Monsters that can hide in a modern day city

[the Jester]

Oh, duh! I missed a bunch that are far less human yet can hide in plain sight quite easily.

Mimics, lurkers above, trappers, cloakers, blink dogs, executioner's hoods.

 

[Klaus]

The Worm That Walks!

 

[Corathon]

I'm looking for stuff beyond the standard vampires, werewolves, mages and so on of the World of Darkness.

What are some monsters that could survive in a modern day city without immediately being spotted for what they are? (Some might have to do some work to hide, much like vampires do, but could conceivably do it for a prolonged period of time, picking up and moving when necessary.)

So far, I'm looking at the crocotta and lamia. (Classical, not D&D versions, but D&D versions of monsters might work, too, in some cases.)

Many thanks.

I guess that a crocotta survives by being taken as a dog?

In some fairy tales ogres look human - except for sharp teeth. If they don't smile until they're alone with their dinner, they would be taken as human.

There's a Portuguese vampire witch called a bruxsa that looks human but changes into a bird.

Several creatures from Phillipines folklore could pass as human (e.g. the pennangalan, the aswang) - at least by day.

How about various forms of genies?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Oh, duh! I missed a bunch that are far less human yet can hide in plain sight quite easily.

Mimics, lurkers above, trappers, cloakers, blink dogs, executioner's hoods.

I was just about to mention mimics, lurkers, darkmantles, etc.

 

[Bleys Icefalcon]

Dire versions of plain jane animals

 

[Ravilah]

An aboleth could live the town reservoir.

All manner of ghosts, wraiths, and other incorporeals could haunt derelict apartments and office buildings.

Elementals could be mistaken for a tub of water in an old house, a freak windstorm in the alley, a pile of rubble at the construction site, or a barrel of fire surrounded by cold hobos (who are tiefling druids, of course).

Djinnis could be all over the place, trapped in beer bottles, class rings, and safety deposit boxes.

Those statues outside the car dealership? Golems.

And as Spock demonstrated, all elves need to do is wear a nifty headband.

 

[the Jester]

Ooh, penangellan!

 

[NewJeffCT]

Any sort of lycanthrope can fit into a city when it's not in its were-form.

A lich likely has access to powerful enough magics to live in a city and also go out from his home on occasion via Alter Self or some other shape changing spell.

Many demons & devils have the ability to change form, which would allow them to roam the streets of a city.

in a colder climate, goblins or kobolds in hooded cloaks could pass for children.

Any monster that can turn invisible at will

A barghest might be able to pass for a large dog and can change form into a wolf.

 

[DMH]

I like fusion swarms- swarms that can take the form of another (singular) creature or object. Anything in a city, from bridge to mailbox, could be a swarm of rats, giant insects or even tiny elementals.

Thrall roaches, from Urban Arcana, are nice and terrifying. Bug people who reproduce by mating with humans and coring out their bodies.

Advanced Bestiary has the idea of monstrous lycanthropes- creatures that transform into other creatures. A dog werebear or pigeon weregiant ant can make for a memorable encounter. To spice it up, how about a creature that transforms into 2 or more creatures at the same time? A pigeon weregiant ant/giant wasp would freak out most players, much less the characters.

Do you have access to GURPS Deadlands: Varmints? It has a lot of good ideas.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Invisible stalkers.

Wraiths, ghosts, and spectres.

Giant critters (crocs, rats, ants, etc ...)

Elasmosauri (at least near Loch Ness)

Yeti

Ix ... Ixit ... Ixitachi ... devil rays. (in cities like San Diego, of course).

Succubi

Landsharks (Knock, knock ... "Candygram!")

Then take the zoo (or aquarium) and apply a fiendish template to everything therein. Beware the fiendish dire flamingoes ...