Kuo-toa: Difference between revisions

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==Publishing history==
==Publishing history==
The kuo-toa first appeared in dungeon modules ''[[Shrine of the Kuo-Toa]]'' (1978), and ''[[Vault of the Drow (adventure)|Vault of the Drow]]'' (1978). They made their second edition debut in the ''Monstrous Compendium Volume Two'' (1989), and were reprinted in the ''Monstrous Manual'' (1993).
The kuo-toa first appeared in dungeon adventures ''[[Shrine of the Kuo-Toa]]'' (1978), and ''[[Vault of the Drow (adventure)|Vault of the Drow]]'' (1978). They made their second edition debut in the ''Monstrous Compendium Volume Two'' (1989), and were reprinted in the ''Monstrous Manual'' (1993).


The first appearance of the kuo-toa in third edition was in the ''Monster Manual'' (2000). The entry was updated for 3.5 in the revised ''Monster Manual'' (2003). They were presented as a player character race for the ''Forgotten Realms'' campaign setting in ''Underdark'' (2003).
The first appearance of the kuo-toa in third edition was in the ''Monster Manual'' (2000). The entry was updated for 3.5 in the revised ''Monster Manual'' (2003). They were presented as a player character race for the ''Forgotten Realms'' campaign setting in ''Underdark'' (2003).

Latest revision as of 10:19, 18 December 2024

Greyhawk Creature
Kuo-toa
A kuo-toa. Art by Andre Hou.
General information
Alignment:Neutral evil (chaotic tendencies)
Type:Monstrous Humanoid
Subtype:Aquatic
First appearance:Shrine of the Kuo-Toa

The kuo-toa are fish-like Monstrous Humanoids that dwell in the Underdark.

Ecology

Kuo-toans maintain friendly relations with the drow, their Underdark neighbours. They often raid seaside settlements for human victims.

Environment

Kuo-toa settlements are known to exist in the Underdark, near the Vault of the Drow beneath the Hellfurnaces, in the settlement of Bhal-Hamatugn and in the Sunless Sea. There, they are allied with the illithids against the White Kingdom and their cloaker allies. They inhabited the city of J'bhulgolboth beneath Narwell until its recent destruction.

Typical physical characteristics

Kuo-toa have scaly, bipedal bodies with fish-like heads. Average specimens stand five feet tall, and weigh about 160 pounds. Scales are generally silvery-grey, but kuo-toan pigmentation is affected by mood; angry kuo-toans tend to be dark red, while fear transforms a kuo-toan's color to pale-grey or white. The creatures smell strongly of rotten fish.

Alignment

Kuo-toa are often neutral evil with chaotic tendencies.

Society

Religion

Most kuo-toans worship the goddess Blibdoolpoolp, though a few remote tribes worship Dagon.

Language

Kuo-toa speak Undercommon, the subterranean trade language. Additionally, they speak their own arcane tongue, Kuo-Toan. They also have a priestly tongue, a corrupted form of Aquan, the language used on the Elemental Plane of Water.

History

In ancient times, the kuo-toa inhabited the shores and islands of the upper world, but as humanity and those demihumans associated with them grew more numerous and powerful, they were slowly driven to more remote regions, taking refuge in sea caverns and subterranean waters. Some took refuge in the oceans, but these were mostly wiped out by aquatic predators, leaving the subterranean breeds to carry on as the last of their kind, prone to inbreeding and insanity. The word "goggler," once a racial epithet directed at kuo-toa, lost its meaning and became forgotten. The kuo-toa have not forgotten their old enemies, however.

Creative origins

The name "kuo-toa" was created by Gary Gygax, co-creator of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. However, the concept is thought to be inspired by the Deep Ones, creatures that appear in H. P. Lovecraft's novella The Shadow Over Innsmouth. Like the kuo-toa, the deep ones are a monstrous marine-dwelling race of fish-headed humanoids, who worship a being called Dagon.

The kuo-toa is considered a "Product Identity" by Wizards of the Coast and as such are not released under its Open Gaming License.[1]

Publishing history

The kuo-toa first appeared in dungeon adventures Shrine of the Kuo-Toa (1978), and Vault of the Drow (1978). They made their second edition debut in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), and were reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).

The first appearance of the kuo-toa in third edition was in the Monster Manual (2000). The entry was updated for 3.5 in the revised Monster Manual (2003). They were presented as a player character race for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting in Underdark (2003).

The kuo-toa made their fourth edition debut in the Monster Manual (2008).

Bibliography

  • Cagle, Eric. "The Minions of Darkness." Dragon #300. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2002.
  • Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume Two. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989.
———. Queen of the Spiders. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1986.
———. Shrine of the Kuo-Toa. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1978.
———. "Lord of the Scarlet Tide." Dungeon #85. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
  • Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. Monster Manual. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2008.
  • Mona, Erik. "Ancient History: The Great Embarkation." Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, unpublished. Available online:[2]
  • Stephens, Owen K.C. "By Any Other Name: Races of the Underdark." Dragon #281. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2001.
  • Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1994.
  • Turnbull, Don, ed. Fiend Folio. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1981.
———. Player's Handbook Core Rulebook I v.3.5. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2003.

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic Type Description Product Page/Card/Image

D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa Adventure Located in: Hellfurnaces, D1 Descent into the Depths of the Earth 2
D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa Adventure Located in: Hellfurnaces, D1-2 Descent into the Depths of the Earth 1
D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa Adventure Located in: Hellfurnaces, D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa All
D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa Adventure Located in: Hellfurnaces, D3 Vault of the Drow (adventure) 2
D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa Adventure Located in: Hellfurnaces, Deities & Demigods (1st & 2nd printing), AD&D 1e 110
D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa Adventure Located in: Hellfurnaces, Deities & Demigods (3rd+ printing), AD&D 1e 95
D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa Adventure Located in: Hellfurnaces, Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e 5
J'bhulgolboth (Kuo-Toa) Settlement Settlement, Dungeon magazine #085 34, 35, 41, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55, 64, 66
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster Caves of Ancient Secrets: RttToEE Web Enhancement, D&D 3.0e 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster D1-2 Descent into the Depths of the Earth 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25 - 27, 28
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster D3 Vault of the Drow (adventure) 25
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster DMGR4 - Monster Mythology 61, 99, 128
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster Into The Unknown: The Dungeon Survival Handbook, D&D 4e 3, 53, 131, 140-141, 156, 158, 159
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster EX1 Dungeonland 13
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster Fiend Folio, AD&D 1e 57 - 59
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess 56
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster GDQ1-7 Queen of the Spiders 3, 50, 53, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70, 73, 74, 77, 82, 125, 126, 127
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster GDQ1-7 Queen of the Spiders: Map/Monster Booklet 15
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster Ivid the Undying 132
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster MC2 - Monstrous Compendium Volume 2 Insert (Kuo-Toa)
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster MC5 Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix Encounter Tables
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster Monster Manual 1, D&D 3.5e (Premium Edition) 163-165
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster Monster Manual 1, D&D 4e (Deluxe Edition) 172-173
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster Monster Manual 1, D&D 5e 198-200
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster Monster Manual 2, AD&D 1e 42
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster Manual of the Planes, AD&D 1e 46
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster Player's Guide to Greyhawk 39
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, D&D 3.0e 38, 42, 49, 50, 67, 68, 70, 75, 89, 90, 92, 93, 96, 130, 170, 173, 174, 175, 177
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth, Book Two 10
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster Spelljammer Boxed Set: Lorebook of the Void 90
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster SJR6 Greyspace 10, 12, 13
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster Slavers, AD&D 2e 30
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster Stormwrack, D&D 3.5e 6, 7, 49, 55, 213, 215, 216, 220, 221
Kuo-Toa {Goggler} Monster World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) 6
Kuo-Toa, Shrine of Building Shrine, Against The Giants: The Liberation of Geoff 42
Shrine of the Kuo-Toa Adventure Reference SEE D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa