#aeon of monsters

[loquaciousnesssesquipedalian]

Verden Chronicles background

To start off at the beginning, thousands of years ago, an alien civilization came to the planet their evolutionary ancestors evolved from millions of years before. Their purpose of arriving as ultimately because of their pursuit of knowledge, no matter the cost. Thus, they decimated the populations of what sapient inhabitants there were and created a select few species from modified DNA of a certain group of the sapients. The resulting beings were highly adaptable and literally designed to be slaves, and they ultimately rebelled against their creators, driving them away but with so much of a resulting loss that they were driven to a stone age.

The slaves were humanity, or more specifically, those and closely related others. The creators/masters served as the inspiration of angel and demon equivalents alike in many mythologies. The period before the Stone Age was what would eventually be called the Golden Age, but that’s a misnomer. Sometime after the Fall, as the event became known as, other extraterrestrial civilizations decided to take advantage of humanity, driven particularly by the unique circumstances involved. As the native Terran sapient civilizations finally fell one by one and resulting ones to humans, other extraterrestrial civilizations posed as either the gods of their preexisting faiths or were directly involved in the creation of new religions, and those combined factors ultimately resulted in literally all modern Terran religions, tribal or otherwise. This is what would become the Aeon of Gods, succeeding the Aeon of Tragedy.

After the Aeon of Gods came the Aeon of Monsters, with dwindling populations of megafauna still posing a serious threat to many human civilizations. These included more well known prehistoric Cenozoic mammal megafauna as well as dragons and persisting dinosaur populations.

Megamammals: These included various rhinoceros-like mammals, elephant types, and now extinct big cats and megamarsupials, and they are at least the partial source of the concept of several mythological creatures.

Dinosaurs: The Grand Bleak Death, the extraterrestrial plague that wiped out most dinosaurs all those millions of years ago, did not entirely do so, at all. The result was barely persisting populations, and also the ancestors of various civilizations that left Terra for other Telluric (habitable to Terran life) worlds. The “gods” that created humanity were among the latter. The still Terran populations also had some of the sapient species that came before the creation of humans. While some may claim that birds are dinosaurs, that’s like saying that humans are monkeys.

Dragons: Very far from what modern fantasy cliches imply, these “successors” of dinosaurs in general are simply any animal of the rhynocephalia order, the sole surviving Terran population of which are the tuataras, natives to what is now New Zealand which look and act almost exactly like common lizards. As for the exact variety, there were limbless, winged, and tetrapodal ones, but not hexapodal ones outside of some rare mutations. Some of the megadragons, or dragon megafauna, still persist on other planets due to having been introduced to other Telluric planets, along with some other microdragon species.

After these megafauna populations died out, then came the Aeon of Heroes, corresponding to the late Bronze Age. The Aeon of Heroes saw some alien interference, but only at very certain events.

After the Aeon of Heroes came the Aeon of Myths, which lasted until after the Renaissance. After the Aeon of Myths comes the modern Aeon of Hunts and Wars, or as some like to call it, the “Aeon of Horus”, and it’s the single worst period of human existence since the Aeon of Tragedy because of evil ruling the world.

As for who keeps tabs on the hidden history of humanity and monsters from here and beyond, that would be the Secretarians, and the Secretarians have many enemies.

Secretarians: Beginning in Bavaria as one of several groups calling themselves “Illuminati”, the Secretarians relatively quickly changed their name to avoid confusion with the others. While those other groups were fighting with each other for a chance of male-heterosupremacist dominion over Terra, the Secretarians chose to stay back and focus on preserving the more fantastical elements of human history. The Secretarians were once a Gnostic group, but eventually allowed non-Gnostics in out of convenience, but they have always been advocates of democracy and heavily critical of false democracy. They operate through some morally questionable methods, but they prefer not to and ultimately seek to preserve history as other Illuminatis try to destroy it.

Mandate: One of the other Illuminatis, these white-male-cisheterosupremacist-antitheist fascists were ultimately responsible for people no longer believing that dragons, dinosaurs, and extraterrestrials are real if having ever existed. They operate through infiltration, bribery, and terrorism, and among their ranks were Michael Moore (he infiltrated the Catholic Church and deliberately put a Catholic and Antisemitic spin in anti-everybody-else propaganda), Ayn Rand, and Jeffery Epstein (murdered not just for the huge public scandal but also for his knowledge of the Mandate). Notably, they began as part of the Roman Catholic Church and existed to hide various atrocities committed by the Church and its subjects against nonhuman sapients and also being responsible for mass abductions of humans, but they broke off and more or less declared war on theists because they see theists as “knowing too much” because of their warped attempts at logic.

Mirage Men: A secret part of the US government with a twofold function of trying to learn the secrets of the Secretarians and keeping top secrets by making shit up. They are popularly known as “Men in Black” but find that hilarious, especially considering they usually wear normal clothing. They make fantastical stories up to cover up real events both fantastic and mundane, mostly involving aliens and intentionally inspired by Hollywood movies. They play the part of “concerned” civilians and have been known to steal identities of actual civilians just for the sake of the act. Their ultimate goal is to keep the truth hidden but not to erase knowledge of it outright but instead preserve it, because they’re exactly the liars to do it. Other countries eventually formed their own versions for similar reasons, but often with a more Mandate-like approach.

[dewsgremlin]

Phantom, sneaking into Rain's room, climbing on his bed and softly poking him in the cheek: Can i sleep in your bed?

Rain, sitting up half asleep and pulling Phantom under his blanket: what's wrong bug?

Phantom, snuggling closer: Aether told me that if I don't make my bed in the morning, a monster will sleep in it and when I go lay down to sleep, the monster still will be in there. And I forget to make my bed this morning, so I'm too scared now to go back in my own room...

Rain, yawning: ...It's just Dewdrop... He likes to sleep in messy beds...

Explanation: It's kind of a proverb to scare kids to make their beds. The original is if you don't make your bed in the morning, the devil will sleep in it and when you go to bed, he will still be in there. Luckily my parents didn't say that to me as Kid because I still don't make my bed every morning.

[feroluce]

So I spoke somewhat about my thoughts on Emanator Sampo here, but I never really thought of it from a design point of view or what kind of powers he would have until just recently. But I actually kind of love leaning into it from a "stage hand" perspective?

Because like. Aha's body in THEIR official art is completely black, giving attention to all the fun brightly colored things around THEM. And that's so fitting for Sampo! He usually prefers to be a side character. He likes to act from the shadows. His is a much more subtle hand.

So I wonder if as an Emanator, a lot of his clothes are actually very dark? Not necessarily plain, still extravagant and needlessly detailed in things like cut and quality with lots of different fabrics and textures and ornamentation, but dark. Or maybe even his skin itself becomes blackened further down his body; his hands in particular are dark, as a sort of sleight of hand reference.

The motif of a lot of straps wrapped around him like in his canon design is still present, but they're all loose and flowing off of him like paper streamers now instead of restraining him or holding him together. He is no longer contained! Or maybe they're still a bit more rigid/heavy, but just draped more like red stage curtains!

And this is like. Fully self-indulgent, but I love inhuman designs, and there's nothing in canon to say I can't do this, so screw it! Go for broke!! Maybe it's not visible to normal people, but Sampo having a second set of arms would be really cool, as further sleight of hand reference. One set is almost normal looking, but his hands are a bright, attention-drawing white, and the other is dark, set almost in the shadows of the first arms, to act less noticeably.

He also has something of a broken heart design to him in canon (the front of his black shirt with its jagged shape down the middle; his coat looks like a full heart shape in the back), and I actually like him keeping that element as an Emanator, because I think it suits him. Sampo says his taste in aesthetics and views on Elation involve human dignity,

and the story he helps create in Belobog involves the long and winding road of resistance and survival and eventual triumph in the face of some very adverse, oppressing odds. (I'm pretty sure I heard he once called Wildfire "artless" though, plus the man acts like he thinks Shame is some kind of dessert, so like ndkdjzjskkd) But the point being!!

I think Sampo is someone who can appreciate heartbreak and angst and tragedy in a story, because it makes the victory at the end all the sweeter. And this would be another thing he shares with Aha, because I think THEY did bless the Mourning Actors partly just to be a little shit, but also because Aha does recognize tragedy as part of THEIR Path, too, and you can see it in some of the game. So a broken heart motif can still suit him, and I like him having elements of both comedy and tragedy. Like his clothing having a happy sun/sad moon (like the moon in Aha's art) or him having both of the traditional comedy/tragedy masks in his design.

And as Emanator, Sampo can maybe play with the stage settings environment, too. Like lights sometimes behave strangely around him, appearing blindingly bright to someone or dramatically dark. Sampo wills it and suddenly there seems to be a metaphorical spotlight right where he wants everyone to look. And when he doesn't want to be noticed, his face seems to be cast in shadow, he seemingly just fades into the background, no one notices or recognizes him and he sneaks away easily. He can create smoke or fog literally out of thin air without his bombs now, too, the air will just suddenly thicken until his stage is obscured, and Sampo can set the scene as he pleases or disappear without a trace.

And in line with being a stage hand, Sampo can direct attention like no other. He was already extremely good at this as a normal mortal, and becoming an Emanator only took it up to 11, past human limits. Sampo points, and all present feel compelled to follow his fingertip. He looks away, and they all follow his gaze. He can even affect the mood of an audience; he can influence everyone to be calm and placid or he can whip them into a feverish frenzy. Sometimes a crowd will start to become unsettled, agitation stirring until it boils over, until it incites a full on violent mob.

And in the middle of all that chaos will stand one perfectly calm figure, face cast in shadow, until they quietly slip away out of sight.

[alvivaarts]

I’m realizing I FORGOT to post this!? (I think!?) anyway, enjoy this painting I did of baby Lillie and Leon after the events of Simulation Swarm! I wanted to try and replicate a little 2000s family photo style stuff

[monstersmashorpass]

SMASH OR PASS: Braska's Final Aeon, Final Fantasy X

[beeloovedd]

What dates the ghouls would do for Valentine's Day

Writing/drabble prompts? 💕

Phantom: going ham in the Walmart snack section then movie night! 🍕

Mountain: Picnic or walks in the wood then cuddling and loving each other for the rest of the night. He definitely picks out the best flowers from his garden and gives them to you 💚

Swiss: either a really fancy restaurant date or eating McDonald's in the car, no in-between 🍟

Aroura: Shopping sprees or spa days 🪷

Cirrus: Arcade or Carnivals/theme parks, anything fun and out of the abbey 🪩

Dew: I would say going out for drinks or something crazy (which he so would) but honestly as song as he's with you he's good, he's so down for just gentle love all day 🍂

Rain: swimming date. JK I feel like he'd do a fancy little dinner, wether it's a fancy restaurant or fancy restaurant takeout, he strikes me as a romantic ❤️

Cumulus: she's a cuddle bug so cuddles and relaxing all day but she'll definitely get you flowers 💗

Sunshine: I feel like she'd love a picnic or painting date or something like that, she's a really artsy person to me 🎨

Aether: Stargazing and cuddles ☄️

[valhahazred]

Drawtober 2 - Shapeshifter

Carnishut shapeshifters are one of the hazards of Earth in the year 16,000.

These beings spend most of their time as humans but when severely stressed or injured rapidly and uncontrollably mutate into powerful hypercanivorous forms. In their other forms they experience massively heightened aggression against the source of their transformation. The transformation lasts until they've consumed enough flesh to restore their humanity, by giving birth to themselves in a new body with no memory of their time as a monster or their trigger. Due to this some Carnishut aren't even aware of what they are, only that they sometimes black out and wake up in strange places covered in goo.

Carnishut transformations are a common boogey-man tale to inspire good behavior, although the exact triggers are unknown to most cultures. The exception are the Kalrathi tribes, who are exceptionally kind and respectful to strangers.

[spotaus]

Besties. Every single day I think about a Honkai:Star Rail and utmv crossover. Do I do it? Absolutely not. Theoretically could it work? Yeag.

[purble-gaymer]

couple more of galacta and the buggy

[nocturneblight]

“Aeon/zeta realization”

With a body of jelly, infinite forms are possible!

This is simply a variant they can be if they so wish, not a permanent form. Does it have purpose? Not at all! But it looks cool so that’s okay with them!

[bastetsden]

Sorry for disappearing on u guys again guhh

[dutybcrne]

Me making a HSR verse for my oc: Hmmm so the plan on this one could maybe be a bad end for her tendency to fuck around and find out—

My brain: So anyways, make her whole deal a fucken horror story-

[paperanddice]

The most powerful of the known inevitables, the lhaksharut is a massive, looming figure. A humanoid upper body made of stone, with six arms and metal wings, rises from a collecting of interconnected, spinning metal rings. These wings aren't the source of the lhaksharut's flight, instead stabilizing and bolstering its agility. Very few of these immense extraplanar constructs exist, as the factories that produce inevitables must spend many, many cycles on a lhaksharut, time that could produce dozens of lesser inevitables, so they are built sparingly. They are also expensive to equip, typically carrying three to four powerful magical weapons with which they fulfill their duties. Four of the lhaksharut's arms are usually armed, while the last two (the lowest) carry metal spheres that crackle with energy that it uses to launch bursts of energy.

What are these duties? As with all other inevitables, lhaksharut are built with a detailed list of rules for a specific factor of existence and police the status quo as outlined by their creators, and for the lhaksharut it's the stability and separation of different planes. Travel between the planes is of no concern, but perpetual gates, or attempting to rip a portion of one plane to another must be addressed wherever it is found, and the lhaksharut's method of dealing with such issues is very simple and straightforward. It will smash and destroy any person or object involved in such an issue without a concern over the specifics. The reasons for the infractions do not matter, but rarely they can be negotiated with. They are dogmatic and strict, but not completely mindless, and if presented with a greater threat that may require a temporary open gate, it can defer momentarily to resolve the greater planar threat. In such a rare situation, it will find a compromise in standing guard over the gate, prepared to destroy it as soon as the larger situation is resolved.

Lhaksharut typically work alone, like other inevitables, though they will have some kind of information network to update them on major planar issues. These kinds of threats are rare, either well hidden or coming into existence under extreme confluences, so much of a lhaksharut's time is spent in wait. Some create strongholds, others just find a deep void and meditate within it, but all are ready to spring into action the moment they are made aware of a planar breach of any kind.

Inspired by the Pathfinder 1e Bestiary 2. This post came out a week ago on my Patreon. If you want to get access to all my monster conversions early, as well as access to my premade adventures and other material I’m working on, consider backing me there!

Pathfinder 2e

With the aeons bringing about their Convergence, the inevitables have been on a downturn. The aeons oversee the sorts of caretaking that inevitables were created for, and so their presence is no longer required. They're not being retired directly, but their numbers are shrinking over time, and the creation of new ones seems to be grinding to a halt. Lhaksharut in particular are fading, as they were already uncommon and they're being replaced within the structures of Axis by bythos aeons.

Lhaksharut Creature 20 Rare, Huge, Aeon, Inevitable, Monitor Perception +36; darkvision, truesight Languages Cthonian, Common, Diabolic, Draconic, Empyrean, Utopian; truespeech Skills Arcana +32, Athletics +35, Intimidation +34, Occultism +32, Religion +32 Str +9, Dex +3, Con +8, Int +3, Wis +6, Cha +5 Items +3 greater striking longspear, +2 greater striking longsword, +2 greater striking morningstar AC 43; Fort +36, Ref +29, Will +34; +2 status to all saves vs. magic HP 350 (regeneration 20 (deactivated by spirit)); Immunities death effects, disease, emotion, poison, unconscious; Weaknesses spirit 20 Multiple Reactions The lhaksharut gains 5 extra reactions each round that it can use only to make Reactive Strikes. It can't use more than one on the same triggering action. Reactive Strike [reaction] Speed fly 60 feet Melee wounding longspear +38 (magical, reach 20 feet), Damage 3d8+19 piercing plus 1d6 spirit and 1d6 persistent bleed Melee wounding longsword +37 (magical, reach 10 feet, versatile P), Damage 2d8+19 slashing plus 1d6 spirit and 1d6 persistent bleed Melee wounding morningstar +37 (magical, reach 10 feet, versatile P), Damage 2d6+19 bludgeoning plus 1d6 spirit and 1d6 persistent bleed Melee fist +35 (magical, reach 10 feet), Damage 3d6+15 bludgeoning plus 1d6 spirit Ranged energy bolt +31 (magical, range 100 feet), Damage 10d6 acid, cold, electricity, or fire damage (lhaksharut's choice) Divine Innate Spells DC 42, attack +34 ; 9th banishment, detonate magic, divine decree; 8th disintegrate (×3), pinpoint; 7th interplanar teleport (×3), planar seal (×3); 6th scrying (×3), wall of force (×3); 5th banishment (×3), dispel magic (at will), locate (at will), sending (at will); 4th clairvoyance (at will), planar tether (at will) translocate (at will); Constant truesight, truespeech Energy Pulse [2 actions] The lhaksharut makes two energy bolt Strikes, each against a different target. These attacks count toward the lhaksharut's multiple attack penalty, but the multiple attack penalty doesn't increase until after all the attacks. Multiweapon Mastery [2 actions] The lhaksharut makes a Strike with up to four arms, each against a different target, and using a fist or weapon as appropriate. These attacks count toward the lhaksharut's multiple attack penalty, but the multiple attack penalty doesn't increase until after all the attacks.

13th Age

In the Dragon Empire, lhaksharut police the bounds of the Overworld and oppose any attempts to create a permanent bridge between the two, whether physical or magical.

Lhaksharut Huge 12th level blocker [construct] Initiative: +16 Wounding Weapons +17 vs. AC (3 attacks; can target nearby enemies) – 75 damage. Natural Even Hit: 30 ongoing damage. Miss: 35 damage. R: Energy Bolts +17 vs. PD (2 attacks, each against a nearby or far away enemy) – 120 acid, cold, fire, or lightning damage (lhaksharut’s choice). Miss: 30 damage of the chosen type. R: Dismissal +17 vs. MD (one nearby or far away enemy) – The target is banished (save ends). While banished, it’s removed from the battlemap, and cannot be targeted or harmed by any attack or ability from another creature or vice-versa. Any ongoing conditions continue while it’s banished, and it can take actions that affect only itself on its turns. When the banished target saves, it reappears in the same spot it vanished (or the closest available spot if that spot is occupied). Limited Use: 2/battle, as a quick action (1/turn) when the escalation die is even. Mechanical Reconstruction 90: When the lhaksharut has been damaged, its mechanical body self-repairs 90 hit points at the start of the lhaksharut’s turn. It can repair 5 times per battle. If it heals to its maximum hit points, then that use of mechanical reconstruction doesn’t count against the five-use limit. When the lhaksharut is hit by an attack that deals lightning damage and overcomes its lighting resistance, it loses one use of its mechanical reconstruction and it can’t regenerate during its next turn. Dropping the lhaksharut to 0 hp doesn’t kill it if it has any uses of mechanical reconstruction left. Perpetual Flyer: The lhaksharut is always flying, even when skimming the ground. It doesn’t ever walk anywhere. Reaching Interceptor: The lhaksharut can attempt to intercept an enemy while engaged with other enemies. When an enemy moves nearby, it can roll a normal save to attempt to intercept. On a success, the lhaksharut engages the enemy without disengaging from any enemies it’s currently engaged with, and the enemy takes 30 damage. Teleport Anchor: As an interrupt when a nearby or far away enemy attempts to teleport, the lhaksharut can force that enemy to make a hard save (16+); on a failure, the teleport fails. Resist acid, cold, fire, lightning 13+. AC 27 PD 25 MD 25 HP 920

[alvivaarts]

Can the mers "stand" on their tails to be taller on land?

Image 1 Unlike many old fashioned depictions of mers, there's no species that can 'stand' on their tails! There were (and still are) a lot of misconceptions about merfolk based off of early theories and myths. Needless to say, Merfolk's anatomy simply doesn't support the 'upright' or 'standing' position while they're out of the water! Though they can often move vertically while in the water, they just aren't built for it on the surface.

1- Their skeletons don't have 'leg bones'. Where their hips would connect to femurs, instead, the joint is used for their 'primary fin' muscles, what would be 'pectoral' fins on a normal fish. This gives them much more power and maneuverability when it comes to using those fins, and they use those fins to 'crawl' on the surface. 2- Their spines are less supportive above their hips. 3- Their cardiac systems support more efficient bloodflow when they're horizontal, and the heavier affects of gravity on the surface prevent proper bloodflow from reaching their heads. 4- Exposing their bellies is a major no-no for mers! It's only ever used as a sign of affection towards trusted others, or otherwise can be seen as a sign of weakness.

Most commonly, you'll see mers on the surface lounging on their stomachs or flirting on their backs. If they do want to get a higher perspective, though, they'll climb- and they're fantastic climbers! The most 'vertical' you'll see them is when they've propped themselves up on rocks, or on each other. While they can technically sit back on their own tails as well, it does disrupt the spines on their backs and butts and can be pretty uncomfortable.

ASK BOX - Got questions for or about the Resident Mers? Ask here!

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[raurquiz]

#happybirthday @CharlizeAfrica #charlizetheron #actress #madmaxfuryroad #DoctorStrange #MultiverseofMadness #thefateofthefurious #f9 #fastx #aeonflux #snowwhiteandthehunstsman #thehunstmanwinterswar #atomicblonde #darkplaces #monster #smokingguns #thedevilsadvocate #tully

[plutoastergaby]

Happy Halloween!

Here's a collab of our OCs that I did with my good friends @wwjellybunny and @sassygirlsarah ✨

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