Legendary Monsters

Coming up with all the monsters for your game can at times be difficult. However, never fear! There are many you can use that come from legend, myth and literature. At least 10 of these monsters can be found in every fantasy RPG.

Abomination

Usually the result of an experiment (technological or magical) these creatures are usually reanimated corpses stuck together Frankenstein style.

Banshee

Feeds on the pains of those that cause pain to others.

Basilisk

A very large snake that can turn people to stone. sometimes part chicken (don't believe every movie you watch)

Brownies

Small humanoid forest denizens, are either bizarrely helpful to humans or play tricks on them.

Centaur

Half human half horse.

Cyclops

A giant one eyed man pulled from mythology.

Dragon

Dragons are scaled (usually flying) lizards that come in many types in fantasy RPGs. Commonly breathe fire.

Drake

pulled from Greek mythology Drakes are usually very big dragon like lizards that usually use breath attacks but have no wings

Dwarfs

Short bearded humanoids who generally live underground, love gold and fight with axes. Some debate as to whether female dwarves exist.

Elves

little santa helpers. Can be depicted as small or invisible helpful creatures. The other version of elves has them as tall noble humanoids who live in forests usually and are talented with bows (i.e. Lord of the Rings).

Ettans

Monsterous humanoids. Larger than humans with pale skin. They often collect blood or bones or female villagers.

Faeries

Usually nice but love to play tricks.

Giants

Giant humans. Usually stupid.

Ghost

An ethereal baddie who shouldn't be effected by a sword, but often is. Ghost come in the generic white-sheet variety as well as the slightly scary undead. Other Names: Poltergeist, Specter, Wraith.

Gnome

Small humanoids with big noses. They live underground and are often thought to be good with machines.

Goblin

Humanoid monsters. Usually short with coloured skin. Often subservient to orcs.

Golem

Originally pulled from Jewish mystical (not religious) tradition, a golem is an animated man made of an inanimate substance.

Griffin (Sometimes spelled Gryphon)

Half Lion half eagle (head and 4 legs of an eagle.

Grim Reaper/Death

According to legend, there's only one Grim Reaper. However, in RPGs, there seem to be multiple clones of him.

Ghoul

Variety of undead creature. They usually carry disease or do cold damage. (Similar to Ghasts)

Gnolls

Large humanoids with dog heads. Like using polearms for some reason.

Harpies

Head and torse of a woman, the rest comes from a vulture.

Kobold

Not to be confused with the metal these small humanoids travel in packs and are slightly beastial in appearance.

Leprechaun

Now where did I put those lucky charms?

Liche

Undead skeleton mage. Usually lord over other undead.

Medusa

Mythology only had one but many RPGs have them as a common enemy. Woman with snake hair. Can turn foes to stone with her gaze.

Mermaid

Cutie with fins.

Minotaur

half Bull half man.

Naga

Part snake- Part woman. Often use bows or have multiple arms with swords.

Ogre

Giant humanoid. Can vary from about 1.5 size of humans to 10 times. Often carry clubs. Ogre-mages occasionally appear and usually use shamanic style magic.

Orc

Humanoid monster. Usually strong and barbaric with clubs or axes. Usually green skinned or pig-like.

Pheonix

Also known as Fire Bird. Also know for it's tendency to be reborn in flame.

Pixies

Almost an Evil counter part to Faeries. They are mischievous and often evil.

Pegasus

Winged horse. Mythology only has one.

Red Caps

Small Gnome-like creatures with sharp claws. Their caps are red from being soaked in blood.

Siren

Female creatures (usually of human appearance) who use their song to lure men to their death. Women (and presumably gay guys) are supposedly immune to them.

Slimes

Semi-liquid creatures that are able to move and attack. Come in every colour and often are acidic/poisonous/elemental sometimes also resistant to certain attacks e.g. arrows and blades. Also called: Oozes, Gelatinous Cubes, Gels, Jellies.

Unicorn

Magical horned horse. Have a fondness for maidens. Depending on the legend they can be evil.

Skeleton

The reanimated skeleton of some poor soul. Often skeletons appear naked, other times with the remainents of clothes or armor they wore in life.

Vampire

The bloodsucking undead.

Werewolf

Half-man, half-wolf.

Zombie

The rotting undead. Sometimes with the ability to infect others and make them zombies.