Catoplebas! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Catoplebas! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
greedo99
08-13-03, 02:12 AM I dunno why but i love this monster. Who here agrees? lol
thalious
08-13-03, 02:20 AM it is not my favorite, but it is a classic dating back to 1E.
Ancient Wyrm
08-13-03, 10:39 AM Far beyond that. A Classical natural philosopher (I want to say Pliny, but I'm not sure) wrote about it, but according to him, it could never use its deadly gaze, because its head was so heavy, it could never lift it. It also looked like a bull, instead of the giraffe-rat you see in the Monster Manual II. Don't get me wrong, it's a fine-looking giraffe-rat, and is one of the dwindling number of original D&D creatures that actually smack of high fantasy instead of Lovecraft, but it's not a real catoblepas.
sandskimmer
08-13-03, 12:56 PM At one point, it was also known as a Nekrozon in the world of Mystara. Why they changed the name, I couldn't say. I rather like that name, though.
They should make a creature called a nekrozon. It doesn't need to be anything like a catoblepas. But the name begs to be used!
Mage of Sembia
08-13-03, 01:00 PM I like it to. Like the other creatures that turn things into stone. Medusas, gorgons, high-level wizards, basilisks, love them all.
cwslyclgh
08-13-03, 01:04 PM Catoblepas was the orginal name, as stated by AW it appears in classical bestiaries and such by that name (circa the time of Christ) as well as in the 1e MM (1977). why they changed it to Nekrozon for the (non advanced) D&D companion set (about 1985 I think) (or was it the masters set?) I do not know, but when the "known world" described in those sets made the jump to becoming the AD&D 2e world of Mystara, the Nekrozon made the leap with it, although it was only known as a Nekrozon in Mystarra.

making a Nekrozon creature might be interesting, maybe an off-shoot of catoblepas with slightly different powers.
sandskimmer
08-13-03, 04:51 PM making a Nekrozon creature might be interesting, maybe an off-shoot of catoblepas with slightly different powers.

Well, cwslyclgh, since you are the monster making machine of talent extroadinare, I think this would be a great challenge for your next marvelous monster of the week!:D
SwordMaster
08-13-03, 06:16 PM Catoblepases rock, though I've never heard of them in D&D, only in real mythology. (And, yes, I am aware that that is an oxymoron.) Anyone know the correct plural form of the word?
Nei
08-13-03, 06:28 PM Originally posted by greedo99
I dunno why but i love this monster. Who here agrees? lol

Are you sure you're not just trying to suck up to a certain WizO? ;)

Nei
WizO_Catoblepas
08-13-03, 06:36 PM It's working. :D

Seriously, I love the creatures. They're a wonderful ECL 4 creature to spring on a party, especially when they're thinking they're hunting wild buffalo. :smirk:
Mordenkainen's Rubber Duck of DOOM
08-13-03, 06:49 PM Originally posted by WizO_Catoblepas
It's working. :D

Seriously, I love the creatures. They're a wonderful ECL 4 creature to spring on a party, especially when they're thinking they're hunting wild buffalo. :smirk:

Hey, Cat, are you Male or Female? I can never figure it out when we get new WizOs. (Oh, the shame of once being a newb that refered to Doxxie as "She" :D)

On Topic: Catelopi would be a correct plural of Catelopas, right?
R.M.G.C.L.F.
08-13-03, 06:56 PM I enjoy it although the picture is does not match up with the traditional catoblepas. The original fantasy creature was more cuddly. I will cite a child's story-book with an index of fantasy creature's in the back.
Blue Moon Mountain, 3rd to last page
THE CATOBLEPAS
The Catoblepas is said to have lived on the African high plat land near the source of the Nile. THis strange creature, which resembled a small, winged buffalo, fed only on poisonous plants. It had a curly tail, a heavy main of stiff, bristly hair, and was covered in scales. The Catoblepas's great head was so heavy that it could barely lift it. Anient tails of this curious beast tell how one glance from it's strange eyes would strike a creature dead.
Also it definately should be a magical beast, not an aberration.
greedo99
08-13-03, 07:06 PM yeah i do concur they do seem like a magical beast, and WizO is right they are a very fun monster to drop on your party theyre a challenge but ownt be too hard..one of my faves
WizO_Catoblepas
08-13-03, 07:28 PM >>HERE<< (http://webhome.idirect.com/~donlong/monsters/Html/Catoblep.htm) is a little bit of information on the catoblepas.

>>HERE<< (http://www.eaudrey.com/myth/catoblepas.htm) is some more information on a catoblepas.

>>HERE<< (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/scottandrewh/catoblepas.html) is another one.

>>THIS ONE<< (http://www.theoi.com/Thaumasioi/Katoblepon.html) is interesting since it refers to Katoblepon, which I"m thinking may have been greek for Catoblepas. (I don't know greek, so I can't answer this.
Gez
08-13-03, 07:35 PM In the middle ages, the catoblepas was sometimes called a gorgon, because of its ability to kill with sight.

And here's the origin of the D&D gorgon.

(Edit: From WizO_Cat's first link, right above.)
Mage of Sembia
08-13-03, 11:46 PM Oh yeah, i forgot about cockatrices, love them too. (But dire weasels are cool too, but not as cool as dire ferrets. So if a dire weasal and a cockatrice got into a fight, I would favor the cockatrice)
SwordMaster
08-19-03, 01:21 PM The gorgon's that metallic thing with green eyes, right?

BTW, here's the catoplebas entry from the index of mythical beasts I compiled (meaning I wrote this):

catoblepas [kä•to´ble•pus]: Ethiopia—that which looks downward; a slow, yak-like animal with an enormous appetite and a heavy head. It sometimes gnawed on its front legs. Its slow speed was fortunate because it had a deadly gaze.
That particular information was probably drawn from Jonathan Hunt’s Bestiary: An Illuminated Alphabet of Medieval Beasts.
Autopsibiofeeder
08-19-03, 04:40 PM Kata = down(wards) and bleps- = seeing or looking in ancient greek IIRC....
Gez
08-19-03, 05:13 PM Originally posted by SwordMaster
The gorgon's that metallic thing with green eyes, right?

Yep.

In Greek, catoblepas means "that which looks downward". As its head is so heavy, this ironclad bull constantly looks downward. If it was not for this, the creature would have destroyed all life as its eyes cast immediate death, and its breath will do the same, much like the basilisk. This African creature is said to eat poisonous shrubs and bushes, and is quite sluggish. Some have compared it to the gnu, another African creature, as the gnu often holds its head near to the ground. In the middle ages, the catoblepas was sometimes called a gorgon, because of its ability to kill with sight.

So the D&D gorgon and the catoblepas were the same thing.

Like basilic and cockatrice.

Like phantom, fantom, ghost, specter, apparition, haunt, and wraith.
Count Arioch the 28th
08-19-03, 07:51 PM Catoblepas = cool.

Catoblepas + warbeast template from mm2 + troll riders = even better! :devil:
SwordMaster
08-21-03, 12:23 PM Thanks for the info, Gez. Knew most of it, but thanks anyway. :)

Not to be rude, but did anyone even notice my definition in my last post where it says "that which looks downward"? :sad:
SwordMaster
09-04-03, 07:49 PM I liked your old sig better, greedo99. :D :D :D

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
greedo99 08-13-03, 02:12 AM	I dunno why but i love this monster. Who here agrees? lol
thalious 08-13-03, 02:20 AM	it is not my favorite, but it is a classic dating back to 1E.
Ancient Wyrm 08-13-03, 10:39 AM	Far beyond that. A Classical natural philosopher (I want to say Pliny, but I'm not sure) wrote about it, but according to him, it could never use its deadly gaze, because its head was so heavy, it could never lift it. It also looked like a bull, instead of the giraffe-rat you see in the Monster Manual II. Don't get me wrong, it's a fine-looking giraffe-rat, and is one of the dwindling number of original D&D creatures that actually smack of high fantasy instead of Lovecraft, but it's not a real catoblepas.
sandskimmer 08-13-03, 12:56 PM	At one point, it was also known as a Nekrozon in the world of Mystara. Why they changed the name, I couldn't say. I rather like that name, though. They should make a creature called a nekrozon. It doesn't need to be anything like a catoblepas. But the name begs to be used!
Mage of Sembia 08-13-03, 01:00 PM	I like it to. Like the other creatures that turn things into stone. Medusas, gorgons, high-level wizards, basilisks, love them all.
cwslyclgh 08-13-03, 01:04 PM	Catoblepas was the orginal name, as stated by AW it appears in classical bestiaries and such by that name (circa the time of Christ) as well as in the 1e MM (1977). why they changed it to Nekrozon for the (non advanced) D&D companion set (about 1985 I think) (or was it the masters set?) I do not know, but when the "known world" described in those sets made the jump to becoming the AD&D 2e world of Mystara, the Nekrozon made the leap with it, although it was only known as a Nekrozon in Mystarra. making a Nekrozon creature might be interesting, maybe an off-shoot of catoblepas with slightly different powers.
sandskimmer 08-13-03, 04:51 PM	making a Nekrozon creature might be interesting, maybe an off-shoot of catoblepas with slightly different powers. Well, cwslyclgh, since you are the monster making machine of talent extroadinare, I think this would be a great challenge for your next marvelous monster of the week!:D
SwordMaster 08-13-03, 06:16 PM	Catoblepases rock, though I've never heard of them in D&D, only in real mythology. (And, yes, I am aware that that is an oxymoron.) Anyone know the correct plural form of the word?
Nei 08-13-03, 06:28 PM	Originally posted by greedo99 I dunno why but i love this monster. Who here agrees? lol Are you sure you're not just trying to suck up to a certain WizO? ;) Nei
WizO_Catoblepas 08-13-03, 06:36 PM	It's working. :D Seriously, I love the creatures. They're a wonderful ECL 4 creature to spring on a party, especially when they're thinking they're hunting wild buffalo. :smirk:
Mordenkainen's Rubber Duck of DOOM 08-13-03, 06:49 PM	Originally posted by WizO_Catoblepas It's working. :D Seriously, I love the creatures. They're a wonderful ECL 4 creature to spring on a party, especially when they're thinking they're hunting wild buffalo. :smirk: Hey, Cat, are you Male or Female? I can never figure it out when we get new WizOs. (Oh, the shame of once being a newb that refered to Doxxie as "She" :D) On Topic: Catelopi would be a correct plural of Catelopas, right?
R.M.G.C.L.F. 08-13-03, 06:56 PM	I enjoy it although the picture is does not match up with the traditional catoblepas. The original fantasy creature was more cuddly. I will cite a child's story-book with an index of fantasy creature's in the back. Blue Moon Mountain, 3rd to last page THE CATOBLEPAS The Catoblepas is said to have lived on the African high plat land near the source of the Nile. THis strange creature, which resembled a small, winged buffalo, fed only on poisonous plants. It had a curly tail, a heavy main of stiff, bristly hair, and was covered in scales. The Catoblepas's great head was so heavy that it could barely lift it. Anient tails of this curious beast tell how one glance from it's strange eyes would strike a creature dead. Also it definately should be a magical beast, not an aberration.
greedo99 08-13-03, 07:06 PM	yeah i do concur they do seem like a magical beast, and WizO is right they are a very fun monster to drop on your party theyre a challenge but ownt be too hard..one of my faves
WizO_Catoblepas 08-13-03, 07:28 PM	>>HERE<< (http://webhome.idirect.com/~donlong/monsters/Html/Catoblep.htm) is a little bit of information on the catoblepas. >>HERE<< (http://www.eaudrey.com/myth/catoblepas.htm) is some more information on a catoblepas. >>HERE<< (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/scottandrewh/catoblepas.html) is another one. >>THIS ONE<< (http://www.theoi.com/Thaumasioi/Katoblepon.html) is interesting since it refers to Katoblepon, which I"m thinking may have been greek for Catoblepas. (I don't know greek, so I can't answer this.
Gez 08-13-03, 07:35 PM	In the middle ages, the catoblepas was sometimes called a gorgon, because of its ability to kill with sight. And here's the origin of the D&D gorgon. (Edit: From WizO_Cat's first link, right above.)
Mage of Sembia 08-13-03, 11:46 PM	Oh yeah, i forgot about cockatrices, love them too. (But dire weasels are cool too, but not as cool as dire ferrets. So if a dire weasal and a cockatrice got into a fight, I would favor the cockatrice)
SwordMaster 08-19-03, 01:21 PM	The gorgon's that metallic thing with green eyes, right? BTW, here's the catoplebas entry from the index of mythical beasts I compiled (meaning I wrote this): catoblepas [kä•to´ble•pus]: Ethiopia—that which looks downward; a slow, yak-like animal with an enormous appetite and a heavy head. It sometimes gnawed on its front legs. Its slow speed was fortunate because it had a deadly gaze. That particular information was probably drawn from Jonathan Hunt’s Bestiary: An Illuminated Alphabet of Medieval Beasts.
Autopsibiofeeder 08-19-03, 04:40 PM	Kata = down(wards) and bleps- = seeing or looking in ancient greek IIRC....
Gez 08-19-03, 05:13 PM	Originally posted by SwordMaster The gorgon's that metallic thing with green eyes, right? Yep. In Greek, catoblepas means "that which looks downward". As its head is so heavy, this ironclad bull constantly looks downward. If it was not for this, the creature would have destroyed all life as its eyes cast immediate death, and its breath will do the same, much like the basilisk. This African creature is said to eat poisonous shrubs and bushes, and is quite sluggish. Some have compared it to the gnu, another African creature, as the gnu often holds its head near to the ground. In the middle ages, the catoblepas was sometimes called a gorgon, because of its ability to kill with sight. So the D&D gorgon and the catoblepas were the same thing. Like basilic and cockatrice. Like phantom, fantom, ghost, specter, apparition, haunt, and wraith.
Count Arioch the 28th 08-19-03, 07:51 PM	Catoblepas = cool. Catoblepas + warbeast template from mm2 + troll riders = even better! :devil:
SwordMaster 08-21-03, 12:23 PM	Thanks for the info, Gez. Knew most of it, but thanks anyway. :) Not to be rude, but did anyone even notice my definition in my last post where it says "that which looks downward"? :sad:
SwordMaster 09-04-03, 07:49 PM	I liked your old sig better, greedo99. :D :D :D