Out of the Abyss

APPENDIX C: CREATURES

This appendix presents new monsters and NPCs

encountered in this adventure.

MONST ERS AND NPCs BY CHALLENGE RATI NG

Monster Challenge

Bridesmaid ofZuggtmoy 1/8

Drow spore servant 1/8

Derro 1/4

lxitxachitl 1/4

Male steeder 1/4

Duergar spore servant 1/2

Duergar soul blade

Female steeder

Awakened zurkhwood 2

Chamberlain of Zuggtmoy 2

Droki (NPC) 2

Duergar darkhaft 2

Duergar kavalrachni 2

Duergar Keeper of the Flame 2

Duergar Stone Guard 2

Duergar xarrorn 2

Grisha (NPC) 2

Narrak (NPC) 2

Vampiric ixitxachitl 2

Derro savant 3

Hook horror spore servant 3

Troglodyte champion of Laogzed 3

Chuul spore servant 4

The Pudding King (NPC) 4

Yestabrod (NPC)^4

DERRO

The dcrro are degenerate Underdark humanoids that

resemble small dwarves. Cruel and insane, they take

delight in tormenting others-even their own kind.

Derro have blue-gray skin and straight hair that is

white or yellow in color. Their uniformly pale white eyes

lack both irises and pupils.

Unnatural Origin. Derro believe they were created

by their god, Oiirinka, but they are actually the result

of cruel experiments on dwarves by mind !layers. Like

duergar. the derro were a slave race to the mind ftayers.

but eventually freed themselves.

B orn to Madnes s. The process of their creation

rendered the derro irrevocably insane. They cooperate

with each other only out of necessity and when riled up

by a charismatic leader.

Life of A ttrition. Derro can live to be one hundred and

fifty years old, but they mature and breed quickly. When

their elders deem that their numbers are becoming

unmanageable. the derro declare war on some other

race and surge forth in a reckless horde. fighting until

their population dwindles to a tolerable size. These

ghastly purges weed out the weak among the derro and

are referred to as "Uniting Wars.''

APPE!'OIX C I CREATURES

Second-Class Citizens. Dcrro create no settlements

of their own. Instead. they form small, isolated enclaves

in non-derro settlements throughout the Underdark,

where they are treated as vermin or slaves. Their own

cutthroat politics prevent the derro from mounting any

effective resistance against such exploitation.

Derro Weapons. The derro wield special weapons.

They usc a hooked shortspear, which is a martial melee

weapon that deals 1d4 piercing damage, weighs 2

pounds. and has the light weapon propeny (see chapter

5, "Equipment." of the Player's Handbook). lt doesn't

possess the thrown or versatile weapon properties of

a normal spear. On a hit with this weapon, the wielder

can forgo dealing damage and attempt to trip the target.

in which case the target must succeed on a Strength

saving throw or fall prone. The DC is 8 +the wielder's

Strength modifier+ the wielder's proficiency bonus.

The derro also use a light repeating crossbow fitted

with a cartridge that can hold up to six crossbow bolts.

T his weapon is similar to a light crossbow except that

it has half the range (40/ 160 feet) and doesn't have the

loading property. It automatically reloads after firing

until it runs out of ammunition. Reloading the cartridge

takes an action.

DERRO

Small humanoid (derro), chaotic evil

Armor Class 13 (leather armor)

Hit Points 13 (3d6 + 3)

Speed 30ft.

STR

9 (-1)

DEX

14 (+2)

Skills Stealth +4

CON

12 (+1)

INT

11 (+0)

WIS

5 (-3)

Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 7

Languages Dwarvish, Undercommon

Challenge 1f4 (50 XP)

CHA

9 (-1)

Insanity. The derro has advantage on saving throws against

being charmed or frightened.

Magic Resistance. The derro has advantage on saving throws

against spells and other magical effects.

Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the derro has

disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom

(Perception) checks that rely on sight.

ACTIO N S

Hooked Shortspear. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5

ft., one target. Hit: 1 (ld4-l) piercing damage. If the target is

a creature, the derro can choose to deal no damage and try to

trip the target instead, in which case the target must succeed

on a DC 9 Strength saving throw or fall prone.

Light Repeating Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,

range 40 /1 60 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (ld8 + 2) piercing damage.