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“Scream Engines: When Monsters, Inc. Meets the Monster Manual”

Every so often in the world of miniature painting, inspiration strikes from the most unexpected of places. A few weeks ago, I came across a Facebook post where someone had taken a Goristro miniature — that hulking fiendish brute from the Abyss — and painted it like Sully from Monsters, Inc. The result was nothing short of brilliant: the horrifying demon bull transformed into a shaggy, blue-and-purple sweetheart who looked like he just wanted to clock in for his shift scaring… or perhaps entertaining… the local children of Waterdeep.

Naturally, I couldn’t leave that idea alone.

I decided to take the concept a step further and create his one-eyed mechanical companion. I found a 3D file for a Monodrone — those floating modrons of pure geometric logic — and scaled it up to Large size. A little bit of primer, a lot of yellow paint, and a dash of green for that familiar eyeball, and suddenly, my Goristro Sully had a best friend: a smiling, wide-eyed Monodrone Mike Wazowski.

From the Abyss to the Laugh Factory

In D&D terms, this unlikely duo practically writes its own story. Picture it: a Goristro who has somehow broken free from demonic rage through the power of friendship, and a Monodrone whose programming has glitched so badly that it believes laughter fuels the multiverse. Together, they roam the planes not to destroy, but to “harvest emotional energy” through laughter and joy.

The Goristro — perhaps once a summoned weapon of a mad cult — has found a new purpose protecting his tiny mechanical partner. The Monodrone, now running on a corrupted form of modron logic, calculates that laughter produces a more sustainable source of planar energy than fear or pain. Their joint mission? To bring balance to the cosmic emotional spectrum.

In the taverns of Sigil or the streets of Mechanus, they are whispered about as the Scream Engines, plane-hopping entities who bring joy where despair reigns — and occasionally leave a few broken doors in their wake.

Using the Pair in Your Game

If you’re a Dungeon Master, this duo is a goldmine for both humor and heart. Here are a few ways you could drop them into your campaign:

1. The Planar Odd Couple.
The players encounter the pair in a bustling city market — the Goristro trying to gently hand out stuffed toys while the Monodrone enthusiastically measures the “laughter quotient” of children. They’re being hunted by both devils and modrons for “defecting from proper alignment.” Do the players help them escape or turn them in?

2. The Dungeon of Giggles.
Deep within an abandoned temple, the adventurers hear the echoes of monstrous roars followed by… laughter? Inside, the “Scream Engines” have turned the ruin into a bizarre playground of harmless illusions, where joy energy keeps malevolent spirits at bay. However, the magic is destabilizing — and the players must help the duo before the laughter fades and the demons return.

3. A Surprise Boss Fight.
Sometimes, even reformed monsters have bad days. Perhaps the Monodrone is damaged, reverting to logical modron behavior — calculating that only fear can properly power the planar grid. The Goristro, desperate to protect his friend, becomes an accidental boss encounter, battling the heroes until they find a way to “fix” the Monodrone’s code.

Hobby Spotlight: The Joy of Reimagining

At its heart, this project captures what makes miniature painting so rewarding — the freedom to reinterpret monsters, villains, and heroes through your own imagination. Taking something as fiendish as a Goristro and reimagining it as Sully isn’t just funny; it’s a statement about how storytelling and creativity can transform even the darkest corners of the Monster Manual.

So whether you’re painting your next mini as a terrifying abyssal beast or a misunderstood plush giant, remember: even the fiercest monsters can have a little heart — and a bright yellow friend floating by their side.

Thanks for reading. Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy!!