CotMA Preview: Carnivorous Albino Apes

The eleventh level was the home of the most powerful wizard in the castle. He had Balrogs as servants. The remainder of the level was populated by Martian White Apes, except the sub-passage system underneath the corridors which was full of poisonous critters with no treasure.

—Gary Gygax, Europa, 1975

I confess I am not a fan of ERB’s Martian tales, and I really don’t know the full extent of the lore regarding the Martian White Apes. But, diligent researcher that I am, I came up with these beauties for the next installment of Castle of the Mad Archmage (along with six new species of giant beetle). And aficionados of the World of Greyhawk will hopefully have something extra to look forward to, when the identity of that “most powerful wizard” is at last revealed. (Hint; it ain’t the Mad Archmage himself, but the answer to me was most obvious.)

Ape, Carnivorous Albino

NO. APPEARING: 2-8
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 12”
HIT DICE: 6
% IN LAIR: 35%
TREASURE TYPE: O,Q
NO. OF ATTACKS: 5
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4/1-4/1-4/1-4/1-8
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Rending
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Average
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L (9’ tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
      Attack/Defense Modes: Nil

Said by some to have been imported from some other world by some wizard or other traveler in the distant past, these distant cousins of the ordinary carnivorous ape are not only taller and more intelligent than their cousins, but they sport two pairs of arms, in addition to their muscular legs. Their senses of smell, hearing, and sight are all quite exceptional, and the beasts are only surprised on a 1 in 6. They are able to attack a different opponent with each pair of arms; if two arms strike the same opponent, the creature will automatically inflict rending damage of 1-8 h.p. They have been known to use tools and at times even wear ragged garments, but are generally accepted to be animals rather than true humanoids. Their fur is a milky white shock atop their head and shoulders, and their heads sport particularly prominent brow-ridges above their baleful red eyes.