| Author |
 Topic  |
|
KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Jul 2005 : 04:21:39
|
| You know, I just went to see Fantastic Four tonight with the kids, and the trailer for King Kong was playing, and watching Kong fighting the Tyrannosaurus reminded me of the whole Chult/Sammarach reptile/primate issue that we have been discussing . . . or perhaps I am just preoccupied. |
 |
|
|
warlockco
Master of Realmslore
USA
1695 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jul 2005 : 04:58:38
|
quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
You know, I just went to see Fantastic Four tonight with the kids, and the trailer for King Kong was playing, and watching Kong fighting the Tyrannosaurus reminded me of the whole Chult/Sammarach reptile/primate issue that we have been discussing . . . or perhaps I am just preoccupied.
You need to get out more, and let the brain run free in the open air.  
You are giving this monkey business way too much thought, if you were thinking of it when you saw the trailer for King Kong. |
News of the Weird
D20 System Reference Document
D20 Modern System Reference Document
|
|
|
|
Sir Luther Cromwell
Learned Scribe
Canada
158 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jul 2005 : 14:35:51
|
Hello again, Knight.
Ya, King Kong is going to be awesome (if only because it has dinosaurs in it).
Now for this deal of thinking about the monkey city when watching a trailer. When I have a wacko idea nipping away at me like a brain tumor, I try to get it all out on paper, pen, drawings, MSWord; anything that expresses the idea. Rinse and repeat until you're sick of your little monkey city, continue with your life, and it shoudl take you a day or two to get back into it. At which point, you'll have so new ideas, and see your previous ones in a different light. You may feel expressions such as 'what was I on', 'Holy rothe droppings, my spelling and grammar sucks', 'whoa man, this is awesome', or the good old 'when cows are this lame, they shoot them'. Not to imply anything about your ideas, its just ideas are often like an angry letter: you may not feel the same about it when you've cooled down.
|
"At what temperature does a Goblin boil?"
"Any Rakshasa should eat a healthy diet that is high in wood elf, and low in shield Dwarf. One must always watch those cholesterol levels."
"If a Svirfneblin falls in the underdark, does anybody care?" |
Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 25 Jul 2005 17:22:08 |
|
|
|
KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2005 : 17:49:03
|
Ss'yin'tia'saminass, a lost yuan-ti city in the southern Black Jungle, (Serpent Kingdoms pg 121) is listed as the legendary "City of the Apes," a legend that is spoken througout the Chultan peninsula.
As far as my previous theories work, obviously the Shoon were not the ones that experimented on the apes, but rather, as stated in Serpent Kingdoms, the yuan-ti experimented on them, which makes a better explanation of why they have psionic powers.
Rereading the passage, the yuan-ti Jennestas tribe has retaken Ss'yin'tia'saminass from the awakened apes and are trying to find the notes on the creation of the intelligent apes.
So, getting back to my work on this whole thing, I am going to create a city in the southern Black Jungle that is the hidden organized new city of the ape tribesmen that were driven out of Ss'yin'tia'saminass. These apes are currently mounting for war to attack the ruins of their old city, and the yuan-ti have underestimated the intelligence and organization of their former experients.
I love Serpent Kingdoms (just got it, yes, I know, I buy things out of order many times), but I really wish we could get an index once in a while, so that looking up this information for research was a bit easier.
The apes more recently founded city is going to be in the far southern tip of the Black Jungle near onf of the mountains in that region of the jungle, thus giving them a defensible position as well as access to mining.
Now I just have to start rethinking everything else to fit in with this new information. |
|
|
|
Sir Luther Cromwell
Learned Scribe
Canada
158 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2005 : 03:25:47
|
Sounds like they would get along with the Drueger:
-Drinking Drueger "Hey, monkey man! What's your story?"
-Drinking Intelligent Gorilla "I got experimented on by an egotistical race that wishes to take over the world, and now I have psionic powers"
-Drinking Drueger "Pssh, tell me about it!"
|
"At what temperature does a Goblin boil?"
"Any Rakshasa should eat a healthy diet that is high in wood elf, and low in shield Dwarf. One must always watch those cholesterol levels."
"If a Svirfneblin falls in the underdark, does anybody care?" |
|
|
|
KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2005 : 14:26:39
|
| (enjoying pictureing a giant psionic gorilla in a bar)(where does he sit? Anywhere he wants to, plus a few places he can imagine) |
|
|
|
khorne
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1073 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2005 : 14:58:48
|
It would be fun if some merchant employed a couple of these super-gorillas as caravan guards. Apes are much stronger than humans(it`s not just in planet of the apes. A female chimp could smash three strong men easily) Imagine orcs attacking the caravan, and then one of the caravan guards jumping five meters and gooifying their chief  |
If I were a ranger, I would pick NDA for my favorite enemy |
|
|
|
webmanus
Learned Scribe
Sweden
338 Posts |
Posted - 10 Aug 2005 : 10:03:26
|
In the FRCS, page 231, there is a map showing unknown lands. KnightErrantJR, I know that you have already done a lot of work ... regarding location, but, I thought that this could still be of interest to you ... A portal to the island southwest of Zakhara ... and you have a whole place for yourself ...
|
Link to my homepage: http://user.tninet.se/~bsu242v/ |
Edited by - webmanus on 10 Aug 2005 10:03:58 |
|
|
|
KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 10 Aug 2005 : 15:36:45
|
| Ape expansionism . . . hm |
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 10 Aug 2005 : 17:08:01
|
quote:
Originally posted by webmanus
In the FRCS, page 231, there is a map showing unknown lands. KnightErrantJR, I know that you have already done a lot of work ... regarding location, but, I thought that this could still be of interest to you ... A portal to the island southwest of Zakhara ... and you have a whole place for yourself ...
And said portal could be intermittent, hard to open, or just plain dormant. The PCs somehow find it and enter it, not knowing what's on the other side... Suddenly, they're in a "Planet of the Apes" situation. The apes have been cut off from the rest of the world for centuries, so they don't know what to make of these interlopers... Fun!  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
|
|
|
webmanus
Learned Scribe
Sweden
338 Posts |
Posted - 10 Aug 2005 : 17:20:54
|
| Came to think that travelling like that, make a party quite lost. However, with the help of the stars, they should be able to find out that they are still in Faerūn, and that they are quite far from home ... Now, this with Astronomy and stars ... I do not know how possible it is ... I meen, how far south would the party be ... which stars would be visible, and so on ... Still, just a thought. |
Link to my homepage: http://user.tninet.se/~bsu242v/ |
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 10 Aug 2005 : 18:02:19
|
quote:
Originally posted by webmanus
Came to think that travelling like that, make a party quite lost. However, with the help of the stars, they should be able to find out that they are still in Faerūn, and that they are quite far from home ... Now, this with Astronomy and stars ... I do not know how possible it is ... I meen, how far south would the party be ... which stars would be visible, and so on ... Still, just a thought.
Actually, I was thinking of a place beyond Faerūn... And somewhere south of Zakhara, as was suggested, there may be few familiar stars there for the PCs to try to use as guidance. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
|
|
|
webmanus
Learned Scribe
Sweden
338 Posts |
Posted - 10 Aug 2005 : 18:10:32
|
| Sorry ... Faerūn ... yes, beyond Faerūn, still in Abeir-Toril ... yes ... |
Link to my homepage: http://user.tninet.se/~bsu242v/ |
|
|
|
Xysma
Master of Realmslore
USA
1089 Posts |
|
|
Sir Luther Cromwell
Learned Scribe
Canada
158 Posts |
Posted - 11 Aug 2005 : 17:34:40
|
Question, are they all Gorillas? Because I'm thinking that they could be broken down into different sub-speices, specializing in different things:
Gorilla-favored class: Fighter/Psionic Warrior
Oragutan(sp)-favored class: Cleric
Chimpanzee -favored class: Psion |
"At what temperature does a Goblin boil?"
"Any Rakshasa should eat a healthy diet that is high in wood elf, and low in shield Dwarf. One must always watch those cholesterol levels."
"If a Svirfneblin falls in the underdark, does anybody care?" |
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
|
|
KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2005 : 19:26:00
|
Okay, for now I am going to stay in the "Gorilla mode" without fully subdividing the species out, just for arguements sake for right now. The gorillas that the yuan-ti experiemented on now have at least average intelligence. Many of the intelligent gorillas have been recaptured by the yuan-ti of the Jennestas tribe. These gorillas sometimes have psionic powers, but are mainly just intelligent apes. Those with psionic powers are segregated by the Jennestas to breed and to be examined. The Jennastus also have begun working on awakening other primates, smaller creatures than the powerful gorillas that are easier to control.
One group of apes has retreated all the way to the southern mountains and formed a new city. This city has already managed to set up a social structure, with a military, working class, and a ruling class composed of those gorillas that have psionic powers. Ruuthkarrg of the Lance, cheif miliatary leader of the tribe (awakened gorilla male fighter 13th level, LE), has decided that their society must become hardened and entrenched to make it more difficult for the yuan-ti to ever re enslave them. He wishes to treat the working class as slaves for the betterment of the entire city.
Gorephannon Brightmind (awakened gorilla male psion 12th level, LG), beleives that their society should work for the betterment of all, and that they must be careful not to give into the depravities of the yuan-ti that spawned them. Gorephannon is very philosophical, and is worried about the lack of a strong divine role model for the gorillas of the city.
Ophreadonn the Mindbreaker (awakened gorilla male psionic warrior 13th level, LE) is on the council due to his mental abilities, though he supports Ruuthkarrg completely, beleiving that the strong and powerful should form the elite of gorilla society, and that their city should be regimented and strong to resist yuan-ti attacks in the future.
Seirgorragan the Wise (awkaned gorilla male psion 14th level, LN), beleives that the city should grow strong, and that citizens should have regimented places in case they are attacked by the yuan-ti. He wants to stop short of declaring the working class in the salt mines as slaves, and wants to make sure that they have specifically defined rights and obligations. When not deep in concentration, Seirgorragan is busy with his scribes writing up his proposed laws and codicils.
Seirgorragan is adamant that the gorilla do not need gods, as the godly support of the yuan-ti have led them to degenerate behavior. He is curious to send out scouts to find out not only what is going on with the jennestas tribe, but also with the fabled humans that the yuan-ti share ancestry with.
In the jungles outside of the gorilla city, a tribe of wilder gorillas still wanders the wilds, hunting the jennastas whenever they can. Their leader is touched by a divine entity that the gorillas of the city have not yet come to know.
Yarighastis the Seer (awakened gorilla male favored soul, NG, 12th level), is the chosen follower of the demi god Orophaedonos the First Dreamer, one of the first awakened gorillas to escape from the clutches of the yuan-ti long, long ago. Orophaedonos is a neutral god that is concerned with the welfare of the awakened gorilla tribes as well as with the punishment of the yuan-ti as a whole.
Gorephannon has met with Yarighastis, and is temped to advocate a more militant posture agaisnt the yuan-ti in the jungle, mounting raids to free other awakened apes from the yuan-ti to help them escape the dire yoke of the serpent men. Seirgorrigan has spoken with Gorephannon about the tribesmen, but the council leader considers them to be superstitious and backwards.
Ruuthkarrg has begun to secretly whisper in the ear of Seirgorrigan that the millitary might of the city might be best used capturing the wild gorilla tribesmen and forcing them to submit to the enlightened rule of the council, thus strengthening the city and the awakened gorilla race as a whole. This has not been something that the general has brought up to the council as a whole. |
|
|
|
webmanus
Learned Scribe
Sweden
338 Posts |
|
|
KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2005 : 22:43:07
|
| Thanks Web . . . I was going to type this up to look much nicer, more organized, and more official, but the current demands of getting ready for my wedding have forced me to abbreviate this particular bit of information so as to get it "in print" before I loose my stream of thought on the matter. Perhaps once I get back from the honeymoon I'll polish in info up a bit . . . |
|
|
|
monknwildcat
Learned Scribe
USA
285 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2008 : 02:05:45
|
My apologies for the thread necromancy, but I wanted to put this out there while it was in my thoughts.
Thoth, IRL, had an incarnation as A'an, a baboon associated with judging the dead and balance. I can't remember the exact relationship between Mulhorand's Set and the serpent deities, but, if Set is Sseth or related to the whomever the yuan-ti currently venerate, perhaps Thoth would take an interest in sentient apes, or just their baboon subgroup, to balance Set.
Baboons are much smaller than gorillas, though, and, subsequently, less cool. :) |
|
|
|
Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2008 : 03:33:12
|
I don't think you have to apologize: scrolls don't have a shelf life. (Why do some people disapprove of posting to old threads?)
Meanwhile . . .
Apes. Apes, apes, apes, apes, apes, apes, apes -- everywhere! Look, there's a baboon. |
|
|
|
Darkmeer
Senior Scribe
USA
505 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2008 : 05:50:24
|
Heh. Knight, I have some interesting thoughts on this topic (and anyone else who wants these thoughts).
So, in The Tome of Horrors, there is a creature called a Dakon. Essentially an awakened Silverback Gorilla. Blood Apes also make a good throwback from the Monster Manual II.
Personally, I'm going with the Dakon. It fits the "awakened gorilla" need from the OP, as well as fits the statistics that you would like, but needs some work "society wise" as you have already done.
For the Thread Necromancer: Thanks greatly. I'm definitely adding more into my Shackled City game now... (yay, more work?  )
/d |
"These people are my family, not just friends, and if you want to get to them you gotta go through ME." |
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2008 : 15:23:55
|
For intelligent monkeys, I've always liked the Spider Monkeys from MC11. They were updated in the first volume of the Realms Bestiary by Eric L. Boyd and Thomas M. Costa.
|
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
|
|
|
Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2008 : 18:40:31
|
As part of my Kara-Tur Netbook project, I am consolidating what little information there is on Intelligent Apes in the Realms (Spelljammer had two species, both of which have a presence in Realmspace). Hopefully it will all see fruition someday, but I've got two FR canon species (both Kara-Tur), two SJ species (Hadozee & Grommam = psuedo-canon), the God Monkey, and one gruop of my own creation (based loosely on the 'cursed men' of the Robert Howard novels.
I'm interconnecting them a wee bit, around the God Monkey - they are part of his 'Domain' - and it includes one group that has embraced human culture that is constantly fighting with several other groups of Hengeyokai (who usually try to avoid humans). All of that is non-canon, and much of this non-canon material will be placed in the mostly-ignored Malatra/southern jungles region (in the vicinity of the canon nation of Petan , which has received nary a mention in any official source).
P.S. - I'm trying to include a link to the being known as Monkey, but my Photobucket account is down ATM. 
|
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
|
Edited by - Markustay on 24 Jul 2008 19:40:00 |
|
|
|
Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2008 : 03:23:01
|
quote:
Originally posted by monknwildcat
My apologies for the thread necromancy, but I wanted to put this out there while it was in my thoughts.
Thoth, IRL, had an incarnation as A'an, a baboon associated with judging the dead and balance. I can't remember the exact relationship between Mulhorand's Set and the serpent deities, but, if Set is Sseth or related to the whomever the yuan-ti currently venerate, perhaps Thoth would take an interest in sentient apes, or just their baboon subgroup, to balance Set.
Baboons are much smaller than gorillas, though, and, subsequently, less cool. :)
monknwidcat, where did you find the reference to "A'an"? I am not familiar with it.
Markustay, you may want to look at the man-apes in the Conan RPG. Robert E. Howard had an ... unhealthy ... obsession with man-apes and ape-men (e.g. "Rogues in the House").
|
I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
|
Edited by - Jamallo Kreen on 24 Jul 2008 03:32:41 |
|
|
|
Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
|
|
sfdragon
Great Reader
2285 Posts |
|
|
Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2008 : 19:45:37
|
That's right! I forgot I had the Taer on my list as well (as an evil off-shoot of the Hsing-sing of Kara-Tur! It's been awhile since I looked over all my notes... 
@Jamallo Kreen - I mentioned the RH basis for my 'Man-Apes' (the 'cursed men'). I was planning on using the mechanics from Conan.
They pretty much look just like the Planet of the Apes guys, hidden away in their secret city for untold milennia, after being Cursed by Monkey. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
|
Edited by - Markustay on 24 Jul 2008 19:47:28 |
|
|
|
monknwildcat
Learned Scribe
USA
285 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2008 : 21:29:35
|
Jamallo: One of my players was an Egypt fanboy and wanted to switch the ibis form of the Divine Servitor PrC for a baboon form. The A'an/Aani role associated with Thoth was his justification. I'm no Egyptologist, so I cannot vouch for his work, but when the 1E Old Empires sourcebook had baboons associated with Thoth, I letit ride.
I don't have access to primary sources, and the only info about A'an or Aani I found via googling was Wikipedia's article for "Thoth" citing older (like 1960's) secondary sources and for "Aani" citing 19th century secondary sources.
That's the best I've got, Jamallo. |
|
|
|
Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jul 2008 : 01:06:08
|
Thanks. I'll check it out.
The baboon was definitely associated with Thoth. As a baboon he was sometimes portrayed sitting atop the scale which weighed the heart of the dead, acting as what we might call "court reporter;" ibis-headed he would stand beside it.
|
I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
|
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
Intelligent Monkeys (okay apes) in the Realms
