D&D General The Imaginary Bestiary Volume V – the table of contents for an imaginary 1980s D&D monster book

[Blue Orange]

They do have that feel, don't they?

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Right then, we can have a mini-competition for folks to come up with quirky monsters to attach to aforesaid names - with quirks to make players confused...(rubs hands together fiendishly...)

Another possibility is that some of them could be used as alternate or local names for pre-existing D&D monsters.

Hmmm. . . This game could be fun. Here's what I've got:

Amphithere - Couatl (or at least a variant type of one that looks more like a dragon instead of a snake)
I could see an anthropomorphic animal race (such as Leonins, Lizardfolk, or awakened Girallons) calling humans "Glabrous Apes"
A Mesmeric Beetle as a distant relative of the Flail Snail (with the Scintillating Shell as an Exoskeleton)
Catobleghasts are obviously just Ghast versions of Catoblepases (Katoblepones?)
A Colorless Dragon is just a Chromatic Dragon that was bathed in bleach (possibly doing Force Damage with its breath weapon).
Stone Eagle is just a mistranslation/miscommunication for the name "Roc".
Face of Rays is another name for a Beholder
A Giant Giant is what you call a Goliath that takes levels in Rune Knight
Gigantopithecus is just a Giant Ape
The GOAT OF CHAOS is just the childhood playmate of Kezef the Chaos Hound (Or, alternatively, the name for the 3rd Form of the goat figurines of wondrous power.)
A Giant Kobold is just what you call a Dragonborn (one with a tail, that is).
A Lady of the Oaks is just a Dryad (possibly cousins with the Lady of the Lake).
A Lumbering Calamity is what you call an Adventuring Party
Mermaster is what you call a Magic: the Gathering player that focuses on Merfolk decks (or, rather, what the call themselves).
A Double Ogre is what a bard likes to call an Ettin when using Vicious Mockery (who then proceeds to double over in laughter).
An Orc-Bat is what is depicted in this image from Volo's Guide to Monsters.
A Rust Man is what any Warforged Adventurer becomes after having an unfortunate encounter with a Rust Monster.
A Shrinker is just a Duergar Mind Master (due to their psychic powers letting them become Tiny instead of Large).
An Ancient Troll is the Alter-Ego for the first bard to ever join an internet forum. (Summoning @Snarf Zagyg.)
This is the Ultrakraken.
And a Zombie Wizard is a Reborn Wizard (extra points if it's a Necromancer).

 

[Casimir Liber]

...leech-infested undine - corrupt minion of Olhydra (go Archomentals!!)

 

[Casimir Liber]

Storm-exhaling ocelot - could be a cute spotty pet of a tribe of elves/halflings/gnomes....with a kickass breath weapon!

 

[Casimir Liber]

derrodactyl - derro/pterodactyl centaur-like flying creature - a chaotic mishmash gift of a chaos god

 

[Casimir Liber]

Derrodactyl medium monstrosity, chaotic evil​
Armor Class 13 Hit Points 28 (4d8 +8) Speed 20 ft, fly 60 ft.
STR 16 (+3)	DEX 12 (+1)	CON 14 (+2)	INT 10 (+0)	WIS 5 (-3)	CHA 7 (-3)
Saving Throws Dex +1, Con +2, Wis -3 Skills perception +5 Damage resistances bludgeoning, slashing Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 7 Languages understands dwarvish, undercommon but can’t speak Challenge CR 2 (450 xp)
Magic resistance. A derrodactyl inherits this from derro - it has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. Sunlight sensitivity: While in sunlight, a derrodactyl has disadvantage on attack, as well as wisdom (perception) checks that rely on sight. Spellcasting: each turn, the derrodactyl gains the opportunity to use a random cantrip, if they so want. Charisma is their spellcasting ability (DC 7) Tough leathery hide: Derrodactyls have tough hides - resist nonmagical bludgeoning and slashing (but no piercing) weapons.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The derrodactyl attacks with talons and beak. Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage. Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) piercing damage.

Derrodactyls are sentient derro-pterodactyl hybrids whose origins are unknown. One legend recalls they originated when a posse of insane derro pilgrims ventured to a particularly noxious region on an lower plane, possibly Pandaemonium or the Abyss. Another that the group beseeched the aid of Pazuzu, the demon prince of aerial creatures. Pazuzu melded them with pterodactyls, stamping his authority on a new posse of minions.

A derrodactyl has talons for feet, large membranous wings, and a face that tapers to a long toothed beak, with the typical milky-white eyes of a derro. The thick grey hide resists nonmagical bludgeoning and slashing, but not piercing weapons.

Their exposure to lower plan chaos means that they get the opportunity to use one randomly-determined cantrip if they so choose.

 

[jayoungr]

I love "accident waiting to happen." Sounds like one of those "gotcha" monsters, like the wolf in sheep's clothing.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

An Eye-That-Has-Eyes is another name for a Beholder (along with the Face of Rays from earlier).

 

[J.Quondam]

I love "wig pilferer."
Now I want to make this the arch-nemesis in a gaslamp campaign or a Domain of Dread or something-- a truly malevolent bbeg along the lines of Jack the Ripper, except that, you know, all he does is steal hairpieces.