Weekly Wonders 13: Eldritch Archetypes of Azathoth
Archetypes of the Mad Sultan 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 Azathoth¸ the blind idiot god at the center of all things¸ surrounded by strange and terrible dancers and flute-players that stave off its mindless wrath. Featured in a variety of works by H. P. Lovecraft¸ and first introduced in The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath ¸ Azathoth is a recurring figure in Lovecraft's works¸ and among the most beloved and iconic of his creations. Whether they directly mention Azathoth or not¸ each archetype in this book builds on themes of mindless idiocy¸ squamous and shapeless entities¸ and the power of music to lull such things. The mindless rager¸ a barbarian archetype that emulates the mindless thrashing of Azathoth¸ growing incredibly strong but horribly confused when enraged. The cosmic piper¸ a bard archetype that specializes in songs that soothe¸ pacify¸ and bind those who hear them. The tentacle magus¸ a magus archetype that adopts portions of Azathoth into his own form. The mind of Azathoth¸ a psychic archetype and discipline¸ which can take on terrible physical transformations to resemble Azathoth¸ and which gains power from madness. The visionary of Azathoth¸ a summoner archetype whose eidolon is a tiny fragment of Azathoth itself. A bonus cleric domain for those who worship Azathoth. 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.