Entry from Sir Kingston Vandertrap’s “A Field Guide to Chult”

The Wongdou (pronounced h-w-ah-ng-dew) Monkey

Scientific Name: Malum Simia

Other Names: Green Devil, Sarash Reae

Category: Monkey

Weight: 30-40 lbs

Height: 19.7-27.5 in (50-70 cm)

Appearance: The wongdou monkey is a small simian. It resembles the golden monkey in appearance except that its eyes are a vibrant green it has black and brownish-red fur. The females are slightly larger than their male counterparts.

Habitat: The wongdou prefer to live in the deepest darkest jungles of Chult. They primarily live up high in trees where they spend most of their time. The females are territorial and will be very protective of their home area. The males are nomadic and travel extensively. 

Behavior: Wongdou monkeys are solitary creatures. Unlike most simians, they do not form tribes or family units. It is rare to find more than one at any given time. They delight in cruelty and take pleasure in the suffering of others. They are incredibly aggressive and dangerous when cornered but are inherently cowards and will usually hide or run rather than physically confront anything larger than themselves. They are moderately intelligent and excel at causing trouble and mischief usually with violent or dangerous effects. When a male and female meet, they will mate and then the male will flee before the female kills him. When males meet, the more dominant may kill the weaker unless it escapes. The females are not motherly and care little about their young. Once a baby wongdou monkey is born, the mother will take the infant to the border of her territory and dump it, leaving it to fend for itself. If it is not strong enough, it will die. It is thought that this self-serving behavior is why there are so few wongdou monkeys in the wild. They are very rare. 

Physiology: Wongdou monkeys are omnivores but their preferred diet consists of tiny animals and insects. Like vultures, they are capable of eating rotten meat and will clean up the leftovers from larger predators. They have sharp canine teeth and a poisonous bite. Their flesh is also poisonous if consumed, which discourages other predators from eating them. Wongodou monkeys are unusually resistant to magic, which makes them valuable to spellcasters and rare animal collectors.

Superstitions: The wongdou monkeys are considered evil creatures. Natives to Chult say that spotting a wongdou monkey is a bad omen and portends disaster. The monkeys’ notorious habit to cause trouble and their capricious nature has probably contributed to this bad reputation. Some legends suggest that the monkeys were originally minor devils who were cursed for failing their dark masters. They feature in a number of morality tales that involve the dangers of temptation and meddling with dark magic. It is said that the monkeys are a valued familiar among necromancers and evil wizards and that their bodies can be used in dark rituals or to make cursed artifacts.

Explorer Recommendations: If you spot a wongdou monkey in the wild, it is best to avoid it. Be sure to keep a close watch on your supplies and do not let anyone travel alone for a few days. If you are traveling alone, run. Try to get as far away from the monkey as possible.