CREATURES FROM THE WORKS OF ROBERT E. HOWARD

WINGED APE

Val	CHA	Cost	Roll	Notes
30	STR	20	15-	Lift 1600 kg; 6d6 [HTH Damage 3]
20	DEX	30	13-	OCV:  7/DCV:  7
25	CON	30	14-
18	BODY	16	13-
20	INT	10	13-	PER Roll 14-
18	EGO	16	13-	ECV:  6
30	PRE	20	15-	PRE Attack:  6d6
6	COM	-2	10-

12	PD	3		Total:  12 PD (3 rPD)
10	ED	2		Total:  10 ED (3 rED)
4	SPD	10		Phases:  3, 6, 9, 12
11	REC	0
50	END	0
46	STUN	0		Total Characteristics Cost:  155

Movement:	Running:	7"/14"
		Flight:		12"/24"
		Leaping:	6"/12"
		Swimming:	2"/4"

Cost    Powers & Skills
7	Arm Smash:  HA +2d6; Hand-To-Hand Attack (-1/2), END 1
12	"Black-Nailed Paws":  HKA 1d6 (2d6 w/STR); Reduced Penetration (-1/4), END 1
15	Bite:  HKA 1d6 (2d6 w/STR), END 1
9	Thick Hide:  Armor (3 PD/3 ED)
2	Heavy:  Knockback Resistance -1"
16	Winged:  Flight 12"; Restrainable (-1/2), END 2
2	"Fearful Speed":  Running +1" (7" total), END 1
3	Sharp Senses:  +1 PER with all Sense Groups
5	"Blood-Red Eyes":  Nightvision
5	"Individual Life Span Is Enormous":  LS  (Longevity: Immortal)
4	Reach:  Stretching 1", Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2); Always Direct (-1/4), No Noncombat 
	Stretching (-1/4), No Velocity Damage (-1/4)

	Perks
45	"Great Spotted Hyenas":  Follower 50 x 75-base Point Giant Hyenas (use the Wolf 
	character sheet on page 186 of the HERO System Bestiary, increase stats as needed)

	Skills
10	+2 with HTH Combat

3	AK: Ancient City on the River Zarkheba 13-
3	Climbing 13-
2	Concealment 13-; Self Only (-1/2)
3	KS: Occult Lore 13-
3	"Performed Weird And Awful Rites":  Power:  Magic 13-
3	Shadowing 13-
3	Stealth 13-
2	Survival (Tropical Forests) 13-
3	Tactics 13-
160	Total Powers & Skills Cost
315	Total Character Cost

75+	Disadvantages
5	Physical Limitation:  Large, up to twice human size (roughly 8' tall and 600 lbs) (Infrequently, 
	Slightly Impairing)
15	Psychological Limitation:  Hatred Of Intruders (Common, Strong)
220	Experience
315 Total Disadvantage Points

Ecology: The winged ape is not really an ape, but instead the last survivor of an ancient pre-human race. This race was old even before the first proto-humans took their first tottering steps, dwelling in a great city built on the banks of the River Zarkheba deep in the tropical jungles. They individually lived for thousands of years, while their city lasted for untold eons (and possibly millions of years). Then came an upheaval in the river, and the waters ran black for days, and many of the winged apes died. Those that lived become "stunted abhorrent perversion[s] of nature." In time they regressed, changing from "winged god to pinioned demon." Finally, there was a lone survivor, who dwelled in the ruined city, watching over it and the vast treasure in gems it contained.

Personality/Motivation: The winged ape is highly xenophobic, and will quickly kill anyone who enters the ruined city. The winged ape is no fool, however, and will lay in wait, observing an enemy before striking.

Powers/Tactics: The winged ape is the last descendent of a race that initially was superior to man in intelligence and ethical development. Now, the winged ape's vast intellect as been perverted, and he has gone from (presumably) peaceful philosopher to lethal killer. However, the winged ape also possesses vast cunning, and will cleverly try and divide an enemy's forces before attacking, whittling down a foes numbers into more manageable groups.

The winged ape is assisted in its endeavors by a band of 50 giant spotted hyenas. Once men who spent the night in the ruins, they were turned into beasts by the winged ape through some sort of sorcery, and now are the ape's slaves. He often uses them to attack small groups of travelers.

Appearance: The winged ape has a gigantic manlike form, with broad bat-like wings, short and bowed legs, huge arms, black nails, a malformed head, and blood-red eyes. It is covered in black hair. The winged ape has also been described as a giant bird or a monster bat.

Designer's Notes: The winged ape was described in the excellent Conan short story Queen of the Black Coast. Howard describes them as a race superior to man in spiritual, intellectual, and ethical development, before the poisoned river water spelled their doom. This character sheet represents the last of the race, who Conan killed in battle. Game Masters, of course, can easily use this character sheet to create a whole race of beings once again. They might be natural magic users and/or possesses various forms of super-science that might as well be magic.

(Winged Ape created by Robert E Howard, character sheet created by Michael Surbrook)


Return to Creatures From Literature