Otyugh
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
roleplaying game, the otyugh (ˈɒtjəɡ), or gulguthra, is a type of fictional monster for player character
s to encounter. The otyugh was introduced in the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game's original Monster Manual sourcebook, created by Gary Gygax
.
#8 (August/September 1978). As part of his review, Turnbull comments on several new monsters introduced in the book, referring to the otyugh as a "most interesting creation".
The otyugh was detailed in Dragon
#96 (April 1985), in Ed Greenwood
's the "Ecology of the Gulguthra".
The greater otyugh for the Forgotten Realms
campaign setting
appeared in the Ruins of Undermountain boxed set (1991).
The lifeleech otyugh appeared in Monster Manual III (2004).
with a large (eight feet in diameter), bloated body covered with a rock-like skin that is brownish gray in color, which is in turn covered with dung. An adult otyugh usually weighs around 500 pounds. Its three thick legs give an otyugh slow ground movement, but enable it to pivot quickly. With three eyes on a leaf-like stalk that moves quickly from side to side, it can quickly scan a large area. An otyugh's primary means of attack is by two long tentacles which are laden with bony thorn-like ridges.
They make deals with other dungeon denizens, agreeing not to attack them in exchange for their dung and body wastes, which they then devour. To keep the supply of waste coming (and to get fresh meat) they will agree to help defend their home against intruders, which includes many adventurers. Otyughs may be persuaded not to attack creatures in exchange for promises of friendship and food. Neo-otyughs are less trusting (and more vicious), and usually attack intruders on sight. An otyugh's dungeon allies will sometimes ask it to guard treasure for them.
Otyughs mate each year for one month, with one offspring produced. It takes the newborn four months to mature.
One other species of otyugh (appearing in the Monster Manual III) is the Lifeleech Otyugh, which possesses additional tentacles and a supernatural ability allowing it to benefit from healing spells cast in the vicinity as if it were an additional target.
Monsters of Faerun presents a new species of otyugh. Called the gulguthydra, it is a fearsome hybrid between a hydra and an otyugh. Its body is much like that of a hydra, and it has six long necks ending with draconian heads. But its skin is similar to that of an otyugh, and it has the otyugh's two long tentacles. Like the otyugh, the gulguthydra is a scavenger, and will eat any decaying organic matter, including feces.
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...
roleplaying game, the otyugh (ˈɒtjəɡ), or gulguthra, is a type of fictional monster for player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
s to encounter. The otyugh was introduced in the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game's original Monster Manual sourcebook, created by Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
.
Publication history
The otyugh was created by Gary Gygax.Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The otyugh appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), where it is described as a weird omnivorous scavenger whose diet consists of dung, offal, and carrion, and is always found underground. The neo-otyugh, a larger, more intelligent species of otyugh, also appeared in the Monster Manual. The Monster Manual was reviewed by Don Turnbull in the British magazine White DwarfWhite Dwarf (magazine)
White Dwarf is a magazine published by British games manufacturer Games Workshop. Initially covering a wide variety of fantasy and science-fiction role-playing and board games, particularly the role playing games Dungeons & Dragons, RuneQuest and Traveller...
#8 (August/September 1978). As part of his review, Turnbull comments on several new monsters introduced in the book, referring to the otyugh as a "most interesting creation".
The otyugh was detailed 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...
#96 (April 1985), in Ed Greenwood
Ed Greenwood
Ed Greenwood is a Canadian writer and editor who created the Forgotten Realms. He invented the Forgotten Realms as a child, as a fantasy world in which to set the stories he imagined, and later used this world as a campaign setting for his own personal Dungeons & Dragons playing group...
's the "Ecology of the Gulguthra".
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The otyugh and neo-otyugh appear first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), and are reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).The greater otyugh for the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
appeared in the Ruins of Undermountain boxed set (1991).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
The otyugh appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
The otyugh appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).The lifeleech otyugh appeared in Monster Manual III (2004).
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
The otyugh appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008).Typical physical characteristics
An otyugh is an aberrationAberration (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, aberration is a type of creature, or "creature type". Aberrations generally all have bizarre anatomies, strange abilities, alien mindsets, or any combination thereof....
with a large (eight feet in diameter), bloated body covered with a rock-like skin that is brownish gray in color, which is in turn covered with dung. An adult otyugh usually weighs around 500 pounds. Its three thick legs give an otyugh slow ground movement, but enable it to pivot quickly. With three eyes on a leaf-like stalk that moves quickly from side to side, it can quickly scan a large area. An otyugh's primary means of attack is by two long tentacles which are laden with bony thorn-like ridges.
Alignment
Otyughs are usually neutral, though lifeleech otyughs are evil.Society
Otyughs are rarely found in groups of more than four individuals, and are often solitary.They make deals with other dungeon denizens, agreeing not to attack them in exchange for their dung and body wastes, which they then devour. To keep the supply of waste coming (and to get fresh meat) they will agree to help defend their home against intruders, which includes many adventurers. Otyughs may be persuaded not to attack creatures in exchange for promises of friendship and food. Neo-otyughs are less trusting (and more vicious), and usually attack intruders on sight. An otyugh's dungeon allies will sometimes ask it to guard treasure for them.
Otyughs mate each year for one month, with one offspring produced. It takes the newborn four months to mature.
Variants
Even more fearsome then the otyugh is the neo-otyugh, a larger, more ferocious species of otyugh, which has some psionic powers as well as a bite which can lead to super-tetanus.One other species of otyugh (appearing in the Monster Manual III) is the Lifeleech Otyugh, which possesses additional tentacles and a supernatural ability allowing it to benefit from healing spells cast in the vicinity as if it were an additional target.
Monsters of Faerun presents a new species of otyugh. Called the gulguthydra, it is a fearsome hybrid between a hydra and an otyugh. Its body is much like that of a hydra, and it has six long necks ending with draconian heads. But its skin is similar to that of an otyugh, and it has the otyugh's two long tentacles. Like the otyugh, the gulguthydra is a scavenger, and will eat any decaying organic matter, including feces.
Other media
- In the Final Fantasy series, the Ochu is based on the otyugh.
- In the video games Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of AmnBaldur's Gate II: Shadows of AmnBaldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn is a computer role-playing game developed by BioWare and released on September 26, 2000. The game is the sequel to Baldur's Gate, and, opening only a few months after the events of the earlier game, continues the story of the player character, whose unique heritage...
and Icewind Dale IIIcewind Dale IIIcewind Dale II is a role-playing video game developed by Black Isle Studios and published by Interplay Entertainment, released on August 27, 2002. Like its 2000 predecessor Icewind Dale, the game is set in the Forgotten Realms fantasy setting in the Icewind Dale region...
, the otyugh is one of the monsters the player can encounter. - In the web comic Yet Another Fantasy Gamer Comic, an Otyugh and a Neo Otyugh each offer to be the boyfriend of one of the main characters.
- In the game Guild WarsGuild WarsGuild Wars is an episodic series of online 3D fantasy role-playing games developed by ArenaNet and published by NCsoft. Although often defined as an MMORPG the developers define it as a CORPG due to significant differences from the MMORPG genre. It provides two main modes of gameplay—a cooperative...
, the Ranger class has a skill named Otyugh's Cry. - In the online game Elements, Otyugh is a creature with the ability to devour other creatures with less HP.
- In the Wrath of Ashardalon board game, the otyugh is one of the game's villans.