Dungeons and Dragons Monster Lore: Kirin

[@OneWorldHistory]

Old DM here. 1974ish to the mid 80s. Lived in Lake Geneva back then, and yes knew him from afar. Then I quit and have never returned. But I follow the lore even half a century later, and love channels like this one. Kirin have possessed my adoration since the get-go. They represent the best of humanity’s dreams, in real life and DnD. In my world there was only one, and similar to Elminster was the occasional guardian and guide of my good parties. In my final episode of my last campaign, in the underdark after doing the entire giant series, etc, after 3 years of weekly games, this celestial being stood against the spider queen as the party destroyed the lead house of dark elves. Hundreds of demons, drow, archons and so many other wondrous things. There were 23 players and 3 DMs. I don’t play anymore but it was one of the highlights of my life… and it was all because of a kirin.

[@dr.calibrations7984]

So, what you're saying is the Kirin family motto is; "Fear not, everything will be okay.... BECAUSE I AM HERE!!"

[@khalildiego4594]

I know it's quite randomly asking but does anyone know a good site to stream newly released movies online?

[@jgr7487]

the idea of a Celestial Warlock Aasimar of a Kirin crossed my mind, and the amount of goodness it would embody is so off the charts it made me feel a little sick

[@scootergsp]

I just started a campaign with that exact character.

[@jgr7487]

"how good is your kingdom blessed by the Qi-Lin?" "uh, a necromancer rose some skeletons, now they are happily working the fields and helping children and grandmas!"

[@avenshil]

I run a medieval Japanese setting with a lot of Chinese highlights...I so needed this today...it’s easy to get caught up in the bad but it’s really refreshing to hear about the good too 😊

[@Saccillia]

Wait.. able to move fast, plane shift, avoids direct confrontation..it's legendary pokemon! Those cheeky buggers that travel all over the map and flee on the first turn!

[@InquisitorThomas]

There a typo in this comment, you called Roaming Legendary Pokémon "Cheeky Buggers" what you meant to say is Those "FUCKING BASTARD!!!"

[@robertwilson2516]

AJ I am just amazed at the speed and Quality of Your Videos. I wasn't expecting this for at least two more daye but you did this in a day and gave it the the recognition that a creature this ancient deserves. Bravo and Thank you the Kirin is my favorit eastern mythical creature and this video shows everyone why.

[@AJPickett]

my pleasure Robert, I really enjoyed making this vid :)

[@StevetheSteve01]

I think one of the greatest indications of the quality of your channel is that I feel compelled to look for ways to include every creature or location you make a video of in my own campaigns! Thanks again for all the great knowledge dumps AJ!

[@mikifauns]

This video made me smile with how optimistic it is. I love kirin.

[@TarsonTalon]

I just had an idea, which you guys could feel free to use in your campaigns: Since there are bastions of extreme good to counter extreme evil, and the prime material plane is supposedly infinite, how does good or evil intend to finally win? Well, perhaps this 'buffer zone' where good and evil clash needs to circle one or the other faction, cutting them off from claiming the rest of the plane. There's a constant race to not get encircled, kinda like a Tron light bike game. If one or the other faction finally succeeds in circling the other, the faction that is encircled will be cut off from resources, whereas the one encircling will have infinite resources, meaning eventual defeat of the one encircled is inevitable, regardless of how good or bad their resource management is. A cool campaign idea to go along with this concept is the idea that the factions of good DO get encircled, but there is the hope that they may be able to break out of this encirclement before it's too late. Granted, the lands the forces of good control are incredibly vast, but if the situation doesn't change it will be the doom of future generations down the line. I recommend you save this sort of campaign concept for 'big planner'-type player characters. The kind that intend to build cities, raise armies, or ascend to godhood. Because it isn't just a 'defeat the big bad' type of campaign, but rather 'free the world' campaign. It would also give narrative reasons for evil aligned characters to actually serve side by side with good aligned characters, because when things are this desperate people can't be too picky about their saviors. Not only is this situation bad for the good guys, but aspiring bad guys will be hard pressed to conquer and control new territory, when bigger baddies are cutting them off from doing so. So, their motivation for helping good people is to have someone actually available to conquer later.

[@That80sGuy1972]

You spelled out in detail how these almost always underestimated creatures are top tier protectors. Great job, AJ. I'm now sending this video to a former player (if the email is still valid) who was salty when his OP evil party was creamed by and had to flee from a mountain city protected by one of these creatures. He almost rage-quit. That was about a decade ago, I still had my 2nd Ed stuff with Loom of Magus (my homebrew) conversions. He merely read the creature's stats and knew he could take it... like AD&D is a mere simple board game.

[@chrishermann216]

I’ve just discovered your channel a few days ago, and I’m loving all the content. Soooo many great ideas for how to advance my campaign with all the great ecology tips and how these different creatures behave. Keep up the great work, dude! Thanks for all the hard work.

[@AJPickett]

Welcome aboard!

[@kieranhodge6463]

Well well well. It's about time you did a video on me. Gosh, I'm flattered. But seriously I've loved the kirin for a while now. Quite a cool and majestic looking creature.

[@nullvoid4063]

Great work AJ! Humble viewer request; the Chaotic GOOD aberration: the silthilar

[@timothymcintire5747]

Every time I see this thumbnail creature I yell "KRILLIN!" In Gokus voice (Seth)! Great job

[@cernunnos_lives]

Kirin are meant to be unstoppable celestial beings. Much like a Phoenix 🐦‍🔥 and hate undead. Anything to do with Negative energy planar powers will get their attention. In many folklore traditions they are the balance to ghosts, demons, and revenants. And somehow linked to fire (or sometimes lightning) and the natural order of things (Mandate of Heaven).

[@anghbalahr2971]

First half of video: Hello there folks, lemme tell you about this wondrous... second half of video: BONELESS CHICKEN!!!

[@nevyncortex1222]

the best thing about the RPG genre as a whole is that it allows the imagination to fully roam free.. no limits pure fun .. pure brain candy :-)

[@christ7271]

Poisons, Diseases and curses are suspended for good creatures: Hereditary diseases: Cancers, Heart Conditions, Dementia, etc. Everybody gets maximum life span. (Every good creature gets advantage on Stat rolls 6d6, take the top 3) Plants...no more plant zones, Apple Trees, Palm Trees, Banana Trees all grow together in the same orchard with vigor. Infant mortality rate plummets. I'd sum these regional effects up as the planar traits of Celestia or Bytopia being in effect in a 3 mile area. Imagine what Unicorn manure would do for a crop. How healthy would a Celestial pear or loaf of bread made from Celestial grown wheat be? If you examine the stat block for a Ki-Rin they're equivalent of a Lich (but good). The regional effects of these legendary creatures means they're living mythalars.

[@chriscalvin5083]

AJ I hope you do more videos like this.

[@sanddry738]

Damn I saw an artwork of the Kirin for the Sword Coast Adventurers guide but never knew it was such a badass. It’s nice to see a creature that is “good” that focuses on the people/life in a positive way rather than a “holier than Thou” sort of style. It also makes me wonder just how bad of an offense or danger it is for a Kirin to be killed or corrupted (if it’s even possible). Either way thank you again for letting us know about such amazing creatures in D&D!

[@Saccillia]

move aside sleipnir, there is a new steed in town.

[@mateobarrett6829]

You've inspired me to create a Celestial Pact halfling warlock with a Kirin Patron! These things are awesome!

[@SuperMarioGamerBros]

I'm totally putting it in my champaign. The players are going to go to a small kingdom and feel the good that the Kirin brings (without knowing what the cause is). Then it suddenly dies and the good area is dispelled and there is panic.

[@theatreofcontroversy]

thank you AJ for being the best thing to watch after a hard hard hard day :) keep it up

[@Sarappreciates]

I like how detailed these videos are. Fun channel!!

[@joshuazane3210]

If you were running a campaign with evil player characters, this might make a great antagonist.

[@zacharyhawley1693]

They do indeed.

[@kyledorey9459]

Wait, master of magic, likes trees, teaches and mentors paladin kings....These guys are Merlin

[@clockworkkid99]

My whole group only knows this thing from Monster Hunter... If I introduced a Kirin, at least one would try to immediately attack it. XD "I'm sorry dm, I thought I could make pants out of it"

[@gerbill13]

do it

[@deanreaver3268]

You could make a campaign arch of them being cursed for killing the creature and they have to go on a quest to remove it or die slowly from the curse.

[@clockworkkid99]

Michael Pollard you make a convincing argument...

[@TenositSergeich]

And it would be cool to explain the nature of kirin in greater detail as they would search for the cure. Given that kirin is a celestial and thus immortal in Prime Material, the cure for their curse could be the "slain" kirin itself, who will then talk about how they have grown during their quest and that their actions helped not only them, but also others, and other goodly aftertalk, and maybe even direct them to the actual foe.

[@clockworkkid99]

Tenosit Sergeich that's brilliant! XD I could easily bait them into attacking it... I can see it now, the party enters a prosperous city looking for "the nearest monster", and all the citizens are like, "there's a Kirin on the mountain...", then the party goes, "kthnxbye!" and runs off with their soon-to-be-shattered dreams of gold and glory! Absolutely brilliant, my good sir, absolutely brilliant!

[@redfaux74]

I was wrong. You DID do it. And you did it well. Now where's the Dragon Horse?

[@christothehan]

the line "idealized form" could just mean a stronger version of themselfs without unateral change a small weak wolf could become a little bigger and stronger

[@Kormelev]

A group of orphans raised by a Kirin seems like a good place to kick of a high stat good campaign for new adventurers. Sure they would be their own perfect selves. But they wouldn't have experienced the dangers of falling outside the Kirin's influence or how hard the world can be. That ignorance of the more mundane world would be interesting to kick off play. What do you mean fruit rots off the vine?

[@Thedegu]

lol I was just looking for an ecology vid on this monster and I was sad that you didn't have one. but here it is! thanks so much!

[@matthewvillanueva4420]

I know this was an old-ish video hut omg!!! Thanks!!! This is amazing

[@TheFantasticMrPhil]

Not quite the electric unicorn I expected 😂

[@magnasupreme]

electric unicron of death.

[@StrixNebulosa_mk1]

Hey AJ, Its been a while since I've felt it acceptable to make any other fan requests since you made the Oni request so amazing with the most epic opening music possible for that video. It satisfied all of the fan need that I had felt in making that request. But just recently I was watching the old Gold/Silver dragon video and I have to ask. And not because that video wasn't awesome, but your channel has come a long way with audio and format. Could you please please please maybe make new videos for both gold and silver separately. They are both the mightiest of the metallic dragons and both of which have really notable awesome dragons with fun, epic lore and stories attributed to their names. However, if your deciding to just leave it with the old video for both of them, that's cool too, as it was both informative and well executed. I guess this is a suggestion/request.... a ruggest.

[@AJPickett]

I have plans for those old videos, now that the podcast is finally happening. What I plan is to collect the video series together, upgrade or redo the audio, maybe rewrite the old vids with better info and release them as podcasts, so someone could hit play and basically learn about every type of dragon in D&D like they just plugged into the matrix

[@StrixNebulosa_mk1]

Sounds solid to me. Ill be looking forward to these new developments.

[@asw654]

Probably one of my favourite creatures, and what a great video / content you made to highlight it. Very optimistic and highlights/reminds us why dnd multiverses don't just implode with all the evil stuff in them. They have powerful counters like angels and this beast.

[@JamesAdams-nd1td]

I love the Kirin. It's this beautiful combination of stag and dragon, and I just love it.

[@Mr_Maiq_The_Liar]

The quote in Volos for these things made me want to present one to my players “i was awed to tears at the mere sight of my first kin Rin and I’ve met gods” I feel like I could write a poem for the description. I did not, because players don’t take that shit seriously. But don’t call it a “unicorn dragon thing”

[@michaelkelligan7931]

My god the thumbnail doesnt look like the majestic Ki-rin of old,it looks like something out of a horror film! My good aligned characters would shit their breeches!

[@ImLordDomo]

Idea: A kirin that finds itself transported to a world with no gods, like Athas or Etharis, where powerful sorcerer kings, fallen angels, exalted fiends, or slumbering primordials hold sway. Would such a kirin attach itself to the reigning good power that was closest to whatever ideals its former divine masters held to, or would it set itself up as a god?

[@Kakkarot211]

or would the kirin inspire those merely being neutral to becoming good

[@flibbernodgets7018]

Thanks for this. It's important to remember the good in the world that keeps the evil away

[@xfuture_kidx1114]

rides down a snowy mountain *IM A GIRAFFE*

[@rickeymariu1]

Awesome! A creature I hadn't heard of. Thanks A.J.

[@derrabbit7289]

A good warlock patron?

[@AJPickett]

yep :)

[@murderspoon]

Beat me to it. Could be good for the good drow/goblin mentioned in the video. If youre trying to break from your races' less than nice/civilised nature, what better to help than the recognition and blessing of such a force of life and goodness to help exemplify the good theyre truly capable of and give them the power to make a real positive change in the world?

[@nathankelley1466]

Bach in Advanced D&D I used the Kirin as my "go to" celestial to intervene or help a good party in times of need. Players always loved this NPC. Of course most likely because it is such a cool looking creature, not to mention its great abilities.

[@jacopoarmini7889]

I want to play a paladin of light and ride one of these things while charging in an army of undead... Neverending story style.

[@whiteeagle6370]

Or the Elf king in the Hobbit, riding an Irish Stag? Beautiful creature that actually once existed.

[@joebyrnes9254]

Wow, this creature is FUCKING AWESOME! but I have to ask, is there an opposite to the Kirin? I think you should make your next video on such a creature of there is one.

[@chrislaurette6778]

Love this one AJ. Thanks. Ki Rin: Cool myth, poor beer. But that's just my picky, inner beer snob coming out. I'm wondering if you have any inclination to do a monster ecology video on the 'Thought Eater'. Just because I'm writing it into a game. I honestly don't even know if it was a monster continued beyond the original Monster Manual or not. Keep up the good work. Cheers!

[@Blargaha]

The emperor Wu of Han.... *Laughs nervously in 2020*

[@ericwalston2344]

Happy labor day AJ!

[@AJPickett]

Indeed! Thanks, Eric, you too.

[@Greenscyth22]

You don't think creatures can be anymore good aligned than this...then you add a celestial template to it lol. Can a creature be too good?

[@MrRourk]

Celestial Dragon.

[@jgr7487]

it can be too good.

[@dakotastein9499]

i once played in an oriental adventures campain as a Samurai that rode a "Moon Kirin"

[@florenmage]

One of the reasons I watch dungeons and dragons videos is because it inspires my fantasy writing and something you said made me think. Ok so in my novels setting there are no traditional gods people worship local spirits or beasts that grant power benefits protection and have usually some organization set up to maintain some order good or evil One god is a blue dragon who ruled as emperor over a sea faring kingdom. Another is a dracolich and another s a talking tree in the heart of a jungle there's also a powerful dire trex but you get my point they are all monsters. When you speak of this thing creating and cultivating communities of good alignment I was like... yea this thing is god level power in my setting

[@jonsosebee1689]

hope you'reenjoying the winter time snow over there

[@wschippr1]

If I was a GM and someone brought up a Kirin's ability to make X evolve into its ideal form, I'd say, well animals don't have an "ideal form", that's not how things evolve... I'd be a bad GM

[@AJPickett]

The lion has a mane twice as large, dragonballZ style.

[@VieVentar]

Had a party I was in saved by one of these, would have been a TPK otherwise. We were working to break the Ki-Rin from a weird fleshy web, only for a flutterflesh to appear. A flutterflesh? How did that almost TPK you? The DM misread its powers and thought its single target incapacitating and major damage attack was in fact a 120 foot cone... And he thought it sounded underpowered so he buffed the DC of the resist roll... So yeh, Thanks Ki-Rin!

[@rizuopal8153]

I'd love to hug Kirin

[@charlottewalnut3118]

You know it would be awesome a Klarich or paladin that road one of these things in the battle

[@whysvert]

Your mic explodes around the middle of the video x.x but it's alright since I greatly enjoyed the video! Thank you for this! Planning to add a kirin in our campaign.

[@zacharyhawley1693]

A kirin once crushed my PC's throat by its hoof. xD

[@ericwalston2344]

What alignment was your character?

[@zacharyhawley1693]

Wasn't evil that time. Actually, CN. That said four party members were.

[@MrRourk]

Proof of goodness and wisdom skips 4th edition! ;)

[@AJPickett]

lol. I knew as soon as I said that...

[@chriscalvin5083]

Great video AJ

[@goldenbrigain7031]

finally, something from D&D about good instead of making me want to scream until my lungs burst in disgust and hate.

[@Kakkarot211]

man, I had no idea they could have such a big impact

[@MrRourk]

Drank his beer this weekend at the sushi house. ;)

[@garethfarrell8146]

Perfect I just started playing my celestial warlock who's patron is is ki-rin

[@jaycenzimbeck7638]

What so this creature that symbolizes good fortune was present in every edition except 4th? Perhaps they decided not to visit for that edition for a reason...

[@35november]

We were just talking about the Kirin in our character creation session last night. Always love the deep research you do into your videos. Hopefully you will do a "dire" and "giant" beast video to help me better explain that to my players. In the meantime I just explain that giant versions of beasts are rare anomalies and dire versions are rarer than that.

[@DracosDiabolis]

could you imagine one of these awesome creatures, finding humans and humanoids curious and fascinating. almost similar to a steel dragon mind set. but makes their home in the middle of Waterdeep. lmao , or deep in the bowels of undermountain.

[@yaldabaoth2]

I wear them as a coat in Monster Hunter.

[@AJPickett]

Yeah I saw the art for them in Monster Hunter plastered all over the interwebs

[@dibaterman]

Oh? The coat was so last season though, Kirin belts are the new chic.

[@Anceleron]

@@dibaterman I'm getting ready for the oroshi Kirin now that is said to come into fashion soon.

[@platinumsketch]

Wow, really took that one guy's advice

[@user-gj7lp5iz6k]

the absolute madman

[@davidlewis8814]

Good stuff, there at the end, about balance and the lands in which we place our adventures

[@Lh0000]

KIRIN COME -some famous character you might have heard of.

[@morganhanam9522]

an enjoyable discussion. good balance b/w dnd lore and actual lore.

[@ericwalston2344]

This is mad informative, sparing no details whatsoever! How would a Ki-Rin fare against a Pit Fiend or a Marilith?

[@BoojumFed]

Up close and personal? Probably not very well. But with spells and an aura like that, it'd take some doing to get anything demonic or abyssal within striking distance...

[@ericwalston2344]

I concur...

[@axepoison255]

ALL poisons? Impossible.

[@ruirui7764]

Are u a poisonous axe, a poison created from axes or a poison just for axes?

[@AJPickett]

well, axe poison is an epic artifact level toxin, so, maybe.

[@axepoison255]

Poison made of axes.

[@manuelcamara6400]

When I first saw this thing in VGtM the first thing that came to my head was: "How the hell am I gonna use this thing in my game"?

[@DemonRaider4201]

I hope you do more good creatures in the future although I don't use them very often for combat and my game they're excellent for roleplay and Rewards for my players

[@thecrypticautistic611]

Area influence sounds a lot like Tolkien's Galadriel.

[@willynthepoorboys2]

So bottom line we need to station a few hundred of these at every nation's capital A.S.A.P....lol as always great video.

[@wizard380]

make one about cyric the mad god

[@slashercope]

Shang chi moment

[@linguisticallyoversight8685]

So if we accept the creatures from other Realms are made from substances that you cannot find in the prime material worlds then Celestial creatures like this even when they die should provide ample materials not only for spellcasters but for the creation of Enchanted items I don't see why dust ground from the bones of this creature as long as it died peacefully that is could it be used in the forging of a silver sword to give it an inherent holy quality or something along those lines or perhaps it's scales or horns given while it was alive willingly

[@AJPickett]

yep, I agree.

[@giet0456]

Did you say selfishness or mean to say selflessness? time was 11:01 just making sure.

[@AJPickett]

I meant to say Selflessness. Thanks Giet04

[@giet0456]

@@AJPickett No problem just wanted to make sure. 👍 Hope you have a good day

[@Jianju69]

-and they make good beer! :P

[@asw654]

The lore in this video reminded me a Japanese light novel and anime called "The Twelve Kingdoms". The kirin do exactly as you describe them. They raise kings/queens and try to guide them on the path to righteous rule. They also have similar personalities in that they loathe violence even against evil (balor or not balor).

[@agsilverradio2225]

can calm emotions force a barbarian out of his rage?

[@jacobgelven7194]

You could make them not want to attack you, which may lead to its rage ending, but it wouldn’t outright end it’s rage

[@morganmcconal4785]

Kirin paladin mount?

[@DyrgeAfterDark]

Morgan Mcconal perhaps for one Battle that could determine the Fate of the Realm. I wouldn't expect they would serve as one forever

[@Yuudaddy]

I want to see the ideal Drow ;]

[@murderspoon]

Włodzimierz Szyc something akin to the old elf race, before the whole lolth thing, maybe? That or guiding its typical racial features and abilities towards uses for good in some way if you want to keep the same essence of drow-ness EDIT: the elf reincarnation cycle that the drow were cut off from (as described in mordenkainens) comes to mind too as a possible thing it could help with

[@zacharygadzinski3147]

Perhaps the idealized form for some is godhood. Yet have any good aligned people sought godhood anytime during the history of 5e?

[@AJPickett]

Yes. (unofficially)

[@zacharygadzinski3147]

@@AJPickett I would figure given in individual campaigns. Yet a new age of gods could shake up the status quo. Pantheons with all evil dieties could lose some influence as heroes, kings, and queens are worshipped by their subjects and people.

[@jackiesantos2121]

Awesome Sia Dragon horse

[@Telenaus]

wow what a beautiful yet horrifying vision of battle, part of me would love to see them fight but then again id hate to see the damage to the people & land who didnt ask for it ..

[@DracoMaverick]

I think I found my paladin's greater steed

[@MrRourk]

Caste Haste and Mach 1

[@agsilverradio2225]

you said that the Kirin were wizards, but I think you meant clerics.

[@asw654]

He tends to get a wide variety of sources for these videos. I'm not sure if this is what he referenced for stats, but in the 3.0e dnd, the Kirin was statted in Oriental Adventures, which described them as having arcane spellcasting: "A ki-rin casts spells as an 18th-level sorcerer. The save DC is 16 + spell level." That's closer to a wizard than cleric. They **also** have spell-like abilities (not spells) that they can use, some of which resemble cleric spells, like the ability to create nutritious food.

[@linguisticallyoversight8685]

Are nightmares faster than them because the flavor text more the nightmare says that is the fastest creature in all the realms

[@dravenbladesong1]

Fantastic Beasts just hurt my head.

[@dravenbladesong1]

They called it a “Chillin”

[@draxthemsklonst]

Purdyful.

[@gerbill13]

so its a MLP princess?

[@jgr7487]

nope, an Alicorn Queen!

[@AJPickett]

MLP stranger things.

[@robertsmith-fl7pg]

Big trouble in Chinatown?

[@ericwalston2344]

😁!

[@AJPickett]

It's all in the reflexes