Salamander Napolean
First Post
A list of Fantastical Animals:
I recently had to compile a list of extraordinary animals as background knowledge for a player’s zoologist character. Maybe you could find some use for them. I haven’t worked out stats, just brief descriptions.
Mo-Qui Truth Adder:
A snake that’s poison makes people incapable of lying. The venom is fatal within several hours of the bite, and can only be cured by that snake’s antitoxin. The adder is white with a pattern of blood red lines.
Grease Centipede: (“the Assassin with many legs”)
A three foot long black and gray centipede that fears the light. It sleeps during the day until total darkness and then comes out to hunt. It prefers humanoids and so is a favorite pet of assassins.
Harp Spider:
A giant spider that spins slightly iridescent webs that audibly vibrate when touched or moved by the wind. The spiders in groups of three or more can play strange musics that hypnotize prey. They are very susceptible to sound attacks. Some denizens of the under dark use their webs as sounding alarms.
The Tormented: (Bone Turtle)
A bone colored turtle that has a distinctive groan like a human voice. They prefer to dwell in swamps or grave waters. They are a sign of ill-omen.
Woodwierders: (Tree Children)
Magical raccoons that call young children into the woods to play. These children are rarely seen again, and when they are, they have been left with strange marks. The animals are reported to dwell in secret groves.
Silvered Deer:
Deer with a hoary pelt which makes it immune to any metallic weapons. The males have silver horns and are known to attack lycanthropes on sight.
Slaver-Shark: (the Handsome Beast)
A great white shark with the power to charm and enthrall humanoids who observe it. People become fascinated with the animal and will do unwise things to watch it, such as steering their ships into the rocks in pursuit, entering the water for a closer look, or tossing their crewmen in to lure the beast.
Ghoul Swine: (zompig)
Pigs that have fed of the rotting flesh of the undead become feral and take on the attributes and appearance of undeath. They are not true undead and cannot be affected as such.
Winter Spearhorns:
Born in winter, these Spearhorn Desert Goats, have gray fur and an immunity to cold. Their horns do extra freezing damage. They can be domesticated by humanoids.
Summer Spearhorns:
Born in summer, these Spearhorn Desert Goats have reddish fur and an immunity to fire. Their horns do extra heat damage, They are incredibly feral and usually attack humanoids. Both types mix in a flock.
Cannon Ox: Drum Ox
These are large wild oxen that can make a loud boom like that of a cannon. They can deafen and stun predators with the explosive noise and use it to signal others from the herd. These oxen are often attracted to cannon fire and have been known to wander onto battle fields.
Greater Maliphant:
A large black elephant with slick black skin and red ivory tusks. They can exude a shadow stuff from their hides that allows them to blend into darkness. They are incredibly murderous and clever. Red Ivory is very rare and valuable, worth twenty times what common ivory fetches.
Aquafox:
A river dwelling species of fox. They are clever and are known for disarming hunters’ traps, warning of ambushes, and escaping hounds. The Aquafox’s bluish pelt is a favorite of huntsman.
Soporif Grubs & October Beetles
These bugs contain narcotic jellies in their abdominal sacs. Often consumed by primitives and gourmets.
Greater Glow Worm:
These enormous phosphorescent caterpillars climb trees or crags to pulse with a beacon of light. The females do so to attract a mate; the males of the species being the greater fire fly. From a distance they are often mistaken for lighthouses.
Parchment Moth: (Paper-Fly, the White Admiral)
A type of winged insect similar to a butterfly with dry white wings that can be written on with ink without harming the animal. They are often used to bear or spread messages. The immature parchment moth is the infamous bookworm.
Sleeper Chattel:
These appear to be common herds of wild cattle until one sleeps near them. Then all one can dream of is a cow or bull slowly grazing on barren turf. No rest is gained from such sleep, as the cattle have consumed one’s dreams. Only by leaving their fields of influence can one gain a proper night’s rest.
King Carp: (Gold Fisher, Emperor Ea’s Fish)
Giant golden carp. First known as the dangerous pets of Emperor Ea that he kept in an artificial lake. The greedy tyrant fed them gold coins to conceal from his enemies and the fish grew to enormous size and became ravenous for gold. A king carp in the wild has a sense for gold and will even upset small vessels to get it. It is recognizable by its golden coloration and always contains a large amount of its favorite substance . King carp are sometimes found near the wrecks of treasure ships.
Stilt-Pig: (Catch-Carcass)
Pigs that are specially bred by mages and necromancers to host alien spirits and disembodied souls. They are easy to possess and difficult to escape from. One candistinguish a stilt-pig by its long stick like legs, and tendency to wear clothing. Their abilities are dependant on what spirit is possessing them.
Rumour Crow: (Black Tongue-Wagger, Tale-Bearers' Bird, the Devil’s Own Parrot)
A crow that can mimic human speech like a parrot, but it memorizes hours worth of conversation as opposed to short phrases. It is very difficult to force the bird to repeat or memorize specific things; it acts according to its own whims. Until it speaks, a rumor crow is indistinguishable from the common corbie.
Lornling Leech:
These swamp and river dwelling parasites will affix themselves to humanoids and drain their blood of its sanguineous virtues. A person so afflicted will be utterly passionless and noncombative. It takes several days of recovery and a diet of red meat to return to them to health.
Vengeance Wolves: (Revenant Pack)
No one knows if these animals are a separate species of wolf or common packs acting under some strange influence. If a mortal is consumed alive by these wolves, they inherit his memories and regrets. The wolves will seek out any who harmed or wronged their victim to kill them in a brutal and often ironic manner. Once vengeance has been met the wolves return to a normal life.
Stink-Crabs: (Skunk Cuttlers)
These largish crabs appear fairly mundane until attacked. When badly injured they will explode with a great force, spreading a sticky nauseous foam over a wide area, The stench can only be removed with an oil bath sugar dousing.
Tree Squid:
The most exotic species of land squid. They wait for prey in trees, dangling their long green tentacles like vines. They can spray a cloud of blinding ink-mist when threatened and change their skin tone like a chameleon to blend into their surroundings.
Burrowing Bane: (Common Ground Squid)
These pesky land squid wait it tiny holes or tree hollows for passing prey. They attack with powerful tentacles and, versus larger creatures, will attempt to cover the face for a suffocation attack.
Viger: (St Thormine’s Cat, Apple Cat)
A red and gray striped tiger. Despite its claws and teeth this orchard dwelling great cat feeds exclusively off fruit. According to legend when St. Thormine was about to be fed to tigers, they didn’t attack him. The saint taught them how to eat apples instead. Despite their diet they are still dangerous, especially a mother protecting her young.
Cave Lemmings:
Not lemmings at all, but a subspecies of rat that mass migrate when their population has gotten too large. They start moving like a flood passing through cracks and holes in otherwise blocked passages. Denizens of the underdark sometimes use these animals to harass their neighbors or set off traps before an invasion.
Bloatbeast:
A rubbery skinned mountain goat that is weighed down with enormous amounts of sagging flesh. The animal has the unexpected power make its fat buoyant in the air. When necessary, the bloater expands into a sphere and floats away. It has a special gland the can make potions of levitation. Eating the flesh of a Bloatbeast removes ones hunger but provides no sustenance.
Demon Fish:
A large barracuda-like fish with silvery skin and glowing red eyes. It can swim through the air exactly as other fish swim through water, and is very aggressive. It is immune to fire and is often found in fiery locales, but shows a strange phobia of water. Although not harmed by the substance, it will flee any contact with water.
Weathercock: (Storm Crow)
Gray roosters with a strong electrical charge. Their crowing either summons thunder storms or forewarns of them, depending on which legend you believe. People often place an icon of the weathercock on their roof tops to protect against the ravages of the storm.
Snare Bats:
This spider/bat hybrid trails a long web strand behind itself. In its erratic flight it wraps the snare loosely around its victim and then suddenly pulls it taut. In numbers these bats are quite dangerous and can quickly entangle a group caught unaware. These bats are not nocturnal and rely on the excellent sight of their eight eyes.
I recently had to compile a list of extraordinary animals as background knowledge for a player’s zoologist character. Maybe you could find some use for them. I haven’t worked out stats, just brief descriptions.
Mo-Qui Truth Adder:
A snake that’s poison makes people incapable of lying. The venom is fatal within several hours of the bite, and can only be cured by that snake’s antitoxin. The adder is white with a pattern of blood red lines.
Grease Centipede: (“the Assassin with many legs”)
A three foot long black and gray centipede that fears the light. It sleeps during the day until total darkness and then comes out to hunt. It prefers humanoids and so is a favorite pet of assassins.
Harp Spider:
A giant spider that spins slightly iridescent webs that audibly vibrate when touched or moved by the wind. The spiders in groups of three or more can play strange musics that hypnotize prey. They are very susceptible to sound attacks. Some denizens of the under dark use their webs as sounding alarms.
The Tormented: (Bone Turtle)
A bone colored turtle that has a distinctive groan like a human voice. They prefer to dwell in swamps or grave waters. They are a sign of ill-omen.
Woodwierders: (Tree Children)
Magical raccoons that call young children into the woods to play. These children are rarely seen again, and when they are, they have been left with strange marks. The animals are reported to dwell in secret groves.
Silvered Deer:
Deer with a hoary pelt which makes it immune to any metallic weapons. The males have silver horns and are known to attack lycanthropes on sight.
Slaver-Shark: (the Handsome Beast)
A great white shark with the power to charm and enthrall humanoids who observe it. People become fascinated with the animal and will do unwise things to watch it, such as steering their ships into the rocks in pursuit, entering the water for a closer look, or tossing their crewmen in to lure the beast.
Ghoul Swine: (zompig)
Pigs that have fed of the rotting flesh of the undead become feral and take on the attributes and appearance of undeath. They are not true undead and cannot be affected as such.
Winter Spearhorns:
Born in winter, these Spearhorn Desert Goats, have gray fur and an immunity to cold. Their horns do extra freezing damage. They can be domesticated by humanoids.
Summer Spearhorns:
Born in summer, these Spearhorn Desert Goats have reddish fur and an immunity to fire. Their horns do extra heat damage, They are incredibly feral and usually attack humanoids. Both types mix in a flock.
Cannon Ox: Drum Ox
These are large wild oxen that can make a loud boom like that of a cannon. They can deafen and stun predators with the explosive noise and use it to signal others from the herd. These oxen are often attracted to cannon fire and have been known to wander onto battle fields.
Greater Maliphant:
A large black elephant with slick black skin and red ivory tusks. They can exude a shadow stuff from their hides that allows them to blend into darkness. They are incredibly murderous and clever. Red Ivory is very rare and valuable, worth twenty times what common ivory fetches.
Aquafox:
A river dwelling species of fox. They are clever and are known for disarming hunters’ traps, warning of ambushes, and escaping hounds. The Aquafox’s bluish pelt is a favorite of huntsman.
Soporif Grubs & October Beetles
These bugs contain narcotic jellies in their abdominal sacs. Often consumed by primitives and gourmets.
Greater Glow Worm:
These enormous phosphorescent caterpillars climb trees or crags to pulse with a beacon of light. The females do so to attract a mate; the males of the species being the greater fire fly. From a distance they are often mistaken for lighthouses.
Parchment Moth: (Paper-Fly, the White Admiral)
A type of winged insect similar to a butterfly with dry white wings that can be written on with ink without harming the animal. They are often used to bear or spread messages. The immature parchment moth is the infamous bookworm.
Sleeper Chattel:
These appear to be common herds of wild cattle until one sleeps near them. Then all one can dream of is a cow or bull slowly grazing on barren turf. No rest is gained from such sleep, as the cattle have consumed one’s dreams. Only by leaving their fields of influence can one gain a proper night’s rest.
King Carp: (Gold Fisher, Emperor Ea’s Fish)
Giant golden carp. First known as the dangerous pets of Emperor Ea that he kept in an artificial lake. The greedy tyrant fed them gold coins to conceal from his enemies and the fish grew to enormous size and became ravenous for gold. A king carp in the wild has a sense for gold and will even upset small vessels to get it. It is recognizable by its golden coloration and always contains a large amount of its favorite substance . King carp are sometimes found near the wrecks of treasure ships.
Stilt-Pig: (Catch-Carcass)
Pigs that are specially bred by mages and necromancers to host alien spirits and disembodied souls. They are easy to possess and difficult to escape from. One candistinguish a stilt-pig by its long stick like legs, and tendency to wear clothing. Their abilities are dependant on what spirit is possessing them.
Rumour Crow: (Black Tongue-Wagger, Tale-Bearers' Bird, the Devil’s Own Parrot)
A crow that can mimic human speech like a parrot, but it memorizes hours worth of conversation as opposed to short phrases. It is very difficult to force the bird to repeat or memorize specific things; it acts according to its own whims. Until it speaks, a rumor crow is indistinguishable from the common corbie.
Lornling Leech:
These swamp and river dwelling parasites will affix themselves to humanoids and drain their blood of its sanguineous virtues. A person so afflicted will be utterly passionless and noncombative. It takes several days of recovery and a diet of red meat to return to them to health.
Vengeance Wolves: (Revenant Pack)
No one knows if these animals are a separate species of wolf or common packs acting under some strange influence. If a mortal is consumed alive by these wolves, they inherit his memories and regrets. The wolves will seek out any who harmed or wronged their victim to kill them in a brutal and often ironic manner. Once vengeance has been met the wolves return to a normal life.
Stink-Crabs: (Skunk Cuttlers)
These largish crabs appear fairly mundane until attacked. When badly injured they will explode with a great force, spreading a sticky nauseous foam over a wide area, The stench can only be removed with an oil bath sugar dousing.
Tree Squid:
The most exotic species of land squid. They wait for prey in trees, dangling their long green tentacles like vines. They can spray a cloud of blinding ink-mist when threatened and change their skin tone like a chameleon to blend into their surroundings.
Burrowing Bane: (Common Ground Squid)
These pesky land squid wait it tiny holes or tree hollows for passing prey. They attack with powerful tentacles and, versus larger creatures, will attempt to cover the face for a suffocation attack.
Viger: (St Thormine’s Cat, Apple Cat)
A red and gray striped tiger. Despite its claws and teeth this orchard dwelling great cat feeds exclusively off fruit. According to legend when St. Thormine was about to be fed to tigers, they didn’t attack him. The saint taught them how to eat apples instead. Despite their diet they are still dangerous, especially a mother protecting her young.
Cave Lemmings:
Not lemmings at all, but a subspecies of rat that mass migrate when their population has gotten too large. They start moving like a flood passing through cracks and holes in otherwise blocked passages. Denizens of the underdark sometimes use these animals to harass their neighbors or set off traps before an invasion.
Bloatbeast:
A rubbery skinned mountain goat that is weighed down with enormous amounts of sagging flesh. The animal has the unexpected power make its fat buoyant in the air. When necessary, the bloater expands into a sphere and floats away. It has a special gland the can make potions of levitation. Eating the flesh of a Bloatbeast removes ones hunger but provides no sustenance.
Demon Fish:
A large barracuda-like fish with silvery skin and glowing red eyes. It can swim through the air exactly as other fish swim through water, and is very aggressive. It is immune to fire and is often found in fiery locales, but shows a strange phobia of water. Although not harmed by the substance, it will flee any contact with water.
Weathercock: (Storm Crow)
Gray roosters with a strong electrical charge. Their crowing either summons thunder storms or forewarns of them, depending on which legend you believe. People often place an icon of the weathercock on their roof tops to protect against the ravages of the storm.
Snare Bats:
This spider/bat hybrid trails a long web strand behind itself. In its erratic flight it wraps the snare loosely around its victim and then suddenly pulls it taut. In numbers these bats are quite dangerous and can quickly entangle a group caught unaware. These bats are not nocturnal and rely on the excellent sight of their eight eyes.
