![[Chourst.png|400]] **Slaad Lord | Lord of Randomness** **Alignment**: Chaotic Neutral **Also Known As**: The Unpredictable, Lord of Randomness **Nature**: Slaad Lord, Embodiment of Chaotic Unpredictability **Home Plane**: [[Limbo]] **Divine Status**: Not a Deity **Affiliation**: The Lords of Chaos **Holy Symbol**: None Established --- ### **Overview** **Chourst the Unpredictable** is one of the mighty Slaad Lords of [[Limbo]], a being whose existence embodies the most capricious and uncontrolled expressions of chaos. Known throughout the planes as the Lord of Randomness, he possesses immense supernatural power yet lacks the ambition, discipline, or sustained interest required to establish a kingdom or command a permanent following. His conduct is governed entirely by the desires of the moment, making him one of the most unpredictable and potentially destructive beings associated with the Ever-Changing Chaos. Unlike the rulers of lawful planes, whose authority is maintained through hierarchy, obedience, and carefully established systems of power, Chourst recognises no responsibility beyond the satisfaction of his own whims. He may descend upon a settlement in a fit of destructive enthusiasm, tearing apart buildings and their inhabitants, only to abandon the devastation moments later because some trivial curiosity has attracted his attention. His violence is not necessarily motivated by hatred, nor does his apparent playfulness signify kindness. Both arise from the same extraordinary indifference toward the consequences of his actions. Chourst appears as an enormous, gangly slaad whose body stands approximately twenty feet tall, with some accounts describing him as slightly larger. His skin is an unmistakable chalk-white, distinguishing him from the coloured castes ordinarily associated with his kind. Despite his awkward proportions, he possesses formidable physical strength and agility, while his extraordinary intelligence allows him to understand the consequences of his behaviour even when he has little interest in preventing them. His other possible forms, if any exist, remain unknown. The Lord of Randomness is frequently mistaken for a mindless force of destruction, but his apparent foolishness conceals a remarkably capable intellect. He can recognise threats, understand complex circumstances, and employ powerful magic with considerable effectiveness. What he lacks is not understanding but sustained purpose. An undertaking requiring prolonged concentration rarely retains his interest, and even a battle against dangerous opponents may be abandoned when a new distraction appears. He is nevertheless sufficiently aware of his surroundings to eliminate or disable enemies who pose an immediate danger before turning his attention elsewhere. Although Chourst spends most of his existence within Limbo, he occasionally ventures into other planes when the desire for unfamiliar experiences overwhelms his preference for the comforting turbulence of his home. Such journeys have brought him into conflict with beings whose commitment to order is fundamentally opposed to his nature. His most notorious excursion carried him into [[Mechanus]], where his presence caused extraordinary disruption and ultimately provoked the intervention of [[Primus, Lord of Mechanus]] himself. Chourst possesses neither the calculated malice of a demon lord nor the political ambitions of a conventional planar ruler. His danger lies in the complete absence of restraint upon his impulses, combined with supernatural powers capable of destabilising the world around him. To those unfortunate enough to encounter him, the difference between curiosity, amusement, and catastrophe may be no more than a momentary change in the Lord of Randomness's attention. --- ### **Domain and Influence** Chourst originates from Limbo, the Outer Plane of unrestrained chaos, where matter and energy exist in a state of continual transformation. Across its immeasurable expanses, earth, fire, air, and water mingle without stable boundaries, forming temporary landscapes that may dissolve as quickly as they appear. Mountains rise from the churning substance of the plane, only to collapse into seas of flame or clouds of elemental debris, while the distinction between solid ground and open emptiness remains uncertain. Such an environment is well suited to Chourst, whose own nature reflects the absence of lasting structure. He spends much of his time immersed in the primordial chaos of Limbo, apparently finding its constant movement soothing. Unlike beings who require stability and shelter, he is comfortable within the shifting elemental substance itself, experiencing no obvious desire to transform it into a permanent home. The turbulence that threatens most travellers provides him with a natural environment in which he can wander without restriction. Although Limbo is the home of the slaadi, Chourst does not claim authority over its inhabitants. The slaad race possesses an unusual hierarchy through which the stronger castes dominate weaker members, but the most powerful individuals may transcend that structure and become unique Lords of Chaos. These beings represent distinct expressions of the plane's nature, possessing extraordinary power without necessarily sharing the ambitions of conventional rulers. Chourst belongs to this exceptional fellowship, although he has little interest in the struggles through which other slaadi pursue influence. [[Ygorl]], the Lord of Entropy, is traditionally regarded as the closest thing Limbo possesses to a supreme ruler, exercising authority through fear and overwhelming strength. Chourst, by contrast, neither desires to command the slaadi nor concerns himself with their disputes. His freedom from obligations is central to his identity, and he is unwilling to sacrifice it for the responsibilities of sovereignty. Unlike Ygorl, whose ever-changing fortress provides a seat of authority within Limbo, Chourst possesses no established residence. He maintains neither a palace nor a sanctuary, and he does not even appear to favour a temporary dwelling. Any location may hold his interest for a moment, but no place has been known to retain that interest long enough to become his home. His influence upon Limbo is most readily observed through the destruction of landscapes shaped by the will of other creatures. The [[Githzerai]], whose disciplined minds allow them to impose stability upon the plane's chaotic substance, have established cities, monasteries, and other settlements within regions maintained through extraordinary concentration. Chourst's very presence threatens these achievements, for the stable matter surrounding him can dissolve back into the primordial chaos from which it was formed. The consequences are particularly devastating when he enters an inhabited settlement. Structures that have endured through the discipline of their creators may suddenly lose their cohesion, leaving the inhabitants exposed to the destructive forces of Limbo. Although skilled chaos-shapers can restore damaged terrain, their efforts may come too late to prevent injuries or the destruction of buildings and possessions. Chourst appears to take particular amusement in these disturbances. Rather than regard the collapse of a settlement as a military achievement, he treats the experience as an entertaining diversion, sometimes plunging through inhabited areas simply to watch the resulting disorder. His lack of malice toward any particular individual offers little comfort to those endangered by his activities, for he is no more inclined to repair the destruction than he is to remain and complete it. Beyond Limbo, Chourst's influence is less geographically defined. He possesses no known territories elsewhere in the planes, and his journeys are undertaken according to passing desires rather than plans of conquest. Nevertheless, the disruption accompanying his travels can be recognised through abrupt destruction, magical instability, and events whose apparent randomness defies ordinary explanation. --- ### **Symbols and Icons** Chourst possesses no established holy symbol, personal heraldry, or sacred emblem. Although he is counted among the Lords of Chaos, he is not a conventional deity and maintains no religion requiring symbols through which worshippers might express their allegiance. His refusal to establish a permanent residence, organise followers, or concern himself with ceremonial distinctions makes the existence of an authorised emblem particularly unlikely. His most recognisable characteristic is his enormous chalk-white form, which distinguishes him from the coloured castes of ordinary slaadi. The appearance is sufficiently unusual that knowledgeable planar travellers may recognise him immediately, although few would regard such recognition as a fortunate event. The white coloration of his skin should not be confused with the existence of a separate religious insignia or sacred colour. It is a physical characteristic of the Lord of Randomness rather than evidence of an organised cult or symbolic tradition. No published description establishes a sigil, runic mark, sacred weapon, or ceremonial object belonging specifically to Chourst. --- ### **Worship and Tributes** Chourst possesses no organised religious following, and his behaviour provides little foundation upon which a conventional faith might be established. He has no consistent teachings, demands no offerings, and shows no interest in the establishment of temples or ceremonies conducted in his honour. His existence represents the pursuit of unrestricted personal impulse rather than a doctrine through which others might be instructed to live. Nevertheless, certain inhabitants of the planes have recognised Chourst as an extraordinary expression of the chaos they admire. Among these are knowledgeable members of the **[[Xaositects]]**, the faction whose philosophy embraces disorder and rejects the restrictions imposed by law and conventional social structure. To such thinkers, the Lord of Randomness demonstrates a form of independence that few other beings can achieve, for he acts without the burden of maintaining institutions or conforming to the expectations of others. This admiration rarely leads to personal association. Even the Xaositects understand that Chourst's unpredictable temperament makes proximity to him extremely dangerous. A creature may attract his interest through an amusing remark or an unusual action, only to become the target of his violence when his mood changes. His appreciation of chaos does not imply affection for those who share similar beliefs, and he possesses no obligation to spare an admirer from the consequences of his whims. Chourst's relationship with the slaadi is equally indifferent. He does not cultivate their loyalty, gather armies, or offer supernatural rewards in exchange for devotion. Although he can summon powerful slaadi through his magic, this ability should not be mistaken for the existence of a permanent court or organised body of servants. The creatures he calls may assist him in particular circumstances, but his broader existence remains solitary. No offerings, sacrifices, prayers, festivals, or religious obligations have been established for the Lord of Randomness. Those who attempt to honour him must do so without any assurance that he will understand, appreciate, or even notice their efforts. --- ### **Clergy and Temples** Chourst maintains no clergy, priesthood, or recognised religious institution. His complete independence from conventional structures of authority is reflected in the absence of temples, shrines, sanctuaries, and permanent organisations established under his name. Unlike powers who cultivate worshippers to extend their influence, Chourst has no interest in acquiring followers whose needs or expectations might become a burden upon his freedom. The Xaositects provide the closest example of a faction whose members admire his behaviour, although they do not constitute a church dedicated to him. Their admiration arises from his apparently perfect independence and the unrestrained randomness of his actions, rather than any relationship of divine service. Even among the most committed adherents of chaos, the dangers associated with Chourst are sufficiently well understood that his supposed admirers prefer to contemplate his example from a safe distance. No established account describes him granting spells to priests, appointing mortal champions, or creating permanent sanctuaries within Limbo. His supernatural power exists independently of devotion, and there is no indication that he desires an organised following through which it might be exercised. The absence of religious institutions is therefore not a sign of weakness or forgotten influence. It is entirely consistent with Chourst's nature, for the establishment of a temple or priesthood would require the very commitment and continuity that he instinctively avoids. --- ### **Powers and Abilities** Chourst possesses extraordinary physical strength, formidable magical resistance, and supernatural abilities that reflect his intimate relationship with the unstable substance of Limbo. His powers are especially dangerous because they do not merely harm individual opponents; they can undermine the stability of the terrain and magic upon which entire communities depend. Even beyond his home plane, his presence can disrupt the ordinary operation of spells, making him a threat whose influence extends beyond conventional combat. **The Dissolution of Form** One of Chourst's most distinctive abilities is the disruption of matter shaped from the chaos of Limbo. Within approximately thirty feet of his presence, stabilised terrain can dissolve and return to its original, unformed condition. The effect does not require him to deliberately attack the surrounding landscape, for it arises from his fundamental nature as the Lord of Randomness. Buildings, roads, and other structures maintained through chaos-shaping are therefore vulnerable merely because he approaches them. This power is particularly dangerous to the githzerai, whose settlements depend upon the ability to impose lasting form upon the ever-changing substance of Limbo. Although their skilled shapers may restore the terrain after Chourst has passed, the transformation can occur too rapidly for the inhabitants to escape unharmed. **The Distortion of Magic** Chourst's presence also produces extraordinary magical instability. Spells cast within approximately three hundred feet of him are subject to wild surges, causing their effects to become unpredictable even when the caster would ordinarily exercise perfect control. This disturbance is not confined to Limbo, for the same influence accompanies Chourst when he travels to other planes. The Lord of Randomness himself is unaffected by the magical instability he creates. Consequently, opposing spellcasters may discover that their carefully prepared magic behaves in unexpected ways, while Chourst continues to employ his own supernatural abilities without suffering the same consequences. **Corporeal Instability** Chourst's physical attacks can produce transformations more disturbing than ordinary injuries. Creatures struck by his claws or bite may suffer a supernatural instability resembling the effects inflicted by a chaos beast, causing their bodies to lose their established form. The transformation threatens the victim's physical integrity and demonstrates that Chourst's power extends beyond the disruption of terrain into the substance of living creatures. Modrons are affected differently. Rather than suffering the ordinary consequences of corporeal instability, a modron struck by Chourst may lose its adherence to the ordered system governing its kind, becoming a rogue modron. This extraordinary effect proved particularly significant during his infamous intrusion into Mechanus. **The Sorcery of Unrestrained Chaos** Chourst possesses an extensive collection of magical abilities suited to deception, destruction, concealment, and the disruption of other creatures. His powers include advanced illusions, confusion, fear, clouds of poisonous vapour, magical darkness, and the creation of dense fog. He can also employ supernatural flames, detect magical effects, and perceive the thoughts of other beings through powerful mental abilities. His magic extends to extraordinary forms of travel, including astral projection and movement through the air by supernatural means. These abilities make him difficult to contain, particularly because he possesses no desire to remain within conventional boundaries or pursue a predictable route. Chourst can also invoke powerful magical symbols capable of inflicting a variety of supernatural effects. His mastery of these abilities reflects an exceptionally capable intellect, despite his tendency to abandon elaborate plans before they can be completed. **The Summoning of Slaadi** Within Limbo, Chourst can open gateways through which other slaadi may be summoned to his aid. His established abilities permit him to call either a powerful grey slaad or a pair of green slaadi, providing formidable assistance when he encounters a threat requiring more strength than he wishes to employ personally. The ability does not indicate that these creatures form a permanent following. Chourst possesses no recognised army or established hierarchy of servants, and the slaadi he summons are not part of an enduring organisation devoted to his ambitions. **Supernatural Resilience** Chourst possesses considerable resistance to magic and ordinary physical attacks. Weapons lacking sufficient enchantment are unable to harm him effectively, while his extraordinary vitality allows him to endure injuries that would quickly destroy most creatures. Like the other Slaad Lords, Chourst benefits from a form of immortality associated with his unique status. He does not face the same ordinary decline that eventually overtakes lesser slaadi, although his continued existence is not necessarily guaranteed if he is destroyed through sufficiently powerful violence. Despite his formidable abilities, Chourst does not ordinarily fight to the death. His tendency to abandon combat should not be mistaken for vulnerability, however, for he is sufficiently intelligent to recognise serious threats and neutralise them before indulging some new distraction. --- ### **Treatment of Followers and Other Creatures** Chourst recognises no particular obligations toward followers, admirers, or members of his own kind. His actions are governed by immediate desires, making any relationship with him inherently unstable. A creature may escape his attention because he suddenly discovers something more interesting, only to be destroyed during a later encounter when his mood has changed. Neither loyalty nor previous assistance provides reliable protection against his unpredictable behaviour. His dealings with the githzerai demonstrate the danger of attempting to interpret his actions through conventional motives. He does not necessarily attack their settlements because he seeks territory, desires vengeance, or intends to weaken their civilisation. Instead, their carefully maintained cities provide opportunities for amusement, and the resulting destruction interests him only as long as the activity remains entertaining. The suffering of the inhabitants rarely appears to influence his decisions. Other slaadi fare little better. Chourst is too independent to concern himself with their ambitions, disputes, or expectations, and he does not seek to improve the circumstances of weaker members of his kind. His position among the Lords of Chaos gives him extraordinary freedom, but he exercises that freedom entirely for himself rather than as a responsibility owed to the slaad race. Creatures capable of appreciating chaos may admire him, particularly those associated with the Xaositect philosophy, yet such admiration is not reciprocated through any established system of favour. No blessings, permanent gifts, or protective marks are attributed to the Lord of Randomness. Those who encounter him must rely upon circumstance, caution, and their own ability to escape his attention rather than upon any expectation of mercy or gratitude. --- ### **Myths and Legends** **The Emergence of the Lords of Chaos** The slaadi of Limbo are ordinarily divided into distinct castes, whose differing powers and appearances establish an unusual hierarchy within a race otherwise devoted to chaos. The strongest among them may attempt to escape these restrictions by exploring a particular expression of chaos so completely that they transcend the ordinary limitations of their kind. Such transformations are dangerous and poorly understood, but those who succeed become unique Lords of Chaos, possessing abilities that distinguish them from all other slaadi. Chourst is traditionally counted as the third of these extraordinary beings to attain the status of Slaad Lord, following the emergence of Ssendam and Ygorl. His transformation established him as the embodiment of randomness, a distinction that separates his nature from the madness associated with Ssendam and the entropy represented by Ygorl. The precise circumstances of Chourst's own ascension have not been preserved, although his existence demonstrates the extraordinary power that can arise when a slaad transcends the limitations of its former caste. **The Ruin of the Githzerai Settlements** Among the githzerai of Limbo, Chourst is notorious for the destruction accompanying his visits to their cities and settlements. The githzerai maintain their homes through extraordinary mental discipline, shaping the surrounding chaos into stable structures capable of supporting large communities. Their cities stand as remarkable achievements of will, preserving order within a plane whose natural substance continually struggles to escape any lasting form. Chourst takes considerable pleasure in disrupting these achievements. He has been known to plunge bodily into inhabited settlements, causing the shaped terrain surrounding him to dissolve into its primordial state. Buildings collapse, streets lose their cohesion, and entire areas become dangerous as the substance supporting them reverts to the uncontrolled chaos of Limbo. The resulting destruction may require the concentrated efforts of powerful githzerai shapers to repair, and even successful restoration cannot always prevent injuries or loss of life. These encounters have become so notorious that the githzerai employ Chourst's name as an expression of unexpected misfortune. When an event arrives suddenly and brings disastrous consequences, it may be compared with a visit from the Lord of Randomness. The expression reflects the helplessness of communities confronted by a being whose destructive behaviour possesses neither an obvious purpose nor a predictable conclusion. **The Visit to Mechanus** Chourst's most infamous journey beyond Limbo carried him into [[Mechanus]], the plane of absolute law and ordered existence. Unlike the shifting substance of his homeland, Mechanus is governed by precise relationships, repeating processes, and an immense structure of interconnected machinery. Its inhabitants include the modrons, creatures whose existence is founded upon their assigned places within a rigid hierarchy. For Chourst, the plane presented a wholly unfamiliar environment whose ordered nature offered countless opportunities for disruption. During his visit, his supernatural influence produced widespread disorder among the modrons, causing many to abandon their established roles and become rogue members of their kind. The resulting disturbances spread through Mechanus, forcing the authorities responsible for preserving its order to undertake the difficult task of identifying and removing those whose behaviour had been altered. The disruption became so severe that [[Primus, Lord of Mechanus]], the supreme ruler of the modrons, personally intervened against the intruding Slaad Lord. Chourst narrowly escaped the encounter with his existence intact, departing Mechanus before Primus could bring him fully to account. Although he survived, the incident established him as a dangerous outlaw within the plane of law, where his actions remained an offence against the order maintained by its ruler. The event remains a particularly revealing example of Chourst's nature. His journey was not part of a campaign to conquer Mechanus or overthrow Primus, but an expedition undertaken through curiosity and a desire for unfamiliar amusement. Yet his presence produced consequences that threatened the stability of an entire region of the plane, demonstrating the extraordinary danger presented by his seemingly aimless behaviour. **The Amusement of Ygorl** [[Ygorl]], the Lord of Entropy, regards Chourst's behaviour with a degree of approval. Although the two embody different expressions of chaos, Chourst's actions frequently produce the disorder and destruction that Ygorl seeks to spread throughout the multiverse. Where Ygorl possesses a more deliberate interest in decay and disorganisation, Chourst achieves similar consequences without planning or sustained intention. Ygorl has occasionally enjoyed Chourst's company, finding his unpredictable behaviour consistent with the broader principle of chaos. Nevertheless, this association should not be mistaken for a permanent alliance or organised partnership. Chourst is too independent to submit to another Slaad Lord's direction, and his interests may change before even the simplest agreement can be fulfilled. Their relationship illustrates the differences between the Lords of Chaos. Ygorl seeks to cultivate entropy, while Chourst simply follows the desires of the moment, allowing destruction to emerge as an incidental consequence of his freedom. --- ### **Encounters with Chourst** An encounter with Chourst is among the most unpredictable dangers a planar traveller may face, particularly within Limbo. His enormous chalk-white form is sufficiently distinctive to be recognised by those familiar with the Lords of Chaos, but the sight offers little indication of his immediate intentions. He may approach a settlement with apparent curiosity, ignore its inhabitants entirely, or begin destroying the surrounding landscape simply because the activity amuses him. Travellers within Limbo may become aware of his presence before they see him. Shaped terrain can lose its stability, carefully maintained structures may begin dissolving, and magic employed by nearby spellcasters can produce unexpected effects. Such disturbances are particularly dangerous in regions inhabited by the githzerai, whose settlements depend upon the continued preservation of matter shaped from the plane's primordial chaos. Even a peaceful encounter offers no guarantee of safety. Chourst may converse with strangers, investigate an unusual object, or become fascinated by some minor feature of the surrounding environment, only to abandon the interaction when another distraction appears. His apparent friendliness does not indicate benevolence, and his intelligence makes him fully capable of recognising attempts to deceive or threaten him. Those foolish enough to attack the Lord of Randomness face an enemy whose physical strength and supernatural abilities are formidable even when his attention is divided. His claws and bite can inflict dangerous transformations, while the magical instability surrounding him makes ordinary spellcasting unreliable. He can summon powerful slaadi within Limbo and employ destructive magic against opponents who threaten his safety. Yet Chourst may also abandon a battle without warning, leaving bewildered survivors behind because something more interesting has captured his attention. Such departures are not acts of mercy, nor should they be mistaken for signs of defeat. They are merely further expressions of a being whose conduct is governed by desires that may change from one moment to the next. For those who survive an encounter, Chourst remains a reminder that chaos is not necessarily guided by malice, justice, or any comprehensible purpose. The Lord of Randomness may inflict terrible destruction without hatred, depart without triumph, and forget the encounter before those who suffered from it have begun to recover. --- ### **Conclusion** Chourst the Unpredictable is the Lord of Randomness, a mighty slaad whose existence embodies the unrestrained and capricious nature of Limbo. Possessing extraordinary magical power, formidable physical strength, and an intelligence concealed beneath his erratic behaviour, he remains one of the most dangerous beings associated with the Lords of Chaos. His independence is absolute, and he neither seeks dominion over the slaadi nor maintains a permanent realm, organised following, or established religious tradition. His influence is most clearly recognised through the destruction that accompanies his aimless wanderings. Within Limbo, his presence can dissolve terrain shaped from primordial chaos, threatening the settlements maintained by the extraordinary discipline of the githzerai. Beyond his home plane, his magical instability can produce equally dangerous consequences, as demonstrated by his notorious visit to Mechanus and the disorder that ultimately brought him into conflict with Primus. Although Chourst is capable of acts of extraordinary violence, his actions are rarely governed by long-term ambition or deliberate cruelty. He seeks only the satisfaction of his immediate desires, abandoning destruction, conversation, or combat whenever some new curiosity captures his interest. This absence of purpose makes him particularly dangerous, for those who encounter him cannot rely upon ordinary motives to predict his behaviour. Among the Lords of Chaos, Chourst stands as a singular expression of freedom without responsibility, power without ambition, and destruction without intention. His existence demonstrates that the most terrifying manifestations of chaos need not possess grand schemes or ancient grievances, for even a passing whim can become a catastrophe when indulged by a being of such extraordinary power.