My Dad's Monster Manual

My Dad’s Monster Manual – Bone Devil

Collaboration / D&D, D&D 5e, DnD, DnDBlog, Fifth Edition D&D, Monster, monster creation, monster design, Monster Manual, My Dad's Monster Manual, world building, worldbuilding / 0 comments

April 2, 2020

Check out my latest DMs Guild product, Oracle of War: Salvage Bases and Missions.

It’s time for another preview of My Dad’s Monster Manual. Got questions about the concept? Check out my first post on the subject.

I just interviewed my father for a whole new batch of critters. His takes are pretty wild! First up, my father’s take on the bone devil! He thinks it’s an undead pixie!

Faeton (Bone Devil)

Because they have eternal unlife, they can go wherever they want.
Lucian J. Introcaso

Twisted, undead pixies with long claws and poison-tipped tails, Faeton are little barbed skeletons with powerful innate magic.

Recreate Tragic Deaths. When a pixie dies a horrific, tragic, or violent death, its bones reform into a faeton. The faeton remembers its life as a pixie but has an entirely new attitude. It believes other creatures should suffer the same fate it had, seeking to recreate that death for other creatures.

Faetons choose their victims with care, typically targeting creatures that remind the undead pixies of enemies they had in life. This similarity could be in appearance, taste, or some other small detail that only makes sense to the faeton. The undead pixies are patient and might lay subtle groundwork for days before finally taking the lives of victims. They use their enchantment spells and their magical stingers to turn victims and others into puppets that recreate the final moments of the faeton’s life.

Deadly Wanderers. Faetons never stay in one place for long. When all their targets in one area are dead, they move on to a new location to find more creatures to murder. Many communities don’t realize a faeton perpetrated a tragic death until they learn surrounding settlements also experienced similar tragedies.

Soft Spot for Fey. Somewhere deep in their souls, faetons still feel a connection to the Feywild. As such, they only ever seem to harm fey creatures in self-defense. Even humanoids with fey lineage, such as elves, seem to avoid the wrath of faetons.

Faeton

Tiny undead, neutral evil

Armor Class 15

Hit Points 22 (5d4 + 10)

Speed 10 ft., fly 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
2 (-4)	20 (+5)	14 (+2)	13 (+1)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)

Skills Insight +4, Perception +4, Stealth +7

Damage Immunities poison

Condition Immunities charmed, poisoned

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14

Languages Sylvan

Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Innate Spellcasting. The faeton’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: chill touch, minor illusion

1/day each: command, crown of madness, detect thoughts, dominate person, dream, fear, major image, mislead, phantasmal force

Magic Resistance. The faeton has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Actions

Multiattack. The faeton makes two attacks: one with its claws and one with its stinger.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d4 + 5) slashing damage.

Stinger. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by the faeton for 1 minute. When the target takes damage, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the condition on a success.

What Do You Think?

So how did Pop do? Let me know in the comments below.

If you like what you’re reading please consider supporting me on Patreon, supporting me on Ko-fi, follow me on Twitter, like World Builder Blog on Facebook, check out my podcasts, find my products on the DMs Guild, tell your friends about the blog, and/or leave me a comment and let me know you think. Thanks!

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My Dad’s Monster Manual – Shadow Demon

Inspiration / D&D, D&D5e, Descent into Avernus, DnD, DnD 5e, dungeons and dragons, dungeons and dragons fifth edition, monster creation, monster design, monsters, My Dad's Monster Manual, world building, worldbuilding / 0 comments

February 27, 2020

Check out my latest DMs Guild release: HAGMALGAMS

Based on the numbers, it seems like people are really liking the previews of My Dad’s Monster Manual. Got questions about the concept? Check out my first post on the subject.

The playtest for this book has begun, but today I wanted to show off a unique monster my dad came up with. By unique, I mean there is only one of these creatures. My father created an archdevil named Donafur. I wanted to share him with you all because his beefy challenge rating of 26 means not many groups are actually going to get to playtest this bad boy. I’ve found higher level creatures need a lot of care, so I figured I would share this critter with the internet because the internet is always willing to give an opinion (for which I am always grateful, save for those criticisms that mean-spirited).

Anyway, without further ado, I give you my dad’s take on the shadow demon: an archdevil named Donafur.

Donafur (Shadow Demon)

This is Donafur. He wants to build his own separate Hell.
Lucian J. Introcaso

Donafur is an archdevil exiled from the Nine Hells. The fiend’s skin is so dark it absorbs light and his long arms end in wicked claws. Normally Donafur appears to be about seven feet tall, but he can grow nearly fifty feet.

A Hell of His Own. Donafur fled the Nine Hells after a failed attempt to depose Asmodeus. He dare not return to his home plane for fear of what punishment awaits him. The ambitious Donafur cannot leave his dreams of ruling the Nine Hells behind, so he plots to create his own infernal realm by conquering another plane and reshaping it.

Soul Trader. To take over a plane Donafur requires an army. In true devil fashion Donafur and his agents make deals with mortals to acquire their souls. Donafur offers love, treasure, power, and anything else he can to seal the deal. In life these mortals bound to Donafur create cults to encourage others to pledge their loyalties to the devil. When the mortals die, Donafur turns their souls into nettlehams, a kind of devil loyal only to him.

Unlike Asmodeus, deals are the only way Donafur can amass an army. This fact makes Donafur willing to offer more than other devils. If he gets wind of a mortal about to make a deal with another devil, his agents might swoop in last minute with a better offer.

Donafur believes all mortals can be tempted into selling their souls. It’s just a matter of finding the right offer. If he’s wrong, his hubris may be his undoing. If he’s right, a second Hell is just around the corner.

Donafur

Medium fiend (devil), lawful evil

Armor Class 21 (natural armor)

Hit Points 517 (45d8 + 315)

Speed 50 ft., fly 150 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
24 (+7)	27 (+8)	25 (+7)	28 (+9)	27 (+8)	30 (+10)

Saving Throws Int +17, Wis +16, Cha +18

Skills Arcana +17, Deception +18, Perception +16

Damage Resistances cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks that aren’t silvered

Damage Immunities fire, poison

Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, poisoned

Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 26

Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.

Challenge 26 (90,000 XP)

Innate Spellcasting. Donafur’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 26; +18 to hit with spell attacks). He can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: charm person, chill touch (as 17th-level caster), detect thoughts, fireball, invisibility (self only), zone of truth

3/day each: antipathy/sympathy, dominate monster, mass suggestion, wall of ice

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Donafur fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.

Light Absorption. If Donafur chooses, he absorbs all light within 60 feet of him, making this area completely dark.

Magic Weapons. Donafur’s weapon attacks are magical.

Magic Resistance. Donafur has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Actions

Multiattack. Donafur uses Change Size then makes two attacks.

Change Size. Donafur can grow from a Medium size creature to a Gargantuan one or shrink from Gargantuan to Medium size. While Gargantuan, he deals an extra d12 slashing damage with claw attacks and his reach for the claw attacks increase 10 feet (included in the attacks).

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 10 ft. (Medium) or 20 ft. (Gargantuan), one target. Hit: 27 (3d12 + 8) slashing damage, or 34 (4d12 + 8) slashing damage if Donafur is Gargantuan, plus 16 (3d10) psychic damage. If the target is a creature, it also makes saving throws against enchantment spells cast by Donafur with disadvantage until the end of Donafur’s next turn.

Psychic Bolt. Ranged Spell Attack: +18 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 44 (8d10) psychic damage, and the target is charmed by Donafur.

Legendary Actions

Donafur can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Donafur regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

Chill Touch. Donafur casts chill touch.

Incorporeal Movement. Donafur moves his speed without provoking opportunity attacks. He can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. Donafur takes 5 (1d10) force damage if he ends this movement inside an object. If he is still inside an object at the end of his turn, he takes the damage again.

Save Servant (Costs 3 Actions). Donafur touches the remains of a nettleham that has died within the last minute. The nettleham returns to life with half its hit points restored.

What Do You Think?

So how did Pop do? Let me know in the comments below. Maybe I should show off the nettleham next?

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My Dad’s Monster Manual – Bulette

Inspiration / D&D, D&D5e, DnD, DnD 5e, DnDBlog, dungeons and dragons, Fifth Edition D&D, Monster, monster creation, My Dad's Monster Manual, world building, worldbuilding / 1 comment

January 30, 2020

You can order The Demonplague, my level 1 – 20 fifth edition adventure, right now!

Curious about My Dad’s Monster Manual? Check out my first post on the subject.

Thank you all so much for your kind responses and sign ups to playtest My Dad’s Monster Manual. I should have a nice batch of critters coming in Feburary for everyone. In the meantime, how about another preview? Here’s my dad’s take on the bulette!

Clam Orcs (Bulette)

This is armor. There’s a creature inside here.
Lucian J. Introcaso

Clam orcs are pink aquatic humanoids that grow to be between two and three feet tall. The intelligent but physically weak humanoids use magic to grow armor they spend most of their wearing.

Magic Invention. Because of their ocean habitat, clam orcs cannot make crafts with fiery forges. Instead they use magic rituals that allow them to shape and grow flexible seashells as impenetrable as steel called brinehull. The orcs craft brinehull into fortified homes, tools, weapons, and the suits of armor clam orcs wear.

Vulnerable Without Armor. Sharks, plesiosaurs, orcas, and other aquatic predators find clam orcs easy prey out of their armor. These beasts know to stay away from this unique exoskeleton that bonds with the clam orc when donned, giving the humanoid protection, enhance strength, longer survivability, claws, and bite attack. Brinehull armor is magically enchanted so only clam orcs can bond with it.

Hidden and Protective. Clam orcs keep their homes on the floor of murky, shallow seas. They like to stay hidden, especially from other humanoids who would steal their brinehull growing and crafting techniques. Visitors in clam orc communities are treated with trepidation at best. The beings are quick to destroy anything they see as a potential threat.

When clam orcs face a threat they cannot overcome, they are willing to trade brinehull for mercenary services.

Clam Orc

Small humanoid, neutral

Armor Class 11

Hit Points 10 (3d6)

Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
6 (-2)	12 (+1)	10 (+0)	16 (+3)	14 (+2)	12 (+1)

Skills Arcana +5

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12

Languages Aquan, Common, Orc

Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)

Hold Breath. While out of water, the orc can hold its breath for 30 minutes.

Innate Spellcasting. The orc’s spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 13). The orc can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: mending

1/day each: fabricate, creation

Water Breathing. The orc can only breathe underwater.

Actions

Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.

Armored Clam Orc

Small humanoid, neutral

Armor Class 18 (brinehull armor)

Hit Points 33 (6d6 + 12)

Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
16 (+3)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)	14 (+2)	12 (+1)

Skills Arcana +5

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12

Languages Aquan, Common, Orc

Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Hold Breath. While out of water, the orc can hold its breath for 30 minutes.

Innate Spellcasting. The orc’s spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 13). The orc can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: mending

1/day each: fabricate, creation

Water Breathing. The orc can only breathe underwater.

Actions

Multiattack. The orc makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) slashing damage.

What Do You Think?

So how did Pop do? Let me know in the comments below.

Help Me Playtest

Want to playtest the clam orcs and any other critters my father creates? Sign up here. If you playtest these monsters, you’ll get a free PDF of the product and your name in the credits.

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My Dad’s Monster Manual – Ankheg

Inspiration / D&D, D&D5e, DnD, dungeons and dragons, Fifth Edition D&D, fifth edition Dungeons and Dragons, Monster, monster creation, monster design, monsters, My Dad's Monster Manual, world building, worldbuilding / 1 comment

January 23, 2020

You can order The Demonplague, my level 1 – 20 fifth edition adventure, right now!

Curious about My Dad’s Monster Manual? Check out my first post on the subject.

Time to show off another critter created by my father and I created! This time he totally rewrote the story of the ankheg. He saw them as wise, amphibious critters. Take a look!

Lobsteronian (Ankheg)

Oh! This creature is a wise creature.
Lucian J. Introcaso

Standing between five and eight feet tall, lobsteronians live in isolated swamp communities reminiscent of their home planet. They can live more than five hundred years, achieving adulthood around age twenty.

Interstellar Wise Folk. Lobsteronians seek enlightenment by teleporting to different planets in the Material Plane and learning about the world’s inhabitants. If well received, they may stay on a planet for a decade or more.

When lobsteronians come to a new planet, they make themselves comfortable in a remote swamp. Then they send out messengers to seek nearby communities and offer words of peace.

Lobsteronians never reveal the name of their planet to others for fear that they might lead enemies back to their people.

Gentle Advisors. All are welcome in a lobsteronian community. Intelligent, empathetic, and patient, loberstonians make excellent councilors, negotiators, and even interrogators. They enjoy learning and are happy to share the lore they’ve picked up over the years. Outsiders seeking lobsteronian skills or knowledge often find the aliens willing to trade for a service, such as a guided tour of nearby town, the procurement of an obscure tome, or the defeat of a monster harassing the colony.

Specialized Jobs. Every lobsteronian in a community is assigned a specialized job by a council of planners. All jobs are held in equal regard including the council. Cooks, warriors, and farmers are all important in the eyes of the community.

Lobsteronian

Medium humanoid, lawful good

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)

Hit Points 27 (5d8 + 5)

Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
14 (+2)	8 (-1)	12 (+1)	15 (+2)	17 (+3)	16 (+3)

Skills History +4, Insight +5, Persuasion +5

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive perception 13

Languages Common

Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Amphibious. The lobsteronian can breathe air and water.

Innate Spellcasting. The lobsteronian’s spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 13). The lobsteronian can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

1/day each: augury, teleport, zone of truth

Actions

Multiattack. The lobsteronian makes one attack with its bite and one attack with its claws.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d10 + 2) piercing damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it is grappled (escape DC 12). Until this grapple ends, the lobsteronian can bite only the grappled creature and has advantage on attack rolls to do so.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) slashing damage.

What Do You Think?

So how did Pop do? Let me know in the comments below.

Help Me Playtest

Want to playtest the lobesteronian and any other critters my father creates? Sign up here. If you playtest these monsters, you’ll get a free PDF of the product and your name in the credits.

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My Dad’s Monster Manual – Azer

General / D&D, D&D5e, dungeons and dragons, Fifth Edition D&D, Monster, monster creation, monster design, Monster Manual, My Dad's Monster Manual, world building, worldbuilding / 1 comment

January 16, 2020

You can order The Demonplague, my level 1 – 20 fifth edition adventure, right now!

Curious about My Dad’s Monster Manual? Check out my first post on the subject.

My father has always enjoyed a good story where a villain is defeated without violence. I suppose since he’s more an intellectual person than an athletic one (just like me), that is a very appealing thing. Brains over brawn! But more than seeing himself as the hero, I think my dad likes to believe that many people can change if the right person stands up to them. He values right over wrong and believes sometimes the simple equation of good is greater than evil should be enough to win the day alone.

Why bring this up? Because this philosophy of my father’s has led me down a road to an interesting game mechanic. Below is his take on the classic D&D azer! Instead of elemental, this fiery being is now a fiend from the Nine Hells called a burlon. Let me know what you think of the Intimidating Banishment feature this critter has in the comments below!

Burlon (Azer)

You can send them back to Hell by calling them out like bullies.
Lucian J. Introcaso

Havoc-wreaking fiends that serve devils, burlons are forces of chaos and destruction. As their fiery beards, hair, and weapons suggest, they just want the world to scream and burn.

Burlons have builds similar to dwarves.

Sold Chaotic Souls. When a devil acquires the soul of a truly chaotic humanoid via infernal contract, the reborn creature emerges from the River Styx not as a lemure but as a burlon. Even the magic current of the river could not wipe the chaos from the being’s soul. Though bound to the devil who made the deal, burlons are difficult to control and desire only fiery destruction.

Devil Dirty Work. Devils keep burlons contained and do not allow the chaotic fiends to fight in the Blood War. A burlon fighting along side a devil is just as likely to harm infernal ranks as abyssal. However, when a devil desires the total annihilation of an enemy outside of the Lower Planes, they send one or more burlons to wreak havoc. Burlons have gleefully burned entire cities of the Material Plane to the ground, showing the world their devil masters are not to be crossed.

Burning Bullies. Burlons take pleasure in fear and pain, but actually cannot stand being insulted. If a burlon on a plane other than the Nine Hells feels enough embarrassment or shame, the creature is instantly banished back to its infernal home.

Burlon

Medium fiend, chaotic evil

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)

Hit Points 75 (10d8 + 30)

Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
20 (+5)	12 (+1)	16 (+3)	10 (+2)	12 (+1)	16 (+3)

Damage Resistances cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks that aren’t silvered

Damage Immunities fire, poison

Condition Immunities poisoned

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive perception 11

Languages Infernal

Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

Heated Body. A creature that touches the burlon or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet of it takes 5 (1d10) fire damage.

Heated Weapons. When the burlon hits with a melee weapon, it deals an extra 3 (1d6) fire damage (included in the attack).

Illumination. The burlon sheds bright light in a 15-foot radius and dim light for an additional 15 feet.

Innate Spellcasting. The burlon’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). The burlon can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: fire bolt

1/day: fireball

Intimidating Banishment. When the burlon is on a plane that is not the Nine Hells and a creature that is not frightened within 30 feet of the burlon that the burlon can hear and understand uses an action to verbally embarrass, insult, or shame the burlon and succeeds on a DC 20 Charisma (Intimidation) check, the burlon is banished to its home in the Nine Hells.

Actions

Multiattack. The burlon uses Frightful Presence then makes two attacks.

Frightful Presence. Each creature of the burlon’s choice within 30 feet of it and aware of it must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, with disadvantage if the burlon is within line of sight, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the burlon’s Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.

Warhammer. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage, or 10 (1d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage if used with two hands to make a melee attack, plus 3 (1d6) fire damage.

What Do You Think?

So how did Pop do? And how did I do with that Intimidating Banishment feature? Let me know in the comments below.

Help Me Playtest

Want to playtest the burlon and any other critters my father creates? Sign up here. If you playtest these monsters, you’ll get a free PDF of the product and your name in the credits.

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My Dad’s Monster Manual – Beholder

Brass Tacks / DnD, DnD 5e, dungeons and dragons, Fifth Edition D&D, fifth edition Dungeons and Dragons, Monster, monster creation, monster design, Monster Manual, My Dad's Monster Manual / 28 comments

January 9, 2020

You can order The Demonplague, my level 1 – 20 fifth edition adventure, right now!

A couple weeks back I tweeted this:

#DMsGuild Product Idea: "My Dad's Monster Manual." I show my father art from the MM, ask him what he thinks each creature's name and lore is, then I restat them based on his responses. #DnD— James Introcaso (@JamesIntrocaso) December 23, 2019

I got such a great response from the tweet, that I decided to ask my father if he would do it. Great news! He’s on board. Today I’m going to tell you what he thinks of the beholder in a little preview for My Dad’s Monster Manual.

Idea of My Dad’s Monster Manual

I know it seems like My Dad’s Monster Manual is an excuse to make some weird dad jokes (and on some level, it totally will be), but the idea behind the book is a little deeper. D&D is filled with art of original creatures that make even the most seasoned fantasy nerds unfamiliar with the game scratch their head and think “What is that?” Sure they likely recognize the art of dragons and vampires, but show a Lord of the Rings fanatic unfamiliar with D&D lore a beholder or a bulette and watch as they ponder the possibilities of the unkown.

One creature image could evoke three different stories if shown to three different people who knew nothing about the monster depicted. Suddenly you would have three new uses for your aboleth miniature and a zillion ideas for new adventures! Much of the art in the Monster Manual shows only the creature with nothing to compare for size, so you could end up with baseball-sized beholders (as my father described them). You could rewrite many creatures in the Monster Manual just by chatting with someone unfamiliar. I really wanted to explore this idea with one of the best storytellers I have ever known.

A Bit About My Dad

My father, while not a D&D aficionado like me, does enjoy fantasy. He’s the one who introduced me to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings as a kid. This is the person who, along with my mother, sister, and brother, instilled a love of storytelling in me. Pop (as I call my dad) was always ready to give a fantastic made-up answer about what’s happening in an illustration or with a toy when I was a kid. He’s still great at it today with his grandchildren.

All this is to say, my dad is pretty great at making crap up. His answers about what a creature’s lore and abilities are deep, fun, and imaginative. There won’t be many creatures simply named “Bear Guy” or “Squid Face McGee” in My Dad’s Monster Manual.

It’s also important you know my dad’s background because he does know what some things in the Monster Manual are based on his experiences with genre fiction. Dragons, orcs, goblins, and a few other obvious creatures like mummies and vampires, are out based on the fact that he knows what those are. Similarly, if he happens to get a creature’s lore and abilities mostly correct, I’ll likely leave that on the cutting room floor too. Nobody needs a death dog simply renamed to be a killer canine.

So without further ado, I present to you my father’s version of a beholder.

Cryon (Beholder)

Their locomotion is that they roll. They pull with their eye arms, and they roll.
-Lucian J. Introcaso

Cryons pull their round, lumpy bodies with their eyestalks into areas of cover to search for small prey like insects and rodents. The grapefruit-sized aberrations also like to hide in wait to see if passersby fall for their latest pranks.

The skin of a cryon might be black, blue, brown, green, pink, purple, or any combination of these colors. Male cryons, called cryptos, have four eyestalks, while females, called cryptions, have ten.

Asteroid Riders. The planet cryons inhabited was torn asunder by an unknown phenomenon, but the aberrations endured on the pieces of that celestial body that now float through space. When one of these meteorites crashes on a new world, the cryons roll out and claim the surrounding land as their territory.

Cryons make their homes in the craters where their meteorites landed and can survive in any environment provided they have enough prey. The only reason cryons move out of their craters is because they have no nearby food sources or another creature removes what’s left of their meteorite from the crater. The aberrations are naturally drawn to their meteorites and willing to risk their lives to get back this piece of their old planet.

Dense Pranksters. Nothing amuses a cryon like a good prank, though they lack intelligence, so what seems like a hilarious goof to them is often at best uninspired and at worst deadly for the tricked creature. The aberrations are not smart enough to perform elaborate pranks or set complex traps. A joke that is immature or simple can make a cryon roll with laughter for minutes. Jumping out of hiding to scare someone else, hiding excrement in a place where another creature might step in it, biting a creature that least suspects it, creating a hidden tripping or falling hazard, or leading another creature into the den of a more powerful predator are all classic examples of a cryon prank.

The little aberrations have a psionically infectious laugh. When a cryon laughs, it often causes nearby creatures, including other cryons, to collapse with giggles.

Cryons do not prank each other. They watch the area around their craters carefully for unsuspecting victims. Most cryons cannot take what they dish out and react violently to being the butt of another creature’s joke.

Little Carnivores. Cryons take true pleasure in hunting and eating food. Many hunt and eat as a pleasurable pastime, even if they have already consumed their fill. Their prey generally consists of birds, insects, and rodents, but if it is starving, a pack of cryons hunt any creature they can find no matter the size. There is one exception: cryons never willingly harm another cryon.

Loyal to Other Cryons. Cryons have an innate loyalty toward one another even if they have never met. The little creatures often hunt and pull pranks together in packs. Their communities have no leaders as cryons always get along with and respect one another. Woe to adventurers who capture or harm one of these aberrations as nearby cryons always retaliate with swift ferocity.

Space Survivor. Cryons do not need air to breathe and can survive in outer space without any special equipment.

Cryon

Tiny aberration, chaotic neutral

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)

Hit Points 4 (1d4 + 2)

Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
6 (-2)	15 (+2)	14 (+2)	5 (-3)	12 (+1)	8 (-1)

Skills Perception +3, Stealth +6, Survival +3

Condition Immunities prone

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive perception 13

Languages Deep Speech

Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)

Pack Tactics. The cryon has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the cryon’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.

Actions

Multiattack. The cryon makes one eyestalk attack and one bite attack.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.

Eyestalk. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) bludgeoning damage.

Infectious Laugh. The cryon laughs wildly and wiggles its body in a hilarious manner. Each creature within 5 feet of the cryon that can see and hear it must succeed on a DC 9 Wisdom saving throw or fall into fits of laughter, falling prone and unable to stand up until the end of the cryon’s next turn.

What Do You Think?

So how did Pop do? Let me know in the comments below. If this is popular, there might be sequels in the works like My Niece’s Guide to Monsters and My Nephew’s Tome of Foes.

Help Me Playtest

Want to playtest the cryon and any other critters my father creates? Sign up here. If you playtest these monsters, you’ll get a free PDF of the product and your name in the credits.

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