Atlantean Trilogy Archive
A sea serpent coils around a cliff lighthouse as a dragon flies overhead, kraken tentacles rise from the surf and griffins perch nearby.

Volume III of the Atlantean Trilogy, 1986

The Bestiary

The creatures and beings of the age before the Flood.

The Bestiary is the third book of the trilogy, a compendium of the creatures and beings of the Atlantean age. Stephan Michael Sechi and J. Andrew Keith wrote it for Bard Games in 1986, and the comics artist Bill Sienkiewicz illustrated it.

It gathers beasts from many cultures' myths into one mythology: the sidhe and other faery folk, goblin, sylvan and giant races, the humanoid peoples, were-creatures, magical hybrids and constructs, dragons, the undead, the hierarchies of demons and devils, spirits and elementals, and the gods and cults of the age.

Descriptions come first, chapter by chapter; the full game statistics sit together in an appendix at the back, along with notes on the ordinary animals of the antediluvian world. This index joins each creature's description to its statistics.

Written by
Stephan Michael Sechi and J. Andrew Keith
Illustrations
Bill Sienkiewicz
Cover art
P. D. Breeding
Publisher
Bard Games, 1986
Length
129 numbered pages
Later
Combined with the other volume as Atlantis: The Lost World (1988), according to Wikipedia

The kinds of creature

Browse all 505 creatures or read reading the entries.

Illustrations from the book

  • Map of Atlantis: gridded map of the antediluvian world with continents, seas and islands labeled
    Map of Atlantis: gridded map of the antediluvian world with continents, seas and islands labeledJoe Bouza, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 1
  • Map of "Atlantis: The Lost World" from the Bard Games Atlantean Trilogy advertisement
    Map of "Atlantis: The Lost World" from the Bard Games Atlantean Trilogy advertisementArtist uncredited on the page, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986)
  • A finned, fanged makara battling a merman armed with a trident
    A finned, fanged makara battling a merman armed with a tridentBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 28
  • A wild-maned black nightmare rearing, its rider carrying a spear, above a fallen long-haired woman
    A wild-maned black nightmare rearing, its rider carrying a spear, above a fallen long-haired womanBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 62
  • Portrait gallery of the seven arch demons with hand-lettered names: Astorath, Shax, Thamuz, Baal, Aaman, Nergal and Moloche
    Portrait gallery of the seven arch demons with hand-lettered names: Astorath, Shax, Thamuz, Baal, Aaman, Nergal and MolocheBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 73
  • A long-haired Sidhe archer standing on a curled leaf and drawing a bow, a tiny hooded sprite flying overhead
    A long-haired Sidhe archer standing on a curled leaf and drawing a bow, a tiny hooded sprite flying overheadBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 3
  • A gnarled, shaggy woodland being hunched among roots at the water's edge, a small animal beside it
    A gnarled, shaggy woodland being hunched among roots at the water's edge, a small animal beside itBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 4
  • A furry, cat-eared otter-like roane rising from a pool, a slender horse-like rabican leaping above
    A furry, cat-eared otter-like roane rising from a pool, a slender horse-like rabican leaping aboveBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 5
  • A wild-haired Sidhe warrior crouching with a bow beneath huge leaves
    A wild-haired Sidhe warrior crouching with a bow beneath huge leavesBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 6
  • A long-haired nymph clasping a squat, grinning spriggan who swings a bundled club
    A long-haired nymph clasping a squat, grinning spriggan who swings a bundled clubBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 7
  • A huge, hulking goblin looming over a smaller spear-carrying goblin
    A huge, hulking goblin looming over a smaller spear-carrying goblinBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 9
  • Two massive shaggy cave trolls wading out of dark water
    Two massive shaggy cave trolls wading out of dark waterBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 10
  • A mountain troll with a skull-like face in heavy armor, spears on its back
    A mountain troll with a skull-like face in heavy armor, spears on its backBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 12
  • A horned malataur warrior standing beside a long-haired woman
    A horned malataur warrior standing beside a long-haired womanBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 14
  • A satyr lounging on a rock playing the syrinx pipes, a unicorn behind him among flowers
    A satyr lounging on a rock playing the syrinx pipes, a unicorn behind him among flowersBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 15
  • A rearing centaur standing over a fallen centaur archer
    A rearing centaur standing over a fallen centaur archerBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 16
  • A family of shaggy ape-like lemures, an adult holding a young one beside a rock
    A family of shaggy ape-like lemures, an adult holding a young one beside a rockBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 18
  • A shaggy, bearded giant crouching on rocks above a half-submerged victim
    A shaggy, bearded giant crouching on rocks above a half-submerged victimBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 19
  • A horned Fomorian giant swinging a curved knife at sword-wielding warriors
    A horned Fomorian giant swinging a curved knife at sword-wielding warriorsBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 20
  • A snarling white-furred yeti grappling with a warrior who stabs it with a sword
    A snarling white-furred yeti grappling with a warrior who stabs it with a swordBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 21
  • A huge long-haired Jotun giant in furs and leopard-skin trousers in a snowy landscape, a smaller figure behind
    A huge long-haired Jotun giant in furs and leopard-skin trousers in a snowy landscape, a smaller figure behindBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 22
  • A reptilian Ahl-at-Rab warrior with a shield riding a crested sand dragon
    A reptilian Ahl-at-Rab warrior with a shield riding a crested sand dragonBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 24
  • A tall, hooded, robed figure with a staff standing in a dark forest
    A tall, hooded, robed figure with a staff standing in a dark forestBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 25
  • A bearded, horned-helmed dwarf leaning on a sword beside a tall caped elf holding a bow
    A bearded, horned-helmed dwarf leaning on a sword beside a tall caped elf holding a bowBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 26
  • A shadowy clawed humanoid crouching in the branches of a gnarled tree
    A shadowy clawed humanoid crouching in the branches of a gnarled treeBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 27
  • A pointed-eared netherman archer drawing a bow against a dark background
    A pointed-eared netherman archer drawing a bow against a dark backgroundBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 30
  • A robed, fanged naga with a staff standing before an ornate urn and jungle plants
    A robed, fanged naga with a staff standing before an ornate urn and jungle plantsBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 30
  • A winged zephyr soaring upward with arms raised among clouds
    A winged zephyr soaring upward with arms raised among cloudsBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 31
  • A bat-winged, bat-faced werebat swooping with clawed hands
    A bat-winged, bat-faced werebat swooping with clawed handsBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 33
  • A werebear with a round shield clashing with a sword-wielding wereboar
    A werebear with a round shield clashing with a sword-wielding wereboarBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 34
  • A werecat leaping above a crouching, snarling werewolf
    A werecat leaping above a crouching, snarling werewolfBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 35
  • A naked homunculus floating in a coffin-shaped alchemical vat
    A naked homunculus floating in a coffin-shaped alchemical vatBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 37
  • A mechanical automaton seated in a machine, a flask at its feet
    A mechanical automaton seated in a machine, a flask at its feetBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 37
  • An armored knight-like living statue with sword and shield beside a hulking crouching golem
    An armored knight-like living statue with sword and shield beside a hulking crouching golemBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 38
  • A lion-headed Andaman beast-man warrior holding a spear
    A lion-headed Andaman beast-man warrior holding a spearBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 39
  • The Nemean lion and the Erymanthian boar locked in combat
    The Nemean lion and the Erymanthian boar locked in combatBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 40
  • A winged griffon and a spiked-tailed manticore snarling at each other
    A winged griffon and a spiked-tailed manticore snarling at each otherBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 41
  • A bat-winged, horned, lion-maned chimera leaping
    A bat-winged, horned, lion-maned chimera leapingBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 42
  • A pale, spotted leech-like acephalos rearing over a dark bird beside a treasure chest among reeds
    A pale, spotted leech-like acephalos rearing over a dark bird beside a treasure chest among reedsBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 44
  • A scaly, fin-crested hippocampus blowing bubbles
    A scaly, fin-crested hippocampus blowing bubblesBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 45
  • A phoenix diving with wings of flame
    A phoenix diving with wings of flameBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 45
  • A gaunt, clawed hantu crouching on a dark crag beneath a crescent moon
    A gaunt, clawed hantu crouching on a dark crag beneath a crescent moonBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 46
  • A horned, bearded sphinx crouching on lion's paws
    A horned, bearded sphinx crouching on lion's pawsBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 47
  • A giant roc swooping above the gaping-mouthed behemoth rising over the treetops
    A giant roc swooping above the gaping-mouthed behemoth rising over the treetopsBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 48
  • A colossal shelled leviathan swimming beneath a sailing ship
    A colossal shelled leviathan swimming beneath a sailing shipBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 49
  • A many-headed hydra rearing in its lair, a flame above
    A many-headed hydra rearing in its lair, a flame aboveBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 51
  • Two winged, many-headed ouranabads in flight
    Two winged, many-headed ouranabads in flightBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 52
  • A firedrake crouched over a treasure chest above a column of flame, a tower behind
    A firedrake crouched over a treasure chest above a column of flame, a tower behindBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 53
  • A maned sea dragon rising from the waves facing a crested serpentine eastern dragon
    A maned sea dragon rising from the waves facing a crested serpentine eastern dragonBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 54
  • A great dragon with a grub-like wyrmm larva and an egg
    A great dragon with a grub-like wyrmm larva and an eggBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 55
  • A horned skeletal warrior with sword and round shield beside a ragged zombie
    A horned skeletal warrior with sword and round shield beside a ragged zombieBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 57
  • Two gaunt undead, one wild-haired and one hunched, prowling a graveyard of crosses
    Two gaunt undead, one wild-haired and one hunched, prowling a graveyard of crossesBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 58
  • A bandaged sahu stepping out of an upright sarcophagus
    A bandaged sahu stepping out of an upright sarcophagusBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 59
  • A dark shadowy phantom and a skeletal figure reaching for a fleeing woman
    A dark shadowy phantom and a skeletal figure reaching for a fleeing womanBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 60
  • A hooded, skull-faced ghost drifting above a crag
    A hooded, skull-faced ghost drifting above a cragBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 61
  • A feather-crowned figure and a dark-robed figure seated facing each other over bowls and cups
    A feather-crowned figure and a dark-robed figure seated facing each other over bowls and cupsBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 64
  • Two hooded, robed yatu sorcerers weaving a spell of beads
    Two hooded, robed yatu sorcerers weaving a spell of beadsBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 65
  • A horned, clawed lesser demon crouching over skull-faced larvae and a fallen body, ghostly wisps around it
    A horned, clawed lesser demon crouching over skull-faced larvae and a fallen body, ghostly wisps around itBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 67
  • A bat-winged fiend perched above a horned demon holding a crescent staff
    A bat-winged fiend perched above a horned demon holding a crescent staffBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 68
  • A human-faced demon locust, a second locust flying above
    A human-faced demon locust, a second locust flying aboveBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 68
  • A bat-winged demon hovering above a crouching demon amid smoke
    A bat-winged demon hovering above a crouching demon amid smokeBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 69
  • A long-haired, horned incubus embracing a pointed-eared succubus
    A long-haired, horned incubus embracing a pointed-eared succubusBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 70
  • A shaggy, hoofed empusa beneath a flying horned demon
    A shaggy, hoofed empusa beneath a flying horned demonBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 71
  • A hulking cacodaemon beside a robed, fanged figure reaching out with a claw
    A hulking cacodaemon beside a robed, fanged figure reaching out with a clawBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 72
  • The horned, snarling face of Mephistopheles above a dark mass of fur
    The horned, snarling face of Mephistopheles above a dark mass of furBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 75
  • A bat-winged devil standing beside a black, horned grimalkin, a bat flying overhead
    A bat-winged devil standing beside a black, horned grimalkin, a bat flying overheadBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 77
  • A horned devil with a trident crouching on a dark gargoyle
    A horned devil with a trident crouching on a dark gargoyleBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 78
  • A winged erinyes looming behind a caped man
    A winged erinyes looming behind a caped manBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 79
  • A muscular jinn emerging from a trail of smoke
    A muscular jinn emerging from a trail of smokeBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 80
  • Two hulking, horned asura standing together
    Two hulking, horned asura standing togetherBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 81
  • A bespectacled man whose face is half transformed into a monster
    A bespectacled man whose face is half transformed into a monsterBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 82
  • A horned arch devil with a sword before a dark banner
    A horned arch devil with a sword before a dark bannerBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 83
  • A horned, crowned figure enthroned with a sword amid flames
    A horned, crowned figure enthroned with a sword amid flamesBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 84
  • A wizard in a starred hat reading a book on a lectern, a dark owl-like familiar behind him
    A wizard in a starred hat reading a book on a lectern, a dark owl-like familiar behind himBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 86
  • A winged, horse-like balaha with tiny figures at its feet
    A winged, horse-like balaha with tiny figures at its feetBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 87
  • Four panels of lesser elementals: sylph, earth gnome, salamander and undine
    Four panels of lesser elementals: sylph, earth gnome, salamander and undineBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 88
  • Four panels of true elementals, including a crowned water elemental with a trident
    Four panels of true elementals, including a crowned water elemental with a tridentBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 90
  • A winged, lion-bodied kerubim soaring beside a long-haired woman
    A winged, lion-bodied kerubim soaring beside a long-haired womanBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 91
  • A winged deva with a sunburst shield beside a bearded, cross-armed irin
    A winged deva with a sunburst shield beside a bearded, cross-armed irinBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 92
  • Gray-tone reproduction of the cover painting: a crowned sage with a staff seated above a crouching creature
    Gray-tone reproduction of the cover painting: a crowned sage with a staff seated above a crouching creatureP. D. Breeding, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 93
  • Gray-tone painting of a pale dragon and a winged unicorn locked in combat among storm clouds
    Gray-tone painting of a pale dragon and a winged unicorn locked in combat among storm cloudsArtist uncredited on the page, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 96
  • A snarling werewolf
    A snarling werewolfBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 103
  • A bat-winged fiend
    A bat-winged fiendBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 111
  • A demon amid smoke
    A demon amid smokeBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 112
  • A sylph
    A sylphBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 118
  • A bearded, cross-armed irin
    A bearded, cross-armed irinBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986), page 119
  • Front cover painting: a crowned, bearded old sage in ornate green and purple robes sits holding a staff topped by a small parrot, a pale lizard-like creature coiled beneath him; includes the cover title lettering
    Front cover painting: a crowned, bearded old sage in ornate green and purple robes sits holding a staff topped by a small parrot, a pale lizard-like creature coiled beneath him; includes the cover title letteringP. D. Breeding, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986)
  • A great dragon with a wyrmm larva and an egg on the back cover
    A great dragon with a wyrmm larva and an egg on the back coverBill Sienkiewicz, The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986)

Sources for this overview: Wikipedia: The Bestiary, Wikipedia: Atlantis (role-playing game), The Bestiary (Bard Games, 1986).