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Each monster is summarized from the books. Assume each monster name is a Cliché. The GM assigns a number of dice to a monster Cliché as dramatic necessity requires. For example, a Serf(3) with no combat skills would have a hard time dealing with a lone Mud-man(2). A Mimbrate Knight(4) would handily defeat the same Mud-man, and so would rather enjoy the challenge of an Eldrak(5).

Monsters that run in packs, herds, flocks, etc., may use their Clichés in a Team with other similar monsters. Thus, three Rock-Wolves(3) are a Team(5).

Algroth

Algroths make a sort of barking noise, which allows packs to coordinate their hunting. They can be found both in Ulgoland and the Arendish forest. They sometimes growl or scream when attacking.

Basilisk

Little is known about the basilisk. The only record of it is in the Book of Ulgo. When the first Gorim asked UL who would be the God of the monsters, he mentioned the basilisk and others by name.

Mythologically speaking, the basilisk is a serpent whose bite, breath, tail and even gaze are venomous. Since no one in either world (ours or Belgarion's) has ever caught one, this may be used or ignored at GM option.

Carnivorous jungle tree

Large, fruit-bearing tree that gives off a sweet perfume. It has tendrils that bear a paralyzing poison, and its fruit juice has the same. The smell attracts animals, which are then paralyzed. As they die, the tree feeds both on the bodies and the fear and pain of its victims. Only found in the jungles of Nyissa. It's the one jungle plant Salmissra wants destroyed. Most of them have been.

Civet cat

Basically a skunk, though spotted instead of striped, and of slightly different shape.

Demon

Demons are agents of chaos. They can do a number of things related to fire, death, decay and destruction. The more powerful the demon, the more it can do.

For practical purposes demons are unkillable. Even Belgarath said that no human can fight a demon unaided. The smallest imp is more than a match for an army if unrestrained, never mind fire-breathing Demon Lords. Only a God can face down a demon. Demons will also run from the Orb of Aldur.

Demons must be summoned from Hell (another universe) by the use of magic. This normally involves very strict constraints. An unconstrained demon will ravage the earth, starting with the summoner.

Some Karandese rites involve impregnating a woman with demon seed. It's almost never successful. Both the mother and the child usually die during the birth. Should the child survive, it must be killed before it turns two, for it's a creature of both dimensions. It has the powers of a demon, but it cannot be banished. And the Karands will protect the child to the death, for to them it is a God.

As a guideline, a summoned demon may have the Cliché anywhere from Demon(1) to Demon[6d20]. An uncontrolled demon will have anywhere from Demon[3d12] to Demon[6d20].

Dragon

Thanks to Torak, she is immune to Sorcery (but not the Orb of Aldur). Her nature also includes immunity to fire, and in fact she loves it. Her full description is in chapter two of King of the Murgos. Dragon(5d20) would probably not be out of line.

Eldrak/Ape bear

Eldrakyn live a long time, several hundred years at least. They are solitary, but in Ulgoland often run with packs of rock-wolves. They will wear captured armor (at least the parts they can make fit) and carry large clubs or captured weapons. (None of these are necessary for their Clichés, nor do they add dice. They're just special effects.) The ape bears in the forests of Likandia are related, but less intelligent and not tool users or rock-wolf trainers.

Fenling

Four-foot long swimming mammal, related to otters, that lives in the moors of Drasnia and eats fish. During the journey to Cthol Mishrak, Belgarath made them fully capable of speech. They don't use weapons and are not aggressive. It's doubtful any has more than Fenling(2) as a Cliché. Their fur is considered valuable.

Harpy

Half woman, half vulture, harpies are slow and stupid. However, they travel in flocks of up to 20 or so, and they will attack if they feel they can overpower their target. The only known encounter with harpies was in 4002, when Belgarath and Polgara were on their way to Riva to stop the assassination of Gorek.

Hound of Torak

The mutated sorcerous giant canines used by Torak as guards and troops. In addition to all that the Cliché of Giant Dog should give, each has Sorcery[2].

Hrulga (plural Hrulgin)

These horse-like carnivores run in herds of 1d6+3. The leader will usually have one more Cliché die than the rest of the herd.

Sha-darim can communicate with Hrulgin, but they don't like to. It's never pleasant. (Whatever it is that Asharak--Chamdar--was riding, it wasn't a Hrulga.)

Minotaur

As with the basilisk, mentioned only in the Book of Ulgo by the first Gorim. It's probably the bull-headed monster we all know.

Mud-man

Weapons do no real damage against them, but pieces can be cut off. Some pieces will still be able to move and attack. Sufficient amounts of water will cause them to dissolve.

Nyissan leech

Nyissan leeches generally have only one Cliché die for their poisonous bite, but they normally attack in swarms of up to 12. A single leech will sometimes crawl up a tree, reed, oar, etc., looking for food.

Ravener

Also called ghouls, Raveners live only in the Great Southern Forest of Cthol Murgos. They eat human flesh, usually dead because it's easy to catch. They are normally torpid and slow, with all actions taking twice as long as normal. Sizable numbers of deaths (due to natural disasters, wars, etc.) drive them into a frenzy, at which time all raveners in the area may be considered a Team. They have no intelligence, just hunger, and they act only on that and a natural dislike of sunlight.

Rock-wolf

Rock-wolves run in packs of 3-8, and are about as big as a donkey, but less solidly built. Think of them as very large hyenas.

Troll

Nothing is really said about trolls in the books, except that Barak describes them as big ugly things with claws and fangs. They are found only in the Land of the Trolls, north of Cherek. No humans live there.

Unicorn

Mentioned only in the Book of Ulgo by the first Gorim, and in passing by Belgarath. Like the Minotaur, it's probably the creature we all know.

1. Introduction
2. Character Creation
3. Drugs and Poisons
4. Monsters

Original material © Patrick Clark 1999
Everything else is either © S. John Ross or © David & Leigh Eddings
Last updated 9 June 1999

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