Gibbering mouther
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy
role-playing game
, a gibbering mouther is a horrific aberration
which feeds on the bodily fluids and "sanity" of its victims. It resembles a writhing mass of grey flesh covered with dozens of randomly placed eyes and mouths, of different sizes and shapes.
of Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos
.
(1980), and later appears in Monster Manual II (1983).
#160 (December 1990), in the "Ecology of the Gibbering Mouther".
The gibbering mouther appears for the Al-Qadim
campaign setting
in Assassin Mountain
(1993).
The gibbering mouther then appeared for the Forgotten Realms
setting in the revised Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (1993), and was later reprinted in the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994).
The greater gibbering mouther appears for the Greyhawk
setting in Scarlet Brotherhood (1999).
The gibbering orb is introduced in the Epic Level Handbook
(2002).
The ancient gibbering mouther appears in Dungeon
#85 (March 2001).
(2005).
Having so many eyes, gibbering mouthers are difficult to sneak up on.
Gibbering mouthers can speak Common, but seldom speak anything other than mad babble and gibberish.
They are regarded as neutral in alignment, but have distinctly evil habits.
. The mouther can move unimpaired through the quicksand.
A gibbering mouther can loose a stream of spittle that ignites on contact with the air, temporarily blinding creatures within 60 feet.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, a gibbering mouther is a horrific aberration
Aberration (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, aberration is a type of creature, or "creature type". Aberrations generally all have bizarre anatomies, strange abilities, alien mindsets, or any combination thereof....
which feeds on the bodily fluids and "sanity" of its victims. It resembles a writhing mass of grey flesh covered with dozens of randomly placed eyes and mouths, of different sizes and shapes.
Publication history
The gibbering mouther bears a passing resemblance to the shoggothShoggoth
A shoggoth is a fictional monster in the Cthulhu Mythos. The being was mentioned in passing in sonnet XX of H.P...
of Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos
Cthulhu Mythos
The Cthulhu Mythos is a shared fictional universe, based on the work of American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft.The term was first coined by August Derleth, a contemporary correspondent of Lovecraft, who used the name of the creature Cthulhu - a central figure in Lovecraft literature and the focus...
.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The gibbering mouther first appears in the module The Hidden Shrine of TamoachanThe Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan
The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, set in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for use with the 1st edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules...
(1980), and later appears in Monster Manual II (1983).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The gibbering mouther was detailed in DragonDragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#160 (December 1990), in the "Ecology of the Gibbering Mouther".
The gibbering mouther appears for the Al-Qadim
Al-Qadim
Al-Qadim is an Arabian Nights-themed campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The setting was developed by Jeff Grubb for TSR, Inc., and was first released in 1992. Al-Qadim is set in the land of Zakhara, called the Land of Fate...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
in Assassin Mountain
Assassin Mountain
Assassin Mountain is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1993....
(1993).
The gibbering mouther then appeared for the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
setting in the revised Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (1993), and was later reprinted in the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994).
The greater gibbering mouther appears for the Greyhawk
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
setting in Scarlet Brotherhood (1999).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
The gibbering mouther appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).The gibbering orb is introduced in the Epic Level Handbook
Epic Level Handbook
The Epic Level Handbook is a rulebook by Wizards of the Coast for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons.-Contents:This books contained rules for Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition characters to attain levels above 20, the limit in the core rulebooks...
(2002).
The ancient gibbering mouther appears in Dungeon
Dungeon (magazine)
Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
#85 (March 2001).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
The gibbering mouther appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003), and then in Lords of MadnessLords of Madness
Lords of Madness is an official supplement for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy roleplaying game.-Contents:It includes new content for aberrations including new aberration monsters and monsters related to them, and information on how to hunt aberrations.-What Is an...
(2005).
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
The gibbering mouther appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008), as part of the gibbering beast entry, along with the gibbering abomination and the gibbering orb.Characteristics and habits
The gibbering mouther is not regarded as an evil creature, but in order to sustain its mad self, it must feast upon the bodily fluids and sanity of mortal creatures, preferably intelligent ones. It attacks by spitting strings of protoplasmic flesh which end in a mouth and one or more eyes at opponents, which then bite them, causing both acid and blinding damage. When it has defeated an opponent, it swallows them whole, and then proceeds to suck the bodily fluids and sanity. It is possible for the victim to cut their way out.Having so many eyes, gibbering mouthers are difficult to sneak up on.
Gibbering mouthers can speak Common, but seldom speak anything other than mad babble and gibberish.
They are regarded as neutral in alignment, but have distinctly evil habits.
Powers and abilities
Gibbering mouthers can produce a constant gibbering that confuses all creatures within 60 feet. They can also change nearby ground (whether earth or stone) to the consistency of quicksandQuicksand
Quicksand is a colloid hydrogel consisting of fine granular matter , clay, and water.Water circulation underground can focus in an area with the optimal mixture of fine sands and other materials such as clay. The water moves up and then down slowly in a convection-like manner throughout a column...
. The mouther can move unimpaired through the quicksand.
A gibbering mouther can loose a stream of spittle that ignites on contact with the air, temporarily blinding creatures within 60 feet.