All posts by Oscar Rios

These strange creatures violate most laws of physics. They existing in a parallel dimension of darkness and possess the ability to briefly manifest in our reality through interdimensional weak points created by sinister magic. They serve the Great Old One Nyogtha, Thing That Should Not Be. Powerful wizards who serve Nyogtha are sometimes taught the ritual needed to open a doorway for a Parcel of Darkness. These creatures then lurk near these weak points, waiting to ambush and attack anyone not directly under the protection of Nyogtha.

The Fallen Arabians
Art by Brad Hicks for the OctoberNomicon Art Contest

These creatures first appear after the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC) during the Second Persian Invasion of Greece. They were once men, conscripted soldiers of the Arabian tribe, and part of the massive army led by the Persian King Xerxes. They were used as fodder, hurled against the Spartan simply to tire the formidable Greek soldiers before more valuable solders faced them. Thousands of these Arabians died in a single morning accomplishing nothing. Their bodies lay forgotten and unburied, fed upon by crows and wild dogs.  But for the Fallen Arabians death brought them neither rest nor freedom. These men are still called to fight and die, only this time by the dark powers of the Elder Goddess Nemesis, and her cultists. Continue reading »

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  Thee, Nemesis, I call, almighty queen, by whom the deeds of mortal life are seen: eternal, much revered, of boundless sight, alone rejoicing in the just and right.

• Orphic Hymn 61 to Nemesis, 3rd Century B.C.

Continue reading »

This creature doesn’t have art yet. You can help and possibly even win cool prizes by making the art yourself! Click here to find out more

These alien being are not native to our dimension dwelling in a shadow realm parallel to our own. They are most often transported into our world accidentally, when a wizard fails in creating a gate, performing a summoning, or in harness the powers of the cosmos. Once trapped in our dimension the Keck has a single option for survival, as it cannot exist long in our environment. The only place it can find refuge is within a living human host.   Continue reading »

This creature doesn’t have art yet. You can help and possibly even win cool prizes by making the art yourself! Click here to find out more

Thee, Nemesis, I call, almighty queen, by whom the deeds of mortal life are seen: eternal, much revered, of boundless sight, alone rejoicing in the just and right.

• Orphic Hymn 61 to Nemesis, 3rd Century B.C.

Continue reading »

La Diablesse by
Ian MacLean

These creatures begin as a normal human woman who are transformed and corrupted by dealings with various dark powers, most often The Black Man, avatar of the Outer God Nyarlathotep.  Their creation follows a dark pact, wherein the woman uses magic to secure the romantic attentions of a particular man. Her wish is granted but with a price. When the object of her affection dies, typically by a tragic accident shortly after her wish is fulfilled, her dark contract is fulfilled. The “accident” is always caused by the malevolent that made the pact; as such beings seldom play fair. The woman is transformed into an immortal creature cursed to lead men to their doom. Continue reading »