Jib-Jibs were a type of animal known primarily for their habit of shrieking.[1]
Description[]
A sleeping Jib-Jib.
Jib-jibs were shy and secretive creatures. They looked like a small ball of fur no bigger than a cabbage[2] balanced on two stumpy legs with large feet. Their small eyes were set just above their disproportionately large mouth. They had no teeth or claws. They were vegetarians, living on small bushes and plants by sucking the juices and nutrients from them.[1]
Origins and Distribution[]
Jib-jibs inhabited the hills of Low Xamen in Kakhabad.[1] They made their homes in dark caves[3] near undergrowth and the source of the vegetarian food. Since they had no effective means of digging themselves a shelter, they usually chose any convenient cave, which could vary greatly in size.[4]
A Jib-Jib in full alarm.
Their reputation, thanks to inquisitive scholars, had reached far and wide because of their unusual defense against predators (see Special Abilities, below).[5][6] For this reason, a number of establishments - like the Port Blacksand Merchants' Guild - used these creatures as living alarm systems.[6][7] Thus, jib-jibs were not limited to their native Low Xamen and had been exported far and wide for their voices. However, it does not appear that they were indigenous anywhere else but Low Xamen.
A jib-jib was also encountered in a cabin of the Twice Shy, the Riddling Reaver's sea going vessel, off the coast of southern Allansia. This particular creature belonged to the genie that controlled the navigation of the ship, and was his "beloved pet" which the genie himself described as his companion.[8]
The knowledge of jib-jibs as far away as Allansia was also demonstrated by Zharradan Marr's successful experimental attempts to turn rats into Jib-Jibs using his particular brand of magic, Marrangha.[9]
Special Abilities[]
Physically, the jib-jib was no match for the many potential predators that lived off smaller and less defensive creatures. However, it had evolved a very effective defence with its tremendously loud voice. When danger threatens, the jib-jib would howl an "unearthly, ear-splitting wail"[1] intended to frighten predators into thinking a much more imposing beast had made the sound.[10] The volume was usually quite tremendrous, hence its earlier described use as a guard pet.[11][1][12] Once a threat has passed, the jib-jib was capable of calming down very quickly and even falling to sleep within a minute or so.[8]
Further Notes[]
- "To have the mind of a Jib-Jib" was a saying used in some parts of Titan to infer that someone or something was stupid.[13]
- Steve Jackson cites this creature as being his favourite across all the Fighting Fantasy books.[14][15]
Further Information in Canon[]
More information can be found at:Source[16]
Creature of Havoc
(para158)
The Trolltooth Wars
(pg161)
The Crown of Kings
(para404, , para625)
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Sourcebooks
- Advanced Fighting Fantasy – The Roleplaying Game (mentioned)
- Créatures de Titan
- Encyclopedia Arcana Vol I - Treasures
- Out of the Pit
- Return to the Pit (mentioned)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Out of the Pit - 71-72/?? (stats & illustration)
- ↑ The Crown of Kings - 589
- ↑ The Crown of Kings - 625
- ↑ The Crown of Kings - 14
- ↑ The Crown of Kings - 286 (illustration)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Midnight Rogue - 388 (illustration)
- ↑ Midnight Rogue - 398
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Riddling Reaver - pp.101-104 (stats & illustration)
- ↑ Creature of Havoc - 121
- ↑ The Crown of Kings - 123
- ↑ The Crown of Kings - 222
- ↑ Midnight Rogue - 106 (stats)
- ↑ Creature of Havoc - 158
- ↑ 25th Anniversary Edition of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain - p.222
- ↑ The Fighting Fantasy 10th Anniversary Yearbook - p.7
- ↑ Complete list of references catalogued by FF Titan Bestiary