The Cursed Cold Ones may once have been humans. Once. Now they're translucent humanoid creatures entirely dependant on heat. Any temperature below searing hot causes them to freeze into a block of ice and enter an agonizing state of hibernation.
To counter this, they live primarily in hot deserts, where they're guaranteed long days of extreme heat and sunlight. But desert nights are notoriously cold and the Cursed Cold Ones must find a heat source of risk becoming blocks of ice for the next few hours. Because their bodies are natural heat sinks, their touch is much like the attack of an Ice Serpent, freezing their victims as they drain them of their heat. Even their gaze can cause an enemy to reel with sensations of deep cold.
Tried to get some sketchy shading with this image. Sometimes I really like the scratchy dark shadows I do in my sketchbook.
My first thought when seeing the image was of a race of automatons frozen beneath the earth, slowly melting due to an ambient increase in the temperature from the adventurers diverting a nearby lava flow.
ReplyDeleteOne of the unlucky sods wanders into their hibernating chamber before being snatched up, "Why do you disturb our slumber?"
Creatures that exist solely to steal body heat is a terrific idea. I will certainly use this menace in my future games.
Yes, run with that idea.
DeleteI know I'm late to the party on this one, but I love the artwork here. Reminds me immediately of Mike Mignola's work, in the best way possible.
ReplyDelete