Inevitable
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, inevitables are extraplanar magical constructs
.
(1987).
The marut appeared in the second edition in Monstrous Compendium Outer Planes Appendix (1991). The marut appeared for the Planescape
setting in the Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994).
The inevitables, including the marut, the kolyarut, and the zelekhut appeared in the third edition in the Manual of the Planes (2001). The quarut and the varakhut appeared in the third edition Fiend Folio
(2003). The kolyarut, the marut, and the zelekhut appeared in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual
(2003). The waste crawler (anhydrut) appeared in Sandstorm
(2005). The inevitables were further developed in Dragon
#341 (March 2006).
The marut appeared in the fourth edition Monster Manual 2 (2009).
, the Lawful Neutral aligned
Outer Plane
. Inevitables are built and programmed in automated factories called creche-forges; one of them, mentioned in the Manual of the Planes
, is called Neumannus (a reference to Von Neumann machines
). Every type of inevitable is designed to enforce a particular type of universal law and will pursue its objective at any cost. In order to fulfill their tasks, they may ally themselves with other creatures or, if necessary, sacrifice themselves.
After they complete a mission, they go in search of other transgressors, some of whom they may have encountered while on previous missions. Unlike other constructs, they may learn from experience and may even develop individual personalities over time. Eventually, they are called back to Mechanus
, where their personalities and knowledge are erased so they can begin anew.
The Manual of the Planes
sourcebook and later the 3.5 Monster Manual
lists the main types of inevitables. They are:
The Fiend Folio
lists two others, which are:
Sandstorm introduces a sixth inevitable:
More information about inevitables can be found in the March 2006 edition of Dragon
magazine (#341), in the article Ecology of the Inevitable by David Noonan.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, inevitables are extraplanar magical constructs
Construct (Dungeons & Dragons)
Within the world of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, construct is a type of creature, or "creature type". Constructs are either animated objects, or any artificially constructed creature....
.
Publication history
The marut first appeared in the first edition in the original Manual of the PlanesManual of the Planes
The Manual of the Planes is a manual for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. This text addresses the planar cosmology of the game universe....
(1987).
The marut appeared in the second edition in Monstrous Compendium Outer Planes Appendix (1991). The marut appeared for the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
setting in the Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994).
The inevitables, including the marut, the kolyarut, and the zelekhut appeared in the third edition in the Manual of the Planes (2001). The quarut and the varakhut appeared in the third edition Fiend Folio
Fiend Folio
Fiend Folio is the title shared by three products published for successive editions of the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
(2003). The kolyarut, the marut, and the zelekhut appeared in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
(2003). The waste crawler (anhydrut) appeared in Sandstorm
Sandstorm (Dungeons & Dragons)
Sandstorm is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Contents:Sandstorm describes how DMs can create adventures and even campaigns set in a desert or wasteland environment. The book details many hazards that are associated with real-life...
(2005). The inevitables were further developed in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#341 (March 2006).
The marut appeared in the fourth edition Monster Manual 2 (2009).
Description
In the standard cosmology, they are from MechanusMechanus
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Mechanus, also known as The Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus is a purely lawful aligned plane of existence...
, the Lawful Neutral aligned
Alignment (role-playing games)
In some role-playing games, alignment is a categorisation of the moral and ethical perspective of the player characters, non-player characters, monsters, and societies in the game....
Outer Plane
Outer Plane
In the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, an Outer Plane is one of a number of general types of planes of existence. They can also be referred to as godly planes, spiritual planes or divine planes. The Outer Planes are home to beings such as deities and otherworldly creatures such as...
. Inevitables are built and programmed in automated factories called creche-forges; one of them, mentioned in the Manual of the Planes
Manual of the Planes
The Manual of the Planes is a manual for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. This text addresses the planar cosmology of the game universe....
, is called Neumannus (a reference to Von Neumann machines
Self-replicating machine
A self-replicating machine is an artificial construct that is theoretically capable of autonomously manufacturing a copy of itself using raw materials taken from its environment, thus exhibiting self-replication in a way analogous to that found in nature. The concept of self-replicating machines...
). Every type of inevitable is designed to enforce a particular type of universal law and will pursue its objective at any cost. In order to fulfill their tasks, they may ally themselves with other creatures or, if necessary, sacrifice themselves.
After they complete a mission, they go in search of other transgressors, some of whom they may have encountered while on previous missions. Unlike other constructs, they may learn from experience and may even develop individual personalities over time. Eventually, they are called back to Mechanus
Mechanus
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Mechanus, also known as The Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus is a purely lawful aligned plane of existence...
, where their personalities and knowledge are erased so they can begin anew.
The Manual of the Planes
Manual of the Planes
The Manual of the Planes is a manual for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. This text addresses the planar cosmology of the game universe....
sourcebook and later the 3.5 Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
lists the main types of inevitables. They are:
- Zelekhut. These represent the ineluctability of justice. They are extremely skilled trackers and usually hunt those who flee to avoid punishment. They resemble mechanical centaurs with golden wings and use built-in spiked chains charged with electricity as their primary weapons.
- Kolyarut. These represent the ineluctability of agreements. They hunt oathbreakers, often assuming humanoid form. Their natural forms resemble humanoids made of black metal and dressed in robes. They are typically armed with swords.
- Marut. These represent the ineluctability of death. They hunt for those who either extend their lifespan unnaturally (such as lichesLich (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the lich is an undead creature; a spellcaster who seeks to defy death by magical means.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
and maybe elansElan (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the elan is a type of fictional creature for player characters to encounter. Players can also use the elan as a player character race.-Publication history:...
) or those who commit extreme acts to keep themselves from death (such as sacrificing hundreds of others to save themselves from a plague). Maruts resemble muscular humanoids made of polished black metal, and typically use their fists in battle.
The Fiend Folio
Fiend Folio
Fiend Folio is the title shared by three products published for successive editions of the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
lists two others, which are:
- Varakhut. These protect the integrity of divinity by hunting down beings who are attempting to ascend to godhood. Should the attempt be successful, however, the varakhuts will defend the new god as part of the natural order, as they are also tasked with hunting down any being who attempts to kill a god. Varakhuts appear as a humanoid-shaped creature made out of metallic polygons, and fight using disintegration beams.
- Quarut. These protect the integrity of space and time, usually against wizards with the power to alter reality with wish spells or time travel. They resemble metallic humanoids made of golden clockwork with hourglasses for heads, and seal opponents in bubbles of slowed time.
Sandstorm introduces a sixth inevitable:
- Waste Crawler (Anhydrut). Anhydruts oppose anyone who attempts to change deserts by irrigation, farming, etc.
More information about inevitables can be found in the March 2006 edition of Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
magazine (#341), in the article Ecology of the Inevitable by David Noonan.