(I) Humanoid Monsters

[Admin Pete]

Please note that this is just one take on Humanoid Monsters and that it is subject to change at any time.

Humanoid monsters are formed through abiogenesis; however, IMCs this is an unnatural process and it the interaction of Chaos and Evil acting on the slime, muck, manure and decayed things giving rise to the spontaneous appearance of the humanoid monsters (Goblins, Kobolds, Orcs, Hobgoblins, Gnolls, Bugbears, Ogres and Trolls). This is the leading reason why they are at odds with player character races and why they are implacable foes and can never be redeemed. Sometimes it is possible for the PCs to bluff and bargain their way out of situations if the monsters are not confident of victory.


* Some races that can then carry on their race through normal means tend to be less belligerent towards other lifeforms as they have developed inside a nurturing or semi-nurturing social structure. These races did not arise through abiogenesis and Centaurs are an example.

* Some races, like Goblins, Kobolds, Orcs, Hobgoblins, Gnolls, Bugbears, Ogres and Trolls, form as fully fledged adults. They have no concept of family or rearing children, since they have no families or children. They rarely show any empathy towards other lifeforms and respond well only to signs of strength. This is what makes them so dangerous: they are mostly psychopaths.

* Females can form for races that do not breed normally, but will be sterile. Female ogres for example.

Each type is its own species and can not breed at all or interbreed with any of the others, all are Chaotic and will detect as evil. None of them are dog, hyena or pig like in anyway in their appearance. From time to time you can find any or all of them working together:

[Admin Pete]

Goblins – These are the smallest of the evil humanoid monsters, not very bright, extremely dirty, completely untrustworthy with any third party, very loyal to each other but only with regard to outsiders so if you kill one you have picked a fight with all of them. Otherwise they happily stab each other in the back. They have a keen since of spell and excellent night vision and are excellent trackers. They always try to avoid full daylight, as they do not see well in daylight and it is painful for them. They are barely 3 feet tall. They are not complete cowards and like to have huge numerical advantages when the attack armed creatures. They like to prey on the weak or small groups. They are cave dwellers.

[Admin Pete]

Kobolds – These are much the same as goblins; however they are brighter and craftier, good at tactics and will negotiate to buy time to gain an advantage, but they will not keep an agreement that is not entirely to their advantage. They stand about 4 1/2 feet tall and are less cowardly than goblins and they can be surprisingly hard to defeat. They love traps and ambushes. They prefer to prey on the weak or small groups, but under the right conditions they can take down merchant caravans and other larger groups. They are cave dwellers.

[Admin Pete]

Orcs – They divide themselves into numerous tribes spread across the world, warlike, cruel and bloodthirsty, almost as intelligent as men but due to their nature they do not progress very much. They are low in wisdom and are content to live on the spoils of war. They will negotiate and but rarely keep their agreements, there are times when the can be traded with, but watch your back. They live in villages and caves. They are not pig faced, but do have a very prominent long jaw and a sloping forehead. When large numbers of them arise they will form into armies that march on the nearest civilized area to burn and pillage and reclaim territory for themselves. Orcs average about 6 1/2 feet in height.

[Admin Pete]

Hobgoblins – Everything you can say about goblins and kobolds applies to hobgoblins except they are about the same intelligence as humans and are like orcs in being warlike, cruel and bloodthirsty and savage. Hobgoblins average about 7 feet in height and are fearless. They are favored by other races as elite troops, whereas orcs are viewed as cannon fodder to use a more modern term.

[Admin Pete]

Gnolls – a sterile cross of gnomes and trolls that were initially created by an insane but powerful chaotic magic-user and since have begun to form by abiogenesis. They were created as body guards and when the wizard was destroyed by the demonic forces he was trying to control, this resulted in the few gnolls that existed being released into the wild. They combine the intelligence of gnomes and the brute strength and vitality of trolls. They do regenerate to the extent of healing even major wounds, but they will not regenerate missing limbs or from death. They do have the large gnome nose and the black glossy hide of the troll but without the rubbery qualities. The average gnoll is about 6 feet tall.

[Admin Pete]

Bugbears – are nearly as large as ogres and are powerful vicious fighters with abnormally long arms and fast reflexes making them deadly fighters. They have a large round head that looks much too big for their bodies with a thick powerful neck. Their eyes glow yellow-green as do their teeth which are like a sharks. The average bugbear is about 8 feet tall.

[Admin Pete]

Ogres – are very large and have powerful very heavily muscled builds with broad shoulders and very large hands, there is no quit in an ogre, they can often be found with mixed parties of other monsters. The average ogre runs 9-10 feet tall and weighs around 700-800 lbs.

[Admin Pete]

Trolls – Most trolls that adventurers will encounter run from 7-10 feet tall and weigh from 300-600 lbs. They look nothing like most illustrations I have seen, the most common troll has a black or blue-black glossy rubbery hide; however there are many different types of trolls, some of which have long hair that changes color with the season and the location they are found. Trolls, like dragons, are immortal unless they die by violence. Although rare there are rumors of trolls that are 10's of thousands of years old or even older. The average troll is a mindless hungry eating machine that feeds and sleeps. But it is said that if they live long enough that their intelligence grows to the point that they become sentient and thus obtain the skills and craftiness to grow even older. If pieces of a troll are separated by at least a mile each piece will grow into a complete troll.