Let's Riddle Some Monsters

[Unoriginal]

Inspired by No brains's suggestion in Boci's "Riddles as hints" thread, I think it would be neat to have a thread to make riddles out of monsters/NPCs descriptions.


I'll start:


They say two are better than one,

And it's true that two stand tall on top of one.

Yet two can't go far without working as one,

Because even with two they are as strong as one.

[Mastikator]

Is it an Ettin?

[Unoriginal]

Is it an Ettin?

Got it in one.

Another:

Those who desire to keep their doors locked fear me.

Those who desire to keep their gold fear me.

Those who desire to keep their arms and armors fear me.

Those who desire to keep their tomes and staves fear me.

Those who desire to keep their lives fear me.

Fear the shadows, fear the lightning,

Fear the sword that only goes cutting,

Fear the tall wall and the small opening,

As none can stop and most help my hunting.

[Beelzebub1111]

Ethereal Filcher?

[Lord Torath]

Black Pudding?

[Unoriginal]

Black Pudding?

Indeed!

Must say that one wasn't easy to make recognizable but not obvious.

[Boci]

Primordial waters swirl around me,
A croaking cacophony confound thee!

My claws of bone cut deep and red,
But as much as you bleed, I don't want you dead.

Wet and warm, the embrace of life,
To burst forth in glorious, bloody strife!

[Dr.Samurai]

Primordial waters swirl around me,
A croaking cacophony confound thee!

My claws of bone cut deep and red,
But as much as you bleed, I don't want you dead.

Wet and warm, the embrace of life,
To burst forth in glorious, bloody strife!
Is it a slaadi?

[Boci]

Yeah, blue or grey based on their MM pictures, the others don't have bone claws.

[Unoriginal]

Primordial waters swirl around me,
A croaking cacophony confound thee!

My claws of bone cut deep and red,
But as much as you bleed, I don't want you dead.

Wet and warm, the embrace of life,
To burst forth in glorious, bloody strife!


Yeah, blue or grey based on their MM pictures, the others don't have bone claws.

I like the riddle, but I don't get the "primordial waters swirl around me" part.

Slaadi don't have water powers nor do they come from water or live in water.

[Dr.Samurai]

Yeah, blue or grey based on their MM pictures, the others don't have bone claws.
Confounded! I wanted to guess blue but was away from books to confirm!

I like the riddle, but I don't get the "primordial waters swirl around me" part.

Slaadi don't have water powers nor do they come from water or live in water.
I think it is meant to reference the primordial chaos, but without giving everything away. I'm not sure exactly how I'd word it.

[Boci]

I like the riddle, but I don't get the "primordial waters swirl around me" part.

Slaadi don't have water powers nor do they come from water or live in water.

It was a sort of dual reference to primordial chaos and also the frog-like aesthetic of slaads, since frogs spend a lot of their time in water. You could change to "primordial currents" to be more on the chaos theme without explicitly invoking water if you think that's misleading.

Here's another one:

From smoke I emerge, a gift for the fang,
I spearhead the assault of this war gang.

I have for legs, but am not to be mounted,
I’m so hungry my ribs can all be counted.

A savage prick to make you torpid,
Cackling, gnashing, a hunter rewarded.

Jaws dripping, life ended, such a thrill,
I surge forwards, eyes locked on my next kill.

[Unoriginal]

It was a sort of dual reference to primordial chaos and also the frog-like aesthetic of slaads, since frogs spend a lot of their time in water. You could change to "primordial currents" to be more on the chaos theme without explicitly invoking water if you think that's misleading.

I mean the Slaad aren't from primordial chaos either, they're a late addition to Limbo.

Maybe something like "born from stone, but no stone surround me" would fit?



From smoke I emerge, a gift for the fang,
I spearhead the assault of this war gang.

I have for legs, but am not to be mounted,
I’m so hungry my ribs can all be counted.

A savage prick to make you torpid,
Cackling, gnashing, a hunter rewarded.

Jaws dripping, life ended, such a thrill,
I surge forwards, eyes locked on my next kill.

Shoosuva, right?

[Boci]

I mean the Slaad aren't from primordial chaos either, they're a late addition to Limbo.

Maybe something like "born from stone, but no stone surround me" would fit?

Ah okay, I thought with the whole being chaos and frog theme slaad would be tied to primordial chaos.


Shoosuva, right?

Yep.

[Ionathus]

In a plight.
Darkest night.
Where's the light?
Here.

Catch a sight.
Prowling fright.
Awful height.
Fear.

Beastly might.
Crushing bite.
"Arms" wrap tight.
Spear.

Run, don't fight.
You're no knight.
'Round the bight.
Veer.

Desp'rate flight.
Lead is slight.
Looming smite.
Near.

To the right?
No, not quite.
'Twas a sleight.
Here. There.

[Unoriginal]

In a plight.
Darkest night.
Where's the light?
Here.

Catch a sight.
Prowling fright.
Awful height.
Fear.

Beastly might.
Crushing bite.
"Arms" wrap tight.
Spear.

Run, don't fight.
You're no knight.
'Round the bight.
Veer.

Desp'rate flight.
Lead is slight.
Looming smite.
Near.

To the right?
No, not quite.
'Twas a sleight.
Here. There.

Something scary, tall, that can control either light or darkness, with spear-like crushing appendages, good at tricking people and who make people run away to cut them down while they flee.

That's a tough one.

[Ionathus]

Something scary, tall, that can control either light or darkness, with spear-like crushing appendages, good at tricking people and who make people run away to cut them down while they flee.

That's a tough one.

I may have over-described it since I was having too much fun with the rhyme scheme :smallsmile:

Don’t worry about making every single element fit - go with general vibes and the “key” clues that seem (IMO at least) the most obvious.

[Kol Korran]

Great idea! Let's see what I can come up with...

Nightmare in the flesh, I flow like the waves,
For your sweet meat I seek and crave!
For I am meat, and I am what I eat!
Soon I'll swallow you whole, and make you part of it...

With my many mouths I spit and sing,
To blind and confuse, such a wonderful thing!
And then I'll slither, and take a bite or three,
Many mouths to feed, till you're a part of me!

A shapeless mass of teeth and eyes,
A horror made real, the very ground shifts and cries.

A maddening chorus, an unnatural thing!
How sweet do your screams sound, as I eat you and sing!

[Beelzebub1111]

Gibbering Mouther.

From foreign lands that all have been
My children crawl through paths unseen
Awake and roam where all shall rest.
With feast and hunger are obsessed.

Teeth and claws, they do unbind
the tether between form and mind
A rabid plague should you survive
And add another to our hive.

[NontheistCleric]

Gibbering Mouther?

(Beelzebub beat me to it)


From foreign lands that all have been
My children crawl through paths unseen
Awake and roam where all shall rest.
With feast and hunger are obsessed.

Teeth and claws, they do unbind
the tether between form and mind
A rabid plague should you survive
And add another to our hive.
Night Hag? Doesn't quite fit, but it's what came to mind...

Or maybe Intellect Devourer? Do we get two guesses?

[Unoriginal]

Great idea! Let's see what I can come up with...

Nightmare in the flesh, I flow like the waves,
For your sweet meat I seek and crave!
For I am meat, and I am what I eat!
Soon I'll swallow you whole, and make you part of it...

With my many mouths I spit and sing,
To blind and confuse, such a wonderful thing!
And then I'll slither, and take a bite or three,
Many mouths to feed, till you're a part of me!

A shapeless mass of teeth and eyes,
A horror made real, the very ground shifts and cries.

A maddening chorus, an unnatural thing!
How sweet do your screams sound, as I eat you and sing!

Gibbering Mouther, I'm 100% sure of it.

A classic.

I couldn't have resisted putting something like "I have many mouths and I must scream" in it, if I had written a riddle about them.



From foreign lands that all have been
My children crawl through paths unseen
Awake and roam where all shall rest.
With feast and hunger are obsessed.

Teeth and claws, they do unbind
the tether between form and mind
A rabid plague should you survive
And add another to our hive.

The Meenlock?

[Beelzebub1111]

Night Hag? Doesn't quite fit, but it's what came to mind...

Or maybe Intellect Devourer? Do we get two guesses?



The Meenlock?
Good guesses, but no. Although I haven't thought of the meenlock years. not since Return to Whiteplume. I think you are getting a bit obscure with the guesses, think simpler. I'll try to come up with another verse in the meantime.

[NontheistCleric]

Okay, I have a riddle...

What is white but black where you cannot see it?

Eyeless yet is ever seeing?

Its mind is young and its body old.

Murder stirs it from torpor's hold.

[Unoriginal]

Okay, I have a riddle...

What is white but black where you cannot see it?

Eyeless yet is ever seeing?

Its mind is young and its body old.

Murder stirs it from torpor's hold.

An Athropal?

[NontheistCleric]

An Athropal?

Okay, you're on the right track, but not quite. I'd say more but I don't want to give the whole game away.

[Kol Korran]

Gibbering Mouther.

From foreign lands that all have been
My children crawl through paths unseen
Awake and roam where all shall rest.
With feast and hunger are obsessed.

Teeth and claws, they do unbind
the tether between form and mind
A rabid plague should you survive
And add another to our hive.

Hmmm... not sure, as I can't fully see the connection in some lines, but... Ghouls?

[Beelzebub1111]

Hmmm... not sure, as I can't fully see the connection in some lines, but... Ghouls?
Correct!
Origins trace back to Leng and the dreamlands
Live in tunnels underground
Lurk in Graveyards
Always hungry corpse eaters

Paralyzing bites and claw attacks
If you survive an encounter you may catch a disease that turns you into one of them.

[Boci]

Correct!
Origins trace back to Leng and the dreamlands
Live in tunnels underground
Lurk in Graveyards
Always hungry corpse eaters

Paralyzing bites and claw attacks
If you survive an encounter you may catch a disease that turns you into one of them.

Yeah m understanding is ghouls were an arabic demon, then Lovecraft made them more undeady, and D&D went with that. PF for example has a Leng Ghoul, a CR 10 version of the monster with the same paralysis and disease ability (boosted for higher CR of course), but also Erudite: "All Knowledge skills are class skills for Leng ghouls. In addition, a Leng ghoul can cast spells from any magic scroll as if it had the spells on its spell list. It automatically succeeds at the caster level check necessary to use the scroll."

[Beni-Kujaku]

A warm heart in the frozen lands,
Wings like that of a gold dragon,
But it's six feet under that it will be draggin'
The poor fool who attacks it with their two bare hands

[Dr.Samurai]

A warm heart in the frozen lands,
Wings like that of a gold dragon,
But it's six feet under that it will be draggin'
The poor fool who attacks it with their two bare hands
A remorhaz!

[Beni-Kujaku]

A remorhaz!

That's right!

[Kol Korran]

Another riddle!

"I will grant you your wish,
If you'll only do this..."
I ask in disguise,
Though you I despise.

If you'll expose me you'll behold
An ancient sin, twisted and old.
With arms of a giant crab,
(And two more who are just drab)

Ferocious in battle and magic as well,
So what is your wish?
Prey do tell!

[Unoriginal]

Another riddle!

"I will grant you your wish,
If you'll only do this..."
I ask in disguise,
Though you I despise.

If you'll expose me you'll behold
An ancient sin, twisted and old.
With arms of a giant crab,
(And two more who are just drab)

Ferocious in battle and magic as well,
So what is your wish?
Prey do tell!

Glaberzu.

I am sometime born from an user of magic
From them, I inherit more than one trick
Whether I grow or spread, they act sick
If my goals succeed, this form won't stick

[Dr.Samurai]

I am sometime born from an user of magic
From them, I inherit more than one trick
Whether I grow or spread, they act sick
If my goals succeed, this form won't stick
Hmmm... a nothic?

[No brains]

Look, ye mighty and despair.
See my works everywhere.
From the thatching of inn's roof-
To mead within is proof.
Gaze out into the field
and see me with the tool I wield.
Be I of dubious might,
my craft's always in sight.
Am I truly a monster?
Let your imagination stir.

[Unoriginal]

Look, ye mighty and despair.
See my works everywhere.
From the thatching of inn's roof-
To mead within is proof.
Gaze out into the field
and see me with the tool I wield.
Be I of dubious might,
my craft's always in sight.
Am I truly a monster?
Let your imagination stir.

The Commoner?

[Kol Korran]

Glaberzu.

I am sometime born from an user of magic
From them, I inherit more than one trick
Whether I grow or spread, they act sick
If my goals succeed, this form won't stick

Glaberzu is correct!

As to your riddle- Slaad? (Probably the higher forms- Green or Grey?)

[Kol Korran]

A few more riddles:

First riddle:
-------------------
My name confuses- part of my heritage.
And though I am regal, I do not share it's power or age.
My body and face another beast will remind,
Yet my tail and my heart, bear no malice and are kind.
But don"t be a fool, for no weakling am I!
Hear my roar, as I soar to the sky!

Second riddle:
-----------------------
Far underground we wait for our prey,
On walls and ceilings, we ambush and lay.
Some mistake and think no danger we pose:
So small, arms so flabby, we look weak and a tad gross,
But so quickly we'll strike, for your mistake you'll pay.
Arms long and when they latch, we'll take your breath away!

Third riddle:
---------------------
To some we remind an animal that floats in the sea,
But there the resemblance ends, and far deadly are we.
Unnatural in flight, no eyes and no sight,
Yet you unerringly we find, and with glee we'll fight!
We'll whip you aplenty, and poison as well!
Yes, you are right to fear the... "

[Dr.Samurai]

A few more riddles:

First riddle:
-------------------
My name confuses- part of my heritage.
And though I am regal, I do not share it's power or age.
My body and face another beast will remind,
Yet my tail and my heart, bear no malice and are kind.
But don"t be a fool, for no weakling am I!
Hear my roar, as I soar to the sky!

Second riddle:
-----------------------
Far underground we wait for our prey,
On walls and ceilings, we ambush and lay.
Some mistake and think no danger we pose:
So small, arms so flabby, we look weak and a tad gross,
But so quickly we'll strike, for your mistake you'll pay.
Arms long and when they latch, we'll take your breath away!

Third riddle:
---------------------
To some we remind an animal that floats in the sea,
But there the resemblance ends, and far deadly are we.
Unnatural in flight, no eyes and no sight,
Yet you unerringly we find, and with glee we'll fight!
We'll whip you aplenty, and poison as well!
Yes, you are right to fear the... "
I’m stumped on the first one…

1. Lion Drake

2. Choker

3. Grell

[Kol Korran]

I’m stumped on the first one…

1. Lion Drake

2. Choker

3. Grell
Correct on all 3 accounts.
As to the first, I meant Draggone, which is indeed also called a lion drake.

[Dr.Samurai]

Correct on all 3 accounts.
As to the first, I meant Draggone, which is indeed also called a lion drake.
I typed draggone first and then edited in lion drake because of the reference to regal!

[Ionathus]

This is such a fun concept! Came up with a few more:

Gangly, gory, gnarled lout.
Feasting, fighting: won't tire out.
It to pieces you may hack;
But bring a torch -- else it comes back.

---

When you're big, you get to rule.
When you're small, you feel the fool.
Why not own it? Play it cool.
Let the chaos be your tool.

Kill me once, shame on you.
Kill me twice, shame on you.
Kill, kill, kill -- what can you do?
More of us than there is you.

Of course, that's only if you can.
Most brutes can't even lift a hand.
My foe often becomes my fan:
And wounds heal quick. All goes to plan.

I am the fury of the small.
The pain, the joy, the grit, the gall.
I am our vengeance 'gainst the tall.
Just say us backwards when you call.

---


In a plight.
Darkest night.
Where's the light?
Here...

Reminder that this one is still unsolved too!

[Dr.Samurai]

This is such a fun concept! Came up with a few more:

Gangly, gory, gnarled lout.
Feasting, fighting: won't tire out.
It to pieces you may hack;
But bring a torch -- else it comes back.

---

When you're big, you get to rule.
When you're small, you feel the fool.
Why not own it? Play it cool.
Let the chaos be your tool.

Kill me once, shame on you.
Kill me twice, shame on you.
Kill, kill, kill -- what can you do?
More of us than there is you.

Of course, that's only if you can.
Most brutes can't even lift a hand.
My foe often becomes my fan:
And wounds heal quick. All goes to plan.

I am the fury of the small.
The pain, the joy, the grit, the gall.
I am our vengeance 'gainst the tall.
Just say us backwards when you call.

---



Reminder that this one is still unsolved too!
1. Troll
2. Nilbog?
3. Will o'wisp

[Ionathus]

1. Troll
2. Nilbog?
3. Will o'wisp

Yes,
Yes,
Nope!

[Dr.Samurai]

Yes,
Yes,
Nope!
Wow, I was most sure about 1 and 3 lol. Okay, I will keep thinking on this.

[Boci]

Some riddles still unsolved here I beleive:

This one:


In a plight.
Darkest night.
Where's the light?
Here.

Catch a sight.
Prowling fright.
Awful height.
Fear.

Beastly might.
Crushing bite.
"Arms" wrap tight.
Spear.

Run, don't fight.
You're no knight.
'Round the bight.
Veer.

Desp'rate flight.
Lead is slight.
Looming smite.
Near.

To the right?
No, not quite.
'Twas a sleight.
Here. There.

This one:


Okay, I have a riddle...

What is white but black where you cannot see it?

Eyeless yet is ever seeing?

Its mind is young and its body old.

Murder stirs it from torpor's hold.

The last of these 3 I think:


This is such a fun concept! Came up with a few more:

Gangly, gory, gnarled lout.
Feasting, fighting: won't tire out.
It to pieces you may hack;
But bring a torch -- else it comes back.

---

When you're big, you get to rule.
When you're small, you feel the fool.
Why not own it? Play it cool.
Let the chaos be your tool.

Kill me once, shame on you.
Kill me twice, shame on you.
Kill, kill, kill -- what can you do?
More of us than there is you.

Of course, that's only if you can.
Most brutes can't even lift a hand.
My foe often becomes my fan:
And wounds heal quick. All goes to plan.

I am the fury of the small.
The pain, the joy, the grit, the gall.
I am our vengeance 'gainst the tall.
Just say us backwards when you call.


And we never got confirmation on whether or not this is a nothic, unless I missed it.


Glaberzu.

I am sometime born from an user of magic
From them, I inherit more than one trick
Whether I grow or spread, they act sick
If my goals succeed, this form won't stick

Did I miss any others?

[Unoriginal]

Glaberzu is correct!

As to your riddle- Slaad? (Probably the higher forms- Green or Grey?)

I apologize, I forgot I didn't respond.

It is indeed the Green Slaad.

[No brains]

The Commoner?

What would be your next guess if I told you that it wasn't a commoner?

Here's another one:

Of an alien nature,
And unpronounceable name,
Seen as a plant creature
In a different game.

I'm of modest might,
But I'll swing you around.
I'll give you a bizarre sight,
When I put you in the ground.

With a rapacious hunger
That can devour herds
I'm resigned to linger
Knee deep in turds.

[Ionathus]

And we never got confirmation on whether or not this is a nothic, unless I missed it.

It was a Nilbog, as guessed by Dr. Samurai!

[Unoriginal]

What would be your next guess if I told you that it wasn't a commoner?

The Dungeon Master?



Of an alien nature,
And unpronounceable name,
Seen as a plant creature
In a different game.

I'm of modest might,
But I'll swing you around.
I'll give you a bizarre sight,
When I put you in the ground.

With a rapacious hunger
That can devour herds
I'm resigned to linger
Knee deep in turds.

A Flumph?

[No brains]

The Dungeon Master?

I'm just kidding you, you got it first try. Good job. :smallbiggrin:



A Flumph?

That one will actually require second guess.

I suppose this raises a question of, 'what is a good riddle?' Is a good riddle one that tells everything? One that misleads?

I think it may come down to the intent between riddler and recipient. In the case of monster riddles like these, they might work best as coded warnings left between people in the know in a monster menagerie. Yes, it would be useful to let the new cage-mopper know that there's a chimera in here since he knows enough to stay safe, but we don't necessarily want to advertise to people looking to steal our chimera. And if there's a third party, all they need to know is that there's something dangerous in this room and they should stay out.

In theory, riddles like these could be abbreviated down to nicknames or memes. Bullywugs keeping a Froghemoth might refer to it as Le Holy Chonk to code the location of their weird idol.

Another 'good' riddle could be a shapeshifter shell-game. A shapeshifter writes some vague description on the door to its room and uses it as a prompt for the form it assumes while people talk about what it could be outside. What, you thought that description could have described a Giant Elk, a Stegosaurus, or a Tiefling Gladiator? Surprise! It's an Adult Bronze Dragon!

Riddles like these might also work if something is beholden to be truthful, but not quite clear or helpful. If there were a magic item that gave Divination that was fluffed as an imprisoned spirit coerced into being useful, it may answer in these riddles.

I guess riddles like this also work for intel compartmentalization. If an adventurer shakes down an orc grunt about what its guarding for the cultists, the best it can do is recite a riddle that it doesn't get... and maybe can't remember.

In this thread's case, we're flexing on our monster knowledge and poetry skillz.

[Unoriginal]

I suppose this raises a question of, 'what is a good riddle?' Is a good riddle one that tells everything? One that misleads?

A good riddle is a a riddle that is decipherable but not obvious.



In this thread's case, we're flexing on our monster knowledge and poetry skillz.

I think that in-universe and out-of-universe, riddles are best as a game/challenge/competition.

If you don't want people to know how to enter the secret cave, you don't leave the instructions out in the open. But you may if you only want specific people to enter.

Be it Odin and Vafþrúðnir testing each other's knowledge, Bilbo and Gollum making a deadly bet over the result of what would otherwise just be a game, the Riddler's MO, or the archaeological clues in works like Indiana Jones or National Treasure, riddles are here to be solved until it's beyond one of the person's skills.

[Kol Korran]

Here's another one:

Of an alien nature,
And unpronounceable name,
Seen as a plant creature
In a different game.

I'm of modest might,
But I'll swing you around.
I'll give you a bizarre sight,
When I put you in the ground.

With a rapacious hunger
That can devour herds
I'm resigned to linger
Knee deep in turds.

Hmmm... Otyugh?
Though the "bizzare sight" line confuses me a bit...

[No brains]

Hmmm... Otyugh?
Though the "bizzare sight" line confuses me a bit...

Correct! The "bizarre sight" comes from a few sources. First, that the otyugh has a peculiar arrangement of eyes (that came up in the post that inspired this tread). Second, for whatever reason, otyughs are now telepathic and can literally send you bizarre sights with their simple telepathy. Third, an otyugh picking somebody up and flailing them around is just plain going to look funny.

And to explain the 'plant monster in a different game' line, apparently otyughs were ripped off adapted into Final Fantasy as the Ochu. The name got shortened because that's the best Japanese can do with those weird consonant sounds, (Is y a consonant or a vowel in Otyugh?) but why it became a pitcher plant, I can't say.

[Kol Korran]

Another riddle!
Note: This monster appears in an earlier edition... I haven't found stats for it for 5e, so it may not have been updated. So this may require "old" knowledge, and may be tougher... still, I tried to put in enough hints.

In it's (uhn)natural form, it looks like out of this world
It's head- 3 pincers around a poisonous mouth, to take the will of the most bold.
A worm like body, with many twisting limbs,
It looks like a freak, but there is more to it then it seems!

For with keen intellect, schemes and plots, Shapeshifters, necromancers, seduction and cults!
For they serve the one who will bring forth the age,
For all that slithers, the age of decay...

[Dr.Samurai]

Another riddle!
Note: This monster appears in an earlier edition... I haven't found stats for it for 5e, so it may not have been updated. So this may require "old" knowledge, and may be tougher... still, I tried to put in enough hints.

In it's (uhn)natural form, it looks like out of this world
It's head- 3 pincers around a poisonous mouth, to take the will of the most bold.
A worm like body, with many twisting limbs,
It looks like a freak, but there is more to it then it seems!

For with keen intellect, schemes and plots, Shapeshifters, necromancers, seduction and cults!
For they serve the one who will bring forth the age,
For all that slithers, the age of decay...
Is it an Avolakia?

[Kol Korran]

Is it an Avolakia?

Ding ding! We have a winner!

[Dr.Samurai]

Ding ding! We have a winner!
It's one of my faves! For anyone else that gets STL files from RocketPig, I'm the guy that was constantly requesting the avolakia lol.

[Kol Korran]

Another riddle:

Stubs for feet, it runs and flies,
A tundra's terror, it howls and cries.
It haunts you slowly, even in your dreams,
Till blood you'll seek, and feast extreme!

Fight if you can, or hide and turn,
But if you run- you won't stop and you will burn!

[Boci]

Another riddle:

Stubs for feet, it runs and flies,
A tundra's terror, it howls and cries.
It haunts you slowly, even in your dreams,
Till blood you'll seek, and feast extreme!

Fight if you can, or hide and turn,
But if you run- you won't stop and you will burn!

Wendigo I'm guessing. Do we have those in 5e? I knew they were a thing in 3.5 and PF.

[Slartibartfast]

...

Beastly might.
Crushing bite.
"Arms" wrap tight.
Spear.

...


I think this one is still unsolved. Phase spider?

[Dr.Samurai]

In a plight.
Darkest night.
Where's the light?
Here.

Catch a sight.
Prowling fright.
Awful height.
Fear.

Beastly might.
Crushing bite.
"Arms" wrap tight.
Spear.

Run, don't fight.
You're no knight.
'Round the bight.
Veer.

Desp'rate flight.
Lead is slight.
Looming smite.
Near.

To the right?
No, not quite.
'Twas a sleight.
Here. There.
Ok, when I first guessed on this one I only saw the first four lines in the quote and didn't realize there was a lot more.

Still not sure what it might be, but I'm going to guess Displacer Beast!

[Vorpalchicken]

Ok, when I first guessed on this one I only saw the first four lines in the quote and didn't realize there was a lot more.

Still not sure what it might be, but I'm going to guess Displacer Beast!

That or maybe the Balhannoth?

[Boci]

Still got some unsolved riddles. Don't make me PM you :P

[Unoriginal]

Still got some unsolved riddles. Don't make me PM you :P

I gave all the ideas I had for the riddles I could. Have no idea for the rest.

[thoroughlyS]

In a plight.
Darkest night.
Where's the light?
Here.

Catch a sight.
Prowling fright.
Awful height.
Fear.

Beastly might.
Crushing bite.
"Arms" wrap tight.
Spear.

Run, don't fight.
You're no knight.
'Round the bight.
Veer.

Desp'rate flight.
Lead is slight.
Looming smite.
Near.

To the right?
No, not quite.
'Twas a sleight.
Here. There.
This is probably my favorite riddle because it uses a really strong, unique rhyme scheme. My first thought was a bugbear, which fits the idea of a nocturnal ambusher. The only parts giving me pause are "crushing bite" and the fact that "arms" is in quotations.

[crabwizard77]

In a plight.
Darkest night.
Where's the light?
Here.

Catch a sight.
Prowling fright.
Awful height.
Fear.

Beastly might.
Crushing bite.
"Arms" wrap tight.
Spear.

Run, don't fight.
You're no knight.
'Round the bight.
Veer.

Desp'rate flight.
Lead is slight.
Looming smite.
Near.

To the right?
No, not quite.
'Twas a sleight.
Here. There.

This is just the first thing I thought of, a Lonely sorrowsworn?

[Ionathus]

This is probably my favorite riddle because it uses a really strong, unique rhyme scheme. My first thought was a bugbear, which fits the idea of a nocturnal ambusher. The only parts giving me pause are "crushing bite" and the fact that "arms" is in quotations.

Thank you for the compliment! :smallsmile: I didn't start out intending on the rhyme scheme, but once I liked the first few lines together I realized I had to do the whole thing in that style. I'm a big fan of very tightly-set meters and a lot of rhyming so this was a lot of fun to try wringing all of the potential out of. It took a lot of fiddling. :smallcool:

Bugbear is a very good guess! Especially with the long arms. But the "real" answer is...


Ok, when I first guessed on this one I only saw the first four lines in the quote and didn't realize there was a lot more.

Still not sure what it might be, but I'm going to guess Displacer Beast!

Ding ding ding, we have a winner!

[No brains]

What threw me from the Displacer Beast riddle was that there was mention of rounding a 'bight' which is apparently a coastal landform. It can also refer to a loop in rope, but it seemed an extraneous detail when referring to glimmery squid cats.

[RedMage125]

Correct! The "bizarre sight" comes from a few sources. First, that the otyugh has a peculiar arrangement of eyes (that came up in the post that inspired this tread). Second, for whatever reason, otyughs are now telepathic and can literally send you bizarre sights with their simple telepathy. Third, an otyugh picking somebody up and flailing them around is just plain going to look funny.

And to explain the 'plant monster in a different game' line, apparently otyughs were ripped off adapted into Final Fantasy as the Ochu. The name got shortened because that's the best Japanese can do with those weird consonant sounds, (Is y a consonant or a vowel in Otyugh?) but why it became a pitcher plant, I can't say.

The official pronunciation guide from an old Dragon Magazine says that it's pronounced "AHT-yoog"

[Kol Korran]

Another riddle:
---------------------------
Between black and white,
It strides with might.
Six small eyes look for prey,
Before it slashes, tears and slays!
Alone it stalks, in bogs with no end,
But he deeply longs to find a friend.
With whom to bond, to care and protect,
Yet no one knows how it selects.
Utter loyalty the brute shows his care,
Yet all others it kills. Approach... if you dare.

[Dr.Samurai]

Another riddle:
---------------------------
Between black and white,
It strides with might.
Six small eyes look for prey,
Before it slashes, tears and slays!
Alone it stalks, in bogs with no end,
But he deeply longs to find a friend.
With whom to bond, to care and protect,
Yet no one knows how it selects.
Utter loyalty the brute shows his care,
Yet all others it kills. Approach... if you dare.
I think it might be…

a gray render?

[Kol Korran]

I think it might be…

a gray render?

You are correct dear sir.

I am starting to wonder if my riddles are good. On one hand, the clues should lead to the answer, but as another poster on this thread said- the answer shouldn't be obvious. Yet all of my riddles were solved quite fast, so... I don't know.

Oh well.

[Kol Korran]

Another riddle? Why not?
----------------------------------------
Blood on my boots! Blood on my head!
I hate you all and murder you dead!
Small I may seem, but looks can deceive!
I'll stab and i'll slash, and you'll bleed like a sieve!
I'll bathe in your blood, my hat I will fill!
What a glorious kill, and there are more coming still!

[No brains]

Another riddle? Why not?
----------------------------------------
Blood on my boots! Blood on my head!
I hate you all and murder you dead!
Small I may seem, but looks can deceive!
I'll stab and i'll slash, and you'll bleed like a sieve!
I'll bathe in your blood, my hat I will fill!
What a glorious kill, and there are more coming still!

That pokemon is:Redcap

I don't think a riddle that effectively communicates is bad, but in my chat with Unoriginal, I think I've learned that one thing you can add to a riddle is something like a 'key'. Think about an assumption someone may make about a certain line of your riddle and try to muddy it in such a way that only specific people would get what you're talking about.

Like if you have a riddle for a monster in a temple of Lolth, make the riddle allude to things Lolth worshippers would know. Indeed, appeal to a Lolth-worshipper's alternate view of reality. If you say something is 'like a wood elf', a surface idiot might think you mean fast and stealthy, but an underdark chad will know you mean something covered in dirt.

Maybe give that a try to make a harder riddle that's still totally true. :smallsmile:

EDIT: Here's a really weird one. Extra books might help widen the lore to narrow this down, but technically this monster's right there in the manual!

My father's boon; righteous might.
My mother's boon withheld flight.
Still she gave me fearsome breath.
And strength against necrotic death.

My own achievement was to foil
The elven foe's percieved foible.
'Gainst taunts of my intellect 'teeny'
I learned to wield arcane might of Genie.

For all my pride, I was made to serve
With parasites clinging to my nerve.
All my glory and pedigree could not save
Me from becoming Zuggtmoy's slave.

This one is twisted and I'll reveal it in around a week if it's too obtuse.

[Kol Korran]

That pokemon is:Redcap

I don't think a riddle that effectively communicates is bad, but in my chat with Unoriginal, I think I've learned that one thing you can add to a riddle is something like a 'key'. Think about an assumption someone may make about a certain line of your riddle and try to muddy it in such a way that only specific people would get what you're talking about.

Like if you have a riddle for a monster in a temple of Lolth, make the riddle allude to things Lolth worshippers would know. Indeed, appeal to a Lolth-worshipper's alternate view of reality. If you say something is 'like a wood elf', a surface idiot might think you mean fast and stealthy, but an underdark chad will know you mean something covered in dirt.

Maybe give that a try to make a harder riddle that's still totally true. :smallsmile:

EDIT: Here's a really weird one. Extra books might help widen the lore to narrow this down, but technically this monster's right there in the manual!

My father's boon; righteous might.
My mother's boon withheld flight.
Still she gave me fearsome breath.
And strength against necrotic death.

My own achievement was to foil
The elven foe's percieved foible.
'Gainst taunts of my intellect 'teeny'
I learned to wield arcane might of Genie.

For all my pride, I was made to serve
With parasites clinging to my nerve.
All my glory and pedigree could not save
Me from becoming Zuggtmoy's slave.

This one is twisted and I'll reveal it in around a week if it's too obtuse.

Answer please?

[No brains]

Answer please?

My theoretically core monster was:
A Half-Shadow Dragon Orc Archmage turned into a Spore Servant, who had Wish instead of Time Stop as their 9th level spell.

This level of template stacking was probably better left buried in 3.5, especially since Spore Servant ends up overriding everything, up to the potentially dubious use of a Shadow Dragon in the Half-Dragon template. Even so, it's all there in the manual. The Monster Manual.

This last riddle probably won't fly to well, but how does this one fly?

There's three words in English that use the letters 'gry' in sequence.
One is hungry.
One is angry.
The answer might be both- watch out!