The prolific Roger Moore, longtime editor of Dragon Magazine, made many great contributions to the D&D game, including plenty of nasty new monsters. Moore was also an infrequent writer for White Dwarf magazine, though many of his pieces there are not very well known now. The following creation of his, the muryan, appeared in the “Fiend Factory” column of White Dwarf No. 30, the April/May 1982 issue.

(“Muryan” is the Cornish word for ant. As ants were associated with faeries in Cornish folklore, it was considered unlucky to kill one.)

This creature resembles a large ant walking on its rear legs; it appears to wield weapons in its four other arms.

Muryan CR 1

A muryan warrior

Muryan warrior 1

Usually LN Medium monstrous humanoid

Init +2; Senses darkvision 120 ft.; Listen +0, Spot +0

Languages Muryan, speak with vermin

AC 19, touch 12, flat-footed 17
(+7 natural armor, +2 Dex)

hp 5 (1 HD)

Immune charm, compulsion effects

Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +2

Spd 30 ft. (6 squares)

Melee 4 short swords -1 (1d6/19–20) and bite -4 (1d4) or
bite +1 (1d4) and 4 claws -4 (1d2)

Space 5 ft; Reach 5 ft

Base Atk +1; Grp +1

Abilities Str 10, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 7, Wis 11, Cha 6

SQ insectile mind

Feats Multiweapon Fighting

Skills Climb +1, Handle Animal +0 (+4 with vermin), Profession (miner) +1

Advancement by character class; Favored Class druid

Level Adjustment +2

Insectile Mind (Ex) A muryan is immune to all charm and compulsion effects.

Speak with Vermin (Ex) A muryan can communicate telepathically with creatures of the vermin type that are within both 60 feet and line of sight. The communication is limited to fairly simple concepts such as “food,” “danger,” and “enemy.” A muryan can use the Handle Animal skill to befriend and train vermin.

Skills Muryans have a +2 racial bonus on Spot and Profession (miner) checks. Muryans have a +4 racial bonus on Handle Animal checks when dealing with creatures of the vermin type.

The muryans are an insectoid race that dwells deep beneath the earth in elaborate tunnel systems in rocky and rough terrain. They resemble large ants.

The muryan warrior presented here had the following ability scores before racial adjustments: Str 10, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 9, Wis 11, Cha 8.

Strategy and Tactics

Muryans may engage in combat with a weapon in each of their claw-like hands. They use no armor or shields, relying on their tough, glossy black chitin to protect them.

Muryan Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (nature) can learn more about muryans. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.

DC	Result
11	This creature is a muryan, a monstrous humanoid that dwells deep underground.
16	Muryans are immune to charms and compulsion effects.
22	Though somewhat insular, muryans may be dealt with peacefully if care is taken.

Sample Encounters

Most muryans encountered outside their homes are warriors.

Squad (EL 3–5): A group of two to four warriors patrols the subterranean realms, vigilant for signs of hostile activity.

Company (EL 9–10): A party composed of 11–20 warriors plus two 3rd-level sergeants and one leader of 3rd-6th level guard a small fungi forest.

Ecology

Muryans speak only their own language and may communicate with any insectoid creature.

Because of a peculiar empathic bond with insects, muryans use giant ants as pets and guards, and some colonies use giant wasps for reconnaissance scouts.

Environment: Muryans are only found underground.

Typical Physical Characteristics: Muryans range from 5 to 7 feet tall when standing erect. Muryans walk on their rear pair of legs, and have two pairs of arms available for manipulating objects and making tools. Their eyes are large, bright, and multifaceted.

Society

Muryans avoid contact with the upper world and its inhabitants, though they may be encountered in dungeons and deep caverns. They have a highly structured and organized societies with rigid chains of command. A typical band of muryans includes 30–80 warriors plus 100% noncombatants plus 1 3rd-level sergeant per 20 adults, 5 5th-level lieutenants, 3 7th-level captains, 1 9th-level druid, 6–11 giant worker ants plus 1 giant ant soldier.

While it is possible to deal peacefully with muryans, these beings will attack any intruders into their lairs without hesitation. Muryans are excellent miners and can carve channels through solid rock with ease. They particularly enjoy searching for precious gemstones and rare minerals.

Alignment: Given the ordered nature of their society, muryans are usually lawful neutral.

Typical Treasure

Muryans have standard treasure for their Challenge Rating.

Muryans as Characters

Muryan characters possess the following racial traits.

+2 Dex, -2 Intelligence, -2 Charisma.
Medium size: As Medium creatures, muryans have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
A muryan·s base land speed is 30 feet.
+7 natural armor bonus.
Darkvision out to 120 feet.
Special Qualities (see above): Insectile mind, speak with vermin
Racial Skills: Muryans have a +2 racial bonus on Spot and Profession (miner) checks. Muryans have a +4 racial bonus on Handle Animal checks when dealing with creatures of the vermin type.
Automatic Languages: Muryan.
Favored Class: Druid.
Level Adjustment: +2.