D'Lallhen...!

D'LALLEHN

FREQUENCY: Uncommon
NO. APPEARING: 2-4
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 18"
HIT DICE: 2+2
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE:  None
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: See below
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Non-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: M (6-7 feet long)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
                Attack/Defense Modes: Nil

These strange creatures will only ever be encountered in deep caves and other places where light rarely penetrates. Normally they use the phosphorescent underside of their bodies and arrow-shaped heads to attract insects and other small creatures, but as they move very quickly they may ambush larger creatures. Although they will rarely attack anything human-sized, if the circumstances are favourable to them they will pounce upon gnomes or dwarves but only if they outnumber their victim(s).

 

When attacking they rear up and use any of a pair of pseudopods to lash out at the their target, inflicting 1-4 points of damage, or bite with a small powerful beak, which also inflicts 1-4 points of damage. During their initial attack, or if they wish to escape combat, they have the ability to emit a great burst of light which is also particularly blinding to any creature who possesses infravision. All those within 20' or less must save vs wands or be blinded for 1-4 turns and anyone with infravision must save at -2. 

 

Anyone striking this creature and causing a critical hit may also risk releasing (by rolling a 1 on a 6-sided die) the phosphorescent ichor within the D'lallehn's body. This substance will retain its glow for 1d4 hours and cast light over a radius of 5'.

 

Should this ichor be mixed equally with lantern oil it will increase the light emitted by any object using that oil by 25%, but will reduce its burning time by 50%. There is also a 40% chance per use that a lantern or similar object (but not torches) using this mixture will be damaged in such a way as to render it useless. It will not readily burn unless added to a flammable substance - it only increases the light emitted by that burning substance. Normally a D'Lallehn contains 2 pints of ichor.

 

Description: D'Lallehn are sinuous creatures made of numerous worm-like shapes terminating in a broad, solid arrow-like head across which are dotted small luminous pits. Normally they move close to whatever surface they are travelling along (they can move along walls, ceilings, etc with ease) but can rear their bodies upwards to a height of some 4 to 6 feet. The upper surfaces of their head and body are a deep black-blue whilst their undersides are semi-opaque and greenish-yellow. The light emitted by them has a distinct yellow-green glow, which will also be imparted to the flame of any oil mixed with their ichor or on anything on which the ichor is spilt.