Now that we've decided to upload those creatures that had printed stats from these games to the Creature Catalogue, I'm reviving this thread.
Up next...
Cyclops, Desert
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any land
FREQUENCY: Rare
ORGANIZATION: Clan
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Omnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Average (8-10)
TREASURE: M (Q, D)
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 1-6
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVEMENT: 10
HIT DICE: 6 + 6
THACØ: 15
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-8 x 2 or
Weapon
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: L (8’ - 10’)
MORALE: Steady (12)
EXP. POINT VALUE: 420
The desert cyclops is slightly taller than a human and has rough, sand-colored skin. They are
secretive creatures, often persecuted by humans who fear their size and the one large eye which seems to peer into their very soul.
The upper body of the desert cyclops is usually quite muscular, sometimes out of proportion to the rest of their frame. Depending on its chosen lifestyle and habitat, desert cyclops can look extremely different from one another. Some wear animal hides and are covered with combat scars and sandpaper skin, while others dress normally, and do not look like fighters at all.
The only facet nearly identical in every desert cyclops is the large eye. It is unblinking, virtually always sky-blue, and is both the pride and shame of its owner. The eye is considered very beautiful among the cyclops themselves, but others use it as a rallying
point for vilification.
The cyclops do indeed have a special ability with their eye. While looking at a person who is
speaking, they can ascertain if there are any lies being told. If the speaker knows of this power, he or she can try to block it and make the cyclops think that they are telling the truth by making a saving throw against magic.
Combat: Once angered or attacked, the desert cyclops is a vicious foe. A long history of
persecution has left them easy to anger and very dangerous when their ire does arise. They attack by punching with their strong arms, or with a large two-handed weapon with which they get a strength bonus of +6 on each hit. The cyclops are not agile enough to use two weapons at one time.
Occasionally the desert cyclops are seen in armor, which needs to be specially made for their oddlyshaped bodies. However, most do not wear armor, since their naturally tough skin is often as good as any but the best metals.
Habitat/Society: It is difficult to pin down the desert cyclops to any one type, as they live in
many different ways. The most common arrangement is the desert clan. This is a small group,
not usually more than six, excluding children, living as hunters and gatherers in the desert sands. They will move with the weather or as water supplies diminish. These clans are fiercely defensive and usually attack any intruder who does not obey their orders to leave immediately. Some kill anyone for just seeing where their clan is living. These actions help to fuel human anti-cyclops tendencies, which are otherwise largely built upon fallacies.
Other desert cyclops are loners, who live a solitary existence in a rocky cave or in a small building they have pieced together in the middle of some wasteland. These cyclops are also defensive, but some of them begin to crave contact to such a degree that they will talk with strangers instead of attacking or hiding. All desert cyclops speak in the common tongue.
A very few number of desert cyclops have managed to find acceptance in human society, and have pursued careers as any other human would. This is always a tenuous existence which often ends with the cyclops being blamed for some tragedy or murder with which they had no connection. However, there are also stories of Caliphs or other nobles hiring cyclops’ to help determine if their subjects are speaking the truth.
Ecology: The cyclops has very similar dietary needs to that of a human, with one major difference. Cyclops will sprinkle sand on their food in the same manner as humans would use a seasoning such as salt. No studies have been done to ascertain how the sand is digested or if it benefits the cyclops in any manner, although common theory states that it aids in
digestion. There are no records of a desert cyclops actually living off of sand, but it is a popular garnish.
Source: Al-Qadim: Genie's Curse, p. 51.