Enemy Basics

Hellbeasts: Though the barrier between our worlds has grown thin, residents of the demon realm cannot directly pass through it. That doesn’t stop them from trying, though, and Hellbeasts are formed when enough demonic energy has leaked through into the physical realm. Each Hellbeast is a little different from the last, but they’re always creatures of power, chaos, and hunger. Hellbeasts appear in a blast of fire, pre-empted by a telltale yellow glow and the sparking of red lightning. Once formed, the mindless beasts lash out at their surroundings, with no apparent goal or path. Traditional weapons can defeat a Hellbeast, but their hide tends to be very tough, and their lurching movements can make them a surprisingly difficult target to hit. Fortunately and unfortunately, these creatures appear frequently enough that our champions will have plenty of time to practice fighting them.

Berserkers: While Hellbeasts are singular events formed from multiple misguided attempts to break through the barrier, Berserkers are created intentionally, though what purpose these malformed humans might serve is unknown. Over the course of days or weeks, a demon can slowly channel their energy into an unwitting host, slowly destabilizing their emotions and sanity. When a threshold is reached, the energy finally takes on a physical form, corrupting and twisting the victim into a Berserker. Their mind fragmented and overwhelmed by demonic impulses, Berserkers mostly retain their human appearance, albeit with some obvious demonic alterations and a telltale red glow. Depending on the power channeled into them and the person’s original nature, a Berserker might cause massive amounts of damage in a fit of rage or attempt to seek out specific victims to kill, ****, or cannibalize. Unlike Hellbeasts, who attack aimlessly and make little attempt to protect themselves, Berserkers can be surprisingly crafty, and might run away from a fight or try to lead their foes into a trap. They always seem to be governed by a single driving emotion or impulse, however, and figuring out what exactly it is that drives a Berserker is often the key to taking them down.

Abominations: What exactly causes an Abomination is unknown, and their effects and powers are the least understood. In truth, “Abomination” is simply a blanket term for any anomaly that doesn’t fit into any other category. Some Abominations are mostly harmless, like The Flesh Grove that grew up near Wattson’s Creek, and can be ignored or studied. Others, like the Cog Titan, are extremely dangerous and difficult to destroy or neutralize. Abominations that aren’t immediately monstrous or threatening in nature have a tendency to go missing shortly after their discovery, and a common theory is that a government agency is collecting them for research.