Crypt thing
| Crypt thing | |
|---|---|
 A Crypt Thing, as depicted in Fiend Folio (2003). | |
| General information | |
| Alignment: | Neutral |
| Type: | Undead |
| First appearance: | Fiend Folio. (TSR Hobbies). (1981). |
A crypt thing looks like a skeleton but is always dressed in a flowing brown or black robe. Their red eyes have a hypnotic quality to them.
Ecology
Crypt things are undead creatures that guard tombs, graves, and corpses. Two types of crypt things can be found—ancestral and summoned. The former type are "natural" creatures, while the others are called into existence by a powerful wizard or priest.
Environment
Crypt things are not a natural part of our world; they have no organized society or culture. They are found wherever tombs and crypts are located.
Typical physical characteristics
They look like skeletons with dark robes and glowing red eyes.
A crypt thing exists only to protect the bodies of those who have been laid to rest in its lair. It acts only to defend its crypt. Should grave robbers or vandals seek to enter and profane the sanctity of its tomb, the crypt thing becomes instantly animated.
A crypt thing's first line of defense is a powerful variety of teleportation, which it can cast once on any given group of adventurers. Each of those attacked with this spell must resist it or be instantly transported away from the crypt.
Society
The most common crypt thing is the summoned variety. They are created using a 7th level Necromantic spell. In exceedingly rare cases someone who was a protector in life can rise again in death to keep protecting the families tomb and honored dead.
Alignment
Neutral. These undead do not hate the living they just want to protect their assigned tombs from graverobbers.
Publishing History
Gallery
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A crypt thing shown from Fiend Folio (1e). Art by Russ Nicholson (1981). -
A crypt thing shown from Fiend Folio (1e). Art by Russ Nicholson (1981). -
A crypt thing depicted in MC5: Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Appendix, by Tom Baxa (1989).
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Boucher, Grant, , William W. Connors, Skip Williams, et al. MC5 Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990. Item code TSR2107.
- Turnbull, Don. Fiend Folio. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1981. Item code TSR2012.
- Cagle, Eric, Jesse Decker, James Jacobs, Erik Mona, Matt Sernett and [[]]. Fiend Folio. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2003. Item code 88661.
- Collins, Andy and Bruce R. Cordell. Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004. Item code 17924.
- Reynolds, Sean. "Enchiridion of the Fiend Sage". Living Greyhawk Journal #5. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, Jul 2001.
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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Create Crypt Thing (LVL7) | Spell | Spell (Cleric), | MC5 Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix | Insert (Crypt Thing) |
| Create Crypt Thing (LVL7) | Spell | Spell (Cleric), | Priest's Spell Compendium Volume 1 | 154 |
| Create Crypt Thing (LVL7) | Spell | Spell (Magic User), | MC5 Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix | Insert (Crypt Thing) |
| Create Crypt Thing (LVL7) | Spell | Spell (Magic User), | Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume I | 188 |
| Crypt Thing | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | Fiend Folio, AD&D 1e | 21 |
| Crypt Thing | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | Fiend Folio, D&D 3.0 | 36 |
| Crypt Thing | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | Living Greyhawk Journal #5 | 24-25 |
| Crypt Thing | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | Libris Mortis, D&D 3.5e | 9 |
| Crypt Thing | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | MC5 Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix | Insert (Crypt Thing), Encounter Tables |
| Crypt Thing | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | Priest's Spell Compendium Volume 1 | 154 |
| Crypt Thing | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | 1991 TSR Trading Cards - Factory Set | 539 |
| Destroy Crypt Thing (LVL7) | Spell | Spell (Cleric), | MC5 Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix | Insert (Crypt Thing) |
| Destroy Crypt Thing (LVL7) | Spell | Spell (Cleric), | Priest's Spell Compendium Volume 1 | 154 (Create Crypt Thing), 194 |
| Destroy Crypt Thing (LVL7) | Spell | Spell (Magic User), | MC5 Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix | Insert (Crypt Thing) |
| Destroy Crypt Thing (LVL7) | Spell | Spell (Magic User), | Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume I | 233 (Create Crypt Thing) |