Eldritch magic, what exactly is it?

[Katana_Geldar]

Okay, so I am running 4E Tomb of Horrors and was describing the various runes in the Garden of the Graves left by Acererak, Eldritch runes. Then a player asked me what Eldritch magic was and I had to tell him I didn't know.

So what is it? From what I can gather it involves demons, but I can find hardly anything to describe it. Can anyone recomend me some sources?

[Xuc Xac]

Check the dictionary. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/eldritch)

[Sindri]

Wiktionary said:
"Adjective

eldritch (comparative more eldritch, superlative most eldritch)

1. unearthly, alien, supernatural, weird, spooky, eerie"


"Eldrich," especially in the context of the flavor text of a module put out before there were such things as cohesive, intentionally balanced game systems with every word specifically defined in the manual, is just a description. It has no game effect whatsoever.

[Katana_Geldar]

So there's nothing in terms of lore through the editions of D&D to help me out here?

[Lord_Gareth]

"Eldritch" just means "magical" or "mysterious". The rune is magical or reminiscent of magic; maybe it indicates spellcasting or wizards or something.

[senrath]

Nope. "Eldritch" has no special meaning in D&D, as far as I am aware. It just means what the word normally means.

[Ravens_cry]

It's mysterious.
Terribly mysterious.

[KillianHawkeye]

It's mysterious.
Terribly mysterious.

Its power is equalled only by its mystery....

[Ravens_cry]

Its power is equalled only by its mystery....
. . .And the men who use it.