Skip to main content

Devil Monkeys of the Underdark

So I am looking for small furry creatures to toss into the Underdark to steal, overwhelm, and generally terrorize travelers in the Middledark.  After a few google searched, I came across Devil Monkeys, a supposed legendary creature inhabiting North America.  These things sound perfect for the Underdark. Now let's turn them into monsters.

Reading the description of this creature, I am going to pick out a few aspects to include in my monster build:
  • Small sized, 3 feet
  • Kangaroo-like legs and lightning speed: 40 ft speed with 20 ft jump for a total of 60 ft normal speed
  • 3 toed claws (attack) and bite (attack)
  • tiny ears, long tail: advantage on acrobatics checks
To fill in the gap for my monster needs, I am going to add the ability to perform 3 sleight of hand checks to steal items as an action with its two claws and tail.  I am also giving it the ability to squeeze through exceptionally tiny spaces.

Now these are just the angry little thieves I am looking for.

Ok, to whip up some stats, I need to start with a base creature with claws bite and about the right CR.  I plan on sending a group of these things through to steal and annoy (they are getting an obnoxious screech when scared).  For my party CR 1 or below if probably about right.  My goal will be to have them run through, grab items, and take off, or to steal items while the party is sleeping.

I browse the Monsters by CR index I pasted into the back of my monster manual.  The Dretch sounds about right and is a demon.  Sure enough he has bite and claws.  So let's write a monster stat:

Devil Monkey

  • Small beast, chaotic neutral (it is just trying to survive)
  • AC 11 
  • HP 18
  • Speed: 40 ft plus 20 ft jump
STATS: STR -1 DEX +1 CON +0 INT -3 WIS +4 CHA -5 (ugly, quick, and clever)
  • Senses: Darkvision 120 ft, Passive Perception 14 (this thing lives in the Underdark, so it needs to see threats)
  • Languages: none, just screeching
  • Challenge: CR 1/2
  • Balancing Tail: The devil monkey has advantage on acrobatics checks.
  • Squeezed Escape: The devil monkey can squeeze into any gap so long as its grapefruit-sized head fits.  While squeezed, it can move at normal speed.
  • Pilfering: The devil monkey can, as an action, attempt a sleight of hand check with each hand and its tail with advantage.
ACTIONS
  • Multiattack: The devil monkey can make a bite and claw attack or use its pilfering ability.
  • Bite: Melee weapon attack: +2 1d6 piercing
  • Claws: Melee weapon attack +2 2d4 slashing
The devil monkey survives in the Middledark using its wits and speed.  It has huge hind legs that allow it to move quickly.  It uses a monkey-like tail and clawed 3-finger hands to grab and fight.  It stays away from danger unless there is an opportunity to steal things it may need.  Because of its exceptional balance, it excels at tumbling through enemy spaces (optional DMG rule) to get into position for stealing items.  When cornered it can inflict nasty bites with its oversized monkey-like teeth and wounds with its claws. 

So there we have it --  a Devil Monkey for the Underdark. Yes, I could have spent a lot more time making a special MM-style page for it with official-looking statblocks and artwork, but that wasn't the point.  The point was to generate a monster I needed quickly.  Next time you need a special monster for your game, follow my lead and throw something together. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

5E Starting Gold and Equipment for Higher Levels

The DMG has a rough recommendation for starting gold and equipment for higher levels, but with my groups running one-shots, we wanted to nail it down to level by level. Here's my DMG-inspired table. Generally I allow equipment to be traded in during character creation for half book value, where applicable. I also, as a GM, offer to make custom magic items for players who can't choose. A list of magical items by rarity can be found here  with stats available in the DMG. I also generally allow players to buy healing potions (2d4+2) for 50gp and greater healing potions for 250gp (4d4+4). PHB items are available at book cost at creation. I do not allow other equipment to be purchased except in game. This is generally based off the "high magic" campaign. Level Starting Gold Starting Equipment / Magic Items 1 - 160gp  OR Standard starting equipment 2 210gp Standard starting equipment 3 285gp Standard starting equipment 4 365gp Standard sta
2 comments
Read more

An Analysis of Tasha's Caldron of Everything: Spells

 I am going to be evaluating "Tasha's Cauldron of Everything" for incorporation into my own games. I figured I would go ahead and record this analysis on my blog here so other folks can follow along and glean some useful information from the time I spent. I tried to find an in-depth analysis elsewhere, but at this time none so detailed as this seems to be available. You will not find any of the text in its entirety in this blog. I will be referencing the first printing of the book, so please refer to that as you read along. There are no released errata for the book at the time of writing, although there are errata from other books that affect some of this content. There are 21 spells in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. This includes Booming Blade, Green-Flame Blade, Lightning Lure, and Sword Burst cantrips that were originally published in Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. There are 9 spells that allow you to summon creatures of various types. Three spells are notabl
Post a Comment
Read more

GM Tip: Changing the Effective Font Size in Roll20

I've seen this complaint a few times in roll 20:  can't adjust the font in the chat window.  Unfortunately, they haven't added controls for this yet, at least not at the level of account I have.  For me the font is just too big, but I know for a lot of people it is too small. I am using chrome to do this, but I am sure it will work in other browsers. The method basically allows to increase/decrease the size of the font/controls by about a factor of 2 easily. To increase the effective font size, zoom in with the browser (ctrl-plus), and reduce the zoom on the map, until it is back to the size you want. To decrease the effective font size, zoom out with the browser (ctrl-minus), and increase the zoom on the map until its back to the size you want. The main limit of this is the limited range of the map zoom, which really limited me to fonts doubling to halving in size. Default size with chat font Decrease browser zoom and increase map zoom to reduce font e
Post a Comment
Read more