Dungeons and Dragons has managed to remain a pinnacle of gaming for more than four decades due, in large part, to how well it stimulates the imagination. But every new campaign needs some kind of jumping off point, especially if you’re going to be creating some monsters whole cloth–without the help of a neural net. To that end, here before you are 45 of the most insane and twisted mythical creatures ever imagined by people, from across the globe. Hopefully they’ll inspire you to really stretch the dark side of your DMagination.
While some of the baddies on this list are reasonably familiar–e.g. Cerberus, Gargoyle (Gargouille), Minotaur–most of the beasts are esoteric and made of unique brain-twisting combinations of limbs and mouths and organs. And the best part is, they’re all based on real, truly horrific and violent myths. (The amount of skulls these creatures deal with must be astronomical.)
Japanese image of the Gashadokuro. Image: Wikimedia / Public Domain
Gashadokuro from Japan, for example, “are spirits that take the form of giant skeletons and are fifteen times taller than an average person, [and] said to be created from the amassed bones of people who died of starvation or in battle…” They also ” roam after midnight, grabbing lone travelers and biting off their heads to drink their spraying blood.” Which is probably the best endorsement for the buddy system ever, right?
Drawing of the Nuckelavee. Image: Wikimedia / James Torrance
Images:Â Jeff McArthur
Keep playing with more Dungeons and Dragons stories!
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- A fancy 4K way to play D&D.
- A neural net made a list of Dungeons and Dragons spell names.
