Dark ages, medieval horror monsters [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dark ages, medieval horror monsters [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DeSkyggeKriger
10-04-06, 09:56 PM So what sort of monsters would you use for a game set in a setting similar to the Dark Ages of Europe? I'm thinking of a high adventure type game, where combat probably would take a back seat to exploration, and what monsters exist are spoken of in hushed tones and feared by common folk and king alike.

Fey are a given, as they are mostly based off of mythology. And things such as cave trolls and maybe goblins. I would imagine abberations would be quite rare, except maybe in the darkest corners of the earth.
cog_and_taz
10-05-06, 08:04 AM Dire animals and monstrous vermin? Some stuff like owlbears and rocs. Yes, aberrations would be rare... Also, outsiders(celestials, devils and demons anyway) should be around.
DebiHuman
10-05-06, 01:05 PM For European medieval monsters: Kraken, goblins, hobgoblins, trolls, ghosts, banshee, gargoyles, leucretta (several variations) most ferocious beasts -- wild boar, bear, snakes [except in Ireland]. Dragons of course. And then you could have traditional monsters like witches, devils, demons [The Inquisition could be full of demons and devils posing as church officials -- now that would be scary. Also, most werecreatures would fit the bill. Kelpies, nightmares, changlings... there's a lot that could fit the bill.

Many monsters come from the Greek mythology and could be imported into a medieval world. You could have Baba Yaga in Russia and just as easily you could have talking beasts in France.

Debby
bhu
10-05-06, 05:20 PM I can send you links to medieval bestiaries and such
Talisman
10-05-06, 05:39 PM Ogres and giants in Ye Mountaines. Lycanthropes. Hags. Ghosts, wraiths, spectres and shadows. A few mummies (drop the Egyptian background and they fit perfectly). Dragons (very rare, very dangerous). Wyverns. Dire beasties.

Dwarves--evil dwarves that live in the hills and craft weird magic items. Not so many humanoid monsters--most of the humanoid opponents should be PC races.
DeSkyggeKriger
10-06-06, 08:39 AM Great suggestions. I especially like the idea of the dwarves living hidden in the mountains crafting strange things. If I were to run a game using these ideas, I think the PCs would all have to be human. Nonhuman-humanoids wouldn't interact with humans out of ignorant fear of each other. Basically, the humanoids don't interact with humans at all and are thought of as just myths.
CryoSilver
10-06-06, 12:23 PM Goblinoids would be great for the setting: sneaky, evil humanoids with malicious intent.
Return of the Flumph
10-06-06, 12:40 PM Actually, the common human might not know the difference between dwarves and goblins. They are both little people who live under the ground, and lack of contact between humans and dwarves might cause confusion of the two. Because of goblin raids, most humans think that "dwarves" are evil. Unless, of course, dwarves really are evil, in which case dwarf and goblin SHOULD be synanims.

I think elves might still be seen in a favorable light, depending on how strong the nordic influence in this world is.
BobTigerClaw
10-06-06, 12:49 PM you guys forgot the hydras..... and i think a few giants would fit in the setting. hill giants that is, the other ones might be a bit too much high magic.... you know what i meen.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DeSkyggeKriger 10-04-06, 09:56 PM	So what sort of monsters would you use for a game set in a setting similar to the Dark Ages of Europe? I'm thinking of a high adventure type game, where combat probably would take a back seat to exploration, and what monsters exist are spoken of in hushed tones and feared by common folk and king alike. Fey are a given, as they are mostly based off of mythology. And things such as cave trolls and maybe goblins. I would imagine abberations would be quite rare, except maybe in the darkest corners of the earth.
cog_and_taz 10-05-06, 08:04 AM	Dire animals and monstrous vermin? Some stuff like owlbears and rocs. Yes, aberrations would be rare... Also, outsiders(celestials, devils and demons anyway) should be around.
DebiHuman 10-05-06, 01:05 PM	For European medieval monsters: Kraken, goblins, hobgoblins, trolls, ghosts, banshee, gargoyles, leucretta (several variations) most ferocious beasts -- wild boar, bear, snakes [except in Ireland]. Dragons of course. And then you could have traditional monsters like witches, devils, demons [The Inquisition could be full of demons and devils posing as church officials -- now that would be scary. Also, most werecreatures would fit the bill. Kelpies, nightmares, changlings... there's a lot that could fit the bill. Many monsters come from the Greek mythology and could be imported into a medieval world. You could have Baba Yaga in Russia and just as easily you could have talking beasts in France. Debby
bhu 10-05-06, 05:20 PM	I can send you links to medieval bestiaries and such
Talisman 10-05-06, 05:39 PM	Ogres and giants in Ye Mountaines. Lycanthropes. Hags. Ghosts, wraiths, spectres and shadows. A few mummies (drop the Egyptian background and they fit perfectly). Dragons (very rare, very dangerous). Wyverns. Dire beasties. Dwarves--evil dwarves that live in the hills and craft weird magic items. Not so many humanoid monsters--most of the humanoid opponents should be PC races.
DeSkyggeKriger 10-06-06, 08:39 AM	Great suggestions. I especially like the idea of the dwarves living hidden in the mountains crafting strange things. If I were to run a game using these ideas, I think the PCs would all have to be human. Nonhuman-humanoids wouldn't interact with humans out of ignorant fear of each other. Basically, the humanoids don't interact with humans at all and are thought of as just myths.
CryoSilver 10-06-06, 12:23 PM	Goblinoids would be great for the setting: sneaky, evil humanoids with malicious intent.
Return of the Flumph 10-06-06, 12:40 PM	Actually, the common human might not know the difference between dwarves and goblins. They are both little people who live under the ground, and lack of contact between humans and dwarves might cause confusion of the two. Because of goblin raids, most humans think that "dwarves" are evil. Unless, of course, dwarves really are evil, in which case dwarf and goblin SHOULD be synanims. I think elves might still be seen in a favorable light, depending on how strong the nordic influence in this world is.
BobTigerClaw 10-06-06, 12:49 PM	you guys forgot the hydras..... and i think a few giants would fit in the setting. hill giants that is, the other ones might be a bit too much high magic.... you know what i meen.