Infernals (ExpenseRPG Supernatural Life Form) Supernatural Entities

Definition: Infernals are supernatural entities originating from the R’lyeh manifold, a non-temporal plane of reality. They manifest as either simple, machine-bound consciousnesses or sentient beings with alien physiology (reptiloid, cephalopod, insectoid forms). Their intelligence and motives are fundamentally alien, shaped by R’lyeh’s formless, eternal nature.

Origin & Nature: - R’lyeh: The plane of existence from which Infernals hail. It has no concept of time or linear causality, and its reality is perceived as an "echo of telepathic thought." Entry into R’lyeh by humans or Infernals results in madness, as the mind cannot reconcile its logic with the plane’s abstract, infinite structure. - Manifestation: Infernals cross into the Material Plane through magical or mechanical conduits, often inhabiting machinery or adopting humanoid forms. Their existence is a liminal state between R’lyeh and the material world.

Key Traits: - Magic Affinity: Naturally adept at Artist-style magic (illusion, deception, sensory manipulation) but struggle with other magical schools. - Reality Perception: View the material plane as a fragmented, chaotic reflection of R’lyeh’s truths. This leads to alien logic, temporal disorientation, and an inability to grasp human emotions or cultural norms. - Communication Barriers: Their alien thought processes create profound misunderstandings, even with shared language. Telepathy often results in muddled, abstract imagery.

Types: - Simple Infernals: Reside in complex machinery, performing repetitive tasks with eerie efficiency. Their modifications to machines are often bizarre or dangerous. - Sentient Infernals: Take humanoid forms and engage in material plane affairs, driven by motives incomprehensible to humans. They may pursue goals tied to R’lyeh’s principles, such as formlessness or eternal cycles.

Abilities & Limitations: - Advantages: Innate mastery of illusion magic, enhanced perception of reality’s "underlying structure," and mechanical intuition. - Disadvantages: Vulnerable to Abjuration magic and blessed items, which force temporary retreat. Struggle with non-Artist magic, emotional intelligence, and human-centric concepts like urgency or propriety.

Societal Impact: - Integration Challenges: Infernals face legal ambiguity, social alienation, and professional ostracization due to their alien motivations and communication barriers. - Thematic Role: Represent cosmic horror in everyday life—beings of incomprehensible motives struggling to function in human society. Their existence raises questions about identity, purpose, and the nature of reality itself.

Roleplay Themes: Conflict between alien imperatives and human relationships, the isolation of non-human cognition, and the ethical dilemmas of coexistence with beings whose goals defy comprehension.

Story Hooks: - A machine-bound infernal’s "improvements" to a system trigger catastrophic side effects. - A sentient infernal’s business dealings inadvertently threaten the material plane’s stability. - A quest to decode an infernal’s cryptic messages about R’lyeh’s "true nature." - A group of infernals attempting to reconcile their alien logic with human morality.

Note: Infernals are both a threat and a mystery, their presence a reminder that the material plane is but a fleeting echo of something far greater—and far stranger.