A Tirapheg, or tripheg,[1] is a creature that can be encountered in the Spelljammer campaign setting.[2][3][4][5]
Overview[]
Tiraphegs, or triphegs,[1] are bizarre tripedal humanoids who are often compared to the Xorn and the ancient Juna.[3][4]
Description[]
Tirapheg's are 7-feet tall, hairless and typically do not wear clothes. Their forms mimic that of a human, though there are significant deviations. The creature has three heads of which the outer two are featureless. The middle or central head has three large, deeply-set eyes; two facing forward and located above a human-like nose, while the third is located at the back of the head. The central head has ear-like organs but does not have a mouth.
The creature's human-like torso features three arms; the two prehensile limbs at the shoulders are jointed in such a way that they can attack to the front and the rear with equal facility, and each features a 6-inch long spike instead of a hand. The third human-like arm emerges from the centre of the tirapheg's chest and has three strong fingers. Tirapheg's are tripedal, meaning they have three legs: the outer two limbs end in stumps instead of feet and serve to stabilise the creature, while the central leg features a foot with three unusually long and strong toes.
The tirapheg's mouth is located in its belly below the central arm and is used exclusively for the purpose of consuming flesh (preferably decayed). Above the mouth are three 3-inch long tentacles which writhe continuously — their purpose is currently unknown.[5]
Behavior[]
Tirapheg's normally shy away from other creatures, but they can be unpredictable and have been known to attack strangers for no apparent reason.[5]
Combat[]
A tirapheg uses it spiked limbs in combat, and can attack opponents in front as well as to its rear. However, because its single rear-facing eye has poor depth perception, a tirapheg suffers from a lack of accuracy when attacking a creature behind it.
When attacking a target in front of it, a tirapheg can strike with both its spiked limbs. If it impales a target with both spikes, it can also attempt to strangle its' opponent using its' central arm located in its chest.
Because a tirapheg moves so slowly due to its stump like legs, it struggles to withdraw from combat if the fight goes against it. Instead, the creature can project up to two illusions of itself which it can control telepathically (similar to a phantasmal force spell). The illusions will fight on as per the original creature, taking no damage, but inflicting damage on opponents if they are not recognised for what they are. Unlike a phantasmal force spell, the illusions will only disappear if the tirapheg has been killed or its opponents withdraw out of sight. When a tirapheg creates its illusions, it can generate a blinding flash of light to confuse everyone within 30-feet for up to a minute, so as to cover for the sudden appearance of the illusions.[5]
Society[]
Tirapheg's are a hermaphroditic race of scavengers who prefer to eat carrion (decayed flesh).[5] Nothing more is known about their society as they haven't had much of an impact on wildspace beyond their homeworld.[1]
Appendix[]
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Jeff Grubb, The Legend of Spelljammer, The Grand Tour, 1991, (TSR Inc.), Shivak entry, page 63
- ↑ Nigel D Findley, SJA2 Skull & Crossbows, 1990, (TSR Inc.), chapter 3: Starfaring Races, page 39
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Nigel D Findley, SJA2 Skull & Crossbows, 1990, (TSR Inc.), chapter 3: Starfaring Races, page 48
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Nigel Findley, The Cloakmaster Cycle, Into the Void, 1991, (TSR Inc.), page 67
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 edited by Don Turnbull, Fiend Folio 1st Edition, 1981, (TSR Inc.), ISBN: 0-935696-21-0, Tirapheg entry, page 89