NPCs · Mythic/ Historical · Combative
The Dhole
The gargantuan engine of destruction that has slept for centuries. But it has tired of travelling the paths of sleep and dreams...
Special Equipment:
Appearance:
If it were to be fully exposed, the Dhole would be nearly a mile long. It is akin to an earthworm with a rounded, dome-like head, and has no sensory organs, but for a gigantic maw lined with razor teeth larger than horses. It has a purple-red color and drips shimmering metaphysical matter. If it were to be awoken, the Dhole would be hungry, very hungry, indeed (You would too, if you had slept for a million years). And it would take the wakers as it's first meal...
Background:
In the very creation of existence, the gods created the Great Structure of Reality, the Dimensions of Space, Time, Energy, and Thought. But, as the forces of existence work in strange ways, there are some beings that exist outside of this Great Structure, and the Dhole is one such creature. The insane proto-dieties, metaphysical beings, and other disturbing creations of Anti-Reality battled against each other and each sought the downfall of the god's Great Structure. However, millions of years ago, the Dhole won out over the others and went to take it's place at the base of the Structure. The Dhole exists as an anathema to the Structure. It was delayed in it's eternal task of devouring the Dimensions by the gods, however, as it exists outside of the Dimension of Time, it is ageless, and thus it lives still and soon, it will awaken to resume the job it began at the beginning of all existence.
Roleplaying Notes:
-If you intend to send your players against the Dhole, they had better be godlike in power to stop a creature that eats space-time and is a mile long. Just to tell you.
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he is like the tarrask (sorry i dont remember the creature name ) from the ad n d??
This thing sucks. I can't believe I ever conceived something so bad.
I can. You were in an elder god's tequilla kind of phase.
Dhole, huh? I see someone likes the Cthulhu Mythos, aye? I know that the Dholes in the Mythos were tough mofos, but this fellow's rather overkill. If the thing's so insanely powerful, then he really won't be an active part of any game... just like the Tarrasque (poor, poor Tarrasque).
I disagree; not with your critique of the Creature, sorry Cap, but with your evaluation of powerful beings.
Powerful beasts, like Dholes, 'Cthulhus', Dragons, Gods, Arch Demons, etc... ARE good for a purpose. While I agree with your assessment in regards to combat and ridiculously high level stuff, I find powerful beasts such as these good for ANOTHER purpose.
There are legends and myths to be built around such creatures. There are stellar constellations foresaying their arrival, ancient prophecies speaking of their manifestation. I cannot recount the endless plots that can be built around such legends and prophecies.
In addition you have to consider the tales and legends of such creatures. The fear which can be generated as PCs read a passage in an old cultist's journal is invaluable for building tension and a proper atmosphere for your game.
As a matter of fact I recently created a powerful being myself, just a short time ago, for Cheka's setting. That does not have to mean that you should actually USE it. Ambience my friend, ambience.
Cap: I think the Dhole would be ok, if it was not named after a Cthulhu mythos entity. (In some places this post is a Dhole (the original) rip off).
The Dhole is no good if *awake* but as the beast which the cultists are trying to awake it is very good indeed.2/5 as it is, but 4/5 if it is used in the right way.
I'm not claiming that is a particularly good submission (especially compared to other of Captain Penguin's stuff), but I've always had quite a soft spot for it nonetheless. I HoHed it partly because it's a perfect example of how even 2 star submissions can (sometimes) add a lot to this site and partly because, well, the concept of 'a creature that eats space-time and is a mile long' is quite cool, there's no getting away from it!
I... don't know why this was HoHed.
Iain explained.
The idea itself is a good one, the Dhole could be the focus of an entire campaign... some destuctive sorecerer wants to awaken the ancient threat to help bring about the end of the world? Its a bit munchkin, sure, but sometimes a new twist on the überpowerful monster can be fun.. It´s not up to the usual high standards of the Cap´ns works, but not as bad as its made out to be.. I could work with this..
And of course, we can use it as a lesson that even the best among us can have a bad day..:-)
Edit: I do like the idea of a all-powerful devourer slumbering deep beneath the earth, perhaps to be awakened at the end of Creation. Yep, I like that...
/David
I fear waking this one :)