I'm (slowly) writing a Chinese OSR monster manual! (Patreon)

Since my good pal Joe DeSimone taught me about the OSR, I've become obsessed with writing a Chinese OSR monster manual. Since I learned how to play Knave, I've become determined to learn how to play Labyrinth Lord and to write my own collection of Chinese monsters! I'll be posting them here as I write/test/revise! Each monster will come with an in-game description and a note on their historical/archaeological significance! 

Here's a sample of my favourite monster to appear in Chinese art - the taotie!

Taotie (gluttonous monster)

Taotie are eerie creatures that are more monster than animal. Each has their own unique appearance, but will have bulging eyes, swirling horns, long ears, claws, a gaping mouth lined with sharp teeth, and a tail. Their four-legged bodies are covered with hardened scales that feature ornate swirling patterns. Taotie possess a ravenous hunger and are an unrelenting force of the unnatural. 

No. Enc.: 1d2 (1d4)

Alignment: chaotic evil

Movement: 120’ (40’)

Armour Class: 5

Hit Dice: 9

Attacks: 3 (bite and 2 claws)

Damage: 1d8/1d6/1d6

Save: F9

Morale: 9

Hoard Class: XVII

*Taotie (monster masks) are the most iconic decorative motif in Shang (c. 1600 – 1046 BCE) and Zhou (c. 1046-256 BCE) dynasty ritual bronze vessels. These vessels served many purposes, from ancestor worship and divination to visual tales about the dangers of lands beyond the kingdom’s borders. The taotie’s significance in Chinese art and the meanings of their zoomorphic features remain a topic of debate among art historians and archaeologists. Regardless, the iconic eyes, horns, and gaping mouths of the taotie still appear in Chinese art – commonly seen on Imperial Guardian Lions (or Foo Dogs)

“In the past when the Xia dynasty first possessed the Divine Virtue, the distant quarters made diagrams of the strange creatures, contributed metal to the Nine Herdsmen, and cast caldrons to replicate the strange creatures.” - The Commentary of Zuo (published late 4th century BCE)