Grugach

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Greyhawk Creature
Grugach
A grugach elf depicted in Dragon #67 (1982).
General information
Alignment:Neutral (chaotic)
Type:Elf
Subtype:Grugach
First appearance:Dragon #67 (Nov 1982)

The grugach are a type of elf found only in isolated tribes in deep forests.

Description

A grugach is a wild elf that is smaller, lighter and thinner than a typical elf, and very fair.[1][2][3] Despite their small stature, they are very strong.[1][2][3][4][5]

While "wild elves" in some editions or in other settings are described as having dark, tan skin, grugach are noted as being more fair than wood elves and very pale.[1][3]

Their hair can be anything from black to light shades of brown and much like humans and many other humanoids (or demihumans), their hair lightens to a silvery white with age.[6]

Grugach frequently use large stags as mounts.[1][2][3]

Personality

Grugach are notoriously isolationist even to the point of xenophobia.[1][2][4][3][5]

Abilities

All grugach are able to set traps in their home territory such as pits and snares.[1][7]

Wild elves are generally stronger than other elves, even though they are smaller than other elves. In first and second editions, they had a +2 STR.[8][3] In contrast, wild elves in third edition had a bonus to Dex, instead.[9][6]

Possessions

Activities

Society

Settlements

Religion

Magic

Traditionally, grugach do not favor arcane magic use in any way to the point they do not have arcane magic users in their culture.[1][10][3] Though it's not readily certain why, it is thought grugach may not have the capacity for magic to to physiological differences in their brain.[11]

However, in third edition, their favored class was sorcerer.[9][6]

Language

Grugach always speak elven.[3][9][6] Despite their isolation, grugach may be found who speak other languages.[1]

They also commonly speak the language of treants and "certain other sylvan creatures".[3] Some other languages grugach speak include: sylvan, gnome, draconic, gnoll, goblin, and orc.[12]

Relationships

Grugach are isolationist in the extreme. They are intentionally withdrawn from the affairs of the world and choose to avoid most trappings of other cultures like currency, permanent structures, metalwork, or textiles.

There are no other regular connections to other peoples or cultures which are universal to grugach as a whole.

History

Grugach were originally wood elves, but they retreated far into the deep forests, and became their own subtype and culture.[3]

Rumors and legends

Publication history

The grugach first appeared in Dragon #67 (November 1982) in the "Featured Creatures" column.[1] The grugach also appeared in the first edition Monster Manual II (1983).[13]

The grugach appeared in second edition for the Greyhawk setting in the Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Appendix (1990).[3]

Creative origins

Etymology

In Irish, the term is masculine and can refer to a hairy goblin, a shaggy and unrefined person, an ogre or a giant, or a dreadful warrior[14].

In Scottish Gaelic, the term is feminine and can refer to a maiden or a goblin[15].

In both languages, the name indicates the presence of shaggy hair: gruaig (Irish) and gruag (Scottish Gaelic) both mean 'hair'. The term comes from Old Irish which was used to describe young unmarried girls, as they did not cover their hair, unlike married women.

In folklore

In Scottish lore, the gruagach was a fey creature (most typically female) with notably long hair (sometimes to their ankles) who watched over farm herd animals such as sheep or cattle and kept them from dangerous places. They were given an offering of milk in a stone with a depression in it or the animals would give no milk. [16] [17] [18]

See Also

References

Notes

Citations

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Dragon #67 (Nov 1982), p.10.
  2. ↑ a b c d Monster Manual II (1983), p.63.
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k MC5 Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix (1990).
  4. ↑ a b Dragon #155 (Mar 1990), p.10-18, 23.
  5. ↑ a b PHBR8 The Complete Book of Elves (1992), p.26.
  6. ↑ a b c d Monster Manual v3.5 (2003), p.104.
  7. ↑ Dragon #155 (Mar 1990), p.14.
  8. ↑ Monster Manual (1977), p.63.
  9. ↑ a b c Monster Manual (Oct 2000), p.84.
  10. ↑ Monster Manual II (1983), p.63.
  11. ↑ Dragon #155 (Mar 1990), p.10.
  12. ↑ Monster Manual v3.5 (2003), p.102.
  13. ↑ Monster Manual II (1983).
  14. ↑ Gruagach (in Irish). English-Irish Dictionary. Foras na Gaeilge (Foundation for Irish). Retrieved on 24 October 2022.
  15. ↑ Gruagach (in Scottish Gaelic). LerarnGaelic. Bòrd na Gàidhlig (Gaelic Board) , 2021. Retrieved on 24 October 2022.
  16. ↑ "Gruagach". Encyclopedia Mythica. Retrieved on 24 October 2022.
  17. ↑ Campbell, J.G. (1900). Superstitions of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Glascow: James MacLehose and Sons, pp. 184-186.
  18. ↑ Pennant, Thomas. (1772). A tour in Scotland, and voyage to the Hebrides. London: Benjamin White, p. 360.

Bibliography

  • Boucher, Grant, , William W. Connors, Skip Williams, et al. MC5 Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990. Item code TSR2107.
  • Cook, Monte, Jonathan Tweet and Skip Williams. Monster Manual v.3.5. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2003. Item code 17756.
  • Gygax, Gary. "Featrued Creatures". Dragon #67. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, Nov 1982.
  • Oppen, Eric. "Wild in the Woods". Dragon #155. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, Mar 1990.
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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

Elf, Grugach Monster Reference SEE Grugach (Wild Elf)
Grugach {Wild Elf} Monster PC Race, DMGR4 - Monster Mythology 13
Grugach {Wild Elf} Monster PC Race, Dragon magazine #067 10
Grugach {Wild Elf} Monster PC Race, Dragon magazine #103 12, 16, 48, 49
Grugach {Wild Elf} Monster PC Race, Dragon magazine #105 10
Grugach {Wild Elf} Monster PC Race, Dragon magazine #155 10-18, 23
Grugach {Wild Elf} Monster PC Race, Dragon magazine #315 52, 53
Grugach {Wild Elf} Monster PC Race, From the Ashes: References Card #11
Grugach {Wild Elf} Monster PC Race, GDQ1-7 Queen of the Spiders 17
Grugach {Wild Elf} Monster PC Race, MC5 Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix Insert (Elf, Grugach), Encounter Tables
Grugach {Wild Elf} Monster PC Race, Monster Manual 1, D&D 3.5e 104
Grugach {Wild Elf} Monster PC Race, Monster Manual 1, D&D 3.5e (Premium Edition) 104
Grugach {Wild Elf} Monster PC Race, Monster Manual 1, D&D 3.0e 87
Grugach {Wild Elf} Monster PC Race, Monster Manual 2, AD&D 1e 63
Grugach {Wild Elf} Monster PC Race, PHBR8 - The Complete Book of Elves 26, 29
Grugach {Wild Elf} Monster PC Race, Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
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