But then, it hit me:
Who needs troglodytes, anyway?
Why do I need subterranean, reptilian humanoids of uninteresting ilk whose biggest claim to fame is that they, quite literally, stink up the joint? As part of my pogrom against the "genre D&D" elements in my campaigns, wouldn't I be better off if trogs go the way of orcs and goblins and just get chucked? I wasn't convinced at first, but when the revelation that if I dropped the troglodyte from my bestiary, I had a niche for the sleestak to fill, and my mind was made up. Stinking is out, hissing is in.
But seriously, a degenerate race of once-genius super-scientists and telepaths living in the ruins of their former civilizations, answering to the will of an also-telepathic Library of Skulls? That shit is some serious swords & sorcery metal right there.
And so, there are sleestaks beneath Ur-Hadad, on the shores of the Iron Coast and in the depths of Quasquetherion. Here's what they look like.
DCC-Staks
Sleestak: Init +1; Atk claw +2 melee or (1d6) or "crossbow" +3 missile (1d8+1); AC 14; HD 2d8+2; MV 30'; Act 2d20; SP Infravision (100') and Disorienting hiss (DC 14 Will save or -1 to attacks, saves and AC for d4! rounds); SV Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +3; AL N
ACKS-Staks
Sleestak
% In Lair: 15%
Dungeon Enc: Gang (1d6+2) / Lair (1 warband)
Wilderness Enc: Warband (1d10 gangs) / Warren (1d10 warbands)
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 120' (40')
Armor Class: 4
Hit Dice: 2+2
Attacks: 2 or 1 (2 claws or weapon)
Damage: 1d6/1d6 or by weapon
Save: F2
Morale: +0
Treasure Type: J (per warband)
XP: 20
Hissing: Any intelligent creature facing off against sleestaks must make a save vs. Spells or become confused and disoriented, taking a -1 penalty to all attack throws, saving throws, proficiency throws and armor class for 1d6 rounds.
Sleestaks use all sorts of stone age weaponry, but are partial to strange slingshot-like crossbow that fires short metal bolts. Sleestaks attack at +1 with these crossbows, which do 1d8 points of damage.
Deep-Staks
Sleestak
Number Appearing (In Lair): 1d6+2 (6d6+12)
AC 5
Move 12
HD 2+2
Lair Nearby 20% (100% if in ruins!)
Treasure Type A3
Alignment N
Hissing: Any intelligent creature facing off against sleestaks must make a save vs. Spells or become confused and disoriented, taking a -1 penalty to attack rolls and saving throws, while opponents gain a +1 bonus to attack them for 1d6 rounds.
Sleestak Crossbows
Sleestaks use these funky crossbows that look like slingshots but that shoot short metal bolts. They load very swiftly (and may be used for multiple attacks if the rules allow), but are relatively short-range weapons when compared to other crossbows (DMs: interpret this! I'm not writing rules for it!). Sleestaks attack with these crossbows at +1 due to familiarity with the weapons. These crossbows deal 1d8 points of damage in the hands of sleestaks, but 1d6 in the hands of others.