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Bugbear

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A bugbear was a massive humanoid distantly related to, but larger and stronger than, goblins and hobgoblins. Like many goblinoids, bugbears spoke the Goblin language.[10]

DescriptionEdit

Bugbears resembled hairy, feral goblins standing 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall. They took their name from their noses and claws, which were similar to those of bears.[11] Their claws were not long and sharp enough to be used as weapons, so bugbears often armored and armed themselves with a variety of purloined gear.[4] Most often, this gear was second-rate and in poor repair. Many bugbears were chaotic evil in alignment, favoring stealth and surprising their opponents.[10]

PersonalityEdit

Bugbears, like other goblinoids, had a reputation for being dim-witted and brutish. This claim was not unfounded and like their kin bugbears had easily provoked tempers and were prone to rages. Few bugbears overcame this flaw and their culture's brutal nature. Bugbear heroes, though rare, were heard of and could acquire significant renown if successful. Often the motivation for this change of heart came from the rewards earned from virtue, which in the long term were more pleasing than the short-lasting pleasures of evil.[12]

CombatEdit

Bugbear and giant rats-5e

Balsag and his two giant rats standing guard in an underground chamber near Thundertree.

Unlike most creatures, bugbears were particularly susceptible to the effects of Bowen's flowers, which would knock them out within minutes.[13]

SocietyEdit

Bugbears were often found in the company of other goblinoids, particularly goblins, since tribes made up mostly of hobgoblins and bugbears tended to be wiped out quickly by other races as a precaution.[12] Some bugbears also operated independently, though tribes ruled by hobgoblins were better organized and less savage. This was in part because bugbears had little patience for diplomacy or negotiation, preferring violent solutions to conflicts unless obviously overpowered.[3]

ReligionEdit

Bugbears had their own pantheon, led by Hruggek. Bugbears often decapitated their enemies as a way to honor Hruggek, who was said to do the same.[3] Since the Spellplague of 1385 DR, the power of Hruggek was diminished and the god served as an exarch of Bane, the god of tyranny.[14]

Other bugbear deities included Grankhul the bugbear deity of hunting, senses, stealth, and surprise;[15][16] and Skiggaret. Local pantheons often included a god of earth, a god of fertility, and a god of death.[17]

HistoryEdit

Many scholars of the late 14th century DR believed that bugbears and goblins were both bred by the hobgoblins as slave races, with bugbears serving as elite soldiers.[3]

AppendixEdit

“
One useful trick: if ye face bugbears who have severed heads on spikes as trophies, cast a spell to make the heads speak. After that, ye can cozen the bugbears into doing almost anything.
— Elminster[9]
”

AppearancesEdit

Adventures
City of the Spider Queen • Defiance in Phlan • Expedition to Undermountain • Eye of the Tempest • Hordes of Dragonspear • Nymph's Reward • Reclaiming Blingdenstone • Storm King's Thunder • Tales from the Yawning Portal • The Accursed Tower • The Dungeon of Death • Waterdeep
Comics
Legends of Baldur's Gate 3 • The Bounty Seekers Of Manshaka
Referenced only
Shackles of the Past • Shell Game
Novels
Canticle • Charon's Claw • Condemnation • Dissolution • Exile • Forsaken House • Homeland • In Sylvan Shadows • Neversfall • Realms of Shadow: "The Fallen Lands" • Sword Play • The Summoning • The Siege • The Sorcerer • War in Tethyr
Video games
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance • Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear • Curse of the Azure Bonds • Dungeon Hack • Eye of the Beholder • Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone • Gateway to the Savage Frontier • Hillsfar • Icewind Dale • Icewind Dale II • Neverwinter Nights • Neverwinter Nights 2 • Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate • Pool of Radiance • Secret of the Silver Blades • Sword Coast Legends

GalleryEdit

External LinksEdit

ReferencesEdit

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 32. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Wizards RPG Team (2014). Monster Manual 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 33. ISBN 978-0786965614.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 135–136. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual 3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 29. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 136. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 12. ISBN 0-9356-9600-8.
  7. ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 221. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  8. ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 137. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Wizards RPG Team (2016). Volo's Guide to Monsters. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 44–45. ISBN 978-0786966011.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Wizards RPG Team (2016). Volo's Guide to Monsters. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 119. ISBN 978-0786966011.
  11. ↑ David "Zeb" Cook et al. (1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume One. (TSR, Inc), p. 17. ISBN 0-8803-8738-6.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Rob Heinsoo, Logan Bonner, Robert J. Schwalb (September 2008). Forgotten Realms Player's Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 20. ISBN 978-0-7869-4929-8.
  13. ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “The Thunder Peaks and the Storm Horns”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 9. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
  14. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 180. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  15. ↑ Carl Sargent (May 1992). Monster Mythology. (TSR, Inc), p. 53. ISBN 1-5607-6362-0.
  16. ↑ Eric L. Boyd (1998). Demihuman Deities. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 151. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
  17. ↑ Carl Sargent (May 1992). Monster Mythology. (TSR, Inc), p. 44. ISBN 1-5607-6362-0.

ConnectionsEdit

Goblinoids
Goblins
Bakemono • Batiri • Grodd goblin • Nilbog
Miscellaneous Goblinoids
Bugbear • Dekanter goblin • Half-goblin • Hobgoblin • Koalinth • Verdan • Worghest
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