Marvelous Monster

Chamelimen

by Novice Brian Jennings



Chamelimen look like large versions of the common chameleon but walk upright, talk, and think as do men. Their body is long and thin, with three tows on each foot and three opposable fingers on each hand. They generally stand eight feet tall and weigh between 175 and 225lbs, with smooth skin that can change color, though in its natural state it is usually light to dark green, depending upon age. Chamelimen have enormous eyes, compared to human ones, that permit them to see in dim conditions, such as starlight or twilight, but they still need some light to see, thus they cannot see in total darkness. With such vision Chamelimen are miserable in bright sunlight and are stunned by it, unable to act or move, until brought into shade or until the sun goes down.

Chamelimen have four foot long tails which can be used by them to trip, hit, or poke at things. When someone or something grabs and holds the tail immobile, the Chameliman can, without any damage suffered to himself, opt to have the tail break off to free themselves. A new tail will grow back in 3d6 days if the Chameliman intakes normal amounts of nutrition.

Chamelimen have acquired a natural ability to change color, becoming almost completely invisible though their eyes, teeth, clothing, gear, and weapons will still show. If approached by another creature there is a 15% chance of a Chameliman being noticed when not holding anything and immobile, 30% when holding something and immobile, or 80% chance when wearing clothing [or gear]. Since this cloaking isn't magical but physically done, when it runs or walks an unclothed Chameliman's colors fluctuate so it becomes a blur across the background and enables others to detected it only 50% of the time up to half movement or 75% of the time above half-movement. Their method of attack usually consists of dropping down from a high position, where they have hidden cloaked by their innate ability, to surprise unsuspecting victims.

The Chamelimen can be found in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate forests and swamps, and may sometimes be found adventuring with parties of humans and demihumans. Like sunlight, Chamelimen are rendered defenseless against cold since they are cold-blooded. When the weather becomes too cold for them, which happens rarely in all but temperate areas or on adventures Chamelimen huddle in caves or a protected tree hollow for protection and warmth.

In their society they have no specific leader; everyone does what is expected of them, based on their position, and if they, for some reason, do not, that one is punished by being totally ignored for an appropriate amount of time as dictated by precedent in their clan history. With this system all feel compelled to do their part. Chamelimen are allowed into "normal" civilization just as other demihumans, so they generally use the same monetary system and tools. The normal Chamelimen family has six to 12 children and three parents, one mother and two fathers. The husbands tend to their wife's every need while the wife bears the children in egg clutches of two or three. Chamelimen usually sleep in trees and when asleep they make noise like other humanoids, so there's a 30% chance of noticing one under such conditions.

Chamelimen are omnivorous, though they prefer meat to greens. They have very few natural enemies because they are, as meat, considered hard and tough; large birds of prey, however, do like to feed upon their eggs and young because they are tender and defenseless. Most clutches of eggs loose at least one egg to such predators when Chamelimen live in the wild. O

CLIMATE/ TERRAIN: See above
FREQUENCY: Rare
ORGANIZATION: Family
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Day
DIET: Omnivore
ALIGN: Any
INT: Average to High
TREASURE: K (B)
No. APPEARING: i or 1d8+3
AC: 5
MOVEMENT: 12"
HIT DICE: 3+3
THAC0: 19
ATTACKS: 2 or by weapon
DAM/ATTACK: 1d2/1d2 (claw)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Camouflage
MR: Standard
SIZE: L (8' tall)
MORALE: Average (10)
XP VALUE: 175


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