Thri-kreen

Template:Infobox Greyhawk creature The thri-kreen, or "mantis warriors," are an insect-like monstrous humanoid race.

Physical Description

Thri-kreen resemble humanoid mantids. On Oerth they have red exoskeletons and small abdomens, looking more humanoid than the typical thri-kreen of other worlds. They possess six limbs, and usually use one pair for locomotion and the other two pairs as arms. They have excellent physical capabilities, allowing them to jump great distances. They also have sharp claws, poisonous bites, and psionic abilities.

An average thri-kreen has the life expectancy of only 30 years. However, this is countered by the fact that thri-kreen do not require sleep. A thri-kreen truly lives out every moment of its precious 30 years.

Environment

Thri-kreen dwell in warm deserts and plains. There are stories of thri-kreen packs in the Sea of Dust, and there may be a few scattered packs in the Dry Steppes to the north. They do not exist in the Bright Desert.

Society

Thri-kreen are formidable nomadic hunters who respect the land and hate creatures that despoil it. They will attack anyone who disturbs their home.

Thri-kreen have two signature weapons: the gythka, a polearm with a blade at each end; and the chatkcha, a crystal throwing wedge which returns when thrown. However, they will use anything they can find as well.

Variant forms of thri-kreen include the civilized tohr-kreen (of which there are six subspecies), the mentally and physically altered zik-trin, the alien zik-chil, and the spacefaring xixchil of the Spelljammer campaign setting.

The thri-kreen society is very organized, and they have a strong hive mentality when in groups. Not much more is known since they have a difficult time associating with the humanoid races.

Alignment

Thri-kreen are usually any chaotic alignment.

Creative origins

The thri-kreen race was first introduced to D&D in 1982 by Paul Reiche III for the second set of Monster Cards.

Publishing history

The thri-kreen have persisted into 3rd and 3.5 editions and appear in the Monster Manual II, Expanded Psionics Handbook, and various sourcebooks for the Forgotten Realms. Thri-kreen of Athas included a short section on the thri-kreen of Greyhawk.

Bibliography

• Beach, Tim, and Dori Hein. Thri-kreen of Athas (TSR, 1995) ISBN 0-7869-0125-X.

• Bonny, Ed, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Skip Williams, and Steve Winter. Monster Manual II (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).

• Conners, William, et al. Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix (TSR, 1989).

• Cordell, Bruce R. Expanded Psionics Handbook (Wizards of the Coast, 2004) ISBN 0-7869-3301-1.

• Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual II (TSR, 1983).

• Reid, Thomas M. Shining South (Wizards of the Coast, 2004).

• Richards, Johnathan M. "The Ecology of the Xixchil." Dragon #266 (TSR, 1999).

• Slavicsek, Bill. Dark Sun Campaign Setting Expanded and Revised (TSR, 1995).

• Stewart, Doug. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1997) ISBN 1-56076-619-0.