"Good morning," the Thing in the Well calls, "And how are we doing this morning Mrs. Westmen?" -- "Just wonderfully. How have you been keeping, Thing?" -- "Fine, fine. A little peckish, a bit in the mood for, you know, a nibble, a bite to eat. But don't worry yourself, perfectly fine." -- "It's quite alright Thing, I was just thinking I should bring by some lunch. How does a ham sound?" -- "You are too kind Mrs. Westmen, just too kind..." -- The Thing in the Well has lived in the village for longer than anyone can remember. It is traditional to fix regular meals for the Thing, and to present it with a sheep or pig on special occasions. Years ago a boy went down the well on a dare. He never returned. The subject has not been broached in the presence of the Thing. Instinct: To devour

• Politely collect tribute
• Leverage townspeople through secrets
• Purify water
• Hide in darkened waters

Scarabaeus pyractomena! What a delightful creature—see how its carapace glitters in the light of our torches? Not too close now, they’re temperamental, you see. The fire in their belly isn’t just metaphorical, no. Watch as I goad the beast. Aha! A spout of flame! Unexpected, isn’t it? One of these creatures alone, if it comes up from below, can be a hellish nuisance to a farmstead or village. A whole swarm? There’s a reason they call it a conflagration of fire beetles. Instinct: To enflame

• Undermine the ground
• Burst from the earth
• Spray forth flames

"The Old Ones, they knew much. Not the alchemy of man nor the sorcery of warlocks and the like. No, this is the magic of gears and pulleys, the sorcery of science. Watch your every step in the tower: be wary or you may call to life the ancient defense systems. You'll know the Defenders have awoken long before you face them, that's for sure; they're louder than a stomping giant and their hulls scrape the stone walls. You'll hear them coming, I'm sure you can avoid them, go on in the tower. Me? I... I'll stay out here. Got to have a lookout post, right?"

Instinct: Destroy all Intruders! *click* Defend the domain!

• Display immense and uncaring strength
• Soldier on, ignoring all damage until the last
• Reveal a hidden function from the depths of its gearworks

Each individual shadow is actually a swarm of tiny, dust-sized demons. No one is quite sure where they come from, or how to kill them, but it is known that children of every species on every plane of existence know to fear the darkness . . . Instinct: To spread

• Devour flesh
• Impersonate voices
• Absorb knowledge from those it kills

Some are wont to lump these little, rat-like dragon-men in with goblins and orcs, bugbears and hobgoblins. They are smarter and wiser than their kin, however. The kobolds are beholden slaves to dragons and were, in ancient times, their lorekeepers and sorcerer-servants. Their clans, with names like Ironscale and Whitewing, form around a dragon master and live to serve and do its bidding. Spotting a kobold means more are near—and if more are near then a mighty dragon cannot be far, either. Instinct: To serve dragons

• Lay a trap
• Call on dragons or draconic allies
• Retreat and regroup

Lars. He's so friendly. Only has your best interests at heart. Only here to help you. Over and over and over. Until you are no more. Instinct: To get others to work for it

• Make deals that *seem* fair
• Soothing voice (placate)
• Old World Magic
• Absorbs arcane energy

Just as the moon has many faces, so would a lunar cult - it is reasoned. The waxing moon heralds the approach of the moon at its apex, and so do its servants. Although courtiers and similar wordsmiths fall within their numbers, upon the field of battle you are more likely to encounter their priests - who praise upon the moon's myriad faces and draw forth its power in the form of miracles - both beneficial and malign. Clad in their gaudy attire, the priests' are said to prefer hooked flails - to better draw forth the blood of the heathen. Instinct: To guide the cult

• Speak forth corrupt scripture to twist minds or embolden the converted
• Turn out to be a lycanthrope
• Usher forth miracles in the name of the cult
• Beckon forth more thralls to assist you

Instinct: to drink blood

• Bind and Feed

Smaller blobs of animate sludge, if left unattended one can consume enough raw material to double its size and split in a matter of hours. Instinct: To Expand

• Spreads Poisen
• When present in large numbers they can combine to form a Giant Muk
• Consume, Absorb, Duplicate

This enormous gelatinous blob has emerged from a great well of poison and seeks to spread it further. When threatened it will shed parts of itself which will then independently attack its foes. It will slowly dissolve anything trapped inside it, adding to its already horrific mass. Instinct: To Expand

• Spread Poison
• Create Minions
• Consume to Expand