Tasloi
| Tasloi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Characteristics | |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil |
| Type | Humanoid |
| Image | Wizards.com image |
| Publication history | |
| Source books | Shining South (3.5E), 3E Oriental Adventures, 1E Monster Manual 2, Monstrous Manual |
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the tasloi are a fictional humanoid race of jungle-dwellers. Tasloi are humanoid jungle-dwellers whose race is thought to be thousands of years old. While very quick and nimble between the trees, tasloi are easily dazzled in bright sunlight, preferring to stay below the jungle canopy. Despite this, tasloi do possess low-light vision. They speak their own language of Tasloi but may also speak Common or Sylvan.
A tasloi is usually chaotic evil in alignment.
Publication history
The tasloi first appeared in first edition in the adventure module Dwellers of the Forbidden City (1981),[1] and reprinted in the original Monster Manual II (1983).[2]
The tasloi appeared in second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989),[3] and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).[4]
The tasloi appeared in third edition in Oriental Adventures (2001).[5] The tasloi appeared as a player character race for the Forgotten Realms setting in Shining South (2004).[6]
Physical description
Tasloi are 3-feet tall with gold, cat-like eyes; their green skin is thinly covered in coarse, black hair. They have a stooped, crouching posture and their knuckles drag on the ground when they walk.
Society
Tasloi live in small groups consisting of several families. Their lairs are usually a series of large trees interconnected by vines and ropes, constructed on platforms high in the jungle canopy. On the ground below the platforms they sometimes raise dire rats or spider eaters as beasts of burden and mounts. If the village does have any spider eaters, these beasts are reserved as steeds for the most powerful tasloi in the settlement.
In the Forgotten Realms campaign setting the tasloi worship an aspect of Maglubiyet, god of the goblins.
Combat
Tasloi normally attack from above, dropping from the treetops onto unwary opponents. If they do manage to gain surprise, they use nets to ensnare adversaries, otherwise attacking with their short swords and javelins; always using hit-and-run tactics in order to wear down tough foes, they thus avoid any stand-up fights. Tasloi always try to abscond with the body, saving food for the group.
References
- ↑ Cook, David. Dwellers of the Forbidden City (TSR, 1981)
- ↑ Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual II (TSR, 1983)
- ↑ Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (TSR, 1989)
- ↑ Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1993)
- ↑ Wyatt, James. Oriental Adventures (Wizards of the Coast, 2001)
- ↑ Reid, Thomas M. Shining South (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)
Additional reading
- Wyatt, James. "Half-Pint Heroes." Dragon #262 (TSR, 1999).