#the other gods

[wormcoin]

[homebrewsno1asked4]

Abhoth

WARNING: BIG DANG POST AHEAD

First monster of 2023, and it’s a doozy.

I know you’re not supposed to fight Lovecraftian gods because larger-than-life unimaginable cosmic horror, but like… what if you want to?

~

Abhoth

Art by Erol Otus!

A place as much as a creature, vast Abhoth’s form is a pit of gray organic matter – not quite flesh nor organ meat nor fat nor feces – dotted with hungry mouths that appear and vanish like bubbles in a pond. Just gray protean muck, constantly frothing with awful creatures born and re-assimilated in a matter of seconds. Blind Abhoth extrudes tentacles the size of serpents to flail about its cavernous lair, feeling for any escaped children to consume.

Abhoth is one of the Outer Gods, and one of the few that deign to live in some version of our material plane. They dwell in the deepest cavern of a remote island, a sanctum spiderwebbed with tunnels ending in portals to numerous worlds. Though Abhoth never moves from this lair, they can see, explore, and infect any world through the senses of their children – those few that escape the churning womb. Fugitive spawn grow and evolve rapidly, their sizes ranging from “dog” to “small mountain.” Many worlds’ horrors – those one-of-a-kind monsters that defy explanation – are actually Abhoth’s twisted hodgepodge children.

Like other Outer Gods, the sight of immortal Abhoth is enough to break most mortal minds. Although mad themselves, Abhoth is far from mindless; if mortals don’t go mad from first contact, Abhoth might engage in telepathic conversation. Visitors find the Outer God cynical but chatty, possessing a sense of humor as black as the void.

Abhoth is a recluse, even by Outer God standards, with little interest in worship. However, there are a few cults dedicated to the Unclean God – mostly comprised of underground horrors, intelligent oozes, and Abhoth’s spawn.

Abhoth

Gargantuan aberration (outer god), neutral evil

Armor Class 21 (non-Newtonian physiology)

Hit Points 578 (35d20 + 210)

Speed 0 ft.

STR 27(+8) DEX 1(-5) CON 23(+6) INT 10(0) WIS 26(+8) CHA 8(-1)

Saving Throws STR +16, CON +14

Skills Animal Handling +13, Athletics +16, Intimidation +7

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing

Damage Immunities acid, nonmagical, poison, psychic

Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, diseased, exhaustion, frightened, grappled, incapacitated, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, stunned, unconscious

Senses blindsight within lair, passive Perception 15

Languages unlimited telepathy, ignores language barriers

Challenge 26 (90,000 XP)

Proficiency Bonus +8

-

Innate Spellcasting. Abhoth's innate spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 24, +16 to hit with spell attacks). They can innately cast the following spells, requiring no components.

At will: dominate monster, suggestion 

Alien Mind. If a creature tries to read Abhoth's thoughts, that creature must succeed on a DC 24 Intelligence saving throw or be stunned for 1 minute. The stunned creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Deathless. If Abhoth drops to 0 hit points, they don’t die. Rather, in a howling rage, Abhoth will sink 500 ft, boring a deep smooth hole in the earth. Every time Abhoth receives damage before recovering, they bore another half-mile hole into the ground. Abhoth bubbles up to the top of this hole in 1d6 days.

Godly Anchor. Abhoth exists where Abhoth is meant to exist. Any spells or abilities attempting to transport Abhoth automatically fail.

Godly Might. Abhoth’s attacks count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance.

Lair Sense. Abhoth’s version of blindsight extends throughout their domain – but this blindsight only tells Abhoth the locations of creatures, not their appearance or nature.

Maddening Form. The first time a creature – aside from other Outer Gods or similar types - sees Abhoth, they must roll a DC 24 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, the creature suffers 39 (6d12) psychic damage and a form of short-term madness. On a success, the creature takes half of this psychic damage, and barely escapes the throes of insanity.

Oozegod. Oozes roll disadvantage on saves against Abhoth's innate spells.

Poisonous Body. A creature that touches Abhoth or hits them with a melee attack while within 5 feet takes 18 (4d8) poison damage.

Regeneration. Abhoth regains 80 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point. If Abhoth took any fire damage in the past round, they only regain 40 hit points.

Spawn of Abhoth. Every round on initiative 20 – winning ties – 1d6 Spawn of Abhoth manage to crawl out of their parent’s primordial soup without being consumed. Normally, these escapees will crawl into the nearest portal and wreak havoc on some other plane – but assuming Abhoth is battling intruders, the Spawn instinctively protect their parent.

Abhoth can peer through the eyes of any of their Spawn, no matter what plane the Spawn inhabits.

Unusual Nature. Abhoth doesn't need to sleep, breathe, eat, or drink.

Actions

Multiattack. Abhoth makes 3 attacks on their turn – two pseudopods and a bite. If there are no creatures in biting range, Abhoth can substitute their bite for another pseudopod attack.

Bite. Melee Attack: +16 to hit, reach 5 ft., 1 target. Hit: 35 (5d10 + 8) piercing damage. On a successful attack, Abhoth has grappled their target. If the grappled character can’t escape by Abhoth’s next turn, Abhoth can swallow the grappled character, replacing its bite attack.

Pseudopod. Melee Attack: +16 to hit, reaches anywhere in Abhoth’s lair, 1 target. Hit: 21 (2d12 + 8) bludgeoning damage plus 9 (2d8) poison damage.

Abhoth’s pseudopods contain various alien sensory organs; touching a creature gives Abhoth much stronger insight on their guests. The second a creature touches Abhoth – whether via pseudopod attack, unarmed strike, or walking on Abhoth’s protoplasmic body – Abhoth knows that creature’s species, abilities, and mood.

Swallow. The swallowed character falls 1d6 x 5 feet (with appropriate fall damage) into a digestive chamber that’s formed beneath this particular mouth of Abhoth. Climbing the slippery walls of Abhoth’s shifting mass requires a DC 20 Athletics check.

Every time the creature starts its turn in Abhoth’s digestive juices (which seep in from all surfaces), the creature takes 22 (4d10) acid damage plus 22 (4d10) necrotic damage. If Abhoth’s digestion damage reduces a creature to 0 hp, they die instantly, absorbed into Abhoth’s mass. Abhoth regains hit points equal to the absorbed character’s maximum hit points. Only wish or similar magic can resurrect the absorbed character.

Reactions

Roiling Mouths. Abhoth can make 1 bite attack – as attacks of opportunity - per turn of combat.

Legendary Actions

Abhoth can take 4 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. Abhoth regains spent legendary actions at the start of their turn.

Devour Spawn. Abhoth snatches up and eats one of its Spawn, provided the Spawn is still in its lair somewhere. Abhoth regains 15 hp per Spawn consumed.

Instant Swallow (Costs 2 Actions). If a creature is standing on their body, Abhoth can open a new mouth right underneath them, essentially using Swallow without needing to land a Bite first.

Thrash. Abhoth makes 2 pseudopod attacks.

Lair Actions

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Abthoth can take one of the following lair actions; Abhoth can't take the same lair action two rounds in a row:

Fast-Growing Spawn. All Spawn on the battlefield undergo rapid mutation. For each Spawn of Abhoth in play: add 2 to STR, DEX, or CON; add 1d8 to their maximum hit points; and roll another Unique Ability.

Primordial Song. Abhoth whispers and beckons. Abhoth casts suggestion on one creature of their choice, even if that creature previously resisted one of Abhoth’s spells. Usually, Abhoth will make the charmed creature walk into their protoplasmic body and accept digestion.

Quake. Abhoth’s cavernous lair shakes as the outer god shifts its monstrous bulk. Every creature touching a surface of the lair (Spawn included, Abhoth not included) makes a Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, these creatures take 5d6 force damage. Creatures that succeed take half this damage.

Regional Effects

The region surrounding Abhoth’s lair is altered by Abhoth’s magic, creating one or more of the following effects:

A snide, mocking voice tries to make conversation with you when you’re alone.

Infections and other ailments proliferate in Abhoth’s domain. Medicine checks for healing are made at disadvantage.

Most animal life within 1 mile of Abhoth’s lair are either Spawn of Abhoth, or descended from the Spawn. At a glance, many of these creatures may resemble familiar fauna, but on closer inspection, they have unusual and nauseating mutations. Roll on the Spawn of Abhoth Unique Ability chart for any beasts encountered near Abhoth’s lair.

Generating Spawn of Abhoth:

STR, DEX, CON: Roll 1d20 for each

INT, WIS, CHA: Roll 1d6 for each

HP: 3d8 + CONmod

AC: 10 + DEXmod

Give Spawn movement speeds (burrow, climb, fly, swim) as appropriate with the abilities rolled – base speed 30 ft.

All Spawn have darkvision.

All saves and DCs are 13.

Base Melee Attack Damage: 2d6 + STRmod

Ability Damage: 9 (2d8) of appropriate element

Unique Ability: (6-by-10 chart; roll d6 for column, d10 for row)

DESIGN NOTES

This jerk took a WHILE. Like over a month. My own fault for making a final-boss-tier monster, I guess.

I’m aware that running an encounter with Abhoth would require a TON of bookkeeping. But also, I kind of feel like that’s how a big epic fight should be? Not just 12 turns of “it punts you for 200 damage, again”?

[tariah23]

Oh…. Well, it’s over for Crunchyroll I guess

[churroach]

Full of Desires

[mangozic]

my dead goth son and his friendly neighborhood personified concept of insanity

[greykolla-art]

It’s healthy to step out of our comfort zone’s a little!😜

[diamondsunbursts-and-marblehalls]

Athena, goddess of wisdom, and all-powerful, being the only person that Annabeth could call on for help; being so cruel that she would be complicit in her daughter's death just out of spite.

Percy, age 12, weak and dying, having told Annabeth they could never be friends; not only sacrifices himself to save Annabeth's life without a minute's thought, but does it without her having to ask for help.

[roquenxnar]

[ Incoherent screaming]

[stil-lindigo]

frankly, the people whose kneejerk reaction to bisan asking for a global strike form the 21st-28th is to say that it takes years to organize a general strike are really unhelpful! no one is saying otherwise, but palestine will be a smoking crater if we all wait for years to do anything - bisan is asking us to do something now. Like are we only supposed to do something if we can do it perfectly??? At some point it’s a valid critique about the work that goes into social movement, and at another point I feel like some people are just trying to absolve themselves from not putting any effort into observing a week of economic inaction.

like idk! I get it, okay! People have bills to pay that don’t magically go away for a strike, we don’t have nearly enough social infrastructure in place to support people to fully stop going to work for a week. But fuck, dude! Stop immediately responding in such a defeatist way! Cut out unnecessary purchases! Try to shop local! Put more effort into promoting Palestinian voices online! Attend a protest, call a local rep, do something!

[tvserie-film]

Title: The Other Gods (1921) Author: H.P.Lovecraft Vote: 5/10 Journey of a madman in the throes of mystical delirium towards death. Unattractive and not the best example of how indifferent God is to man in Lovecraftian literature.

[cronchy-baguette]

When all this is over, will you stay with me? For good?

[kimdokjas]

though the movie might be cancelled, yuri on ice will live forever in our hearts. thank you yoi fandom, it's been real ♡

[oars]

[maxgicalgirl]

Being a “Fun Fact !” kind of autistic is all fun and games until you get halfway through sharing an interesting tidbit and realize that it probably wasn’t appropriate to share in polite company and now you have to deal with the consequences :(

[mangozic]

archivist be upon ye

[bisexualpercyjacksons]

pjo tv show episode 5 alignment: