Beastiary

CATOBLEPAS

This beast was derived from folklore fables that originated in Ethiopia and was first described by Pliny the Elder in AD 77.

Its head was supposed to be so heavy that it could only look down, and its gaze was reputed to kill. It might have been based on encounters with wildebeest.

Details found at this url: Catoblepas - Wikipedia

DERRO

Derro (Wikipedia definition) is a slang Australian term for a dishevelled & unkempt person - synonymous with the American term wino. Abbreviated from Derelict.

In the D&D 2nd edition Monster Manual, a Derro is a degenerate race of dwarf stature. They live in the Underdark and are known for their cruel nature.

DOPPELGANGER

Very few have lived to see a doppelganger's true form because they can mimic the appearance of any humanoid form, including the clothes they wear. It is purported that when such an occurrence happens, it is an omen of bad luck, often death. In ancient Egypt, they were called ka or vardøger in Norse, and in Finnish, the word etiäinen was used. They have also been called a fetch.

DRAGON

There are several species of dragons, and they come in a variety of colors such as silver, black, and red. They also have their own personalities, ranging from good to pure evil and in between. They can even possess magical powers and have breath weapons of varying natures besides the standard fiery breath.

FAMILIAR

A familiar is not any one particular creature but usually an animal bound to a practitioner of magic through a spell cast for that particular purpose. The spell might attract the attention of a nearby animal such as a cat, weasel, owl, crow, eagle, or, on rare occasions, an imp or pseudo-dragon. Once a familiar is found, it can share its special abilities, such as sight, hearing, and smells with its master. It will serve until death.

GARGOYLE

A gargoyle is a carved, grotesque  building adornment with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building.

A French legend that sprang up around the name of Romain (c. 631–641 AD), the former chancellor of the Merovingian king Clotaire II, who was made bishop of Rouen, relates how he delivered the country around Rouen from a monster called Gargouille or Goji.

For more info, click here.

GNOLL

Gnolls, as described in the D&D game, are bipedal, hyena mutants standing between seven to eight feet tall. The actual basis for these creatures, spelled gnole, was taken from a publication, The Book of Wonder (1912) by Lord Dunsany (Edward Plunkett). They are also similar to the were-hyenas of African bushman folklore.

The origin of the gnolls traces back to the demon lord Yeenoghu, who transformed hyenas into the first gnolls.

More details can be found in this online reference: Gnole | FFXIclopedia | Fandom

MOON DOG

When the Moon is low in the sky, a bright “false Moon” (a well-defined saucer of brilliant moonlight) may hover off to its side. More info here.

Moon dogs in the Dungeons &  Dragons manuals are a Kynoid (resembling a dog) race of outsiders from Elysium and champions of Good, always seeking to fight and destroy Evil. They look like large wolfhounds, but their heads are nearly human. They are intelligent and their forepaws are prehensile. More info here.

OLIPHANT

Wiktionary definition: From Middle English, from Anglo-Norman oliphant (“ivory, elephant”) and Old French oliphant (“ivory, elephant, musical horn of ivory”), from Latin elephantus (“elephant”), from Ancient Greek ἐλέφας (elephas, “ivory, elephant”).

According to Fandom.com, an oliphant was Mûmakil (known in Westron as Oliphaunts) were large creatures resembling elephants, often used in battle by the Haradrim. Oliphaunt was the name given to them by the Hobbits.

WATER HORSE

The term "water horse" was originally a name given to the kelpie,  a creature similar to the hippocamp, which has the head, neck and mane of a normal horse, front legs like a horse, webbed feet, and a long, two-lobed, whale-like tail. The name "kelpie" has often been a nickname for many other Scottish lake monsters, such as each uisge and Morag of Loch Morar and Lizzie of Loch Lochy.

More info can be found here.

WATER WEIRD

D&D 5e Manual: An elemental guardian bound to a specific water-filled location, such as a pool or fountain. Invisible while immersed in water, its serpentine shape becomes clear only when it emerges to attack, using its coils to crush any creature other than its summoner and those its summoner declares as off limits.

When slain, a water weird becomes an inanimate pool of water.

UNKNOWN

In my stories, I do not hesitate to introduce creatures that have never been seen or documented in folklore, legends, or any of the game manuals. Nevertheless, I hope that you will be entertained and find my books enjoyable.

The crocogrilla above, and the whatsit are examples of these.

IMPS

Imps are found throughout the Lower Planes, either running errands for their infernal masters, spying on rivals, or misleading and waylaying mortals. An imp will proudly serve an evil master of any kind, but it can’t be relied on to carry out tasks with any speed or efficiency. An imp can assume animal form at will, but in its natural state it resembles a diminutive red-skinned humanoid with a barbed tail, small horns, and leathery wings. It can also serve as a familiar.

DEMONS

In religion, folklore, and mythology, a demon (also rendered daemon, dæmon, or daimon) is a supernatural being of malevolent intent, or a fallen angel not following God. Many religions speak of demonic forces within the cosmos representing the antithesis of truth and goodness. an evil spirit or devil, especially one thought to possess a person or act as a tormentor in hell:

In D&D there are many types of demons with varying abilities and size and appearances.