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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. 

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