In the Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...

fantasy

Fantasy

Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...

 role-playing game

Role-playing game

A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...

 and various other fantasy settings, the crawling claw is an undead

Undead (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, undead is a classification of monsters that can be encountered by player characters. Undead creatures are most often once-living creatures, which have been animated by spiritual or supernatural forces....

 or construct

Construct (Dungeons & Dragons)

Within the world of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, construct is a type of creature, or "creature type". Constructs are either animated objects, or any artificially constructed creature....

 creature which consists of the severed hand, paw, or claw of a deceased creature, animated to come alive. Its appearance is that of a severed hand which crawls on its fingers, not unlike the character Thing

Thing (Addams Family)

Thing T. Thing, referred to as just Thing, is a fictional character in the The Addams Family. Thing was originally portrayed as a whole person , but was changed to a disembodied hand for the television series...

 of The Addams Family

The Addams Family

The Addams Family is a group of fictional characters created by American cartoonist Charles Addams. As named by Charles Addams, the Addams Family characters include Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Lurch, Grandmama, Wednesday, Pugsley, and Thing....

.

Publication history

The crawling claw first appeared in the first edition in Dragon

Dragon (magazine)

Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...

#32 (December 1979).

The crawling claw appeared in the second edition in the adventure module Shadowdale

Shadowdale (module)

Shadowdale is an adventure module published in 1989 for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Plot summary:Shadowdale is a Forgotten Realms scenario, first of a trilogy, in which the player characters leave their hometown of Shadowdale and start a long trek to the city of...

(1989). The creature then appeared in the Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix (1989), reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).

The crawling claw appeared in the third edition in Monsters of Faerûn

Monsters of Faerûn

Monstrous Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn is a supplement for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons.-Contents:It features about 150 pages of monsters unique to the Forgotten Realms campaign setting...

(2001), and Lost Empires of Faerûn

Lost Empires of Faerûn (accessory)

Lost Empires of Faerûn is a campaign supplement for the fictional Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:...

. (2005).

The crawling claw appeared in the fourth edition in Open Grave (2009).

Description

Crawling claws are created by necromancy and are often used as guards by their creators. Crawling claws attack by leaping at, punching, strangling, and scratching their enemies. Though sometimes solitary, they are often created and travel in groups, which are able to attack by overwhelming foes. Being small and silent, crawling claws also have the benefit of stealth. They may be able to open doors and pull levers and might also be used as laboratory assistants. Although not attached to a brain, crawling claws are nonetheless able to follow spoken and telepathic orders from their creator. They cannot speak, and are neutral in alignment

Alignment (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, alignment is a categorization of the ethical and moral perspective of people, creatures and societies....

.