NEW MONSTER: TALON GOBLIN

Talon Goblin

FREQUENCY: Rare

NO. APPEARING: 6-60

ARMOR CLASS: 6

MOVE: 6”

HIT DICE: See below

% IN LAIR: 40%

TREASURE TYPE: Individuals K;O,X in lair

NO. OF ATTACKS: 1

DAMAGE/ ATTACK: By weapon

SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil

SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

SAVE: Fighter 0 to 1

INTELLIGENCE: Low

ALIGNMENT: Chaotic evil

MORALE: 50%

SIZE: M (5' tall)

PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

LEVEL/ X.P. VALUE: I/ 10 + 1/ hp

With missile weapon: I/ 14 +1/hp

Leader: II/ 20+ 2/hp

Leader with missile weapon: II/ 28 + 2/hp

Master goblin: III/ 35 + 3/hp

Master goblin with missile weapon: III/ 50 + 3/hp

Talon goblins live in loosely-knit groups and although they are often divided by infighting and factions they will usually have a nominal leader. Like the typical goblin, talon goblins prefer dismal and desolate areas in which to inhabit, often thriving in places one would think would fail to support life. They favor caves and ruins and dislike daylight attacking at -1 “to hit” in sunlight. They can see in complete darkness to 60'. Talon goblins have an average strength of 11, and so cause no additional damage in combat, although their leaders might.

A talon goblin of 1 to 4 hit points attacks and makes saving throws as a 1-1 hit die creature. Talon goblins of 5 to 8 hit points attacks and makes saving throws as a 1 hit die creature. If more than 10 talon goblins are encountered there will be a large leader type with a 9 to 11 hit points who will attack as a 2 hit die monster and have an armor class of 5. If encountered in their lair there will always be multiple leader types and a master goblin (3 hit dice, 12 to 17 hit points, and an armor class of 4) who will attack at +1 to damage due to strength score of 16.

Talon goblin females number 20% of the total encountered and fight as males. Talon goblins usually (70%) keep canine pets and guards: 3-12 war dogs (70%), 2-8 wolves (20%), or 2-5 worgs (10%).

Talon goblins both hate and envy humans, and when conversations occur between talon goblins and men, they will attempt to make a strong and clever impression. Unfortunately, due to the limited intellectual capacity of the typical talon goblin, they usually fail pitifully.

Talon goblins are equipped with whatever weapons they can find. They are poor miners and craftsmen and cannot make weapons or create homes of their own, leading to their reliance on natural caverns or human or demi-human ruins as homes.

Description: Talon goblins have lemon yellow skin and eyes with red conjunctiva and yellow irises. Males dress in leather garments typical of other goblins, while females prefer to copy human modes of dress. They stand somewhat taller than most goblins and are muscular with pronounced canine teeth. They do not wear shoes and it is thought that they get their name from their claw-like feet. They live for up to 40 years.

Tribal spell casters: Talon goblins are neither devout nor patient and are incapable of becoming shamans or witchdoctors. Occasionally, a talon goblin with a talent for magic is born. These talon goblins will be short and stout, having about the same dimensions as an obese dwarf. Such a goblin mage practices magic just as a human magic-user does, with regards to hit points, saving throws, spells, and so on. Goblin mages of greater than 5th level have not been encountered.