| belker | A clutch of belkers [Monster Manual] |
| galeb duhr | A rumble of galeb duhr [Candlekeep] |
| magmin | A gang or squad of magmins [Monster Manual] |
Category Archives: Monsters
Monsters which may appear in the Forgotten Realms.
Terms of Venery – Dragons
| dragon | A clutch of dragons [Monster Manual] |
| firedrake | A flame or spark of firedrakes [Candlekeep] |
| pseudodragon | A clutch of pseudodragons [Monster Manual] |
| wyvern | A flight of wyverns [Monster Manual] |
Terms of Venery – Constructs
| animated object | A group of animated object [Monster Manual] |
| crawling claw | A applause of crawling claws [Monsters of Faerûn] |
| golem | A gang of golems [Monster Manual] |
| homonculus | A wobble of homonculi [Candlekeep] |
Terms of Venery – Animals
| alligator | A congregation of alligators [wikipedia] |
| antelope | A cluster of antelope [wikipedia] |
| ape | A troop of apes [wikipedia] |
| baboon | A flange of baboons [wikipedia] |
| badger | A cete of badgers [Monster Manual, usgs, wikipedia] |
| bat swarm | A cloud of bat swarms [Monster Manual] |
| bat | A cloud of bats [wikipedia] |
| bear | A sloth of bears [usgs, wikipedia] |
| bird (general) | A flight of birds (in the air) [usgs] |
| bird (general) | A flock of birds (on the ground) [usgs] |
| bison | A herd of bison [Monster Manual, usgs, wikipedia] |
| bittern | A sedge of bitterns [usgs] |
| boar | A sounder of boars [wikipedia] |
| bobolink | A chain of bobolinks [usgs] |
| bovine (general) | A herd of bovines [wikipedia] |
| buffalo | An obstinacy of buffalo [usgs, wikipedia] |
| bush baby | A congress of bush babies [wikipedia] |
| butterfly | A flutter of butterflies [wikipedia] |
| buzzard | A wake of buzzards [usgs] |
| camel | A flock of camels [wikipedia] |
| canine (general) | A pack of canines [wikipedia] |
| caribou | A herd of caribou [wikipedia] |
| cat | A clowder of cats [usgs] |
| cattle | A herd of cattle [usgs] |
| cattle | A kine of cows [wikipedia] |
| chamois | A herd of chamois [wikipedia] |
| cheetah | A coalition of cheetahs [wikipedia] |
| chicken | A brood of chickens [wikipedia] |
| chimpanzee | A troop of chimpanzees [wikipedia] |
| chinchilla | A herd of chinchilla [wikipedia] |
| clam | A bed of clams [usgs] |
| cobra | A quiver of cobra [wikipedia] |
| coot | A cover of coots [usgs] |
| cormorant | A gulp of cormorants [usgs] |
| coyote | A train of coyote [wikipedia] |
| crab | A consortium of crabs [wikipedia] |
| crane | A sedge of cranes [usgs] |
| crocodile | A bask of crocodiles [usgs] |
| crow | A murder of crows [usgs] |
| deer | A rangale of deer [usgs] |
| dinosaur | A pack or herd of dinosaurs [Monster Manual] |
| dog | A cowardice of curs [usgs] |
| dog | A cry of hounds [usgs] |
| dog | A pack of dogs [Monster Manual] |
| dog | A pack of wild dogs [usgs, wikipedia] |
| dolphin | An alliance of dolphins (male) [wikipedia] |
| dolphin | A party of dolphins (female) [wikipedia] |
| dolphin | A team of dolphins (mixed) [wikipedia] |
| donkey | A pace of donkeys [usgs] |
| dotterel | A trip of dotterel [usgs] |
| dove | A dule of doves [usgs] |
| duck | A company of widgeons [usgs] |
| duck | A raft of ducks (on water) [usgs, wikipedia] |
| duck | A safe of ducks (on land) [wikipedia] |
| duck | A skein of ducks (in the air) [wikipedia] |
| duck | A sord of mallards (in the air) [usgs, wikipedia] |
| dugong | A herd of dugongs [wikipedia] |
| eagle | A convocation of eagles [usgs, wikipedia] |
| eel | A swarm of eels [wikipedia] |
| elephant seal | An arrangement of elephant seals [wikipedia] |
| elephant | A parade of elephants [wikipedia] |
| elk | A gang of elk [usgs, wikipedia] |
| emu | A mob of emu [zoo] |
| equines (general) | A herd of equines [wikipedia] |
| felines (general) | A clowder of felines [wikipedia] |
| ferret | A business of ferrets [usgs] |
| finch | A charm of finches [usgs] |
| fish (general) | A shoal of fish [usgs] |
| flamingo | A flamboyance of flamingoes [zoo] |
| fox | A skulk of fox [usgs, wikipedia] |
| frog | An army of frogs [usgs] |
| gerbil | A horde of gerbils [wikipedia] |
| giraffe | A tower of giraffes [usgs, wikipedia] |
| goat | A trip of goats [usgs] |
| goldfish | A troubling of goldfish [zoo] |
| goose | A gaggle of geese (on the ground) [usgs, wikipedia] |
| goose | A skein of geese (in the air) [usgs, wikipedia] |
| gorilla | A band of gorillas [usgs, wikipedia] |
| grouse | A pack of grouse [usgs] |
| gull | A colony of gulls [usgs] |
| hamster | A horde of hamsters [wikipedia] |
| hawk | A boil of hawks (spiraling in small numbers) [usgs, wikipedia] |
| hawk | A cast of hawks [usgs, wikipedia] |
| hawk | A kettle of hawks (flying in large numbers) [usgs, wikipedia] |
| hedgehog | An array of hedgehogs [wikipedia] |
| heron | A sedge of herons [usgs] |
| herring | An army of herring [usgs] |
| hippopotamus | A bloat of hippopotamuses [usgs, wikipedia] |
| horse | A harras of horses [usgs] |
| horse | A herd of horses [Monster Manual] |
| horse | A string of ponies [wikipedia] |
| hyena | A cackle of hyenas [usgs, wikipedia] |
| jay | A scold of jays [usgs] |
| jellyfish | A smack of jellyfish [usgs, wikipedia] |
| kangaroo | A troop of kangaroos [usgs] |
| koala | A colony of koala [wikipedia] |
| komodo dragon | A bank of komodo dragons [wikipedia] |
| lapwing | A deceit of lapwings [usgs] |
| lark | An exaltation of larks [usgs, wikipedia] |
| lemur | A plot of lemurs [wikipedia] |
| leopard | A leap of leopards [usgs, wikipedia] |
| lion | A pride of lions [Monster Manual, usgs, wikipedia] |
| louse | An infestation of lice [wikipedia] |
| lyrebird | A musket of lyrebirds [wikipedia] |
| magpie | A tiding of magpies [usgs, wikipedia] |
| manatee | A herd of manatee [wikipedia] |
| manta ray | A school of manta rays [Monster Manual] |
| marten | A richness of martens [usgs] |
| meerkat | A mob of meerkats [wikipedia] |
| mole | A labor of moles [usgs, wikipedia] |
| monkey | A troop of monkeys [Monster Manual, usgs, wikipedia] |
| mosquito | A scourge of mosquitoes [wikipedia] |
| mouse | A mischief of mice [wikipedia] |
| mule | A pack of mules [usgs, wikipedia] |
| narwhal | A blessing of narwhals [wikipedia] |
| night hunter | A swoop of night hunters [Monsters of Faerûn] |
| nightingale | A watch of nightingales [usgs, wikipedia] |
| ostrich | A flock of ostriches [wikipedia] |
| otter | A romp of otters [usgs, wikipedia] |
| owl | A parliament of owls [usgs, wikipedia] |
| ox | A team of oxen [usgs] |
| oyster | A culch of oysters [wikipedia] |
| parrot | A company of parrots [usgs] |
| partridge | A covey of partridges [usgs, wikipedia] |
| peacock | An ostentation of peacocks [usgs, wikipedia] |
| penguin (in water) | A raft of penguins [wikipedia] |
| penguin (on land) | A waddle of penguins [wikipedia] |
| pheasant | A bouquet of pheasants [usgs] |
| pig | A passel of hogs [usgs] |
| pig | A sounder of swine [usgs] |
| pigeon | A kit of pigeons [wikipedia] |
| platypus | A puddle of platypi [wikipedia] |
| plover | A congregation of plovers (on the ground) [usgs] |
| plover | A wing of plovers (in the air) [usgs] |
| porcupine | A prickle of porcupines [usgs, wikipedia] |
| porpoise | A school of porpoises [Monster Manual] |
| ptarmigan | A covey of ptarmigans [usgs] |
| quail | A bevy of quail [usgs] |
| rabbit | A colony of rabbits [usgs, wikipedia] |
| rabbit | A down of hares [usgs, wikipedia] |
| raccoon | A gaze of raccoons [wikipedia] |
| rat swarm | A pack or infestation of rat swarms [Monster Manual] |
| rat | A plague of rats [Monster Manual, wikipedia] |
| raven | An unkindness of ravens [usgs, wikipedia] |
| rhinoceros | A crash of rhinoceroses [usgs, wikipedia] |
| rook | A building of rooks [usgs, wikipedia] |
| salamander | A maelstrom of salamanders [wikipedia] |
| sea lion | A harem of sea lions (female) [wikipedia] |
| sea lion | A hurdle of sea lions (male) [wikipedia] |
| sea lion | A rookery of sea lions (mixed) [wikipedia] |
| seahorse | A shoal of seahorses [wikipedia] |
| seal | A pod of seals [usgs, wikipedia] |
| shark | A shiver of sharks [usgs, wikipedia] |
| shark | A troop of dogfish [wikipedia] |
| sheep | A flock of sheep [usgs, wikipedia] |
| shrew | A drove of shrews [wikipedia] |
| skunk | A surfeit of skunks [wikipedia] |
| snail | A hood of snails [wikipedia] |
| snake | A nest of snakes [usgs, wikipedia] |
| snipe | A walk of snipe [usgs] |
| sparrow | A host of sparrows [usgs] |
| spider | A skittering of spiders [Xaeyruudh] |
| squid | An audience of squid [wikipedia] |
| squirrel | A scurry of squirrels [usgs, wikipedia] |
| starling | A murmuration of starlings [usgs] |
| stinkbug | An intrusion of stinkbugs [wikipedia] |
| stork | A mustering of storks [usgs] |
| swallow | A flight of swallows [usgs] |
| swan | A flock of swans (on the ground) [wikipedia] |
| swan | A wedge of swans (in the air) [usgs] |
| tapir | A measure of tapirs [wikipedia] |
| tarsier | A troop of tarsiers [wikipedia] |
| teal | A spring of teal [usgs] |
| tiger | An ambush of tigers [wikipedia] |
| toad | A knot of toads [usgs, wikipedia] |
| trout | A hover of trout [usgs] |
| turkey | A gang of turkeys [usgs] |
| turtle | A bale of turtles [usgs, wikipedia] |
| walrus | A herd of walruses [wikipedia] |
| water buffalo | A pot of water buffalo [wikipedia] |
| weasel | A sneak of weasels [wikipedia] |
| whale | A pod of whales [Monster Manual, usgs, wikipedia] |
| wolf | A pack of wolves [Monster Manual, usgs] |
| wombat | A wisdom of wombats [wikipedia] |
| woodcock | A fall of woodcocks [usgs] |
| woodpecker | A descent of woodpeckers [usgs] |
| yak | A cabinet of yaks [wikipedia] |
| zebra | A cohort of zebra [wikipedia] |
Terms of Venery – Aberrations
| aboleth | A flux of aboleth [Candlekeep] |
| athach | A gang of athach [Monster Manual] |
| beholder | A blight of beholders [Xaeyruudh] |
| carrion crawler | A cluster of carrion crawlers [Monster Manual] |
| chuul | A pack of chuul [Monster Manual] |
| cloaker | A mob or flock of cloakers [Monster Manual] |
| deepspawn | A brood of deepspawn [Monsters of Faerûn] |
| destrachan | A pack of destrachans [Monster Manual] |
| eyeball | A swarm of eyeballs [Xaeyruudh] |
| gouger | An eyesore of gougers [Xaeyruudh] |
| grick | A cluster of gricks [Monster Manual] |
| illithid | An inquisition of illithids [Monster Manual] |
| naga | A nest of naga [Monster Manual] |
| otyugh | A cluster of otyughs [Monster Manual] |
| phaerimm | A dissonance of phaerimm [Candlekeep] |
| sharn | A shudder of sharn [Candlekeep] |
| skum | A brood of skum [Monster Manual] |
| tall mouther | A handful of tall mouthers [Shining South] |
| umber hulk | A cluster of umber hulks [Monster Manual] |
| will-o’-wisp | A string of will-o’-wisps [Monster Manual] |
Terms of Venery
Occasionally, you’ll find yourself looking for a word to describe a group of something. And sometimes “bunch” or “flock” just doesn’t do them justice. Or perhaps you want to add a sudden dose of humor into the description.
The word for those words is “terms of venery” and here are a few examples, divided by type. In the animal and vermin categories, additional terms are often available; I just picked the one I liked. Click the links in the Sources section below to see the others.
- Aberrations
- Animals
- Constructs
- Dragons
- Elementals
- Fey
- Giants
- Humanoids
- Magical Beasts
- Monstrous Humanoids
- Outsiders
- Plants
- Undead
- Vermin
Sources
In addition to various D&D sourcebooks, some terms (for critters which also occur on Earth) come from lists maintained by the USGS, Wikipedia, and the San Diego Zoo. If you find other sources for terms of venery, send me a link and I’ll incorporate them here.
Gaunt
At a Glance
Gaunts, also called deadmounts, are undead horses, animated by priests of Bane. Before the Time of Troubles, they served mainly as mounts for night riders; now they’re available only to liches and other undead spellcasters with the knowledge of how to animate or summon them.
Source
Waterdeep [FRE3/9249] page 48.
Night Rider
This information is intended for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.

Night Riders, from the WotC City of Splendors Art Gallery... click on the image for the link.
All rights are assumed to be reserved by Wizards of the Coast
At a Glance
Night Riders were, prior to the Time of Troubles, undead, usually human, animated by the priests of Myrkul. It’s doubtful that they can still be created, following the rise of Kelemvor.
Source
- Waterdeep [FRE3/9249] page 48
Disclaimer
Wizards of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, Forgotten Realms, and their logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the United States and other countries. This blog is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast LLC.
Duke-Denizen
This information is intended for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.
At a Glance
Duke-Denizens were, prior to the Time of Troubles, extraplanar undead in the service of Myrkul. It’s doubtful that they still exist, following the rise of Kelemvor.
Source
- Waterdeep [FRE3/9249] page 47
Disclaimer
Wizards of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, Forgotten Realms, and their logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the United States and other countries. This blog is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast LLC.
Knight-Denizen
This information is intended for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.
At a Glance
Knight-Denizens were, prior to the Time of Troubles, extraplanar undead in the service of Myrkul. It’s doubtful that they still exist, following the rise of Kelemvor.
Source
- Waterdeep [FRE3/9249] page 47
Disclaimer
Wizards of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, Forgotten Realms, and their logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the United States and other countries. This blog is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast LLC.
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