Description: According to Veddha mythology, Sir Lanka was once inhabited by a race of ape-men called Nittaewo. In the 18th Century, the Veddahs killed off the race, with only one recorded sighting of the beast in 1984. The identity of the Nittaewo remains a mystery
Sri Lankan folklore mentions the Nittaewo, a mysterious and intriguing concept. People believe that these fabled beings once resided in the deep forests of Sri Lanka, particularly in the eastern region. There are a few different ways to describe the Nittaewo, but in general, they are described as being humanoid creatures that are quite little and stand between three and four feet tall. They stand in stark contrast to their Bigfoot counterpart in North America which is huge. Reports stated that they had hair covering their bodies and used their strong claws to climb trees and hunt small creatures.
Legends from the area assert that the Nittaewo were a primitive people that lacked the ability to communicate verbally or make use of tools. They lived in caverns and traveled in groups, conversing with one another through body language and noises. They were notorious for their aggressive attitude, and the indigenous Vedda people, who lived in the same woodlands, feared them not only because of their small stature but also because of their hostile nature. The connection between the Nittaewo and the Veddas was filled with tension, which resulted in stories of skirmishes and ultimately led to the demise of the Nittaewo.
One of the most well-known stories about the Nittaewo is that they met their end. According to legend, the Veddas decided to eradicate the Nittaewo after becoming fed up with their belligerent behavior and regular attacks. The Veddas imprisoned the Nittaewo in a cave, effectively sealing their fate with logs. It is believed that the Nittawo people became extinct over the course of time, leaving behind only myths and oral tales.
Some people believe that the Nittaewo are nothing more than myths, while others wonder about the possible origins of these creatures. Numerous hypotheses suggest that the Nittaewo could have been a hominid species, potentially linked to Homo floresiensis, the Indonesian Hobbit people. It is believed that a small population of early humans, known as the Nittaewo, resided in Sri Lanka until relatively recently. This theory proposes that they continued to exist until relatively recently. However, there is currently no definitive archeological evidence to support this theory. This is the same narrative sometimes used to explain the Ebu Gogo in Indonesia.
Residents and researchers are still fascinated by the Nittaewo. In an effort to discover the reality that lies behind the mythology, numerous expeditions and investigations have been carried out, but, as of yet, no proof that can be considered conclusive has been discovered. It is a tribute to the rich tapestry of Sri Lankan mythology that the story of the Nittaewo continues to be an intriguing blend of myth and mystery.
In contemporary times, the story of the Nittaewo serves as a cultural narrative that emphasizes the relationships that take place between people and the natural world. It reflects themes of survival, strife, and the unknown, and resonates with greater human experiences. In Sri Lanka's cultural heritage, the Nittaewo continue to be a fascinating feature, regardless of whether they are actual or imagined entities.
[The nittaewo from Sri Lanka is another cryptid that Heuvelmans tried hard to strip the more folkloric elements from in order to claim it was a real organism. If you’re looking to add a Heuvelmans-esque australopithecine to your games, use the orang-pendak. If you want an awful little monkey-man, use this.]
Nittaewo
CR 1/2 CE Monstrous Humanoid
This small humanoid is covered in reddish fur and holds its long arms above its head. It screeches at you, bearing oversized talons.
The nittaewo are dwarfish creatures that combine features of man and apes, particularly gibbons. Although many of these ape-men, such as yeti and sasquatch, are peaceable and retiring, nittaewo are violent carnivores with a taste for intelligent, terrified meat. They are highly sociable creatures in their own way, living in large colonies led by the strongest and most cunning of their ilk. These elite nittaewo are usually clerics, commanding respect through their mastery of sinister magic and worshiping evil gods or demon lords.
Nittaewo have little material culture to speak of—they have mastered fire, which they use to light caves, cook meat and commit arson attacks. They do not use weapons, preferring their disproportionately huge talons, but covet armor and seek it out through raiding when possible. Their tribes live in scattered shelters made in trees, cliffs and caves. They will, however, steal the dwellings of other peoples if possible. Nittaewo attacks are typically conducted in numbers—gangs of nittaewo will first stalk prey silently, and then descend as a shrieking horde.
A nittaewo stands about three feet tall, with arms nearly that long, and weighs about 100 pounds. Male and female nittaewo do not differ dramatically in appearance, like their gibbon forbears.
Nittaewo CR ½
XP 200
CE Small monstrous humanoid (sasquatch)
Init +2; Senses low-light vision, Perception +5
Defense
AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+1 size, +2 Dex, +1 natural)
hp 6 (1d10+1)
Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +3
Offense
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee 2 claws +2 (1d6)
Special Attacks gang up, shrieking rend
Statistics
Str 11, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 8, Wis 13, Cha 10
Base Atk +1; CMB +0; CMD 12
Feats Skill Focus (Intimidate)
Skills Climb +8, Intimidate +7, Perception +5, Stealth +10
Languages Sasquatch
SQ fearsome mien
Ecology
Environment warm forest and hills
Organization solitary, pair, band (3-6 plus 1 1st-3rd level barbarian) or tribe (12-48 plus 1 1st-3rd level barbarian per 6 individuals and 1 3rd-5th level cleric)
Treasure standard
Special Abilities
Fearsome Mien (Ex) A nittaewo does not suffer a penalty to intimidate creatures larger than it.
Gang Up (Ex) A nittaewo gains a +2 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls if it is attacking an opponent adjacent to another nittaewo.
Shrieking Rend (Ex) A nittaewo that hits a foe with both claw attacks may make an Intimidate check to demoralize its opponent as a free action.
Description: On Sri Lanka, there’s a tribe of Yeti-like creatures called the Nittaewo, specifically from the Veddha tribe. The legends were recorded by Frederick Lewis in 1914, which described a meter tall ape-man with talon like nails. An expedition was led by primatologist WC Osman in 1945 in attempt to look for the ape.
And I take it they're intended to receive class levels?
Absolutely. They're designed to be a low-level humanoid with scalability, like mongrelfolk or morlocks. If you wanted, you could even have them replace their monstrous humanoid HD with a class level and make them a PC race. Their abilty modifiers are Dex +4, Con +2, Int -2, Wis +2