A&D Creatures

Intelligent Species

Colos

The most common intelligent creature in The Dark Woods is the colo. Colos come from a world like Earth's Triassic period. There they thrived as their homeworld's foremost predator, having a strong pack hunting instinct. These bird-like humanoids reproduce faster than humans, but have a naturally shorter life span than humans. Colo cultures tend to be focused on heroic accomplishments, often in the form of collecting impressive hunting trophies.

Colos were intentionally introduced to The Dark Woods by the Order of Thanatos. This ancient order wished to end the practice of sorcery in The Dark Woods. The colos they brought were indoctrinated and trained by the order, so that most of the Colos claim the Order of Thanatos as their religion.

Most of colo society in The Dark Woods is focused on a crusade to hunt and destroy all the sorcerers in The Dark Woods. These colos live in forts filled with many large families. The social structure is miltaristic, with each fort being led by a "captain" and his many "officers." (Many a sorcerer have commented that colos "taste like chicken," but many more have found themselves overwhelmed and executed by colos.)

Heavily armored and well trained Colo Crusaders (1 stalking, 2 fighting, 2 shooting, 3 toughness, 1 tgh/2, 12 defense) on a routine patrol notice the PCs, and attack in righteous fury at the PC's obvious acceptance of sorcery.

Dryads

Walking, talking plant-hybrid humanoids have been found in The Dark Woods called Dryads. The Dryads are covered in protective bark, have long noses, have two arms and long torsos, and walk on two legs. The Dryads are fast healers, and consider themselves to be guardians of The Dark Woods. The Dryad culture is the only culture void of taboos against sorcery in The Dark Woods. Dryad sorcerers have been known to take the form of hulking trolls or walking tentacled trees.

Dryad Druids (3 stalking, 3 wrestling, 1 knockout, 5 tgh/2, 13 defense) ambush the PCs after overhearing the PCs environmentally unsound plans for The Dark Woods once they have taken the reigns from Kaizen.

Morlocks

Morlocks are subterranean humanoids with large dark eyes and pale, yellowish or gray skin. They are mostly or entirely bald and have tiny ears and flat noses. Morlocks evolved from humans before discovering the Dark Woods, while exploring time and space. Morlocks are excellent climbers. Sorcerers that were once Morlocks often have telekinetic powers that allow them to levitate things, climb on ceilings or leap unnaturally high.

Morlock settlements are always found underground, and are often organized into industrial communes called "unions." Some settlements have been discovered that have been ruled by sorcerers, generally referred to as "Morlock Cults."

Most morlocks have at least 2 toughness because the are man sized, and have at least 1 acrobatics because of their natural spelunking tendencies.

Nagas

Nagas are serpentine creatures with a humanoid head, arms and upper body attached to the lower body and tail of a very large snake. They specialize in paralyzing their opponents with venom. Nagas are descents of human treasure hunters who settled in The Dark Woods, who over generations have been warped by the essence. Nagas scavenge The Dark Woods seeking treasure to horde, and get violently territorial about ruins they think hold valuable secrets.

The PCs are ambushed by naga bandits (3 knockout, 2 stalking, 1 fighting, 2 toughness, 1 tgh/2, 12 defense) interested in any artifacts the PCs may have found in their travels.

Raptors

Raptors are man-sized dinosaur predators from a world similar to Earth's Cretaceous period. It is not clear if they gained human like intelligence before or after wandering into The Dark Woods, but now they have numerous tribal settlements throughout The Dark Woods.

The typical raptor would have at least 2 toughness because they are man sized, 1 stalking because of enhanced natural senses, and 2 fighting because of their fearsome sickle claws and killer reflexes.

Seekers

The seekers come from a swampy world of giant insects with an atmosphere stiflingly rich in oxygen. Seekers walk on two legs, have wickedly sharp tails, are mostly covered in exoskeletal armor, and have elongated heads, 3 eyes and four arms. Seeker technology avoids volatile chemistry and fire, and specializes in medicine, biochemistry, and preserving knowledge.

Seekers hatch from egg clutches numbering in the hundreds, and seekers are under pressure to make a name for themselves as individuals. Seeker culture is highly intellectual, and Seekers are constantly exploring to find new knowledge to bring home to their hive. Seekers are constantly taking samples and notes, making observations from afar, and conducting impromptu interviews when appropriate for their studies. Sorcerers tendency towards developing unique anatomy is of particular interest to seeker abductors. Seekers have been known to take temporary captives simply to observe their behavior, to murder and preserve intelligent specimens with no warning, or to join causes simply for the opportunity to study a group from the inside.

Seekers do not have significant permanent settlements in The Dark Woods, but frequently study The Dark Woods in depth, and use The Dark Woods to access the numerous worlds The Dark Woods is connected to.

Well armed Seeker Abductors (3 fighting, 1 stalking, 4 toughness, 2tgh/2, 12 defense) have not seen all of your PC's specific anatomy before, and wish to collect you as samples to be studied on their home world.

Striders

Striders are bipedal canine lagomorphs. They are only coincidentally human-like. They have long floppy ears and short snouts with ape-like lips. Striders have a low center of gravity, more suited to staying on the ground than high-flying acrobatics. Striders are warriors who crave competition and glory. They have a strong natural instinct for loyalty, and are often employed as mercenaries in The Dark Woods.

Most striders have at least 2 toughness because they are man sized.

Varana

Varana descended from human treasure hunters who established permanent settlements in The Dark Woods. Over the generations the essence of The Dark Woods has transformed them into a race of lizard men. Varana scavenge The Dark Woods seeking treasure to horde, and even get violently territorial about ruins they think hold particularly valuable secrets.

Most varana have at least 2 toughness because they are man sized, and 1 knockout because they are have a venomous bite.

Wargs

One common way for humanoids to adapt to the hostile environment of The Dark Woods is to become more wolf like. Most of these "wargs" are usually hard to kill, have enhanced natural senses, have sharp fangs and claws and enhanced strength.

Warg Hunters (2 stalking, 2 quickness, 2 fighting, 1 shooting, 3 toughness, 1 tgh/2, and 12 defense) are out looking for food, and your PCs are the least threatening prey they have seen all day.

Other Animals

Squid, Giant

Giant squid (4 wrestling, 4 swimming, 2 stalking, 4 toughness, 2 tgh/2, 14 defense) are 500 kg (1100 lb,) 14 meter (46 foot) long, cephalopods. In spite of their enormous size giant squid are elusive creatures - living almost exclusively in deep oceans.

Other Creatures

Ghouls

Ghouls are undead who develop grotesque mutations. They can absorb the aggressive and defensive characteristics of whatever they eat. Unlike the Sorcerers of The Dark Woods, ghouls can absorb abilities and features from creatures that have no magical essence. (See Sorcerer.) It is thought that the Ghouls are from the outbreak that destroyed the home world of the Order of Thanatos, and that the order believes that somehow the Ghouls and the essence of The Dark Woods are related. Creatures killed by ghouls often rise as ghouls themselves if they have not been eaten.

Most ghouls have at least 3 toughness because they are man sized, and hard to kill because of survival mutations, and 1 fighting from survival mutations that act as natural weapons.

Gryphons

Gryphons combine the wings, head and talons of an gigantic eagle combined with the body and four legs of a lion.

Gryphons of The Dark Woods are often colo sorcerors who have acquired attributes of big cats and predatory birds on their way toward becoming dragons. Colo gryphons sometimes have unusual features like stripes, spots, leathery bat wings or feathered tails. (See Colo, Dragon.)

Most gryphons have at least 3 toughness because they are bigger than most humans, and 1 flight because they can fly, and 2 fighting because of their warlike disposition and natural weapons.

Hungry Ghouls

Ghouls are undead who develop grotesque mutations. They can absorb the aggressive and defensive characteristics of whatever they eat. Unlike the Sorcerers of The Dark Woods, ghouls can absorb abilities and features from creatures that have no magical essence. (See Sorcerer.) It is thought that the Ghouls are from the outbreak that destroyed the home world of the Order of Thanatos, and that the order believes that somehow the Ghouls and the essence of The Dark Woods are related. Creatures killed by ghouls often rise as ghouls themselves if they have not been eaten.

Hungry Ghouls (1 wrestling, 2 fighting, 3 toughness, 1 tgh/2) from a fallen world have wandered into The Dark Woods in search of flesh, and attack the PCs in ravenous desperation.