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Late Entries to a Survey of Bestiaries
The staff of the Poison Pie Publishing House assembled a survey of one hundred bestiaries, posting an entry on their blog for each day from June 1, 2016 to September 8, 2016. When they were done, there were additional bestiaries that they did not want to omit entirely. This page lists latecomers to the survey added monthly in 2024.
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January 6, 2024
Pokénatomy II
author: Christopher Stoll
interior artist: Christopher Stoll
cover artist: Aaron Hain
publisher: self-published
publication date: 2022
cover: hardcover
number of pages: 216
ISBN-10: none
ISBN-13: none
description: This second unofficial Pokédex contains anatomical descriptions of 100 Pokémon from the Johto region.
Our featured entry from this bestiary is girafarig.
CHARACTERISTICS
Girafarig are twin-headed mammalian Pokeémon remakrable for their gestalt consciousness partitioned across two fully functional brains. Each head is capable of functioning while the other is asleep, and they take turns watching for threats.
PHYSIOLOGY
Girafarig is considered omnivorous. The forward-facing head is capable of eating seeds, nuts, leaves, and other vegetative matter. Their hind-head is carnivorous and will consumer carrion, eggs, insects, and even live mammals. Both heads' digestive tracts converge in a single colon where waste is combined and excreted.
Girafarig are distantly related to Stantler, and it is believed that their unique physiology may have originated when an extra-dimensional organism such as Unown successfully fused with their ancestor.
Each head contains a singular consciousness capable of communicating and even solving simple puzzles under laboratory conditions. Their nervous systems are
interconnected via the spinal column, which allows for the sharing of sensory data and emotions, as well as strategic coordination in life-or-death situations.
BEHAVIOR
Mating takes place in spring. In a complex courtship display, males dance while rapidly raising and lowering both of their heads. Only the front head is attached to the respiratory system and capable of making sounds. The front head lets out a series of inviting calls, while the tail chatters its teeth. These dances typically end in rejection, as both of the female's heads must find a potential partner attractive in order to mate. If they enjoy the male's display, the two Girafarig will bond. The couple then dig and defend a nest, remaining monogamous partners until their first young have hatched and are strong enough to survive on their own.
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February 3, 2024
Tome of Beasts III
lead designers: Scott Gable, Richard Green, Kelly Pawlik, Sebastian Rombach, Mike Welham et al.
development lead: Meagan Maricle
interior artists: Miguel Regodón Harkness et al.
cover artist: Chris Rallis
publisher: Kobold Press
publication date: 2022
cover: hardcover
number of pages: 424
ISBN-10: 1-950789-39-X
ISBN-13: 978-1-950789-39-9
description: This bestiary presents more than 400 beasts. The book is compatible with 5th edition of Dungeons and Dragons.
Our featured entry from this bestiary is the tuberkith.
Tuberkith are root vegetables given sentience by fey magic.
After a rural village offended the local fey court, its unseelie
ruler condemned the villagers to watch their year's harvest
uproot itself and walk away, leaving them to starve. Potatoes,
beets, yaro, and yams crawled free from the soil and strolled
about the village.
The fey lord's curse did not work out as intended: Instead
of fleeing into the surrounding wilderness, the tuberkith
became quite social. They exhibited a natural predisposition for
managing crops and happily supported the villagers' farming
efforts in growing additional food. The tuberkith settled among
the villagers and formed families, becoming a blessing in the
long run.
FRIENDS IN THE FIELD. Tuberkith form strong relationships
with the communities around them, who cherish the tuberkith's
natural connection to the fields they work. They seem to
especially enjoy working with humans, halflings, and erina.
PLANTING OFFSPRING. When reproducing, both tuberkith
parents plant an eye in the ground. The parents tend to the
burgeoning roots for three months, then they pull the new
offspring from the ground.
DEFENSIVE WEAPONS. Like other cultures, tuberkith have
developed weapons to defend themselves from predators and
foes. The tuberkith wield two-handed mashers, which can knock
their foes to the ground, while allies use one-handed peelers to
effortlessly slice flesh from the prone enemies.
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March 2, 2024
Monster Manual Expanded
authors: Mannix "Dragonix" Manansala
interior artist: Art of Neight et al.
cover artist: Ruben de Vela
publisher: Dungeon Masters Guild
publication date: 2019
cover: hardcover
number of pages: 320
ISBN-10: 0-01-064137-8
ISBN-13: 237-0-01-064137-0
description: This bestiary contains descriptions of 470 creatures. This book is compatible with the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons Role Playing Game.
Our featured entry from this bestiary is the urophion.
When a roper is infected with an illithid tadpole, it undergoes ceremorphosis and transforms the roper into a urophion. Mind flayers usually create urophions to serve as guards.
Urophions see themselves as intellectual equals to mind flayers. However, mind flayers treat urophions as social outcasts are either shunned or ignored. Years of this kind of treatment may drive a urophion insane, causing it to attack its kin. Others escape their servitude and wander off into the Underdark. If they encounter an intelligent creature, they may not be automatically hostile, as it longs to have a decent conversation. That is until it realizes it is hungry and starts to crave the creature's brain.
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April 6, 2024
Monster Manual Expanded II
authors: Mannix "Dragonix" Manansala
interior artist: Arthur Azaryan et al.
cover artists: Joshua Raphael & Wilson Nugrahaa
publisher: Dungeon Masters Guild
publication date: 2019
cover: hardcover
number of pages: 312
ISBN-10: 0-01-064139-4
ISBN-13: 237-0-01-064139-4
description: This bestiary contains descriptions of 390 creatures. This book is compatible with the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons Role Playing Game.
Our featured entry from this bestiary is the doomsphere.
Urban legends speak of the bodies of adventurers who were
unfortunate enough to encounter the ghostly globe of death.
Lifeless bodies frozen in fear and anguish, no one can tell how
they came to their gruesome ends. Perhaps this spectral beholder
passed through their bodies, its necrotic touch corrupting flesh
and bone. Or perhaps one look at its pale, abhorrent visage was
enough to drain the life out of its victims.
Mad Orb of Undeath. A doomsphere is the restless spirit of
a beholder that spawned after its death due to a curse or was
created by powerful necromantic magic. In extremely rare
instances, a beholder that sought lichdom but failed in the ritual
would instead return as a doomsphere. The creature retains
almost all of its arsenal of abilities, save a few that have changed
due to undeath. Most, but not all, tend to become insane after this
ghastly reincarnation.
The doomsphere continues to "live" beyond death as the vile
xenophobic beholder it once was, only far more dangerous and
more isolated this time and adventurers know better than to
invade its old stomping grounds, which it haunts to this day.
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May 4, 2024
Monster Manual Expanded III
authors: Mannix "Dragonix" Manansala
interior artist: Brian "Tots"Valeza et al.
cover artist: Ruben de Vela
publisher: Dungeon Masters Guild
publication date: 2021
cover: hardcover
number of pages: 288
ISBN-10: 0-01-132941-6
ISBN-13: 237-0-01-132941-3
description: This bestiary contains descriptions of 320 creatures. This book is compatible with the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons Role Playing Game.
Our featured entry from this bestiary is the nagahydra.
The nagahydra is a fearsome monstrosity that appears as a 50-foot
long, five-headed naga. Multicolored, reticulated scales cover the
nagahydra's 3-foot diameter body, with singular hues branching
out to each of the five heads - bright crimson, deep purple, emerald
green, onyx black, and golden yellow. Fiery-orange spines line the
back of its serpentine body. Each head of the nagahydra can be
male or female and has its own personality and motivations. The
heads may at times argue and bicker with one another, but never
to the point of attacking each other.
Cruel Overlord. While not inherently evil, the nagahydra is still a
cruel, selfish, and vicious monster. It relishes hunting lesser beings
for food, stalking its prey through ancient forests and dismal
swamps. It enjoys being worshiped by those who seek its blessing
and security. In return, the nagahydra aids and protects its
subjects from hostile creatures, sickness, and natural calamities.
However, the nagahydra demands sacrifice and tribute from its
followers, punishing those who fail to do so severely.
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June 1, 2024
Chains of Asmodeus
project lead: James Ohlen
interior artists: Aaron Sims et al.
cover artist: Aaron Sims Company
publisher: Dungeon Masters Guild / Arcanum Worlds
publication date: 2023
cover: hardcover
number of pages: 288
ISBN-10: 0-01-605528-4
ISBN-13: 237-0-01-605528-7
description: This book provides an adventure through the nine hells. Relevant to this survey, Appendix A includes descriptions of twelve arch-devils. Appendix B includes descriptions of fifteen hellish beasts. Appendix C includes descriptions of six non-player characters. This book is compatible with the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons Role Playing Game.
Our featured entry from this bestiary is the arch-devil, Fierna, daughter of Belial, ruler of Phlegethos.
Fierna rules Phlegethos alongside her father, Belial.
She is emotionally intelligent, and her charisma has
earned her many allies and few enemies in the Nine
Hells. Although some view her as incompetent, Fierna’s
true intentions are hidden behind a smokescreen
of brashness.
Her father, Belial, was a key player in the Reckoning,
and due to his actions, Fierna was granted primary
leadership of Phlegethos. Despite this political
appearance, Fierna and Belial rule together, often
meeting in secret to discuss strategy and upcoming
plans. Some of the more ignorant archdevils view
the relationship between Belial and Fierna as something
to be exploited or broken. In reality, Fierna
deeply respects her father, and the feeling is mutual.
Laying eyes on Fierna, one can immediately see
the reasons she is so admired: she is impossibly
beautiful. Her beauty is a strength, complementing
her strategic mind and ingenuity.
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July 6, 2024
Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy
project lead: James Ohlen
interior artists: Sebastian Kowoll et al.
cover artist: Luis Lasahido
publisher: Dungeon Masters Guild
publication date: 2021
cover: hardcover
number of pages: 156
ISBN-10: 0-01-126442-X
ISBN-13: 237-0-01-126442-4
description: This book is a source book for adventurers, with a theme of villainy. Most of the book presents collections of characters or monsters, categorized as "Group Patrons" (Chapter 2), "Campaign Villains" (Chapter 3), "Henchmen" (Chapter 4) and "Monsters" (Chapter 5). This book is compatible with the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons Role Playing Game.
Our featured entry from this bestiary is the sirene.
Sirenes are fey creatures that live along the cliffs and
jagged rocks of the Sword Coast. Equally comfortable
on land or beneath the waves, sirenes prefer to keep
close to shore and rarely go out into deep water. They
are famed for their beautiful singing that often lures
sailors to steer their ships to disaster on the coast.
Territorial. Sirenes live together in small bands. They
are extremely territorial and try to drive out any other
humanoid that trespasses in their domain. They initially
use non-deadly means to convince intruders to leave, but
if that is not successful, they are willing to kill.
Beautiful Song. Sirenes love to sing and use their
music to communicate amongst themselves. Their
songs are beautiful and haunting, but usually not magical
in nature. Only when they are in danger will they
weave magic into their songs.
Skilled Warriors. Sirenes are deadly warriors who
use their skills to hunt for food and to kill those who
trespass on their territory. Their wicked daggers are
made from bone and are their primary weapon when
they travel beneath the water. They store their bows
close to shore, ready to be retrieved if needed.
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