Pathfinder Religion Guide: Velstracs (aka Kytons)

[@piedpiper1185]

The box. You opened it. We came.

[@trajanfidelis]

We have such sites to show you

[@yaelz6043]

Not sure if typo on movie reference or you've spent too much time online and went too deep.

[@jamesvance1367]

​@@yaelz6043if you have to ask, the answer to both is yes.

[@valacarno]

When a reply tenfold juicier than the comment! Amen to all three possibilities combined

[@trajanfidelis]

I hate auto correct. I have to stop posting on my phone.

[@chazzwozzio]

This tore my soul APAAAHT!!

[@boldcitylongsword9941]

I just read Clive Barker’s “Hell Bound Heart” for Halloween and I really enjoy seeing the evolution of these creatures as they have grown in popularity.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Yeah its pretty great

[@koboldlord]

The Kytons are forever special to me as they were the first thing I took from Pathfinder for my homebrew DnD campaign, combining their lore with the DnD stuff. Thank you for covering them!

[@TheMythkeeper]

Yeah they're a really cool part of the setting.

[@namelesssomebody2557]

Without the illustrations you'd think the Velstracs would look like Cosmetic Surgery addicts with Body Dismorphia always chasing the next beauty trend.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Haha! Well that's kind of accurate!

[@Avvy89]

Love that Nidal and the Khytons have finally been featured! Also Numeria before it.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Thanks! This has been a really fun batch!

[@pariswashington5543]

@@TheMythkeeper wait you said a demagogue freed the velstracs I thought that was the queen of the night Dolores

[@dangerchris1915]

Thanks for helping my Starfinder game's journey into the Shadow Releam way cooler.

[@TheMythkeeper]

You're very welcome!

[@FiadhFeyre]

Seriously though, great stuff. I have some great inspiration a few horror one shots now! 😈

[@TheMythkeeper]

Awesome, thanks for watching, commenting and being a club member!

[@RyanVonAegir]

A pleasant surprise before bed! I'm ina a Hells Rebels group and planning on DMing Tyrants Grasp so I've been watching a ton of your videos!

[@TheMythkeeper]

Both great APs! You'll have a lot of fun with Tyrant's Grasp.

[@RomLoneWolf23]

Sugroz: MOISTURIZE ME!

[@TheMythkeeper]

🤣

[@rune5916]

Love the thematic follow up to Nidal.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Thanks for noticing! Where I started was randomly producing videos based on what I thought would be most valuable (Ancestries, Religion, Varisia, Cheliax) but as I've grown with the channel I'm taking more care around the sequencing of videos. Starting next week for example you'll see a decidedly nautical theme to my upcoming videos, which should be a clue as to where we're going next ;-)

[@rune5916]

@@TheMythkeeper The Shackles? The Sodden Lands? I'm not quite sure how to make a pirate character, but a deep dive into the pirate haven would be very informative.

[@TheMythkeeper]

@@rune5916 - Yeah you guessed it ;-)

[@casimirlawnicki8990]

I remember seeing one of these creatures in a adventure path i was reading through 2 months ago(wont say which for spoiler reasons), coming across one of these creatures and saying "what the heck is a Velstrac?" Then i got distracted and never dove deep into that question. The me from 2 months ago thanks you for going into the research I was too busy to look into, lol.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Only the coolest outsiders out there ;-)

[@Darkpentagrams]

I'm really looking forward to learning more about the Darvakkas and other denizens of the plane of shadows, your videos are so informative and comprehensive!

[@TheMythkeeper]

Thanks for watching!

[@Pathsfound]

Another fantastic video!

[@TheMythkeeper]

Thank you so much! 🙂

[@TheGunman84]

This has come along at just the right time for me. I just started running the Abomination Vaults AP and one of my players has gone a Witch with a Night/Shadow theme for their patron, so I've been considering a Velstrac Demagogue for the role. Your video has provided me with a lot more information than I had found elsewhere, so thanks. Now I just have to figure out which of the Demagogues fit this AP best in terms of motivating the Witch to enact their will.

[@TheMythkeeper]

I had a very similar situation with one of my players some years ago and I ended up pairing them with Incariax. It was a ton of fun.

[@TheGunman84]

@@TheMythkeeper Interesting choice. How did you get around Inkariax's inability to speak, in order to convey his will?

[@TheMythkeeper]

@@TheGunman84 - He's a god! Why Telepathy of course (the lore refers to this as his gaze). In the course of her journeys our witch character actually met him at his realm of Frozen Tears, which is just a fantastic and evocative place. Plus his physical appearance as a 70-foot giant seated on an impossible massive throne is just great. Every time she would visit him, as a patron of sadness and solitude, he would demand in price a story of sadness or loss from her personal life.

[@TheGunman84]

@@TheMythkeeper Ah, I didn't think about the gaze actually being telepathic but that makes a lot of sense. Nice bit of flavour there with the stories as tribute.

[@Ofley_Adventures]

Phenomenal work as always. This particular topic is very interesting to me and I do love how many aspects of excess, perfection, and decadence the velstracs embody. Their relationship with the denizens of the hells is also incredibly interesting to think about. Have a good day everyone! Thanks for the vid.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Thanks for watching as always!

[@miguelacevedo4606]

I been watching all your videos I love them I learning a lot and thank you for your videos

[@TheMythkeeper]

Thanks so much for the kind words! Glad you've enjoyed them!

[@lanterns_glow]

I LOVE these guys. They're so interesting!!

[@ColinGrym]

Oof, seems like 50 Shades of Grey would be a very different novel in Golarion/Pathfinder. I'm surprised by how the lore of what (as far as I know) is a single creature in DnD is developed so thoroughly to encompass a race and history. As always it's fun finding out about such a well-developed corner of PF lore and your work in bringing that whole story to us is appreciated. I like how thematic the Velstracs' relationship with Hell is. "You made us suffer, but we're actually into that, so how about we let bygones be bygones?" It's almost altruistic in a twisted way, but makes sense given how Velstracs seek perfection through extremes of pain and punishment. Would it be accurate to equate Velstracs to the Abyssal Qlippoths in terms of being original, displaced denizens? That's who I thought of while you told their tale of their origin. There seems to be inspiration taken from Warhammer's Drukhari, but that's alright because both WH Fantasy and 40k draw deeply from other materials as well. All in all the Velstracs are an interesting addition to Pathfinder, if one that you probably want to discuss with your players before their inclusion given how grim some of their material is.

[@TheMythkeeper]

There is definitely some similarity between the Dark Eldar and the Velstracs, but I also think that's a function of parallel design rather than explicit homage. As for the Qlippoth comparison, that is totally apt. They are the original hell-creatures in the same way the qlippoths are the original abyss-creatures, then the devils and demons took over in both those planes. You can also draw parallels between what happened in the heavens and what happened on Golarion (with the many ancient cultures like the Ghol-gan, the Serpentfolk, the Azlanti, the Thassilonians) all getting slowly replaced over time. Everything new in Pathfinder is built over the bones of the old.

[@daliborbobr6331]

they are based on the Cenobites, but I am clearly not the only one who noticed

[@TheMythkeeper]

🤣

[@_blooze]

Could you cover the new D&D purge, and Core changes? What’s lost and what’s gained from a lore and world building perspective?

[@TheMythkeeper]

Yes I will, but I'm going to wait for all the Remaster books to come out so I can properly absorb the lore changes.

[@RicardoPM777]

Sugroz looks like the last human from doctor who

[@TheMythkeeper]

I must admit a gap in my nerd lore... I have never watched Doctor Who...

[@RicardoPM777]

👏👏👏👏

[@lowenergyvideos4658]

Dark Eldar vibes :)

[@benjaminfeld6388]

You know, the Velstracs kind of remind me of the Cenobite from the Hellraiser franchise.

[@RainbowLizardOne]

I think that's their direct inspiration.

[@TheMythkeeper]

It does seem that way!

[@benjaminfeld6388]

@@RainbowLizardOne I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Pathfinder has taken inspiration from all sorts of sources for its material. From mythology, the history, to literature, and even popular culture. I think that's part of the reason why I'm so drawn to it.

[@benjaminfeld6388]

@@TheMythkeeper On a personal note, if I may make a suggestion you've done videos on locations on Golarion, its inhabitants, and even the other planes of reality. Perhaps at some point in the future, whenever you feel ready, you could start doing a video series on the other planets Golarion's solar system.

[@TheMythkeeper]

@@benjaminfeld6388 - Absolutely, that would be a good video to do

[@justWorrik]

Now i have a fealing i will encounter kytons in the new wotr expansion

[@TheMythkeeper]

Haha! Yes quite possibly

[@FiadhFeyre]

24:36 Moisturize me!

[@TheMythkeeper]

🤣

[@frederickgleicher1385]

Was fun to watch....how about Bloodseekers ? is there also a video about Nagas ? how about Xulgaths ?

[@TheMythkeeper]

All great options that I haven't tackled yet. I do discuss the Nagaji however, who are naga related in my "Even More Ancestries!" video

[@bartlester591]

I would like to know if there is one place on Petfinder where dwarves congregate in mass is there a country or is there a home world are home place for all dwarfs

[@TheMythkeeper]

Five Kings Mountains is the largest concentration of dwarves. See my Dwarf Ancestry guide for a little more detail on that.

[@DeSpaceFairy]

Explores in the further region of experience. Demons to some. Angels to other.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Hehe! Everyone's observation.

[@israelmorales4249]

Amazing, creepy as Fuuu... I think i was goin to hear something about "hellraise", thre is no conection?...anyway, great work like always!

[@TheMythkeeper]

There's definitely an 'inspiration' connection I think, but unlike my creature feature vids my religion series doesn't typically have a section on 'real world inspirations' so I didn't mention it when I was writing the script.

[@israelmorales4249]

@@TheMythkeeper My only complaint about yor videos, it's that i allways want more. Keep te excellent work!

[@dragonlord498]

very nice video these for whatever reason i find to be a more interesting fiend type least compared to some of them especially compared to their dnd also kinda always imagined them often being a more clannish/family or such type lawful then the bureaucratic of devils i also think compared to some outsiders they are also one of the types that can reproduce like mortals given Termagant implies its not a foreign or distasteful concept to their kind plus shackleborn are also from my understanding not one of the more rare tiefling types which makes them somewhat unique to most outsiders especially fiends

[@TheMythkeeper]

Yeah they're definitely a cool and unique fiend type. I love how much lore they've added to go from the original Kyton "Chain Devil" concept to where they've landed. I also don't think you have to think of them as specifically a Lawful type, even though thats their current alignment. Don't forget those alignments are going away in Remaster anyway ;-)

[@dragonlord498]

@@TheMythkeeper ya made a half template for them planning a character to play/test it with who is half fallen aasimar which really gives this character some fairly unique views on things Is a surgeon who refuses to use pain killers not cause is actually much of a sadist just thinks most methods to remove the pain of surgery are harmful to the patient given most are toxins and such or high failure chance so long term health best to avoid their use and might have originated from a region where magic doesn't function properly Also believes pain is necessary to properly display certain positive feelings and concepts such as love will probably fall into the Kaikyton group probably be a cleric of her or at least a follower even if might go for a different class which I have a few ideas for how that might affect some of their actions and views like collecting healthy organs for organ transplant surgeries or body modifications etc

[@Avvy89]

How long until we get a Darklands vid? Especially the more freaky ones like the Caulborn and the deeper regions?

[@boldcitylongsword9941]

With Pathfinder 2.5 coming out and all the changes coming with it, such as “no more Drow”, he might want to hold off on the Darklands until that lore is fleshed back out again.

[@TheMythkeeper]

@@boldcitylongsword9941 That's exactly right! I've been holding off a little, but its in the not too distant future now.

[@boldcitylongsword9941]

@@TheMythkeeper Will there be a In World reason for the upcoming changes? A god dying, a universe exploding, adventurers time traveling and changing the roots of history?

[@TheMythkeeper]

@@boldcitylongsword9941 - I'm not sure yet. I don't have early access copies to the new material (I know some KZbinrs do, but I don't have whatever hookups they do) so I'm just waiting for the stuff to come out.

[@RicardoPM777]

What they done with the kytons, once a single type of creature, is amazing

[@TheMythkeeper]

It is right!? Fantastic stuff

[@placeholdername3818]

My question is have the Velstracs always been like this or is this a survival mechanism they adopted while imprisoned in Hell?

[@TheMythkeeper]

I believe the latter. Their time imprisoned by the devils changed them.

[@MrTotalAhole]

"No, on both accounts." Says a voice in your mind, echoing as if coming from the corner of a vast room. "The time in Hell made them realize and put them on the path to their full potential." The voice gets clearer as if its moving closer to you, or possibly you towards it. "The chains are not a representation of past bondage, but of the current inability to achieve and explore the complete experience of our own existence." "I can show you." says the voice from behind you as if no longer in your mind. "All you have to do is come with me and we can both explore your curiosity, together."

[@TheMythkeeper]

@@MrTotalAhole - Haha! Yes, this is actually the correct answer. Thank you!

[@joaogarcia1177]

Pinhead relatives in a nutshell

[@JoshNoodleSoup]

Will you be able to do Highhelm/Five Kings Mountains? I have a Sky King's Tomb game coming up.

[@JoshNoodleSoup]

Also, a Tian Xia one...specifically the regions that may come up in the APs (Fists and Season of Ghosts).

[@JoshNoodleSoup]

Also, do you have a Patreon? I would gladdly sub.

[@TheMythkeeper]

I will get around to a Highhelm video, but until I do, check out my Dwarf ancestry video as there's a good bit of history in there. Tian Xia will wait until the new book comes out. I don't have a Patreon, but I do have a KZbin club membership, which you can join right here on KZbin by clicking the join button. It gives you early access to videos and a special badge.

[@JoshNoodleSoup]

Subbed! Wow, 3 videos subscriber only still. Sweet. Definitely looking forward to the upcoming videos.@@TheMythkeeper 😀

[@TheMythkeeper]

@@JoshNoodleSoup - Yeah, the videos come out a lot earlier for members! Just trying to give back to those that support the channel! Thanks for joining and welcome to the club!

[@gamervox1707]

Question wouldn't birth be a form of pain they would like and give birth to perfection fit with this creatures ideals?

[@TheMythkeeper]

Potentially. I could see an angle there

[@agsilverradio2225]

I misread the subtitle as "Kryptonians," as in Super-Man's species.

[@trajanfidelis]

Superman on Golarion would be interesting to see

[@003mohamud]

@@trajanfidelis With the new Exemplar class we might see a few superman-ish characters in Golarion

[@TheMythkeeper]

😆

[@agsilverradio2225]

​@@trajanfidelis When I said "Kriptonians," I was actually thinking less Superman, and more Zod.

[@dmeep]

Favourite band: Alice in Chains

[@TheMythkeeper]

🤣

[@burningbronze7555]

These guys creep me out but that might be the point.

[@TheMythkeeper]

That is totally the point ;-)

[@burningbronze7555]

@@TheMythkeeper they make me feel something worse than disturbed

[@chillinon3263]

Barravoclair feels like she was inspired by Martyrs (2008)

[@JosephKofman]

Um pinhead my you've changed

[@JosephKofman]

For real tho does anyone have the stats for the puzzlebox ? Or how about the dark God Leviathan?

[@edgeldine3499]

These guys kind of remind me of the cenobytes from the hellraiser movies lol

[@TheMythkeeper]

They are almost straight out of hellraiser

[@screwedupcivic2285]

Cenobites!!! I mean velstrscs/kytons ...I Once in my campaign I had the rogue find a small bronze toy box among a dragons horde.....The red dragon had been in dealing with beings from the far realms the kaorti had given the dragon the box... "Lament Configuration" could be accessed by several Disable Device checks with each check higher than previous to open the box... The party had to find another red dragon to destroy the box with its breath weapon.

[@TheMythkeeper]

🤣

[@Banedragon]

And certain the thumbnail doesn't depict slaaneshi cultists

[@TheMythkeeper]

Haha! I love all the WH parallels folks find.

[@Darby-qu6hz]

Pathfinder. should higher you.