D&D 5E Dragonix's Deadly Denizens Volume II is NOW AVAILABLE at DrivethruRPG!

[Nixlord]

Physically, that resembles the umber hulk a little bit, and I believe in the 1E Monster Manual II, they were aquatic umber hulks. Are you going with that interpretation with yours, or is it just a matter of hulking monsters all looking alike to an extent?

Sorry, I was on vacation and didn't notice this until I got back home.

True, I did design this vodyanoy to look slightly similar to the aquatic umber hulk, but my interpretation is closer to its Slavic roots. Here's a section of its description:

"The vodyanoy wields supernatural power over water, calling forth waves and whirlpools to trap its prey and
shrouding the surface in fog to obscure its movements. It can create illusions that confuse and deceive, mimicking the
voices of the lost and the desperate to lure victims to their doom. The souls of those it drowns are not allowed to rest but are
captured and trapped within enchanted jars hidden in its underwater lair, bound to eternal servitude. These spectral slaves
maintain the vodyanoy's realm, act as sentries, and serve as a source of unholy nourishment, allowing the vodyanoy to heal from even the most grievous wounds, ensuring that it can never truly die."

 

[Nixlord]

Deadly Denizens Vol. III March Art Preview #4: Another group of giant-kin is making its return from Volume I—perfectly suited for this month’s theme! These formidable forest giants are fierce guardians of the wild, showing no mercy to those who overhunt, fell trees, or bring fire into their sacred territories.

 

[SkidAce]

Wonder why elf ears?

 

[Nixlord]

Wonder why elf ears?

The artwork pays homage to Wayne Reynolds' 3e forest giant (shown below), known for its elven-like ears and green skin and hair. In my version, however, I've reimagined them with a more sylvan, fey-inspired aesthetic—featuring bark-textured skin, long branch-like limbs, and digitigrade legs to give them a more intimidating, otherworldly presence, and to distinguish them from simply looking like oversized elves.

 

[SkidAce]

The artwork pays homage to Wayne Reynolds' 3e forest giant (shown below), known for its elven-like ears and green skin and hair. In my version, however, I've reimagined them with a more sylvan, fey-inspired aesthetic—featuring bark-textured skin, long branch-like limbs, and digitigrade legs to give them a more intimidating, otherworldly presence, and to distinguish them from simply looking like oversized elves.

View attachment 400395

Great reasoning.

 

[Nixlord]

Deadly Denizens Vol. III April Art Preview #1: Since April Fool’s Day just passed, I thought it fitting to make deceit and trickery the theme for this month. The denizens featured throughout April will be cunning creatures that rely on manipulation, misdirection, mimicry, and illusion to gain the upper hand. Kicking things off is the first art preview—the Nue.

A creature from Japanese folklore, the malicious Nue is a terrifying shapeshifting monster with the head of a monkey, the body and limbs of a tiger, and a venomous serpent for a tail. It is known to bring misfortune and sickness wherever it appears, tormenting and toying with its victims with psychological attacks until they are driven mad.

 

[Nixlord]

Deadly Denizens Vol. III April Art Preview #2: Continuing this month’s theme of deceit and trickery, let me introduce the Infernal Goblins! Naturally mischievous to begin with, these half-fiend (devil) variants are steeped in even greater deception and malice—twisted into cunning, vile foot soldiers often pressed into service by greater devils in the lower planes!

 

[Nixlord]

Deadly Denizens Vol. III April Art Preview #3: Drawing inspiration from 3e’s gravorg, the Nullorax is a bizarre subterranean predator—a nightmarish fusion of giant anteater, dinosaur, and tarsier. It haunts deep cave systems, its stone-like hide allowing it to blend seamlessly with stalagmites and cavern walls. The creature lies in wait beneath clusters of razor-sharp stalactites, choosing its ambush site with eerie precision. When an unsuspecting target enters the kill zone, the Nullorax creeps forward, and once close enough, it unleashes its uncanny power: a focused cone of temporary antigravity projected from its highly evolved pineal gland, hurling its prey upward to be crushed or impaled on the ceiling’s deadly spines!

 

[Nixlord]

Deadly Denizens Vol. III April Art Preview #4: I introduced the Automaton template two issues ago (which featured the art of the Balor Automaton), and now it's time for another set—this time showcasing the art of the fearsome Remorhaz Automaton!

 

[Nixlord]

Deadly Denizens Vol. III April Art Preview #5: A couple of months ago, an overwhelming majority of my patrons voted on having celestial versions of chromatic dragons—so here’s the first one, still fitting perfectly within this month’s theme of deceit and trickery: the Celestial Green Dragon, which also serves as this month’s Legendary Tier exclusive!
This celestial green dragon preserves the cunning and subtlety of its standard counterpart, but channels those gifts toward fostering harmony and protection rather than tyranny and control. While a typical green dragon uses deception to amass selfish power, its celestial form masterfully manipulates villains into unraveling their own schemes while subtly aiding heroes toward triumph. Through careful, unseen maneuvering, the celestial green dragon ensures evil collapses under its own weight, allowing champions to claim victory without ever realizing the hand that helped them.