African Adventures game. The list below includes suggestions on how to work them into the Nyambe campaign setting.
M
ONSTERSAboleth: These creatures are found in many underground cis- terns and rivers.
Achaierai: In ancient times a group of achaierai were summoned to Nyambe-tanda, and are now native to the continent. Their habi- tat is limited to the eastern scrub plains.
Allip: These creatures are mortals who have committed suicide and been denied a place in the afterlife.
Animated Object (all): Nyamban animated objects are no dif- ferent than those encountered in other lands.
Ankheg: Ankheg are most common in the tUbI Grassland, though they have occasionally been reported in the bIda Rainforest.
Aranea: These arachnid shapechangers date back to the time of the ancient Kosa Empire. They move amongst humanoid society, but no one seems to know exactly what their agenda is.
Arrowhawk: As servants of the elemental orisha, arrowhawks can be encountered throughout Nyambe-tanda.
Assassin Vine: Nyamban strangler figs are indistinguishable from common assassin vines.
Azer: Azer are only found in the fiery depths of the Giko Taaba Mountains.
Belker: As servants of the elemental orisha, belker can be encountered throughout Nyambe-tanda.
Bodak: Bodak are mortals corrupted after visiting the lower coils of Da.
Carrion Crawler: Carrion crawlers are common in ancient tombs, and in larger cities they have been known to raid garbage heaps.
Celestial (all): As servants of the celestial orisha, celestials can be encountered throughout Nyambe-tanda.
Centaur: Nyamban centaurs have the lower half of a zebra and the upper half of a human. They are found only in the tUbI Grassland.
Chaos Beast: Chaos beasts are servants of GuDuGu, and are sometimes found dwelling within his temples or assisting his most powerful priests.
Chimera: A Nyamban chimera has a lion head between its shoul- ders, a goat’s head sprouting from its back, and a dragon’s head instead of a tail. It does not have wings, but can still fly through supernatural means. The Nyamban chimera is the national symbol of Nibomay, and the jamIkadi keeps several of these dangerous beasts as pets. No one knows how these creatures originated.
Choker: Chokers are what remain of engolo monks corrupted by evil magic.
Chuul: These evil crustaceans can be found in many areas throughout Nyambe.
Cockatrice: In Nyambe, this creature is known as a crowing crested cobra. It appears to be a hooded cobra, but on closer inspection it has feathers and a comb like a rooster. It also crows rather than hissing. Some of these creatures are said to spit venom.
Couatl: The Nyamban couatl is known as the golden cobra, and appears as a gold-scaled, giant, winged cobra. They are found only in the kingdom of Taumau-Boha and the Isle of the Overpower.
Darkmantle: Darkmantles are found in underground regions throughout Nyambe-tanda.
Delver: Delvers have been sighted in the lower depths of Mademban iron mines.
Demon (all): As servants of the fiendish orisha, demons can be encountered throughout Nyambe-tanda.
Destrachan: Destrachan can be found throughout Nyambe- tanda.
Devil (all): As servants of the fiendish orisha, devils can be encountered throughout Nyambe-tanda.
Devourer: During the great earthquake which destroyed the underground home of the rom, some of the giants attempted to escape to the Shadow World using magic. The spell malfunctioned, and the giants became life-devouring corporeal undead native to the Shadow World. Normal rom treat devourers with utmost respect.
Digester: Digesters are common throughout Nyambe-tanda. Dinosaur (all): Dinosaurs are only found in remote areas such as the Great Mangrove Marsh and the bIda Rainforest. Few people have actually seen one.
Dire Animals (rat, bat, ape, wolf, boar, lion, bear, shark): Dire animals are more common in Nyambe than in other lands. Nyamban dire rats, also known as bush rats, are a real danger to rural villages. Though there are no dire wolves in Nyambe, dire hyenas use the same statistics. The dire lion is the most famous of Nyamban dire animals. Though rarely encountered, dire lions are often found in unusual colors such as black, red, blue, green, or white. Those who encounter a dire lion should regard the incident as a portentous omen, with the lion’s color alluding to some future event; see Chapter Six for more on omens. Another famous Nyamban dire animal is the dire bear, also known as the nandi (NAHN-dee). Even though there are no bears in Tanda-tanda, nandi seem to be native to the Kuba Taaba. How they got there is anyone’s guess.
Dragon (black, blue, green, red, white, brass, bronze, copper, gold, silver): In the Beginning Time, the dragons, also known as the tuIda, were not created by the Overpower, but were born of the world itself. The dragons’ unusual relationship with the world gave them the power to work arcane magic directly, without need- ing to rely upon the orisha. During the Dark Time, Ramaranda the Diviner approached the tuIda, offering to teach them the secrets of divine magic in exchange for mating with the mortal races. The tuIda accepted the offer, and since that time, all Nyamban dragons have been able to cast divine spells. Nyamban dragons can freely choose spells from either the sorcerer/wizard list or the cleric list, though they cast cleric spells using the same rules as they do for sorcerous spells.
Dragon Turtle: Dragon turtles can be found in all of the oceans surrounding Nyambe-tanda. They are the result of ancient mat- ings between the tuIda dragons and Nyamban giant turtles.
Dragonne: Dragonne have been reported in the Gudu Ji Pingu Desert. They are the result of ancient matings between lions and
brass dragons. Dragonne occasionally trade with passing bands of desert-dwelling Marak’ka, but most often they prefer to be left alone.
Elemental (all): As servants of the elemental orisha, elementals can be encountered throughout Nyambe-tanda.
Ethereal Filcher: These strange creatures are sometimes sent to steal items from those who fail to make proper sacrifices to the spirits. In Nyambe they are known as shadow thieves.
Ethereal Marauder: These magical beasts are sometimes sent to attack those who anger the spirits. In Nyambe they are known as shadow warriors.
Ettercap: Ettercaps can be found in the bIda Rainforest. Formian (all): Formians attempted to colonize Nyambe-tanda long ago. The scouting party found a giant acacia tree — now called a formian acacia — and carved out a home for themselves within its trunk. Formians have lived in Nyambe ever since.
Fungus (all): Fungi of all sorts are quite common in the under- ground areas of Nyambe.
Genie (all): Though these outsiders once appeared only in Near Eastern lands, they have spread to Nyambe-tanda.
Ghoul (all): Ghouls sometimes spontaneously arise from the corpses of cannibals. As such, most Nyamban ghouls are dwarven utuchekulu.
Giant (hill, stone, fire, cloud, storm): Though uncommon, a wide variety of giants can be found in Nyambe. They all stay far away from civilization, and even evil giants will take pains to avoid contact with humanoids.
Giant Eagle: Nyamban giant eagles are known as panga (PAHN-gah).
Giant Owl: Nyamban giant owls are known as kikiyaon (kee- kee-YAH-ohn).
Gibbering Mouther: These creatures are servants of GuDuGu the Obscene One, and are often found guarding his temples.
Girallon: Girallon seem to be a naturally occurring mutation of normal apes. They will sometimes take control of a company of apes and lead them on a murderous rampage. Fiendish girallon are also encountered, but how they enter the Material World is unknown.
Gnoll: Nyamban gnolls are known as mbUi, which literally means “hyena.”
Golem (clay, stone, iron): Nyamban clay golems are usually fashioned from white clay, and are made as substitute “children” by evil n’anga clerics. Stone golems are usually formed from vol- canic rock and can be found guarding tombs when reliquary guardians are insufficient. Nyamban stone golems can cast fireball instead of slow. Despite their immense power, iron golems are somewhat common in Nyambe.
Gorgon: Gorgons are humans cursed by the orisha for commit- ting perversities with livestock. As such, they are most commonly found living near herding societies.
Grick: These terrible creatures can be found in underground regions throughout Nyambe. It is rumored they are servants of Zombi the Serpent Lord.
Griffon: Nyamban griffons are known as grypes (GREYEPS), and are scavengers largely restricted to desert regions.
Hag (all): Nyamban hags are known as kaikUdU (kah-eek-OO- d-OO), which literally means “old women.”
Harpy: Harpies are the servants of Molamu the Seducer, sent to twist the hearts of men. They mate with mortal men, laying eggs that hatch into new harpies. Harpies kill their victims after mating, and they will attack women on sight.
Hell Hound: These creatures are rarely encountered except in the Giko Taaba Mountains.
Howler: Packs of howlers are rumored to wander the wild lands of Nyambe, apparently the result of some ancient summoning gone wrong.
Hydra (all except cryohydra): The hydra are the servants of Zombi the Serpent Lord, and can sometimes be found guarding his temples.
Invisible Stalker: Invisible stalkers are the favored assassins amongst certain groups of mchawi wizards.
Kraken: Kraken have been known to attack ships sailing upon the Western Ocean.
Krenshar: Krenshar are native to both the bIda Rainforest and the grasslands of the tUbI.
Lamia: Lamia are native to the D’okan Desert, though they sometimes hire themselves out as shamans to entare clans.
Lammasu: These creatures seem to have emigrated from the Near East.
Lillend: These creatures are only encountered on the Isle of the Overpower.
Magmin: These creatures are rarely encountered except in the Giko Taaba Mountains.
Manticore: Manticores, also known as mardkhora (mahrd- KHOH-rah), are not native to Nyambe-tanda. Hundreds of years ago, the first mardkhora arrived from the Near East after hearing tales of a new land to the southwest.
Medusa: Medusa, known in Nyambe as anath (AHN-ath), are the personal servants of Zombi the Serpent Lord. He sends them out to slay reformed Zombi cultists and others who displease him. It is said that anath are what remain of Amazons corrupted by evil magics. An anath’s preferred class is gamba fighter, and most anath have one or more levels of the Amazon prestige class.
Mephit (air, dust, earth, fire, magma, ooze, salt, steam, water): As servants of the orisha, mephits can be encountered through- out Nyambe-tanda.
Mimic: Mimics can be found guarding many ancient treasures of the Kosa Empire.
Mohrg: These undead mass murderers sometimes have levels as mchawi wiz- ards or Zombi cultists rather than increased Hit Dice. They are more common in urban areas, as it is more difficult for their crimes to go unnoticed in rural communities.
Mummy: Mummies are only found in the ancient ruins of the Water People, or on the isle of Marak’pInga.
Naga: Some spirit naga and dark naga came over with the yuan- ti. Other naga have not yet been found in Nyambe.
Night Hag: Night hags are servants of the fiendish orisha sent to the Material World to collect the souls of evil beings.
Nightshade (all): Nightshades are the servants of Gamal the Dark One. He takes delight in sending them to the Material World on missions of random destruction.
Ogre (common ogre): Nyamban ogres are called dimU (dihm- OO), and they are thought to be the reincarnations of people guilty of infanticide.
Ooze (all): Monstrous oozes can be found throughout the underground regions of Nyambe.
Orc: Though true orcs are no longer native to Nyambe-tanda, orc slave raiders from the North have attacked the western coast. Some degenerate creatures descended from the extinct kosan orcs do exist, such as the getiet and ingogo, and the ngoloko half-orcs. Otyugh: These vile scavengers can be found throughout Nyambe-tanda.
Phantom Fungus: These deadly fungi can be found in under- ground areas throughout Nyambe.
Phase Spider: These creatures are very common throughout the continent. They are sometimes called “spirit spiders,” or “spider orisha,” though neither name is accurate.
Planetouched (all): Nyamban planetouched are creatures pos- sessed by the celestial or fiendish orisha while still in the womb. Change the default weapons to ones more appropriate to the Nyambe campaign setting.
Pseudodragon: Pseudodragons are often found traveling with agogwe halfling clans.
Purple Worm: These creatures can be found in underground regions throughout Nyambe. Some have variant colors such as white, yellow, or green. Worms with alternate colors are consid- ered omens by diviners; see Chapter Six for more on omens.
Rast: These creatures are rarely encountered outside of the Giko Taaba Mountains.
Ravid: These creatures are rarely encountered unless sum- moned by a spellcaster.
Roc: Roc are only found in the highest peaks of the Kuba Taaba Mountains.
Roper: Ropers can be found in subterranean regions throughout Nyambe.
Rust Monster: These creatures are considered an affront to the nature of iron, and have been hunted to near extinction in Nyambe-tanda.
Sahaugin: In Nyambe, sahaugin are known as silwane-manzi, and are common to the Northern Ocean.
Salamander (all): These creatures are rarely encountered out- side of the Giko Taaba Mountains.
Sea Lion: Nyambe is home to a freshwater variant of the sea lion in addition to the standard variety.
Shadow: These creatures are rarely encountered except as the spawn of a ndalawo shadow leopard.
Shambling Mound: These deadly plants are common in humid regions throughout Nyambe-tanda.
Shield Guardian: Nyamban shield guardians are composed almost entirely of iron.
Shocker Lizard: These creatures can be found in humid regions throughout Nyambe.
Skeleton (all): Due to the long-time popularity of zombies in Nyambe-tanda, spellcasters rarely animate skeletons.
Skum: In Nyambe, skum are only found in the service of aboleth.
Spectre: These evil spirits are com- mon throughout much of Nyambe.
Sphinx (all): These creatures arrived in Nyambe at the same time as the Water People. They can be found in a variety of different ter- rains, but prefer to live far from civilization.
Spider Eater: Since spiders are commonly encountered in Nyambe, spider eaters are fairly common as well.
Stirge: Stirges exist in Nyambe, but are somewhat uncommon since they face stiff competition from boman.
Tendriculos: These carnivorous plants can be found throughout Nyambe-tanda.
Thoqqua: These creatures are rarely encountered outside of the Giko Taaba Mountains.
Tojanida (all): As servants of the elemental orisha, tojanida can be encountered throughout Nyambe-tanda.
Treant: Nyamban treants always appear as a native tree species.
Triton: Tritons have been sighted in the Eastern Ocean. Umber Hulk: These insect-like monsters are most common in Utuchekulu-land.
Wight: In Nyambe, wights are known as dandu (DAHN-doo), which means “poor people.” They are indistinguishable from com- mon zombies until they attack.
Will-o’-Wisp: In Nyambe, these creatures are known as “ghost lights.”
Wraith: These evil spirits are common throughout Nyambe-tanda.
Wyvern: These clawless dragons are infrequently sighted along Nyambe’s northern shore.
Xill: These creatures are native to the Shadow World, but some- times cross over into the Material World in pursuit of prey.
Xorn (all): As servants of the elemental orisha, xorn can be encountered throughout Nyambe-tanda.
Yrthak: These creatures are found in the Hills of Mademba and the Kuba Taaba Mountains.
Yuan-Ti (all): The yuan-ti are immigrants from Far Eastern lands and live in the bIda Rainforest.
Zombie (all): Zombies of all sorts are extremely common in Nyambe.
A
NIMALSApe: Most Nyamban apes are harmless, but a few carnivorous
varieties do exist.
Baboon: Baboons are capable of interbreeding with the orc- blooded ingogo, and many peo- ple hunt them to prevent them from doing so.
Bat: Bats are the subject of many Nyamban legends and a source of great fear to most commoners.
Bison: Use these statistics for water buffalo and oxen. Water buffalo can be found in the tUbI Grassland, and oxen are
found in many cities. Boar: Warriors in rural communities hunt boars for both meat and bragging rights.
Camel: Camels include nor- mal pack camels, and battle-trained war camels. Despite the fact that camels are not normally allowed to advance, Nyamban war camels are advanced to 4 HD.
Cat: Cats can be found throughout Nyambe-tanda, and are especially common in Taumau-Boha.
Cheetah: These creatures are found only in the tUbI Grassland, and even there they are rarely encountered.
Crocodile: Crocodiles live mostly around the Kalimara River. Crocodile, Giant: Giant crocodiles live mostly around the Kalimara River.
Dog: Also use these statistics for jackals. Jackals are only found in the D’okan Desert.
Donkey: Donkeys are standard pack animals, and used through- out Nyambe.
Eagle: Nyamban eagles are limited to desert and mountain regions.
Elephant: Nyamban elephants include wild elephants, trained labor elephants, and battle-trained war elephants. Wild and labor elephants are typically 11 HD, while war ele- phants are advanced to 13 HD.
Hawk: Numerous Nyamban birds of prey fall into this category, including the harrier hawk, the marsh harrier, and the pygmy hawk.
Horse, Light: The NaBula people are the major breeders of light horses, though some other cultures have access to them.
Horse, Light War: War horses are used exclusively by the NaBula people.
Leopard: Leopards are most common in the bIda Rainforest, but can be found in any area with trees.
Lion: Lions are native to the tUbI Grassland.
Lizard: Lizards of all sorts are com- mon throughout Nyambe.
Lizard, Giant: Giant lizards are most common underground, and in mountainous and desert regions.
Monkey: These creatures are common in the bIda Rainforest.
Octopus: These crea- tures are found in both the Northern and Western oceans.
Octopus, Giant: These creatures are found in both the Northern and Western oceans.
Owl: Owls are common in the drier areas of Nyambe. Sighting an owl is considered a bad omen.
Porpoise: Sailors on the Northern Ocean have occasionally encountered these animals. They seem to have a hatred of the silwane- manzi.
Rat: Rats are a plague upon Nyamban cities, though they are less common in rural areas.
Raven: These birds are most common in cities and scrub plains. Rhinoceros: Rhinos are found only in the tUbI Grassland. Shark, Medium-Size: Medium-size sharks can be found in all of the Nyamban oceans, but are most common in the Eastern Ocean. Shark, Large: Large sharks can be found in both the Eastern and Northern Oceans.
Shark, Huge: Huge sharks are found only in the Northern Ocean.
Snake, Constrictor: Constrictor snakes can be found in all humid regions of Nyambe.
Snake, Giant Constrictor: Giant constrictor snakes can be found in all humid regions of Nyambe.