Far Realm

2021-05-11T03:15:59Z

2601:203:400:CE90:3C17:A624:B360:FDB:

[[File:Far Realm Neverwinter.jpg|thumb|A normal tuesday in the Far Realm]]
The '''Far Realm''' is <s>H.P. Lovecraft's magnum opus</s> one of the more obscure [[planes]] of [[Dungeons & Dragons]], and basically amounts to the obligatory "[[Cthulhu Mythos]] Dimension" for Lovecraftian horrors. It is formally considered an invention of 3rd edition, although Lovecraftian tropes were in D&D lore from the very beginning - like the first ''Deities & Demigods'', for which Gygax's ass got royally sued. It was [[Bruce Cordell]]'s 2e adventure "The [[Gates of Firestorm Peak]]" which named the plane "Far Realm", and since nobody sued him that's what stuck. 3rd edition merely expanded on the details most highly, which, combined with the fact it isn't formally placed on the [[Great Wheel]], is why most consider it a 3e invention.

The Far Realm is generally described as, or believed to be, the origin-point for all [[aberration]]s (although a moment's thought would indicate that aberrations could only be ''touched'' by the Far Realm ''at some point in their evolutionary history'', as native entities actually plane-shifted ''out'' of the far realm drive PCs insane just from being looked at). The exception is in [[Eberron]] where they are instead the creation of the [[daelkyr]] and the equivalent of the Far Realm is called [[Xoriat]].

Ironically, the Far Realm was about the only major plane to survive completely unchanged when 4th edition switched from the Great Wheel to the [[World Axis]]. It is still the mysterious alien realm from which aberrations are believed to spring and about which little is known. It's actually quite important to the [[Nentir Vale]] setting; [[shardmind]]s were born when a cosmological construct keeping the Far Realm at bay was acidentally broken by some of the gods, whilst the energies pouring through that heavenly wound are suggested as one possible source for [[psionics]].

==Creatures from the Far Realm==
[[File:far realm MotP 3e.jpg|thumb|left|The average elf after spending three days in the Far Realm.]]
Please note that many of these creatures have multiple origin stories so whether they are from the far realm or somewhere else depends on what edition and setting you are looking at.
* [[Gibbering Mouther]] (Depending on the edition they may be from the Realm or formed from corpses left near Far Realm portals, or have a completely different origin if this is from before the far Realm was added)
* [[Beholder]] (Mainly in 4th edition)
* [[Neh-thalggu]]
* [[Grell]]
* [[Flumph]]. Not everything from the Far Realm has to be evil
* [[Foulspawn]]
* Kaorti. Accidentally created from a group of wizards that tried to set up a base in the Far Realm and were warped when Zurgurth tried to examine them.
* Uvuudaum. From the [[Epic Level Handbook]]. A bizarre and extremely powerful creature that has 8 human like arms but no legs and a giant spike where it's face should be. Also apparently the overlords of the Far Realm.
* Zurgurth the Feasting Vast. An [[Elder Evils|Elder Evil]] resembling an ocean of flesh.
* [[Father Llymic]], the Alien Thought Given Flesh. An [[Elder Evils|Elder Evil]] resembling a three-eyed scythe-armed ice monster who spreads a disease that turns the infected into similar monsters.
* THOON: Something that some [[Illithid]]s worship but will not or cannot explain what it is.

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Loup-garou

2021-05-11T01:17:56Z

2601:203:400:CE90:3C17:A624:B360:FDB:

[[File:Werewolf DoD2.jpg|right|300px]]
'''Loup-Garou''' is the French name for "[[werewolf]]", but in [[Dungeons & Dragons]], it's actually a related but separate breed of monster. Originating from the [[Ravenloft]] setting (because what else were you expecting?), loup-garou of the [[Demiplane of Dread]] are basically "dire werewolves", being werewolves with the powers to assume the form of a [[worg]] or a human/[[worg]] hybrid. They come in two forms; the Lowland Loup-Garou, which is more powerful than the standard werewolf, and the Mountain Loup-Garou, which is more powerful than its lowland cousin.

These lycanthropes debuted in the Realm of Terror boxed set for [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]], and were then reprinted in the Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendix III. They were subsequently updated to [[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]] in the Denizens of Darkness/Dread duology.

They returned to [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition]] in [[Van Richten's Guide]] to [[Ravenloft]].

==AD&D Fluff==
{{NotFunny Sourcebook}}
[[File:Loup-garou RoT.jpg|right|300px]]
[[File:Loup-garou MC Ravenloft.jpg|left|300px]]
Loup-garous are powerful cousins of the common werewolf. Like most true werewolves in Ravenloft, they can assume three forms: human, man-wolf, and wolf. The human form is completely normal.

The loup-garou always looks the same in its human form. just as it looks the same in its wolf or man-wolf form. In this shape, the beast has a movement rate of 12.

As a man-wolf, it stands about 7’ tall and is extremely muscular. The body is fur-covered and has a short tail, canine legs, and a wolf’s head. The creature walks erect and can manipulate things with its hands. In this form, the creature can talk, although its voice is low and raspy. The man-wolf shape is also faster than its human guise, having a movement rate of 15.

As a wolf, a lowland loup-garou looks just like a worg wolf while its mountain cousins are larger. The creature is swiftest in this form, having a movement rate of 18, but cannot handle tools or weapons, and cannot talk.

Combat: The tactics and weapons that a loup-garou employs in combat depends wholly upon the shape that it employs. The creature needs a full round to change from one form to another.

The human can belong to any character class and may have any experience level, although most loup-garous tend to be warriors or thieves. The experience level never affects Hit Dice or hit points. Werewolves without a character class are treated as 1st level fighters. In this form, the creature depends upon weapons to defend itself.

In man-wolf form, the loup-garou can attack 3 times per round, once with each clawed hand and with a bite. It can use a weapon, but then only gets one attack per round. The creature has a Strength of 18/00 in this form, and gains the appropriate combat bonuses (+3 on attacks and +6 to damage).

In wolf form, a loup-garou can attack only once each round by biting. This form has the advantage of speed and surprise, however. Because of its keen senses, a loup-garou in wolf form imposes a -2 penalty on its enemies’ surprise rolls. The wolf form is also less conspicuous than the man-wolf, appearing as a normal animal rather than a supernatural creature.

In any form, the lowland loup-garou has some natural resistance to magic. Its mental capacity remains the same regardless of shape.

The creature can be harmed only by silver or magical weapons. Silver weapons do normal damage, but magical weapons only do as much damage as their bonus. For example, a sword +1 can inflict no more than 1 point of damage per successful hit, regardless of the damage roll. A character’s Strength bonus does not apply. A blessed weapon (of other specialty weapon with a bonus) inflicts 1 point of damage per hit.

Habitat/Society: Lowland packs wander the Ravenloft domains in search of prey, preferably humans. In the wild, lowland packs often use a cave or ruined building as a den. They also have been known to travel as humans and stay in inns. They hate other lycanthropes and especially wolfweres.

Ecology: The werewolf’s most fearsome aspect is the infection its bite can cause. Any infected human or humanoid can become a werewolf when the condition is triggered (frequently by the 3 days of a full moon). The infected werewolf can be controlled by the true werewolf that infected him. In animal form, the infected creature is a semi-intelligent (2-4), raging beast. It takes a full turn for an infected werewolf to change from man to wolf or vice versa.

Mountain Loup-garou

This larger species is as big as a dire wolf when in wolf form. It can only be hurt by gold or magical weapons. It is more magic resistant than many types of werewolves, and can regenerate 1 hit point per turn. Mountain loup-garous are more likely to hunt alone than other forms of werewolf.

==5E Fluff==
The fifth edition version of the Loup Garou is a more nasty version of a werewolf that turns victims it infects into regular werewolves that can't be cured of their lycanthropy until the Loup Garou is killed.

[[Category: Monsters]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]] [[Category: Ravenloft]] [[Category: Therianthropes]]

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Far Realm

Loup-garou