Su-monsters (pronounced: /ˈsuːmɑːnstɜːrz/ SOO-man-sturz[7]) were evil primate-like creatures with innate psionic abilities.[3]
Description[]
Su-monsters had gorilla-like heads, attached to a canine physique, with broad chests and thin, tapered waists. Their four prehensile limbs were tipped with sharp nails,[4][3] which alongside their prehensile tails made them adept climbers.[5] They could suspend themselves upside-down, and often used this to their advantage when hunting for prey.[3]
The creatures had filthy gray fur, black faces, and blood-red paws. They were known to inhabit both underground areas as well as open-air wilderness, [4] in a wide variety of different environments, and in both tropical and temperate climates.[8]
Personality[]
Evil and chaotic by nature,[3] it was a matter of debate among druids whether su-monsters were considered sentient or not. Beseeching his god, Silvanus, the druid Newander was able to determine the primates as self-aware, and thus fair game to kill.[5]
Combat[]
Su-monsters often lurked hanging upside down while waiting for prey to pass them by.[4]
In addition to fighting using their jaws and extremely sharp nails, su-monsters possessed a limited amount of psionic ability.[4][3] They were also known to fight by picking up and throwing rocks.[5]
Society[]
Su-monsters were most often found in groups of up to twelve individuals,[9][4] often forming family units consisting of two adults, one male and one female, along with several offspring. If an individual member of the family was threatened, the other members would fight ferociously in their defense.[3]
Homelands[]
Su-monsters typically inhabited forsaken areas of wilderness or underground lairs.[4] They were particularly known to be found in the Snowflake Mountains as of 1361 DR,[5] and were prevalent on the Yadd al-Djinni islands of Zakhara's Crowded Sea in the same period.[6][note 2]
In the Lands of Intrigue, su-monsters could be found on the island of Olodel.[10]
The su-monsters residing on the island of Taramuri in Kozakura possessed such ferocity that they effectively deterred fishermen from establishing a village on the island or venturing into its interior.[11]
Relationships[]
Su-monsters were known to form temporary and chaotic partnerships with keches. Together the groups of ravenous keches and su-monsters were known to ravage through villages in or close to forests, leaving no survivors. These raids were generally commenced in moonless nights but the partnerships never lasted due to unruly natures of all parties involved.[12]
Notable Su-monsters[]
Wongo, one of the Nine Trickster Gods of Chult, was a su-monster.[13]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ The precise alignment for su-monsters is not specified in Eldritch Wizardry, and only given as "Chaotic" in the Monster Manual, but they are stated as being "evil and chaotic things" in the former.
- ↑ Canon material does not provide dating for the Al-Qadim campaign setting. For the purposes of this wiki only, the current date for Al-Qadim products is assumed to be 1367 DR.
Appearances[]
- Adventures
- Tomb of Annihilation
- Novels
- Canticle
- Video Games
- Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms
- Board Games
- Tomb of Annihilation
- Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
- A Day at the Races
Further Reading[]
- Matthew Schutt (March 1991). “The Ecology of the Su-Monster”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #167 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 20–22.
- Bruce R. Cordell (2001-03-30). More Psionic Monsters (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for Psionics Handbook. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2018-09-10.
References[]
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, Will Doyle, Steve Winter (September 19, 2017). Tomb of Annihilation. Edited by Michele Carter, Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 232. ISBN 978-0-7869-6610-3.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Steve Winter (1991). The Complete Psionics Handbook. (TSR, Inc.), p. 121. ISBN 1-56076-054-0.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Gary Gygax and Brian Blume (1976). Eldritch Wizardry. (TSR, Inc.), p. 39.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 93. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 R.A. Salvatore (August 16, 2011). Canticle (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), locs. 1007–1045. ISBN B005899T7I.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 David Cook (October 1992). “The Djinni's Claws”. In Bill Slavicsek ed. Golden Voyages (TSR, Inc.), p. 3. ISBN 978-1560763314.
- ↑ Frank Mentzer (January 1985). “Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #93 (TSR, Inc.), p. 30.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), pp. 139–153. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ Gary Gygax and Brian Blume (1976). Eldritch Wizardry. (TSR, Inc.), p. 27.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 141. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
- ↑ Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume II). (TSR, Inc), p. 132. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
- ↑ Tony Jones (February 1989). “The Ecology of the Kech”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #142 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 26–28.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, Will Doyle, Steve Winter (September 19, 2017). Tomb of Annihilation. Edited by Michele Carter, Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 256. ISBN 978-0-7869-6610-3.