The Gray Man-Ape

The Gray Man-Ape
(circa Shadows in the Moonlight [Iron Shadows on the Moon])

Large Animal

Hit Dice: 17d8+51 (128 hit points)
Initiative: +3 (Dex)
Speed: 30 ft.
Armor Class: 16 (+4 Dex, -1 Size, +3 Natural)
Attacks: 2 Claws +17, Bite +12 Melee
Damage: Claw 1d6+5, Bite 1d6+2
Special Attacks: Improved Grab
Special Qualities: Scent
Face/Reach: 5 ft x 5 ft/ 5ft
Saves: Fort +13, Ref +14, Will +6
Attributes: Str 21, Dex 18, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 7
Skills: Climb +18, Listen +6, Spot +6

Climate/Terrain: Eastern shore of the Vilayet Sea
Organization: Solitary or Company (2-5)
Challenge Rating: 13
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always Neutral
Advancement: 18-25 HD

"Out of the shadows of the cliffs moved a monstrous shambling bulk - an anthropomorphic horror, a grotesque travesty of creation. In general outline it was not unlike a man. But its face, limned in the bright moonlight, was bestial, with close set ears, flaring nostrils, and a great flabby-lipped mouth in which gleamed white tusk-like fangs. It was covered with shaggy grayish hair and its great misshapen paws hung nearly to the earth. Its bulk was tremendous; as it stood on its short bowed legs, its bullet-head rose above that of the man who faced it; the sweep of the hairy breast and giant shoulders was breath-taking; the huge arms were like knotted trees." ~Shadows in the Moonlight, by Robert E. Howard

A gray man-ape is a wary, dumb, man-eating primate that normally dwell in the hills that border the eastern shore of the Vilayet Sea. How the one Conan fought got on that island is unknown. They lurk in the deepest woods they can find, and seldom emerge. They are creatures of darkness and the silent places, and hate the sun and moon. They have been known to lust after and kidnap human women.

Combat
The Gray Man-Ape of the Vilayet charges with a flash of white tusks, its arms spread wide, stupefyingly quick for all its vast bulk and stunted legs. It prefers to grapple and rend its opponents.

"Shadows in the Moonlight" by Robert E. Howard first appeared in the April 1934 issue of Weird Tales. It can be found also in the Lancer/Ace collection "Conan the Freebooter" and in Donald M. Grant's "Black Colossus." It is currently available in the British "Conan Chronicles Volume 1: The People of the Black Circle".

To the left is the cover of The Savage Sword of Conan the Barbarian #4 from my collection, which features the Marvel Comics adaptation of this story (restoring Howard's original title, Iron Shadows in the Moon, in the process.

To the right is the cover of Weird Tales April 1934, which contains the first appearance of the story. Above that is the illustration that accompanied the tale.

The picture of Conan and the Ape is from the Lancer edition of "Conan the Freebooter" from my collection.

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