We've gotten enough posts going on the subject that I figured I'd gather it all together and kick off a new thread. 
Previous posts:
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[url]/forum]
[url]/forum]
Further contributeions are more than welcome. 
Ortho: Beastiary
Thu, 2006-02-09 01:09
#1
Ortho: Beastiary
Fri, 2006-02-10 00:10
#3
Ortho: Beastiary
Rip or Eldersphinx-
I was wonderin' if one of you two could write up the Polar Shimmercat (Albino Displacer Beast)...Rip you suggested using the SRD for arctic creatures [can't find the post]...Eldersphinx your "Monsters of Ortho" alterations are in the same vein of what I perceive the 'cat needing...I'm unfamiliar with 3rd ed. monster conversions, so if one of you could help out, that would be much appreciated...
Kwint
Fri, 2006-02-10 00:33
#4
Ortho: Beastiary
Iathra is likely to have a number of lingering left overs from Alzrius. A large number of dire animals. Wolves, probably some fire templated creatures. There's a type of fire/ash undead that I cannot for the life of me remember the name of....
(Dire moose? God - an armored giant moose would be a scary thing to behold considering how large moose can get *normally*...)
Fri, 2006-02-10 00:55
#5
Ortho: Beastiary
There's a type of fire/ash undead that I cannot for the life of me remember the name of....
Lavawights?
Fri, 2006-02-10 09:15
#6
Ortho: Beastiary
Rip or Eldersphinx-
I was wonderin' if one of you two could write up the Polar Shimmercat (Albino Displacer Beast)...Rip you suggested using the SRD for arctic creatures [can't find the post]...Eldersphinx your "Monsters of Ortho" alterations are in the same vein of what I perceive the 'cat needing...I'm unfamiliar with 3rd ed. monster conversions, so if one of you could help out, that would be much appreciated...
Kwint
While a quick arctic-style monster conversion of a displacer beast wouldn't be too difficult, the Displacer Beast itself is not OGL. Not sure if Planewalker has the standing to sidestep this point (we use beholders, after all), but it's definitely something to keep in mind.
Fri, 2006-02-10 11:19
#7
Ortho: Beastiary
Rip or Eldersphinx-
I was wonderin' if one of you two could write up the Polar Shimmercat (Albino Displacer Beast)...Rip you suggested using the SRD for arctic creatures [can't find the post]...Eldersphinx your "Monsters of Ortho" alterations are in the same vein of what I perceive the 'cat needing...I'm unfamiliar with 3rd ed. monster conversions, so if one of you could help out, that would be much appreciated...
Kwint
While a quick arctic-style monster conversion of a displacer beast wouldn't be too difficult, the Displacer Beast itself is not OGL. Not sure if Planewalker has the standing to sidestep this point (we use beholders, after all), but it's definitely something to keep in mind.I am pretty sure that planewalker is not restricted to OGL stuff.
Fri, 2006-02-10 15:06
#8
Ortho: Beastiary
I am pretty sure that planewalker is not restricted to OGL stuff.
Clueless, what's our standing on this issue?...
Does OGL mean you can only use 'core' stuff?...
Kwint
Fri, 2006-02-10 18:59
#9
Ortho: Beastiary
We have much more flexibility as a fanpage to use things.
(After all - Factions, Sigil etc aren't OGL either you know)
We're not to republish works directly, so no copy and paste of old modules - but we're cool for updating stats to 3.0 / 3.5 or tweaking them to fit the setting.
Our biggest thing is that we don't try to make any profit on things - which - we very much aren't.
Tue, 2006-02-14 12:34
#10
Ortho: Beastiary
Oh, come on you guys, certainly you can come up with something...What inhabits the lands of Ortho?...
Eldersphinx, you've come up with a decent number of creatures for Hazhkan, but what wild beasts can be found in Iironda?...
Clueless, what specific creatures can be found in the once fire-ravaged lands of Iathra?...
Primus, besides beholders and their kin, what else terrorizes Keln'in that the eye-tyrants haven't extiguished?...What other servants might they have?...
Rip, Dwarves, orcs and kobolds are fine occupants of Motmurk and Xaric, but what else can be found in those lands?...
And certainly, amongst this most creative folk some new, entirely original Orthoan monsters might be created!...Eldersphinx, you are excepted from this 'admonishment' (although if you want to create more new creatures, don't let my faux ire stop you)...Hop to it folks!...
Kwint
Wed, 2006-02-15 01:51
#11
Ortho: Beastiary
Well, since the attempt to find out what creatures* y'all think inhabit the provinces you wrote up went so smashingly, I added a bunch of creatures from the SRD to the three I've taken responsibility for and also to those I didn't, although I placed a question mark in parentheses after them...Whatta ya think...
Kwint
*Beyond what is mentioned in the provincial write-up themselves
Wed, 2006-02-15 13:55
#12
Ortho: Beastiary
Rip, Dwarves, orcs and kobolds are fine occupants of Motmurk and Xaric, but what else can be found in those lands?...
Ogres. Some lawful giants.
Wed, 2006-02-15 13:55
#13
Ortho: Beastiary
The not-retrievers are an interesting addition.
Wed, 2006-02-15 14:12
#14
Ortho: Beastiary
Ogres. Some lawful giants.
Would that be in Xaric, Motmurk or both (my assumption for now)?...Lawful Giants would be Fire Giants, any others?...
The not-retrievers are an interesting addition.
What does this mean?...A reference to blooddrivers?...
Kwint
Wed, 2006-02-15 22:59
#15
Ortho: Beastiary
Ogres. Some lawful giants.
Would that be in Xaric, Motmurk or both (my assumption for now)?...Lawful Giants would be Fire Giants, any others?...So, I took a look at the Fiend Folio while at Barnes & Noble and came across some creatures I thought might fit in:
Ahuiqotl
Flamesnake
Shadow Giant
Jackal Lord
Jackalwere
Kelp Angler
Kelpie
Octopus Tree
Ophidian
Vine Horror
A lot of the creatures in the FF are extraplanar, so I didn't include them, or undead, which I decided should be left to the DM as they are situation specific, or aberations, which I don't really understand and seem to have a lot of HD...Any suggestions on where these creatures might be found on Ortho?...I put flamesnake in Iathra and Fog Giant in Xaric/Motmurk...Also, would fey be wiped out just for being fey (and thus, associated with elves) or would they be left alone if their alignment was non-chaotic and they weren't a threat to the Harmonium's goals?...
Kwint
Wed, 2006-02-22 00:14
#16
Ortho: Beastiary
From Eldersphinx's LJ (20Feb06):
Ortho: Oakengrim
Powers older than man exist in the western reaches of Ulfrheim. In these bleak, desolate lands live beings both eerie and mysterious, who have struggled for dominance since before even the thought of the Harmonium existed and may continue to do so long after it is forgotten. One such race is the oakengrim, creatures who pay lip service to the ideals of law and order, but are only barely trusted or tolerated. They keep to their own lands, are bothered as little as possible, and hopefully cause no trouble for the larger world.
Oakengrim are short, averaging less than four feet in height, and though almost painfully gaunt possess a fierce, wiry strength. Their bodies are nearly hairless, and their skin mottled between patches of reddish-brown and pale white, and leathery. They wear little clothing, and carry few tools though they know how to fashion and use such things and have been traded a few prizes by Harmonium facilitators. Their teeth are razor sharp, as are claws on both hands and feet, and an oakengrim in a combat rage is easily able to balance on one foot to claw at an opponent with up to three limbs if need be. Their stench is incredibly foul, able to cause a delicate stomach to gag even when they've bathed recently - which they rarely do.
An oakengrim's personality is distinctly nasty. They are vicious, impulsive, inclined to practice random cruelty on any helpless creature they can catch, and possessed of ugly and inventive senses of humor. They respect only the strength to kill and destroy; the Harmonium has bargained with them in the past mainly through the repeated threat of armed force. While an oakengrim seems at times to be almost animalistic in its behavior, the things do have speech, thought and memory - it's just that such things are rarely used. The oakengrim do understand oaths, though, and will never violate the letter of a pact - nor allow a human visitor to do so, either. When swearing oaths, oakengrim generally insist on reciprocal duties, with each side binding themselves in some form - even if only symbolic. Of course, an oakengrim sees nothing wrong whatever in weaseling out of an oath's intent, if some means presents itself to do so.
Oakengrim are tolerated by the Harmonium mostly because they occupy desolate, remote forestlands that few other people would want. These lands were once warred over between oakengrim and fae folk, with the oakengrim gradually claiming the upper hand as the power of Law rose across Ortho; now, only fragments of memory and a lingering hatred of the fae remain. An oakengrim may be able to lead travellers to some fastness of the fae folk, if properly bribed or coerced, but travellers accepting such a service should be cautious - the oakengrim have been known to attack any being that they see as having the fae 'taint', and no outsider has ever been able to determine exactly how they decide what causes such a thing.
Oakengrim
Small Monstrous Humanoid
HD: 3d8-3 (11 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 20 ft
Armor Class: 17 (+4 Dex, +3 natural armor), touch 14, flat-footed 13
Base Attack: +3
Attack: Bite +7 melee (1d6+2)
Full Attack: Bite +7 melee (1d6+2) and 3 claws +5 melee (1d3+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft/5 ft
Special Attacks: Possess plant, spell-like abilities
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, resistance to cold 10
Saves: Fortitude +0, Reflex +7, Will +5
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 18, Con 9, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 11
Feats: Alertness, Multiattack, Weapon Finesse
Skills: Hide +7, Listen +4, Sense Motive +5, Spot +4
Environment: Cold forest
Organization: Solitary, gang (2-8) or tribe (6-36)
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually lawful evil
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +3
Possess Plant (Sp): An oakengrim can meld its form with that of a plant it's touching, 1/day, and remain within for up to 24 hours. A plant-type monster targeted by this effect may attempt a DC 15 Fortitude save to block this effect; the save DC is Wisdom-based. While inside the plant, the oakengrim cannot act, be harmed or targeted by spells or effects. It is aware of anything that the plant is aware of, and if the plant is destroyed is immediately forced into normal form. Upon departure (voluntary or otherwise) of the oakengrim, the affected plant is immediately targeted by a Blight spell effect.
Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day Bane, 1/day Spike Growth. Treat these abilities as if cast by a 5th-level druid (save DC 12+spell level).
Added to Provincial monster list above...
Wed, 2006-02-22 23:04
#17
Ortho: Beastiary
Added Shoryko to the Creatures & Inhabitants List above...Besides the human purists, what other creatures shall we inhabit it with?...Ogre Magi?...Ogres that came from Karazam?...Others?...
Kwint
Wed, 2006-03-01 01:05
#18
Ortho: Beastiary
Wed, 2006-04-05 16:32
#19
Ortho: Beastiary
If no one wants to do a write-up for the Polar Shimmercat (Displacer Beast, Albino), then perhaps we could just change it to a pair of Frost Salamanders from the Monster Manual II that the dwarven prospectors (?) came across in the Gelidahl provincial write-up on the Love Camps...Just a thought that crossed my mind while I was perusing the MMII at Borders...
Kwint
Thu, 2006-04-06 11:26
#20
Ortho: Beastiary
No, I'll do the blasted shimmercat. Just wait a bit.
Thu, 2006-04-06 11:49
#21
The Shimmercat
Polar Shimmercat (Arctic displacer beast)
HD: 6d10+18 (51 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class: 16 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +5 natural) touch 11, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+14
Attack: Tentacle +9 melee (1d6+4)
Full Attack: 2 tentacles +9 melee (1d6+4)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft. (10 ft. with tentacles)
Special Attacks: --
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., displacement, low-light vision, resistance to ranged attacks
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +3
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 5, Wis 12, Cha 8
Skills: Hide +10, Listen +5, Move Silently +7, Spot +5
Feats: Alertness, Dodge, Stealthy
Environment: Arctic wastes
Organization: Solitary, pair, or pride (6-10)
Challenge Rating 4
Treasure: 1/10 coins, 50% goods, 50% items
Alignment: Usually lawful evil
Advancement: 7-0 HD (Large); 10-18 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment +4
The creature looks like a tiger with long, shimmering, silvery fur that seems to glow like moonlight on falling snow. Most of its fur is nearly platinum in color, with spots of a deeper, burnished hue. It has six legs and a pair of tentacles sprout from its shoulders and end in horny-ridged pads. Its frame is lean, but not emaciated.
Displacement (Su): A light-bending glamer continuously surrounds the shimmercat, making it difficult to deduce the creature's true location. Any melee or ranged attack directed at it has a 50% miss chance unless the attacker can locate the beast by some means other than sight. A true seeing effect allows the user to see the cat's position, but see invisibility has no effect.
Resistance to Ranged Attacks (Su): A polar shimmercat has a +2 resistance bonus on saves against any ranged magical attack that specifically targets it (except for ranged touch attacks).
Cold Endurance (Ex): Members of arctic races have a +4 racial bonus on Fortitude saves made to resist the effects of cold weather or exposure.
Skills: A polar shimmercat has a +8 racial bonus on Hide checks, thanks to its displacement ability.
Thu, 2006-04-06 14:03
#22
Ortho: Beastiary
No, I'll do the blasted shimmercat. Just wait a bit.
Hey, I was just offering an alternative...I wasn't trying to push someone to do something...That said, nice write-up...
Kwint
Tue, 2006-04-18 15:08
#23
Ortho: Beastiary
Okies dokies, I am going to write up a Totem template that can applied to any natural (non-magical) critter to make it a Totemic Magical Beast.
I think it might be interesting to know what creatures (not including standard flora and fauna), both original and from the various source books, might be found around Ortho...Therefore I'll set up the list below to indicate what can be found where...Please, feel free to post what you think would be found where, and I'll edit it into the list...
Kwint
GENERAL
Aasimar
Dwarf
Half-Orc
Human
Immergaunt
Orc
Undead, various
BAFATAI
Yeti
GELIDAHL
Dragon, White
Dread
Lycanthrope, Werebear (Black and Brown)
Polar Shimmercat (Displacer Beast, Albino)
Remorhaz
Winter Wolf
HARMONY'S GLORY
Blink Dog (?)
Tendriculos [Forest of J'helios] (?)
HAZHKAN
Basilisk
Carrion Crawler
Destrachan
Dragon, Black
Dragon, Bronze
Dragon, Green
Dragon Turtle (?)
Gargoyle
Hydra
Kelpie (?)
Krenshar, Swamp
Lycanthrope, Weretiger (?)
Minotaur
Naga, various (?)
Ooze, various
Oqakki
Rakshasa
Troll, Swamp
HEKA/VOLL
Sibilant
IATHRA
Dire Animal, various
Flamesnake (?)
Lavawight
Wolf
IIRONDA
Dragon, Gold (?)
Kelpie (?)
Riverfeeder
KARAZAM
Genasi, Earth
Genasi, Fire
Genie, Djinni
Genie, Efreeti
Jackal Lord
Jackalwere
Kelpie
Lammasu
Manticore
Shedu
Sphinx, various
KELN'IN
Beholder
Beholder-kin
Dragon, Red (?)
Emberhawk
Gnaazg
MOTMURK
Blooddriver
Giant, Fire
Ogre
OMOSPONDIA
Chimera
Gorgon
Harpy
Hippogriff
Horned Man
Kelpie
Lamia
Naerid
Nymph
Pegasus
SHORYKO
THAERA, CENTRAL
Ahuiqotl (?)
Tiefling
THAERA, ISLES
Tiefling, Aqua
Tiefling, "Standard"
THAERA, NORTH
Ahuiqotl (?)
Girallon (?)
Tiefling
Tzotke
THAERA, SOUTH
Tiefling
ULFRHEIM
Dragon, Black (?)
Dragon, White
Frost Worm
Hydra, Cryohydra
Miststeed
Lycanthrope, Werebear (Polar)
Lycanthrope, Werewolf (Bonded by Kelmuun's Bond of the Wolfpack)
Lycanthrope, Werewolf (Standard)
Oakengrim
Remorhaz
Winter Wolf
XARIC
Ghulang Dhal
Giant, Fog
Kobold
Ogre
Wyvern
THE SEAS
Beholder, Eye-of-the-Deep
Kelp Angler (?)
Merfolk (lobster-esque variant)
Octopus Tree (?)
Sahuagin [The Fogs]
Sea Cat (?)
Seareiver
Shark, various
Undead, various (Elven)
Whale, Orca
Whale, Sperm