Chapter 12: Monsters

Climate Groupings +
Creatures from Previous Books +
The Celestial Emperor and the Celestial Bureaucracy +
    Bajang +
    Carp, Giant +
    Doc Cu'o'c +
    Gaki +
    Gargantua +
    Generals of the Animal Kings +
    Hai Nu +
    Ikiryo +
    Jishin Mushi +
    Kala +
    Men (Wako) +
    Nat +
    Nature Spirits +
    Oni +
    P'oh +
    Shan Sao +
    Shirokinukatsukami +
    Tengu +

- - - - Oriental Adventures

The lands of Kara-Tur are vast and varied in both climate and geography. Within the near boundless
spaces of the continent exist virtually every type of geographic condition known. These conditions provide a
wide range of habitats for both normal and fantastic creatures. Many are common throughout the world-deer,
oxen, rabbits, horses, foxes, hobgoblins, ogres, and giants. Yet others are unique to the lands of
Kara-Tur--pandas, tengu, oni, and water buffalo. Creatures common to other parts of the world have never made
their appearance in Kara-Tur, held at bay by stormy oceans, grim mountain ranges, and scalding deserts.

Hence, there are a number of creatures unique to Kara-Tur. These creatures are described in this section.
In addition, animals and monsters described here and in the AD&D Monster Manual, Monster Manual II, and
FIEND FOLIO ™, Tome are grouped under the type of geography and climate they inhabit. Some of these
creatures are found later in the Wilderness Encounter Tables. However, common and game creatures are not
described in this section, nor do they appear on the majority of the encounter tables. They are listed here to
provide the DM with information on the typical types of wild game that can be found in a given climate.
 

Q: Several monsters are listed as
having "standard" intelligence. What
does this mean?

A: Standard intelligence equates to average
intelligence (8-10).
(121.24)

Climate Groupings

Sub-Arctic Forests: Bear, carp, deer, lynx, moose, otter, owl, rabbit, reindeer, roe deer, salmon, snow
fox, squirrel, stoat, sturgeon, tiger, wolf, wolverine.

Temperate Plain/Forest Regions: Badger, bear, bustard, crane, deer, duck, fox, hawk, hedgehog, lynx,
marten, otter, rabbit, tiger, weasel, wild ass, wild boar, wild ox, wolf, and wolverine.

Steppelands: Bactrian camel, badger, bear, deer, fox, gazelle, horse, lynx, marmot, otter, sheep, wild
boar, and wolf.

Sub-Tropical Forest Regions: Alligator, bear, black porpoise, deer, elephant, fox, fruit bat, leopard,
marten, monkey, otter, panda, rhinoceros, river dolphin, tiger, water buffalo, wild boar, and wolf.

Tropical Forest Regions: Badger, bushbaby, deer, elephant, fruit bat, guar, kingfisher, leopard, marten,
mongoose, monkey, orangutan, otter, parrot, peacock, tiger, water buffalo, and wild boar.

Cold Oceans: Cod, halibut, killer whale, salmon, sea otter, and seal.

Warm Oceans: Dolphin, oysters, porpoise, and shark.
 

Creatures from Previous Books

Given below is a listing of some of the monsters already described in various AD&D tomes. These
creatures are found in various parts of the lands described in OA book. They are listed in
alphabetical order below to aid the DM in creating his own adventures. After each is an abbreviation
corresponding to the work in which the creature description can be found (MMI: Monster Manual, FF: Fiend
Folio, MMII: Monster Manual II, DDG: Deities & Demigods). Simply because a creature is not listed below does not
mean it cannot appear in an oriental adventure. The creatures listed are those most likely to fit the particular
mythos and style of the Oriental Adventures rules.
 
 
Ant, Giant Dragon, Mist Ki-Rin Scorpion
Badger Dragon, Pan Lung Lamprey Scorpion, Giant
Baku Dragon, Shen Lung Leech, Giant Shark
Bat, Giant Dragon, T'ien Lung Leopard Skeleton
Bear Dragon, Yu Lung Lizard Skeleton, Animal
Bear, Northern Eagle Lycanthrope, Foxwoman  Snake
Beetle, Giant Eagle, Giant Lycanthrope, Wererat Snake, Giant
Bee, Giant Eblis Lycanthrope, Wereshark Spider, Giant
Behemoth (MMII) Elemental, Air Lycanthrope, Weretiger Spider, Giant Marine
Boar Elemental, Earth Lynx, Giant Spirits of the Air
Buffalo Elemental, Fire Mantis, Giant Squid, Giant
Bull Elemental, Water Men Stag
Camel Falcon Minimal Stegocentipede
Cat Fire Snake (FF) Mule Tabaxi
Cat Lord Foo Creatures, Dog Naga Tasloi
Catfish, Giant Foo Creatures, Lion Octopus, Giant Tiger
Cattle (MMI) Frog, Giant Ogre Toad
Centipede, Giant Ghost Ogre Mage Troll, Marine
Centipede, Huge Ghoul Ogre, Aquatic Turtle
Centipede, Megalo- Giant, Hill Oliphant Vargouille
Crab, Giant Grim Ophidian Verme
Crane, Giant Guardian Daemon Owl Vulture
Crayfish, Giant Guardian Familiar Owl, Giant Weasel
Crocodile Haunt Penanggalan Whale
Dog Herd Animal Phantom Wolf
Dolphin Hippopotamus Phoenix Yellow Musk Creeper
Dragon Horse Hoarfox Rakshasa Yellow Musk Zombie
Dragon Turtle Hobgoblins Ram Yeti
Dragon, Cloud Horse Rat, Giant Yuan Ti
Dragon, Gold Iron Cobra Rat, Ordinary -
Dragon, Li Lung Kech Raven -
Dragon, Lung Wang Kenku Revenant -

The Celestial Emperor and the Celestial Bureaucracy

Unlike the western world, which has always tended to view non-human creatures as a loose collection of
beings with no unity or cohesion, the Oriental mind has organized the world into a unified whole. One
particularly strong belief is that of the Celestial Emperor, a powerful being who heads the Celestial
Bureaucracy, a type of government of the spirits. Many of the spirit creatures described in this section come
under his command and many hold offices or positions within the Celestial Bureaucracy. Here they receive and
carry out orders, punish the wicked, and file reports of their activities. Thus the chiang lung (river dragons) have
been given the duty of making rain and report to the Ministry of Thunder, who in turn reports to the Celestial
Emperor. Like the bureaucrats of the real world, these spirit officials can be corrupt, disobedient, just, or
incompetent. They can also be replaced, since each year their activities and behavior are examined by their
superiors.