Library Monsters

Thesaurus

(Inspired by everyone calling a plesiosaur a thesaurus in one D&D session)

HD: 4, AC: leather, Atk 1d6 (see below), Morale: 10, Int: Dumb, but with a huge vocabulary, Wants: To learn new words, to protect books

A thick hardcover book the size of a grizzly bear with arms and legs. Constantly babbling words in a dry, papery voice. On its turn, the DM gets a random word from a list of common words (or including uncommon ones for a harder fight). The Thesaurus Monster makes 1d6 attacks, minus one for each synonym for the word that the PCs can think of in 5 seconds (minimum 1 attack).

If you kill the thesaurus and spend 1 hour studying it, you can change one word in the name of a spell you have (if any) to a synonymous or antonymous word, and this changes what the spell does correspondingly (it may also change in level, requirements, etc. as appropriate). One person can do this multiple times, even applying it to the same word. This property is usable for 1d6 hours after the monster is killed, -15 minutes for every point of fire damage dealt to it (or other damage from a very damaging source, like acid), after which the text is too faded to read.

Takes double damage from fire.

Paperback Swarm

HD: 2 (each book has 1 hp), AC: chain, Atk: +0/see below, Morale: 6, Int: animal, Wants: Books and magic items, to be read

No damaging attacks, but will swarm around you and try to steal your stuff. On a hit, a swarm of books will steal a book or magic item from you and fly away with it. If you chase them, they'll try to lead you through a cluttered or hazardous section of the library. Books will be brought back to their nest made from loose pages, where they will either be animated (if judged worthy of inclusion in the swarm) or torn apart and used as nesting material. Magic items will be hidden away - the books are like magpies. Some of the librarians have trained paperbacks that can perform tricks and carry items back to their masters.

Takes double damage from fire.

Sapient Spellbook

HD: 1, AC: leather, Atk Spells, Morale: 7, Int: Human-level, Wants: To acquire power and followers

Each sapient spellbook knows 2d6 spells (casting as a level 3 Magic-User, but counts as having all its spells memorized at the same time) and is carried by a mad librarian, chosen at birth, who serves the book as a loyal handler/caretaker/mouthpiece - the book communicates by producing writing on its pages, but prefers not to be read except by its chosen servant. A given spellbook also has 1d6 miscellaneous minions who take orders from the chosen servant.

Each of these spellbooks has a name, and together they comprise the de facto leadership of the library.

Takes double damage from fire.

Mad Librarians

These are the degenerate descendants of the original staff of the library, who were trapped inside when the patron wizard died. Although the spells that sealed the entrances finally wore off a few years ago, they remained within, fearing the strange outside world.

Books in the library reproduce by being read by the librarians, who then write more books inspired by their previous reading material and experiences. These comprise the next generation of books, whose behaviors and characteristics vary depending on their content. The most successful themes and ideas spread and thrive, forming a sort of ecology. A lot of books produced this way might seem strange or incoherent to outsiders, since the literary sensibilities of the librarians are weird and have diverged from the outside world due to centuries of isolation.

Regular librarian: HD: 1, AC: unarmored, Atk letter opener 1d4, Morale: 8, Int: Intelligent but insane, Wants: To read and write new books, to protect books, to keep things quiet

Usually accompanied by at least one animated book for backup. Will leave visitors alone if they're quiet and respectful of the materials.

Warrior-Librarian: HD: 2, AC: chain, Atk great axe 1d10 or spells, Morale: 10, Int: Intelligent but violently insane, Wants: To protect and recover books (and other historical artifacts), to kill thieves and book-burners

Casts spells as a level 1 Magic-User. Generally suspicious of intruders, and (among other roles) guards the exits to make sure no one takes out books without a library card. Make sure to pay your late fees.

The Warrior-Librarian's armor is made out of layered holy books. If a spell or attack would kill the Warrior-Librarian, there is a half chance it instead destroys the armor, stopping on the very last page.

(You could perhaps play an adventuring Warrior-Librarian with this class.)