Weekly Wonders 12: Eldritch Archetypes of Leng
Archetypes of Your Dreams The eldritch¸ the strange¸ and the weird are often relegated to the domains of villains and NPCs in fantasy¸ with the good guys being the ones who stand in the way of the dark things that remain just beyond our perception¸ which we can never truly understand. But sometimes¸ it can be fun to take on the mantle of the otherworldly¸ and to embrace the alien terrors of the cosmos. Each installment of Weekly Wonders: Eldritch Archetypes contains five archetypes for eldritch characters-those that are weird¸ alien¸ and otherworldly¸ who don't fit in with normal society-as well as a cleric domain devoted to a specific mythos entity or race. For this book¸ we focus on the dreaded plateau of Leng¸ a cold and desolate land in the realm of dreams¸ known for the strange denizens that make their home there¸ travelling from port to port on flying ships and taking slaves for their moon-beast masters. Featured primarily in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath ¸ by H.P. Lovecraft¸ Leng has been expanded upon in numerous works and stories. All of the archetypes in this book build upon the theme of dreams¸ and each one is tied to a different creature associated with that dark and terrible plateau that has haunted the nightmares of so many. This book contains the following archetypes: The fist of Leng¸ a brawler archetype that slowly transforms into one of the dreaded men of Leng¸ with goat horns and legs. The spider's fang¸ a gunslinger archetype who serves the dreaded Leng spiders and has been granted several strange techniques by them. The dreamquester¸ an occultist archetype that specializes in entering the world of dreams¸ and develops many useful contacts and allies in that strange and otherworldly realm. The priest of the indescribable¸ an oracle archetype cursed with an appearance so hideous and alien that even looking upon her can cause madness and nightmares. The shantak rider¸ a ranger archetype that gains a shantak as an animal companion¸ and is adept at traveling the world of dreams. A bonus cleric domain devoted to those who adhere to the mysterious religion of Leng. Whether you're about to embark on a campaign of eldritch horror (such as the official Paizo adventure path dealing with strange and alien entities)¸ or you just want an excuse to play a servant of the unknowable and uncaring cosmic entities of the Cthulhu mythos¸ this book has lots of tantalizing options to offer. Even GMs can get in on the fun¸ as several of the archetypes here are perfect for insane cultist NPCs as well¸ and can make for exciting and memorable encounters.