A new Ruins & Ronin monster, the Hari Onago...

Hari Onago (Hook Girl)
No. Appearing:	1(1)
Alignment:	Chaotic
Movement:	120’ (40’)
Armor Class:	5
Hit Dice:	3
Attacks:	4 (2 hooks & 2 claws)
Damage:	1d6 (hooks) / 1d8 (claws)
Save:	Bushi 3
Morale:	11
Hoard Class:	XX
XP	200

Hari Onago are fierce creatures that roam darkened city streets and alleys looking for young male prey.  From a distance they appear as young, pale women with long black hair. Once close enough to their victim (within 10’) they smile at their target (usually handsome young men), and if the target returns the smile, they strike. In a lightning fast attack their hair whips out in long strands which end in sharp hooks, and latches onto their prey with a successful to-hit roll (doing 1d6 damage). If one or both attacks hit, they are latched on and do a further 1d3 damage each round. To break free requires a strength check on 4d6 (roll equal or less than the character’s strength to break free). The victim is then dragged within striking range of the creature’s claw attack.

Once a victim is killed, the monster will devour him there in the dark streets, thus they usually prey on solitary men perhaps too drunk to resist a beautiful girls advances.

The Hari Onago makes its lair in caves, tombs, or abandoned houses near to cities and large castle-towns.

Note: This art is not from the book. Though it is amazing work.

Monster preview: The Kasha (Fire Cat)

Kasha (Fire Cat)
No. Appearing:	1 (1)
Alignment:	Chaotic
Movement:	120' (40') / 90’ (30’) cat form
Armor Class:	2
Hit Dice:	6
Attacks:	2 + special
Damage:	2d6 + special
Save:	Shugenja 6
Morale:	10
Hoard Class:	XXI
XP	675

Kasha are shape-changing humanoid cats. They can appear as normal cats, and easily blend in towns and cities. In monster form they appear as large (7’ tall) humanoid cats, with long sharp claws. They eat fresh human corpses and tend to hang around cemeteries and burial mounds.

They have have spell casting abilities as follows:

1st level spells (can cast all 3 or any multiple of 3 per day): charm person, magic missile, sleep.

2nd level spells (can cast both, or one twice per day): levitate, mirror image.

3rd level spells (can cast one of following per day): lightning bolt, fireball

Kasha make their lairs in abandoned houses, ruins, or even old burial mounds.

Jatai the snake obi

Jatai (Snake Obi)
No. Appearing:	1(1)
Alignment:	Chaotic
Movement:	120' (40') Flying
Armor Class:	2
Hit Dice:	2
Attacks:	1 (special)
Damage:	special
Save:	Sohei 3
Morale:	12
Hoard Class:	None
XP	25

Jatai are evil spirits trapped in an obi (sash), the vengeful spirit of a strangled soul can sometimes animate the very item used to kill them. They attack by flying wildly at their intended victim and attempt to wrap themselves around the neck. Their first “hit” in melee means they have successfully wrapped around their victim’s neck and they will begin doing 1d6 damage every round until the victim succumbs to the hit point damage, or after 4 rounds the victim must make a save vs. Poison to remain conscious. If the save is failed, the victim will die in another 10 rounds unless the Jatai is removed.

Due to their flying ability and closeness to their victim, it is hard to hit a Jatai (which gives it the AC 2), once entangled upon their victim, any attack upon the Jatai with weapons will do ½ damage to Jatai and ½ damage to the victim.

The Hihi

Hihi
No. Appearing:	1d2 (1d4)
Alignment:	Chaotic
Movement:	120' (40')
Armor Class:	7
Hit Dice:	6
Attacks:	3 (claw/claw/bite)
Damage:	2d6 / 2d6 / 1d6
Save:	Bushi 6
Morale:	9
Hoard Class:	VI
XP	350

Hihi are large monkey-like creatures, covered in black hair, and with wide mouths full of sharp teeth. They make their home in remote mountain forests, preying on all manner of creatures. They are known to eat humans from time to time. They can mimic human screams, and will sometimes lure people into an ambush this way. They attack with their long arms and a nasty bite.

Their blood is sought after as it is used for a brilliant red dye that will never fade. It can also be drank, and if so imbibed will allow the drinker to see invisible creatures or objects  for 24 hours.

The Akaname (Filth Lickers)

Akaname (Filth Licker)
No. Appearing:	2d6 (2d12)
Alignment:	Neutral
Movement:	90' (30')
Armor Class:	7
Hit Dice:	1
Attacks:	1 + special
Damage:	1d4 (claws) + special
Save:	Bushi 1
Morale:	7
Hoard Class:	None
XP	15

The Akaname are small goblin-like creatures, with green mottled skin, and wide black pupil-less eyes. They survive on rubbish and filth, making their nests in refuse pits and hovels. They are shy and try to avoid humans at all costs, only fighting if cornered.

They have long (3’) tongues which they use to feed and are carriers of disease. In combat they will lash out with their claws and tongue. Anyone struck by the tongue attack must save vs. poison or become violently ill in the next round, suffering -2 to hit for the next 1d6 days (unless a Cure Disease is cast upon the victim).

Tolkien Bestiary (Part 1)

I am in Book 2 / Chapter 1 (Many Meetings) of the Lord of the Rings, and today we will be starting our bestiary for my take on D&D in Middle Earth. In this chapter, Gandalf is reviewing the events at the Ford of Bruinen with Frodo (where he was nearly overtaken by the Black Riders and faded into a wraith himself).

Frodo asks:  But why could we all see their horses?'
     'Because they are real horses; just as the black robes are real robes that they wear to give shape to their nothingness when they have dealings with the living.'
     `Then why do these black horses endure such riders? All other animals are terrified when they draw near, even the elf-horse of Glorfindel. The dogs howl and the geese scream at them.'
     `Because these horses are born and bred to the service of the Dark Lord in Mordor. Not all his servants and chattels are wraiths! There are orcs and trolls, there are wargs and werewolves; and there have been and still are many Men, warriors and kings, that walk alive under the Sun, and yet are under his sway. And their number is growing daily.'
  
So, our running tally of monsters for the bestiary so far (outside of the normal races of "law" - Dwarves, Elves, Hobbits, and some Men) are:

• Old Man Willow (evil Ent?)
• Barrow Wights
• Orcs
• Trolls
• Wargs
• Werewolves
• Ring Wraiths
• Men (of course)

I am only listing what has been mentioned so far - or has been encountered. Needless to say there may be some missed but I don't want to go from what I already KNOW of Middle Earth. Just what I am reading.

I have decided to use the Holmes blue book version of basic D&D for this. I want a low power base - and I can expand classes as needed if I actually run the game. That and Holmes mentions Tolkien in his bestiary which I love. Also these rules seem like they just want to be tinkered with.

Most of the above are already defined in Holmes D&D (or any version really) - so no need for monster creation. Though I would create some Orc tribes and place them around my starting area.