Kuo-toa
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| Dungeons & Dragons creature | |
|---|---|
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| Kuo-toa depicted on the cover of Descent into the Depths of the Earth. | |
| Kuo-toa | |
| Alignment | |
| Type | Monstrous humanoid |
| Source books | |
| First appearance | |
| Image | Wizards.com image |
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the kuo-toa are fish-like monstrous humanoids that dwell in the Underdark.
Contents |
[edit] Creative origins
The name "Kuo-toa" was created by Gary Gygax, co-creator of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, and first appeared in dungeon module D2 - Shrine of the Kuo-Toa. However, the concept was clearly inspired[citation needed] by the Deep Ones, creatures that appear in H. P. Lovecraft's novella "The Shadow Over Innsmouth". Like the Kuo-toa, the Deep Ones are a monstrous marine-dwelling race of fish-headed humanoids, who worship a being called Dagon. The kuo-toa is considered a "Product Identity" by Wizards of the Coast and as such are not released under its Open Gaming License.[1]
[edit] Description
Kuo-toa have scaly, bipedal bodies with fish-like heads.
[edit] Society
Kuo-toa often raid seaside settlements for human victims. Most worship the goddess Blibdoolpoolp, though a few remote tribes worship Dagon.
[edit] Kuo-toa in various campaign settings
[edit] Kuo-toa in the Forgotten Realms
In the Forgotten Realms campaign setting kuo-toans maintain friendly relations with drow, their Underdark neighbours. Blibdoolpoolp is the focus of the kuo-toans' lives, and even has her own monstrous, deformed kuo-toa breed — the giant kuo-toa leviathan. They have total hatred for the sahuagin, another race of fish-like beings[who?]. In the "Sellswords" book series, Jarlaxle comments to his drow compatriots that a monk (referring to Grandmaster Kane) fights in the same manner as the Kuo-Toa, using their body as a weapon.
[edit] Kuo-toa in Greyhawk
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting, kuo-toa settlements are known to exist in the Underdark, near the Vault of the Drow beneath the Hellfurnaces.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Frequently Asked Questions. D20srd.org. Retrieved on 2007-02-23.
[edit] References
- Cagle, Eric. "The Minions of Darkness." Dragon #300 (Paizo Publishing, 2002).
- Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (TSR, 1989).
- Gygax, Gary. Shrine of the Kuo-Toa (TSR, 1978).
- Stephens, Owen K.C. "By Any Other Name: Races of the Underdark." Dragon #281 (Paizo Publishing, 2001).
- Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1994).
- Turnbull, Don, ed. Fiend Folio (TSR, 1981).
