GameDoc
Explorer
Duergar as well.
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D&D 5E Monster Relationships
- Thread starter Boarstorm
- Start date
Duergar as well.
Mouseferatu
Hero
There's the good ol' githyanki/red dragon alliance.
DracoSuave
First Post
Winona's got a big death slaad and she's showin it off to all her friends
One day you know the slaadi tried to cleaver so she locked it in a chaos fence
Along came Lou the Orc Dragoon and said "Recognize that smell?"
"Smells like seven layers. That slaad eats in Baator's hells!"
Henrix
Explorer
Is it just me who has a memory of grimlocks being associated (and perhaps even created by) aboleths previously?
MonsterEnvy
Legend
Graz'zt created the Lamias and he also created the Jackalweres to serve as servitors to the lamias.
Night Hags created the Yugoloths.
Night Hags created the Yugoloths.
MortalPlague
Adventurer
With a little help from Asmodeus, let's not forget! I believe he was the one who put the plan in motion.
ephemeron
Explorer
I have the vague sense that there used to be more monsters associated with aboleths, like the skum (who didn't make it into the 5e MM).
Flipping through old books, though, it looks like grimlocks have been working for/with mind-flayers for a while. 1e and 3e give them a chance of being led by an illithid or a medusa. 2e goes into more detail about how they work for mind-flayers in return for the bodies of slaves whose brains got eaten.
Les Claypool has given us a soundtrack for the plane of Limbo.
or so the story the Baernoloths put into circulation goes ....
GreenTengu
Adventurer
The interplay between some of the basic humanoids can be interesting...
First, Goblins and Kobolds will work for literally anyone who will kick some food their way and give them a place to sleep. Orc, Hobgoblins, Bugbears, Ogres, Drow, Draconians.... it really doesn't matter. I mean, if on their own Kobolds make trap-filled labrynth lairs underground while Goblins will live either underground in more simple lairs or live out in the forest, either way making use of wolves and maybe even some bigger and nastier pets to help fight off intruders. But they can be used as the henchmen for anyone.
Hobgoblins like to be in charge, they are the smartest of the usual bad guys next to Drow. (Obviously Illithiad and Rakasha are higher, but outside the scope of this review.) When they are in charge they will take control of goblins, kobolds, orcs, bugbears and ogres. Of course, they don't have to be in charge. Sometimes an Orc tribe is simply too strong, an Ogre is simply too strong to take on. In those cases, they will let the "big guy" in charge and put someone behind his thrown whispering "suggestions" in his ear. With Drow? They really hate elves, but they aren't dumb. They can be enemies or allies depending on how the winds shift. For all the animosity between elves and goblinoids, Drow hiring Hobgoblin mercenaries or a Hobgoblin hiring Drow assassins isn't nearly as unheard of as one might initially think.
Orcs are wild and uncontrollable. They will work for anyone bigger and stronger than them, or can at least take the brunt of their assault and keep standing. They would love to be in charge, but if someone has bested the best of them, that one's the boss for now. Otherwise they are usually pretty open to accepting anyone who can be of use supporting their raids-- getting kobold or goblin slaves, pounding Hobgoblins into working for them, they can even get bugbears and ogres to run with their horde by sheer force of violence and chaos.
Ogres and Bugbears are usually in the same boat. All considered, they'd probably be content if everyone just left them alone. On their own they usually only attack intruders into their territory. Of course, Orcs, Hobgoblins and Drow can often force them into service. Ogres sometimes take control of Kobolds, Goblins, Orcs or Hobgoblin tribes, but generally they are pretty feckless as leaders. Whatever the general nature of the creatures is, they just keep doing that-- but the Ogre gets extra food for being the "chief". Bugbears almost never take a mantle of leadership. Certainly you might have the rare one that displays remarkable intelligence and ambition well beyond his fellows and CAN do that... its just not common.
And, of course, then there are the Drow. Drow. Drow. Drow. What can one say? They use everyone they can use as tools. Whether they enslave them or pay them if it is a bit easier and effective to do it that way. They are the ultimate masterminds. They don't care to do anything themselves and they don't care for frontal assaults. So whomever has the low moral standards to follow their commands or lacks the strength or backbone to resist them will end up carrying out their dirty work for them. Of course, in those rare times when the Drow end up losing the war with another humanoid? Well.. drow slaves or servants are exceptionally, exceptionally rare. Even if they are around, they are probably spies or maybe even outcasts from their society.
First, Goblins and Kobolds will work for literally anyone who will kick some food their way and give them a place to sleep. Orc, Hobgoblins, Bugbears, Ogres, Drow, Draconians.... it really doesn't matter. I mean, if on their own Kobolds make trap-filled labrynth lairs underground while Goblins will live either underground in more simple lairs or live out in the forest, either way making use of wolves and maybe even some bigger and nastier pets to help fight off intruders. But they can be used as the henchmen for anyone.
Hobgoblins like to be in charge, they are the smartest of the usual bad guys next to Drow. (Obviously Illithiad and Rakasha are higher, but outside the scope of this review.) When they are in charge they will take control of goblins, kobolds, orcs, bugbears and ogres. Of course, they don't have to be in charge. Sometimes an Orc tribe is simply too strong, an Ogre is simply too strong to take on. In those cases, they will let the "big guy" in charge and put someone behind his thrown whispering "suggestions" in his ear. With Drow? They really hate elves, but they aren't dumb. They can be enemies or allies depending on how the winds shift. For all the animosity between elves and goblinoids, Drow hiring Hobgoblin mercenaries or a Hobgoblin hiring Drow assassins isn't nearly as unheard of as one might initially think.
Orcs are wild and uncontrollable. They will work for anyone bigger and stronger than them, or can at least take the brunt of their assault and keep standing. They would love to be in charge, but if someone has bested the best of them, that one's the boss for now. Otherwise they are usually pretty open to accepting anyone who can be of use supporting their raids-- getting kobold or goblin slaves, pounding Hobgoblins into working for them, they can even get bugbears and ogres to run with their horde by sheer force of violence and chaos.
Ogres and Bugbears are usually in the same boat. All considered, they'd probably be content if everyone just left them alone. On their own they usually only attack intruders into their territory. Of course, Orcs, Hobgoblins and Drow can often force them into service. Ogres sometimes take control of Kobolds, Goblins, Orcs or Hobgoblin tribes, but generally they are pretty feckless as leaders. Whatever the general nature of the creatures is, they just keep doing that-- but the Ogre gets extra food for being the "chief". Bugbears almost never take a mantle of leadership. Certainly you might have the rare one that displays remarkable intelligence and ambition well beyond his fellows and CAN do that... its just not common.
And, of course, then there are the Drow. Drow. Drow. Drow. What can one say? They use everyone they can use as tools. Whether they enslave them or pay them if it is a bit easier and effective to do it that way. They are the ultimate masterminds. They don't care to do anything themselves and they don't care for frontal assaults. So whomever has the low moral standards to follow their commands or lacks the strength or backbone to resist them will end up carrying out their dirty work for them. Of course, in those rare times when the Drow end up losing the war with another humanoid? Well.. drow slaves or servants are exceptionally, exceptionally rare. Even if they are around, they are probably spies or maybe even outcasts from their society.
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