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Tarrasque (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
The tarrasque is a magical beast
in the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
.
Tarrasques are gigantic lizard-like creatures which exist only to eat, kill and destroy. In most campaign settings, only one tarrasque is said to exist on each world. Tarrasques have low intelligence and cannot speak. They are neutrally aligned, for despite their violent and savage nature, they lack the mental capacity to choose between good and evil.
The tarrasque was introduced to the D&D game in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. It is based upon the French legend of the tarasque
.
The tarrasque appears in the revised Monster Manual for Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007).
The tarrasque was detailed in Dragon
#359 (September 2007), in the "Ecology of the Tarrasque". This article also included the advanced tarrasque.
entry.
-like form, although it is much more broad and muscular, with a differently shaped head, and with larger and more developed front arms. It has brown skin, with scabs and warts and bits of encrusted dung all over it which are grey in color. Protecting its back and tail is a thick, glossy caramel-colored shell or carapace. It has spikes coming from its chin, the sides of the mouth, the underside of its neck, the elbows of its front arms, and its shell. The creature also has two horns projecting forwards from the top of its head. The tarrasque's skin is very hard and thick, and provides excellent armor. The second edition of the game included rules for extracting treasure from the creature's carcass.
2nd Edition Game Description:
It is hoped that the tarrasque is a solitary creation, some hideous abomination unleashed by the dark arts or by elder, forgotten gods to punish all of nature. The elemental nature of the tarrasque leads the few living tarrasque experts to speculate that the elemental princes of evil have something to do with its existence. In any case, the location of the tarrasque remains a mystery, as it rarely leaves witnesses in its wake, and nature quickly grows over all remnants of its presence. It is rumored that the tarrasque is responsible for the extinction of one ancient civilization, for the records of their last days spoke of a "great reptilian punisher sent by the gods to end the world."
The older the tarrasque gets, the longer its periods of sleep seem to last, sometimes eventually lasting for thousands of years. Never, however, does the tarrasque weaken or lose its lust for destruction. Even in campaign settings where multiple tarrasques exist, tarrasques are entirely solitary; one of them is more than enough to exact the destruction the beasts are intended for.
In the 4th edition version of the game, the tarrasque cannot be killed; reducing it to 0 hit points causes it to burrow into the core of the earth to slumber for a time (instead of killing it). The only monsters that are more feared in combat are deities, the largest and oldest dragons, certain powerful outsiders (such as demon lords) and epic monsters.
nor Wizards of the Coast
has ever provided a definitive answer.
In the Spelljammer
series, the accessory Practical Planetology suggests the tarrasques originate from the planet Falx. Several hundred tarrasques live there in a docile state, where they are silicavores (rock eaters); upon removal from their homeworld their temperament changes to the violent, rapacious one better known elsewhere in the Dungeons & Dragons universe.
In the 4th edition version of the game, the tarrasque is listed as an "abomination
" and classed as a "Gargantuan elemental magical beast" - a living engine of death and destruction created by a primordial race for use as a weapon against the gods.
Magical beast (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, magical beast is a type of creature, or "creature type". Magical beasts are similar to animals in many ways, but usually have a higher intelligence, and possess supernatural or extraordinary abilities....
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...
.
Tarrasques are gigantic lizard-like creatures which exist only to eat, kill and destroy. In most campaign settings, only one tarrasque is said to exist on each world. Tarrasques have low intelligence and cannot speak. They are neutrally aligned, for despite their violent and savage nature, they lack the mental capacity to choose between good and evil.
The tarrasque was introduced to the D&D game in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. It is based upon the French legend of the tarasque
Tarasque
The Tarasque is a fearsome legendary dragon from Provence, in southern France, tamed in a story about Saint Martha. On 25 November 2005 the UNESCO included the Tarasque on the list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity....
.
First edition
The tarrasque first appears in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988) Monster Manual II (1983).Second edition
The tarrasque appears in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999), and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).Third edition
The tarrasque appears in the Monster Manual for Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002).The tarrasque appears in the revised Monster Manual for Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007).
The tarrasque 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...
#359 (September 2007), in the "Ecology of the Tarrasque". This article also included the advanced tarrasque.
Fourth edition
The tarrasque appears in the Monster Manual for Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-), under the abominationAbomination (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, abominations are the unwanted offspring of a deity and some other being. Abominations are immortal, spiteful, destructive creatures of immense power...
entry.
Game description
The tarrasque is very large, 50 feet tall and 70 feet long, and has a Tyrannosaurus rexTyrannosaurus
Tyrannosaurus meaning "tyrant," and sauros meaning "lizard") is a genus of coelurosaurian theropod dinosaur. The species Tyrannosaurus rex , commonly abbreviated to T. rex, is a fixture in popular culture. It lived throughout what is now western North America, with a much wider range than other...
-like form, although it is much more broad and muscular, with a differently shaped head, and with larger and more developed front arms. It has brown skin, with scabs and warts and bits of encrusted dung all over it which are grey in color. Protecting its back and tail is a thick, glossy caramel-colored shell or carapace. It has spikes coming from its chin, the sides of the mouth, the underside of its neck, the elbows of its front arms, and its shell. The creature also has two horns projecting forwards from the top of its head. The tarrasque's skin is very hard and thick, and provides excellent armor. The second edition of the game included rules for extracting treasure from the creature's carcass.
2nd Edition Game Description:
It is hoped that the tarrasque is a solitary creation, some hideous abomination unleashed by the dark arts or by elder, forgotten gods to punish all of nature. The elemental nature of the tarrasque leads the few living tarrasque experts to speculate that the elemental princes of evil have something to do with its existence. In any case, the location of the tarrasque remains a mystery, as it rarely leaves witnesses in its wake, and nature quickly grows over all remnants of its presence. It is rumored that the tarrasque is responsible for the extinction of one ancient civilization, for the records of their last days spoke of a "great reptilian punisher sent by the gods to end the world."
Society
The tarrasque is a greatly feared creature. However, it spends most of its time dormant, sleeping deep in an underground lair . Its sleeping periods range from two to four months, to up to sixteen years. After these periods, the tarrasque awakes. Erupting from its underground lair, the behemoth starts on a rampage, terrorizing the nearby area, smashing every structure, devouring both plant and meat alike, killing anyone who opposes it, and ultimately turning the area into a barren wasteland. Only when the Tarrasque has been killed, or once it returns to its lair to sleep, is the land safe again.The older the tarrasque gets, the longer its periods of sleep seem to last, sometimes eventually lasting for thousands of years. Never, however, does the tarrasque weaken or lose its lust for destruction. Even in campaign settings where multiple tarrasques exist, tarrasques are entirely solitary; one of them is more than enough to exact the destruction the beasts are intended for.
Combat
The tarrasque is a highly destructive creature. It needs to eat constantly and savors its desire to destroy in order to survive. As a result, it has many combat methods. It can attack with its tail, its claws, its spikes and horns, by stomping, by grabbing and by slamming its massive 130-ton body into opponents. The creature does not have a breath weapon, but it can swallow victims whole. It can inspire terror in people by charging or rushing. Its armor, in addition to giving excellent melee protection, can also deflect all manner of offensive spells, and the tarrasque has some regeneration abilities.In the 4th edition version of the game, the tarrasque cannot be killed; reducing it to 0 hit points causes it to burrow into the core of the earth to slumber for a time (instead of killing it). The only monsters that are more feared in combat are deities, the largest and oldest dragons, certain powerful outsiders (such as demon lords) and epic monsters.
Origin
Various explanations of the tarrasque's origins exist: some claim it is a curse from the gods, while others say it was created by evil wizards. Neither TSRTSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
nor Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
has ever provided a definitive answer.
In the Spelljammer
Spelljammer
Spelljammer is a campaign setting for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, which features a fantastical outer space environment....
series, the accessory Practical Planetology suggests the tarrasques originate from the planet Falx. Several hundred tarrasques live there in a docile state, where they are silicavores (rock eaters); upon removal from their homeworld their temperament changes to the violent, rapacious one better known elsewhere in the Dungeons & Dragons universe.
In the 4th edition version of the game, the tarrasque is listed as an "abomination
Abomination (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, abominations are the unwanted offspring of a deity and some other being. Abominations are immortal, spiteful, destructive creatures of immense power...
" and classed as a "Gargantuan elemental magical beast" - a living engine of death and destruction created by a primordial race for use as a weapon against the gods.
Further reading
- Cagle, Eric. "Worshipers of the Forbidden." DragonDragon (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...
#296 (Paizo PublishingPaizo PublishingPaizo Publishing is an American publishing company in Redmond, Washington that specializes in game aids and adventures for "the world's oldest fantasy roleplaying game" and its flagship spin-off game and setting, Pathfinder...
, 2002). - Ward, Kyla. "The Petit Tarrasque and Other Monsters." Dragon #329 (Paizo Publishing, 2005).
- The Tarrasque Creature Incarnations by Robert Wiese (Wizards of the Coast, D&D Fight Club column 11/09/2005)