WINGLESS WONDER

WINGLESS WONDER

"The Wingless Wonder is a comical beast that resembles a walking egg (which it has also been called). It stands rather unsteadily on two weak legs that have rubbery, sticky bases, and it has two small arms which it flaps constantly (hence its name). Its mouth is atop its head, surrounded by a fringe of tentacles which are are extendable to 12 feet. Most of these creatures eat only fruits and vegetables and have nine such tentacles. A rare (20% of all Wonders) type is omnivorous and has 12 tentacles."

"Wonders are blue-green in color with purplish undersides. Their skin, which is covered by fuzz, is delicate and does not heal quickly."

"The creatures are apparently bisexual. When a solitary Wonder encounters another of its species, the two will intertwine their tentacles and chitter excitedly in chorus for 2 rounds. This appears to be a mating contact."

Ed Greenwood, Dragon Magazine #40

If you've been following my blog, especially my D&D picks, you know I love a truly bizarre creature from Dragon Magazine (spider-horse, flying frog, death sheep, skull rider, oculon) and this one is one of the weirder ones. Originally appearing in the August 1980 issue of Dragon Magazine the wingless wonder was conceived of and illustrated by (I think) Ed Greenwood. It's always hard to tell who illustrated what in Dragon because the artists are just listed in a column in the front with no attribution.

This thing only appeared in one of the Monstrous Appendixes and finding the name of that illustrator is even more difficult.

Their lore has changed a bit too. They've gone from goofy, curious fauna to possibly cursed wizards stuck in a bumbling form and renamed alkada. I don't particularly find this compelling. I prefer the dumb weirdo version.