Monster Monday (a day late)
Tiger Monkey
No Appearing 1-20Frequency Rare (outside the Badlands)- Uncommon (Chana Jungle and Badlands)
Alignment Chaotic Neutral
Intelligence Low-Animal
Morale 10
Hit Dice 1
Armor Class 5 (Agility and Coloration)
Attacks / Rnd 2 claws or 1 bite
Damage claws 1d3 each , bite 1d6
Special Attacks Surprise on 3 in 6 , disease
Special Defenses Immune to Poison
Magic Resistance None
Move 9" ground , 10" on trees and the like , leap 12-18 feet vertically
Diet Omnivore
Size Small (2-3 feet)
Treasure Type in lair 20% F, otherwise nothing
Experience : 130 exp +4 per hit point
Description
Tiger Monkeys are an aberration created by failed attempts by some mad wizard to re-create the Su-Monster experiment. Tiger Monkeys are found in the Badlands in all climates found therein and are equally comfortable in high altitudes where their fur turns to a snowy gray and blueish hue and grows long and thick all the way down to the volcanic heat of the Chana Jungle.
The tiger monkey averages 2 and a half feet in height with a mass of 35 lbs, males have wide stripes of black-brown on tawny gold fur, females have narrower stripes and darker, brownish pelts. They have a prehensile tail as long as their body is tall, and 4 wirey limbs each of which ends in a three finger and opposable thumbed hand with retractable claws. The Tiger Monkey's face is similar to that of a siamese cat crossed with a chimpanzee , being long with sliver shaped eyes and a large mouth filled with spike-like canines and razor sharp incisors. Their front lips are adorned with huge cat-like whiskers and their flattened muzzles have bright red lips that turn blue when they sleep.
Tiger Monkeys are fearsome for small creatures and are both foul tempered and malicious. They prefer to scavenge rather than hunt but they are intelligent enough to have developed very effective pack hunting strategies. Tiger Monkeys are very adept hunters and when sneaking up on an opponent surprise them 50% of the time, generally pelting them with rocks or debris then pouncing on them and tearing them apart. Wounds caused by their claws are 10% likely to become infected with rotting disease , their bite is 80% likely to do so.
Tiger Monkeys thrive on polluted and befouled foods and waters and never eat fresh flesh if they can help it, rather they bury their food, near water and wait for rot to set in then feast. They are totally immune to normal poisons and toxins, and large scorpions and spiders make regular appearances on their menus. Tiger Monkeys communicate by means of horrible sounding screech-growls, that carry very well and are quite unnerving. Tiger Monkies collect rotting fruits inside hollow trees where the ferment into a horrific liquid "wine" , as potent as moonshine and hallucinogenic to boot. It causes madness (treat as feeblemind or confusion spell) for 1d4 days and is 90% likely to cause blindness in imbibers. This foul brew makes a distinctive stench , and can be used to locate thier lairs during the weeks of it's ripening. If encountered in lair fully half of the beasts will always be at -4 to hit due to inebriation on this concoction.
In mating season (generally late spring) the Female tiger monkey sheds it's fur and it's skin turns a dark shade of purple until the new hair grows in, during this time they are receptive and are also frequently mistaken for actual Su-Monsters, disguise which lasts until summer begins or pregnancy ends (2 month gestation period). Tiger Monkey pelts rot very quickly and Tiger Monkey corpses attract all manner of disgusting creatures in a matter of hours to feast on their bloating, rotten remains. Tiger Monkey hearts can be used as part of the prep of Potion of Speed.
