Gnoll
What seemed to my sleepy mind as the sound of insane lunacy screaming out from
some wicked band of madmen, would later be found to have been the wailing laughter-like
calls of a small tribe of Gnoll raiders attacking our camp...Luckily, my first
encounter with these Hyena-like creatures was short...Having a great many capable
and able bodied men with us that dark long night, the Gnollish invaders thought
better of their plans and turned tail to flee... But don't take them lightly...Gnolls
are large, strong, capable and most assuredly resilient in their stubbornness...Having
the resemblance of Humanoid Hyenas, Gnolls are masters of the attack and flee
maneuver...Coming in with no warning, hitting hard and leaving as quickly as
they came, Gnolls are renown for their surprisingly high level of intelligence
and their mastery of guerilla warfare tactics...They have a very civilized society
(if Your a Gnoll that is), smithing their own armor and weapons, as well as
cultivating their own crops and leading group hunts to sustain their families,
whom they are loyal to the death...Females in Gnoll society are the dominate
of the sexes (much akin to the Hyenas they resemble), the clan being led by
an Alpha chieftain, whom is followed by lower chieftains and shamans of the
clan...Surpsingly, unlike most "monstrous races" (i.e. Hobgoblins,
True Orcs, Goblins, ect.), Gnolls rarely (if ever) war with members of other
clans or tribes within their species...Disputes are settled through personal
conflict between the two individuals having the dispute, but almost never do
tribes or clans go to war with one another...This is surprising to many Zoologists,
for on the battlefield Gnolls are renown for being extremely vicious and deadly...They've
actually been reported to stop fighting all together so they might feast on
someone incapacitated in the ensuing chaos...Many believe this stems from some
form of "bloodlust" they may be prone too...It should also be mentioned
that Gnolls prefer prey that give them a "challenge" to their hunting
abilities...This often leads to them targeting small villages, hamlets and other
"civilized" places during certain times of the year when they may
be celebrating one of their many various "holidays", which usually
deal with some type of seasonal/harvest/equinoxal significance...
Goblyn
Although often thought of as diminutive and weak, Goblyns are, and have been
for countless years, one of Mankind's (as well as many of the other civilized
races) most steadfast enemies...Known for stealing and kidnapping women and
children (I won't go into the why fors to be courteous), raiding food stocks,
murdering people as they sleep and various other civilized offenses, Goblyns
don't follow rules, they instead make their own...It'd be very unwise to believe
them dim minded...On the contrary, they're as (some would argue more so - Usually
Goblyns I might add) intelligent as Man and the other civilized races, they
just have a strange way of showing it sometimes...The Goblyns, as a race, have
a rich and loved history...Whole kingdoms, once upon a time, quaked in fear
of these smaller sized humanoids...And they had good reason I might add...If
Goblyns are one thing, they're breeders, and being breeders as they are allows
them great numbers to add to their clans, and any "ideals" that particular
clan has...2 or 3 Goblyns by themselves are not much to worry with...They're
naturally very superstitious creatures and can usually be scared off in low
numbers...But a living terror they are when in numbers of multitude!...I actually
was a prisoner of a Goblyn clan for half a lunar cycle once, having watched
helplessly as what seemed like a rushing tidal wave of Goblyns burst forth from
what looked like a small village...Only I and another gentleman survived to
tell our tale of such a site, which brings another good point aspiring adventurers
and wanderers should know...
KEEP SOME FORM OF CANDY WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES!
Lizard Men
For a race that most often dwells deep within the steamy confines of Swamps
and Marshes, Lizard men are renown throughout the lands as being one of the
most cold, heartless barbarian like pseudo-peoples of the Lands of Tyrra...
Usually standing somewhere between 5 and 7ft tall (although there have been
rumored sightings of members of the race exceeding 9ft), Lizard men are cold-blooded
beasts with the hearts to match...Known for their ready and willingness to feast
upon the flesh of "civilized races", they're usually hunted down and
killed on site, should one be spotted in the general area of a village or town...Strong
of muscle as well as tough of hide, Lizard men is a general description for
many Pseudo-Reptilian races...Most (as the varying races of Gorbe resemble smaller
feline species) have some general appearance to a smaller, less dangerous Reptilian
counterpart (Chameleons, Iguanids, Agamids or any of the various Varanus/Monitor
species)...Some are adorned with massive horn-like protrusions, while others
sport colorful frills atop their heads and backs...Some have been documented
as having lengthy bony ridges atop their heads, believed to help attract mates
and communicate over long distances by bellowing air through their nasal passages
which connect within them...Yet others, as legends tell, even resemble some
of the voracious and giant "Thunder Lizards" (known as "Dinosaurs"
in some lands)!...I admit, I've never myself seen such a fearsome breed of Saurian
and to be quite honest, I don't believe my old heart could handle such a sight...
Rats
"Vermin"..."Filth"..."Disease spreaders"..."Garbage
Jockeys"...
The names, although different, say it all...
For anyone who has not had the displeasure of witnessing what a full grown Giant
Rat can do to a human being (and I'd suspect Elven, Dwarven and anyone else
unskilled enough in weapon use to slay it) then all I say is this - Count Your
blessings, truly so...
Giant Rats are not an uncommon animal...Anyone who has spent any amount of
time around civilized encampments of any sort (towns, villages, cities) have
most assuredly bore witness to the "mischeavious" nature of Giant
Rats...Usually encountered near Taverns or Landfills, they breed like a plague
anywhere close enough that provides sufficent food for them (and You'd be most
surprised just how little it takes to keep a giant rodent such as these, fed)...Most
Giant Rats witnessed in such settings are Young or Juvenile Rats, never having
exceeded 4-6ft in length...Because of this, they're many times seen as meer
"Pests" and ignored for the most part...But unbeknownst to most, Giant
Rats (like most rodents of their ilk) are communial creatures...These same young
and juvenile rodents bring back food, trash and scraps to their larger, much
more dangerous family, some of which when at full adult size rival some species
of domestic Cattle!...There was one story I heard, just a couple of years ago
during my travels, of a female Giant Rat that was UNEARTHED from it's nest underneath
a Tavern, that was 12ft long (not counting it's tail which had been chewed off
at some point in the past by it's rodent relatives) and 4 1/2 ft at the shoulder!...It
had gained such a HUGE size that it couldn't escape from the nest anymore!...This
means that it was probably stuck there for some amount of time, possibly years
with no escape possible at all...And all the while it's Young brought it enough
food to sustain it...It's enough to make the mind boggle at the possibilities
of Nature...
Shambling Mounds
Usually found deep within Swampy regions, "Shamblers" (as they're
often called) appear much of the time to be moving heaps of tangled vegetation.
The guise of branches, leaves, rotting vegetation, vines and sometimes partially
digested prey would lead one to believe at first that You've walked upon some
hermit's Compost Heap. That is, until it moves towards You with the intent to
eat You. Sometimes they appear as formless as any other foliated bramble thicket.
Other times, they seem to mock hominid species with their shambling gated walk.
In a sense this is true, for sometimes these often monstrously sized death bushes
hold within them the skeletal structure of their last victim(s). When this is
the case, they often take on an almost Hominid like stature, using the slowly
digested body within almost as a frame on which to attach their otherwise formless
vegetative selves. It's been witnessed by some that have disected the "bodies"
of dead Shamblers that they actually will attach small thick vines to these
slowly decompsing skeletons in the same places that Muscle tissue and Ligements
would be attatched themselves. Other times they have been found to actually
used sheared bones as "claws", "teeth" and "toes".
I've even heard of reports of them being found occassionally with Human (and
I'm sure Elven and Dwarven as well) spines jutting forth from what would be
their posteriers, supported by said "muscle" vines as if in some way
mimicing a boney tail of some sort. This, to a simple man as myself, boggles
the mind as to whether these creatures are in some way strangely intelligent
in their own way, or simply being influenced by some as yet undiscovered force.
Often, these unfortunate victims were Human, Elven or one of a myriad of other
unfortunate races whom were unlucky enough to find themselves tangled within
their clutching brush-like grasp or their capture vines used to secure prey.
Delivered from growth like Pods about the size of a good laying hen's egg, these
Webbing Pods grow inside the Shambler's body and are literally shot at the foresaid
prey using a rapid methane outgassing provided from digested and rotting organic
matter deep within the Shambler's own body. Passing through the loosely constructed
body of the Shambler, these Pods can sometimes travel as far as 20ft or more
effectivly before exploding upon impact. Upon exploding, a soupy liquid like
matter bursts upon it's target which (within seconds) hardens as it comes in
contact with air to an almost unbreakable (by Human standards atleast), tough,
fiberous web-like consistancy that is intended to keep the prey items immobile
so that it may be "devoured" easily. Shambler consumption in and of
itself is something of a wonder to behold (when of course it's nay Your companion
or Yourself) as they literally engulf their prey inside themselves through their
own outer "skin". I've witnessed a large feral pig devoured this way
(as I sat at height, safetly in a nearby tree - I'm curious, not foolish) and
can only begin to cringe at the thought of a concious being struggling as it's
engulfed into one of these creatures. Know though that even when this is the
case, Shamblers are still a rather slow aggressor being easily out runned by
even small races such as Goblins if seen early enough. But as any true person
that knows the workings of creatures such as these, never underestimate Your
foe should You find Yourself on the defense from one of these creatures, for
they are prone to nay traveling alone. On another note, I was lucky enough to
eat some well prepared "Shambler Greens" while I was passing through
a Woodelven territory once. Very distinct and peculiur taste they have and not
at all distasteful I must admit. Much akin to woodland greens boiled in a mix
of salty animal fat and strong ginger. I'd recommend it to anyone should they
find themselves in the position to sample it.
Hugh's Naturalist Rule Number One - If You see one nearby, theres another right
behind You.
Spiders
Sometimes achieving the impressive size of black bears, Giant Spiders (Magnus
Pholcidae) send shivers down the spine of anyone who witness their scurrying
gate...Covered in short thick bristle-like hairs, Giant Spiders are a wonderment
of evolution... Unlike most ground dwelling spiders, Giant Spiders (which go
by many different names depending on the locals involved) are not solely dependant
upon venom nor fast speed to subdue their prey (take not, Giant Spiders ARE
venomous, but like most other species the larger a creature is the less potency
it's venom has, being but severly painful when inflicted on Humans and other
hominid races)... Instead, surprisingly, almost all species of Giant Spiders
are web spinning spiders, much like their dimunitive relations reknown for their
glistening, silk fashioned webs...Unlike their smaller cousins though, Giant
Spiders have evolved three unique methods of securing food items with their
highly specialized construction... First, Giant Spiders have an upturned abdomen,
which sits almost horizontal upon their Cephalothorax (all other species of
Spiders abdomens lie length wise behind the Cephalothorax)...This allows the
Spiders to shoot webbing at anything within their range of vision (and with
eight eyes, You can imagine the range I'm sure)...The second speciality in it's
evolution is the webbing itself...Like all Spiders, the webbing itself resides
in the an organ which manufactures it, located in the creatures abdomen...But
unlike other species of Pholcidae, Giant Spiders have evolved a thin skin like
film that coats the webbing as it's released from the body...This film is provided
by a unique organ located just before the Spinnerettes opening...As the webbing
is released it is coated, saving it from hardening as it's subjected to open
air tempratures...But this "skin" is extremely thin (meer micromillimeters
thick in fact) and when the webbing finds it's mark, be it Prey or what have
You, the skin is then broken, allowing the webbing to expand as it's liquid
mass splatters upon impact...It may sound rather crude...But I've witnessed
this wonder of nature more than once, and have seen valiant, seemingly unstoppable
warriors rendered moot and helpless within seconds of one successful aim by
these creatures...
The third and final adaptation that allows Giant Spiders to take large (sometimes very large) prey are their pedapalps...Where most spiders have rather small pedipalps (compared to their relative body size), Giant Spiders have enormous ones, literally riveling their own leg size in some species documented...These Pedipalps have evolved into a set of slightly hooked grasping limbs, easily strong enough in their own right to clutch successfully webbed prey and drag it back to their nest for later consumption...
Another unique characteristic of this species seems to be their communal nature...Unlike
most other species of Arachnidia, the female Giant Spiders are known for making
communal nests, in which they help each other secure food and jointly guard
their large egg sacs (sometimes found as large as prized Pumpkins)...This actually
serves them well it would seem, for most hamlets and towns near any assemblence
of wilderness are quite used to having encounters with Giant Spiders...
Troglodytes
Although viewed as a seperate species, it could be argued that Troglodytes (Or
"Trogs" as they're commonly reffered to) are simply a "specialized"
form of Lizardman...They share very much of the same things, biologically, as
their more primitive cousins, save one thing...Unlike the many species of Lizardmen,
Troglodytes are for all accounts and purposes Endo-Thermic like Mammals and
the various Avian species...When along their evolutionary line this occured
is unknown, but it's believed that it is because of this endo-thermic nature
that Troglodytes have risen to a much more "civilized" state than
their more barbaric reptilian cousins the Lizardmen...
Let it be said though that "civilized" is subjective terminology..."Trogs"
are by no means considered a "rational" nor "uplifted" race
by any means...To say that Trog society is a brutal one is to underestimate
the actuality of it...Carnivorous to the last, it's been reported (and is in
fact probably quite factual) that young Trogs that fail their "Graa"
(believed to be the equivelent of a "right of passage") are killed
upon their failure and served as a feast to the other young Troglodytes as a
symbol of warning...This right of passage usually consists of allowing the Trog
in question to go into an area inhabited with one of the prey races Trogs are
known to covet(whether it be Elven, Dwarven, Human, ect.) and bring something
of importance back (usually a living breathing specimen that can be served as
food for the Elder Chieftan Troglodytes...When this right has been fullfilled,
the Young Trog is then allowed to partake in a still unknown brew/potion that
then begins turning the Troglodytes scales from their usual Green coloration,
to that of a "worthy" adult's color of Red...These shades vary from
Trog to Trog...some being very bright, while others are so dark as to almost
be Violet...
Troglodyte skin is packed with bony spines, horns and calcited cluster deposits
which make their bare skin as resiliant as some forms of smithed armor...This
has, in the past, been a very sought after item with many true adventurers,
for it's said and rumored that a Troglodyte cloak can deflect assassin's unseen
arrows...
Trolls
Foul smelling, monstrously sized and viciously tempermental, Trolls are documented
"Man-Eaters"...Usually standing somewhere between seven to nine feet
tall, Trolls are a hard foe to vanquish, even for seasoned warriors...Having
an almost unbelievably fast healing factor, and the ability to literally regenerate
lost appendages, Trolls have been seen in the wild to physically rend each other
limb from limb, for what would appear FUN!...I suppose this wouldn't be out
of the question, where a regenerative species such as Trolls are concerned,
but I must admit I find the whole idea a tad appalling... Trolls are believed
to be distant cousins of Goblyns...I use the terminology "believed"
for good reason...Trolls are only known to have a few sure ways of meeting their
demise...One of which is Acid...Different forms of Acid are known to react differently
with Troll physiology, but almost all forms have some ill effect on them, many
actually melting through Troll flesh as easily as a spoon through my grandmother's
(rest her blessed soul) root pudding...Another method of disposing of Trolls
is fire in some form...Whether it be magic fire or just a blazing one kept before
the camp site, fire is a sure fire way to rid Yourself of these beasts...Trolls
are not known for their intelligence...In fact, many biologists (and rest assured,
probably many adventurers whom have came in contact with them) believe Trolls
to be mindless beasts, seeking only food and more food...They have seemingly
bottomless stomachs and the shrew-like need to look to fill them...Troll mating
is a wonder to behold...There are no "true" males nor females in the
Troll species...Instead the entire species is Hemephrodidic, each memeber being
BOTH male and female...When the time comes to bare offspring, Trolls willingly
go looking for creatures larger than themselves, and instigate an attatck upon
their persons...This usally ends with the Troll being ripped to shreds by whatever
it provoked, yet in the "parent's" death it leaves a multitude of
Troll offspring as each large piece of the now dead "parent" becomes
a completely new Troll unto itself...This, as You imagine, can be quite bad
for unexperienced adventurers who come upon their first Troll and give it a
good "slice and dice"...
Umberhulks
A behemoth Crustacean/Insectoid nightmare, Umberhulks are (thankfully) rarely
encountered above ground...Being subterranian in nature, they usually spend
their days in search of anything unlucky enough to cross paths with them...Covered
in thick, spiked, knobbed and generally resiliant exoskeletal plates, these
monstrosities of nature aren't only built to deliver a mangled and bloodies
death, but can withstand such as well with little or no ill effects... Their
highly suited for their underdwelling enviroments...Possessing hugely massive
crab-like claws (each on as thick as a grown man), Umberhulks can dig and tear
through just about any surface, whether it be Rock, dirt, clay, stone bricks
or the locked and barred front door to Your cabin...It may take them a while
getting there, but their primally driven brains pay no mind to the word "impossible"
in such instances...Add to this the two other sets of lethal appendeges (one
set is manipulatory in nature, while the other is mainly for rending and segmenting
prey items into easily managable pieces) and it's quite apparent at first glance
that Umberhulks did not evolve with domestication in mind...They're surprisingly
stealthy creatures, given their immense size (some specimens on record achieved
1500lbs) and design of their feet, which stand topped with an immense double
clawed main toe (which is believed to provide stability in wet and muddy cavern
enviroments in which these creatures sometimes have been seen)...But it is in
most cases the head of these dark dwelling leviathans that strike the most fear
in those unfortunates that meet one face to face...Four eyes stand atop the
head...The two smaller ones (believed used during times when the animal is subjected
to brightly lit environs) stand facing the monsters potential prey, while the
large of the two (which are compound eyes and used to gather in any available
light in dark environs) sit upon the sides of the abominal things head, granting
this creature an unheard of peripheral view of it's surroundings...Add to that
the sharp beaked maw fitted with rows upon rows of smaller teeth, framed by
lengthy mandibles and feeding claws (which usually lie tucked away within the
creatures closed mouth), and a true horror of nature You most surely have...
I must confess...Never have I felt my life in greater peril then when I had
an enraged Umberhulk in pursuit of me...If not for my ability to swim like a
fish born at sea, I believe to this very day that I would have learned something
about my Umberhulk pursuer that I thankfully didn't...Just what Umberhulk digestion
is like, first hand...
Undead
What more can be said about the Undead that hasn't been said by those that have
had the unnerving bad fate to witness them first hand? To witness a Man (or
sometimes women and children in the worst cases) long dead yet reanimated, walk
slowly towards You with the intent to see Your own life end, is something I
should nay ever wish upon a man of any virtue. Deplorable does nay come close,
no matter how many times one comes in contact with these foul creatures. Undead
are "motivated" by many known means, and probably many we dare not
fathom lest insanity soon follow. Many times tis obvious that retribution of
some sort brings them forth from their one time graves. Murdered or wronged
at some point in their severed lives, these creatures seem to seek out those
responsible, sometimes attacking those that would get in the way of this mission
in the process. I've often pondered how many mindless zombies were inadvertently
created from another risen's search for vengence. Sometimes tis believed that
something nay fullfilled drives these beasts. It would seem, to some atleast,
that many of the Zombies and Skeletons often seen were searching for the same
battle they must've fallen in, ever watchful for the enemy that would have slain
their allies once upon a time. And yet, sadly, many times these reanimated dead
have returned from that place beyond death after being called into the service
of some powerful Mage or Necromancer (I think we'd all agree more towards the
latter - hence it's valid reasons for being outlawed by most virtuous folk).
This, to me, would seem even more atrocious than usual, for not only are these
Undead fighting mindlessly for the evil purposes of the one that has called
them, but they could in one sense be seen as victims themselves (for they did
nay willingly come back in these instances) . Either way, tis best to destroy
these creatures on sight. They are in no means "natural" and no good
can come of their murderous wanderings. Tis thought that most of these creatures
can be taken down with most weapons, if weilded by someone of enough skill,
but tis an almost established fact that a Silver Weapon will cut these monsters
to the very core, killing them much more quickly and effectivly. Why You might
ask, does Silver slay these beasts so much better? I fret to wonder nor guess
for I'm a Naturalist, not a Theologian.