Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
White Dwarf Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Nest
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions, OSR, & D&D Variants
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
EN Publishing
Twitter
BlueSky
Facebook
Instagram
EN World
BlueSky
YouTube
Facebook
Twitter
Twitch
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions, OSR, & D&D Variants
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
You Don’t Have To Leave Wolfy Behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' Your Companions Level Up With You!
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
Epic Monsters: Bunyip
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Mike Myler" data-source="post: 8087411" data-attributes="member: 6726030"><p>Oi <a href="https://www.enworld.org/wiki/mythological_figures/" target="_blank"><em>Epic Monsters</em></a> is headed back down under to take a gander at a mythological creature from the Outback, a mysterious beast of which little is definitively known: <strong>the bunyip</strong>!</p><p>[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]126216[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>The name of the bunyip (also referred to at times as kine pratie or katen-pai) is translated by Aboriginal Australians today as "devil" or "evil spirit", and modern scholars think it has a connection to Bunjil, "a mythic 'Great Man' who made the mountains and rivers and man and all the animals." The Sydney Gazette was the first publication to use the word in 1812 describing it as "a large black animal like a seal, with a terrible voice which creates terror.” Within four decades in Australia (which has a river and town named Bunyip) it became synonymous for imposter, pretender, and humbug (including “bunyip aristocracy” for aspiring aristocrats).</p><p></p><p>What exactly the creature is, however, is an altogether different conundrum. George French Angus concluded that it is a "water spirit" from the Moorundi people of the Murray River "much dreaded by them...they have some difficulty describing it. Its most usual form...is said to be that of an enormous starfish." Not what you think of with these right? <em>The Australasian</em> newspaper in 1851 printed about an outline of a creature called the “Challicum bunyip” etched into the bank of Fiery Creek in Victoria (though it no longer exists), and in 1878 Robert Brough Smyth spent 10 pages of <em>Aborigines of Victoria</em> to ultimately say, "in truth little is known...respecting its form, covering or habits; they [Aboriginals] appear to have been in such dread of it as to have been unable to take note of its characteristics.”</p><p></p><p>Sightings of bunyips are typically one of two general types, with a slight majority claiming to have seen creatures like seals (4 to 6 feet in length with dark-haired coats, large ears, whiskers, and no tail) and a small minority talking instead of long-necked small-headed beasts (5 to 15 feet long, a similar coat and ears, small tusks, horse- or emu-like head, a 3-foot maned neck, and a tail like a horse). What’s not really disputed is that they are amphibious nocturnal predators of lakes, rivers, swamps that can swim very quickly and unleash a terrifying roar.</p><p></p><p>The myth of the bunyip is thought to be from seals that traveled long distances inland via waterways because of physical similarities "the smooth fur, prominent 'apricot' eyes, and the bellowing cry are characteristic of the seal", but that’s not the only theory. Dr. George Bennet of the Australian Museum posited in 1871 that the bunyip might be a cultural memory of extinct marsupials like the diprotodon, nototherium, palorchestes, or zygomaturus (maybe, paleontologist Pat Vickers-Rich and geologist Neil Archbold claimed in the 1990s, because of discovered prehistoric bones or the last specimens of the species). There are other lines of thought too, ranging from distorted remembering of interactions with deadly giant cassowary birds to the Australasian bittern which has a male breeding call described as a low-pitched boom, giving it the nickname the bunyip bird to conflations with European myths (like the Irish Púca.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong><em>Design Notes:</em></strong> There’s a temptation to make this some sort of shapeshifting monster but instead we’ll try to stick to the most physically imposing option: an enormous dog- and seal-like creature. It’s got an unforgiving attack array and the Terrifying Howl, though outside of the water it’s a pretty slow pursuer. Wait until an adventurer is near the water and let them have a taste of that vicious bite, dragging the victim down beneath the water. Let’s take a look at the numbers! The DMG landed at 8.33 and the <a href="http://blogofholding.com/?p=7338" target="_blank">Blog of Holding</a> at 8.5, giving us a pretty dangerous animal with a confident CR of 8.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 26px">Bunyip</span></strong></p><p><em>Huge beast, unaligned</em></p><p><strong>Armor Class</strong> 14 (natural armor)</p><p><strong>Hit Points </strong>150 (12d12+72)</p><p><strong>Speed </strong>20 ft., swim 50 ft.</p><p></p><table style='width: 100%'><tr><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>STR</strong></p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>DEX</strong></p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>CON</strong></p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>INT</strong></p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>WIS</strong></p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>CHA</strong></p> </td></tr><tr><td><p style="text-align: center">23 (+6)</p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center">15 (+2)</p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center">22 (+6)</p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center">3 (–4)</p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center">12 (+1)</p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center">8 (–1)</p> </td></tr></table><p></p><p><strong>Saving Throws </strong>Dex +5, Wis +4</p><p><strong>Skills </strong>Athletics +9, Perception +7, Stealth +8, Survival +4</p><p><strong>Damage Resistances </strong>cold, thunder</p><p><strong>Senses </strong>darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17</p><p><strong>Languages </strong>—</p><p><strong>Challenge </strong>8 (3,900 XP)</p><p></p><p><strong><em>Brave.</em></strong> The bunyip has advantage on saving throws against being frightened.</p><p></p><p><strong><em>Hold Breath.</em></strong> The bunyip can hold its breath for 1 hour.</p><p></p><p><strong><em>Keen Hearing and Smell.</em></strong> The bunyip has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.</p><p></p><p><strong><em>Terrifying Howl.</em></strong> The bunyip can use a bonus action to unleash a terrifying howl. Each creature of its choice within 120 feet of the bunyip that is able to both see and hear it must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the bunyip’s Frightful Howl for the next 24 hours.</p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 22px">ACTIONS</span></p><p><strong><em>Multiattack.</em></strong> The bunyip attacks once with its bite and twice with its slam.</p><p></p><p><strong><em>Bite.</em></strong><em> Melee Weapon Attack:</em> +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. <em>Hit:</em> 19 (2d12+6) piercing damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 17). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the bunyip can't bite another target.</p><p></p><p><strong><em>Slam.</em></strong><em> Melee Weapon Attack:</em> +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. <em>Hit:</em> 17 (2d10+6) bludgeoning damage.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mike Myler, post: 8087411, member: 6726030"] Oi [URL='https://www.enworld.org/wiki/mythological_figures/'][I]Epic Monsters[/I][/URL] is headed back down under to take a gander at a mythological creature from the Outback, a mysterious beast of which little is definitively known: [B]the bunyip[/B]! [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] [ATTACH type="full" width="592px" alt="Bunyip DnD 5e BANNER.jpg"]126216[/ATTACH] The name of the bunyip (also referred to at times as kine pratie or katen-pai) is translated by Aboriginal Australians today as "devil" or "evil spirit", and modern scholars think it has a connection to Bunjil, "a mythic 'Great Man' who made the mountains and rivers and man and all the animals." The Sydney Gazette was the first publication to use the word in 1812 describing it as "a large black animal like a seal, with a terrible voice which creates terror.” Within four decades in Australia (which has a river and town named Bunyip) it became synonymous for imposter, pretender, and humbug (including “bunyip aristocracy” for aspiring aristocrats). What exactly the creature is, however, is an altogether different conundrum. George French Angus concluded that it is a "water spirit" from the Moorundi people of the Murray River "much dreaded by them...they have some difficulty describing it. Its most usual form...is said to be that of an enormous starfish." Not what you think of with these right? [I]The Australasian[/I] newspaper in 1851 printed about an outline of a creature called the “Challicum bunyip” etched into the bank of Fiery Creek in Victoria (though it no longer exists), and in 1878 Robert Brough Smyth spent 10 pages of [I]Aborigines of Victoria[/I] to ultimately say, "in truth little is known...respecting its form, covering or habits; they [Aboriginals] appear to have been in such dread of it as to have been unable to take note of its characteristics.” Sightings of bunyips are typically one of two general types, with a slight majority claiming to have seen creatures like seals (4 to 6 feet in length with dark-haired coats, large ears, whiskers, and no tail) and a small minority talking instead of long-necked small-headed beasts (5 to 15 feet long, a similar coat and ears, small tusks, horse- or emu-like head, a 3-foot maned neck, and a tail like a horse). What’s not really disputed is that they are amphibious nocturnal predators of lakes, rivers, swamps that can swim very quickly and unleash a terrifying roar. The myth of the bunyip is thought to be from seals that traveled long distances inland via waterways because of physical similarities "the smooth fur, prominent 'apricot' eyes, and the bellowing cry are characteristic of the seal", but that’s not the only theory. Dr. George Bennet of the Australian Museum posited in 1871 that the bunyip might be a cultural memory of extinct marsupials like the diprotodon, nototherium, palorchestes, or zygomaturus (maybe, paleontologist Pat Vickers-Rich and geologist Neil Archbold claimed in the 1990s, because of discovered prehistoric bones or the last specimens of the species). There are other lines of thought too, ranging from distorted remembering of interactions with deadly giant cassowary birds to the Australasian bittern which has a male breeding call described as a low-pitched boom, giving it the nickname the bunyip bird to conflations with European myths (like the Irish Púca. [B][I]Design Notes:[/I][/B] There’s a temptation to make this some sort of shapeshifting monster but instead we’ll try to stick to the most physically imposing option: an enormous dog- and seal-like creature. It’s got an unforgiving attack array and the Terrifying Howl, though outside of the water it’s a pretty slow pursuer. Wait until an adventurer is near the water and let them have a taste of that vicious bite, dragging the victim down beneath the water. Let’s take a look at the numbers! The DMG landed at 8.33 and the [URL='http://blogofholding.com/?p=7338']Blog of Holding[/URL] at 8.5, giving us a pretty dangerous animal with a confident CR of 8. [B][SIZE=7]Bunyip[/SIZE][/B] [I]Huge beast, unaligned[/I] [B]Armor Class[/B] 14 (natural armor) [B]Hit Points [/B]150 (12d12+72) [B]Speed [/B]20 ft., swim 50 ft. [TABLE] [TR] [TD][CENTER][B]STR[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER][B]DEX[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER][B]CON[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER][B]INT[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER][B]WIS[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER][B]CHA[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][CENTER]23 (+6)[/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER]15 (+2)[/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER]22 (+6)[/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER]3 (–4)[/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER]12 (+1)[/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER]8 (–1)[/CENTER][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [B]Saving Throws [/B]Dex +5, Wis +4 [B]Skills [/B]Athletics +9, Perception +7, Stealth +8, Survival +4 [B]Damage Resistances [/B]cold, thunder [B]Senses [/B]darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17 [B]Languages [/B]— [B]Challenge [/B]8 (3,900 XP) [B][I]Brave.[/I][/B] The bunyip has advantage on saving throws against being frightened. [B][I]Hold Breath.[/I][/B] The bunyip can hold its breath for 1 hour. [B][I]Keen Hearing and Smell.[/I][/B] The bunyip has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell. [B][I]Terrifying Howl.[/I][/B] The bunyip can use a bonus action to unleash a terrifying howl. Each creature of its choice within 120 feet of the bunyip that is able to both see and hear it must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the bunyip’s Frightful Howl for the next 24 hours. [SIZE=6]ACTIONS[/SIZE] [B][I]Multiattack.[/I][/B] The bunyip attacks once with its bite and twice with its slam. [B][I]Bite.[/I][/B][I] Melee Weapon Attack:[/I] +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. [I]Hit:[/I] 19 (2d12+6) piercing damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 17). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the bunyip can't bite another target. [B][I]Slam.[/I][/B][I] Melee Weapon Attack:[/I] +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. [I]Hit:[/I] 17 (2d10+6) bludgeoning damage. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
Epic Monsters: Bunyip
Top