MonstersByEmail SampleCeatureDescriptions

7/23/2019 MonstersByEmail SampleCeatureDescriptions

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CREAURE SE 0 - DEMO- A C L O I S T E R P U B L I C A T I O N -

MONSERSBYEMAIL.COM


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CRONLYCHMA


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CREATUREINFO

CRONLYCHMACHARACTERISTICS

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Category

Terrain

Food

Aggression

Size

Numbers

Strength

Agility

Endurance

Intelligence

Wisdom

Mental Force

Charm

Speed

Magic Power

Hit Points


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Te ChronLychmas are efficient and ast killer. Held

together by a light, beetle-like exoskeleton they weigh

very little or their size. By cramming their small eet

and hooks into cracks and crevices, they can climb and

hang on to the walls o the grottoes and tunnels they

inhabit.

Te evenly distributed dark areas upon their heads proj-

ect a sensitive electrical field beore the creatures, which

pick up the slightest disturbance within it. Positioning

themselves in strategic locations they hook bats in flight,

or catch swif lizards and rodents as they run by.

Larger prey are located by their heart beats. Te acute

hearing o the CronLychmas is extremely specializedand their brains are wired to exclude all sounds but

the distinct patterns and requencies o hearts beating.

Tese can be picked up rom miles away in the tunnels,

and the creatures never spoil an opportunity to east on

greater chunks o meat. Te pursuit o flesh may turn

them single-minded, and careless. Bringing a wag-

on-load o sheep into a dungeon where CronLychmas

live may be the only way to slip past, or deeat them.

Smarter than dogs, the creatures still live out their 30

year lives hunting, eeding, sleeping, and breeding. Tey

require a damp subterranean climate, or water in which

to submerge themselves regularly. Te cells o their exo-

skeleton depend on external moist or it will dry out and

become brittle. Where water is scarce the CronLychmas

drench themselves in the blood o their prey.

Te creatures make no sounds to communicate,which is probably done through electrical cur-

rents, but they tend to hiss when new heart-beats are

detected, perhaps to express the joys o expectation.

Females and males are more or less inseparable, and

their young grow quickly.

ADVENTURE?

1. Te PCs must pass through an area reported

densely occupied by CronLychmas. Tey are rec-

ommended to (or realize they can) travel by boat

through a subterranean waterway, and may retrieve a

potion which can temporarily stops or severely slowsdown their heart-beats, making them unconscious

or really weak or a while. Slip by deenseless or fight?

What i something goes wrong? O course it does.

2. Te PCs travel (or guard, or arrange) a caravan,

including two ogre captives, which must pass under-

neath a mountain. Halway through the mountain they

learn about the CronLychmas living there, and their

ways, by a corpses diary, or by the words o a ellow trav-eler who recognize the first encountered creature. Strat-

egy? Keep in the middle and stay alive? ry to protect

everyone? urn back? Bait?

3. Redirecting a stream to make the water-dependent

creatures move?

4. Disturb electrical fields by bringing/producing a mag-

ical item o lightning?

CRONLYCHMADESCRIPTION


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PARNIRION


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PARNIRIONCHARACTERISTICS

CREATUREINFO 3

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Strength

Agility

Endurance

Intelligence

Wisdom

Mental Force

Charm

Speed

Magic Power

Hit Points

Category

Terrain

Food

Aggression

Size

Numbers


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PARNIRIONDESCRIPTION

Te Parnirions are sly. Everyone who has ever heard

about them knows that. Tey are tricky opportun-

ists who shy no means to achieve their aims. Tat to,

is known. Yet the creatures tend to have access to what

you need, and a tendency to know what youre looking

or. Parnirions love knowledge, not or the sake o wis-dom, but or its commercial value. Tey are experts on

woodland survival, and will ensure you that they are the

only ones who can guide you saely through the orest

canyon, find and reveal the password to the elven halls,

produce an antidote to the golden snakes bite, summon

the wood spirits, find the magic mushrooms, and so on.

I no such exotic venture needs your attention they will

have those extra torches, yards o rope, or rations that

you urge or.

Parnirions ofen camp along the paths leading into a

great orest. Tere they put up shop, and offer buy-or-

die goods and knowledge to traders and adventurers

passing by. Ofen they tally along, together with a com-

pany which reluctantly have accepted their guidance, or

track them at a ew hours distance. When need arises,

due to dangers not rarely arranged by the Parnirions

themselves, the creatures come to the rescue, bringingwith them the right equipment or inormation, at a

price.

Naturally suspicious o each other, Parnirions are rarely

i ever encountered in groups. Usually alone, two crea-

tures sometimes join up in a temporary partnership to

conquer riches otherwise unattainable. Tey are born in

the deep woods, close to the places where airies and

elves sing. Te woodland spirits seem to accept them,and scholars suspect they were once kin. Tey adore

riches and have a great interest in objects o antiquity

and magic. All items that can aid them in their next plot

or business deal, will attract their attention.

Te creatures are not especially strong, and not very

skilled with arms. With a clear upper hand, they will kill

without second thought, but preer less bloody ways o

acquiring the wealth o someone else, and disposing o

oh so many enemies.

Te Parnirion learn new languages exceptionally ast,

and are good at picking up the customs and etiquette onew cultures. Tey stay out o deserts and extreme cold,

and are rarely welcome in town and cities. Shortage

on sleep and ood bothers them little, and they tend to

gather their treasures in secret excavated underground

palaces, rather than buying (acquiring) property.

Long-lived, a lucky Parnirion can last or 300 years.

Tey breed only in their youth, and abandon their

young beore they have reached their teens. Te crea-tures are less gifed with magic than human beings, but

the powers o magic items are increased when worn or

used by a Parnirion.

ADVENTURE?

1. A devastated nobleman asks the PCs to rescue a cap-

tured Parnirion rom a band o orcs, and bring it back

alive (or the sake o vengeance). Te Parnirion have its

own offers, and lets the PCs in on the many sins andmagic jewelry o the Noblemans wie. Tere might be

hidden treasures in the orest, short-cuts through the

swamp, or maybe they will meet the noblemans wie

and learn how she aided the Parnirion in his scheme on

her husband (which she did only because the Parnirion

blackmailed her) Tis could go on and on...

2. (Adventure hooks somehow seems superfluous or

this creature.)


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AGISEPTHORON

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CREATUREINFO

AGISEPTHORONCHARACTERISTICS

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Category

Terrain

Food

Aggression

Size

Numbers

Strength

Agility

Endurance

Intelligence

Wisdom

Mental Force

Charm

Speed

Magic Power

Hit Points


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AGISEPTHORONDESCRIPTION

Great and powerul, the Septhorons are different rom

the giant octopus in a number o ways. ypically they

will be ound still upon the bottom, close to their dens,

passively filtering seawater through openings in their

heads and the tentacle hands. Other than these they

have no mouths, and can survive on plankton or weeks,but will not be ully sustained by them. Now and then

they need attack larger lie-orms like sharks, dolphins,

seals, and great eels. Tese they kill and work at with

their claws, until they are shredded to pieces small

enough to be inhaled through their baleen-like filters.

Blood especially is savored, and the Septhorons preer

their meals resh.

All vital inner organs, apart orm the brain, is located inthe main body, which looks much like a broader tenta-

cle. Here dark ink is produced in a surace layer o rag-

ile bags. Tese are easily destroyed by harm toward the

body and release a conusing, bad tasting gush o ink,

meant to discourage predators bold enough to attack it.

Te Septhorons can also eject spurts o ink through the

holes o their eyes. One or several eyeballs roll away and

are replaced by tubes connected to the ink bags.

Unlike that o the octopus, the ink o these creatures

penetrate the skin and vessels, and permanently dis-

colors most suraces it makes contact with. Lie-orms

exposed heavily to the ink may also be contaminated

by Septhoron DNA, start growing tentacles, and be

subjected to other disfigurements. Even i no physical

changes occur, their offspring may suffer the conse-

quences o exposure. Some scholars claim that the crea-

tures lack normal means o reproduction, and surviveas a species only by inecting and transorming other

animals.

Septhorons seek nothing particular in lie, but make

long-time or permanent dwellings in caves, wrecks, and

similar hollows, which may be o interest or adventur-

ers. Tey take shelter there especially when short on ink,

and in order to ambush by-swimming and curious prey.

Te creatures surace now and then or reasons

unknown, and when they do they let out long groans

which is airly similar to complaining, or angry human

voices. raits like these, and the sheer size o the beasts,have given rise to many myths and several cults around

them. Tey are attracted to rees and rocks, and preer

to settle in shallow waters. Any climate will do, but they

stay away rom polar regions. Tey can live or 300 years.

ADVENTURE?

1. A wizard claims Septhoron ink increases the

power o scrolls, and need the PCs to etch some.

2. A tribe or cult, worshiping the Septhoron, sacrifices

maids at the end o a rickety pier. As the beast emerges

the most devoted throw rocks at it, hoping to be hit by

jets o ink. Te high-priest(s)/shaman/tribe elders have

inherited several tentacles (perhaps multiple eyes, ink

bags on the back and able to shoot ink themselves?) and

patchy black skin. Tey might have been able to collect/

produce ink, and have tattooed themselves (or their

prisoners) heavily with it. Perhaps a crazed tattooeddisfigured ex-captive(or cult-member) is encountered

in the gutters o a city, rambling about his daughter in

danger?

3. When someone is marked by Septhoron ink, the crea-

ture will no longer attack them. Te members o secret

society swim through a Septhoron inhabited cave in

order to arrive at their headquarters/meetings, which

the PCs must infiltrate. How will the PCs find the ink?Will they risk contamination? How will they learn what

they must know about the creature to begin with?

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MICHILAFT

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MICHILAFTCHARACTERISTICS

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Strength

Agility

Endurance

Intelligence

Wisdom

Mental Force

Charm

Speed

Magic Power

Hit Points

Category

Terrain

Food

Aggression

Size

Numbers


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MICHILAFTDESCRIPTION

Te Michilafs are natural protectors o the orests, who

live in the most enchanted places, where aerie magic

flows potently, and ancient woodland powers roam.

Here they live in small groups, eeding on berries,

mushrooms, ruit, and may occasionally snatch an egg

or two. Snails and bugs also slip down, but the creatureskeep to a mainly vegetarian diet.

Along a second hollow spine, tubes o wood grow rom

the Michilafs back. Tese are instruments used to pro-

duce music o great beauty and enchantment. Ordi-

narily the creatures play to enlighten and make merry

the atmosphere in the sacred groves where they are

ound, but the pan-pipe music can weave melodies o

dreamy depth and true power.

When creatures endangering the orest enter the realm

o trees, the Michilafs leave their gentle lives and are

moved to protect their homelands. By luring and con-

using melodies, they keep hostiles away rom the secret

parts o the woods. I that is not enough, they unani-

mously conjure tones and harmonies o power, to throw

spells o the earth, and aerie sorcery towards ill-willed

or undesired intruders. Occasionally they may assistelves, druids, and rangers in some quest aligning with

their motis, but the Michilafs are rarely witnessed, and

preer to operate in the hidden.

Te skin o the Michilafs can range rom green to

brown. During the winter, they root themselves in the

soil, and may live, or temporarily pose, as a tree or sev-

eral months. Teir ur and skin then change color to

that o bark and moss, and their acial eatures grow stiffand are harder to make out.

Solitary creatures have sometimes been spotted on

top o high cliffs in the middle o storms, to inhale the

strong gale and challenge the winds roar with their

music, but nothing but their melodies are normally spo-

ken o among travelers meeting in inns and by roadside

campfires.

When the creatures die, and only then, a shelled seed

(similar to a walnut) are ejected rom every pipe, landing

15-150 eet away rom the Michilaf. Tese instantly emit

a highly hallucinogenic gas, which will cause a 2-4 hourstate similar to dream walking in those who inhale it, as a

means o protection. Seeds landing in nutritious soil will

sprout in two weeks, and grow into a new Michilaf in a

single season. During this time flies and other insects are

attracted by scent into their bellies to provide them with

protein. Te creatures do not open their eyes or gain con-

sciousness until they are ully grown and ready to walk.

Michilafs communicate telepathically between them-selves, but not with other species. Many know elven

tongues, but are unused to talking. All body parts except

the head and thorax o the creatures regenerate i cut off,

which takes a ew weeks. Tey keep airly calm, even in

combat, but turn aggressive i fire is used against them.

Tey live or up to 500 years.

ADVENTURE?

1. A true master flute player has traveled rom aar tofind a Michilaf and play with it, which he claims is the

only way he can increase his skills beyond his pres-

ent level. He brings tales about the creatures and offer

rewards i the PCs will help him find one. Can a man

actually learn the magic o the Michilafs?

2. racking a band o orcs (or evil men), which has

entered the orests in search o a lost elven treasure,

the PCs witness a Michilaf distracting the orcs withunearthly melodies, but ails to spot the PCs. Te band

is lured away into a gulch where giant spiders (or other

monsters) live, carrying the map o the treasure. Help

the orcs to save the map? Help the Michilaf which is

challenged by a powerul orc shaman? Let the orcs van-

ish in the web o spiders, and seek out the map in their

lair?

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3. A Michilaf nut is ound and taken to a gardener

who suggests they plant it and see what happens.

When the Michilaf comes alive and starts playing

other Michilafs might come to its call and etch it, or

the PCs start dreaming about a orest ar away, and

stunning kingdoms neath the leaves and branches.Will they venture there bringing their new child? Does

the gardener know more than he says, and who else

has he told about the strange seed?

4. According to an ancient book (which the PC:s hap-

pen upon) a goblin king once, a long time ago, con-

sumed the hearts o seven unicorns and seven satyrs,

as part o a ritual which would grant him terrible

power. Te ritual ailed and strange metamorpho-

sis turned him into the very first Michilaf. I a drop

o goblin blood enters the veins o the creatures, the

transormation will be reversed, degrading them intogoblinoids once more. Tis is dangerous inormation.

Can it be used? Should it be hidden?


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Te creature data in this book has been shaped for easy access. Everyone with some experience of role-playing-games

should be able to understand it quickly, and have little trouble translating it into their system of choice. For those still con-

fused, the following explanatory information may be of assistance.

CHARACERISICSTe attributes in this bestiary are declared by a visual

diagram, eaturing symbolic images, which represent

the characteristics o amiliar creatures. o allow simple

translation to any RPG system, I have rerained rom

using numbers. At the lef end o the scale are tiny crea-

tures like snails and butterflies, while at the right are

great dragons and angels, to represent extreme values.

Te human beings stand or the characteristics o an

average human being, and the darker fields surrounding

them indicate the range and possibilities o our species.

Strength, or example, can only be taken so ar, unless

supernatural means like magic are applied, while wis-

dom can reach divine levels, at least according to the

Buddha.

STRENGTH: represents the physical strength o a crea-

ture. Tis is the power o lifing and pressing. It doesnt

include the mass o the beast, which could be put behind

a charge or example, but states only the pure muscular

power.

AGILITY: inorms about the creatures ability to

manoeuvre its body. How flexibly and swifly does it

move? How graceully and simply can it dodge swords,

spin around, or balance on a rope? Te illustration and

descriptive text o the creature will hopeully give some

idea o what kind o agility the creature possesses. Some

creatures may have ast and nimble digits to deal with

tiny objects, while still moving rather sluggishly about.

ENDURANCE:can represent many things, but all have

to do with the physical toughness o the creature. A high

endurance may mean the creature can run or a long

while beore becoming exhausted, or that it can stand

long hours o torture beore yielding. Te Endurance

figure may inorm about a creatures resistance toward

poison or drugs, or how quickly its wounds heal. Tesetraits may exist all together, but reading the Descrip-

tion section will likely give some idea about the Endur-

ance types o the specific creature.

INTELLIGENCE: states the creatures level o brain-

power. How well can it solve riddles, how quickly does it

process inormation, and how strategically can it act on

a battle-field? Intelligence may represent how apt a crea-

ture is or dealing with advanced and powerul magic,how many languages it can learn, or how easily it picks

up the etiquette and social codes o a newly encountered

culture. A high level o intelligence doesnt necessarily

suggest that a creature can do all o these things, but it

will be better suited or those brain-demanding actions

that are natural or its species, and more likely to learn

new ones.

WISDOM: is the ability to find and make decisionswhich harmonizes with the surrounding world, or real-

ity. It is a recognition o, and connection to, the truth

o things, which makes it possible to use ones intelli-

gence in a beneficial manner. Monks and sages tend to

be wise, while scientists tend to be intelligent. Both can

be learned. Knowledge and intelligence do not necessar-

ily result in wisdom.

MENTAL FORCE: indicates the stability o a creaturespsyche. A resilient mind is not as easily charmed or hyp-

notized, and it can better withstand mentally straining

situations, like the presence o demons, or keep the spirit

up while outnumbered. A strong mental orce means

the creature is not as easily manipulated or controlled,

and will generally endure a greater level o mental dis-

comort.

UNDERSTANDINGTHESTATS

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CHARM: is a mixture o looks and charisma. Te num-

ber reflects to what degree the mere presence o the

creature will generate positive attitudes toward it, and

opinions about it. A very high charm value means a

creature can get away with things less charming beasts

couldnt, and that it can more easily persuade others

to agree with its suggestions. I an ugly creature has a

charm value that doesnt reflect its physical appearance,the creature is tricky by nature, and has powerul means

o persuasion, or an unnaturally strong attractive pres-

ence, like vampires or example.

SPEED: is divided into land, water, and air, and indi-

cates the maximum speed attainable by the creature.

Endurance should be looked at to get an idea o how

long ast speeds can be maintained.

MAGIC POWER: is primarily a scale which represents

how much magic a creature can use beore it becomes

magically exhausted. A great magic power means the

creature can throw many simple spells or a ew high-

power spells beore it runs out o Magic Power, or the

time being. Te scale is also (normally) an indication o

how powerul a magic-user the creature is. Te systems

o magic used in games differ a lot, and this scale is only

a general guide-line to the magical abilities o the crea-tures here presented.

HIT POINTS:indicates how much physical damage a

creature can suffer beore it dies. Some creatures are less

sensitive to pain and stay on their legs longer than oth-

ers, but when the hit points reach zero, the creatures die

nevertheless.

CREAURE INFOCATEGORY: places the creatures in one o several cat-

egories, such as Reptile, Plant. Undead, Demonetc,

and may give the reader some idea o where a creature

belongs in the greater scheme o things. Unlike a sci-

entific book o zoology, these categories are not to be

taken too literally. We are dealing with imaginary beasts

here, and some o them simply break the boundaries o

real lie biology.

TERRAIN: states in general terms, the types o cli-

mate, environment, or plane o existence that the crea-

ture is likely to be encountered in. Normally this coin-

cides with its natural habitat, but there are exceptions.

FOOD:describes what kind o a creature we are look-ing at, when it comes to eating. erms like Carnivore,

Herbivore and Scavenger are used, while the creature

Description typically gives a more detailed picture o

eeding habits and diet.

AGGRESSION: gives some idea about the creatures

temperament and level o aggression, ranging rom

Lowto Extreme.Controlledmeans a healthy level o

aggression, let loose only when necessary, or in excep-tionally stressul or emotional situations.

SIZE:is put in height or length, whichever is most inor-

mative. I nothing else is stated a height value doesnt

include antlers, tentacles, or other thin protrusions. Te

height o creatures naturally crouching represents the

crouched state o the beast, while the length o a curled

up snake or example inorms o the ull length o the

creature.

NUMBERS: inorms o the amount o creatures typi-

cally encountered, under normal circumstances. An

additional parenthesized number states amounts pos-

sibly encountered in extraordinary or uncommon

circumstances. Consult the creatures Powers and

Description sections or urther inormation.

PROECIONTe numbers pointing at the various body parts or sur-

aces o the creatures indicate how well protected they

are, without adding worn armor. Tey can be trans-

lated like this: 1=Cloth, 2=Leather, 3=Studded leather,

4=Scale mail, 6=Ring mail, 8=Partial plate mail, 10=

Full plate mail, and 15= Dragon scale mail.


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AACKS AND DAMAGETere is no inormation about the number and kind o

attacks o these creatures, nor o the damage caused by

them. How these thing work (rounds, attacks, damage)

vary a lot in RPGs, so I have lef it open to imagination.

Te images and descriptions should together provide

enough inormation to make Game Masters draw out

these things by themselves, and adjust it to their game

o choice.

DESCRIPIONTis is the main descriptive section, but can be conus-

ing i read by itsel. In some cases the creatures back-

ground may crash with the background o the specific

game-world or setting. In such cases, and all other cases

or that matter, the Game Master should eel ree to

re-invent a more suiting creature story or the campaign

at hand. Like all other parts o this book the descriptions

should be read as a source o inspiration and possibili-

ties. I you miss any desired piece o inormation, you

know what to do. Te ate o these creatures is now in

your hands. Have un with them!

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