Neogi

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Neogi are large insectoid creatures from the fictional Spelljammer campaign setting from the 2nd edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. They have recently been described in the Lords of Madness book. Neogi are classic evil "bug-eyed monsters" out to rule the universe and as such are an excellent recurring racial villain.

Neogi are unusual aberrations which look like a cross between a spider and an eel. They have a bloated body and eight limbs, two of which have simple claws. They also have long necks and long heads with sharp teeth. Neogi are covered in light tan fur, which they dye as they get older.

Neogi are slave traders and they consider everything either to be a slave or owner. All Neogi have several slaves, usually Umber Hulks, sometimes other neogi. Even these neogi slaves have more slaves, leading to complex ownership hierarchy.

Neogi reproduction is particularly gruesome, involving the transformation of an elderly member of the species into a swollen, mindless monstrosity known as a Great Old One. After the transformation, the Great Old One is implanted with young Neogi, which start out as parasites. The Great Old One ultimately bursts, and a vast swarm of the unintelligent young pour out of it, proceding to devour one another until only a few are left.

A variation of the race, the tso, is found in the Outer Planes of the Planescape setting. Tso are larger, more intelligent, and more innately magical than neogi, specializing in a form of collaborative spellcasting. They are intelligent from birth and lack the neogi's fratricidal instincts. They also have two pairs of manipulatory forelimbs, using only their rear two pairs of legs for walking. Their method of reproduction and their affinity for the slave trade, however, is much the same as their lesser kin.

[edit] References

• "Ecology of the Neogi, The", Dragon #214 (Feb 1995) by Jon Winter.
• Baker, Rich, James Jacobs, and Steve Winter. Lords of Madness (Wizards of the Coast, 2005).
• Bonny, Ed, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Skip Williams, and Steve Winter. Monster Manual II (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).
• Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1994).
• Spelljammer Campaign Setting
• Baker, L. Richard III. Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II. (TSR, 1995).