not reach the hamlet so Kos cannot be disturbed. She dies anyways and drops the key to the tower's clock. The clock itself contains Caryll runes for each segment, it also opens up once the object is presented to it. The next area is the hamlet itself. Looking below, the Yharnam part of the nightmare is seen. Which explains a previously seen event in that area where a snail woman falls from the sky, as she came from the hamlet. Going through the hamlet, a priest will expunge dialogue about how Byrgenwerth did the defilement and how Kos and her child were murdered. The same can be heard through the hamlet as various women can be heard whispering about Kos being dead. Not much is seen through the hamlet other than the transformed people who worshiped Kos along with the parasites that came from Kos' body which was used for food and other things such as candles. Going through the hamlet does not reveal much importance except for a large corpse that can be seen on the shore from various vantage points. There is the rest of the hamlet along with a cave system and some mines where they mined the parasites themselves as an overabundance of them is found especially here. At the end we can see an incredible amount of the snail women pray to the shore, where the corpse of Kos lies. When approaching, a large shriveled man crawls out of Kos, holding her giant placenta in his hand. This is the child that Kos lost due to Gehrman and his entourage. It is interesting to note, however, that the orphan is human in size in shape. Meaning that the child's father is possibly a human. However, to avoid any uncomfortable conversations, I will leave it at that. Another note is that the cries of the orphan are Gehrman's, the two are connected directly as when the orphan dies, Gehrman is said to sleep soundly for the first time in ages. When destroying the orphan, the spirit of the orphan can be satiated and sent to ascend the nightmare, seemingly satisfying Kos and the nightmare ends.

The Dream and the Form

So, something I have not mentioned is the weird form some people seem to take in the dreams and nightmares. It does, however, start with the orphan. He did not die as a full grown man, he died as a child in size. That is how every Great One is, we see this with ourselves if we ascend to a Great One. The justification is that it is the Orphan, but if he were still alive. Meaning that the form in the waking world, is not always the form they take in the nightmare and or dream. This is also seen with Maria, she did not have her Rakuyo and I find it odd she'd be wearing those clothes in the nightmare. Another contender, however, is Laurence. Laurence is found in the chapel in the Yharnam portion of the nightmare and takes the appearance of the Cleric Beast but exuding an incredible amount of fire and lava. However... Laurence is very complex because his story is based in cut content... But also his story is told only in the chalice dungeons. This will be a lot.

Laurence is obviously the Blood-letting beast in Pthumeru. Not a Cleric Beast... How? Ok, so when first fighting the beast, he is a normal beast. The second time, his skull is being cracked, with a large gash in his head. The third and last time, very close to the queen, is it a third time but its head is completely gone and being replaced by a worm. Laurence and his entire story outside of this, though is trying to find Mergo, the Blood-letting beast is going directly to Yharnam, the queen and is one of the final bosses before facing her. So, how is this relevant? Well, the head of Laurence is set onto grand display in the Grand Cathedral where Amelia is fought. In the nightmare equivalent of this area also has Laurence's skull, a human skull but regardless, the interesting part in this is the place where the skull is broken on Laurence's skull, is the exact same place as the Blood-letting beast. Plus, we know the Healing Church also explores the chalices, meaning they were always able to just collect his head at any time and bring it back to the surface. Or they went to Pthumeru physically and got it, as the catacombs are built directly below Yharnam. So, I think that this is just testament that it would be very weird to say that Laurence was a Cleric Beast especially since we've seen beasts who come from devout people seem to be quite different.

(Author's Note: In Cut Content, Laurence was 100% the Blood-letting beast, once defeated, the head would be like Ludwig and would be in the arena and you could talk to it, it asks where its head is and the voice would be the same as Laurence in the cutscene at Byrgenwerth.)

Essentially, to put an even longer speculation short, the dream and or nightmare form is not always what appears in the waking world. I do not know why but it is an interesting part of the system and can put into question many of the things we see in those parts of the game.

________________________________________________

If you read this, thank you! If I get anything wrong as well, let me know. I should also mention, this post is not the most concrete thing ever, not everything here is stated so if you believe something else, that is ok.

The Character Forge: Building an Embodiment of Insanity

I’m going to diverge from my usual routine a bit today. Normally, I pick a pop culture character and make a build for them. But today, I want to do something different. I’m going to build a character around a theme, motif, or focus area. I’ll be covering a character focused on insanity. My goal for this build is to create a character who is explicitly crafted to instill and feed paranoia, delusions, and psychological trauma in as many facets as possible, including racial traits, feats, and spells where applicable. 

Building on Insanity:

it’s easy to simply say I want to drive people crazy, but it’s another thing to actually map out the effects you want to have on people. So before we can address individual spells and features, we need to discuss what impacts we want our abilities to have.

Alter Senses: Spells such as Unearthly Chorus, Blindness/Deafness or Blur that distort what a person sees and hears is a great way to instill a dread of insanity. Spells that buff your abilities or debuff the target are great ways to effect people’s perceptions.

Hallucinations: Similar to alter senses, Hallucinations cause people to see things that aren’t really there, playing a trick on their mind. A focus on illusion magic will help with this.

Fear: While insanity is not intrinsically linked to horror, the ravings of writers like Lovecraft and Poe often feature protagonists who have lost their minds or interact with people who have, usually accompanied by horrible nightmare imagery. Frightening people is a good way to warp their mind.

Mind Control: There’s nothing scarier than realizing you don’t have full control of yourself. Through Charmed effects like Compulsion, Command, and Dominate Person, you take away free will and make their mind your plaything.

Mental Anguish: a focus on attacking the mind itself, psychic damage is the best way to actively attack the minds of your victims.

Mind Alterations: Permanent changes to someone’s mind like Modify Memory can be truly horrifying, especially when the stolen or altered memories make it so that a person’s mind no longer makes sense.

Powers, Features, and Abilities

Altered Senses Blindness Deafness (Bard, Cleric, Sorcerer, Wizard, Spore Druid, Fiend Warlock, Undying Warlock) Blur (Artificer, Sorcerer, Wizard, Desert Land Druid, Hexblade Warlock) Maddening Darkness (Warlock, Wizard) Mental Prison (Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) Pass Without Trace (Druid, Ranger, Trickery Cleric) Power Word Pain (Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) Unearthly Chorus (Bard)

Illusions, Delusions, and Hallucinations Alter Self (Artificer, Sorcerer, Wizard, Warlock: Master of Myriad Forms*) Disguise Self (Artificer, Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard, Trickery Cleric, Warlock: Mask of Many Faces) Dissonant Whispers (Bard, Aberrant Mind Sorcerer, Great Old One Warlock) Distort Value (Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) Hallucinatory Terrain (Bard, Druid, Warlock, Wizard) Illusory Dragon (Wizard) Major Image (Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) Minor Illusion (Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) Mirage Arcane (Bard, Druid, Wizard) Mirror Image (Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard, Trickery Cleric, Coast Land Druid) Mislead (Bard, Wizard) Project Image (Bard, Wizard) Silent Image (Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard) Simulacrum (Wizard) Weird (Wizard)

Psychic Barrage Mind Sliver (Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) Mind Spike (Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) Phantasmal Force (Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard) Phantasmal Killer (Wizard, Hexblade Warlock) Psychic Scream (Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) Shadow Blade (Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) Synaptic Static (Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard)

Fear and Paranoia Cause Fear (Warlock, Wizard) Enemies Abound (Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) Eyebite (Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) Fear (Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard, Oath of Conquest) Hallow* (Cleric, Fiend Warlock, Divine Soul Sorcerer, Theurgy Wizard)

Brainwashing Command (Cleric, Paladin, Fiend Warlock, Divine Soul Sorcerer, Theurgy Wizard) Compulsion (Bard, Order Cleric, Heroism Paladin, Aberrant Mind Sorcerer Warlock: Bewitching Whispers) Dominate Person (Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard, Order, Trickery Cleric, Conquest, Oathbreaker, Treachery Paladin, Archfey, Great Old One Warlock) Enthrall (Bard, Sorcerer, Heroism Paladin) Incite Greed (Cleric, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) Mass Suggestion (Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) Otto’s Irresistible Dancing (Bard, Wizard) Suggestion (Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) Tasha’s Hideous Laughter (Bard, Wizard, Great Old One Warlock)

Mind Altering Crown of Madness (Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard, Oathbreaker Paladin) Confusion (Bard, Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard, Knowledge Cleric, Oathbreaker, Treachery Paladin, Warlock: Dreadful Word) Feeblemind (Bard, Druid, Warlock, Wizard) Gift of Gab (Bard, Wizard) Glibness (Bard, Warlock) Mind Blank (Bard, Wizard) Modify Memory (Bard, Wizard, Trickery Cleric, Aberrant Mind Sorcerer)

Eldritch Horrors (Fear of the Unknown) Arms of Hadar (Warlock, Aberrant Mind Sorcerer) Create Homunculus (Wizard) Enervation (Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) Evard’s Black Tentacles (Warlock, Aberrant Mind Sorcerer) Hunger of Hadar (Warlock, Aberrant Mind Sorcerer)

Oh How the Mind Races

When setting up a race for this build, like with the spell list, we need a race whose features exacerbate the insanity features.

Changeling: Being able to shapeshift so easily is a great way to make someone feel crazy.

Eladrin Elf - Winter: Their Fey Teleportation can Frighten those they appear next to.

Gith: They have psionic features.

Kalashtar: Split between two minds, Kalashtar is a race with psychic powers.

Simic Hybrid: While not inherently mental or insane, their existence as gene spliced humans with animal features, it’s an easy way to invoke Lovecraftian Horror.

A Class in Judgement

Bard     Whispers: This subclass is hellbent on attacking the mind, unearthing people’s fears, and preying on them.

Sorcerer     Aberrant Mind: This subclass gets their power from a mental aberration, and is a Sorcerer variation on the Great Old One Warlock, and invokes Lovecraftian Horror.

Warlock     Great Old One: Invoking the twisted mind of H.P. Lovecraft, who himself was paranoid, the Old Gods similarly prey upon the minds of mortals.

Wizard     Divination: Not really a mental subclass, but you could flavor Portent as messing with perceptions, and making people misjudge their aim.     Illusion: This school of wizardry is focused on making people believe things that aren’t there.

Stats and Proficiencies

As the main classes suggested cast with Charisma, that is our main stat. You need to convince people to believe your mad ravings are true. Dexterity will make you hard to hit, all the better to convince people you aren’t real, are a figment of their imagination, or otherwise paranormal. A good Constitution ensures that even if you are hit, you can act like it’s no big deal, or like you’re supernaturally immune to pain or injury. Having high Wisdom reinforces your own perceptions and makes sure you can’t be fooled. Strength will follow, it’s not a super important stat for this build, but if you want to deal at least decent damage with your physical attacks, it’s a little important. And Intelligence gets dumped. Book Smarts won’t help you much in deceiving people or driving them insane.

Race: Changeling Background: Charlatan Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Class: College of Whispers Bard (14)             Aberrant Mind Sorcerer (6) Base Stats:    Strength: 10 (0)    Dexterity: 19 (+4)    Constitution: 14 (+2)    Intelligence: 8 (-1)    Wisdom: 12 (+1)    Charisma: 20 (+5) Saving Throws:    Strength: 0    Dexterity: +10    Constitution: +2    Intelligence: -1    Wisdom: +1    Charisma: +11 Combat Stats:     HP: 137     AC: 17     Speed: 30     Initiative: +7     Proficiency Bonus: +6     Passive Perception: 17     Dark Vision: 0 feet Proficiencies:     Deception (Charlatan)     Insight (Changeling)     Intimidation (Changeling)     Perception (Bard)     Persuasion (Bard)     Slight of Hand (Changeling)     Stealth (Bard) Skills: Acrobatics: +7                Medicine: +4 Animal Handling: +4       Nature: +2 Arcana: +2                      Perception: +7 Athletics: +3                    Performance: +8 Deception: +17               Persuasion: +17 History: +2                      Religion: +2 Insight: +13                     Sleight of Hand: +10 Intimidation: +17             Stealth: +10 Investigation: +2             Survival: +4 Damage Resistances:   Psychic Sorcerer Feature: Sorcery Points   6 Sorcery Points Sorcerer Feature: Metamagic   Extended Spell   Subtle Spell Bard Feature: Magical Secrets    Evard’s Black Tentacles    Immolation    Pass Without Trace    Phantsmal Killer

Spell Slots    1st (4)    2nd (3)    3rd (3)    4th (3)    5th (3)    6th (2)    7th (2)    8th (1)    9th (1)

Spellbook of Madness

Cantrips                                2nd Level                        4th Level    Chill Touch                             Blindness/Deafness         Compulsion    Dancing Lights                       Blur                                  Confusion    Friends                                  Calm Emotions                 Evard’s Black Tentacles    Mending                                Crown of Madness            Phantasmal Killer    Message                                Darkness                       5th Level    Mind Sliver                             Detect Thoughts               Dominate Person    Minor Illusion                          Mind Spike                       Immolation    Prestidigitation                       Mirror Image                     Mislead    Unearthly Chorus                   Pass Without Trace          Modify Memory 1st Level                                  Phantasmal Force             Synaptic Static    Arms of Hadar                       Shadow Blade                6th Level    Dissonant Whispers            3rd Level                             Eyebite    False Life                               Enemies Abound            7th Level    Tasha’s Hideous Laughter     Fear                                   Project Image                                                  Hunger of Hadar                                                  Major Image                                                  Sending 

Actions:    Countercharm: Using a Performance action grants friendly creatures within 30 feet radius advantage against charmed and frightened conditions. Bonus Actions:     Bardic Inspiration: Add 1d10 to 5 allies’ rolls per long rest.     Flexible Casting: Convert your Sorcery Points into spell slots. Features:     Change Appearance: Shapeshift as an action. You have advantage on Deception checks to cover your tracks.     Divergent Persona: You have proficiency with a tool. Create a false identity for this proficiency. While using this identity, you have doubled proficiency with the tool of your choice.     False Identity: You have created a fake identity, and can forge documents if you have seen their handwriting.     Font of Inspiration: Regain a Bardic Inspiration after a rest.     Invasive Thoughts: Create a telepathic link with a creature 30 feet away as a bonus action.     Mantle of Whispers: When someone dies, steal their shadow and wear their shadow as a disguise for an hour. You gain access to the dead person’s general information.     Psionic Defense: You resist Psychic damage.     Psionic Sorcery: You cast Aberrant Mind spells without components.     Psionic Spells: You gain additional Aberrant Mind spells     Psychic Blades: Add 5d6 Psychic damage to your melee weapon attacks.     Shadow Lore: Those who fail a Wisdom check become Charmed to believe that you know and will expose the deepest darkest secrets, and obey your commands out of fear of being found out.     Song of Rest: With a song, add 1d10 to healing effects from a rest.     Unsettling Visage: Once per rest, impose disadvantage on a creature trying to hurt you.     Warped Being: your AC is 13 + your DEX mod while without armor     Words of Terror: Your words instill fear for 1 hour.

This build was a bit unorthodox, but it was also a lot of fun to put together. Can you think of a better way to embody madness and insanity in DnD 5e? Do you think you’ll use this in a campaign? Do you have any ideas for something else I can do with DnD 5e? Thanks for joining me, and I’ll see you guys next time in the Character Forge, where heroes are made.

'Killadelphia' Gets A Spin Off Lovecraftian Horror Series, 'Nita Hawes’ Nightmare Blog' This Fall

‘Killadelphia’ Gets A Spin Off Lovecraftian Horror Series, ‘Nita Hawes’ Nightmare Blog’ This Fall

The horror-filled Killadelphia universe is to expand with the inclusion new tie-in title, Nita Hawes’ Nightmare Blog from Killadelphia co-creators writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jason Shawn Alexander. From the first look below, it’s a series that is a more than a little bit inspired by the writing os H.P. Lovecraft. Speaking to Comic Book Resources. Barnes said: “Nita Hawes’ Nightmare Blog is…

View On WordPress