#yeth hounds

[gator-fruit]

I doodled a grandpa dog.

[littlepinkgamer]

It’s a dog with an old man’s head

In a cute way?

Oh…

[wickedsrest-rp]

NAME: Yeth Hound

RARITY: ★★★☆☆

THREAT LEVEL: ★☆☆☆☆ | While they may cause psychological trauma, they have never been known to kill (outside of the occasional heart attack) and rarely if ever harm.

ALSO KNOWN AS: Yell Hound

HABITAT: Most often found in the woods or meadows near towns, though they don’t range into high population density areas.

DESCRIPTION: Found worldwide around supernatural convergences, yeth hounds are demonic creatures attracted to fear. They specifically seek out people who either don’t believe in the supernatural, or who live in fear of it, with the intent of scaring the living daylights out of their victims. Their frightening appearance – doglike with exposed bone, extra tentacled appendages, and bloody tissue – makes them a truly terrifying sight. The mournful cry of their howl can scare people alone, and they can grow to the size of a lion, though most are closer to Great Dane sized. This is one demon-dog whose bark is much worse than its bite, though; even though yeth hounds look and act like monsters, they fall just short of causing physical harm to humans, opting instead to pretend they’re going to attack by following people through the dark, snarling, and giving chase. 

ABILITIES: The yeth hound’s keen senses, including their preternatural ability to sense fear, allow them to track people over long distances. At times, yeth hounds may live and travel in packs; the only thing more frightening than encountering one yeth hound is being surrounded by them. Though not quite as intelligent as humanoid species, yeth hounds are more clever than typical dogs and seem to understand human language. 

WEAKNESS: They can be killed by normal means. Yeth hounds are not especially dangerous, despite their appearance and behavior. However, even for people who know enough about the supernatural to understand this, yeth hounds can put on a pretty convincing act. They won’t bother anyone who comfortably believes in or lives among the supernatural.

NOTE: It’s speculated that yeth hounds view bugbears and mares as kindred spirits, as there haven’t been any reports of them tracking or tormenting them; there’s even a record of a mare keeping one as a pet.

[wightscomic]

A Yeth Hound (DnD version) Mount for an NPC in my campaign. It’s name is Mag.

[dailyadventureprompts]

Dungeon: Grave Portent

Tormented by nightmares of a darkened sarcophagus in the depths of an infamous cavern tomb, a nobleman sends the party to investigate the source of these visions fearing one of his rivals is using dark magic in an attempt to ruin him, possibly from beyond the grave.

Once known as the graven sepulcher the necropolis was dedicated to Illmater and Located in a cavern thought to be the final resting place of one of his saints. For more than a century it was the go-to place to be interred if you were a pious elder of the temple or someone wealthy who wanted their lifetime of sins forgotten beneath a sacred slab. Then a war and ensuing famine broke out, and the temple of Illmater took it upon themselves to house the swelling ranks of the dead. Once the paupers outnumbered the proud and the pious the cavern tomb lost much of it's prestige, coming to be known in the common day as "the bone pit"

Adventure Hooks:

Given it's remote location few venture to the old necropolis anymore, with the few countryfolk leaving their swaddled dead on the interior stairs for fear of braving its darkened depths. The party may be asked to carry one of these bodies in return for asking for directions, sworn to see it to its destination less they suffer the curse of the bereaved and recently dead. Along their way they'll be pestered by a Yeth hound who wants nothing more than to eat and despoil the body, simply for the wrongness of it all.

With its many hiding places and forboding reputation the necropolis is a great place to lay low, which explains the gang of outlaws currently hiding from the law in its upper reaches after robbing a tax wagon. If the party encounter them they'll pretend to be peaceful pilgrims, but they're intent on not sharing their takings and won't hesitate to add a few more bodies to the bonepit if necessary.

Apart from the usual shades and skeleton warriors, the necropolis is haunted by a Mohrg spawned from the corpse of a wealthy noblewoman who thought it a delicious irony that she could pay to be buried among saints and holyfolk despite her secret history of serial murder. Only awakening after the tomb's consecration decayed and with hazy recollections of who she was, the Mohrg will observe the party from the shadows, following them back to town if it can to become an enduring thorn in their side.

In the depths of the necropolis the party will find the sarcophagus open and waiting, just as the nobleman described it. Beside they will encounter a death priest of Nerull, god of unnamed graves, who will council them about the vision's meaning: The sarcophogus is the nobleman's destined end, and should he not come to rest within it soon a great peril will befall the land. Its up to them to deliver the bad news and convince the nobleman to make a selfless sacrifice, or perhaps contrive an unfortunate accident and make off with his corpse.

Artsource

[justalittlebluetiefling]

Omar describing a yeth hound.

Brennan: 

[hardwon]

for the remainder of the season I will, of course, be picturing andhera’s yeth hound as having the body of a hound and the face of gilear faeth

[monstersdownthepath]

Monster Spotlight: Yeth Hound

CR 3

Neutral Evil Medium Outsider

Bestiary 1, pg. 286 (image from 2nd Edition's Bestiary 2, pg. 302)

These unholy hounds are the incarnate malice of fiendish patrons of nature, monsters, and the hunt, springing fully formed from the brows of evil deities to serve as wicked hunting hounds, either for the deities themselves or their mortal servants. Cunning, swift, attentive, and more resilient than one may expect, Yeth Hounds dutifully serve their mortal masters in their hunts... and swiftly dispatch any fools that they find wanting. The majority of 'wild' Yeth Hounds are free because they slaughtered their mortal masters for not measuring up to the standards their creators have set, the beasts banding together in hellish packs that run across the skies, baying into the night as they seek out prey to terrify and consume.

Yeth Hounds have no need to eat, but their entire being is devoted to chasing down, killing, and consuming prey. Without the threat of starvation, the hounds can patiently stalk their targets for hours to maximize their anxiety before finally striking, and spend yet more hours dragging the carcass to their subterranean lairs to properly enjoy, decorating these lairs with chewed bones and whatever clothing and items survive their feedings.

The Hounds do not stalk prey from the ground, though. The magical Flight of a Yeth Hound allows them to run across air as if it were a solid surface, granting them a 60ft fly speed that they may dismiss or resume as a free action, swapping back and forth between it and their 40ft move speed as needed across any terrain. No matter if they're skittering across the ground, leaping from rooftop to rooftop in a village, or simply running across the empty air, the sight of a Yeth Hound in pursuit means only one thing: Kill or be killed. The Hounds are in this for the fun of the hunt, so once you're spotted, you'd better be prepared to defend yourself or die trying, because they have no reason to ever seek easier prey.

Average in almost every respect, Yeth Hounds have only DR 5/Silver as an outstanding protection standing between their 30 HP and whatever implements of death someone may fling at them which, combined with 15 AC, is typically enough to let them prey freely on commoners and low-level soldiers and travelers. Against multiple foes, they fold quickly to coordinated counterattacks because they lack any ability to kite, which is why Yeth Hounds always either hunt in packs, or wear their targets down with anxiety.

The Baying the Hounds can unleash at will forces any creature that's not an Evil Outsider to succeed a DC 12 Will save or be driven mad with fear, becoming panicked for 2d4 rounds and all but assuring the Hounds can easily chase them down and tear out their throats with a charge attack. Their Sinister Bite not only deals 2d6+4 damage AND automatically attempts to trip up the bitten victim, but forces ANOTHER DC 14 Will save versus the victim being shaken up until the Hound's next turn. If they're already suffering from a fear effect, including the Baying or the Sinister Bite of another Hound, the victim is instead paralyzed with terror for 1 round, all but assuring a swift and messy death. Passing or failing the save versus their Baying prevents the victim from being affected again within 24 hours, but there's no such clause on the Sinister Bite, and it procs its fear effect every single time without fail. And remember that being shaken reduces your saving throws by 2, making it even harder to resist the compounding fear effect!

Fighting through the fear allows one to fight back against these bite-happy dogs and fold them easily via magical damage or if the party beatstick has a silver weapon, but failing that initial save against their Baying spells doom almost instantly for a party caught off-guard, especially if there's multiple Hounds involved as they must ALL make a save against every instance of the horrible howling. Even if the party foresaw needing protection from fear, each Hound attacking for 6~18 damage a round while making free trip attempts can render even a coordinated party scrambling for any foothold in the battle... and forgetting your protection from fear means every single bite is shaking up the bitten victim (or forcing them to cower), making it harder to fight back.

The only real good news here is that Yeth Hounds, despite not being mechanically impacted by it, irrationally fear sunlight and will flee from the sun or anything of similar brightness no matter what. All you gotta do is last until daylight! Easy!

You can read more about them here.

[sumersprkl]

So I was just thinking about what would happen if Binx and Andhera got married (you know, like you do after an episode with a canonical unglovèd Mr. Darcy hand touch), specifically in regards to Andhera being (I think?) the heir to the Unseelie Court. I was thinking that Binx might have to leave their court and join the Unseelie, like Wuvvy did when she followed Rue to the Court of Wonder.

BUT THEN I thought: Wait. Is BINX the higher-status partner in this relationship? Sure, Andhera is the heir to one of the two most powerful courts, but Binx is THE LEADER OF A COURT IN HER OWN RIGHT ALREADY.

Would ANDHERA leave HIS court to join the Court of Craft???? Because frankly, that would be hilarious. As long as they kept cave water around for them, and brought the yeth hound and maybe Advisor with when they went, I think Andhera would be happy to leave his court.

[lovecolibri]

Everyone's faces as Omar is describing this yeth hound 🤣

Brennan: ☹️

Emily: Omar, why did you introduce this?

Omar: It's a hound with an old man's HEAD is probably the better way to put it.

Brennan: 😨

Lou: But in like, a cute fun way? Like an adorable, fun way? 😧

[treesarewhispering]

My OC Dorothea, Seelie court Archfey Warlock I want to draw Yeth Hounds some more but keep getting sidetracked.

[myth-lord]

If I could create my own D&D Monster Manual

It would look something like this:

The names with the little dot before them are sub-species/variations of the name above, like Kenku, Nagpa, Tlacatecolo and Vrock are variants of the Aarakocra.

Aarakocra

Kenku

Nagpa

Tlacatecolo

Vrock

Abeil

Aboleth

Ahuizotl

Air Elemental

Invisible Stalker

Mihstu

Ragewind

Almiraj

Amphisbaena

ANIMATED OBJECT

Animated Broom

Carrionette

Flying Sword

Guardian Portrait

Living Tome

Rug of Smothering

Scarecrow

Ankheg

Craud (Sea Ankheg)

Arrowhawk

Blood Hawk

Ascomoid

Assassin Vine

Choke Creeper

Astral Defiler

Astral Dreadnought

Astral Filcher (Temporal Filcher)

Astral Marauder

Astral Slayer

Astral Stalker

Aurumvorax

Axe Beak

Achaierai

Azer

Babau (Blood Demon)

Balor (Pit Demon)

Banderhobb

Barbazu (Bearded Demon)

Basilisk

Id Fiend

Pyrolisk

Rock Reptile

Behir

Beholder

Eye Tyrant

Gauth (Spectator)

Mindwitness

Black Dragon (Deepwyrm)

Black Pudding

Reekmurk

Void Ooze

White Pudding (Snowflake Ooze)

Bladeling

Blink Dog

Cooshee

Moon Dog

Yeth Hound

Blood Amniote (Bloodrot)

Bloodthorn (Vampire Rose)

Blue Dragon (Stormwyrm)

Boobrie

Bugbear (Boogeyman)

Bagman

Bulette

Bullywug

Grung

Hezrou (Pod Demon)

Slaad

Carbuncle

Carrion Crawler

Rot Grubs

Ulgurstasta

Catoblepas

Cave Fisher

Avalancher

Centaur

Armanite

Chasme

Chathrang

Chimera

Choker

Skulk

Chuul

Uchuulon

Clay Golem (Terra-Cotta)

Cloaker

CLOCKWORK

Clockroach (Clockwork Horror)

Iron Cobra

Cloud Giant

Fog Giant

Storm Giant

Cloud Ray

Cockatrice

Copper Dragon

Coral Golem

Corollax

Couatl

Cranium Rats

Crawling Claw

Soul Shaker

Crystal Dragon

Cyclops

DARK TREE

Black Willow  

Orcwort

Quickwood

Darkling (Dark Creeper)

Deadly Dancer (Impaler)

Death Knight

Dullahan

Deepspawn

Destrachan

Deva (Angel)

Angel of Decay (Rot Harbinger)

Erinyes (Fallen Deva)

Justicator (Order Deva)

Planetar (Battle Deva)

Solar (Light Deva)

Digester

Dire Angler

Light Devourer

Dire Ape

Barlgura

Girallon

Dire Bat (Mobat)

Fire Bat (Inferno Bat)

Sinister (Shadow Bat)

Dire Bear (Cave Bear)

Dire Beaver (Afanc)

Dire Boar (Tusk Terror)

Fhorge

Dire Catfish (Namazu)

Dire Chameleon (Ambush Drake)

Dire Constrictor (Titanoboa)

Boalisk

Dire Crocodile (Deinosuchus)

Hatori (Sand Crocodile)

Hullathoin

Dire Eel (Abaia)

Cave Moray

Dharculus

Dragon Eel

Lightning Eel

Dire Elephant (Mammoth)

Dire Elk (Megaloceros)

Dire Gar 

Dire Hippo (Behemoth)

Dire Lion

Sea Lion

Dire Otter (Dobhar-Chu)

Dire Pufferfish (Kalothagh)

Dire Ram 

Dire Rat

Osquip

Rylkar

Dire Rhino (Karkadann)

Gulgar (Diamond Charger)

Dire Seahorse (Hippocampus)

Dire Shark (Megalodon)

Dire Skunk (Aniwye)

Dire Sloth (Megatherium)

Dire Tiger (Smilodon)

Kirre

Dire Whale (Leviathan)

Dire Wolf (Worg)

Winter Wolf

Dire Wolverine (Gulon)

Disenchanter

Displacer Beast

Phane

Doppelganger

Fetch

Maurezhi

Dragon Turtle

Zaratan

Drow

Drider

Ettercap

Duergar

Derro

Durzagon

Dwarf Ancestor

Earth Elemental

Crysmal

Galeb Duhr

Mud-Man

Sandman (Sandling)

Tomb Mote (Necromental)

Eblis

Eladrin (Spring Eladrin)

Autumn Eladrin (Bralani)

Summer Eladrin (Firre)

Winter Eladrin (Ghaele)

Evistro (Carnage Demon)

Feyr (Fihyr)

Firbolg (Wood Giant)

Fire Elemental

Belker (Smoke Elemental)

Immolith

Magma Hurler (Magma Elemental)

Magmin (Lava Child)

Fire Giant

Flesh Golem

Rot Ripper

Fomorian

Eldritch Giant (Fomorian Noble)

Plague Spewer

Frost Giant

Gargoyle

Kapoacinth (Reef Gargoyle)

Margoyle

Gas Spore

Gelatinous Cube

Ghoul

Berbalang

Devourer (Soul Eater)

Ghast (Witherstench)

Lacedon (Drowned)

Giant Anemone

Giant Ant

Abyss Ant

Giant Antlion

Giant Assassin Bug

Giant Beetle (Boring Beetle)

Bombardier Beetle (Fire Beetle)

Deathwatch Beetle (Slicer Beetle)

Siege Beetle (Rhinoceros Beetle)

Water Beetle

Giant Centipede

Adaru

Megapede

Remorhaz

Giant Clam

Giant Crab

Carcass Crab (Cadaver Collector)

Kalka Kylla  (Giant Hermit)

Giant Dragonfly

Giant Eagle

Phoenix

Roc

Steelwing

Thunderbird

Giant Firefly (Firefriend)

Giant Frog

Blindheim

Froghemoth

Giant Jellyfish (Man-o-War)

Death Embrace

Dybbuk

Giant Leech

Puppeteer

Giant Mantis

Draudnu

Giant Moth

Gloomwing

Tenebrous Worm

Giant Octopus

Darktentacles (Swamp Octopus)

Decapus (Tree Octopus)

Silt Horror (Sand Octopus)

Giant Owl

Noctral (Celestial Owl)

Giant Raven (Valravn)

Giant Salamander

Frost Salamander

Tlexolotl

Giant Scorpion

Hellstinger

Scaladar

Giant Slug

Bone Whelk

Flail Snail

Metalmaster (Sword Slug)

Giant Spider

Aranea

Bebilith

Bristle Spider

Darkweaver (Shadow Spider)

Phase Spider

Snow Spider

Tomb Spider

Giant Starfish

Dustdigger

Voracia 

Giant Strider

Magma Strider

Giant Tick

Bloodsilk Tick

Soul Tick

Giant Toad

Fire Toad

Ice Toad

Giant Urchin

Land Urchin

Giant Wasp

Advespa (Hellwasp)

Quanlos

Spider Eater

Gibbering Mouther (Chaos Beast)

Argos

Skybleeder (Abyssal Mouther)

Gith (Githyanki)

Glabrezu (Deception Demon)

Gnoll

Flind (War Gnoll)

Marrash (Pestilence Gnoll)

Witherling (Famine Gnoll)

Goblin

Barghest

Boggle

Hobgoblin

Meazel

Nilbog

Spriggan

Gold Dragon

Gorgon (Khalkotauroi)

Gray Jester

Gray Ooze

Gray Render (Skindancer)

Braxat

Green Dragon (Grovewyrm)

Green Slime

Arcane Ooze

Corrupture

Greenvise (Mantrap)

Grell

Gremishka

Gremlin

Quarrak

Grick

Griffon

Hadozee

HAG

Annis Hag (Death Hag)

Bheur Hag (Frostwind Virago)

Green Hag (Bog Hag)

Night Hag (Nocnitsa)

Sea Hag

Hamatula (Barbed Demon)

Harpy

Siren

Hell Hound

Canoloth

Death Dog

Howler

Hoard Scarab

Hollyphant

Hook Horror

Hydra

Imp

Mephit

Quasit

Intellect Devourer (Brain Mole)

Brain Collector (Neh-Thalggu)

Cerebrilith (Mindshredder)

Iron Golem

Adamantine Golem

Shield Guardian

Jackalwere

Jaculi

Jann

Dao

Djinn

Efreet

Marid

Kelpie

Knucklehead Trout

Korred

Nightshade

Kraken

Krenshar

Carcass Eater

Kyton

Lamia

Larva

Lemure

Rutterkin

Leprechaun

Clurichaun

Leucrotta

Lich

Demilich

Dracolich

Skull Lord

Lillend (Muse)

Lizardman

Abishai

Drakkoth

Kobold

Pterrax

Tortle

Troglodyte

Luck Eater

LYCANTHROPE

Werebear

Wereboar

Werefox (Foxwoman)

Wererat

Wereshark

Werewolf

Manticore

Jarilith

Meenlock

Mimic

Trapper

Mind Flayer

Elder Brain

Ulitharid

Minotaur

Goristro

Mohrg

Muckdweller

Shocker Lizard

Mummy

Grisgol

Skirr (Mummy Lord)

Myconid

Phycomid

NAGA

Dark Naga

Guardian Naga

Spirit Naga

Water Naga

Nightmare

Cauchemar

Nightwalker (Death Giant)

Bodak

Nothic

Shardsoul Slayer

Nuckelavee

Nymph

Dryad (Wood Nymph)

Splinterwaif

Lampad (Shadow Nymph)

Nereid (Aquatic Nymph)

Oread (Mountain Nymph)

Sylph (Sky Nymph)

Obliviax (Memory Moss)

Ochre Jelly

Yochlol

Ogre

Brohg

Ettin

Merrow

Oni (Ogre Magi)

Orc

Tanarukk

Tulgar

Osyluth (Bone Demon)

Otyugh

Abyssal Maw

Owlbear

Winterclaw

Pech (Deep Gnome)

Pegasus

Peryton

Pixie (Sprite)

Nixie

Poltergeist

Allip (Doom Whisperer)

Caller in Darkness (Mindstorm)

Pseudo-Dragon (Orange Dragon)

Faerie Dragon (Purple Dragon)

Purple Worm

Fiendwurm

Masher (Blue Worm)

Neothelid

Quickling

Quipper

Ravid (Rage Drake)

Red Dragon (Hellwyrm)

Redcap

Roper

Piercer

Ruin Demon (Swarm Demon)

Rust Monster

Sahuagin

Kuo-Toa (Skum)

Morkoth

Skulvyn

Salamander

Satyr (Faun)

SAURUS

Ankylosaurus (Macetail)

Brontosaurus (Mokele-Mbembe)

Ceratosaurus (Bonesnapper)

Deinonychus (Scytheclaw)

Dilophosaurus (Spitter)

Dimetrodon (Bloodseeker)

Mosasaurus (Gambo)

Plesiosaurus (Coast Stalker)

Pteranodon (Razorbeak)

Stegosaurus (Mbielu)

Stygimoloch (Charger)

Triceratops (Ngoubou)

Tyrannosaurus Rex (Fang Titan)

Sea Serpent

Shadow

Shadow Demon

Shadow Dragon

Shadow Mastiff

Shambling Mound

Tendriculos

Tumbling Mound

Shardmind

Sibriex (Craft Demon)

Silver Dragon

Mercury Dragon

Simpathetic

Skeleton

Boneyard

Crypt Thing

Flameskull

Giant Skeleton (Gashadokuro)

Skin Kite

Skiurid (Soul Nibbler)

Slithering Tracker

Ghaunadan

Solamith

Spectre (Ghost)

Banshee (Wailing Ghost)

Sphinx (Gynosphinx)

Lammasu

Steel Predator

Stirge

Stone Golem

Eidolon

Juggernaut

Su-Monster

Gambol

Succubus

Incubus

Swordwing

Tabaxi

Rakshasa

Tarrasque

Thri-Kreen

Gelugon (Ice Demon)

TITAN

Empyrean

Hundred-Handed One (Hecatoncheires)

Protean

Tlincalli (Scorpion-Man)

Treant

Hangman

Saguaro Sentinel

Tri-Flower Frond

Troll

Rot Troll

Scrag

Twig Blight

Thorny

Umber Hulk

Unicorn

Ecalypse (Dusk Unicorn)

Kirin

Vampire

Nosferatu

Vampiric Mist

Crimson Death

Vargouille

Violet Fungus

Basidirond

Phantom Fungus

Wastrilith (Styx Demon)

Water Elemental

Caller from the Deeps

Chraal (Ice Elemental)

Poison Weird (Poison Elemental)

Web Golem (Adherer)

White Dragon (Frostwyrm)

Wight

Boneclaw

Winter Wight (Entombed)

Will o Wisp

Nyth

Trilloch

Wraith

Helmed Horror (Helmed Wraith)

Sword Wraith

Trap Haunt (Trap Wraith)

Wood Woad (Wood Wraith)

Wyvern

Abyssal Drake

Xorn

Yellow Dragon (Sunwyrm)

Yellow Musk Creeper

Corpse Flower

Yeti

Wendigo (Famine Spirit)

Yrthak

Yuan-Ti

Abomination

Marilith

Medusa

Zombie

Atropal

Dustblight

Revenant

Zombie Clot

Zorbo

HUMANOID: Aarakocra / Kenku / Abeil / Bullywug / Cloud Giant / Storm Giant / Cyclops / Darkling / Drow / Duergar / Eladrin / Autumn Eladrin / Summer Eladrin / Winter Eladrin / Firbolg / Fire Giant / Frost Giant / Gith / Gnoll / Goblin / Hobgoblin / Hadozee / Lizardman / Kobold / Tortle / Werebear / Wereboar / Wererat / Wereshark / Werewolf / Ogre / Orc / Sahuagin / Tabaxi / Thri-Kreen / Yuan-Ti

ABERRATION: Aboleth / Astral Defiler / Astral Dreadnought / Astral Filcher / Astral Marauder / Astral Slayer / Astral Stalker / Banderhobb / Beholder / Eye Tyrant / Gauth / Mindwitness / Slaad / Carrion Crawler / Rot Grubs / Ulgurstasta / Choker / Skulk / Chuul / Uchuulon / Cloaker / Cranium Rats / Deadly Dancer / Deepspawn / Destrachan / Digester / Dharculus / Phane / Doppelganger / Derro / Feyr / Fomorian / Remorhaz / Froghemoth / Death Embrace / Puppeteer / Darktentacles / Decapus / Silt Horror / Darkweaver / Dustdigger / Gibbering Mouther / Argos / Boggle / Gray Render / Braxat / Grell / Grick / Intellect Devourer / Brain Collector / Kraken / Meenlock / Mind Flayer / Elder Brain / Ulitharid / Mohrg / Nothic / Shardsoul Slayer / Otyugh / Neothelid / Roper / Piercer / Kuo-Toa / Morkoth / Swordwing / Protean

UNDEAD: Tlacatecolo / Ragewind / Blood Amniote / Fog Giant / Crawling Claw / Soul Shaker / Black Willow / Death Knight / Dullahan / Angel of Decay / Sinister / Hullathoin / Fetch / Tomb Mote / Plague Spewer / Ghoul / Berbalang / Devourer / Ghast / Lacedon / Bone Whelk / Tomb Spider / Soul Tick / Witherling / Meazel / Carcass Eater / Lich / Demilich / Dracolich / Skull Lord / Mummy / Grisgol / Skirr / Nightwalker / Bodak / Splinterwaif / Poltergeist / Allip / Caller in Darkness / Shadow / Shadow Demon / Shadow Dragon / Shadow Mastiff / Tumbling Mound / Skeleton / Boneyard / Crypt Thing / Flameskull / Giant Skeleton / Skin Kite / Spectre / Banshee / Hangman / Rot Troll / Vampire / Nosferatu / Vampiric Mist / Crimson Death / Vargouille / Caller from the Deeps / Wight / Boneclaw / Winter Wight / Will o Wisp / Trilloch / Wraith / Helmed Horror / Sword Wraith / Trap Haunt / Wood Woad / Zombie / Atropal / Dustblight / Revenant / Zombie Clot

FEY: Almiraj / Behir / Blink Dog / Cooshee / Yeth Hound / Bugbear / Bagman / Grung / Carbuncle / Centaur / Corollax / Couatl / Osquip / Gulgar / Kirre / Winter Wolf / Displacer Beast / Eblis / Eldritch Giant / Blindheim / Gloomwing / Tenebrous Worm / Flail Snail / Aranea / Quanlos / Spriggan / Gray Jester / Gremlin / Annis Hag / Bheur Hag / Green Hag / Sea Hag / Harpy / Siren / Korred / Nightshade / Leprechaun / Clurichaun / Luck Eater / Werefox / Dark Naga / Nuckelavee / Nymph / Dryad / Lampad / Nereid / Oread / Sylph / Oni / Owlbear / Winterclaw / Pixie / Nixie / Quickling / Redcap / Satyr / Gambol / Troll / Scrag / Unicorn / Ecalypse / Zorbo

FIEND: Vrock / Mihstu / Achaierai / Babau / Balor / Barbazu / Hezrou / Catoblepas / Armanite / Chasme / Erinyes / Barlgura / Fire Bat / Fhorge / Rylkar / Maurezhi / Durzagon / Evistro / Immolith / Abyss Ant / Adaru / Dybbuk / Draudnu / Tlexolotl / Hellstinger / Bebilith / Voracia / Magma Strider / Advespa / Skybleeder / Glabrezu / Marrash / Barghest / Quarrak / Night Hag / Hamatula / Hell Hound / Canoloth / Death Dog / Howler / Imp / Mephit / Quasit / Cerebrilith / Kyton / Larva / Lemure / Rutterkin / Abishai / Jarilith / Goristro / Phycomid / Spirit Naga / Nightmare / Cauchemar / Yochlol / Tanarukk / Osyluth / Abyssal Maw / Fiendwurm / Ruin Demon / Skulvyn / Sibriex / Simpathetic / Skiurid / Solamith / Succubus / Incubus / Rakshasa / Gelugon / Hundred-Handed One / Twig Blight / Thorny / Wastrilith / Abyssal Drake / Wendigo / Marilith

ELEMENTAL: Air Elemental / Invisible Stalker / Earth Elemental / Crysmal / Galeb Duhr / Mud-Man / Sandman / Fire Elemental / Belker / Magma Hurler / Magmin / Jann / Dao / Djinn / Efreet / Marid / Pech / Salamander / Shardmind / Water Elemental / Chraal / Poison Weird / Xorn

OOZE: Black Pudding / Reekmurk / Void Ooze / White Pudding / Gelatinous Cube / Gray Ooze / Green Slime / Arcane Ooze / Corrupture / Mimic / Trapper / Ochre Jelly / Slithering Tracker / Ghaunadan

DRAGON: Basilisk / Id Fiend / Pyrolisk / Rock Reptile / Black Dragon / Blue Dragon / Copper Dragon / Crystal Dragon / Hatori / Dragon Turtle / Zaratan / Gold Dragon / Green Dragon / Hydra / Drakkoth / Pseudo-Dragon / Faerie Dragon / Ravid / Red Dragon / Sea Serpent / Silver Dragon / Mercury Dragon / White Dragon / Wyvern / Yellow Dragon / Yrthak

BEAST: Axe Beak / Boobrie / Cloud Ray / Dire Angler / Dire Ape / Dire Bat / Dire Bear / Dire Beaver / Dire Boar / Dire Catfish / Dire Chameleon / Dire Constrictor / Dire Crocodile / Dire Eel / Lightning Eel / Dire Elephant / Dire Elk / Dire Gar / Dire Hippo / Dire Lion / Dire Otter / Dire Pufferfish / Dire Ram / Dire Rat / Dire Rhino / Dire Seahorse / Dire Shark / Dire Skunk / Dire Sloth / Dire Tiger / Dire Whale / Dire Wolf / Dire Wolverine / Giant Anemone / Giant Ant / Giant Antlion / Giant Assassin Bug / Giant Beetle / Water Beetle / Giant Centipede / Megapede / Giant Clam /Giant Crab / Kalka Kylla / Giant Dragonfly / Giant Eagle / Giant Firefly / Giant Frog / Giant Jellyfish / Giant Leech / Giant Mantis / Giant Moth / Giant Octopus / Giant Owl / Giant Raven / Giant Salamander / Giant Scorpion / Giant Slug / Giant Spider / Bristle Spider / Snow Spider / Giant Starfish / Giant Strider / Giant Tick / Giant Toad / Giant Urchin / Land Urchin / Giant Wasp / Jaculi / Knucklehead Trout / Muckdweller / Quipper / Ankylosaurus / Brontosaurus / Ceratosaurus / Deinonychus / Dilophosaurus / Dimetrodon / Mosasaurus / Plesiosaurus / Pteranodon / Stegosaurus / Stygimoloch / Triceratops / Tyrannosaurus Rex

MONSTROSITY: Nagpa / Ahuizotl / Amphisbaena / Ankheg / Craud / Arrowhawk / Blood Hawk / Aurumvorax / Bulette / Cave Fisher / Avalancher / Chathrang / Chimera / Cockatrice / Light Devourer / Girallon / Boalisk / Cave Moray / Dragon Eel / Sea Lion / Disenchanter / Drider / Ettercap / Bombardier Beetle / Deathwatch Beetle / Siege Beetle / Carcass Crab / Steelwing / Roc / Thunderbird / Frost Salamander / Metalmaster / Phase Spider / Bloodsilk Tick / Fire Toad / Ice Toad / Spider Eater / Flind / Nilbog / Gremishka / Griffon / Hook Horror / Jackalwere / Krenshar / Lamia / Leucrotta / Pterrax / Troglodyte / Manticore / Minotaur / Shocker Lizard / Water Naga / Brohg / Ettin / Merrow / Tulgar / Peryton / Purple Worm / Masher / Rust Monster / Sphinx / Stirge / Su-Monster / Tarrasque / Tlincalli / Umber Hulk / Yeti / Abomination / Medusa

CONSTRUCT: Animated Broom / Carrionette / Flying Sword / Guardian Portrait / Living Tome / Rug of Smothering / Scarecrow / Azer / Bladeling / Clay Golem / Clockroach / Iron Cobra / Coral Golem / Dwarf Ancestor / Flesh Golem / Rot Ripper / Gargoyle / Kapoacinth / Margoyle / Scaladar / Gorgon / Hoard Scarab / Iron Golem / Adamantine Golem / Shield Guardian / Steel Predator / Stone Golem / Eidolon / Juggernaut / Web Golem

PLANT: Ascomoid / Assassin Vine / Choke Creeper / Bloodthorn / Orcwort / Quickwood / Gas Spore / Greenvise / Kelpie / Myconid / Obliviax / Shambling Mound / Tendriculos / Treant / Saguaro Sentinel / Tri-Flower Frond / Violet Fungus / Basidirond / Phantom Fungus / Yellow Musk Creeper / Corpse Flower

CELESTIAL: Moon Dog / Deva / Justicator / Planetar / Solar / Phoenix / Noctral / Hollyphant / Lillend / Guardian Naga / Pegasus / Lammasu / Empyrean / Kirin / Nyth

[thefaezoo]

There are seemingly endless stories across many different cultures involving visions of a giant black dog. However, it seems as though the tale is originally either Celtic, Germanic, or British. It has since expanded as far as the Americas.

Many say this creature is a manifestation of the devil, or a guardian to lead you into the underworld - but most agree that the dog is in some way or another an omen of death. Despite this grim imagery, there are some that state that the creature itself is generally harmless, and even friendly at times.

Given that this spectral dog spans many cultures, there are many different names given to the creature. Depending on who you ask, he could be "the yeth hound", "huay chivo", "capelthwaite", "gytrash", "oude rode ogen", "cadejo", and/or "dip".

[canis-or-cannotis-lycaon]

TIMING: Late August LOCATION: The Pines PARTIES: Gael (@lithium-argon-wo-l-f and Mateo (@fearhims3lf SUMMARY: One of the nights preceding the Blue Moon, a restless Gael stumbles into Mateo when a yeth hound finds both of them CONTENT WARNINGS: None!

Night time with a full stomach and no job on the docket was the worst. Bars were getting boring, and there was no way making a phone call to a family member was an option. Eleven at night was simply too late, and Mateo knew how dramatic his mother was. She was likely to think a disaster happened, and convincing her otherwise was way too taxing.

So, instead, Mateo, opted to jump around Wicked’s Rest until he found a suitable patch of grass to lay in. He settled in, arms behind his head, and sighed. The night was calm and welcomed its child of darkness happily. Only thing, Mateo was only one of many, and there was one lurking about. The mare shot up at the snap of a twig, watching the treeline carefully and ready to flee at a moment’s notice.

—

This whole ‘having a surplus of energy’ thing was getting old fast. Gael wasn’t even, like, anxious. He was just full of energy that seemed to come and go in pulses. He’d developed the quick habit of taking walks during the evenings now, going for a jog, trying not to stick his head into the nearest trash can or follow some unfamiliar scent… which was what he was doing now. Under a few different impressions and with the nagging feeling that he really should’ve tried to do something about it, Gael was literally following his nose. Whatever it was smelled dead but he wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to tell the difference between a dead squirrel or a bird. He wasn’t sure how far he got when the smell seemed to turn from decay into… decidedly not that, instead smelling like something from a store. Shampoo or body wash or something, obviously, though he couldn’t decipher what it was. Clumsily, he stepped out from the treeline where he saw what appeared to be a man sitting up and looking right at him. “Oh!” Gael called. “Sorry, I didn’t know anyone was out here,” He added quickly as he held his hands up to indicate that he meant no harm.

—

Oh. Just…a guy? He was cute enough, but maybe a little too sweet for the mare’s liking. Although, the fact that he was out and about at night in a place like Wicked’s Rest, did raise a few alarms. No normal person would do such a thing. Not unless they felt perfectly capable and comfortable taking on whatever decided to lurk in the darkness. Mateo narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the man, his train of thought spiraling toward the idea of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. One could never be too careful, he thought. Especially when he had to worry about things like hunters.

“Oye,” Mateo began, sizing up the stranger behind his sunglasses, “What’re doing out here anyway? Got a death wish or you can handle yourself out here?” He figured being forward was a good strategy. All cards on the table, so to speak. If he gave away that he knew about the darker side of Wicked’s Rest, then maybe, just maybe, the man would give something away too. Next step would be the eyes. Glowing red orbs always seemed to startle even the biggest dude. “And look, I know it probably looks just as weird if I’m out here too, but I asked first.” Ever the petulant man when it came to arguments and games. “So, by the rules, you gotta answer fir—” Snap! Growl! “Ah, shit…” Mateo hissed, looking around to see what trouble the man in front of him was getting him into. Was this an ambush? It was hard to tell, but given that the monstrosity that began to prowl looked at both men with intent, Mateo was inclined to believe they were both in danger. Still, he had to joke. “So, uh…is that your dog? He’s kinda…ugly.”

—

Gael’s gaze was met with one he guessed to be suspicion, which was understandable given the environment and how he had just tumbled out of the treeline - it seemed like the perfect introduction between a protagonist and the perceived evil from a Stephen King novel. “What? I was just taking a walk.” He replied, pointing over his shoulder as though the forest would back him up on that claim. Even as he answered though, he could feel his head shaking slightly as though to deny any unspoken allegations that the stranger could’ve thought at him. Granted, the stranger sure seemed more capable of taking care of himself going by what he was wearing; the last person who dressed similarly was Owen and Gael knew he was a fighter. His ears picked up the stranger’s accent first and despite having demands hurled at him, he couldn’t keep himself from tilting his head. “Oh, would you prefer–” His own question was cut short, however, when a different sound cut through his thoughts and he turned his head sharply in the direction of what sounded like growling. There was an animal there? How had Gael not heard it before? Hastily, he stepped out from the tree line where his dark eyes picked up– “Nope. Nope that’s not mine I don’t own a dog and if I did it wouldn’t be THAT one.” He took a step back, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end as the two men were abruptly confronted with the terrifying visage of a large dog with what appeared to be an exposed skull of a head and several tentacles sprouting from its back, twitching and furling in the dead air absently. “...Yours?” The shudder was evident in his tone but he didn’t want to seem like a complete coward in front of this stranger.

—

“Yeah, whatever.” Mateo rolled his eyes dramatically, wishing he could be alone once more. Now there were two visitors and any hopes for a calm night with his trusty headphones fled away. He blew air between his lips, annoyance escaping him petulantly. The icing on the cake were the arms he crossed, expression devoid of any amusement. 

Of course the dog wasn’t his, why the hell would he ask if it was the stranger’s in the first place then? “No, fool. You dumb or something?” He barked out, ignoring the stupid dog trying to taunt them into a corner. Mateo tutted to himself. He had created far worse monstrosities. Whatever the monster was, the mare wasn’t fazed, but it wasn’t like he was a charitable guy. This was the second stranger within a month to lead a damn creature to him while he was minding his business, and for that, Mateo wanted a little revenge. A little trick!  “I think that thing is yours now, though.” A smile formed on his lips, and he stood up, brushing away any residual dirt and grass so it wouldn’t get into his apartment. “I’d name him Cujo or something.” Mateo patted the man’s shoulder, feigning friendship just before he blinked away into nothingness. He landed in his apartment, laughing to himself. The picture of the random dude thinking he was abandoned while fearing for his life was always a good prank. It almost made Mateo want people to keep leading monsters to him, only to disappear and return with a strategy and a few weapons. He’d wait a few beats before he made his return. That made for maximum funniness, always.

—

He could’ve been dumb. Considering what town he found himself in and all the strange characters that surrounded him now, Gael might’ve been the dumbest person in town. And he certainly felt dumb as he kept his wide, dark eyes on the growling, hissing beast as the tentacles slithered around it, snaking through the air and creating a slimy noise that he really wished he weren’t hearing, especially at that moment. Gael was so focused on the large creature that when he felt the stranger’s hand on his shoulder, all but missing what the man had actually said, he visibly jumped with a sharp inhale. From what he could gather, filtered through the fear that he tried to smother in his mind, the stranger didn’t really take much seriously and what was more, he didn’t seem to be afraid at all. The professor, wanting to use the other man as something of an anchor of solidarity that he wasn’t alone, started to turn to regard the other man when suddenly the weight of the hand on his shoulder disappeared. The man stumbled, clearly not expecting that and the look on his sunken face could only be described as ‘completely confused and definitely not at all afraid’. “Okay!” Gael attempted to recover himself, breathing deeply. “I was here with a guy and the guy… .phased out of existence and there’s a giant dog with tentacles and an inverted skull.” He spoke quickly, trying to keep his tone even though he couldn’t stop it from rising with emotion. “Okay Gael, think about it for a second.” He gulped, taking another shaky step back as the demonic hound advanced slowly. “You know how this looks and sounds?” He asked himself, apparently thinking that now was a good time to literally talk himself through whatever was happening. “You’ve lost your mind.” He came to the conclusion. “If you just… Okay, so the guy was here and he disappeared. Strange shit’s been happening in town.” As though to confirm it, Gael felt another pulse of energy tear through him. “Including you. This is obviously just… your brain trying to create problems and likely scenarios.” His leg caught on something as he was stepping back and he crashed to the ground unceremoniously. “Oh come ON.” He shouted through pained grunts as he landed on his back, feeling a sharp stab course up his spine where the scar tissue that stretched across his lower spine interacted with whatever he tripped on.

—

Gathering his brand-spanking-new bat from the closet, which was next to a few extra (just in case creature fighting became a habit), Mateo twirled it in his hands, retrieving a random book as well. He hummed to himself, sauntering about his apartment and throwing in a piece of bread into his toaster. After that, he went to his safe and input the code, opening it and retrieving a pistol and grenade. It came in handy last time, didn’t it? Mateo hoped he’d be able to use it again. The toast sprang up and the mare snatched up and held it between his teeth as he blinked back into the space where he left the stranger. He was careful to land himself a few feet away, behind some brush, to coordinate a little better. The man was mumbling to himself, and Mateo had to stifle laughter as he munched on the piece of dry toast. It always paid to have a snack while you watched a show, right? When the guy fell though, that’s when Mateo couldn’t help but laugh, giving away his position. Oops. It was showtime then. “Hate to tell you, chico, but…” He twirled his bat, finishing the last of his toast. “You ain’t lost your mind. Not yet.” Mateo grinned, patting the bat against his newly freed hand. Chuckling again, he walked toward his acquaintance, gait a little too relaxed when there was a dangerous creature nearby. He offered a hand, forcing the guy to get to his feet so the fight could be just slightly more fair. “Name’s Mateo. Use this.” He gave him the book from his vest with a shrug. “Saw John Wick use this to kill once.” —

He wasn’t sure how long he was on the ground, finding himself slightly set back by the stabs of pain that surged up his spine now accompanied the strange energy that he didn’t like going through his system. Part of Gael relinquished himself to the beast, not content at all but somehow accepting that maybe this was how he was going to die, being shredded apart and eaten by a tentacle dog. Of course, while his mind was trying to come to terms with his impending demise, his body still acted on its own accord and he scooted back on the ground, feeling his sweater picking up loose dirt, twigs and dead leaves that lay on the forest floor. Then he heard a laugh coming from behind him and, in his nerves, he threw his head back to look upside down at whoever it was coming up to him. If it was someone else aggressive… he didn’t want to think about if it was someone else aggressive; he could already feel his fingers extending uncomfortably, trembling slightly as they felt like someone was pulling on the bones under the skin. However, when brown eyes fell upon the abrupt reappearance of the man from before, now brandishing a bat and what looked to be a book, Gael wasn’t… relieved, per se, but at least it wasn’t someone– “Wait, where the hell did you go?” He asked, all but ignoring everything else that the man (now dubbed Mateo) had said, even as he was being pulled to his feet and shoving a - was this a book? - into Gael’s shaking hands. “First you were here and then you suddenly weren’t and– how long have you been listening in on me?” He asked, temporarily all but forgetting the large monstrosity that loomed near them. 

—

“Yeah…” Mateo nodded along to the guy’s mild freakout, completely detached and unsympathetic to how overwhelming the whole situation probably was. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. It’s fine. Just a thing I can do, man. Don’t worry about it.” When he appeared to finally be done, Mateo clicked his tongue and waved off his companion while his attention was taken by the fucked up puppy just a few feet away. It growled and snapped, though Mateo remained unfazed by the attempts at aggression. 

But as he looked closer, he noticed the dog wasn’t pointing the ‘tude toward the mare. “Huh?” It continued the show, attempting to circle around Mateo, and the closer he got, the more obvious it became that Mateo wasn’t the object of the dog’s fixation. It was the man behind him.  The very terrified and babbling man. “Yo, my guy, I think he’s–wait” He looked at the dog, eyes narrowing until he nodded with a smile on his face. “Sorry,” He apologized to the mutt, putting his body between the two to keep the man safe. “What’d you do to make her mad at you?” Kneeling down, the hound seemed to calm a little, almost nuzzling into Mateo. A look of surprise painted over his face, but he was more than happy to accept the affection of a dog for the first time in years. —

So Gael was what most people considered to be a ‘patient person’. He could roll with the punches, casually accept friendly insults and was more than willing to be the butt of a joke. On most days. Now, though, as Mateo was obviously not as worried about whatever this was as Gael himself was, he felt the uncomfortable pulse of energy through his limbs and it balled his hands into fists– well, the one, while the other held the book that was unhelpfully given to him to use as a weapon because Mateo saw it in a movie.

“Just a thing you can do?” He asked, only to get waved off and he felt some of the fear starting to dissipate in favor of frustration, despite the man standing before him who would apparently just… blink out of existence, the dog that was still menacing him and causing the back of his hair to stand on end. Was that even real? Was Mateo real? He felt real, Gael could feel the hand on his, pulling him to his feet. But… Maybe Mateo was just another side effect of whatever he was feeling at the moment. He wanted to say something else, though even now he wasn’t sure what he was going to say when the tentacled dog made its presence known once more and he tensed up, turning his dark, furrowed gaze to the creature with its glowing eyes that bored into him, sending another shiver up his spine. Maybe it wasn’t real. It hadn’t attacked him yet and… Mateo started talking to it. Apologizing to it. “Wh–” He faltered, confusion painting his face. “...What?” He asked incredulously as the other man knelt and started petting it - her?

—

“Yeah, old man. Try not to question it too much. You look…” Looking Gael up and down, Mateo chortled, a bit amused by the nervous and disheveled look the guy was sporting. He blabbered way more than Felix did, and they were pretty good at freaking out. He shrugged, “You look like you need to go home and take a nap.” Taking the nice route wasn’t a common thing for Mateo, but even a man like him could have sympathy. He wasn’t always a monster.

“Ay que linda eres, chulita.” Mateo put his attention back toward the hound, petting her gently and cooing as if she was any normal dog. Quickly, she leaned into his touch, and he exhaled with a bit of disbelief and glee. He wondered if that was what people felt when an animal took to them so quickly and easily. It was a nice feeling, and Mateo forgot all about Gael for a few moments while he decided on a name.  “Angel.” He proclaimed, standing up to face Gael. “I think Angel and I have a lot of bonding to do.” She snapped at Gael, growling as if she may attack. Mateo had a feeling she wouldn’t, so he just laughed, crossing his arms with an amused look on his face. “Don’t think she likes you too much, but hey, that’s just me. I think you’re okay even if you should relax a little.” Placing a hand on Angel’s head, he patted her, instantly ending the show of threats. “Never had a dog before, so I guess it’s thanks to you that I get to have one now though. Really appreciate it, chico.” The hound’s tendrils writhed happily coiling loosely around Mateo’s arm as he pet Angel. “You good to get home? I’m gonna take her on a walk.” —

Gael crossed his arms defensively when Mateo called him ‘old’, but he couldn’t deny that maybe a nap sounded good. Even if didn’t feel like he needed, wanted, or could even settle down enough to take a nap, he figured it might’ve been beneficial. Irritation tugged at his mind, just as a jittering feeling, strange sensations that pumped through his veins. Fear, annoyance, fear, empathy, annoyance. The dog snapped at him again which prompted him to take an instinctive step back but Mateo had named the creature Angel and… he seemed to have been getting along with it. Which, ultimately, Gael thought he liked. Angel wasn't on the list of the first ten names he’d have picked for a dog with a skull for a head, glowing eyes or tentacles that furled lazily on its back but… this was why he had Mirabel and Señor at home. There were few things that could compare to the love of an animal and he knew better now that love from anywhere, even an unconventional creature that nuzzled into Mateo’s palm fondly. The sensation solidified as the other man expressed that he’d never had a dog before. He paused, looking at the bizarre scene before him. And though he thought some primal part of him still wanted to recoil, give the creature its space, he also found himself smiling faintly at the duo. “Yeah. I’m good to get home.” He replied casually, dipping his sentence into the Spanish he knew Mateo was fluent in. “You take your girl for a walk; I’m glad you found her.” He said and with the lasting image of the tentacled beast still fresh in his mind but with the label ‘Angel’ attached to it, eliminating some of the fear, Gael put his hands in his pockets and left the two strange beings to themselves.

He wasn’t going to go home, not yet but he could at least be more aware of where he was walking. Ideally to avoid any other weird, possibly freaky creatures out in the woods that evening.

[eldritchaccident]

(@honeysmokedham) What kind of animal?

-----

[pm] An otter! [ User scours the other's profile for info, doesn't come up with much other than this person seems to like ham, memes, and a profile that appears to have an actual picture of yeth hound?? Okay go off queen ] Are you an animal enthusiast?

You aren't gonna feed Pascal to that puppy are you--

[enddaysengine]

Yellow Musk Creeper (Paths Beyond)

While the Yeth Hound is a monster marinating in the OGL that I could see sticking around, the Yellow Musk Creeper is definitely out when the ORC version of Pathfinder lands. It’s a pity, cause I love this monster, but it’s a monster that D&D through and through, so it will fall by the wayside. 

That said, I could see a similar monster with a different name and stats rise to take its place. Yellow musk creepers are plants that take over hosts by planting seeds in their brains, effectively turning them into (non-undead) zombies under the creeper’s control. Even though I’ve never seen or played Last of Us, I know this body horror staple is having a moment right now, so hopefully Paizo has a plan waiting in the wings.

If you are looking for inspiration for using the yellow musk creeper - anything with parasitic plants or funguses will do the trick. Cordyceps funguses are the obvious IRL inspiration to draw from, but don’t sleep on other parasitic fungi or animals. A seed that devours and then germinates in the place of a person’s tongue is going to be creepy as heck. While terrifying, the creepers are mindless plants, so you can potentially find them on any plane with abundant vegetation, although they tend to take root where blood soaks the soil and corpses are common. Special note goes out to the Plane of Wood, which will debut in a few weeks. Given its theme, I imagine they have their fair share of yellow musk creepers. 

Despite stereotypes around the Inner Sea, religious practice in Osirion focuses on life, not death. One commoners do so is by creating corn mummies — unbaked clay figurines with seeds embedded inside. When buried, these germinate, symbolizing how death renews life throughout the planes. They also reflect one of Osiris’ planar allies, the celestial yellow musk creeper Rising Life, who oversees the great god’s purview of agriculture and can call the worthy dead to defend the living. 

The elven aiudara are well-known as portals across continents and even planets, but scholars ponder that these portals never seem to link planes today. Only the most learned elven artisans know a secret: Masham the Brash, a pupil of Candlaron the Sculptor, attempted to create a gate linking Kyonin to the Plane of Water. The so-called Lotusgate went wildly haywire, transforming it into a sentient yellow musk creeper that exists simultaneously in the Universe and on the elemental plane. The Lotusgate is still alive and hypothetically can be used to travel to the inner planes, but it is wily, wandering the Sellen River and avoiding elves as much as possible. 

There are many ways for an orc to challenge a god. Legends say that if they descend into Nar-Voth, there is a sacred grove of yellow musk creepers. By deliberately subjecting themselves to the creepers’ hypnotic pollen, then resisting the plants’ attempts to implant seeds, an orc can induce a hallucinogenic state that culminates in unleashing their true potential. The grove is real (and doesn’t just work for orcs) and completing the quest counts as a mythic trial, but the creepers themselves are also mythic and far deadlier than their counterparts on the surface.