Basically Kuo-Toa

Go to BuyRaycon.com/runesmith for 15% off your order! Brought to you by Raycon
I uh... I love them. So much.
Check out My Book!
I’ve got Good Merch! www.bonfire.com/store/runic-f...
My Patreon’s still full of stuff! / runesmith
I’ve also got two discord servers!
General Runesmith stuff: / discord
Runecrest, a text based city that’s got a bunch of people role playing all the time: / discord
My Twitter’s a real Shitter! / the_runesmith
Also E.R.D. Is a good company that makes dice and gives me a coin when you buy: shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=151984...
Music Credits: Pretty much everything by Kevin MacLeod
Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io
License: creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

[@tomtheawesomeness]

"We can make a religion out of this." - Kuo Toa

[@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606]

"Wait no, don't" Is a Banned statement.

[@besquareorbethere2680]

"Then Robespiere cut off all the heads of the people in the palace before someone cut his head off you cou- no don't" Kuo toas: How bout I do anyway.

[@XXTacoBellLovaXX]

@@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606 I l m The wait u uni

[@XXTacoBellLovaXX]

@@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606 not myet Un M. M. M. U u

[@XXTacoBellLovaXX]

@@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606 Mi Un

[@crowsenpai5625]

When your party’s Paladin starts ruthlessly smiting Kuo-Toa to stop them from summoning a god, only to realize that in their final moments, seeing the Paladin standing above them, mace glowing in a holy light, began viewing the Paladin as a god of destruction, and the party, after killing the Kuo-Toa, now have to deal with a 800 foot tall copy of the Paladin with godlike powers and a desire to destroy.

[@andrewpenn1145]

What a bruh moment.

[@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606]

Oops.

[@joshuakim5240]

I can't imagine a scene more fitting to play 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' for, nor any scenario that could possibly top the sheer amount of "bruh" compared to this scenario.

[@thewildmage36]

I had this happen with my party when the wizard cast dragon breath on his parrot familiar and it began to be viewed as an evil god of destruction

[@realdragon]

Well shit

[@katep7535]

In my campaign the party tried to talk with kuo-toa by drawing a smiley face in the mud. The kuo-toa worshipped the face and now it is a small god that follows the party around called Smi'Lee and any kuo-toa they meet give Smi'Lee more power. Smi'Lee's avatar is a 6 inch tall mud golem with a crudely drawn smiley face for its face.

[@wellplyd8110]

...... *write it in my note*

[@amandarowell6794]

My only reaction: aww...

[@rockclanhawkstar1454]

A friend!

[@rokkfel4999]

…does it make mud hits fir the homeless?

[@AceAttorny]

I'm just imagining a shifty cleric who's been rejected by just about every cool God in the pantheon living with a bunch of fish people trying to convince them to conjure up a new God that will actually give them powers.

[@adamwilding9520]

Like rejected neckbeard trying to create IRL waifus

[@anexplosion5436]

@@adamwilding9520 "Ok fish boys, hear me out... big tiddy goth GF"

[@Geekguru14]

"Hey cleric- man we believe in the great big tiddy goth goldfish" Cleric "damn it so close but I'll take it"

[@hidro464]

Gets denied

[@Bladez10]

Rejected Cleric: I don't need those other gods! I'm going to hang out with fish people and make my own god! It will have blackjack and hookers! You know what, forget about the god!

[@MarMarVibes]

They’re like little fish deviant artists who fight over their OCs

[@GuardianTam]

Except their OC's can occasionally come off the page and beat the crap out of you.

[@carelesscorpse3556]

That is the best way I've ever heard these guys described

[@Grabnok]

Imagine a small tribe receiving a kind gesture for the first time in generations from a player character, like being given a REALLY good meal, and their alignment just flips and they swarm the player with jubilation and celebration. The player is venerated and a god-version forms as the God of Friendship and Tastiness, so now the player character just has a group of babbling hype-men.

[@JackBarlowStudios]

Character idea: Sorcerer who doesn’t realize that they are actually a Kua-Toa god who only has a few followers, but as their following grows, unbeknownst to them, so does their power.

[@tobyharrison4702]

Not a bad idea

[@jtron1492]

I love this idea. I know what's happening to the next sorcerer player who doesn't have a backstory!

[@DoubtlessCar0]

This so amazing! I'm a forever DM who usually plays Wizard and I've been wanting to try Sorcerer and if I can get a DM that allows it, I'm totally playing this! I love it too because it works perfectly in a serious and funny campaign!

[@Clockehwork]

Also fits just as well for warlock.

[@fancyb.p.6122]

Now just wait until the sorcerer meets his original.

[@lucieeatssnekkers2756]

Dnd: Gods are ancient and all powerful beings. Kuo-Toa: “Haha big lobster go brrrrrr”

[@silence_dais]

I mean... are you wrong tho?

[@biteso2333]

..you’re not wrong.. and I dislike that.

[@tzaphkielconficturus7136]

In fairness, worship from otehr creatures is still useful. If I recall correctly, it was one of the ways to gain divine ranks in 3.5e, but you had to have divine ranks, first.

[@user-qd8yy9lc4g]

Technically, *all* Powers of the Great Wheel are mere maniestations of their worshipers' belief, just like Theros would like to think it is special about. Kuo-Toa are just the race demented enough to come up with new ones. I shall come and spread this truth, that Powers are frauds. Athar are right.

[@samuelrodriguez9801]

@@user-qd8yy9lc4g Planescape?

[@liminalspacecowboy]

Kuo Toa: *stares at toaster* Toaster:....... *Toast pops* Kuo Toa: THIS IS MY GOD!!!!! IT BESTOWED IT'S GIFTS ONTO ME!!!!

[@8bitwiseman]

Behold... Tostpoppopcling, God of Fire and Meals

[@beastwarsFTW]

The machine spirit? Now I have the thought of cyborg fishmen.

[@fattytan1377]

Then after that the party noticed the toaster made toast ever so slightly faster than normal. It then became so powerful that you don't even have to adjust the temperature to get the desired toast.

[@Imagigirl]

THE TOAST BEHOLDER WAS RIGHT!!!

[@thewildcardperson]

@@fattytan1377 then it became 1000 feet tall gold and could produce 10 million types of toast a day

[@raguru1032]

"None of their motives are sinister" just except for slavery and mass sacrifice to the almighty Blibdoolpoolp!

[@SharpAsASpoon]

To be fair, Blibdoolpoolp is a scavenger goddess, and is more interested in That Sticky Stuff You Found On Your Shoe than the blood of innocents. Leemogoogoon, on the other hand, is a bloodthirsty fuck.

[@Hollowed0ut]

SaigeCounsul Reading that is giving me a stroke

[@jetjavelin7593]

Let be honest, almost all race do slavery and mass sacrifice at some point.

[@MinscFromBaldursGate92]

Blibdoolpoop! Where there's smoke they pinch back.

[@AkiKii519]

if you look at history, we should admit that either humanity is an evil race, or slavery and sacrifices are neutral trait.

[@tj5747]

In my last session, I had a group of Kua Toa mistaken one of my players (who is a snow leapord Tabaxi Monk) for their god. They now worship him and follow the one the call the One of White. Since Kua Toa can create their own gods, the party is unsure if the tabaxi player is real or created by the fish people...... So yeah, Kua Toa are dope

[@Bladez10]

That is hilariously brilliant!

[@JTheTeach]

I don't think their God creating ability is common knowledge. I don't think even the Kuo Toa are aware of it.

[@gingermcgingin1733]

You forgot to mention that, in addition to being hunted for sport by the Drow, Kuo-Toa are also favourite slaves of Aboleths.

[@jackielinde7568]

Seems like our favorite fishy people just can't catch a break.

[@davidrogers2602]

Well aboleths definitely treat them better than the other races

[@jasonbrose3994]

To have worshippers once more that give them their former power is nice, ater all.

[@goldenbrigain7031]

Huh. How exactly are the Drow able to hunt Kuo-Toa when they can make gods capable of defending them?

[@peterwhitcomb8315]

@@goldenbrigain7031 That would be the lore for why the Drow have never been able to exterminate them. Drow can win the battle (here and there) but they continue to lose the war in the end. Ever time they set upon a settlement, right as they get ready to seize victory, *BOOM!* their armies suffer a divine intervention and they are forced to retreat.

[@ryanparker260]

In my homebrew campaign, I have an illithilich, who in part of his studies for knowledge, has captured Kua-toa, and is trying to make the Kua-toa believe him to be a god, and therefore make him a god. This has led my players to say the phrase "Mind flayer lich god", which is one hell of a phrase to hear as a DM

[@lucianosgonzalez3561]

Tentacled Vecna is terrifying tbh.

[@ryanparker260]

@SaviorOfNirn there's not an actual mechanics as to how it works in 5e, so it can be interpreted as such. Also, kua toa often worship Aboleths as gods, and 5e specifically describes Aboleths as "Gods in the Lake" and says they were like gods. Also, it's a homebrew world, so they go as I say anyways.

[@dascientist8443]

Kuo-Toa are one of my favourite species too. One of the best BBEG plots I've heard comes from combining two things: 1) Aboleths want to get revenge on the gods. 2) Kuo-Toa can worship something to turn it into a divine entity. Aboleth gets a bunch of Kuo-Toa to worship it and badda-bing badda-boom it's apocalypse time!

[@lordtsweeble2898]

Would the Aboleth then rise to godhood or would a god be created in the Aboleth's image? That plan could backfire weirdly for the Aboleth if the God-Aboleth cares more about protecting its people.

[@Dave_The_Musical_Fisherman]

They have become the very thing they swore to destroy. I will do what I must

[@sylenzos6869]

Reminds me of a bit of Waterdeep dungeon of the mad mage

[@bruhboss3141]

Why not just go with the "are you bothered by nearby trains" part and make the bbeg thomas the tank engine? On second thought...

[@Spiceodog]

my fellow party members and I used a garden gnome, mold earth, minor illusion, and epic roleplaying to make the new most powerful god in existence and use it for WORLD DOMINATION!!! or at least we would have if my school DND club didn't get cancelled before the campaighn finale by covid.

[@phlojem285]

I heard of someone using a Lighthouse as a Kuo-Toa god. Just imagine that along every rocky coastline these fish dudes go, they see Lighthouses, always with that spinning light in the center, and scaring away all of the evil hooman ships that see it. Then imagine that thing standing up our of the ground, like a giant stone Golem but with a Lighthouse for a head

[@fizzledimglow3523]

That's such a good idea to be honest...

[@commanderblackheart5856]

Oh god, LIGHT-HOUSE HEAD, everybody RUN FOR YOUR LIFE’S

[@thewildcardperson]

Sauron

[@mahedros]

Before I'd seen this comment I was already considering something like this for a character I'm working on. I'm making a fathomless warlock who used to be a lighthouse operator and who was thrown out of the lighthouse and into the sea by an angry mob that unjustly blamed him for a ship crash. Could be interesting to make the lighthouse the patron and have it refuse to function for anyone else.

[@phlojem285]

@@mahedros Maybe the Lighthouse was somehow connected to the Far Realm, like a single Brick was enchanted by another Warlock as part of the payment for their own power. And the mob thinks the lighthouse is now haunted, as it sometimes at night follows them while their walking in the nearby woods, even though no one has worked there longer than a day since the mobbing...

[@jackielinde7568]

2:03 - "Us and probably some elves..." Yeah, elves be racist, too. Oh, and nice job giving the elves a bigger boat than we have.

[@gavinlangston603]

Not bigger, just closer.

[@nothoughtsheadempty3097]

@@gavinlangston603 not closer just bigger

[@carpedm9846]

@@nothoughtsheadempty3097 closer bigger, not just

[@dinobuckwell2999]

dwarves be missin

[@andor888]

Yes, the colonist ship of the elves, proudly flying the green-yellow-and-red.

[@JuniperJadePR]

I've never been big into D&D but knowing that there is an entire species that can will both ManBearPig & Santa Claus into reality makes me wanna play.

[@jackielinde7568]

Just be aware that the version of Sandy Claws they picture won't be the same one you have. It'll be terrifying and very very frightening, indeed.

[@Bladez10]

@@jackielinde7568 With literal claws.

[@hattsbygaming2861]

@@Bladez10 And 4 heads, at the very least.

[@keatonbash2217]

@@jackielinde7568 A sand crab Santa

[@fizziz_1035]

.

[@callumn2111]

Some random wizard trapped in the Underdark: "Please leave me alone, I tell you I'm not the messiah." A city of Kuo-Toa that has found its new god: "He is the Messiah!"

[@BoisegangGaming]

It would be really funny if they created a God of friendship that just made everybody friends because all they want is for people to like them.

[@GTGTRIK]

I can see that. Granny Tiberia Agness Copperbell, an old and wise nanny. Washed up to the kuatoa shore after a shipwreck, taught the fish people to live better and read them wondrous stories. Oh and she stopped a spear with a bare hand when the waning old god's whip tried to end her religion. Wouldn't let the fishes fight for her, just stepped up and scolded him into giving up. There's a rough but meticulously carved statue of her in a holy cave nowadays. She is holding s book and her arms are open enough for one to squeeze in. The lap is polished smooth and triggers comfy story time. All the characters in the village have their alignment changed to NG temporarily, they just can't find it in them to attack and there's nothing to be gained by doing that . Getting the kuatoa a copper bell will empower them and get you a powerful ally

[@shellknight1323]

Elves: "Our God shines down their radiance upon all who seek to do evil" Kuo-Toa: *Haha Shark boi go Blub*

[@biblebot3947]

Didn’t expect trigonometry here in a DND comment

[@philswiftdestroyerofworlds1988]

@@biblebot3947 Here, have a like my friend.

[@janelantestaverde2018]

...

[@Anu_Evil_Queen]

I‘ll be DMing storm king‘s thunder soon and I have a special “random” encounter planned with Kuo-Toa. The party will encounter a chained down female fire giant being hit by berries thrown by Kuo-Toa. If the party comes close to them they will also get hit with berries. If the party tries to help her it will push thier faith to complete the ritual causing coral horns to grow out of her head. Outside of the coral she will be a normal fire giant for the rest of the game. But after the end of the game, she will ascend to become a Kuo-Toa fire/steam goddess.

[@ravnemagne9598]

So, with enough charisma and patience, you would theoretically be able to convince them that there is a god that is essentially Danny DeVito

[@CodeeXD]

Probably a fishy danny devito

[@Bladez10]

Eh, wouldn't need to roll all that high either.

[@Vo_Siri]

I mean yeah, where do you think he came from?

[@AkiKii519]

and then he just started blasting

[@NA-AN]

Don't you realize? He us already a god.

[@joebob390]

Not gonna lie, about halfway through I just started writing a campaign about them.

[@thecactusman17]

Zee Bashew also provides some great commentary on using them if you check out his animated spellbook videos.

[@joebob390]

@@thecactusman17 thank you I very much appreciate it.

[@hectorrodriguezgonzalez8938]

@@thecactusman17 yeah that video is great

[@spitfyre8688]

I made a whole setting around the idea of "What if all people had kuo-toa powers and all the gods are simply figments of collective imaginations while also still bestowing power so people can still debate over which gods are real and which arent" It's real fucking fun.

[@settrasurfs1780]

So basically Warhammer

[@2MeterLP]

My concept of D&D gods works similar to insurance. Every sentient being has at least a tiny bit of magic power, which it can give to a god through worship. Then the god collects that power and gives it to their champions to protect the worshippers when they are in need. And, of course, keeps some of that power to dick around with. Even a god gotta live off something.

[@goreobsessed2308]

That's how I've always done DND gods just avatars of faith

[@Aplesedjr]

To be fair, that kind of how gods already work in d&d. They aren’t just born as extremely powerful being like the Greek gods are, they start as people and gain enough followers that they gain divine power. I personally did away with that in my setting because I think it’s a bit weird, but I still have remnants of the idea.

[@christiansager4574]

So Phoenix Wright meets SMT?

[@caseyhullfish1345]

in an attempt to be ironic with that spongebob reference you accidentally referenced one of the most violent volcanic eruptions in recorded history and it looped right back around to being epic

[@doktorwyvern2883]

Well, that is what the name referenced in spongebob.

[@Wisper200]

The kuo-toa are broken and you presented that perfectly. We all love our traumatized psychic fishy bois

[@werecatauthor4249]

So there's a race perfectly for me 😁 also if a player could convince a bunch of kuo-toa to worship them wouldn't they become a god?

[@anthonybernard8819]

I don’t see why not

[@theDuckysaurus]

Werecat Author I think what might happen is a deity might appear in the way that the kuo-toa see the player. Like an exaggerated version of the player would become the god, rather than the actual player.

[@alexdietz7362]

@@theDuckysaurus who would then go on to smite the players. There can be only one. I think i'm going to try to manipulate my players into having that idea. Maybe some worn out inscriptions or rumours that give only partial information. Then they players can go onto thinking of becoming a god entirely on their own. It's like inception

[@GamingRabbit17]

That is up to the DM, I would say yes

[@OriginalKasym]

Watch Zee Bashew's video. He has a good representation of that exact thing

[@felixvegge3764]

Logan: what if i did the frog People video, but fish

[@darnok6407]

and better

[@lunaticlurker7932]

@@darnok6407 idea, a dnd universe where the lisard, frog, monitor, and whatever other scale race rules over humans, and people go on ambush raids, cut supply lines, and execute a nation of reptiles, I'm thinking of the title to be " dark cloaks, shattered scales."

[@sylph8005]

@@lunaticlurker7932 I'm thinking of possibly running a campaign based on that, where the yuan-ti nation of Najara will have conquered it's human neighbors, Elturgard, and the players will have to do a rebellion to fight the yuan-ti

[@isaacschmitt4803]

"If I don't understand how something works and I'm to lazy or stupid to figure it out. . . " Dude, you just described half my customers when we tell them for the umpteenth time we're out of stock for whatever they're looking for due to the Rona. "What do you mean you're out of this thing that literally everyone wants?!? Go check in the back!"

[@alphabetsoup6837]

Best warlock concept I’ve seen: kuo toa thought they were a god, and gained magical powers.

[@OhMercyMe]

not gonna lie that 5E art of the kuo-toa just looking real dang excited does a lot for me

[@GamingRabbit17]

So if enough of them start believing in an already existing D&D god, like Lathander, then they would be able to change who Lathander is?

[@Nyghtking]

I think it might just add to it, and also change his form perhaps as you can worship aspects of a god instead of the whole god.

[@2MeterLP]

I think they would probably create a fishy knockoff "Lathander" instead of worshipping and influencing the actual god Lathander.

[@Nyghtking]

@@2MeterLP I way I imagine it working is Lathander gets like a new fishy aspect and form he can use while keeping everything he already has.

[@AaumondHD]

@@2MeterLP Not so sure. Early spoiler for Out Of The Abyss : when the party goes to the Kuo-Toa city, the dominant faith has changed from [former god] to Demogorgon. But, it doesn't seem that their faith has cloned or changed aspects of Demogorgon. It just seems to have empowered them.

[@slyseal2091]

Whats more important is at what point do they worship classic him, or the Kua-Toa idea of him. Because as a guy above basically stated, theres no problem in creating *a seperate Lathander but with gills.

[@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606]

Thank you. I almost forgot about putting Kuo-Toa in my dnd setting where if enough of any race believe that a person is a god, they can become a demigod, but only gods can make true gods. Only gods. And Kuo-Toa.

[@TheJerseyDevilGaming]

Oh.

[@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606]

@@TheJerseyDevilGaming Oh hi! Still an evil devil bastard?

[@AceAttorny]

I love their little stance. They're just so excited.

[@racekitty]

Idea: have a drow/duergar or some other underdark race have pack of kuo-toa slaves and if the players don't kill them and just the master they become fanatical servants believing the players to be living gods that came to save them of course the players have deal with them try to sacrifice things in their name and them arguing over which god is better which often ends with them trying to kill each other.

[@Shadowrunner123]

Mandatory Comment; "Ey, whatup, it's ya boi, H. P. Lovecraft, back at it with the FISH PEOPLE!"

[@MasterP86]

*FEAR THE MIGHT XENOPHOBIC FISH PEOPLE*

[@GreenLab-vo7vs]

as you say this you see *a strange color unlike any seen on earth*

[@artemisfowldragon]

GreenLab 2099 it’s just so scary that I can’t actually describe it just trust me

[@MasterP86]

@@artemisfowldragon * describes aniway *

[@lawrencemorris2261]

Sounds like dashiegames intro

[@grumpydragon328]

Adding this video to the mountain of evidence that Shloopydoopoo is a perfectly valid name for a Kuo-Toa character. I am willing to die on this hill.

[@Albatross0913]

it really is! i don't see what the problem was lmao

[@benthomason3307]

"a portable charger that fits perfectly in your mouth but shouldn't go there..." Logan, how the frick do you come up with this stuff?

[@ShugoAWay]

Like you haven't looked at a small object and wondered how well it would fit in your mouth

[@benthomason3307]

@@ShugoAWay not since I was 2 I haven't!

[@no1mayorofsimpleton]

by putting sponsored products into his mouth, obviously

[@mikedanielespeja6128]

he just rejected humanity and returned to monke

[@lordfelidae4505]

@@benthomason3307 well then you are weak of will.

[@wedran9225]

I'm starting to think that "Schloopee-doopoo" is actually a perfectly reasonable Kua-toa name.

[@sagecolvard9644]

Their most famous god is named Blibdoolpoolp. Schlooppee-doopoo isn't even that far off.

[@freddykingofturtles]

My players once showed them a common magic item a 'candle of the deep' they were so inspired by the idea of a candle (they already had floating orbs of magic underwater fire) and the fact they were given free stuff from the players, they created a new God which is just a massive blue candle that gives people free things once a year. I imagine it looks like a gargantuan blue Santa version of a Yochlol.

[@bright179]

I just might buy those raycons this time Rune, I just might.

[@bnerd__]

They def worth

[@unironicallylikesranger7122]

Not in my experience

[@felixvegge3764]

Kuo-toa, mental illness with gills

[@Albumancer]

*Mental Gillness. Sorry, I had to.

[@butchdeadlift10]

I can totally picture a Yuan Ti enslaving a clan of Kuo-Toa to try and make a god out of constant torture and abuse

[@eldritch_whispers1654]

Ah, yes, Denny DeVito, the greatest god of all

[@ToTeMVG]

the kuo-toa are beautiful, and i love them so, lil allpowerful murlocs that could control the world but are so insane they dont.

[@shiuido359]

Remember mate, in 5e "evil" just means "selfish", or at least "not selfless". It doesn't mean sinister. It's probably the result of their trust issues, it's hard to be selfless for people who you don't trust.

[@nathanhudelson1834]

I have some of these guys in my campaign and none of my players seem to know or recognize what they are. The reveal is gonna be so fun.

[@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606]

3:38 "we should have more faith in our ability to repair the damage we've done, or we'll construct hell around us" like, y'know, a plauge that was made way worse by incompetent governments.

[@alextrill1746]

Pandorym: breaks free and starts killing gods, threatening to unmake reality Kuo-Toa: stop it by an endless tide of gods, then make a god of Pandorym-slaying

[@silence_dais]

Already have the plot to a one shot: someone has gathered a large amount of Kua-Toa by sacrificing an entire town to make their deity real. Party must stop him, and it turns out that the evil behind this dastardly plan is... A Weeb that wishes to make his dreams of a big tittied anime waifu real. Thousands of lives will be sacrificed just to ensure he will finally get laid.

[@darklord884]

Isn't that a bit much just to dunk on a subculture and go "Hah, take that weebs!" I mean I guess it could work, but the players might find it underwhelming if the sole reason for sinister rituals creating a goddess was that he could f@ck her. Especially since there are much easier ways for that using certain types of magic or constructs.

[@marcospatricio8283]

​ @darklord884 Ya could reflavour the weeb as someone like pygmalion. An artisan utterly in love with his creation, but incapable of being loved back. You could also make a historian desperatly in love with someone who already died. Or a poet in love in someone else's muse. The point is: you have a person, hugly skilled in it's art (and said art must make him good at convincing people or hyping them up) in love with someone that no longer exists. They're not just wanting to get laid, they're obsessed, borderline insane.

[@gremlinfifty2308]

There are only three things that fuel man booze, booty and boobs.

[@darklord884]

@@marcospatricio8283 Artist: use awaken spell to literally make his sculpture/artwork live. Historian: necromancy to date the dead person. These and other methods are far easier for conveying the same type of idea. If you want to create deranged psychos who are obsessed with one specific thing, it's much better to have them wanting to achieve that thing by their own actions, not trusting a weird bunch of fanatic fishpeople to create it for you. The bigger problem is that in general, it's a horrible, but at the very least horribly chaotic way of getting a date/wife. The deity isn't defined by you, but by the kuo-toa who believe in it. Now you might think that giving them instructions can guide them to creating the thing you want, but I doubt they couldn't put their own unique spin on it. By interpreting the description of the god/goddess a myriad of ways, these fishy bastards have a thousand and more ways to screw it up and that makes this method of creation incredibly bad if you want to get laid. If the villain's goal was to create something for power or protection from enemies, or just a madman wanting to create something that destroys everything, that I could see. Heck, I could even imagine a Narcyssos-type thing where a villain wants to become a god and convinces the kuo-toa that he is one and they start worshipping him. He thinks it worked and notices all too late that HE didn't become a god, but that an identical clone of his was spawned and THAT became a god. Maybe he realizes only too late when this god-version of him comes to kill him. All of these reasons make it underwhelming to find out that the big bad goal behind the kuo-toa trying to create a god was just a weirdo trying to stick his dick in something. Reflavouring doesn't help when the main problem is the method not fitting the chosen goal. You can do it, I just don't think it's the best way to bully weebs by making an idiotic evil godmaker based on the stereotype. Whether it's an asshole thing or no doesn't even matter, the problem is that the same villain can attain his or her goals far more easily and not only are the kuo-toa difficult to reason with but their way is far too chaotic.

[@messydeskproductions4159]

Praise bibliodoop, All jokes aside they are my favourite creatures in DnD. The poor lovecraftian fish dudes

[@lostbutfreesoul]

I had heard of them before but didn't know what they went through. Runesmith is right - I so badly just want to give one a hug and say it will be alright....

[@commanderblackheart5856]

I don’t want to sound rude, but it’s spelled “blibdoolpoolp”

[@pacha1500]

I ran an adventure where the players were saving a small fishing village of halflings from Fishmen, by exterminating them of course. They weren't really monster manual Kuo-Toa, more like Orkz from Warhammer 40k, whatever they believed became real. They kidnapped people to fight them on arenas, because if everyone in the tribe sees you win a fight, they think you must be strong, and if they think you're strong, your body literally swells and you become an even better fighter. The chief was The King of All Waters, Northern Pike. In an epic fight with the King and the shaman Giant Oarfish (fucker was made out of 5 tokens, and I'm gonna make an even longer enemy later because fuck you) they've slain the strongest lad in front of all the fishmen, making them shit their pants and run away. That's when the Kuo-Toa God, who's avatar they've just slain has teleported the party to the Astral Plane and asked them: "Am I a dish, or a fuck?"

[@linkn5509]

I love this comment

[@tavispergentile1334]

Priest: "we need a God of economics, what do we have?" Other Priest: "a starfish, a sea cucumber and this GI Joe"

[@Definitely_not_ai]

First priest: This will do.

[@jacobsheehan9715]

Put the limbs on the cucumber and the star fish where the head should be

[@harbingerofsarcasm2510]

So, my DM introduced these and the first session with them in it with me knowing very little about them. So anyway, first turn I kill or bloody 10 or so and when one gets a hit off a hit I get a hellish rebuke in and turn it to ash. Little do they know that I, an Archfey Warlock, am out of spell slots but boy are they terrified. I proceed to intimidate them into bowing and charm them afterwards for good measure telling them to go forth and spread the word.

[@cobyblessing4359]

Is it weird that I'm already running a campaign where kua-toa attempt to destroy the gods and all other races, because when I wrote it I didn't know about any of this. I'm concerned for my well being

[@CometForce1124]

How do you write a campaign about kuo toa without knowing they can make gods?

[@davidrogers2602]

@@CometForce1124 probably saw the fact that aboletes (I know I spelt that wrong, bite me)use them as slaves alot so thought they also hate the gods

[@stuperug]

Aww man. This's a plot point in my current campaign, and I know at least one of my players will see this. Ah well. At least these little guys are finally getting some recognition.

[@RuneScapeShadoma]

The earliest I've been to a Runesmith video, and it's with crazy theogenistic fish men. I love it.

[@pcou715]

same bro

[@victorchilds572]

All I’m hearing is unga bunga fish man.

[@jackielinde7568]

Funny thing you should mention "Unga Bunga"... It's a relatively modern phrase as nonsense phrases go. And it's a completely made up one by "The Sultan Of Pranks" as he and his friends were pranking one of the British Royal Navy's ships: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH6VoqGwp7GNfNk

[@rustyshackle8000]

God, I love these fish dudes. I just love the idea of them being super helpful and sweet instead of evil. Like, they see a Devotion Paladin slaughter a group of ilithids, and they will literally do anything to help that paladin for all eternity.

[@matthewcoyle4131]

When you did the video on the underdark you mentioned the bottom layer being dark souls tier bosses. Is their any lore on the lower underdark we can look at?

[@jackielinde7568]

Go read R.A. Salvatore's work.

[@commanderblackheart5856]

This IS that video, they’re probably the most powerful race in D&D history, plus kuo-toa gods do look like something you would see in a soul’s-like, plus I think they can only create god’s out of thought and make them manifest out of nothing, key word, NOTHING! So I don’t think you can become a god, but something that looks like you will definitely do so, sorry everybody.

[@dannmcdan2185]

If wishing enough can make a god real, then why isnt my waifu real yet

[@proxy90909]

Because you need all of society to agree on who is the top waifu in order to make it real

[@abidoesnerdstuff]

... who let you Kua-Toa on the internet!?

[@thomasallen9974]

Because its not Haruhi Suzumiya

[@silence_dais]

my god, Kua-Toa are just Weebs that have the ability to make Waifus real. DND IS A POWER FANTASY!

[@willmena96]

That means we get Rem back? :C

[@raizek2767]

Keep doing a good job mate. Also dont Be to hard on yourself.

[@jamescornell5297]

Homebrew concept: a town populated by both humans and kuo-toa that is protected by their god of protection, taking on the form of an animated suit of armor carrying a shield. The reason the humans live there is because the armor god is a popular figure among them.

[@callumn2111]

In my last campaign, a city of Kuo-Toa thought the warlock was a god. They offered fanatical if incompetent help such as storming a castle by trying to catapult themselves over the wall. But as the warlock grew more powerful, so too did the Kuo-Toa. The campaign ended with the Kuo-Toa cleric, Bibble, choke slamming a solar to save the God and his most loyal servants.

[@pupp3tStudios]

Choked slammed by a bro named Bibble. What a way to go.

[@Wisper200]

I love basically videos. Clicked immediately

[@dilophosaurussk4333]

"Crayfish faith boners" Is not something i expected to hear at 5 AM. But, well...

[@Neutral_Tired]

Fun idea for a quest at pretty much any level. A sea hag has convinced a small kuo-toa tribe that she's a deity, and they're trying to expand to more and more tribes to grow her power. To scale it up to higher levels just make her tribe bigger and therefore make her stronger

[@spunkyspaz]

"Kuo-Toa are perfect and need to be protected, change my mind" Ok, that made me lol.

[@TheDarkNature]

Really enjoy your channel! Just started mine that’s about horror and stuff. Best of luck to you!

[@madafaka2666]

Ah yes, I remember seeing them in the Monster Manual, and ya know the picture of one of them standing in the fire? My first question was "Why is Kermit burning in hell?" Also, I guess these creatures, alongside Beholders, are the DMs of the world?

[@fireknight4151]

Shrockobooba: A giant green skinned humanoid who ferociously guards his swamp domain. His mighty rorar has the power to frighten entire armies and it is said to even make his dark nemesis Farcaboba quiver in fear. (The shrine is a copy of the orignal Shrek dvd)

[@Eskerian]

Anything : *exists* Kuo-Toa : You can make a religion out of that

[@entersandmanlml]

MAKLOOMPAH!

[@InfinityInLove]

Why do I feel all the noises he lists for the add are the problems he has when recording? Like he is crying for help

[@Yabuturtle]

I thought it'd be an interesting campaign to have my party sneak in and try to stop the kuo toa from creating the ultimate god and enslave everyone.

[@JamesSonOfBaboonzo]

Im so Glad you made this, my party is about to encounter these in Dungeon of the Mad Mage, and this has given me sooooo many sick ideas for how to present/use them.

[@mechanicrabbit7870]

"NOT" frog people. *ends video*

[@Gi4x]

the what xD

[@touhoufan7071]

My idea for a Kuo-Toa deity: Aasdayewuioa, the god of transportation. He has a single wheel like leg below a giant head with two slots that can shoot laser beams and a seat that allows Kuo-Toa to ride into battle, observing everything from above. It's a chair on a sideways toaster on a wheel.

[@alexseda8756]

a video on one of the most malleable races for a story have never heard of (in depth), gibberish names, and a mention of the correspondents... great vid

[@uba754]

Just want to say your videos are freaking fantastic man. I have never played DnD in my life but as a game designer you have given me a plethora of inspiration and entertainment. Thank you for what you do!

[@project4061]

6:32 I cannot for the life of me, repeat this description with a straight face. Yet I love it!

[@MinscFromBaldursGate92]

''They invent their own gods....the very definition of insanity.''

[@thecactusman17]

Took these, formed them into an ancient lost empire whose Capitol was taken instead of Elturel into Avernus, and whose remnants were coerced into giving near godhood to an Aboleth which my players had to stop from returning to the living world. These guys ended up being a lot of fun to play with.

[@TheCaptainstupendous]

7:27 you got me to spit out my water good job

[@professorxivass]

A Kuo-Toa Cargo Cult would be a pretty amazing basis for a adventure.

[@ldobehardcore]

0:34 Sasquatch sighting. We see you re-creating the Patterson-Gimlin film!

[@shezarr3456]

another day another fantastic runesmith video

[@remygallardo7364]

I have a half-elven drow that is half-kuo-toa in the campaign I am in, He's a trickster cleric/inquisitive rogue multiclass that is styled after a betta, known as Frederyk the Fighting Fish of Faerie Fire Fen. Lore-wise I worked with the DM and gave him the folk hero background, he generates his own magical abilities through the power of narcissism after he stood up to some bandits and was rewarded with adoration and cheering by his village. He does everything he can to gain more and more favor, the more "good" he does the more powerful his ego, thus driving his magical abilities. Ironically though when he uses invoke duplicity if the duplicate still remains after a fight he will continue to attack it until it dispels because there can only be one Frederyk.

[@curiousteddie]

The second season of dice funk has some of my favourite Kua-Toa appearances in history EXACTLY BECAUSE they lean into everything that is wildly awesome about these lil fish peeps

[@GeneralKenobi75]

Best way to sum up humanity's attitude to things we don't understand. Pretty much the operating system for the Imperium of Man.

[@adamwashburn3566]

Just got my Raycons today first things I’m listening to is the video and the guy who talked me into buying them!!! This is great

[@MisteurBear]

You've given me so many ideas to work with and I haven't gotten past the 2:55 mark. Thank you Runesmith : )

[@tankertot7430]

I love the correspondents 😍😍😍 jamming to them rn in background

[@azisokal5497]

One of the gods my players met was garshooga. He appears as a small clay figure with the head of a hammerhead shark, mans chest, dragon wings and tentacles instead of legs. he is the god of things forgotten in pockets, the unnecessary bark of dogs, and all round things no larger then 2 inches in diameter that start with q. The players have been sacrificing things to him so he grows in power and the zealot barbarian has become his disciple

[@chuckaugust9856]

Perhaps the reason behind milestone leveling is secretly due to Kua-Toa worship. As players become more famous, they attract a secret cult of Kua-Toa. When they do particularly great deeds, the cult gets more members, thus growing the party's power.

[@demosthenes995]

Just want to say you make adds very enjoyable.

[@johnpaulcross424]

5:55 I see you Logan, excellent choice

[@DreadnoughtFiend]

I know right!

[@Mozumin]

I love these guys lmao I'm so glad you made a video about them

[@dannycat3970]

Just getting into dnd and DMing and I love love love this series. Its crazy quotable