D&D 5E Fun with the Monster Manual - Monster-a-Day in your Setting

[trentonjoe]

The mines of <insert name here> were always been a valued commodity. Copper, tin, iron, it seemed like these mines produced it all. The <insert civilization name here> for years ran them with mechanical precision. Everyone knows that. What everyone doesn't know is that in the bowels of the mines are a pair of aboleths. The <Civilization Name> had contained them, trapping them behind wards and barriers. When the <Civilization Name> abandoned the mine, they left the wards in place but the pair of aboleths have been slowing eating away at them.

Over the last 2 years a very high percentage of locals have developed warlock powers and exploration of the old mine is now a common thing to do. The top few levels have been cleared out but many more levels lie below.

Sid OneSide, a one eyed, one armed, human has bulid a "tavern" of sorts outside the mine. He sponsor and pays groups to map, explore, and secure areas of the mine.

Very few know of the aboleths and no one knows their plan. Are they looking for something? Do they need to be freed? Are they sowing discord? Building an army?

 

[Mercurius]

From the journals of Jerazar Haikaru, resident Lorekeeper of the cloudship, Far Horizon, which sails the world's skies, gathering lost knowledge and arcana:

In the depths of the earth, far below even the Under Kingdom of the deep dwarves, lie strange realms with stranger denizens. I would like to say that it is a world of shadow and light, but only darkness reigns there. The dwarven rune-masters speak of ancient beings - the domain of the Brain Eaters, and a darker and deeper evil still, the Aboleth. Both the Brain Eaters and Aboleth seem to have come from some other world long ago, although when and why is unknown. But it is clear that they harbor dark dreams, and their power over the Under Lands becomes greater and greater. The great wizard, Thanateu of the Jeweled Eye, said to me that he once tried to communicate through mindspeech with an aboleth and withdrew his consciousness in horror at what he saw. It was like a "miasmic whirlpool of mad chaos," he said, "totally alien and unfathomable. If I had not withdrawn when I did, I would have been lost. I have no doubt that these vile beings have machinations of domination." Dire words, indeed.

 

[jrowland]

As told by Hobart Blacktongue, Half-Orc Bard, of his encounter with an Angel

...as soon as the our wizard broke the final arcane seal The sound of seven trumpets assailed our ears, glorious and exaltant, the smell of incense filled the air, and a golden light filled our eyes. A moment later, the sound and light dimmed and there before us stood a creature of power. A man, but not a man. When he spoke, I fell too my knees, overwhelmed by his will: "Who dares enter the Vault of Angelic Snozberries?" he asked. That's when our rogue leapt down to stab him in the back. After that I don't remember much: Fire, light, the smell of snozberries...and then I was alone, my companions dead, the vault seals re-established."

 

[steeldragons]

Don't know how I never saw this when it started. Seems I've got some catching up to do....which is good, I guess, since I don't have the new MM yet and have no idea what comes after "Angel."

So...under the gun/top of the head...lessee...

Aarakocra
In the waters claimed by the island kingdom of Dalram is a series of three small isles with particularly steep peaks that give way to lush jungle before turning to the white beaches and turquoise waters for which Dalram is so well know. They are called the Screech Trio for the shrill cries of the birdmen which echo out over the waters from them. All of the Tankuun know to widely circle the three islands, for coming to near any or daring the passes between each, puts one in the hunting waters of the brightly colored feathered humanoids. Ancient texts refer to them as "aarakocra" and propose them to be an enlightened species, but in the remembered history of the United Island Kingdoms, they are savage and deadly raptors against all who dare to enter their territory.

Aboleth
From the writings of the sage, Belbin, in his seminal work Treatys of Peoples Under the Werld:

"...and so the deep gnomes refused to bring us any further below. We are resolved to no other task but to ascend.

In the months of our expedition we encountered a plethora of evils and wickedness. With the much needed aid of our gnomish guides, we braved, bartered, battled, bluffed and, I dare say, in more than one unfortunate but unavoidable situation, butchered our way through this Underworld of miraculous -or something less holy- wonders. The gnomes are ever-cautious but sometimes eager to deal with the wicked race of dwarfs or the savage fishthropoids called Kuo-toa -with whom my opportunity for study was far too brief.

We've seen bestial horrors of all imaginings and skirted lands of the fabled ShiDaeiri -or so our guides aver. Overcome cave-ins, poisoned gases, fissures and pits that seem to fall to the very bowels of the Abyss itself. But here, even after three days of negotiations and promises of added incentives, they would go no further. And so, we are forced to begin the laborious return to a nearly forgotten surface world beneath the stars. The only offering of explanation for their intransigence was a single name, "Ab'oleth."

Angel
Translated from the Sanctilibrum, the Book of Andryram, as written by one of the learned Astaran church father, Gaen the Elder:
"Of the orders of beings beyond the Veil, of those who exist in allegiance to the forces of good and law, at the behest our Divine Sovereign and those as doth appeal to His ideals, tis the orders of Angels against which no mortal can stand and no evil tolerate. In beauty and majesty the Angellik can not be compared by mortal iys, though to our perceptions doth appear as strongly handsome and lovely to behold, both the male and female. With pinions of light to rival the great rocs of Leeth and coronas of divine brilliance ensconce the regal form, they shine e'en to rival Irion's traveling star*, and upon which the evil-hearted dare not peer. The righteousness of their arms and armament, most oft a bow and sword of greatness immortal, brings the faithful to weep for its perfection and no agent of Kaos** dare force them in conflict, for they would surely be cast down into the furthest Pit."

*The sun. Irion is the god of the sun and seen as a protector of travellers, the sun warding off darkness, etc... In antiquity, "Irion's traveling star" was often used as a flowey way of referring to Orea's sun.
**Kaos: an antique spelling [on Orea ] of the word we know as chaos. Theologians and those versed in sacred writings, believe this may also have been an intentional variation by ancient scholars and holy men, including Gaen the Elder, on Karos to avoid writing out the wicked name of the Chaosbringer.

 

[Cernor]

Aboleth

For years the citizens of the port city of Lofthook, on the shores of the great Dusky Sea, lived peacefully in harmony with the will of the gods, sacrificing their fattest livestock and greatest catches as offerings. Recently they have become xenophobic, building great statues venerating a creature with myriad tentacles and a horrendous maw. At the behest of their newfound patron, they are devising a plan to breach the Astral Plane and overthrow the gods they once venerated.

Hook: Many merchants in Seaspire, a city located on the Dusky Sea, are going bankrupt as their neighbors and trade partners in the city of Lofthook have cut off all trade routes, instead pirating goods from trade convoys. The city mayor asks the party to investigate this drastic change in their temperament.

 

[steeldragons]

HA! Got a MM list from wikipedia. The interwebs never cease to amaze.

Soooo, following Angels, we have...bleh. Animated Objects.
For all those that want elaborate musical numbers with the dinnerware. Be my guest. Not much to say here. Someone casts a spell or there's some place soaked in magic and stuff moves on its own. Big woo.

So, let's just move on to...ah. An oldie n' goodie.

Ankheg
Nothing really too earthshattering here either...HA! ankheg...earthshattering. That was completely unintentional. I slay me sometimes. haha...ehem...ANY who, nothing unusual in my setting for these guys...giant acid-spitting insects that are a deadly nuisance to farmers and peoples in all temperate fields, hills and woodlands across Orea.

 

[jrowland]

Animated Object

In the North, where summer never comes and where spring and fall are fleeting changes from cold to bitter cold and back, there is an inn. Not just any inn, but a living inn. There is no proprietor, or rather the inn is the proprietor. The doors open upon arrival, welcoming you to a common room lit with everburning torches an warmed by a fire elemental that dances in the hearth. Chairs and tables fill the common room and move out of your way and reposition themselves on command to suit your hearts desire. A serving cart trundles to you and a menu is listed on its surface. Merely speaking the words on the menu causes them to appear on the serving cart. It is hearty fair, stews and dark ales, suitable for the cold clime. In the corner a harp plays itself accompanied by a drum and cello. When thus satiated, a walk upstairs brings you to the bedrooms, where the covers pull down for you, and once under the covers, they pull snug.

However, try to steal anything, or cause damage to the inn, and the objects will attack.

 

[Mercurius]

I should get going on this again - sorry for flaking (there should be a rule for online threads, something like Sturgeon's Law - "95% of all ambitious RPG threads end up flaking out"). The sad thing is that the threads that get dozens upon dozens of pages are often those debating rules minutia!

Anyhow, well-done [MENTION=94389]jrowland[/MENTION] for making a seemingly boring monster rather interesting.

 

[Cernor]

However, try to steal anything, or cause damage to the inn, and the objects will attack.

What if the inn also casts the animate object spell on a random player's weapon or armor each round, for one round during combat? Even if it doesn't attack outright, making a fighter's sword fly away, the rogue's armor restrain him, or the wizard's hood cover his face and blind him could add an interesting dynamic to a fight that breaks out.

 

[steeldragons]

Hmmm. Perhaps this thread is more aptly named "Monster-a-Week..."?

So I've missed a few days...but apparently not any further along the list...so let's see where were we...

Azer: I've never used Azer in my world before. If I had reason to, I guess I would just go along with the general fluff nad have htem be a race form the ELemental Plane of Fire who is enslaved by/fights against the Efreet. There is, in Orea's histroy, stories of titans and the ancient dwarves* from the time before Men creating weapons of great power...I suppose the Azer could be incorporated there as assisting at the smithies of "otherworldly" power.

*"Present day" dwarves have maintained skill well beyond humans, but not so much the mythological "power" of their legendary craft.

Banshee: The following passage is alleged to be from the extensive journals of Theleht the Exorcist, Sainted [Undead] Hunter of Larassal. Though Theleht's journals are long lost to the ages, sections of the saint's amazing encounters and adventures were preserved by the monks of his order and compiled by the Scribe-monks of Sorilorr with other relevant writings to formulate what we know today as the Nekroti Malum Scrolls which detail the known horrors of the Undead -along with information as might be used to destroy them.

...There art, in truth, three locations the horrifik spirits, known as Banshee, rumored lie. Of these, and others yet unknown, all occur about the fallen elfin citadels of yor. Of the first, far to the north mongst the bleak landscape about that tower accursed, Nor Tyrilith, where chill and gloom seems ne'er to abate. Thee hearst the Howling Death shriek of her ne'er-ending lament about the land there. Her cry doth bring death to all unfortunates who hearst.

Verily, hast I pondered the cause of her torment. Hast she but hatred for the living, as all the undeath surely do? Or tis the loss of her ancestral reign? Or a lost love? Or other concern as might bemoan and berate an earthly soul til such time, e'en the most valiant, as would shriek in tearful agony? Perhaps she doth exist in her state of such an agony trapped? I know not.

"She" and "hers" I sayst for indeed there be none Banshee of the masculine spirit, but solely the twisted apparition of an elfin beauty moulded in an aspect most terrifying. Indeed, those poor souls fallen to the Banshee's shriek appear the most terrifyed. Being made wholely white and drawn as one voided of their natural fluids. Tis the scream of the Howling Death which doth fill the body with otherworldly fear and misery, e'en til forced the body its own vitality expell.

Of the second, tis also far north, though as far east as Tyrilith tis west, in an ages old swamp of huge size and ever-present mists. Yon folk of the region call it the Felled Mere and claim tis a great king's land succumbed to a great evil in the days before the Histories and so surely, tis a king of the elfinkind. Tis the ladies of this king thee hearst crying from behind the mist and, some sayeth, beneath the swamp.

Of the third, tis e'en in our own Grenmoors. Yon Banshee tis alleged to haunt the path to those halls, most glorious and long lost to mortal iys, Talas Iiril. Those same halls of Adrigol, greatest king of old, felled by his own covetousness to the wickedness of demon fire, and swallowed by the moors as part of his divinely just and god-willed fall to disgrace.