Dungeons and Dragons Lore: Star Spawn

[@brianmead7556]

I keep intending to give your channel a rest so I can come back and binge new stuff, but then I see what's new and I can't resist watching.

[@AJPickett]

At least two vids per week, and the weekend live stream, until they pry the mouse out of my cold, dead hands

[@brianmead7556]

@@AJPickett Opa! When do you sleep?

[@sephirothhthemadman2379]

I am running an adapted lovecraftian/dark fantasy campaign and I always come to your channel for inspiration and information. You're the best source of monster ecology and I thank you for the 3 years I've been viewing your videos.

[@AJPickett]

you are most welcome!

[@Im-Not-a-Dog]

I like the idea of having a small group of these guys as a random wilderness encounter with no explanation as to what they are or why they’re there. Simply to impart the feeling that sometimes you just see some shit and have no idea what’s going on. Sometimes you run into a pack of wolves that just attacked a traveling merchant and shit makes sense, sometimes you find an interdimensional cadre of Eldritch Horrors and are left wondering the hell just happened. You shouldn’t always know why monster like this are there or what they’re doing. Leave your players feeling like they just encountered a D&D SCP.

[@That80sGuy1972]

**peers at you** That sounds like something a super-intelligent internet savvy long-time AD&D playing dog would say. **scratches chin** Oh... wait... you could be a friend of Mr. Pickles. Nevermind. Forget I said anything. **runs away in a panic**

[@thedarkmaster4747]

Then slowly work & weave it back into the narrative of the campaign. And maybe have an massive N.P.C. guild of antimages with vast resources and swaves of extendable personel attempt to contain it & end up trying abit more than you should have to, in order not to TPK your entire party... When the... "Breach" happens mid tour of the guilds vast facilities. Because you watched an TMG video.

[@W0lf7133]

My first dnd character was a Star-spawn sworn warlock. How delightful!

[@zhondortoth8699]

I love the idea a comet staff as a “random” sapient weapon seeking to possess the user turning them into a star-spawn.

[@sethierot7067]

Ah nice to get some Lore so early in the day

[@HumbleMemeFarmer]

The far realm: for when you have a rogue who's a liiiittle too frisky with the normal monsters.

[@johntheherbalistg8756]

I thought that was the bard's job 🤣

[@zacharyhawley1693]

Just a typical Tuesday night.

[@thedarkmaster4747]

*russian accent* "In far realm, bed jumps into you!"

[@johngleeman8347]

Gosh, I really want to enhance ye olde Blood War with the Star Spawn, Aboleths, Mind Flayers, and other Elder Evil minions as the third faction. And then throw the PCs in the middle of the carnage of course. >:3

[@KatsuhiroHebi]

A war waged by creatures from beyond the stars.... we can call it the Star Wars!

[@lilcubone6201]

Laugh's in DM

[@dalexander4204l]

meh, I think the illithid know well enough not to get involved, unless of course the balance had been severely tilted to the demons side

[@dustinzhane7329]

​@@dalexander4204lyou have heard of baldurs gate 3 right?

[@Ghostypants_]

This is absolutely perfect for what I'm running right now. This is why I watch the backlog

[@AJPickett]

Thank you!

[@gammagong9435]

I LIVE for the 'Deeply Nerdy'.

[@Scortch-lo3xy]

Can i just say, anything in DND with the words "far realm" mentioned in their history, means two things generally speaking... 1. they're really f*cking dangerous 2. they're really f*cking awesome

[@jacekekawa4498]

* they're ;)

[@Scortch-lo3xy]

@@jacekekawa4498 oh yes thank you

[@SomberMelancholy]

I kept overlooking these guys and never realised how awesome these alien freak shows are! Once again thank you for another awesome video! For month I've been going through your videos and they have helped make me a better DM and player! Thank you for everything you do on your channel!

[@AJPickett]

You are most welcome :)

[@venandisicarius]

So funny story... One of my players casually ate a star born. They killed it and decided it was edible enough to eat. Then they passed the Con save so... Star Born for dinner.

[@Mare_Man]

Ohhh, the Larva Mage looks a lot like the Phrenic Scourge from Pathfinder and the old man from Lovecraft's *The Festival*

[@markusnavergard2387]

They are based on the masked thing in the festival

[@zacharyhawley1693]

Ah yes star spawn. Or as I know them. The reason why the bard isn't allowed to sing within a day of any impact site. Or alternatively how we stopped worrying and accept the ravishing tentacles of star daddy. And yes. It's exactly what it sounds like but the whole party agreed to share. And having an elder evil with friendly tentacles is much better than one trying to destroy the world. So teamwork saved the day yay?!

[@AJPickett]

*holds up the teddy and the squid then decides not to go through with telling that joke*

[@thedarkmaster4747]

BTW this comment rocks, and this is not the first time i've read it either. 👍🤣 XD(letter face really needs an emoji, the eyes and mouth exist, but never in one smiley face. I blame c'thulhu.)

[@zacharyhawley1693]

@@Self-replicating_whatnot When you have a group of experienced rpgers you get a paradigm shift. -Sharess gets involved becomes a greater deity,sune becomes her aspect - Shar is banished permanently, sharess takes her name as a trophy, -Grazz't wins the title lord of demons, Malchanthet ascends. Bane loses Loviatar to Sharess's advances. The becomes unrecognizable as Faerun. ETC..

[@Asgaardiangatekeeper]

Does everything in D&D need to be disgusting degenerate bullshit?

[@mbp1652]

​@Asgaardiangatekeeper yes, if done correctly.

[@_bats_]

I absolutely love monster types that really synergize in crazy ways like these guys and the Sorrowsworn. Those CRs are really off once you start using their nasty abilities in a coordinated way. Very neat (and terrifying!) group of monsters.

[@derskalde4973]

I first misunderstood, that the Turlemoi not only get stronger and more resistent, but also _grew_ the more damage it takes. Like, that it got physically bigger each time it got hit. But this misunderstanding could make for an amazing scene. Imagine, you confront the PCs with a swarm of star spawn, and there are these few among them, that look more or less like a human that was shrunk to the size of a dwarf, just mostly featureless and red. But then, with every hit they take, they grow bigger, their muscles swelling. And then they start hitting themselves, speeding up this growth in strength and size, until they reach the size of an ogre... That could make for a memorable moment.

[@WildBandit300]

The mechanics of these things alone made me run a still going two year campaign. These are probably some of my favorite monsters in 5e because of how well designed they are. I wish more monsters like these would show up in official material, stuff that you must play smartly around to kill effectively.

[@antwan1357]

Star Spawn should be played like real estate agents clearing a path of death so they can sell the planet to unimaginable wealthy overlords . Who wish to establish the planet as a for sale property without sentient life , and ready for habitation for overpopulated galaxies.

[@gingermcgingin4106]

So Saiyans?

[@thedarkmaster4747]

9:15 Those are some pretty nice sacrificial daggers. I mean if you're gonna get blood sacrificed by cultists, it might aswell be with the best quality and most tastefull tools on offer. In D&D you rescue that guy, slay the cultists and loot the daggers, in R.L. You metaphorically always are that guy. 😨🩸🗡✨💰

[@LurkerDaBerzerker]

*Relevant and Supportive Comment* Edit: I always wondered why people had problems with handling higher level players, they aren't invincible and the DM has everything at their disposal.

[@That80sGuy1972]

Personally speaking (the Edit part), it depends upon how the players got their characters that high in level. If the players got to that level from low level to that level with the same DM, they can sense and build characters to defend against anything their DM will throw at them. With most others, it is that most DM's just have trouble planning for parties that can adapt and do pretty much anything. Stat-n-power blunt-forcing enemies cannot beat the player characters ever gain. You got to throw enemies at them that transform the battlefield on the fly and in role-play you got to keep the story complex and fluid relative to their characters' choices. That's a LOT of moving parts. Also, too many DM's who love running high-level campaigns actually create missions that are almost custom-built to kill the player characters and make their choices irrelevant. Myself (DM) running a high-level mission: This is your situation! My veteran players: This is how we will own this! Me: Crap. They figured it out too soon again. Myself (DM) running a high-level mission: This is your situation! My new players (created as a high-level campaign): These are our choices. Me: Dang. Time for me to have them roll some sats for hints and clues. They are gonna' get wasted. Myself (DM) running a high-level mission: This is your situation! My group with at least one veteran player: Super-easy, barely an inconvenience! **Veteran player chimes in and a heated debate begin.** Me: Wow. This is gonna' be fun!

[@zmishiymishi5349]

Ahh, the Far Realm. Infinite of variety, yet only one sure outcome. You go mad, babe!

[@darkmystic7764]

Beautiful. Please talk more lore specifics of far realm beauties!! :)

[@mr.eccentricthelich]

I really like the vid AJ and one my favorite creatures

[@vadaritis]

In my campaign these things function quite differantly and they are the bbeg. They share a hivemind of an eldergod who had known nothing but the great nothing of the void, the space between stars. They are the result of people, monsters, and animals being possesed by this being. The hulks for example can be multiple people fused together into a massive powerful figure. This eldergod originally had part of its pyche brought to this world by a wizard where it got trapped as an expirament. He escaped and has been body hopping for centuries. He has learned to enjoy existance, and has figured out a ritual to bring the rest of himself over. The ritual is scalable, so the more participants, the more he can possess at a time. He has manipulated two nations to send both thier armies to the same spot... I think you can figure out why. My players are only just now figuring out that he has had his fingers in many sinister pies. Over tume I have revealed little by little. This campaign has been going on for almost 5 yrs, and is my first campaign dm'ing. This villain has been in play since the first session, and they loved rediscovering the 'notes of a madman' that they got first session to only now realize what the raving was about. ^_^ The players are in the endgame now, with everything coming to a head. Getting a little nervous in all honesty, that maybe I can stick the landing and not have him be a big let down.

[@flibbernodgets7018]

Good luck! Crazy to think that this 5 year journey is ending soon.

[@ThortheGodly]

Good luck man, this campaign sounds coolAF.

[@YellowCladKing]

Really great opening to this video! Highly recommend using it more in the future.

[@AJPickett]

Will do!

[@chaosincarnated6011]

i'm curious now. when the hulks take psychic damage they instead broadcast that damage out to each creature within 10 feet of it. but what if another hulk is within 10 feet of it? would it broadcast that damage out as while or not. could you create an infinite loop of psychic death?

[@Orapac4142]

It would broadcast to the second hulk which would activate it's psychic mirror, but that wouldn't reactivate the first ones to create a psychic loop, you know by RAW atleast. Jeremy Crawford had a twitter post about that rule sometime a go. Now if you want to be an asshole that makes the designers of the Tomb of Horrors look nice, you can house rule it so you insta kill any PC that way.

[@InvinciblKillerQueen]

One thing that’s great about the star spawn is how big a surprise they can be. Players visualizing a scrawny desiccated thing get a nasty shock when the mangler gets to manglin’!

[@nature337]

I know this video isn't new but I am so happy it was recommended to me. I'm building a d&d world and one of the major factions the PCs will come into conflict with are cultists of a great old one. Star spawns could be perfect low-to-mid level mini-bosses to introduce the antagonists, rather than just throwing cultists and warlocks at them.

[@Demonica2539]

Byrgenwerth...Byrgenwerth...Blasphemous murderers...Blood-crazed fiends...Atonement for the wretches...By the wrath of Mother Kos...Mercy for the poor, wizened child...Mercy, of please... Lay the curse of blood upon them, and their children, and their children's children, for evermore. Each wretched birth will plunge each child into a lifetime of misery. Mercy, for the poor, wizened child...Let the pungence of Kos cling, like a mother's devotion... Curse here, curse there. A curse for he, and she, why care. A bottomless curse, a bottomless sea, source of all greatness, all things that be. Listen for the baneful chants. Weep with them, as one in trance. And weep with us, oh, weep with us...

[@SeventhSeraphOfficerRevolver]

And now I want to play Bloodborne again thanks man.

[@MrNetWraith]

Just because I don't expect it to be mentioned: the name "Star Spawn" is another 4th edition monster group that refers a completely different array of monsters. In 4th edition's basic cosmology, a number of stars are aberrant entities of enormous power, to the point they served as one of the potential patrons of warlock PCs; "Star Spawn" referred to the servitor monsters that they could create and send to earth to bedevil mortalkind. Still "Lovecraftian", but more in a cosmic or elemental sense rather than the twisted flesh and pulsing tentacles of the Foulspawn. 4e Star Spawn included the Maw of Acamar (a humanoid mass of mobile darkness lit with dying stars that consumes all in its path); the Herald of Hadar (an emaciated near-corpse that drains the life from all around it); the Scion of Gibbeth (an ever-shifting living nightmare); the Spawn of Ulban (a humanoid/octopus creature which inspires rebellion and upheaval); the Emissary of Caiphon (a shapeshifting horror that brings about societal collapse), the Serpent of Nihal (a monstrous cobra made of starlight); and Allabar - Opener of the Way (a living planet of hate-fueled flesh and bone).

[@levimorne]

Oh my goodness! I love that into picture AJ that is wild!

[@cheayunju]

Best quote on this one: "the squirming madness of an elder evil's (evils'?) prison"

[@purplehaze2358]

I can only imagine the confrontation that would occur if an incursion of demons and elder evils were to cross paths.

[@GreenLanternCorps2814]

Demons would be utterly demolished if we're talking about real Lovecraftian elder gods. Lovecraftian gods can not be fought or opposed. Their power is beyond everything.

[@purplehaze2358]

Samuel Khasin I imagine that elder evils would at least be slightly irritated by demon lords, since they are immensely powerful beings. However, I was more discussing an incursion of the lessers of each group.

[@howdoibeatthis304]

Wait if you gave an elder god your amulet then would you become an elder god Dr. Bright?

[@purplehaze2358]

How Do I Beat This *looks at my amulet analytically, then looks back at you* Let’s try.

[@dr.robotnik3684]

Very inspiring video, reminds me of the Sarkites from the SCP verse

[@Raghetiel]

Sarkites actually remind much of Demons of abyss, especially Sibriax and other flesh warpers. Even in mentality, most demons desire to throw away humanity self-restraint, although each in their own way. Baphomet wants to return to natural ways, Yeenoghu wants to indulge in cannibalism, e.t.c. q

[@Xkhaosxzeus]

I love H.P. Lovecraft he also inspired a lot in Bloodborne a game very near and dear to my heart

[@carsonbettinger8937]

Actually, these seem like a great parallel for Genestealer cults in 40k. They've already got neophyte hybrids, acolyte hybrids, Aberrants, and a magus. Wouldn't be that hard to fill the rest out I think.

[@fiercemushroom4840]

The inquisition reminds you that any attempt to contact the Tyranid swarm is deeply heretical and will result in massive purging potentially up to exterminatus.

[@AJPickett]

VERY good point!

[@tatsusama3192]

7:10 No thank you. . . 8:34 The child is the scariest one here😳 10:56 No! Thank! You!

[@dragonballtalk8527]

Thumb up I saw u around

[@TheDanielMoose]

There is the multiverse of things there is, and there is a multiverse of things that are not

[@nullvoid4063]

Great video as always AJ. I love the weird and wonderful world of D&D Also, I'd like to formally request a video on how to become a god in D&D. (Man I really need to become a patron. I've requested so many videos)

[@coreyeaston6823]

I love the advice on how to deal with high level adventurers. We have something that works but I am always looking to ways of expanding their challenges.

[@black_rabbit_0f_inle805]

Oh yes please do a video on a Worm that Walks. Always wanted to play one in 3.5

[@thedarkmaster4747]

Intire video: Why benevolent angels have the power to destroy/clean intire material planes.

[@sanddry738]

I was not aware of how in depth cults are! I can imagine how small cults can be an interesting low level thing while large/powerful cults with Star spawn and patron abilities can really change a whole game. Makes me wonder if cults/clergies of evil gods Like Vecna would actively try to destroy elder evil ones. Enemies on all sides and such

[@fastnbang1]

I was just thinking you could have a huge patron war between a bunch of cults throughout races civilized and monstrous

[@zacharyhawley1693]

That's called a backstabbing party.

[@fastnbang1]

Only if the party joins the cults Star Spawn would make a great set up for a battle between Orcus and Vecna

[@AJPickett]

Yes! There are loads of potential secret wars between cults and religious factions. There are secret societies run by the descendants of the people of Netheril who actively work to suppress magical knowledge being dug up from the ruins of their civilization... all sorts of stuff going on!

[@That80sGuy1972]

When I DM and my players are a mix of classes and alignments (or religions) that don't normally get along, I use cults as bad guys. Cults are easily the enemy of everyone. Evil cults of a power almost identical to an evil god will rub that god and its followers the wrong way, from "false profit" to being an opposing power. The same can be said of even good cults to a good almost identical power to a good god will rub that god the wrong way. I based one entire campaign of a mixed alignment and religion party that would normally be enemies fighting Aquana and her cult. Aquana was a super-powered water element being that had power over water, life, restoration, and healing. Evil gods saw her as an enemy agent, of course. Non-good gods saw her as a meddlesome power that needed to be removed. Good gods saw here as a false profit with delusions of godhood. And yes, this twist provided my players some game-pausing philosophical debates in the story. Many DM's would see that as disruptive. I saw that as story immersion.

[@michaelkelligan7931]

That guy at 0:15 looks like an untrustworthy pawnshop owner! Lol cool vid AJ,thanks!

[@purplehaze2358]

My thought process is simple: I see something Lovecraft-related, I click. Very, very fast.

[@macguyverbond7480]

I was wondering what was up with these things, I think I’ll lay off them for a bit, almost had a TPK with some zombified Grung last week. Lead to some cool world building moments and some great RP but they’re only level 2. Maybe the session after next I’ll terrify them with some chittering/cackling Gru.

[@justinjacobs1501]

Use them as a build up/hint at greater evils they may face if they survive long enough

[@jonathanwatson4484]

I must say that these dnd lore videos are pretty good to listen to when you drinking tea and thinking of dnd campaign's

[@seamusfish7009]

Here wuz Seamus!

[@taurvanath]

Ayo my man uploading tasty lore

[@williethenerfherder2193]

Hunefers hunger for a lore video. Don't leave these dead demigods in the dust.

[@markusnavergard2387]

There are things beyond the skies. Entities that hate and despise us

[@AJPickett]

and slowly but surely, they draw their plans against us.

[@SirDankleberry]

Ready the Space Marines we won't make it easy.

[@markusnavergard2387]

@@AJPickett these arnt the star spawns from my books. arnt there ones with like tentacle underbodies and weird things?

[@BigusGeekus]

@@AJPickett The chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one. :P

[@A_Relaxed_Renegade]

Could you do a series on the elder evils?

[@AJPickett]

I kind of am, they pop up so frequently on my channel

[@A_Relaxed_Renegade]

Sweet id love to learn more about them.

[@victorvaldez8869]

As a GM you could make summoning Star Spawn as simple as solving a terrible, difficult to obtain, & cursed magical puzzle box in order to experience thrills & perversions beyond what the mortal world offers. (Cue Hellraiser theme.) "Hands do not summon us, Desire Does." - Pinhead (Hellraiser 2) I can see the Star Spawn Seer being able to possess any individual it ends it's turn on when incorporeal with a contested will roll. Depending on how you want to beef up the encouter, it may be with or without the abilities/knowledge of whatever it is possessing. If you want to crank up Manglers deadliness give them Disguise Self as a spell like ability to allow them to enter towns & buildings as "just a peasant there for market day," or "just another chamber maid." Thinking of the Hellraiser series I can think of two cultist powers: "Cult Of Leviathan Lord Of The Labyrinth" "Leviathan's Whispers:" Once per scene a cultist can gain knowledge of a target's darkest secrets & secret desires with a touch. This is great for blackmail, or seducing potential recruits. "Cenobite's Bliss:" With a gaze the cultist can cause masochistic pleasure when the target is hit, causing them to ecstatically throw themselves more recklessly into combat & lowering their AC if target fails on a willpower save (assuming they try one.) This is used on allies & enemies alike as Star Spawn can benefit from being hit, & an enemy that doesn't try as hard to dodge is usually not an enemy for too much longer. It also can be used in non-combat situations when attempting to get others into the sadomasochsitc cult of Leviathan.

[@misterjoshua5720]

Love that intro!

[@DariaJames3777]

Okay, so... Which video /will/ you go over the awesome worm mages?

[@AJPickett]

In the worm mage video.

[@DariaJames3777]

*wrings hands menacingly* Excellent.

[@OrangeKrunch1]

As I'm currently running a game heavily featuring Kyuss, a am anxiously waiting.

[@That80sGuy1972]

Great video AJ. I'm a dinosaur, so these monsters are new to me. They are bigger nightmares than a lot of my most nightmarish home-brews. Also, ironically, blast from the past. The cult and its evil extraplanar leader (Tyranarax... if I spelled that right) that were the bad guys in Pool of Radiance (an AD&D computer game turned canon for Forgotten Realms) from my day. You know the nice things about cults being major bad-guy players? Players with characters that would normally oppose each other in alignment and faith would be able to team up, the typical Paladin being the only exception. A Ranger, an Assassin, a Necromancer, a Cleric of a good god, a Cleric of an evil god, and a Lawful leaning Bard would all be fine adventuring together under the "common good" of taking down a cult? Why? Even evil gods hate evil cults, they infringe upon the god's spheres and his/her order. By the way, when I run campaigns where one or more player is playing a budding god, the gods see that player character as the "false god" of his followers ("cult"), no matter his-her alignment. Enemies happen out of the blue. Edit: corrected a spelling error.

[@thedarkmaster4747]

*pictures a benevolent angel saving the party for a T.P.K. Only to look at at aformentioned members of party and starts eye twitching, only to return to serene looks of triamph and righteousness* maybe even with a few verbal ticks like: "repent..." Or "heretic..." With increasing and machine like frequency, as angels are as much divine sentinels as they are sentient beings with their own free will. But i love the idea, that if the B.B.E.G. Is bad enough, then everything else becomes a good guy for the sake of reality. 😇🕊👼 Hell even a budding god of a heroic adventurer coming home, only to realise they've been viciously slandered by the clerics of every temple in their own kingom. Thus litterally depowering them... To the tune of:"humble yourself!?!?" 😵🏛😡

[@kendrickrochelanzot2053]

Me: *hears throat singing in the beggining* Also me: oh here we go, I'm in it for a treat! Odd question, but you are the best man to ask, would these make good warlock patrons? I ask because they seem a bit physical.

[@AJPickett]

No, they represent the Patrons, so, they are kind of like the underlings and minions of the Warlock patron.

[@kendrickrochelanzot2053]

@@AJPickett something like a possible messenger?

[@AJPickett]

@@kendrickrochelanzot2053 yeah, heralds who are there to prepare the way.

[@dragonballtalk8527]

Thumb up

[@Diditallforthexp]

I was going to add a vengeful cannibalistic blood cult into my campaign last year but the party didn't want to do a christmas episode.

[@moistmaidenlover5565]

A surprise but a welcome one

[@nikkiorr7088]

13:04 I've always wanted to do a gnoll raid but have always shied away in fear of the large amount of enemies. I had no idea about this rule

[@trajanfidelis]

I love aberrations! Thanks for the video!

[@jgr7487]

get your Larva Mage; make the larvae Rot Grubs; each time a bruiser hits the LM, they roll a d10 to see how many RGs were thrown on them by the strike. enjoy the TPK.

[@AJPickett]

Oh... Oh my. That is vicious.

[@jgr7487]

@@AJPickett isn't it? :)

[@-Siculus-Hort-]

Uh!

[@AfroChef]

Its funny, I've met plenty of kind cultists in my life but you know it only takes one really mean one to summon an elder evil

[@AJPickett]

#notallcultists

[@andrewt3045]

Underrated comment

[@thevoidcritter]

I always thought it was a nice touch that, IIRC, the star spawn are the only creatures in Mordenkainen's that don't have a picture. Well, other than the larva mage, but how much do you really see?

[@AJPickett]

Well, they look just like they always have :)

[@foxunix101]

Great video really enjoyed it thank you

[@floopthevolcano2330]

"You know, you’ve kind of got a weird little cult going, and that’s okay. To be fair, I’m in a weird little cult. There’s nothing unusual or weird about that. All a god is, really, is a cult with a franchise." Caduceus Clay

[@Biodeamon]

what? no that doesn't corelate at all. that's like confusing jeff pezos for the corpration of amazon. some gods out there probably don't even care about the organization following them, and in a setting like dnd they are certainly far more than that. they're more like an ultimate lifeform capable of bending reality

[@warhammerscience4997]

WHELP i know what my players are going through next time we sit down

[@johntheherbalistg8756]

I'm totally using these. I'm gonna make a friendly NPC, make my party like them, then in the midst of conversation, BANG! Buncha manglers show up and murder them. No apparent reason as to why, and they won't see the starspawn again for a looong while. Just to give the party a moment to be like "What just happened here?! 😭"

[@captainhellenic]

Cult. Occult. That which is hidden or An organization based upon hidden knowledge.

[@ThortheGodly]

Ooooo, I've been hoping for this one.

[@ironkeepgaming1936]

Did you know that the Aberrant Mind Sorcerer subclass lets you summon Star Spawn, well not physical Star Spawn, the website calls them Aberrant Spirits.

[@Craig_Tucker48]

Can’t wait for the Star Spawn Larva Mage video 😉

[@ryanhernandez5632]

Mind flayers must hate encountering star spawn lol. Except on the rare instance were there goals may aline

[@chrisdriedger3875]

Pretty sure this is what happened in Dead Space

[@cheeseymacky7061]

Yo, who knew the brethren moons can travel across different dimensions.

[@alanschaub147]

AJ: Bless us with your Divine Madness! 🤪

[@chrishamby1614]

Ya know... My job in the military is to keep the Right to free religion alive.... I love your commentary or religion always cracks me up because I know for the most part what you are going to say 😆

[@AJPickett]

At least I am consistent, and I've put many decades of very deep thought and personal experience into my views. People are free to believe whatever they want, including not believing.

[@chrishamby1614]

@@AJPickett exactly, all belief is valid provided it harms no one. what a person chooses to believe or not to believe is irrelevant provided they're good person.

[@AJPickett]

@@chrishamby1614 Exactly.

[@florenmage]

From the moment I first saw these things years ago in the monster manuel I thought this.Yep...thats where the dark spawn from dragon age came from.x D

[@snowtsukasa6662]

I used Starspwn in a homebrew setting. They were scouts of Atropus, the undead planet. The Gru were pretty much hoard creatures, and Manglers would 'nest keepers' raising the young and protecting their nests. Seers were the brains of them. The Starspawns duty was to enact a beacon which will pull Atropus closer. The seer looked like it was made of worms, and i took that idea and ran with it. They also have psycic abilities. One of my pc's background was tied into this. He unknowningly housed these worms which will one day grow and turn into Gru, feeding on the pc. This worms however gifted him psycic abilities. He also had a feeling of being pulled in a direction - to a nest. They met a seer who had no memory or connection to the starspawn. He wasn't friendly, nor was he an enemy. He wanted to know his purpose. If the party helped he would have betrayed them easily. If they killed him on sight they miss out of a few things, but get a powerful staff.

[@cameronpearce5943]

I'm a huge fan of the Deep Spawn from Exandria

[@jsizzlesaurusrex]

You should hit us with a video entirely made of your personal home brew content. Things like races, sub races, classes, sub classes, spells, monsters, etc.

[@That80sGuy1972]

Dude, you are asking him to invite trolls, rules lawyers, and spoilers to his gaming sessions. Well, not all of the negative but you are, fairly speaking, inviting him to air his own great creations. For that, I say kudos. I too would love for AJ to air his "public access" homebrew stuff.

[@AJPickett]

Eh, you never know...

[@dragonmaster613]

In 4th Edition, the Foulspawn and Star Spawn were two different groups. One in "Threats in the Ninter Vale" and the other in Dragon Magazine issues.

[@chriscalvin5083]

good video AJ

[@AJPickett]

Thanks as always Chris

[@thefightingfedora2976]

Oof. That art. Far Realm vids should be released under the full light of day.

[@misterjoshua5720]

S.D. Locke of the Foundation would disagree. www.scpwiki.com/shaggydredlocks-proposal

[@jaymeVos]

It's always night somewhere on this planet 😎

[@anathema1828]

Nice work on the video!

[@Ghastly_Grinner]

Isnt the *Larva Mage* just *The Worm That Walks* but made an aberration instead of Undead?

[@mr.eccentricthelich]

Also 53

[@digunder14]

pennywise is a roided out hybrid of a gruu and a doppleganger

[@tylertrahant8948]

That was awesome thanks for the cool vid.

[@Z0nK89]

Evry video i want to change my campain just to include all the cool stuff t.t love your stuff and style

[@MuppetLord1]

We have all heard about Star Spawn, but have you heard about Star Lord?!

[@zerowolf0006]

Who?

[@MuppetLord1]

@@zerowolf0006 Star Lord man... Legendary outlaw?

[@johncaccioppo1142]

@@MuppetLord1 He literally was a Star Spawn

[@ben5056]

Ushemoi = Saiyans

[@HoundofOdin]

Just remember, if it speaks Aklo/Deep Speech, *RUN.*

[@AJPickett]

You're not wrong

[@stealtheirmoola]

Great video! Now with VRGR's latest addition to the star spawn, the Lesser and Greater Emissaries, are you going to cover the larva mage anytime soon?

[@AJPickett]

VRGR?

[@stealtheirmoola]

@@AJPickett Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft

[@MoonMoverGaming]

The Shardmind are offended by your inappropriate appropriation of the term "Living Gateway." 💎

[@shivswilson4954]

Woo hoo a 30 min video about ...not ATHAS.....jk aj luvvvvv this one

[@Amadeo790]

wouldn't the elder gods bar beings like Nyarlethotep be placed in chaotic neutral? They don't care and barely know we exist. They even help us if we do things correctly.

[@AJPickett]

Well... I tend to put them under Neutral Evil, they will just as likely exterminate lesser creatures with the same lack of any empathy at all.

[@Amadeo790]

@@AJPickett that is true. I dont know why but I like to think of Yog-Sothoth and Hastur as at least casual bros half the time when the summoning fine print is followed to the letter. For some reason I cant up vote your post tho. Edit: for some reason the upvote finally works.

[@sadenar2719]

Nyarlathotep is a bad example of that, he's the only higher being in the mythos that actually bothers interacting one on one with humans

[@Amadeo790]

@@sadenar2719 Nyarlethotep is the one that actively wants to fuck humanity over tho.

[@elnekosauce]

@@sadenar2719 hence why they said all bar nyarlathotep, since he's explicitly evil

[@TheHornedKing]

Does the Star Spawn Emissary from Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft have anything to do with these?

[@AJPickett]

It can.

[@TdubDee]

They remind me of the Mon-stars

[@tistedmentality3715]

@AJ Pickett You should look up the BITE model.

[@AJPickett]

Behavior, Intellect, Thoughts, and Emotions. That was an interesting read, thanks Tisted.

[@tistedmentality3715]

AJ Pickett you welcome AJ.