Koalinth

Koalinth

Species	humanoid (goblinish)
No. Appearing	3–30
Behaviour	clan
Range	intertidal
Size	6 ft. 6 in. tall
Weight	240 lbs.
Intelligence	10
Armour Class	4
Hit Dice	1+1
Action Points	5
Max. Stride	5
THAC0	20
Hp/Die	d8
Attack Forms	claw or weapon
Damage	1–8 or by weapon type
Special Attacks	infravision, surprise on a 1–3

Koalinths are distantly related to hobgoblins, though their presence on the earth is somewhat unexplained, as it is certain they did not emerge through the Kodar Gate along with their cousins. Though tall, they are sleek, with lean muscular bodies. Their hands are thick, and though webbed are able to grip weapons. Their feet are triangular pads that allow them to travel a few hundred feet on land; for this reason, koalinths do not raid inland. Their gill slits are located below their necks, encased in hard muscle nodes about eight inches in diameter. They have no known homeland and are rarely encountered at all.

History

Fictional representation.

During the classical period they were known to occupy sealands throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Alcibiades employed kaolinth mercenaries during the late Peloponnesian War. The Romans paid them to wreck Achaean shipping in the 3rd century. However, hundreds were massacred in Crete during the Social War in 219 BCE; similar massacres occurred under the Seleucan emperors Demetrius I in 160 BCE and again under Alexander Balas in 150 BCE. By the time of the Roman Occupation of the Mediterranean, koalinths had become reclusive, until sightings grew so rare that many in the Dark Ages believed that they had been a myth.

Among scholars, however, it is generally believed that there are still many koalinths that dwell in the offshore waters surrounding Ionia, the Dodecanese and Crete; another aggregation is belived to dwell between Malta and Sicily. There is little proof; these are guesses based upon the rare appearance of the creatures, whose bodies wash ashore in places that would suggest these localities. It is certain that koalinths are hateful of intruders. Expeditions below the surface in the places named have disappeared, so that real knowledge of their organization is uncertain.

Behaviour & Biology

Partial evidence from classical sources suggest that koalinths co-exist in polyamorous clan units, in which males outnumber females two to one. Koalinths are born in pairs, like hobgoblins; they require about three years to mature as combatants but usually they are not permitted to participate in battle until they are eight or nine. Clans are led by two sub-chiefs, who are supported by 4-6 leaders. In former times, tribes were led by warchiefs of tremendous knowledge and power, at least 10th level and formidable in puissance. However, it is not known today if there are enough of these humanoids to form tribes, or if there is a warchief. The last known warchief, Sekgatalatch, died in the Social War massacre.

Fighting

Little is known. Historically, koalinths fought with a four-barbed trident called a metch, which was used with both hands. The weapon caused 1-10 damage and employing a hook that would drag stunned opponents off their feet upon a sufficient hit. The metch was nearly 8 feet long and weighed 14 lbs. Koalinths did not wear armour.

See Bestiary