Avremier 0e - Monster Reference Table

Here is (probably) the official Avremier Monster Reference Table for the core booklet(s). The choices were not all easy ones. I wanted a good range of types and challenges, while offering what I felt to be "representative" creatures for the setting - monsters that seemed (to me) good "Avremier" beasties. 
 

There are some "normal" animals and creatures you'd find in domesticated or captive circumstances. There are setting-specific examples of existing creature types like dragons and lycanthropes. There are entries I consider "weird" and "fun" that I just liked sharing.

What you will not generally find are creatures from other planes or truly alien monsters. There are also very few monsters that I consider specific to a particular region or place. The intent is to offer a range of creatures that could be useful in many adventures or campaigns. Some dungeon denizens, some wilderness encounters, some urban dwellers, and just a few that could pop up almost anywhere.

The Attacks and Damage Table is nearly done, but probably won't be as important to many. Most of the creature descriptions/listings to come are pasted from my original notes and sources, but require some editing to suit the 0e format. That should be done pretty soon.

Idles of summer

Wow - I've really been neglecting you good people. So, to catch you up.

1. Been focusing more heavily upon my fiction writing - when my gainful employment hasn't drained the life out of me entirely. This has led possibly to:

2. A forthcoming writing gig for GP Adventures. Stay tuned.

3. In the hope of meeting at least one of my GP Adventures side-employers, I've registered for GameHole Con 2014. Hope to see some of you there!

4. Hopefully, I shall be working with the fine folks at TPK Games again over the summer. More to come on that front as well.

5. Odds are, I will have an article in the November 2014 issue (#11) of & Magazine. I'll make an official announcement when it is...official.

Well, that's about it on the gaming front. By way of feeble apology for my unforgivable lapse in blogging, here's a monster.

COBRA LION

FREQUENCY: Rare

NO. APPEARING: 2-8

ARMOR CLASS: 5

MOVE: 15"

HIT DICE: 4+2

% IN LAIR: 15%

TREASURE TYPE: Nil

NO. OF ATTACKS: 3

DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-3/1-3/1-10

SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below

SPECIAL DEFENSES: Surprised only on a 1

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

INTELLIGENCE: Semi-

ALIGNMENT: Neutral

SIZE: L

PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

Sleek and agile, this creature is built like a mountain lion, but with a head resembling that of a cobra, with the jaws of a great cat, and the forked tongue and fangs of the snake. Instead of a mane, it has a flaring hood, and scales instead of fur. A cobra lion appears in any color or pattern common to the snake from which it takes its name and characteristics. It can be found generally in warmer climates, wherever lions or cobras tend to roam.

The cobra lion is very aggressive, almost always offering a display of flared hood and loud hiss before an initial attack. It can leap 15' upwards or 20' ahead, and its rear claws rake for 1-4/1-4 hit points damage. Of course, its most feared attack is a venomous bite which kills on a failed save and inflicts an additional 3-18 hit points of damage even if the save is successful. Some specimens also spit their venom in a 3" spray upon a single victim.

Some disputed writings claim the cobra lion was a creation of the yuan ti, or the naga. Certainly, these creatures are often found in or around the overgrown ruins that once served as centers of civilization for those terrible races. To date, no cobra lion has ever been tamed by a trainer of warm-blooded stock and the creature is known for its dislike of humans or similar races.

It still ain't OD&D, but...

Lately, I'm running a 1E AD&D campaign called Planewrack. My OD&D efforts have been negligible this year...and I feel kind of bad about that. Still, I am jotting a ton of notes for gaming projects and wanted to share some of those from my humor fantasy project.

Here are some notes for monster entries that could show up in any of a number of FFRPG (Funny Fantasy RPG) efforts in the near-ish future. Maybe they will provide a bit of amusement.

• Bashilisk: Like a ceratops dinosaur with a petrifying gaze. Charges headlong into confrontations and tends to petrify by sheer accident. Rumored to have been created by a drunken wizard or deity with slurred speech.
• Blondie: Really dumb brownie.
• Chemogorgon: Metallic bull with a variety of gaseous breath weapons.
• Devaluer: Monster that reduces worth of precious stones and metals. Kind of a lesser rust monster that adds flaws and imperfections.
• Evangelatin: Divinely-infused ooze.
• Flabberghast: Undead. Also flabberghoul.
• Golem, Porcelain: Also known as the Portal Potty, this construct usually takes the form of a large, ornate free-standing water closet. When a living being sits upon this magical commode, the power of the golem may transport the individual to another toilet somewhere in the world. A rare few are possessed of a sick sense of humor or a general dislike of humankind and may dump the individual into the local sewer instead.
• Gramon: Terrifying creature that is half-grape and half-lemon.
• Grisly Bear: Horrifying creature like a bear turned inside-out.
• Herosite: Teeny tiny critter that infests particularly weak-willed or enthusiastic adventurers and pushes the host into acts of ever-increasing foolhardiness. Boosts PC abilities while feeding on adrenaline, booze and glory.
• Loonycorn: The jesters of the unicorn race. Parti-colored and slightly mad.
• Mist, Econo: A type of vapor that looks to be inundated with bits of metallic glitter of many colors. Will transmute metal it contacts into a metal of a different type. The effect seems to be random.
• Pigme: Small pig-featured humanoid capable of turning others into pigs. Known for their constant cries of “pig me – pig me.”
• Rhinoceress: Female rhino spellcaster.
• Scuttlefish: Large, sneaky sea creature that makes holes in the bottom of boats and ships.
• Tank Ewe: Massive sheep known for exceptionally thick skulls and a devastating charge-and-trample attack. Source of steel wool.
• Wooly Bully: Tyrannical leader of the Black Sheep.

Creature catalysts - the rest

For the sake of completion, here are the rest of my personal notes for certain monsters in my own setting.

Nightshade: These will be unique creatures of great power, forming a kind of Umbral pantheon of dread demigods.

Nightcrawler: Resembles a hooded serpent and is called Erebus.

Nightrunner: Resembles a great hound and is called Tolfand.

Nightstalker: Resembles a tall, but not giant, hooded and cloaked human and is called Malvikar. Beneath the cloak is the swarm of beetles that is Khefra.

Nightswarm: Disguised as the nightstalker, Khefra manifests as a swarm of black scarab beetles that normally shapes itself into a humanoid form. Khefra represents an entire lost pantheon of gods, of which the other nightshades are revived examples - but Khefra may re-absorb any of them at will. May act as a cohesive figure, a disparate swarm, or some of both.

Nightwalker: Resembles a bearded titan and is called Chernobog.

Nightwing: Resembles an enormous bat and is called Camazotz.

Ogre: Often ruled by oni (ogre magi) or by hags. Ogres are also known for hurling live giant beetles in combat. Ogre with horned helm that gains gore attack as minotaur.

Ogre, Rime: Slightly more massive ogre with frost giant blood.

Ogre, Salt: Not actually an ogre at all, but a kind of cursed elemental of water and mineral trapped in a form about the size and shape of an ogre. Inflicts Constitution damage by absorbing moisture from living creatures.

Ooze: Sometimes used as siege missiles.

Otyugh: When slain, this foul monster deliquesces into some form of ooze - possibly chosen at random.

Owl, Bandit: An otherwise ordinary bird with dark raccoon-like markings across the face and a penchant for filching small valuables. Known to work in pairs or small groups.

Pegasus: Give the creature an air elemental quality and the ability to assume Gaseous Form (with a rider).

Red Putty: A type of ooze that resembles red clay. Drains blood on a successful hit.

Rust Monster: Have some kind of primitive race or society wearing armor made from the hides of rust monsters that affect metal items striking the armor as a living rust monster. The primitives have no metal items themselves.

Salamander, Storm: Violet and silver, with a serpentine body and four legs. Flies. Crackles with electricity. Very fast when striking, Immune to damage from electrical attacks.

Snake, Singing: An otherwise ordinary reptile that can imitate most forms of singing, from birds to people. Uses this ability to attract prey - typically birds.

Snake, Snapping: This large serpent has scales similar to the shell of a turtle and powerful jaws that deliver a crushing bite. It is very aggressive and also poisonous.

Sphinx: Respected keepers of knowledge and ancient wisdom, sphinxes were once coveted by great rulers as viziers and advisors. Monsters categorized as sphinxes include: Lamia (fallen sphinx - without wings), Lammasu (greater sphinx), Manticore (degenerate), and Shedu (high sphinx).

Spider, Tarantella: Venom may be collected and used as poison.

Thoul: Posing as a hobgoblin king and rises as a ghoul lord if slain. Possibly a personal guard of slightly weaker thouls posing as hobgoblins.

Toad, Javelin: This giant toad has a piercing bone spike at the end of its long tongue that it uses to impale prey.

Treant, Baobab: Ancient and enormous specimens possessed of incredible strength and near-infinite patience.

Treant, Tainted: A treant that has absorbed some sort of poison through its roots and become almost diseased in the process. This creature is twisted and evil, seeking to pass the taint on to any living creature it encounters.

Troglodyte, Primordial: A gigantic, barely intelligent specimen of troglodyte intended as a singular monster to be found in a "lost world" area in much the same role as King Kong.

Troll, Black: Bred by a black dragon for use as minions, this type of troll is shorter and broader than the standard troll and is immune to acid. AC: 3, HD: 5, Dam: 1d4/1d4/1d8, Save: F5. Regenerate 2 HP/round after 2 rounds. Excellent swimmers.

Unicorn: Unique specimen or group that are vampire hunters and slayers - impaling their victims with their horns.

Unithorn: Plant-based unicorn-like creature.

Voraile: Like a giant wasp built on the same lines as a cheetah, this fast and agile creature possesses powerful jaws and a long tail tipped with a vicious stinger. The spotted carapace is hairless and small insect wings allow incredible leaps, but not true flight. The creature's six legs are each tipped with vicious retractable claws.

Wasp, Ordinary: Certain kinds of humanoids will hurl or drop wasp nests in combat.

Weredead: Undead lycanthropes, including ghoul wererats and wight werewolves.

Wereogre: An ogre lycanthrope with a cave bear wereform.

Wraith, Marsh: Has poisonous marsh vapors in its makeup. Often accompanied by a will o' wisp.

Wyrwurm: A giant draconic snake with wings - and no legs. Venomous bite and spitting breath weapon where the poison is also imbued with the properties of the breath weapon. Less intelligent than dragons and no spellcasting. 

Yellow Mold: Can be found on mindless undead or constructs - offering a double threat. Sometimes growing on the back of a stuck door or the inside of a chest lid. Also on the walls and floor of a pit. Some creatures even cover missiles with yellow mold to fire at enemies. Will often ignore disturbance from non-living creatures and is encouraged to grow within crypts and tombs for this reason. Any site with "Golden" in the name might actually refer to a profusion of yellow mold. "The walls, floor, and ceiling of the great central chamber are completely covered in gold!" *snicker*

Zombie: Excellent means of carrying growths of yellow mold, green slime, or other hazard. Some necromancers create their zombies specifically for this purpose.

Shattered Sky - Creature catalysts

One thing I always loved about the D&D game back in the days of my misspent youth was how so many of the monsters were just so obviously designed around specific encounters and dungeon environments. From perfectly 10'x10' gelatinous cubes to lurkers above and trappers that blended perfectly with dungeon floors and ceilings to snare the unwary adventurers. I am also a big fan of puns and other wordplay. Tarantella, anyone?

Dance, you rube!



Anyway...


It isn't long before I start compiling setting-specific notes on existing monsters, coming up with variants, and crafting my own more-or-less original critters. By way of example, I leave you with these rough notes (A-M).

Basilisk, Noble: Large dark green (almost black) reptile with a silvery or golden crest and a venomous bite.

Basilisk, Slow: Necromantic construct fashioned from an animated basilisk skeleton with the preserved eyes of the creature. Its gaze slows a target, otherwise it is an undead skeleton. A few actually paralyze like a ghoul by gaze. They are utterly silent and never make any sound.

Barrow-Worm: Large, pale worm with a human-like face, a lamprey mouth, and two small arms, Has a hairless human form with vampiric qualities. Drains blood and 2 levels per strike. Attempt to paralyze by gaze. Regenerates damage and may reattach severed parts. If reduced to 0 hit points, it falls apart into a wriggling mass of pale worms. Slain victims rise as ghouls.

Bat, Barrow: Essentially an undead bat with the properties of a wight - except that a creature slain by the barrow bat does not later rise as a wight. Larger than a normal bat and sickly pale, with green glowing eyes.

Bat, Thunder: The cry of this huge bat creates a clap of thunder.

Beetle, Giant (general): Some primitive humanoids use giant beetle mandibles in making weapons.

Beetle, Fire: Some humanoids smear fire beetle glands on their weapons to make them glow as a light source, or to impress the gullible. Some also use the glowing paste on themselves as a kind of luminous war paint.

Beetle, Oil: In addition to being caustic, the oil is highly flammable. Some humanoids use the oil in attacks or traps.

Beetle, Razorwing: This giant beetle has a carapace over its wings with sharp edges that slice like blades. The monster will closely resemble another, more common, giant beetle type so as to disguise its blade attack for maximum surprise.

Beetle, Tomb: Fond of carrion and undead flesh, this aggressive giant beetle type has acquired the undead

properties of the ghoul, including paralysis on a successful attack.

Boar, Scimitar: This massive beast has long, curving tusks that pierce and cut like blades.

Bog Biter: Giant hopping frog-like creature with alligator-like jaws and powerful tail.

Carrion Crawler: The paralyzing venom is sometimes used by primitive humanoids as a weapon.

Cave Locust: Some primitive humanoids use cave locust spit as a weapon.

Centaur: A variety of fae with the lower body of a tiny deer and the upper body of a pixie. Fast, quiet, and shy. Prodigious leaps and painful kicks. Camouflaged.

Centipede, Giant: The venom is often used by primitive humanoids as a weapon. It can also be found in civilized lands as a poison.

Dragon, Firebog: Maroon and black. Lairs in tarry swamps, often with sulfurous hot springs. Breath weapon of acidic Greek fire - a kind of burning sticky acid.

Dragon, Indigo: Cold fire breath weapon. Acts exactly as fire, but with cold damage. Lairs in seaside caves in cold climates.

Dragon, Violet: Inhabits desert mountains and canyons. Heat lightning breath weapon that does electrical damage and ignites combustibles.

Dragon, Winterstorm: Pale blue with white highlights. Lives in cold deserts. Breath weapon of a freezing cloud crackling with electricity.

Dragon, Dungeon: Dragons in Shattered Sky may adapt quickly and totally to just about any environment and the "dungeon dragon" has made subterranean passages and chambers its home. Some explorers balk at encountering an ancient red dragon lounging upon a pile of treasure in a 20'x20' room. These adventurers have never dealt with a dungeon dragon - but they're about to.

Sinuous and flexible, the dungeon dragon rarely has the sheer bulk of the standard dragon types, but it does often know more magic. These dragons have four legs, no wings, and are shaped much like the dragons of Asian art and legend. All dungeon dragons can see in darkness, even the magical kind. They climb sheer surfaces and squeeze through openings suited to smaller creatures. Their front claws are as manipulative as human hands.

The six types of dungeon dragon are: Crypt Dragon, Fissure Dragon, Grotto Dragon, Maze Dragon, Pit Dragon, and Vault Dragon.

Crypt: Entirely black, even to the eyes and teeth. Noxious weakening gas breath weapon. Chaotic.

Fissure: Maroon in color. Hot ash cloud breath weapon. Neutral.

Grotto: Indigo colored. Freezing fog breath weapon. Neutral.

Maze: Pale yellow. Heat lightning breath weapon. Neutral.

Pit: Slate gray. Caustic web breath weapon. Chaotic.

Vault: Gray-green. Crystallizing sleet breath weapon. Lawful.

Dryad: Enchant wooden objects by touch. Can also try to control wooden magic items by touch, as well as plant creatures or wooden constructs of at least their own size category by entering the bodies of such targets. What appears to be a graveyard of ancient wooden statuary is actually a dryad wrecking yard.

Dryad, Tainted: Inhabiting a tree that has been afflicted with some (possibly magical) blight or other ailment, the dryad has become a twisted and bitter creature. Some of these dryads inhabit tainted treants (see below).

Elemental, Water (variant): Sewage elemental that is like a foul water elemental with stench and disease.

Fish, Giant: Coastal towns or settlements thrive upon fishing giant specimens of fish and shellfish.

Flutterpotamus: A tiny bluish hippo with undersized butterfly wings that it really doesn't need to fly. Good-aligned but typically grumpy. Will have a squeaky roar that affects each creature in range randomly, according to a d6 roll. Possible effects include Hold, Silence, Sleep, Levitate, and other non-lethal spells. They can speak but rarely do so.

Gargoyle: Defender of holy (or unholy) places and sanctums. Appearance varies according to religious edict and tenet.

Gargoyle, Obsidian: Sleek and fast, with fiery breath weapon.

Gelatinous Cube, Necrojelly: This insidious ooze dissolves the flesh from a victim, leaving behind the intact skeleton - which it then animates. The skeletons are coated with a thin layer of jelly that they transmit upon a successful hit. These skeletons cannot travel far from their host cube and tend to fall apart easily.

Ghoul Lord: A particularly ancient ghoul that has developed the ability to control other ghouls in much the same way a cleric turns undead. As a 5th level cleric against 3HD undead. 2d6 ghouls controlled. Cannot control more than 12 ghouls at any time. AC: 4, HD: 5, Dam: 1-3/1-3/1-6, Save: F5. Paralysis affects even elves.

Giant (Jotun): Like a Norse version of a Titan (Immortals Rules or Monster Manual), these ancient and powerful giants are often worshipped by other giants and three of the most powerful form a secret ruling council over all evil giants. These individuals resemble particularly large and savage frost giants - which they pretend to be.

Giant, Cloud: Prefer to dwell "above it all" in cloud castles or the highest mountain peaks - often serving as liaisons or traders with air elementals and djinn. The clouds that support a cloud giant's castle are not of a single consistency - being solid as ground hear the structures being supported, but semisolid (like quicksand) further out, and often entirely ephemeral nearer the edges.    

Giant, Frost: Particularly ancient individuals, or those of great lineage, will have cold- and weather-related abilities and rival storm giants in power..

Giant, Storm: Possibly nothing more than particularly ancient frost giants and true jotuns. Add some frost giant traits. Exceedingly rare and isolated, possibly true jotuns that have distanced themselves from lesser giantkind and their affairs

Golem, Basilisk: Animated stone basilisk that has been petrified by its own gaze.

Golem, Door: Usually a wood-and-metal construct serving as an interactive door, most likely into an important room or area.

Golem, Threshold: A paired duo of golems that serve to hold a pair of doors or to guard an open doorway.

Golem, Ooze

Golem, Black: Like a clay golem made from black pudding. A strong, humanoid black pudding.

Golem, Gray: Like a clay golem made from gray ooze. A strong, humanoid gray ooze.

Golem, Green: Like a clay golem made from green slime. A strong, humanoid green slime.

Griffon: Variant that is half lion and half phoenix. A golden and red griffon that can burst into flames at will.

Hexie: a kind of malicious pixie witch that bestows nasty curses.

Hippogriff: Variant that is half eagle and half nightmare.

Hobgoblin Khan: Near-divine hobgoblin warlord from an ancient bloodline. Powered by family honor, ancestral spirits, personal renown, and the adoration of his troops. Probably a thoul.

Kobold: Employ group tactics and two may occupy a single square without penalty.

Kobold Fungimancer: A large underground warren may contain a "fungimancer" who functions much like a

fungus-based druid-alchemist-necromancer. The fungimancer crafts poisons and items of natural magic, employs fungus monsters as allies (such as green slime, shriekers, violet fungi, and yellow mold) as well as reanimating the remains of the dead by means of fungal alchemy.

White Kobold: A savage throwback with white fur, red eyes, and oversized jaws with strong, sharp teeth, this breed of kobold possesses a significant bite attack. Many are cannibalistic and will devour any living creature that falls prey to their teeth and claws.

Campaign Hook: While there are kobold ranks above chieftain, these individuals are rare in the extreme. Still, an upstart kobold lord (actually a runty gnoll outcast from his own tribe) tries to unite a number of warrens under his banner of conquest in a bid to forge himself a true kingdom.

Campaign Hook: Possibly associated with the previous hook, a kobold (or possibly a goblin) uses a lucky find of magic items to rule a small dungeon area. Possibly a Ring of Animal Control and Ring of Fire Resistance or Invisibility. Also the possibility of Gauntlets of Ogre Power and maybe even a Wand of Paralyzation that he's figured out how to use.

Laufyr: Lycanthropic werebat taking the form of a gaunt human or a giant bat. Similar powers to a Devil Swine - often mistaken for a vampire.

Lizard Man: Some will possess a camouflage ability like that of a chameleon. Others may display traits found with other giant lizards. Tribe that worships a black dragon skeleton.

Lizard Man, Lycanthrope: Some rare forms of lycanthropy affect lizard men and werecrocodiles or wereserpents are most common.

Lizard Man, Variant: Slightly larger and more dangerous variant known as a Gator Man. Lizard Man with alligator traits: tail slap and a bite attack.

Lizard Man, Witch: Found in the Crowfen, this female witch is named Soshali and is a frequent ally of the black hag, Ivara, and she seeks to become a hag herself. Rumors tell of Soshali, the Witch of Crowfen, but do not mention her species. She has shambling mounds as allies and seems to have some control over will o' wisps in the swamp.

Lupogriff: Body of a wolf, with the head, forelegs, and wings of an eagle.

Lycanthrope, Werebull: Often hulking and placid in human form, these weres are easily provoked into savage attacks. In their man-like transitional form, werebulls are often mistaken for minotaurs.

Lycanthrope, Wererat (Plague Lord): Ancient and powerful wererat that transmits a disease much like that of giant rats, instead of lycanthropy. Also has a disease-laden gaseous breath weapon that can be used 3x/day. Stench like a troglodyte. Able to control rats, giant rats, and wererats.

Men, Bandit: Group of bandits that wear hoods made from beast or monster pelts to make them look like monstrous humanoids.

Men, Organ Grinder: A colorful NPC with one or more trained monkeys that steal from onlookers on behalf of the organ grinder. The organ grinder is essentially a skilled animal trainer with thieving tendencies.

Men, Tinker: Traveling tinker offer to repair equipment or identify/appraise items.  

Minotaur: Sometimes inhabit natural outdoor labyrinths of chasms and fissures.

Mustard Jelly: A poisonous ochre jelly.