FREQUENCY: Rare ([Tropical Wilderness Forest])
NO. APPEARING: 10-100
ARMOR CLASS: 6(5)
MOVE: 9" @ 15"
HIT DICE: 1
% IN LAIR: 30%
TREASURE TYPE: [Q] (x5)
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2 or 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-3/1-3 or by weapon type
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Surprise 1-4
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Low to average
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic evil
SIZE: S (2'-3')
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: I | 10 + 1

Living in steamytropical forests, these creatures are rarely seen by man.
Shy and malicious, they prefer to lurk in the tree tops where they may
surprise the weak and unwary. Adapted to life above ground, they are
slow and clumsy when forced to earth, adopting a semi-erect posture.
They are quick and nimble in the arboreal passageways, however.
Masters of stealth, tasloi surprise on a 1-4 (1 d6). They may also hide in
shadows 75% of the time. They have infravision and are suited to dark
jungles. Full daylight will cause a -1 on their to-hit rolls.

Tasloi will eat anything, but they particularly like all kinds of flesh,
especially humans and elves. They normally attackfrom above, trying to
capture if possible. If they gain surprise, theywill use their nets. If a party
is too vigilant or prepared, the tasloi will attempt to wear down the group
through short, sudden attacks followed by retreat. If possible, tasloi will
attempt to steal the dead of an enemy after an attack.

The tasloi live in loosely-structured bands of several families. For every
band of 70 or more, there will be a chief (5 HD). There is a 30% chance
that any band will have a shaman. Tasloi shamans may advance up to
5th level. Weapons carried are as follows: small shield and javelin (AC
5) 20%; club and javelin 40%; short sword and small shield (AC 5) 10%;
javelin and net 15%; short sword and net 10%; javelin and lasso 5%.
When using a shield, the armor class of the tasloi becomes'5. Javelins
and shields are customarily carried on their backs when they travel
through the trees.

When found in their lair, in addition to the males, there will be 70%
females and 50% young. Females will fight as normal tasloi, but the
young will not fight at all. The lair will consist of a series of 1-6 large
trees with 4-24 platforms 50-100 feet from the ground.All the trees will
be connected by vines and ropes. There is a 60% chance of the tasloi
having 1-6 trained giant spiders and a 20% chance of their having 2-8
trained giant wasps. It is said the tasloi are able to ride wasps great
distances.

Tasloi speak their own tongue and can also speak the languages of
monkeys and apes. About 5% of their kind have also learned a pidgin
Common that they use when trading.

Tasloi are long-legged, flat-headed humanoids. They walk in a crouching
posture, touching their knuckles to the ground from time to time.
Theirskinsarea lustrousgreen andarethinlycoveredwithcoarse black
hair. Their eyes are similar to a cat's and are gold in color. Their feet are
long and prehensile. Often they can be heard at night, speaking in their
high and whispery voices.

by David Cook