Cyclopes

 One-eyed giants, cyclopes are often associated with Poseidon and his island domains, though a sizeable number follow Hephaestus as smiths in his volcanic forges. A few still serve Zeus directly, thanks to the events of Titanomachy. Others hail from other lands, such as one-eyed fomorians in the service of Balor, or even the monoculur behemoths of Nergal. Whatever the case, they come in a number of varieties, ranging from quite civilized to very savage.

Associated Divinity/Cult (d12)
1-7. Poseidon (somewhat savage: +1 when rolling for cyclops' disposition)
8-9. Hephaestus (quite civilized: -2 when rolling for cyclops' appearance and disposition)
10. Zeus (somewhat civilized: -1 when rolling for cyclops's appearance)
11. Balor (very savage: +2 when rolling for cyclops' appearance and disposition
12. Nergal (somewhat savage: +1 when rolling for cyclops' appearance)

Cyclops' Appearance (d8)

1 or less. One-eyed, fairly good-looking giant (50% chance of having a beard & a nymph mate)
2-3. One-eyed, unkempt-looking giant (75% chance of having a beard & a nymph mate)
4. One-eyed, bald giant (50% chance of being ugly; 50% chance of having leathery skin)

5. One-eyed, bald and ugly giant with leathery skin and a horn
6-7. One-eyed, bald and ugly giant with leathery skin, a horn, and cloven feet
8 or more. One-eyed, bald and ugly giant with a centauroid body (25% chance of also having a horn)

Nymph mate: if a male of CHA 14+1d4 or more comes in the area, cyclops will attempt to kill him out of jealousy
Leathery skin: +2 AC bonus, but -3 Intelligence penalty
A horn: can be used to gore as part of a charge for 1d6 + HD damage, -2 Intelligence penalty
Cloven feet: +5' speed
Centauroid body: +15' speed, -2 AC penalty, & +2 HD

Cyclops' Disposition (d6)

1 or less. Forging: wishes to make some item magica (see Volume II)
2. Contemplative: relatively calm and likely peaceful because it is enamored with a nearby nymph (a base75% chance)
3. Guardian: will chase off interlopers, attacking if they don't flee

4. Territorial: will attack interlopers, chasing them if they flee
5. Cruel Host: will invite interlopers in as guests, but then trap and try to eat them
6 or more. Rampage: attacks and attempts to terrify and eat anyone it finds, whether in its territory or not

 

Special Qualities (roll for each to see what a particular cyclops has)
- Better Weapon (25% chance: has more than just a club; does 2d6 + HD damage instead)

- Boulder Throwing (75% chance: hits from boulders cause 4d10 damage)

- Grab & Hurl (25% chance: if it grabs a foe who is 10' or more shorter, the foe must save vs. paralysis or be tossed 2d6 x 10' for at least 6d6 damage; cyclopes with this ability may hurl such foes up to once every 1d6 rounds)

- Fear of Dragons (50% chance, due to memories of the cyclopes being trapped in Tartarus by Campe: -3 to all rolls made against dragons and similar creatures)

- Larger or Smaller Sized (20% chance, then equal chance of either: +/- 1d10 HD; +/- 1' size difference (adult cyclopes are usually 8 + 1d4' tall) and to damage rolls for every HD increase or decrease)
- Poor Depth Perception (33% chance: -4 to ranged attack rolls, but will attempt them anyway)
- See Invisible (50% chance: just what do you think their single eye is for?)
- Shepherd (75% chance: will have 1d20 sheep around)
- Tusks (15% chance): can be used as part of a bite attack for 1d4 +1/2 HD damage, -1 Intelligence penalty
 

By Divinity/Cult

- Resistant to Fire (50% chance if associated with Hephaestus or Nergal: +5 to all saves or reducing damage from fire)
- Resistant to Lightning (50% chance if associated with Zeus: +5 to all saves or reducing damage from lightning)
- Wearing Armor (10% chance; 50% chance if associated with Hephaestus: +3 AC bonus, -5' speed)

Summoning Cyclopes

Clerics (and other spellcasters) of divinities and cults listed above can add the spell Summon Cyclops to their spell list. Treat it as Summon Monster, except that only 1 cyclops may be summoned per day, its HD (usually 10) determining the appropriate Summon Monster spell's level (Elaboration may be needed to boost the spell's power- see Volume I). It takes 2d6 rounds to arrive and then the spell's duration begins- when the cleric can actually give the monster commands to follow. Once the duration ends, the cyclops will act according to its disposition (if it still lives, either remaining or leaving the area) unless the cleric successfully casts another Summon Cyclops spell to control it once more. 

 

In any case, providing the cyclops with an offering (or sacrifice) that fits its disposition can increase the spell's duration by 50 to 100% (per Referee), as a promised reward given after the commanded deed is done. So offering a forging cyclops some raw materials can entice it to stay longer to obey the cleric's will, just as leaving a terrified captive can tempt a rampaging one.

 

 

 

Next week: Amazons!