Dungeons and Dragons Lore: Star Spawn 

I like the idea of having a small group of these guys as a random wilderness encounter with no explanation as to what they are or why they’re there. Simply to impart the feeling that sometimes you just see some shit and have no idea what’s going on. Sometimes you run into a pack of wolves that just attacked a traveling merchant and shit makes sense, sometimes you find an interdimensional cadre of Eldritch Horrors and are left wondering the hell just happened. You shouldn’t always know why monster like this are there or what they’re doing. Leave your players feeling like they just encountered a D&D SCP.

The far realm: for when you have a rogue who's a liiiittle too frisky with the normal monsters.

I keep intending to give your channel a rest so I can come back and binge new stuff, but then I see what's new and I can't resist watching.

Gosh, I really want to enhance ye olde Blood War with the Star Spawn, Aboleths, Mind Flayers, and other Elder Evil minions as the third faction. And then throw the PCs in the middle of the carnage of course. >:3

Ohhh, the Larva Mage looks a lot like the Phrenic Scourge from Pathfinder and the old man from Lovecraft's *The Festival*

So funny story... One of my players casually ate a star born. They killed it and decided it was edible enough to eat. Then they passed the Con save so... Star Born for dinner.

Ah yes star spawn. Or as I know them. The reason why the bard isn't allowed to sing within a day of any impact site. Or alternatively how we stopped worrying and accept the ravishing tentacles of star daddy. And yes. It's exactly what it sounds like but the whole party agreed to share. And having an elder evil with friendly tentacles is much better than one trying to destroy the world. So teamwork saved the day yay?!

My first dnd character was a Star-spawn sworn warlock. How delightful!

Can i just say, anything in DND with the words "far realm" mentioned in their history, means two things generally speaking... 1. they're really f*cking dangerous 2. they're really f*cking awesome

I am running an adapted lovecraftian/dark fantasy campaign and I always come to your channel for inspiration and information. You're the best source of monster ecology and I thank you for the 3 years I've been viewing your videos.

I love the idea a comet staff as a “random” sapient weapon seeking to possess the user turning them into a star-spawn.

I LIVE for the 'Deeply Nerdy'.

Star Spawn should be played like real estate agents clearing a path of death so they can sell the planet to unimaginable wealthy overlords . Who wish to establish the planet as a for sale property without sentient life , and ready for habitation for overpopulated galaxies.

Ahh, the Far Realm. Infinite of variety, yet only one sure outcome. You go mad, babe!

Byrgenwerth...Byrgenwerth...Blasphemous murderers...Blood-crazed fiends...Atonement for the wretches...By the wrath of Mother Kos...Mercy for the poor, wizened child...Mercy, of please... Lay the curse of blood upon them, and their children, and their children's children, for evermore. Each wretched birth will plunge each child into a lifetime of misery. Mercy, for the poor, wizened child...Let the pungence of Kos cling, like a mother's devotion... Curse here, curse there. A curse for he, and she, why care. A bottomless curse, a bottomless sea, source of all greatness, all things that be. Listen for the baneful chants. Weep with them, as one in trance. And weep with us, oh, weep with us...

Ah nice to get some Lore so early in the day

7:10 No thank you. . . 8:34 The child is the scariest one here😳 10:56 No! Thank! You!

*Relevant and Supportive Comment* Edit: I always wondered why people had problems with handling higher level players, they aren't invincible and the DM has everything at their disposal.

In my campaign these things function quite differantly and they are the bbeg. They share a hivemind of an eldergod who had known nothing but the great nothing of the void, the space between stars. They are the result of people, monsters, and animals being possesed by this being. The hulks for example can be multiple people fused together into a massive powerful figure. This eldergod originally had part of its pyche brought to this world by a wizard where it got trapped as an expirament. He escaped and has been body hopping for centuries. He has learned to enjoy existance, and has figured out a ritual to bring the rest of himself over. The ritual is scalable, so the more participants, the more he can possess at a time. He has manipulated two nations to send both thier armies to the same spot... I think you can figure out why. My players are only just now figuring out that he has had his fingers in many sinister pies. Over tume I have revealed little by little. This campaign has been going on for almost 5 yrs, and is my first campaign dm'ing. This villain has been in play since the first session, and they loved rediscovering the 'notes of a madman' that they got first session to only now realize what the raving was about. ^_^ The players are in the endgame now, with everything coming to a head. Getting a little nervous in all honesty, that maybe I can stick the landing and not have him be a big let down.

9:15 Those are some pretty nice sacrificial daggers. I mean if you're gonna get blood sacrificed by cultists, it might aswell be with the best quality and most tastefull tools on offer. In D&D you rescue that guy, slay the cultists and loot the daggers, in R.L. You metaphorically always are that guy. 😨🩸🗡✨💰

I first misunderstood, that the Turlemoi not only get stronger and more resistent, but also _grew_ the more damage it takes. Like, that it got physically bigger each time it got hit. But this misunderstanding could make for an amazing scene. Imagine, you confront the PCs with a swarm of star spawn, and there are these few among them, that look more or less like a human that was shrunk to the size of a dwarf, just mostly featureless and red. But then, with every hit they take, they grow bigger, their muscles swelling. And then they start hitting themselves, speeding up this growth in strength and size, until they reach the size of an ogre... That could make for a memorable moment.

Beautiful. Please talk more lore specifics of far realm beauties!! :)

I can only imagine the confrontation that would occur if an incursion of demons and elder evils were to cross paths.

i'm curious now. when the hulks take psychic damage they instead broadcast that damage out to each creature within 10 feet of it. but what if another hulk is within 10 feet of it? would it broadcast that damage out as while or not. could you create an infinite loop of psychic death?

This is absolutely perfect for what I'm running right now. This is why I watch the backlog

The mechanics of these things alone made me run a still going two year campaign. These are probably some of my favorite monsters in 5e because of how well designed they are. I wish more monsters like these would show up in official material, stuff that you must play smartly around to kill effectively.

I kept overlooking these guys and never realised how awesome these alien freak shows are! Once again thank you for another awesome video! For month I've been going through your videos and they have helped make me a better DM and player! Thank you for everything you do on your channel!

Actually, these seem like a great parallel for Genestealer cults in 40k. They've already got neophyte hybrids, acolyte hybrids, Aberrants, and a magus. Wouldn't be that hard to fill the rest out I think.

I absolutely love monster types that really synergize in crazy ways like these guys and the Sorrowsworn. Those CRs are really off once you start using their nasty abilities in a coordinated way. Very neat (and terrifying!) group of monsters.

I was going to add a vengeful cannibalistic blood cult into my campaign last year but the party didn't want to do a christmas episode.

I really like the vid AJ and one my favorite creatures

One thing that’s great about the star spawn is how big a surprise they can be. Players visualizing a scrawny desiccated thing get a nasty shock when the mangler gets to manglin’!

Here wuz Seamus!

Intire video: Why benevolent angels have the power to destroy/clean intire material planes.

Just because I don't expect it to be mentioned: the name "Star Spawn" is another 4th edition monster group that refers a completely different array of monsters. In 4th edition's basic cosmology, a number of stars are aberrant entities of enormous power, to the point they served as one of the potential patrons of warlock PCs; "Star Spawn" referred to the servitor monsters that they could create and send to earth to bedevil mortalkind. Still "Lovecraftian", but more in a cosmic or elemental sense rather than the twisted flesh and pulsing tentacles of the Foulspawn. 4e Star Spawn included the Maw of Acamar (a humanoid mass of mobile darkness lit with dying stars that consumes all in its path); the Herald of Hadar (an emaciated near-corpse that drains the life from all around it); the Scion of Gibbeth (an ever-shifting living nightmare); the Spawn of Ulban (a humanoid/octopus creature which inspires rebellion and upheaval); the Emissary of Caiphon (a shapeshifting horror that brings about societal collapse), the Serpent of Nihal (a monstrous cobra made of starlight); and Allabar - Opener of the Way (a living planet of hate-fueled flesh and bone).

There is the multiverse of things there is, and there is a multiverse of things that are not

Best quote on this one: "the squirming madness of an elder evil's (evils'?) prison"

There are things beyond the skies. Entities that hate and despise us

Great video AJ. I'm a dinosaur, so these monsters are new to me. They are bigger nightmares than a lot of my most nightmarish home-brews. Also, ironically, blast from the past. The cult and its evil extraplanar leader (Tyranarax... if I spelled that right) that were the bad guys in Pool of Radiance (an AD&D computer game turned canon for Forgotten Realms) from my day. You know the nice things about cults being major bad-guy players? Players with characters that would normally oppose each other in alignment and faith would be able to team up, the typical Paladin being the only exception. A Ranger, an Assassin, a Necromancer, a Cleric of a good god, a Cleric of an evil god, and a Lawful leaning Bard would all be fine adventuring together under the "common good" of taking down a cult? Why? Even evil gods hate evil cults, they infringe upon the god's spheres and his/her order. By the way, when I run campaigns where one or more player is playing a budding god, the gods see that player character as the "false god" of his followers ("cult"), no matter his-her alignment. Enemies happen out of the blue. Edit: corrected a spelling error.

Could you do a series on the elder evils?

Its funny, I've met plenty of kind cultists in my life but you know it only takes one really mean one to summon an elder evil

I was wondering what was up with these things, I think I’ll lay off them for a bit, almost had a TPK with some zombified Grung last week. Lead to some cool world building moments and some great RP but they’re only level 2. Maybe the session after next I’ll terrify them with some chittering/cackling Gru.

WHELP i know what my players are going through next time we sit down

Really great opening to this video! Highly recommend using it more in the future.

I know this video isn't new but I am so happy it was recommended to me. I'm building a d&d world and one of the major factions the PCs will come into conflict with are cultists of a great old one. Star spawns could be perfect low-to-mid level mini-bosses to introduce the antagonists, rather than just throwing cultists and warlocks at them.

I was not aware of how in depth cults are! I can imagine how small cults can be an interesting low level thing while large/powerful cults with Star spawn and patron abilities can really change a whole game. Makes me wonder if cults/clergies of evil gods Like Vecna would actively try to destroy elder evil ones. Enemies on all sides and such

It is easy to make lv 20 difficult for players.

Very inspiring video, reminds me of the Sarkites from the SCP verse

I always thought it was a nice touch that, IIRC, the star spawn are the only creatures in Mordenkainen's that don't have a picture. Well, other than the larva mage, but how much do you really see?

I love H.P. Lovecraft he also inspired a lot in Bloodborne a game very near and dear to my heart

Oh yes please do a video on a Worm that Walks. Always wanted to play one in 3.5

A surprise but a welcome one

Me: *hears throat singing in the beggining* Also me: oh here we go, I'm in it for a treat! Odd question, but you are the best man to ask, would these make good warlock patrons? I ask because they seem a bit physical.

Great video as always AJ. I love the weird and wonderful world of D&D Also, I'd like to formally request a video on how to become a god in D&D. (Man I really need to become a patron. I've requested so many videos)

That guy at 0:15 looks like an untrustworthy pawnshop owner! Lol cool vid AJ,thanks!

Oh my goodness! I love that into picture AJ that is wild!

My thought process is simple: I see something Lovecraft-related, I click. Very, very fast.

Mind flayers must hate encountering star spawn lol. Except on the rare instance were there goals may aline

"You know, you’ve kind of got a weird little cult going, and that’s okay. To be fair, I’m in a weird little cult. There’s nothing unusual or weird about that. All a god is, really, is a cult with a franchise." Caduceus Clay

Ayo my man uploading tasty lore

Love that intro!

good video AJ

From the moment I first saw these things years ago in the monster manuel I thought this.Yep...thats where the dark spawn from dragon age came from.x D

Cult. Occult. That which is hidden or An organization based upon hidden knowledge.

Pretty sure this is what happened in Dead Space

As a GM you could make summoning Star Spawn as simple as solving a terrible, difficult to obtain, & cursed magical puzzle box in order to experience thrills & perversions beyond what the mortal world offers. (Cue Hellraiser theme.) "Hands do not summon us, Desire Does." - Pinhead (Hellraiser 2) I can see the Star Spawn Seer being able to possess any individual it ends it's turn on when incorporeal with a contested will roll. Depending on how you want to beef up the encouter, it may be with or without the abilities/knowledge of whatever it is possessing. If you want to crank up Manglers deadliness give them Disguise Self as a spell like ability to allow them to enter towns & buildings as "just a peasant there for market day," or "just another chamber maid." Thinking of the Hellraiser series I can think of two cultist powers: "Cult Of Leviathan Lord Of The Labyrinth" "Leviathan's Whispers:" Once per scene a cultist can gain knowledge of a target's darkest secrets & secret desires with a touch. This is great for blackmail, or seducing potential recruits. "Cenobite's Bliss:" With a gaze the cultist can cause masochistic pleasure when the target is hit, causing them to ecstatically throw themselves more recklessly into combat & lowering their AC if target fails on a willpower save (assuming they try one.) This is used on allies & enemies alike as Star Spawn can benefit from being hit, & an enemy that doesn't try as hard to dodge is usually not an enemy for too much longer. It also can be used in non-combat situations when attempting to get others into the sadomasochsitc cult of Leviathan.

Okay, so... Which video /will/ you go over the awesome worm mages?

You should hit us with a video entirely made of your personal home brew content. Things like races, sub races, classes, sub classes, spells, monsters, etc.

I'm totally using these. I'm gonna make a friendly NPC, make my party like them, then in the midst of conversation, BANG! Buncha manglers show up and murder them. No apparent reason as to why, and they won't see the starspawn again for a looong while. Just to give the party a moment to be like "What just happened here?! 😭"

So what you’re saying is killer clowns from outer space are star spawn

get your Larva Mage; make the larvae Rot Grubs; each time a bruiser hits the LM, they roll a d10 to see how many RGs were thrown on them by the strike. enjoy the TPK.

Oof. That art. Far Realm vids should be released under the full light of day.

Ooooo, I've been hoping for this one.

Ya know... My job in the military is to keep the Right to free religion alive.... I love your commentary or religion always cracks me up because I know for the most part what you are going to say 😆

Did you know that the Aberrant Mind Sorcerer subclass lets you summon Star Spawn, well not physical Star Spawn, the website calls them Aberrant Spirits.

I love the advice on how to deal with high level adventurers. We have something that works but I am always looking to ways of expanding their challenges.

Hunefers hunger for a lore video. Don't leave these dead demigods in the dust.

13:04 I've always wanted to do a gnoll raid but have always shied away in fear of the large amount of enemies. I had no idea about this rule

Great video really enjoyed it thank you

I'm a huge fan of the Deep Spawn from Exandria

The hulk could work well as a mind flayer minion

I must say that these dnd lore videos are pretty good to listen to when you drinking tea and thinking of dnd campaign's

AJ: Bless us with your Divine Madness! 🤪

Because everything is better when you inject some Lovecraftian horror into it, That's why Lovecraft was a genius.

Nice work on the video!

I love aberrations! Thanks for the video!

Isnt the *Larva Mage* just *The Worm That Walks* but made an aberration instead of Undead?

We have all heard about Star Spawn, but have you heard about Star Lord?!

Can’t wait for the Star Spawn Larva Mage video 😉

Also 53

Just remember, if it speaks Aklo/Deep Speech, *RUN.*

Yes! Far Realm Lovecraftian goodness!!!:)

That was awesome thanks for the cool vid.

Need that Star Spawn Larval Made video!

Woo hoo a 30 min video about ...not ATHAS.....jk aj luvvvvv this one

In 4th Edition, the Foulspawn and Star Spawn were two different groups. One in "Threats in the Ninter Vale" and the other in Dragon Magazine issues.

pennywise is a roided out hybrid of a gruu and a doppleganger

Great video! Now with VRGR's latest addition to the star spawn, the Lesser and Greater Emissaries, are you going to cover the larva mage anytime soon?

Evry video i want to change my campain just to include all the cool stuff t.t love your stuff and style

wouldn't the elder gods bar beings like Nyarlethotep be placed in chaotic neutral? They don't care and barely know we exist. They even help us if we do things correctly.