Octoculodes

The Octoculodes are a mysterious and terrifying group of creatures found within the depths of Planet Eternity’s underground tunnels. These floating, tentacled monstrosities range in size and strength, with some acting as lesser threats while others pose a serious challenge to even the most skilled adventurers. Unlike many of the planet’s other hostile entities, the Octoculodes do not appear to be undead, animal-like Critters nor like other monsters. Instead, they seem to be a native species, possibly adapted to Eternity’s dark, cavernous slug-filled tunnels over millennia.

Speculated Origins and Evolution

The true origins of the Octoculodes remain a subject of speculation, but several theories exist:

1. Ancient Bioengineered Guardians – Some researchers believe the Octoculodes were artificially created by an ancient civilization that once ruled Eternity. Their floating eyes and psychic sensory abilities suggest they may have been designed as sentinels to monitor and control the tunnels, perhaps originally serving to protect the sun-harnessing machines that players now seek to repair.

2. A Natural Evolution in the Depths – Others argue that the Octoculodes are an evolutionary response to the lightless, predator-filled tunnels of Eternity. Over time, their ancestors may have lost traditional eyesight, replacing it with echolocation or heightened magical perception to navigate the labyrinthine underground. Their tentacles and levitation abilities suggest they evolved to hunt and move efficiently in the cramped, gravity-defying corridors.

3. Interdimensional Entities – A more extreme theory suggests that the Octoculodes did not originate on Eternity at all. Their bizarre anatomy and strange behavior hint that they could be extradimensional beings, somehow trapped or summoned into the tunnels through forgotten means. This could explain their unusual ability to detect prey without sight and their other-worldly appearance.

Common Traits

All Octoculodes share certain key characteristics:

• They float above the ground, gliding eerily through tunnels and chambers.

• Their mouths are massive, lined with jagged teeth, making their bite attacks devastating.

• Many of them attack with fireballs, suggesting an innate magical ability.

• They screech upon detecting intruders, a sound that echoes hauntingly through the tunnels.

Known Species

• Blind Octoculus – A smaller, floating blind blob that tracks enemies by sound rather than sight. It lets out a piercing screech before attacking.

• Octoculus and Octoculus Boss – A larger, more dangerous variant with eight floating eyes above its body. These eyes can be destroyed to weaken it.

• Sewer Tentacle – Although not technically a Octoculodes they seem related with their elongated, whip-like limbs of massive, unseen octopus-like creatures lurking in the filthy waters of Eternity’s underground sewage systems. These tentacles hurl fireballs and strike with incredible speed.

Combat Considerations

• Stealth can be effective against some Octoculodes, especially the Blind Octoculus, which relies on sound to detect prey.

• Destroying weak points like the floating eyes of the Octoculus can make them easier to kill.

• Close combat is risky, as their bite attacks can deal massive damage.

The Octoculodes remain one of Eternity’s most enigmatic and unsettling threats. Whether they are ancient guardians, bizarre mutations, or visitors from another plane, their existence raises troubling questions about what other horrors may lurk deeper in the tunnels of this forsaken planet.