Races4

Minor Races, Con't. :

Golem:
A golem is an artificial creature animated by an elemental spirit. The process of creating a golem begins with the creation of the body made of stone, iron, clay, flesh, or even blood. After the body has been assembled, the creator must undergo a lenghty ritual to bind the elemental to the body, and subordinate its will to the new master. The ritual is a closely guarded secret of a handful of powerful wizards. Golems are utterly fearless, and battle with single minded determination.

Hell Hound:
The hell hound is a very large, rust-red or brown beast with burning red eyes. The beast's markings teeth, and tongue are soot-black. The paying of a hell hound has been described as "eerie", "hollow", and "disturbing." The beast attacks with flaming breath and piercing teeth.

Kenku:
These beings resemble humanoid hawks, with both arms and wings. Their height ranges from five to seven feet, their feathers are predominantly brown with white under-feathers, and their eyes are a brilliant yellow. Kenku all have the naural thieving abilities, and take perverse pleasure in annoying and inconveniencing human and demi-human races.

Kobold:
Well known for cowardice and a wide sadistic streak, kobolds are ususally only dangerous in large groups. Kobolds stand about three feet tall, and their dark rusty hides are somewhat scaly. The smell of a kobold has been described as "a cross between a wet dog and a swamp." They have an ancestral hatred for gnomes, and attack them on sight. Kobolds generally prefer to attack other opponents en masse, of from a distance.

Kuo-Toa:
This is an ancient race of fish-men that now dwell in subterranean carverns. The kuo-toa harbor an age-old hatred for surface dwellers and their sun-lit world. These creatures have a vaguely human body, topped with a wide-mouthed fish head. They have short legs and long, three-fingered hands. Kuo-toa wear no clothes, only a leather harness foir their weapons and few belongings.

Leech:
The giant leech is a slimy, slug-like parasite that feeds on its victum's bodily fluids. Leeches wait in the mud, sludge, and slime of swamps and sewers for unsuspecting prey. The giant leech rears up from the ooze when it detects the presence of a living creature, and attempts to subdue its prey.

Mantis Warrior:
Also called Thri-Kreen, this is a carnivorous insect man. A mantis warrior resembles a man-sized preying mantis. Mantis warriors are often armed with a peculiar, viciously bladed polearm. The name for this weapon has never been translated into the common tongue, but the ferocious reputation of the deadly thing, and the warriors who wield it, has spread far.

Mind Flayer:
Also called Illithid, this is one fo the most feared of the subterranean dwellers. Mind flayers feen on the `ery minds of sentient beings. Mind flayers are slime mauve color, stand about six feet tall, and adorn themselves with flowing robes decorated with images of suffering, death, and despair. Their faces resemble Octopi with two large, white, pupil-less eyes.

Rust Monster:
This subterranean creature with an appetite for metals of all kinds. Rust monsters are about five feet in lengh, and have a long armored tail and two prehensile antennae. The tail is tipped with a strange paddle-like appendage. Th creature is normally placid and inoffensive -- until it smells metal. Whenever the creature detects the scent of food (armor, weapons, and the like) it charges. Whenever the monster hits metal with its antennae, the metal corrodes and "feeds" the creature. Even magical weapons can be susceptible to the rust monster's attack.

Skeleton:
This is a magically animated body, created and controlled by a powerful evil wizard or priest. Skeletons are one of the lessor undead monsters, though powerful skeletons have been crafted from the bodies of powerful warriors. Because they have no intelligence or will, skeletons are immune to spells such as Sleep, Charm, and Hold. They are utterly fearless, and never retreat from a fight.

Spider:
This giant predator haunts many regions and helps to keep down the level of pests such as kobolds and adventurers. Giant spiders weave webs for unway victims, and attack with poisonous bites.

Xorn:
This creature is a native to the elemental plane of Earth and feeds on precious metal deep underground. The wide body of a xorn is made of a pebbly material. Three talon-clawed arms are positioned symmetrically around its body. In the few reported cases of xorn attacks, the creature seems to have been attracted by jewels or precious metals, rather than malice.

Zombie:
Zombie are undead creaures that are animated and controlled by powerful wizards or priests. The animation ritual does not alter the condition of the zombie's body, so most are in severe states of decay, often missing whole limbs. Zombies are slow and clumsy, but they fight with determination and persistence.