Dwarf

Dwarves, some interesting facts:
1) They're the descendants of great burrowing creatures long forgotten.
2) They can run as fast backwards as they can forwards.
3) The 1000 year Mine Wars was responsible for both technological advancement and catastrophic dwarven population loss.
4) Dwarven beards can be woven into a robust fabric-based armour (but is very itchy)
5) They can grind rocks to dust with just their teeth.
6) They are shortsighted, and so prefer ranged weapons that scatter/spray projectiles.
7) Their poor eyesight is compensated by superior hearing and smell but also by their whiskers, which provide a little understood additional sense. "I feel it in my whiskers"

Bitemites

Bitemites glide from branch to branch where they extract tree sap from the veteran trees of the forbidden forest. When their storage pouches are full they return to the nest with their harvest.

The bitemite's needle-like fangs secrete an anticoagulant to help extract the thick tar-like sap of the indigenous forest trees. This chemical converts the sap into a sweet energy drink, a rare source of nutrition in an environment where most biomatter is toxic or carnivorous. An adventurer in need of sustenance would do well to snare a 'loaded' bitemite and feast on its nutritious cargo. But beware, these insectoids are never far from their kin who will attack en masse if their is a perceived threat to the colony.

Once a firm bite has been established the mite injects the anticoagulant into its prey, the tar sucking reflex then kicks in. A latched mite will jettison its body (thus killing it) to prevent any previously collected sap being contaminated. A swarm of bitemites can drain humanoid sized prey of blood in a matter seconds.


Other bitemite bi-products
1) Needle teeth used for climbing claws.
2) Anticoagulant applied to stabbing/cutting weapons to spur blood loss from inflicted wounds (a fave of the death blossom clan).
3) Sap-juice can possess other beneficial/unexpected properties, depending on the source tree.
4) Chitin skulls can be fashioned into attractive ashtrays, lampshades or codpieces.

A cyclopian eye for lunch

Dol Athar's Tower

Dol Athar's tower is located in Yurruq, the City of Mages. It is a sprawling but relatively sedate coastal metropolis, its skyline dominated by a multitude of crooked towers, the homes of wizards and necromancers who have retired to the city in their dotage, taking advantage of its warm climate and balmy sea breezes to ease the rheumatic pains and rattling lungs which are the curses of a magically-sustained existence.


Dol Athar’s retainers might look like fearsome zombies but by nature they are little more than harmless old codgers, glumly obsessed with the many infirmities of undeath (aching joints, muscular degeneration, irregular bowel movements etc) and keeping alive the nostalgic memory of their master’s earlier career. They have been around far too long to care much for the swashbuckling antics of thieves and heroes but they do like routine and will be peeved if anyone upsets the status quo within their tower.

Words: Lee Williams

Gnomes

Despite the visual similarities, gnomes are not related to dwarves - please take care not to address them as such, it's a quick way to initiate hostilities. In fact, gnomes are actually a highly evolved type of shroomanoid (an anthropomorphic sentient fungi).

Ogre Attack! - Survival Techniques

"What sight is more dread than the cavernous interior of an ogre's mouth? Ogres are born hungry. Their appetite can never be satiated. For them, life is a never ending quest for the next meal. Don't be that meal."

Wortimer Greatspear, Famed Dungeoneer & Publisher of the acclaimed Wisdom for the Witless guidebook series.

Goblinoids - Death Blossom Clan

The Forbidden Forest is home to the infamous Death Blossom Clan. Only the most hardy goblinoid specimens can survive in the forest's treacherous environment. This process of natural selection insures that clan members are some of the most resilient and resourceful goblins found anywhere on the planet.

Routine hazards for forest dwellers include giant predatory insectoids, hallucinogenic spores, poison dart faeries and carnivorous mushrooms. To exist in this unforgiving habitat clan members have become highly skilled in tracking, hunting, toxicology and advanced flower arranging.

Ogres

An ogre's cranium and mandible accounts for over 50% of its total skeletal mass. At its thickest the skull measures around 75cm, this does not leave much of an interior cavity for housing the brain, which is fortunate considering the size of an ogre's brain.

The incredible weight of the creatures bones make it virtually impossible for it to swim. They are therefore fearful of deep water and, as a result, extremely reluctant to take baths.

Death Jelly

Death Jelly is most likely the creation of the last wizards, designed to patrol their tombs and guard their secrets. They also provide the function of dungeon cleaning, keeping flagstones free from dirt and grime whilst emitting an agreeable lemony aroma.

Death Jelly is known to come in two varieties:

Green Jelly 
Green jelly is a highly corrosive substance. If caught inside the jelly, organic matter is slowly digested. Non-organic material is excreted, albeit a with a nice smear-free shine.

Pink Jelly
Pink jelly is mostly harmless and tastes of strawberry, a favourite at goblin birthday parties.

Trolls

Trolls never stray to far from water. They prefer to remain submerged and snatch their hapless prey from river banks and bridges. At night, and when food is scarce, they have been known to travel inland. When on these excursions they wrap themselves in kelp/seaweed capes to remain cool and moist. Troll capes actually became a trend adopted by fashion conscious goblinoids, but was short lived as it turned out ogres particularly liked the taste of goblin sushi.

When not hunting for food, trolls will sometimes sit and shout provocative and inflammatory messages at passers-by in their ancient and unfathomable tongue. If this happens it's best to ignore them.

Faeries

So far over one thousand species of faery have been identified. Sadly, their numbers have been dwindling because:

1) They have become objects of desire with wealthy patrons who have "gotta catch 'em all".

2) They glow in the dark. Enchanting as it is to humans, faeries find their bioluminescence an annoyance. As a creature with many natural predators lighting up at night is akin to wearing a neon sign that says 'Eat Me'.

3) They are also the key ingredient in popular potions and liquid spells. While their magical properties are still moot among some apothecaries and alchemists, it can't be argued that the Purple Cotton Faery can be made into a rather delightful jam.

Tharg - A giant dwarf

Tharg suffers from a rare, and despised, dwarvish genetic condition: giantism. This affliction means he is often mistaken for an ice waste barbarian, forced to wear ill-fitting armour and constantly banging his head on the door frame of the great hall.

Terror Gnomes

Terror Gnomes are a higher quality minion for a more discerning dungeon keeper. They provide many advantages over standard gobinoid hirelings including skills in explosives, locksmithery, trap installation, torture and plumbing services.

Goblinoids - Breeds

Like canidae, goblinoids come in many shapes, sizes and temperaments. Some forms where believed to have been bred by ancient wizards for their specific dark purposes. Others are mongrels, the result of unfortunate interbreeding.

A pure goblin is believed to exist in the depths of the Dragon's Cauldron. It is rumoured to be a magnificent creature very unlike the more common strains that plague the outlands (like comparing  the majesty of the wolf to the pitiful pekingese.)

Goblinoids

Sketch book scan and colour test. Later will have some fun with the species, culture and lifecyle of the goblinoid.

Ogre