servitor apes

No. Enc.: 1 (1d4)
Alignment: Lawful
Movement: 90' (30')
Armor Class: 6
Hit Dice: 1/2 (1d4 hit points)
Attacks: 1 (dagger or improvised weapon)
Damage: 1d4
Save: H1
Morale: 7
Hoard Class: XX

The size of a full-grown halfling, a servitor ape resembles a monkey with a proportionate human head fixed in an expression of serenity with a black pearl embedded in the centre of their forehead.  Often dressed in servant's livery, their faces are masks of inscrutability.  These strange creatures were magically created to serve as valets and bodyservants to decadent wizards.  The method of creating servitor apes are known to certain wizards who will procure them for exhorbitant rates. While the apes cannot talk, they can be taught sign language and speak Common as well as the tongue apes use.  It is unknown how they gain their skills in valeting, sewing and tailoring.  A servitor ape will wash and repair clothes, cook and serve food as well as organise their master's goods in aesthetically pleasing and helpful ways.

A servitor ape is able to perform sleight-of-hand and pick pockets with 25% ability, hide in shadows and move silenty with 50% ability and can climb walls with 90% ability.  These talents are usually used to move quickly and quietly, retrieve things from high shelves and slip objects away for repair but more than one servitor ape has been employed as a pick pocket by a desperate master.

Servitor apes are fiercely loyal to their owner but if treated cruelly for longer than a lunar cycle become psychotic as their magical conditioning drives them insane.  Their morale drops to 5 and the ape's placid face contorts into a mask of malevolent rage.  They will stalk the abuser, vandalising clothes and property before ambushing them with intent to wound with a small weapon.  If the abuser attempts contrition, they will point at the abuser and then die as the pearl glows cherry red with heat and incinerates, killing them instantly (no save).  Attempting to remove the pearl results in the same consequence and can only be done by powerful magic at the Labyrinth Lord's discretion.