Build a Better Monster Contest, Part II

[seneschal]

Tabanga

Source:  From Hell It Came (1957)

According to the movie's mythology, the Tabanga is a South Seas spirit of vengeance:  an 8-foot, 500-pound humanoid tree sprouted from the grave of a murdered person but rooted to the spot unless torn free by storms or cut free by a shaman attempting to control the demon.  Tough as the mobile stump it resembles, the Tabanga relentlessly stalks the people responsible for its murder but is perfectly willing to slaughter anyone else who crosses its path.  Slow but stealthy, it is infinitely patient, waiting in perfect silence and stillness along a path or among an often frequented grove for its prey.  Because it never speaks and can't be reasoned with, it is hard to determine exactly how intelligent the monster really is.  The Tabanga is apparently impervious to spears, arrows and bullets and seemingly resistant to fire.  It is vulnerable to certain ceremonial daggers, however.  It bleeds green sap if injured.

STR 40

CON 16

SIZ 25

INT 9

POW 14

DEX 8

Move:  5

Hit Points:  21

Damage Bonus:  +3d6

Armor:  20 kinetic, 4 heat

Attacks:  Brawl 40%, 1d4+3d6

Skills:  Hide 80%, Sense 70%, Stealth 75%, Track 55%

Failings:  Armor doesn't work vs. ceremonial dagger, 2x damage from ceremonial dagger

[Dethstrok9]

You should turn all this into a pdf on DriveThru. Very cool ideas

[seneschal]

Wish I  could.  Too many of them are from sources that aren't yet public domain.  Plus, you've already got 'em here for free, a gift to the BRP community.  I greatly appreciate the contributions of my fellow monster fans.

[Dethstrok9]

You could create a free pdf for ease of use and have it as a download here in the forums? IDK, great work though!

[TRose]

 Shape shifting animals are very common is Asian folklore and perhaps the most common are Foxes

  Japan has its Kitsune while in China its the Huli Jiang and in Korea its the Guhmiho .

 While the difference between the Kitusune and Huli Jiang is mostly Cultural as the Kitsune is often depicted as a loner and  mischievous seducer or a loyal wife while the Hul Jiang often belong to families and clans and family honor is important to many , The "good" Huli Jiang often falls in love with the hero and sacrifice her life for him  while the evil one tries to eat the hero. The Huli Jiang is often a very competent sorcerer and a good  martial artist 

As others have put out Figures for the Kitsune and Foxwoman I will not do so .. There are male Kitsune and Huli Jiang and the main difference seems to be the male spend more time at sword practice. A Hul Jiang clan leader  with with 90+ swords skill backed up by what ever magic system your game uses might not be some one you want to be mad at you. Just tell him your intention towards his little sister are pure and you will marry her as soon as time permits.

 NOw for the Guhmiho( Or Kumiho)

   Now Like many creatures of Folklore there are many folktale and many do not agree with others on habits power level etc. I am going to basing the Guhmiho on the following Korean shows . First is "Grudge, the Fox Child" , .Next is "Nine tailed fox:Forbidden Love" and last is "My girlfriend is a nine tailed fox"

    T he first thing is that unlike the Kitsune or Huli Jiang , The Guhmiho tends to be hostile to humans . They will slay a lone human caught trespassing on their territory with out any hesitation . To a powerful group or in a place where its dangerous to strike  they will  try to hide their nature and wait for an opportunity to strike a lone person. They are said to eat human liver , some saying they need to eat a human liver to survive( Some tales  say once a month, other say once a century) , other say they just like the taste.They are also notorious  grave robbers which where they often get their livers from the recently dead . Strangely they are devoted to their family. If a human marries a Gumiho they are safe from their depredations and will be a devoted spouse. And they are devoted and loving parents to their children even if the child is half human . Woe to the person who hurts their child as they will go to the ends of the earth for vengeance . But the person who rescue or save their child they will also remember and future encounters will be friendly and the Gumiho might even help as long as her/his identity will not be exposed.

Human/Hybrid form

 haractteristics                            average

 STR 3d6+8.                                  18-19

CON 2d6+6(12)                            13(16-17)        

SIZ   2d6+6                                  13

INT 2d6+6                                    13

POW 2D6+3                                 10

DEX 2d6+6                                   13                                

CHA 2d6+8                                 15

Fox form

STR 2d6+6                                 13

CON 2d6+6(12)                        13(16-17)

SIZ 1d4+1                                 3-4

INT 2D6+6                                 13

Pow 2d6+3                               10

DEX 4d6+6                               20

Cha 2d6+8                               15

MAGIC

Gumihos are not known to cast spells of any type. whether its because no one will teach them or they are incapable is not known .But they have some innate magical abilities.The first and most important is their Fox pill . The Gumiho keep their fox spill in their stomach but can retrieve it in one round if need be and loan it to some one if they like  ..The first thing a fox pill does  does  is it   adds+6 to the con of who ever possess it.( Note the +6(+12) on the Gumiho Con is with/ without Fox pill)  T he second is it allows the person who has it to heal one point of damage each hour . There is no way known to force a Gumiho to give up their fox pill involuntary . They have to agree to it and will only do so for desperate situations Like a Mother giving her Fox pill to her badly injured half human daughter( Who was not mature enough to have her own pill) to save her lifeAnother magic ability for Gumihos is they are a great source for magical ingredients.. If you bah your skin in Gumiho blood it takes years off your appearance. A Gumiho leg bone can be used to make a magic want and if you add the Gumiho tail as a tassel to a magic wand it increase its power . And a Gumiho liver is a wonder medicine able to cure many ailments. Gumiho know this and perhaps one reason Gumiho are hostile to human is they are not fond of being hunted for magical ingredients 

 Skills. A Gumiho skill choices are similar to a human .. In Joseon Korea weapons where strictly controlled so chances of a Gumiho ever touching a sword or spear are low . But they are able to form claws that do 1d6  plus damage bonus and learn  martial arts. in other society they may vry

Dodge 80% Martial arts 60% , claw 65% spot 80% listen 80% hide 75% Knowledge skill herbs 70%

 

Edited June 27, 2020 by TRose

[seneschal]

I like your write-up.  You made fox spirits dangerous but not ridiculously overpowered.  You might want to double-check the formatting to improve your entry's clarity.

I have to wonder, with all the large predators available why did certain cultures in Asia and North America decide that a Chihuahua-sized canine was the critter to be afraid of?  Sure, they're fast, agile, sneaky, and adept at snatchIng chickens and pets -- but so is a coyote, and foxes don't hunt in packs.  What made the fox the creature to fear?

On the other hand ... 

 

Edited June 27, 2020 by seneschal

[TRose]

1 hour ago, seneschal said:

I like your write-up.  You made fox spirits dangerous but not ridiculously overpowered.  You might want to double-check the formatting to improve your entry's clarity.

I have to wonder, with all the large predators available why did certain cultures in Asia and North America decide that a Chihuahua-sized canine was the critter to be afraid of?  Sure, they're fast, agile, sneaky, and adept at snatchIng chickens and pets -- but so is a coyote, and foxes don't hunt in packs.  What made the fox the creature to fear?

On the other hand ... 

 

 Thanks for the reply. Might point out Nine tailed fox are not a creature of fear in China as a physical threat.. But are some times feared as a threat to the sanctity of the family. In China even today  to call a woman a white fox or a nine tailed fox is to say she is an adulteress or a Mistress.

[1d8+DB]

Short-tailed River Stingray

 

 

Any fans of “River Monsters” here?

 

 

A menace to the people and animals that live along sub-tropical rivers; not because they're particularly aggressive, but because when resting in the shallows, these animals are almost perfectly camouflaged, and when stepped on they lash out powerfully with a bodkin-like spine in their muscular tail.

A spine covered with a mucus that hosts colonies of flesh-eating bacteria.

 

The saucer like body of these creatures can reach a diameter of over 1.5 meters and weight of 220 kg. Note that the characteristic ranges provided are intended to represent the rare 'giants' among these animals.

 

 

STR 2d6+6 (14)

CON 3d6 (9)

SIZ 4d6+6 (20)

DEX 2d6+6 (14)

INT 2

POW 3d6 (9)

APP –

 

Hit Points: 14

Damage

Bonus: +1d6

Armor: 3 points leathery hide

Move: 10 (Swimming)

 

 

 

Attack: Tail-lash(with spine)

%: 30+3d10

Damage: 1d6+1+DB

Notes:  Impaling. When using hit-locations, against bipeds and quadrupeds most likely locations

are going to be the lower limbs.

Necrotic Toxin

POT 16. Causes suppurating wounds that are very slow to heal (1d4 additional points

of damage every 24 hours would be one possible option.)

 

Skills:

 

Hide against river bottom 80%.

 

 

 

The Supernatural Variant.

 

For a fantasy or horror game. INT is now 3d6 and POW 3d6+6. The toxin requires a difficult ritual to stop the gangrene-like decay (most likely involving a contest of POW between the healer and the 'devil-ray'). Those who succumb to the toxin leave their graves shortly there-after, shambling to the river where the ray dwells. There they burrow into the gelatinous mud at the river's bottom. They're now the undead servitors of the creature, a kind of aquatic zombie. Each ray will have 1d6 such zombie slaves. These rays are also very like to have some sorcery. Common spells possessed by a 'death-ray' are: Summon Water Elemental, Sorcerer's Armor, Sorcerer's Razor, and Summon Demon. Any summoned demons will have an affinity for water and aquatic environments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 20, 2022 by 1d8+DB