How old is the Far Realm?

[Desdichado]

I'll say it, even though it's painfully obvious: You could incorporate the cthulu d20 gods in there.

I had that same thought--Azathoth or Shub-Niggurath from the d20 CoC book would make a great Far Realms "lord."

 

[Aaron L]

It exists beyond time and space!

But seriously, in game? I believe it is as old as the Planes themselves, as old as all of Creation. I believe that the official explanation of the Far Realm is that it's the very edge of Reality, where the Planes start to bleed off into non-existence (Nihilo, or the Outer Dark, in my campaign), and Reality itself begins to unravel and peel apart in layers like an onion.

At least I really seem to recall reading that somewhere. Maybe I've gotten it confused with how I use it in my game, but I'm pretty sure that's the official description of the Far Realm.

And I do have Azathoth and all the other Outer Gods as coming from the Far Realm, beings born at the edge of reality, out of the crumbling edge of Creation.


Out of game, I think it's existence dates from the very last years of 2nd Edition.

 

[Ripzerai]

I can't remember, is the Dark Plea from Cordell's mind from the Far Realm?

No, it has more in common with the beings of Dal Quor (from the Eberron setting); it's a psionic entity connected to dreams.

 

[Prince of Happiness]

Think of an answer that makes your brain hurt just thinking about it. Now imagine it worse.

 

[Sejs]

Any stats?

You know how from the other (aligned outsiders) thread, I mentioned the things that transcend stats?


These are them.


These are beings that piss directly into the face of fundamental laws. They exist on countless planar layers simultaneously and think that sequential temporal existance is a cute concept, but that it'll never catch on. They think causality tastes good on toast.


No. They do not have stats. Numbers are a flailing attempt by tiny minds to bound and rationalize an uncaring universe, and these ... things ... are infinite.

 

[Ripzerai]

Any stats?

There are no official ones, and the arguments against statting Far Realm "gods" are persuasive.

However, Here are some stats for Piscaethces.

The other "elder evils" mentioned in Lords of Madness are:

Shothotugg (Eater of Worlds)
Holashner (The Hunger Below)
Y’chak (The Violet Flame)
Bolothamogg (Him Who Watches From Beyond the Stars)

Not all of these entities dwell in the Far Realm, but they all likely have some connection to it.

Tome of Magic also mentions a few vestiges with apparent Far Realm connections:

Orthos (Sovereign of the Howling Dark)
Otiax (The Key to the Gate)

Vestiges never have monster stats.

 

[Slife]

The Far Realms have no time scale in common with the Prime material. As such, if you go there and come back (if you can come back), you'll be at a completely different time. Past, present, future, ana, kata, or any and all of the above.



Or, to put it in perspective:
The Far Realms is the only thing that might be able to kill Pun-Pun.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Bolothamogg (Him Who Watches From Beyond the Stars)

Not for nothing, but this name bugged me from the first moment I saw it. Not that I have any problem with "Bolothamogg" (though it's not the best Lovecraftian name I've ever heard), but because the grammatically correct title--to say nothing of better-sounding--is "He Who Watches From Beyond the Stars."

I don't care if they follow the laws of mathematics or physics, but grammar is something else entirely.

 

[Particle_Man]

Is there any special connection between the CN outsiders (slaadi lords) and the Far Realms guys? Because it kinda leaves the "standard" CN outsiders without much of a niche, if there is something that is madder and more anti-laws than them. I mean, if the REAL Lords of Madness are out there, then aren't the ordinary CN outsiders just...funky frogs?

 

[Ripzerai]

The Far Realm has nothing to do with Chaos. It is not anti-Law. It operates by rules - alien ones, to be sure, but rules nonetheless.

There is no connection between the Far Realm and Limbo.

While the Far Realm is maddening, I wouldn't characterize its rulers as the "lords of madness." It's not madness to them, after all. Any madness that happens due to their presence is purely unintentional; it's unlikely they even notice it. They couldn't care less about madness or chaos.

The Far Realm has no alignment traits. It is not about Law, Chaos, Good, or Evil. It has nothing to do with any of those things.

The true lords of madness are creatures like the slaad lord Ssendam, or gods like Cyric and Ralishaz. The plane of Pandemonium is all about madness as well - the intentional spreading of madness, the physical manifestation of madness.

Let's not give the Far Realm more credit than it deserves.