[Monster and Spell] CHAOS MONKEYS

Inspired by a recent issue of Knights of the Dinner Table:

CHAOS MONKEYS

% In Lair 30%
Dungeon Enc. Pack 2d6, Lair 5d6
Wilderness Enc. Crowd 5d6, Lair 5d6
Alignment Chaotic
Movement 120’ (40’)
Armor Class 3
Hit Dice 1d4 hit points*
Attacks 1
Damage 1d4
Save F0
Morale 0
Treasure Type none
XP 6

Theses beasts can be summoned from the Abyss by magicians using one of several spells. One such spell, Conjure Monkey Minions, permanently summons the creatures into the world, where they occasionally outlive their summoner and take up a life in the wild, reproducing and spreading their mischief. They appear to be small to medium sized monkeys, but with long, muscular hands and sickly green-glowing eyes. They possess infravision to 90 feet, and are naturally stealthy, imposing a -1 to the surprise rolls of their enemies. If they surprise their enemies, they sneak around to the back of their enemies and strike with a +4 to hit, and if they score a hit they have mounted their victim’s back and have wrapped their hands around his throat. The throttling attack scores 1d4 points of damage immediately and the monkey will maintain the hold, scoring 1d4 points per round, until it or the victim is dead. A victim being choked by a Chaos Monkey cannot cast spells, nor can it attack the monkey himself. The only action he can take is to try to break free, by using his round to attempt a saving throw versus paralysis.
If they monkeys do not have surprise, they can attempt to leap behind their target on a proficiency roll of 15+ to make a throttling back-stab. If 6 or more chaos monkeys attack a single non-surprised victim, one is assumed to be behind the victim and can attempt a throttling back-stab. No more than one chaos monkey can have a successful throttling hold on any individual at one time.

And the Spells used to call up Chaos Monkeys:

Call Chaos Monkeys
Arcane 1 Range: 120’ Duration: 1 turn per level
This spell allows the caster to summon forth 2 Chaos Monkeys for each level of experience he possesses. The monkeys will instantly appear within 120 feet of the caster and will zealously serve him for 1 turn per level of the caster, or until killed or dispelled. The monkeys have no language, but will understand the following command words: kill, stay, follow, open, carry, and quiet. They will also understand pointing by their master. So, he can point to a foe and say “kill” and the monkey will attack the foe pointed toward. If summoned near the caster’s enemies, the monkeys will automatically attack without need for further command.

Conjure Monkey Minions
Arcane 2 Range: 10’ Duration: Permanent
This spell allows the caster to summon forth 2 Chaos Monkeys for each level of experience he possesses. The monkeys will instantly appear within 10 feet of the caster and will zealously serve him permanently, until killed or dispelled. The monkeys have no language, but will understand the following command words: kill, stay, follow, open, carry, and quiet. They will also understand pointing by their master. So, he can point to a foe and say “kill” and the monkey will attack the foe pointed toward.

I’d definitely put some sort of limit on the number of Chaos monkey’s a caster can produce or control. As it is, the caster can blow the last of his 2nd level spells on chaos monkey’s EVERY NIGHT before he goes to bed, creating an army (though that may have some downsides). A costly material component like in permanent animate dead or a limit of active monkeys a la continual light would work.

This did give me an idea for a “fun” summoning spell that would conjure the creature permanently, but only give you control temporarily. While the summoned would bear you no ill will and actually be very appreciative to you for creating it / bringing it into this world (I haven’t decided on which), it would go on to follow its own agenda once it had finished its obligatory term of service and left. I’m thinking something mischievous, somewhat dangerous, but not horribly powerful, like these chaos monkeys.

Handing such a spell to players on a scroll could be fun. I could even see stronger versions that summon true infernal beings. I could see a powerful succubi being summoned in a battle that is going badly, only to go on to become a prominent, somewhat friendly NPC.

You’re saying that as if it were a bad thing. It’s sort of the point: I want my chaotic caster villains to be crawling with MONKEYS!

If PC’s try it, they’ll soon find out that you’ve got to feed the damned things, and since the monkeys only understand a few words, and have the attention span of, well, of monkeys, it’ll be more fun for me than a barrel of the same.