-
NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
Another Creature Catalog query for Dragon? (Pt 2)
- Thread starter BOZ
- Start date
BOZ
Creature Cataloguer
OK, here are your winners! 
What we're going to do is construct the query now - i'll get started on this later today, but you can provide ideas right now. what we need is a paragraph for each one, that briefly describes its appearance, abilities, and some behaviors/tendencies. Some of them are started already, thanks to the kind contributor who first nominated them, while others need to be started from scratch. have at them!
Bionoid - Spelljammer MC9
Clockwork Swordsman - MC Annual 4 (& SCMC)
Dabus - Planescape campaign boxed set
The manitainers of Sigil who spoke with visual puzzles. Might make sense to expand their duties tp places elsewhere as well.
Demarax - Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II
A lizard-like creature with hundreds of tiny crystals embedded in its dark hide. The demarax roams slowly across the outer planes feeding on the spell crystals that are the manifestation of summoning spells in the planes. Highly magic resistant, demaraxes are usually non-hostile, but can defend themselves with their tails, by shooting magic missiles from their three eyes, or by releasing a storm of spell crystals. Although pretty dumb, Demaraxes live for thousands of years and can perfectly recall every conversation they've ever had, making them a potential source of information for planar adventurers
Firelich - Spelljammer MC II
Garmorm - Planescape MC III
A vast floating worm native to the Astral Plane, the garmorm absorbs creatures into it with a song - creatures that fail to resist have their soul swallowed and join the choir of faces that cover its body. They are also accomplished spellcasters from all the souls they've absorbed over the centuries, and have a powerful bite.
Gautiere - Planes of Conflict
The deicide cursed remnants of the Tiere, bottled up within Minethys on Carceri
Great Elder Wyrm - Dragon #94
Linqua - Planes of Conflict
Linqua are the servitors of Sung Chiang, the god of theives from a Chinese mythos. Short squat humanoids tufted with green hair, they recieve the blessings of their creator in clerical spells, the ability to gain a burst of Strength (rather like the Strength domain power) and sneak attack. Despite their divine origin, linquas often escape the service of their master. These rogue linquas often make for powerful clerics, as they become addicted to the divine energy imbued by serving a god.
Mapmaker - Dragon 47
Odd humanoids from Pandemonium who love maps
Moilian Heart - Return to the Tomb of Horrors
A disembodied human heart trailing arteries and veins in a sinister tangle. These undead creations of the necromancer Drake of the Black Academy of Moil remain inanimate until a living creature approaches. Then they drain life force and begin beating, animating those that they kill as Moil zombies (bleakborn in Libris Mortis). Although a molian heart has no physical attacks, it can project a wave of frost at neaby enemies.
Mole Dragon - Dragon 272
Wicked dragonets related to the pseudodragon, mole dragons have thick bodies and short tails. Their claws are huge and adapted to digging through earth and stone, and its hide is encrusted with gemstones. They have no breath weapon, but can summon earth elementals and cast spells as a cleric. They occasionally cooperate with derro and duergar and tend to be dour and sadistic.
Ni'iath - Planes of Conflict
Long, wormlike creatures with vicious mouths and four narrow eyes spaced equidistantly about their heads. Natives of Bytopia, ni'iaths have a peculiar immunity to gravity and no concept of "up" or "down". They have a barbed tail and a special reverse gravity fling they use to propel opponents into nearby objects. Ni'iaths resemble wolves in mentality, hunting in packs, often tiring prey out before closing to attack.
Piranha Bats - Dragon 51
Poltergeist - Dragon #55
Not the same as the poltergeist from the 1e Fiend Folio, but the spirits of chaotic gnomes from Limbo and Gladsheim (Ysgard), I guess they would be greater poltergeists
Rohch - Monstrous Compendium Appendix 11: Forgotten Realms
The rohch is an unspeakable (or at least unpronounceable) crossbreed between a beetle and a wolf. Creepy things.
Stwinger - Monstrous Compendium Fiend Folio Appendix (MC14)
Thrax - Dark Sun, Terrors of the Desert
Tirapheg - Fiend Folio
Utukku - Dragon #89/SCMC
Wastrel - PSMC
Life sucking, raven-like birds from the Gray Waste
Wraithworm - Planescape Monstrous Compendium
Giant snake that can become incorporeal and drain levels
What we're going to do is construct the query now - i'll get started on this later today, but you can provide ideas right now. what we need is a paragraph for each one, that briefly describes its appearance, abilities, and some behaviors/tendencies. Some of them are started already, thanks to the kind contributor who first nominated them, while others need to be started from scratch. have at them!
Bionoid - Spelljammer MC9
Clockwork Swordsman - MC Annual 4 (& SCMC)
Dabus - Planescape campaign boxed set
The manitainers of Sigil who spoke with visual puzzles. Might make sense to expand their duties tp places elsewhere as well.
Demarax - Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II
A lizard-like creature with hundreds of tiny crystals embedded in its dark hide. The demarax roams slowly across the outer planes feeding on the spell crystals that are the manifestation of summoning spells in the planes. Highly magic resistant, demaraxes are usually non-hostile, but can defend themselves with their tails, by shooting magic missiles from their three eyes, or by releasing a storm of spell crystals. Although pretty dumb, Demaraxes live for thousands of years and can perfectly recall every conversation they've ever had, making them a potential source of information for planar adventurers
Firelich - Spelljammer MC II
Garmorm - Planescape MC III
A vast floating worm native to the Astral Plane, the garmorm absorbs creatures into it with a song - creatures that fail to resist have their soul swallowed and join the choir of faces that cover its body. They are also accomplished spellcasters from all the souls they've absorbed over the centuries, and have a powerful bite.
Gautiere - Planes of Conflict
The deicide cursed remnants of the Tiere, bottled up within Minethys on Carceri
Great Elder Wyrm - Dragon #94
Linqua - Planes of Conflict
Linqua are the servitors of Sung Chiang, the god of theives from a Chinese mythos. Short squat humanoids tufted with green hair, they recieve the blessings of their creator in clerical spells, the ability to gain a burst of Strength (rather like the Strength domain power) and sneak attack. Despite their divine origin, linquas often escape the service of their master. These rogue linquas often make for powerful clerics, as they become addicted to the divine energy imbued by serving a god.
Mapmaker - Dragon 47
Odd humanoids from Pandemonium who love maps
Moilian Heart - Return to the Tomb of Horrors
A disembodied human heart trailing arteries and veins in a sinister tangle. These undead creations of the necromancer Drake of the Black Academy of Moil remain inanimate until a living creature approaches. Then they drain life force and begin beating, animating those that they kill as Moil zombies (bleakborn in Libris Mortis). Although a molian heart has no physical attacks, it can project a wave of frost at neaby enemies.
Mole Dragon - Dragon 272
Wicked dragonets related to the pseudodragon, mole dragons have thick bodies and short tails. Their claws are huge and adapted to digging through earth and stone, and its hide is encrusted with gemstones. They have no breath weapon, but can summon earth elementals and cast spells as a cleric. They occasionally cooperate with derro and duergar and tend to be dour and sadistic.
Ni'iath - Planes of Conflict
Long, wormlike creatures with vicious mouths and four narrow eyes spaced equidistantly about their heads. Natives of Bytopia, ni'iaths have a peculiar immunity to gravity and no concept of "up" or "down". They have a barbed tail and a special reverse gravity fling they use to propel opponents into nearby objects. Ni'iaths resemble wolves in mentality, hunting in packs, often tiring prey out before closing to attack.
Piranha Bats - Dragon 51
Poltergeist - Dragon #55
Not the same as the poltergeist from the 1e Fiend Folio, but the spirits of chaotic gnomes from Limbo and Gladsheim (Ysgard), I guess they would be greater poltergeists
Rohch - Monstrous Compendium Appendix 11: Forgotten Realms
The rohch is an unspeakable (or at least unpronounceable) crossbreed between a beetle and a wolf. Creepy things.
Stwinger - Monstrous Compendium Fiend Folio Appendix (MC14)
Thrax - Dark Sun, Terrors of the Desert
Tirapheg - Fiend Folio
Utukku - Dragon #89/SCMC
Wastrel - PSMC
Life sucking, raven-like birds from the Gray Waste
Wraithworm - Planescape Monstrous Compendium
Giant snake that can become incorporeal and drain levels
Aspect of BOZ
First Post
wrote these two up first, since they were in the same book. let me know what you think!
Bionoid
Construct?? Monstrous Humanoid??, CR 10?
These large NG insectoid humanoids were once elves that have been re-engineered for warfare. A bionoid has an iridescent exoskeleton with hard claw-like blades protruding from its forearms and head. It has an insect-like compound eye plus four independently-moving eyes. A glowing circular gem in its forehead, if removed, caused the bionoid to decompose immediately; if crushed, the bionoid is irrevocably destroyed. A bionoid can slash with its 2 arm-blades and slam with its spiked fists, and kick with its heel spurs, making all of these attacks in the same round due to agility as part of a leap attack; it can also constrict in its arms (Str 22). It can also wield a specialized halberd with blades on each end. It can open its chest plates once per combat to launch a fireball-like effect from a special membrane. Bionoids are deeply loners, though they work well with others and like to be productive.
Originally found in Monstrous Compendium MC9 - Spelljammer Appendix II (1991)
Firelich
Undead, CR 12?
A firelich is created unintentionally when a spellcaster is preparing himself to become a lich. Some sort of mishap, usually an accident involving fire, causes the character to become a firelich instead of a true lich. A firelich resembles a huge comet of flame, with a skull-like face locked in a perpetual scream on the front of the fireball. A firelich spends its existence in excruciating pain, for which it can only find temporary relief by destroying other things. Fireliches look for large flammable objects, such as ships or wooden buildings, and dives into them at high speed. It screams constantly in pain, causing anything looking at it to make a Will save or become frightened. A firelich has turn resistance and spell resistance, but is unable to cast spells and make no attempt to communicate beyond screaming.
Originally found in Monstrous Compendium MC9 - Spelljammer Appendix II (1991)
Bionoid
Construct?? Monstrous Humanoid??, CR 10?
These large NG insectoid humanoids were once elves that have been re-engineered for warfare. A bionoid has an iridescent exoskeleton with hard claw-like blades protruding from its forearms and head. It has an insect-like compound eye plus four independently-moving eyes. A glowing circular gem in its forehead, if removed, caused the bionoid to decompose immediately; if crushed, the bionoid is irrevocably destroyed. A bionoid can slash with its 2 arm-blades and slam with its spiked fists, and kick with its heel spurs, making all of these attacks in the same round due to agility as part of a leap attack; it can also constrict in its arms (Str 22). It can also wield a specialized halberd with blades on each end. It can open its chest plates once per combat to launch a fireball-like effect from a special membrane. Bionoids are deeply loners, though they work well with others and like to be productive.
Originally found in Monstrous Compendium MC9 - Spelljammer Appendix II (1991)
Firelich
Undead, CR 12?
A firelich is created unintentionally when a spellcaster is preparing himself to become a lich. Some sort of mishap, usually an accident involving fire, causes the character to become a firelich instead of a true lich. A firelich resembles a huge comet of flame, with a skull-like face locked in a perpetual scream on the front of the fireball. A firelich spends its existence in excruciating pain, for which it can only find temporary relief by destroying other things. Fireliches look for large flammable objects, such as ships or wooden buildings, and dives into them at high speed. It screams constantly in pain, causing anything looking at it to make a Will save or become frightened. A firelich has turn resistance and spell resistance, but is unable to cast spells and make no attempt to communicate beyond screaming.
Originally found in Monstrous Compendium MC9 - Spelljammer Appendix II (1991)
Shade
Monster Junkie
Great Elder Wyrm
Dragon, CR 21
Incredibly ancient, distant relatives of dragonkind that are headed towards extinction. They have an incredible wealth of knowledge, but rarely share it with other species. Abilities include a poisonous cloud breath weapon that does lingering Con damage and may suffocate those caught within, regeneration, and all the Extraordinary abilities common to true dragons. Each wyrm has a weak spot in its ancient hide, however, increasing the crit multiplier of slashing or piercing weapons that score a natural 20.
Utukku
Outsider, CR 9
Vicious, territorial, predatory fiends native to the great ash deserts of Carceri. They prey on other fiends and take no part in fiendish conflicts such as the Blood War. An utukku looks like a 12-foot-tall lion-headed humanoid, with long quills rather than a mane. Its body is covered in brick-red scales. In addtion to its potent spell-like abilities, an utukku can supernaturally sow dicord among its foes, and it is immune to all divination effects.
Dragon, CR 21
Incredibly ancient, distant relatives of dragonkind that are headed towards extinction. They have an incredible wealth of knowledge, but rarely share it with other species. Abilities include a poisonous cloud breath weapon that does lingering Con damage and may suffocate those caught within, regeneration, and all the Extraordinary abilities common to true dragons. Each wyrm has a weak spot in its ancient hide, however, increasing the crit multiplier of slashing or piercing weapons that score a natural 20.
Utukku
Outsider, CR 9
Vicious, territorial, predatory fiends native to the great ash deserts of Carceri. They prey on other fiends and take no part in fiendish conflicts such as the Blood War. An utukku looks like a 12-foot-tall lion-headed humanoid, with long quills rather than a mane. Its body is covered in brick-red scales. In addtion to its potent spell-like abilities, an utukku can supernaturally sow dicord among its foes, and it is immune to all divination effects.
Aspect of BOZ
First Post
thanks!
here's 3 more, all from the same book as well:
(do spell crystals appear anywhere in 3E, or do we need to introduce this concept?)
Demarax
Outsider (lawful), CR 2?
This LN lizard-like creature has hundreds of tiny crystals embedded in its dark hide. The demarax roams slowly across the Outlands and lawful planes feeding on the spell crystals, which are the manifestation of summoning spells in the planes. Highly resistant to spells, demaraxes are usually non-hostile (although it might attack someone carrying a spell crystal), but can defend themselves by slamming with their tails, by shooting magic missiles from their three eyes, or by releasing a storm of spell crystals (each of which causes a random magical effect). Although pretty dumb, demaraxes live for thousands of years and can perfectly recall every conversation they've ever had, making them a potential source of information for planar adventurers.
Originally found in Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II (1995)
Wastrel
Magical Beast (extraplanar)?, CR 1?
These cunning raven-like birds scavenge the most inhospitable reaches of the outer planes, like originating from the Gray Waste of Hades. It looks like a perfectly normal bird. A flock of wastrels attacks a party of travelers, hoping to taste their blood; a successful attack established a link between a wastrel and its victim, and the bird flies away to hide within 300 feet. This link allows a wastrel to cause 1 point of ability damage to each ability score per day, causing death when any reaches 0. The link severs if the victim moves more than a mile away and the ability damage doesn’t heal while the link is active.
Originally found in Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II (1995)
Wraithworm
Magical Beast (extraplanar)?, CR 3?
This Large, magical snake is most common on Carceri and Arborea, and hunts in deserts and wastelands. This powerful serpent has coal-black scales with a diamond pattern of dark purple bands running down its back; bright green, glowing eyes; and sharp, bony spikes along its spine. These slow-moving snakes strike with blinding speed, and their bite deals 1d2 negative levels per hit, also poisoning the victim with an icy-cold venom. A wraithworm can assume an incorporeal wraithform to move around easier. The snake also has a paralyzing gaze. It has resistance to both cold and negative energy.
Originally found in Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II (1995)
here's 3 more, all from the same book as well:
(do spell crystals appear anywhere in 3E, or do we need to introduce this concept?)
Demarax
Outsider (lawful), CR 2?
This LN lizard-like creature has hundreds of tiny crystals embedded in its dark hide. The demarax roams slowly across the Outlands and lawful planes feeding on the spell crystals, which are the manifestation of summoning spells in the planes. Highly resistant to spells, demaraxes are usually non-hostile (although it might attack someone carrying a spell crystal), but can defend themselves by slamming with their tails, by shooting magic missiles from their three eyes, or by releasing a storm of spell crystals (each of which causes a random magical effect). Although pretty dumb, demaraxes live for thousands of years and can perfectly recall every conversation they've ever had, making them a potential source of information for planar adventurers.
Originally found in Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II (1995)
Wastrel
Magical Beast (extraplanar)?, CR 1?
These cunning raven-like birds scavenge the most inhospitable reaches of the outer planes, like originating from the Gray Waste of Hades. It looks like a perfectly normal bird. A flock of wastrels attacks a party of travelers, hoping to taste their blood; a successful attack established a link between a wastrel and its victim, and the bird flies away to hide within 300 feet. This link allows a wastrel to cause 1 point of ability damage to each ability score per day, causing death when any reaches 0. The link severs if the victim moves more than a mile away and the ability damage doesn’t heal while the link is active.
Originally found in Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II (1995)
Wraithworm
Magical Beast (extraplanar)?, CR 3?
This Large, magical snake is most common on Carceri and Arborea, and hunts in deserts and wastelands. This powerful serpent has coal-black scales with a diamond pattern of dark purple bands running down its back; bright green, glowing eyes; and sharp, bony spikes along its spine. These slow-moving snakes strike with blinding speed, and their bite deals 1d2 negative levels per hit, also poisoning the victim with an icy-cold venom. A wraithworm can assume an incorporeal wraithform to move around easier. The snake also has a paralyzing gaze. It has resistance to both cold and negative energy.
Originally found in Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II (1995)
Aspect of BOZ
First Post
if anyone would care to help me out, where i most need help is the creatures from Dragon. i have access to the rest of the sources, and will try to flesh out the remaining monsters tonight and tomorrow.
help with these would be appreciated (creature type and CR suggestions needed as well):
help with these would be appreciated (creature type and CR suggestions needed as well):
BOZ said:
Shade
Monster Junkie
Mapmaker
Outsider, CR 7
A mapmaker looks like an overgrown bipedal weasel covered in reptilian scales, with multifaceted eyes, a protruding sucker mouth, and a webbed hollow in its back. The outsiders hail from Pandemonium. They are accomplished mapmakers (although their maps may be intentionally false) and revel in stealing the maps of others. Its powers include shimmering wings which can cause paralysis or mild insanity, some roguelike abilities, improved grab and extended reach with the tail, and psionics.
Outsider, CR 7
A mapmaker looks like an overgrown bipedal weasel covered in reptilian scales, with multifaceted eyes, a protruding sucker mouth, and a webbed hollow in its back. The outsiders hail from Pandemonium. They are accomplished mapmakers (although their maps may be intentionally false) and revel in stealing the maps of others. Its powers include shimmering wings which can cause paralysis or mild insanity, some roguelike abilities, improved grab and extended reach with the tail, and psionics.
Shade
Monster Junkie
Piranha Bats - Dragon 51
Swarm of Animals, CR 3-4
These bats look like their typical cousins, except for an extended jaw full of razor-sharp teeth. They have the blindsense and wounding ability of typical bat swarms. They flee from magical light and are particularly susceptible to slow and sleep spells.
(Note that almost all of this critter's abilities were essentially to create a swarm; assigning the swarm subtype makes them rather dull).
Poltergeist - Dragon #55
Outsider, CR 6
These spirits of chaotic gnomes from Limbo and Ysgard come to the Material Plane to spread chaos and pull jokes and tricks. They possess powerful illusion-related spell-like abilities, immunity to cold, mind-affecting spells and abilities, and resistance to fire and electricity. They appear as shadowy gnomes in dark cloaks, usually wielding spears, short swords, slings, or clubs.
(Note that they could also possibly be extraplanar fey).
Swarm of Animals, CR 3-4
These bats look like their typical cousins, except for an extended jaw full of razor-sharp teeth. They have the blindsense and wounding ability of typical bat swarms. They flee from magical light and are particularly susceptible to slow and sleep spells.
(Note that almost all of this critter's abilities were essentially to create a swarm; assigning the swarm subtype makes them rather dull).
Poltergeist - Dragon #55
Outsider, CR 6
These spirits of chaotic gnomes from Limbo and Ysgard come to the Material Plane to spread chaos and pull jokes and tricks. They possess powerful illusion-related spell-like abilities, immunity to cold, mind-affecting spells and abilities, and resistance to fire and electricity. They appear as shadowy gnomes in dark cloaks, usually wielding spears, short swords, slings, or clubs.
(Note that they could also possibly be extraplanar fey).
Aspect of BOZ
First Post
could you post or send me the stats for those last two? the mapmaker looks fine as-is. is the mole dragon's description good, and do we need to include CR for it or will it be variable by age category?
Similar Threads
