Should be the 2nd to last part of this series; covering Q, R, S, T. This section includes some major classics like the Rakshasa, Sahuagin, and Sphinx.Part 1: Letters A + BPart 2: Letter CPart 3: Devils and DemonsPart 4: Letters D, E, and FPart 5: Letter GPart 6: Letters H, I, J, KPart 7: L and MPart 8: N, O, and PQQuaggothEtymology: Possibly quag (“marsh/bog”)First Appearance: Fiend Folio (1981)Origin: UncertainQuasitEtymology: Possibly coined by Gary Gygax, perhaps based on quasi (“resembling or having the likeness of”), from Latin quasi (“as if”)First Appearance: Monster Manual (1977)Origin: Created by Gary GygaxQuicklingFirst Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: UncertainQuickwood (Spy Tree)First Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Uncertain, though it does bear some similarity to Old Man Willow from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring.RRakshasaEtymology: From Malay raksasa, from Sanskrit raksasah.First Appearance: First appeared in Strategic Review #5 (1975), later in the Monster Manual (1977)Origin: Malevolent spirits of Hindu and Buddhist lore. They are shape changers, magicians, often appearing as humans with animal heads, known to eat flesh and demand sacrifices.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RakshasaRat, GiantFirst Appearance: Monster Manual (1977)Origin: Also referred to as “Sumatran” rats in the AD&D Monster Manual. A reference to the 1924 Arthur Conan Doyle story “The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire”, in which Sherlock Holmes makes reference to the giant rats of Sumatra.“Matilda Briggs was not the name of a young woman, Watson,” said Holmes in a reminiscent voice. “It was a ship which is associated with the giant rat of Sumatra, a story for which the world is not yet prepared.”Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire, 1924Ray, PungiFirst Appearance: First appeared in the original D&D Blackmoor Supplement (1975) by Dave Arneson, later in the Monster Manual (1977)Origin: Uncertain. The creature is a strongly poisonous stingray. Possibly inspired by a Punji stick, a sharpened stake placed in a spiked trap, possibly from Burmese. Also possibly taken from Punga, a Maori being that is the ancestor of all sharks, lizards, and rays.RemorhazEtymology: UncertainFirst Appearance: First appeared in Dragon #2, later in Monster Manual (1977)Origin: Created by Erol Otis. Possibly inspired by the Remora from The Lair of the Ice Worm (L. Sprague de Camp, 1969), in which Conan the Cimmarian encounters a vampiric worm-like creature whose body radiates cold.Retch PlantEtymology: Retch, from Middle English rechen, from Old English hrǣċan (“to clear the throat”, “hawk/spit”). From PIE kreg (“To caw/crow”)First Appearance: First appeared as the Globe Palm in S3: Expedition to the Barrier Peaks, later in Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Uncertain, possibly inspired by foul smelling plants such as the Corpse Flower.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorphophallus_titanumRevenantEtymology: French revenant, present participle of revenir (“to return”), from Latin reveniens (“returning”)First Appearance: Fiend Folio (1981)Origin: European mythology. A ghost or zombie like creature, one that returns from the dead for a specific purpose (typically revenge).https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RevenantRocEtymology: From Persian Rukh.First Appearance: First appeared (with Wyvern and Griffin) in the fantasy supplement for Chainmail (1971), first appeared in D&D in the original D&D set (1974), and later in the Monster Manual (1977).Origin: An enormous bird of prey of Arabic and Persian legend. The Roc appears in several fairy tales, including several stories in One Thousand and One Nights. Possible origin is related to the Indian legendary bird Garuda, which includes the giant bird carrying off an elephant.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roc_(mythology))RoperFirst Appearance: First appeared in Strategic Review #2 (1975), later in the Monster Manual (1977)Origin: UncertainRot GrubFirst Appearance: Monster Manual (1977)Origin: UncertainRust MonsterFirst Appearance: First appeared in the original D&D Greyhawk supplement (1976), and later in the Monster Manual (1977)Origin: Created by Gary Gygax, based on a toy.SSahuaginEtymology: Uncertain, Coined by Steve Marsh for D&D.First Appearance: First appeared in the original D&D Blackmoor Supplement (1975), later in the Monster Manual (1977)Origin: Unknown of specific origin, though Marsh states the inspiration came from an old Justice League of America animated tv show (likely Super Friends), with a touch of Aztec and the thought of what an evolved shark might look like.SalamanderEtymology: From the Greek salamandra (uncertain meaning).First Appearance: First appeared as a minor example of “other monsters” in the original D&D set (1974) as “Free-willed fire elementals of somewhat limited power, in reptilian shape”, and later in the Greyhawk supplement (1976) as a full write up.Origin: Based on a real-world creature that was believed to be immune to fire, and could even put fires out by touch. Possibly from when old logs were burnt and salamanders were seen crawling from the wood.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salamanders_in_folkloreSandlingFirst Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: UncertainSandmanOrigin: White Dwarf #10 (Roger Musson)SatyrEtymology: From the Greek satyrosFirst Appearance: Monster Manual (1977)Origin: A companion of Pan and Dionysus in Greek myth, appearing as a human with goat-like features (tail/ears/phallus). Appearance in the monster manual is closer to the Roman faun, which was a half-man half-goat.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satyrhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FaunScarecrowFirst Appearance: Fiend Folio (1981)Origin: Based on real-world scarecrows; stuffed clothing left in fields to ward off birds or animals that might feed on crops. Many modern horror stories involve scarecrows coming to life. One older example is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1852 short story Feathertop, about a scarecrow brought to life by witch.ScorpionEtymology: From Latin scorpio (“scorpion”)First Appearance: Monster Manual (1977)Origin: Large versions of real-world animals. In Greek mythology, Skorpios was a giant scorpion sent by Gaia to slay the giant Orion when he threatened to kill every living creature. The constellation Scorpios is based on this myth.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ScorpiusScum CreeperFirst Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Unknown, though similar to real world slugs.Sea HagFirst Appearance: First appeared in the original D&D Blackmoor Supplement (1975, later in the Monster Manual (1977)Origin: Unknown specific origin (see Night Hag). The term sea-hag has been used to refer to old witch-like women in sailor’s tales. One of Popeye the Sailors main enemies was the Sea Hag.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_HagSea LionFirst Appearance: Monster Manual (1977)Origin: A heraldry symbol of a lion/fish chimera.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea-lionSelkieEtymology: From Scots selich, from Old English Seolh (“seal”)First Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: From Celtic mythology, selkies were creatures in the form of seals, that could shed their skin and take beautiful human form. Similar to the swan maiden (see Swanmay), tales of selkies often revolved around humans falling in love with a selkie, hiding its seal skin to prevent it from returning to the sea.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SelkieShadeEtymology: From Old English sceadu (“darkness”), from Proto-Germanic skadwō, from Proto-Indo-European *skotwōs. Same root as ShadowFirst Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: A spirit or ghost. In literature, shade is often used to translate the Latin umbra or Greek skia, the spirits of the dead residing in the underworld. As the underworld was often described as a place where there is no light, the dead live in shadow. The specific powers may be based on the character Jack from Roger Zelazny’s Jack of Shadows (1971)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shade_(mythology))ShadowEtymology: From old English sceaduwe, inflected form of sceadu (“shade, darkness”).First Appearance: First appeared in the original D&D Greyhawk supplement (1976), and later in the Monster Manual (1977)Origin: Unknown of specific origin, but shadow-based creatures appear in gothic literature and fairy tales (for example: The Shadow by Hans Christian Andersen and The Double Shadow by Clark Ashton Smith). Gygax stated the inspiration was from Creep, Shadow, Creep (1947, A. Merritt).Shambling MoundFirst Appearance: First appeared in Strategic Review #3 (1975), later in the Monster Manual (1977)Origin: Unknown specific origin, possibly inspired by various comic book monsters such as Swamp Thing (1971, Len Wein), Heap (1942, Harry Stein), and Man-Thing (1971, Stan Lee and others).Sheet PhantomFirst Appearance: White dwarf #11Origin: Based on the idea of a bed-sheet ghostSheduEtymology: From Akkadian šēdu.First Appearance: First appeared in the original D&D Eldritch Wizardry Supplement (1976) by Dave Arneson, later in the Monster Manual (1977)Origin: Sumerian/Akkadian mythology, a hybrid of a man, bull or lion, and a bird. See LamassuShriekerFirst Appearance: First appeared in Strategic Review #3, later in Monster Manual (1977)Origin: UncertainSirineEtymology: From the Greek SeirēnFirst Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: In Greek mythology, the sirens were beautiful but dangerous creatures in the form of women. They lived on rocky shoals and coasts, and lured ships to crash through enchanted song.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siren_(mythology))SkeletonEtymology: From Latin sceleton, from Greek skeletos (“dried up, withered, parched”). From skéllō (“dry, dry up”), from PIE (s)kelh₁ (“to parch, wither”)First Appearance: First appeared in the original D&D set (1974), and later in the Monster Manual (1977).Origin: Animated skeletons have appeared in various mythologies and folklore. Death itself is often personified as a living skeleton. Animated skeletons were often common appearances in gothic literature and modern ghost stories, and appeared in fantasy films, such as 1958’s The 7th Voyage of Sinbad.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeleton_(undead))SkulkEtymology: English skulk (“to sneak about”), Middle English skulken, of Germanic originsFirst Appearance: Fiend Folio (1981)Origin: UncertainSkunkEtymology: From the Abenaki segogw (skunk), from Proto-Algonquian seka-kwa, from sek (to urinate) + akw (fox)First Appearance: Monster Manual (1979)Origin: Real world animalSlaadEtymology: UncertainFirst Appearance: White Dwarf, Later in Fiend Folio (1981)Origin: Uncertain. Created by Charles Stross, who stated “Well, the fact that I was running a fever when I came up with the Slaadi is probably not going to surprise anyone—think of 'em as my independent exploration of Lovecraftiana. (I didn't discover H. P. Lovecraft until a couple of years later.)... Think "Lovecraft mythos", as invented by someone who hasn't read Lovecraft (or heard of him). The Slaadi were going to be basically representatives of, and devotees of, total chaos—with an added warped sense of humour”Slime, OliveFirst Appearance: First appeared in the tournament version of the S4 - The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (1976), later in Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: UncertainSlithering TrackerFirst Appearance: First appeared in Strategic Review #3 (1975), later in the Monster Manual (1977)Origin: UncertainSnake, AmphisbaenaEtymology: From Greek amphis (“both ways”) and bainein (“to go”)First Appearance: Monster Manual (1977)Origin: A desert dwelling serpent with a head on each end. In Greek myth, it was born of the blood of medusa. In medieval lore it sometimes appeared with legs and/or wings.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AmphisbaenaSolarEtymology: From Latin sōlāris, from Latin sōl (“sun”), from Proto-Indo-European Soh (“sun”)First Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Related to Planetars above, angels who reside in the sun were Solar angels (vs. the Planar angels that resided on the planets).SolifugidEtymology: From Latin, meaning “those that flee from the sun”.First Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Giant versions of the real world solifugae (camel spiders), first appeared in the Queen of the Demonweb Pits.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SolifugaeSon of KyussFirst Appearance: Fiend Folio (1981)Origin: UnknownSpectreEtymology: From French spectre, from Latin specrum (“appearance, apparition”).First Appearance: First appeared in the original D&D set (1974), and later in the Monster Manual (1977).Origin: A cognate for ghost or spirit.SphinxEtymology: From Latin, from Greek sphinx. Perhaps from Greek sphingein (“to squeeze”) or Egyptian Shesp-ankh (“divine/living image”). In D&D there are several variants, based on different mythological variants;· Andro, from Greek andros (“male”)· Gyno, from Greek gynos (“female”)· Crio, from Greek kriós (“ram”)· Hieraco, from Greek hieros (“hawk”)First Appearance: Monster Manual (1977)Origin: A similar creature to the Shedu and Lammasu, it is a chimerical mix of a man and a lion (or other animal and lion), sometimes with the wings of an eagle. In Greek myth, the sphinx was female and would ask riddles (eating those who failed to answer). The Egyptian sphinx was typically male, and benevolent and a guardian creature. The crio- and hierosphinx were both Egyptian variants.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphinxhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HieracosphinxSprigganEtymology: CornishFirst Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Cornish mythology. Spriggans were grotesque humanoids that lived in old ruins and barrows, acting as fairy body guards. Sometimes they had the ability to grow to enormous size. They often had a poor disposition, and would cause mischief to those that offended them.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SprigganSpriteEtymology: From French esprit (“spirit”), from the Latin spiritus (“spirit”).First Appearance: First appeared (with pixies) in the fantasy supplement for Chainmail (1971), first appeared in D&D in the original D&D set (1974) as a general catagory for Pixies and Nixies, and later in the Monster Manual (1977).Origin: A general term used to describe fey creatures such as elves, fairies, and spirits. It is unclear if there was any specific creature called a sprite, as it appears to be a general catch-all used for various fey.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprite_(folklore))SquealerFirst Appearance: First appeared in S3: Expedition to the Barrier Peaks, later Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: UnknownStench KowEtymology: From English kow, and archaic spelling of cow.First Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Possibly a pun on the Musk-ox (a bovine with a strong odor).StirgeEtymology: From Latin striga, from Greek strix (“owl”).First Appearance: First appeared in the original D&D Greyhawk supplement (1976), and later in the Monster Manual (1977)Origin: The roman striga was considered a bird of ill omen that fled on human flesh or blood. The same root word is often used for a witch/vampire in some areas (Polish strzyga or Albanian shtriga)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ShtrigaStone GuardianFirst Appearance: First appeared in The Secret of Bone Hill, later in Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Stone Golem variantStrangleweedFirst Appearance: First appeared in the original D&D Blackmoor Supplement (1975) by Dave Arneson, later in the Monster Manual (1977)Origin: Unknown specific source. Strangleweed is a name used for members of the Cuscuta genus of plants, a parasitic group of vine-like wrapping plants.StoroperEtymology: A portmanteau of Stone + RoperFirst Appearance: First appeared in the module Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords, later in Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Variant of the RoperSu-MonsterEtymology: PatagonianFirst Appearance: First appeared in the original D&D Eldritch Wizardry Supplement (1976) by Dave Arneson, later in the Monster Manual (1977)Origin: Based upon the cryptid known as the Succarath or “Su”, from southern Patagonia.https://cryptidarchives.fandom.com/wiki/Succarath“...a hideous figure, at first sight it seems to have the face of a lion or even that of a man, because from its ears grows a beard with hair that is not too long; its body narrows towards the rear, its front end is very large; its tail is long and very hairy, and with it, it hides its pups that it places on its back. This does not prevent it from running swiftly away. It is carnivorous and is hunted by the local natives, who are interested in its fur, because, being of a cold climate; they protect themselves from the weather with it. The usual way of hunting them is to dig a deep hole which they cover with branches; the unwary beast falls into it with its brood and seeing no way out, either out of generosity or anger, tears them apart with its claws, so that they do not fall into the hands of men; roaring at the same time, to terrify its hunters, who coming close to the mouth of the pit, pierce the beast with their arrows”Lozano, Pedro (1873) Historia de la conquista del Paraguay, Río de la Plata y TucumánSussurusEtymology: From Latin susurrus (“a humming or whispering sound, a murmur”), from the PIE *swer (“to buzz, hum”)First Appearance: White Dwarf #9, later in Fiend Folio (1981).Origin: Uncertain. The original creature consisted of a honeycombed exoskeleton that made a droning noise. The name is based on this noise.SwanmayEtymology: Shortened form of Swan MaidenFirst Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Based on Swan Maidens (or similar bird-maidens), which appear in various folklores, and popularized in the ballet Swan Lake. In mythology, they were women who could turn into birds by putting on a magical cloak. Very similar to the selkie, they would often marry a human, who would hide their cloak to prevent them from fleeing. Appeared in Poul Anderson’s Three Hearts and Three Lions.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_maidenSylphEtymology: Attributed to Paracelsus in 1657. Possibly a combination of Latin sylva (“trees”) and nympha (“nymph”)First Appearance: Monster Manual (1977)Origin: Originated by the alchemist Paracelsus as an elemental creature of air. No true mythological origin, but appeared and variously detailed as fairy-like creatures in later stories. Paracelsus identified four elemental creatures; sylphs (air), gnomes (earth), salamander (fire), and undine (water).https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SylphTTabaxiEtymology: Uncertain, possibly a play on Tabby cat. Tabby is from French tabis, from Arabic ‘attabiyy, from al-‘attabiyya, a quarter of Baghdad, which is associated with the manufacture of a type of waved silk.First Appearance: Fiend Folio (1981)Origin: Uncertain, but animal-men are common in various mythologies.TaerEtymology: UncertainFirst Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Uncertain, though it appears similar to a yeti.TarrasqueEtymology: FrenchFirst Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Southern France (Provence), a mythological dragon-like creature that was tamed by Saint Martha. The creature was described as having a lion’s head, 6 bear-like legs, an ox’s body covered with a turtle shell, and a scaled tail with a poisonous stinger. War machines and knights were unable to harm the monster, but Saint Martha charmed it and led it back to the city, where it was attacked and killed by the people. Saint Martha then converted the city, and it was renamed Tarascon.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TarasqueTasloiEtymology: UncertainFirst Appearance: First appeared in I1 - Dwellers of the Forbidden City, later in Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: UncertainTentamortEtymology: Portmantua of tentacle (“a boneless limb”) + mort (“death”)First Appearance: Fiend Folio (1981)Origin: UncertainThessalhydraEtymology: Likely a portmanteau of Thessaly and Hydra.First Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Unknown, a variant of the hydra. Thessaly is a real place in Greece. In mythology, the plains of Thessaly was the site of the battle between the Titans and Olympians. Thessaly is also where Jason launched his search for the Golden Fleece.Thought EaterFirst Appearance: First appeared in the original D&D Eldritch Wizardry Supplement (1976), later in the Monster Manual (1977)Origin: UncertainThri-KreenEtymology: Uncertain, likely an invented nameFirst Appearance: First appeared in the second Monster Cards set, created by Paul Reiche III, late appeared in Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Possibly inspired by the four-armed Green Martians from Edgar Rice Burroughs John Carter of Mars (1917)ThunderbeastFirst Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: UncertainThunderherderFirst Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Variant of the purple worm, seemingly harmless versions of the Sand Worms from Frank Herbert’s Dune novelsTitanEtymology: From ancient GreekFirst Appearance: Referenced in the original D&D set (1974) as “giants with limited magical abilities”, first appeared in the original D&D Greyhawk supplement (1976), and later in the Monster Manual (1977)Origin: In Greek mythology, the Titans were an early race of powerful deities that ruled the earth. They were replaced by the Olympian pantheon during antiquity.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titans_(mythology))TrapperFirst Appearance: First appeared in Strategic Review #3 (1975), later in the Monster Manual (1977)Origin: UncertainTransposerFirst Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: UncertainTreantEtymology: portmanteau of Tree and Ent, coined by Gygax to differentiate from the Tolkien ent. Ent is from the old English ent (“giant”)First Appearance: First appeared (as an Ent) in the fantasy supplement for Chainmail (1971), first appeared in D&D as a Treant in the original D&D set (1974), and later in the Monster Manual (1977).Origin: In “The Lord of the Rings” (J.R.R. Tolkien, 1954), ents are an ancient race of ancient tree-like giants. Though renamed treant to avoid litigation, the creature bears a strong likeness to the Tolkien creation.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EntTri-Flower FrondFirst Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Possibly inspired by the triffids from John Wyndham’s The Day of the Triffids. Triffids have three legs instead of three flowers (tri-fid).https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TriffidTritonEtymology: Greek, from treis (“three”)First Appearance: First appeared in the original D&D Greyhawk supplement (1976), and later in the Monster Manual (1977)Origin: A Greek god, the messenger of the sea. Son of Poseidon and Amphitrite. Typically represented as a merman. Carries a trident and conch shell horn which can calm or raise the waves. Like many D&D creatures based on Greek myth, they are an entire race based on a single being.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triton_(mythology))TroglodyteEtymology: From Latin troglodyta (“cave dwelling people”) from Greek troglodutes (“one who dwells in holes”) from Greek trogle (“hole”) + duo (“I get into”)First Appearance: First appeared in the tournament version of the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (1976), later in Monster Manual (1977)Origin: Traditionally a term for a human caveman, the reptilian monster was created by Gary Gygax. The common chimpanzee species name is Pan Troglodytes. It is unclear of there is a specific origin of the foul smelling reptilian monster, but many animals give off foul smelling odors to ward off predators and in may be loosely inspired by this.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TroglodyteTrollEtymology: From old Norse trǫll (“witch, mage/ conjurer”), related to middle German trolle (“spook, wraith, monster, ogre”).First Appearance: First appeared (with ogres) in the fantasy supplement for Chainmail (1971), first appeared in D&D in the original D&D set (1974), and later in the Monster Manual (1977).Origin: Supernatural beings of Norse mythology (not unique from Norse giants). Myths vary on if trolls are helpful or dangerous, ugly or human looking. May turn to stone during daylight. D&D troll based on a creature from literature with no connection to the mythological troll (See: Poul Anderson's Three Hearts and Three Lions)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll“The troll shambled closer. He was perhaps eight feet tall, perhaps more. His forward stoop, with arms dangling past thick claw-footed legs to the ground, made it hard to tell. The hairless green skin moved upon his body. His head was a gash of a mouth, a yard-long nose, and two eyes which were black pools, without pupil or white, eyes which drank the feeble torchlight and never gave back a gleam… Like a huge green spider, the troll's severed hand ran on its fingers. Across the mounded floor, up onto a log with one taloned forefinger to hook it over the bark, down again it scrambled, until it found the cut wrist. And there it grew fast. The troll's smashed head seethed and knit together. He clambered back on his feet and grinned at them. ““Three Hearts and Three Lions”, Poal Anderson, 1962Troll, Marine (Scrag)Etymology: English scrag (“to kill, destroy, manhandle”), from norwegian skragg (“a lean person”), Swedish skragge (“old and torn thing”), or Danish skrog (“carcass”).First Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Underwater variant of the Troll.Twilight BloomFirst Appearance: Monster Manual II (1983)Origin: Uncertain via /r/DnD https://ift.tt/3nEYGlB
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