I have been thinking of creating a new creature for my game, but I am not sure what kind if would be. The game that this creature is going to exist in is a 5e custom game, that is based entirely within the Feywild (the plane of Faerie). All players, NPCs and so on are going to be Fey or Faeries of various types. The creature will be called Tatterdemalion and physically is appears to be an article of clothing. Tatterdemalion has two forms. A physical form and a none physical form, which it seems unwilling, or unable to take at this point, perhaps because it is so old, or perhaps for reasons that are entirely it's own.
Here are the thoughts that I have for this creature.
First Form: A beautiful dress
In this form, Tatterdemalion appears as a dress of unearthly beauty and craftsmanship. It seems to have been woven from the most beautiful cloth, stitched together with precious metals so finely beaten, that one could mistake them for the highest quality silk threads and its patterns are continually moving and shimmering with magic.
When touched in this form, Tatterdemalion pulsates with warm, welcoming energy, that wraps around you like a hug made out of unconditional love and whispers into your mind, such finely crafted affirmations, that it becomes hard to resist. You must have it; you must possess it, you must put it on because it needs you and the longer you hold it, or touch it or look at it, the more confident you become that fate meant you have it.
Eventually; if you look at or touch, or pay attention to Tatterdemalion, in any way, for long enough, you will do anything - lie, cheat, steal, kill, sell your firstborn child, just for the chance to put it on.
Its a trap
Despite appearances, Tatterdemalion is not an article of clothing, magical or otherwise. It is, in fact, a very ancient form of Fey, that is so old, not even the greatest Archfey know for sure when it came into being because it has just always existed. However, it is believed that Tatterdemalion was created by the first wild magic surge that marked the creation of plane of Faerie, and that it came into being fully formed and did not age after that. Some have speculated that Tatterdemalion is the living consciousness of the Feywild, through which it (the Feywild) thinks and remembers and dreams.
In the very beginning, Tatterdemalion existed as diaphanous energy, spread out across and intertwined with the entire plane of Faerie. As it dreamed, the magic from which it was itself born, brought its dreams to life as living creations - the first of what we have come to know as the Fey. Eventually, though, it chose an aspect of the parent from which it was created and took on a physical form, that was bound and shaped by its own creative magic.
Why Tatterdemalion chose to commit itself to a physical form is the subject of much speculation amongst the Fey, and few agree on a reason. The truth is that the mind or intentions of such a being can not be easily discerned, and probably its reasons for choosing such a form, are quite simply beyond the comprehension of mortal beings. Even ones that can live many lifetimes, like the Fey. There is one thing that all Fey agree on, however; Tatterdemalion is significantly limited by its physical form and is slowly dying from the exhortation of maintaining its memories and dreams. To support and extend its life, Tatterdemalion has created the illusion of the beautiful dress, that must be worn at all costs. It uses this illusion to trick its victims into putting it on and then uses them as a kind of magical life support, draining away all their energy, until they disappear, like dust in the wind.
Then Tatterdemalion will lay its trap once more, and ensnare a new victim, and the process begins all over again.
SubForm: A worn, tattered dress
The physical appearance of Tatterdemalion seems to be tied to the virility of its host. When the host is first acquired, and they full of strength, energy, and passion, Tatterdemalion looks beautiful, as described above. However, as Tatterdemalion uses up its host's life force, it begins to age. Just before its host vanishes entirely from the world, Tatterdemalion looks worn and dishevelled, tattered and torn. All its beauty is gone, and it seems as though a rag, held together by force of will alone.
It might be a trap, but it doesn't give without taking
Once Tatterdemalion has acquired a host, it is capable of using its illusion magic to transform even the most hideous of beings into ethereal beauty. It can also use its creation/transformation/transmutation magic to bring its hosts wishes, dreams and desires to life. In short, although it uses its host until there is nothing of them left, for as long as its host exists, Tatterdemalion gives them all they could have ever dreamed of.
The most dangerous phase
After its host has vanished, Tatterdemalion is at its most vulnerable and also its most dangerous. It will grab onto anything or anyone with a strong enough life force to sustain it, and a will, weak enough for it to overpower, and then drain them of all substance. It will do this until it has acquired enough life energy, to create the illusion of the beautiful dress, set its trap and ensnare a new long-term host.
One last thing
There is only one Tatterdemalion. However, each host Tatterdemalion takes goes by that name; so, to the world at large, it appears there are many.
So that's all I have for now!
That's it guys, that is all the thoughts and ideas I had for this creature. Despite having this idea, though, I am unsure how to properly implement it.
Do you have any hints or tips on how I can make this custom creature, what kind of powers, or magic I should give it, that will allow it to have the type of feel, described above, an how I can correctly balance its stats? I am really struggling with this because it is an entirely custom creature that is not based on anything that currently exists in 5e, as far as I know, so I don't really have a template I can use as a starting point to create it.
Any help that you are willing to give me will be most gratefully appreciated.
Hi Guys,
I have been thinking of creating a new creature for my game, but I am not sure what kind if would be. The game that this creature is going to exist in is a 5e custom game, that is based entirely within the Feywild (the plane of Faerie). All players, NPCs and so on are going to be Fey or Faeries of various types. The creature will be called Tatterdemalion and physically is appears to be an article of clothing. Tatterdemalion has two forms. A physical form and a none physical form, which it seems unwilling, or unable to take at this point, perhaps because it is so old, or perhaps for reasons that are entirely it's own.
Here are the thoughts that I have for this creature.
First Form: A beautiful dress
In this form, Tatterdemalion appears as a dress of unearthly beauty and craftsmanship. It seems to have been woven from the most beautiful cloth, stitched together with precious metals so finely beaten, that one could mistake them for the highest quality silk threads and its patterns are continually moving and shimmering with magic.
When touched in this form, Tatterdemalion pulsates with warm, welcoming energy, that wraps around you like a hug made out of unconditional love and whispers into your mind, such finely crafted affirmations, that it becomes hard to resist. You must have it; you must possess it, you must put it on because it needs you and the longer you hold it, or touch it or look at it, the more confident you become that fate meant you have it.
Eventually; if you look at or touch, or pay attention to Tatterdemalion, in any way, for long enough, you will do anything - lie, cheat, steal, kill, sell your firstborn child, just for the chance to put it on.
Its a trap
Despite appearances, Tatterdemalion is not an article of clothing, magical or otherwise. It is, in fact, a very ancient form of Fey, that is so old, not even the greatest Archfey know for sure when it came into being because it has just always existed. However, it is believed that Tatterdemalion was created by the first wild magic surge that marked the creation of plane of Faerie, and that it came into being fully formed and did not age after that. Some have speculated that Tatterdemalion is the living consciousness of the Feywild, through which it (the Feywild) thinks and remembers and dreams.
In the very beginning, Tatterdemalion existed as diaphanous energy, spread out across and intertwined with the entire plane of Faerie. As it dreamed, the magic from which it was itself born, brought its dreams to life as living creations - the first of what we have come to know as the Fey. Eventually, though, it chose an aspect of the parent from which it was created and took on a physical form, that was bound and shaped by its own creative magic.
Why Tatterdemalion chose to commit itself to a physical form is the subject of much speculation amongst the Fey, and few agree on a reason. The truth is that the mind or intentions of such a being can not be easily discerned, and probably its reasons for choosing such a form, are quite simply beyond the comprehension of mortal beings. Even ones that can live many lifetimes, like the Fey. There is one thing that all Fey agree on, however; Tatterdemalion is significantly limited by its physical form and is slowly dying from the exhortation of maintaining its memories and dreams. To support and extend its life, Tatterdemalion has created the illusion of the beautiful dress, that must be worn at all costs. It uses this illusion to trick its victims into putting it on and then uses them as a kind of magical life support, draining away all their energy, until they disappear, like dust in the wind.
Then Tatterdemalion will lay its trap once more, and ensnare a new victim, and the process begins all over again.
SubForm: A worn, tattered dress
The physical appearance of Tatterdemalion seems to be tied to the virility of its host. When the host is first acquired, and they full of strength, energy, and passion, Tatterdemalion looks beautiful, as described above. However, as Tatterdemalion uses up its host's life force, it begins to age. Just before its host vanishes entirely from the world, Tatterdemalion looks worn and dishevelled, tattered and torn. All its beauty is gone, and it seems as though a rag, held together by force of will alone.
It might be a trap, but it doesn't give without taking
Once Tatterdemalion has acquired a host, it is capable of using its illusion magic to transform even the most hideous of beings into ethereal beauty. It can also use its creation/transformation/transmutation magic to bring its hosts wishes, dreams and desires to life. In short, although it uses its host until there is nothing of them left, for as long as its host exists, Tatterdemalion gives them all they could have ever dreamed of.
The most dangerous phase
After its host has vanished, Tatterdemalion is at its most vulnerable and also its most dangerous. It will grab onto anything or anyone with a strong enough life force to sustain it, and a will, weak enough for it to overpower, and then drain them of all substance. It will do this until it has acquired enough life energy, to create the illusion of the beautiful dress, set its trap and ensnare a new long-term host.
One last thing
There is only one Tatterdemalion. However, each host Tatterdemalion takes goes by that name; so, to the world at large, it appears there are many.
So that's all I have for now!
That's it guys, that is all the thoughts and ideas I had for this creature. Despite having this idea, though, I am unsure how to properly implement it.
Do you have any hints or tips on how I can make this custom creature, what kind of powers, or magic I should give it, that will allow it to have the type of feel, described above, an how I can correctly balance its stats? I am really struggling with this because it is an entirely custom creature that is not based on anything that currently exists in 5e, as far as I know, so I don't really have a template I can use as a starting point to create it.
Any help that you are willing to give me will be most gratefully appreciated.
Thanks
Foxes
A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.
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