| Class: | Beast (vegimal?), scavenger and Folk |
| Hab: | Pits and piles of waste and refuse |
| Fre: | Common |
| Num: | 1-6 + 1-3 baby-buds |
| Lair: | 90% |
| Size: | 6' to 8', and half as broad (ovoid shape) |
| Move: | Waddle |
| Def: | Extremely tough, elastic, blubber-backed hide; effectively well armored |
| Att: | Two thorny tentacles, huge gaping fang-filled maw |
| Int: | Beast to very high Human; species' ranges vary |
| Spec: | Special qualities; majic or special abilities |
| Posns: | Plenty; collect stuff accidentally or aggressively |
Ever wonder what that thing was, swimming around in the cesspit of the Death Star in Star Wars IV (which SEE)? It was a Neo-Otyugh, the more intelligent (equal to an average to very bright Human) cousin of the primitive (low intelligence) ordinary otyugh; few give The Empire credit for being "green-minded" or ecologically sensitive, but that Neo-Otyugh was the duty-officer in charge of waste recycling. SEE AD&D Monster Manual, by Gary Gygax.
D' Andy ["D&D"] describes the otyugh and Neo-Otyugh as appearing very similar, essentially an ovoid, 6' to 8' tall and half that in breadth, looking very like the same filth they dwell in. From this heavy, elastic torso extend two tentacles ending, like a squid's reproductive tentacles, in manipulatory pads, the tentacles and pads alike being lined with toothy horn-spikes. A third sensory tentacle bears a pair of eyes and an olfactory organ. Gaping at one side of the torso is a great maw, lined with shearing teeth; these are designed to slice apart the toughest of detritus, drawing in and crushing bone.
From this discription, it seems very likely that the otyugh and Neo-Otyugh are, in fact, vegimals, rather than beasts of meat-flesh.
D' Andy reports the otyugh and Neo-Otyugh as living on offal and dung in a semi-symbiotic arrangement with other, stronger creatures whose living space they share; the otyugh and Neo-Otyugh communicate with their hosts by means of telepathy (more developed in the Neo-Otyugh than in its primitive cousin). Further, D' Andy says the otyugh and Neo-Otyugh prefer the company of their host-creature to that of others of their own kind. Both are described as having a fondness for fresh flesh when they can get it, the Neo-Otyugh being even keener on such supplements than the simple-minded otyugh.
D' Andy barely alludes to the important ecological role played by the otyugh and Neo-Otyugh; as scavengers and decomposers, they take waste and convert it in to rich humus, much as a worm might. He also makes no mention of the fact that they both are ready, willing, and able to use tools; while the otyugh may tend to use primitive tools in simple ways, the Neo-Otyugh is as sophisticated as any other Sapien.
One common effect of otyugh cleverness is the construction of effluvium confluences. These networks of chutes and slide, pipes and pools serve to bring a constant flow of interesting materials through the otyugh's lair. Beast otyugh may do the construction itself while Folk Otyugh may commission work by others.
The considerable camouflage ability of the otyugh and Neo-Otyugh are not elaborated on by D' Andy. They are able to change their mottled coloration and, to a limited extent, even their texture to match their surroundings; this is somewhat similar to the octopus' ability. Nor does D' Andy mention their remarkable regenerative ability; even if very badly damaged, given a nice slime pit to rest in, an otyugh or Neo-Otyugh can completely regenerate in under twenty-four hours. Further, the otyugh and Neo-Otyugh have vibration-sensitive tympanic membranes; they can detect the slightest movement in the slime-sloughs in which they soak.
While most waste pits or piles can only support a single otyugh or Neo-Otyugh, they prefer host communities where many otyugh or Neo-Otyugh can leave near each other; their cesspits are often connected by communications sewers; not only can they travel rapidly between pits via these often-submered sewers, they can "drum" to each other with vibrations ony a water-hearing creature could detect. SO, while the individual otyugh or Neo-Otyugh may seem separated, it is really in constant communication with the rest of its extended family.
In addition to the otyguh and Neo-Otyugh described by D'Andy (and here), there are other cousin species, not described by D' Andy.
Neo-Otyugh sanitation engineers are in high demand by urban planners and for starships.
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