Vulturebears (Part One)...!

Inspired by a chance remark on a Discord forum, this is the first in a series that describes Vulturebears.

Thought to be a result of the same crazed experiments that created the Owlbear, these creatures exist in a wider variety of forms and can be found in a more varied set of environments. They possess beaks and claws but, unlike Owlbears, do not have the ability to crush their victims. All have a distinctive stooped stance and are very ill-tempered. Their pelts are mostly fur but also have patches of vestigial feathers. 

They usually only attack if their food, territory or young are threatened and will otherwise be wary of combat, preferring instead to make threatening displays. They possess ways of defending themselves if required so that they might extract themselves from harmful situations, and these methods vary from one particular species of Vulturebear to the next. As all species eat carrion, their bite carries disease and their beaks and claws will be encrusted with noisome substances.

CAVE VULTUREBEAR

 

FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 2-6
ARMOR CLASS: 5
MOVE: 14"
HIT DICE: 4
% IN LAIR: 20%
TREASURE TYPE:  Z
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-6, 1-6, 3-18
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Disease
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Hiss
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Low
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L (6-8' tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
                Attack/Defense Modes: Nil 

 

Cave Vulturebears are so named as they prefer to create lairs in caves and underground places, including dungeons and large tombs. They are adept at seeking out the remains of those recently entombed and seem to have a predilection for the treasure that sometimes accompanies them. They will also search dungeons and similar places for carrion.

They attack with their claws and beak. Any creature bitten has a 25% chance per wound inflicted of contracting a serious disease. If such an infection is indicated the victim is diseased unless a saving throw versus poison is successful. Should a Vulturebear lose more than 50% of its hit points, or if it is defending its young, it will make an odd hissing sound. Any creature within earshot must save versus magic or be confused for 2-8 melee rounds and the Vulturebear will then attempt to escape or make an attack, depending on the situation.

If encountered in their lair, there is a 25% chance that 1-4 eggs or 1-3 young will be found. The young have 1HD and their attacks inflict 1-3, 1-3, 1-8 points of damage respectively. They have no hiss as a defence although their bites can inflict serious disease. Their treasure will be a mass of items that the Vulturebears seem to collect in their lairs as part of their mating rituals. Unlike Owlbears, their eggs and young have little value on the open market.

Description: Cave Vulturebears are blackish brown. Their beaks and claws are black edged with blue and their eyes are black with bright golden pupils.The skin on their heads is a pale yellowish-white with deep wrinkles and numerous warts.

Jellies...! Part Seven

This weeks post is a twofer, although the latter creature might also be encountered on its own.

DRAGON JELLY

 

FREQUENCY: Very rare
 
NO. APPEARING: 1
 
ARMOR CLASS: 4

MOVE: 8"/12"

HIT DICE: 5

% IN LAIR: 10%

TREASURE TYPE: S, T, U, V

NO. OF ATTACKS: 4

DAMAGE/ATTACK: See below

SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below

SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

INTELLIGENCE: Semi-

ALIGNMENT: Neutral Evil

SIZE: L (12 to 20' wingspan)

PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

       Attack/Defense Modes: Nil

Dragon Jellies are so called because their general outline resembles a dragon and their 'wings' allow them to fly, although this ability is the result of magical power. These jellies dwell in cold, subterranean places, especially vaulted caves and similar locations, where they cling to their ceiling and wait for passing prey. They are particularly attracted to all things magical and when encountering adventuring parties they will single out Magic Users or those possessing magical items.

When attacking, the jelly prefers to keep some distance between itself and its intended victim(s) by staying airborne. It can propel itself at speed if needed, but can also hover in one place. It will release up to four globules per round, and these can take two forms. Both have a range of 6". One is an amber-coloured blob which explodes into a mass of tendrils that will quickly envelope the target, inflicting 3-12 points of damage per round unless a successful Strength check is made to break free. The other is a greenish blob which contains 3-30 Mite Jellies (see below). 

The jelly will also attempt to fly down and envelop any victim should they be incapacitated, injured, or are retreating. With a successful attack, it excretes fluids that inflict 3-12 points of damage per round. Should the jelly receive more than 10 points of damage when smothering, it will return to the air and resumes its attacks from a distance. However, the surface of its body swarms with Mite Jellies and 3-30 of these will now cover its victim.

The lairs of these creatures are always in a high place, and their treasure will be covered with a gluey substance that can only be removed with a great deal of effort. There is a 50% chance that Mite Jellies will also be encountered.

Description:  Dragon Jellies are a mass of tendrils and odd bulbous shapes carried aloft on misshapen wings. They have silvery-grey undersides and their upper surfaces are silvery and pearlescent, streaked with pale yellow. It is spattered with greenish blobs and smears containing Mite Jellies.

 

MITE JELLY  

FREQUENCY: Rare
 
NO. APPEARING: 3-30
 
ARMOR CLASS: 9

MOVE: 1"

HIT DICE: 1 Hit point

% IN LAIR: 0%

TREASURE TYPE: Nil

NO. OF ATTACKS: 0

DAMAGE/ATTACK: Nil

SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below

SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

INTELLIGENCE: Non-

ALIGNMENT: Neutral

SIZE: S

PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

       Attack/Defense Modes: Nil

Mite jellies can often be mistaken for beads of a dilute greenish-yellow fluid or general dampness on walls, floors, and other surfaces. They are attracted by the body heat of living things, and will attempt to approach their victim in subtle ways i.e. by dripping from a ceiling, or being transferred by touch. They cannot penetrate metal or leather (unless they gain access via damaged areas) but easily seep through other forms of clothing. They will then secrete themselves in small clusters around the hosts body - in hair, behind ears, in armpits, etc - and will be difficult to detect unless specifically looked for. The host will become tired, thirsty and all movements will become sluggish. Victims who are close to death from the effect of Mite Jellies might be mistaken for zombies.

These creatures are parasitic, and will slowly incapacitate or kill their host unless removed (see below). If less than 10 mites are attached, the victim will have their movement rate and encumbrance halved after one day. For every 10 mites attached to a victim, they will drain 1 hit point per day. As they feed, their appearance changes and they will subsequently resemble tiny yellowish-white beads. Should a victim be completely drained of hit points, their remains will be consumed by the jellies, who will then spore a further 3-30 individuals who then search for suitable places to dwell. Mite Jellies are immune to fire and cold attacks - applying flames to them will inflict 1-6 points of damage to the victim. Cure Disease has no effect upon them. 

If discovered on walls, etc they can easily be destroyed. However, once attached to a victim they can only be removed in two ways. If salt is rubbed onto where they cluster, this kills them but leaves permanent disfiguring scars in the form of raw and swollen patches of skin. Unfortunately, Cure Light/Major Wounds has no effect upon these scars, although it will help the victim recover lost hit points. If the victim is completely immersed in salt water (i.e. sea water, brine, a salt bath), the mites are killed and leave no scars.

Spiders...! (Part One)

The first in a series about spiders...

WHIP SPIDERS

Whip Spider (Lesser)

FREQUENCY: Uncommon
 
NO. APPEARING: 1-8
 
ARMOR CLASS: 4

MOVE: 8"

HIT DICE: 4 +4

% IN LAIR: 30%

TREASURE TYPE: C

NO. OF ATTACKS: 3

DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-12, 1-12, 1-12

SPECIAL ATTACKS: Paralyzation

SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

INTELLIGENCE: Animal

ALIGNMENT: Neutral

SIZE: L (12' long, excluding forelegs)

PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

       Attack/Defense Modes: Nil

Whip spiders are large mountain-dwelling creatures whose forelegs are some 20' long and very flexible. They use these to capture prey across passes and crevasses as well as for climbing steep rock faces. They see equally well in daylight or in complete darkness and sometimes hang by their rearmost legs from cave ceilings to wait for passing prey. Their colouration and the rough surface of their body makes them particularly difficult to see and this, combined with the long reach of their forelegs, means that they surprise on a roll of 1-3 (on a 6-sided die). The tip of each foreleg ends in a small claw that can inflict 1-12 points of damage, and those struck must save vs paralyzation or become completely immobilised. A victim may then be dragged towards the spider's fangs and drained of 1-12 hit points per turn. When not in use, the forelegs loop back over the creature's body.

These creatures do not spin webs, choosing instead to make lairs in deep caves and sometimes within dungeons and other subterranean places. If encountered in their lair, there is a 50% chance that 2-12 hatchlings will also be present. These have 1HD +4 but do not possess a paralysing attack from their 5' long forelegs. Their claw and bite attacks inflict 1-4 points of damage. 

 

Whip Spider (Greater)

FREQUENCY: Rare
 
NO. APPEARING: 1
 
ARMOR CLASS: 2

MOVE: 6"

HIT DICE: 6

% IN LAIR: 75%

TREASURE TYPE: C

NO. OF ATTACKS: 7

DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-20 (per foreleg), 3-18

SPECIAL ATTACKS: Paralyzation

SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

INTELLIGENCE: Animal

ALIGNMENT: Neutral

SIZE: L (20' long, excluding forelegs)

PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

       Attack/Defense Modes: Nil

This rarer form of Whip Spider often chooses to reside within gullies, pits and similar locations. Each 30' long foreleg is made up of three long sections that can act independently, two of which are kept outside the creature's lair. In this manner they can detect the approach of prey and are particularly difficult to see, thus surprising on a roll of 1-4 (on a 6-sided die). When attacking, the spider will attempt to paralyze victims and those failing a saving throw will be dragged into its lair, where its fangs will drain 3-18 points of damage per turn. Each foreleg also inflicts 2-20 points of damage with every successful attack.

There is a 25% chance that the lair will also contain 1-3 Lesser Whip Spiders, as well as 1-6 2HD hatchlings. These possess four 10' long forelegs each capable of inflicting 1-8 points of damage, as well as possessing the ability to paralyze their victim. Their bite also inflicts 1-8 points of damage.   

Note: For both varieties of Whip Spider, any treasure will be found within the remains of previous victims. Also, the Dungeon Master may rule that an encounter with a Lesser or Greater Whip Spider might include one or more individuals in transit and carrying hatchlings upon their backs. However, such an encounter will provide no treasure.

Flame Snail...

It seems that not everyone is a fan of 1E AD&D's Fiend Folio. I kind of understand this, as initially upon first reading through it I wasn't sure how and why I could use the various monsters when so many have a frequency of Very Rare. Admittedly a fair few of the monsters are pretty left-field but, to be honest, that's what I find appealing about both the Fiend Folio and Monster Manual in general. I mean, why should any of the monsters in D&D make sense? Why can't there be Flumpfs?

Anyway, one of my favourite monsters from the Fiend Folio is the Flail Snail. To me, it ticks various boxes: it's a typically odd D&D monster, it has some interesting capabilities, and it just generally fits into the world of D&D in the sense that it seems to be something that's part-magical, part-mundane.

With that in mind, I thought I'd design a few other creatures inspired by it, the first being the...

FLAME SNAIL

FREQUENCY: Very rare
 
NO. APPEARING: 1
 
ARMOR CLASS: 4

MOVE: 4"

HIT DICE: 4-6

% IN LAIR: 0%

TREASURE TYPE: Nil

NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 per tentacle

DAMAGE/ATTACK: See below

SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below

SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

INTELLIGENCE: Low

ALIGNMENT: Neutral

SIZE: L

PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

       Attack/Defense Modes: Nil

Flame Snails appear to be a smaller (6' tall) relative of the Flail Snail but, instead of clubs, each of its tentacles ends in a fiery bulb. When attacking, each of these can emit a globule of burning matter out to a range of 20' which inflicts 2-12 points of damage for 3 rounds, unless extinguished. At close range, these can instead strike a target and inflict 2-12 points of damage. 6HD Flame Snails have a single tentacle that can emit a Fireball, the snail casting as a third-level Magic User. It has one tentacle for every hit die that it possesses and each tentacle has its own hit points.

Should all of these tentacles be destroyed, the body will be quickly withdrawn into the shell and the snail will die in 1-4 turns. Upon death, the shell explodes violently, spreading burning matter and fragments over an area some 50' in diameter. Any creature within this area will receive 3-18 points of damage. There is a 50% chance that their clothing, skin, hair, fur, etc will continue to burn for 3 turns (unless extinguished by normal means) inflicting a further 1-6 points of damage per round.

The snail casts a faint glow and emits great heat out to 2' from it's body. This heat will ignite any flammable material it moves through or over and will temporarily blind any creatures possessing infravision unless they distance themselves from it by at least 50'. Flame Snails are not known for their speed, but should any victim fall beneath it they will receive 1-8 points of damage per round by being crushed by the snail's weight and burnt by the heat it generates. Flame-based attacks, magical or mundane, will have no effect upon it and will simply allow the snail to regain 1 HD of hit points per attack, should it have lost any previously. Cold-based attacks inflict double damage.

Intact shells are very rare and usually only found when a Flame Snail has died naturally. The shell weighs 150 pounds (1500 gold pieces weight) and can be fashioned into items that are completely resistant to heat and flames, magical or mundane. A complete shell is worth 7-8000 gold pieces, although artificers who can work the shell might prove difficult to find.

Flame Snails are a vivid orange in colour streaked with bright yellow and its tentacles are blackish-red. Its shell is yellow-white and semi-opaque. Strange flames and burning shapes seem to roil within it. 

Cave Elephant...

 

Inspired by elephants who occasionally go underground...

CAVE ELEPHANT

FREQUENCY: Uncommon

NO. APPEARING: 3-30
 
ARMOR CLASS: 3 (or 5 - see below)

MOVE: 12"

HIT DICE: 9

% IN LAIR: 20%

TREASURE TYPE: Z

NO. OF ATTACKS: 5

DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-12, 2-12, 1-10, 1-10, 1-8 

SPECIAL ATTACKS: Paralyzation, confusion

SPECIAL DEFENSES: None

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

INTELLIGENCE: Average

ALIGNMENT: Neutral

SIZE: L (6' tall, 8' long)

PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

       Attack/Defense Modes: Nil   

These subterranean creatures have adapted an underground life and have also acquired various means to protect themselves. To dwarves and gnomes they are generally known as 'Iron Eaters'. In fact, Cave Elephants will occasionally co-operate with either in order to find veins of precious metals and stones, although all attempts to domesticate the elephants have ended disastrously, as they are ordinarily bad-tempered.

 

Cave Elephants will always be encountered in underground places and never venture above ground, being completely blind in natural sunlight. Powerful light sources (such as those created by magic) will confuse them for 1d3 turns. They normally use infravision and a bat-like sonar to find their way in complete darkness, although they can also see normally in low light environments. Their elongated bodies, powerful claws and forearms allow them to navigate confined spaces and also dig through solid stone at 1" per turn and through loam at four times that rate. Powerful teeth enable them to consume rocks, and it is thought that they gain some sustenance from the consumption of iron-bearing rocks. They are adept at locating these and those containing other metals, including precious varieties, as well as rocks bearing precious stones. The elephants seem to possess an unusual interest in gold, electrum and precious stones in any form and thus may seek to acquire them from parties of adventurers or from caches, treasuries, etc within dungeons.

 

They will usually avoid contact with miners and adventuring parties unless they believe that they can gain from it in some way, either by co-operating or by the use of force. When attacking, steely talons on each forelimb inflict 2-12 points of damage or they can lash out with their trunk to inflict 1-10 points of damage. The tip of the trunk and the tail are both capable of delivering a sting that will incapacitate a victim unless they save vs. paralysation. Trampling a victim with their feet inflicts 1-10 points of damage. The trunk can also grab and crush dwarf-size or smaller victims, inflicting 1-8 points of damage. Lastly, eye-like objects situated below the creature's eyes will cause confusion for 1-6 melee rounds to any intelligent creature who looks at them squarely and fails to save vs magic. They are immune to fire and cold attacks, magical or otherwise.

 

They will readily attack goblins, orcs and kobolds unless very outnumbered, and will consume any that they kill. Similarly, anyone killed during combat with them will be eaten or taken away to be consumed at some later time, as the elephants are not averse to carrion. Any armour, weapons, possessions, etc will eaten along with the flesh and bones. Only treasure, in the form of coins, gems or items decorated with such, will be spared and taken to the elephants lair. Magical items will only be kept if they are decorated with precious metals or gems.

 

Cave Elephant lairs have a 50% chance of containing a single 4HD young elephant, as well as the treasure type listed above. Encountering more than 10 Cave Elephants will indicate that a larger lair has been located. 1-4 of these individuals will be 4 HD young. If 20 or more Cave Elephants are encountered, the lair will also contain a single 10' tall 12 HD individual whose attacks deliver 3-18, 3-18, 2-12, 2-12, 1-10 respectively. There will also be 1-10 4HD young.

 

They have their own language with which they can communicate over great distances, although this cannot normally be heard by other creatures. They can also speak Dwarven and Gnomish, albeit haltingly and with a limited vocabulary. 12 HD individuals may also have a limited grasp of Common. They have superb memories and will recognise anyone they have met previously and can recall past events with ease. Similarly, their hearing is excellent and thus they are only surprised on a roll of 1.

 

Dwarves and gnomes generally have taboos about using the hide, etc of dead Cave Elephants, given their respect for them. Goblins, orcs and kobolds however will readily attempt to use the hide to reinforce their armour, despite the hide being extremely resistant to working. As such, it is usually only worn by leaders and chieftains and reduces their AC by two points (i.e an armour with AC6 becomes AC4 when reinforced with the hide). The elephant's claws and teeth are repurposed as pickaxes and other mining tools.

 

Description: Cave Elephants are various shades of grey or greyish-yellow in colour, appearing smoother and less wrinkled than their surface dwelling cousins. Their heads, shoulders, forearms and trunk are dotted with clusters of darker patches of stone-like concretions and these parts have AC3. The rearmost part of the animal (an an area midway along the spine and ending with the rear legs and tail) is generally devoid of such patches and is AC5. Their claws are blueish-black and resemble tempered steel. The elephant's undersides and the tips of the trunk and tail are pinkish grey. It is thought that they live for 350-500 years and there are rumours that their graveyards, hidden deep underground, contain large hordes of treasure.  

 

Dead Man's Lantern

This week's monster uses infravision against those who have such ability...

DEAD MAN'S LANTERN

FREQUENCY: Uncommon

NO. APPEARING: 1
 
ARMOR CLASS: 3

MOVE: 12"

HIT DICE: 4

% IN LAIR: Nil

TREASURE TYPE: Nil

NO. OF ATTACKS: 6 (2 talons, 2-4 tendrils)

DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-12

SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below

SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

INTELLIGENCE: Animal

ALIGNMENT: Neutral

SIZE: L (30' long)

PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

       Attack/Defense Modes: Nil   

The Dead Man's Lantern spends the majority of its life in the roofs of caves and similar subterranean places but much prefers dungeon environments. It resembles a long thin centipede with numerous pairs of small claws which allow it to hold fast onto any wall, floor or ceiling. Small eyes are dotted along its spine with a larger cluster at the centre of its body, both ends of which end in a long tapering section tipped with a venomous talon. Its carapace is so textured as to appear to be stone or similar surface and is almost impossible to detect. The creature is also completely invisible to those creatures that possess infravision.    

However, when seeking prey it uses both normal sight and infravision to lure victims to a space within the striking range of its talons. It can detect creatures up to 200' away and when they pass through the outer edge of this limit it excretes long tendrils of a sticky substance ending in a luminescent bulb that extends a ragged sheet-like form. It then moves these from side to side and slowly advances towards its prey. To those creatures with normal sight, the bulbs resemble swinging lanterns, but to those possessing infravision, both the bulbs and the sheets resemble a party with lanterns moving in single file. 

The creature is careful not to engage large groups (i.e. with more than 5 members) and will attack once its intended victims are within striking distance of one of its talons, at which point it switches off the light and infravision effects cast by its tendrils. Each talon inflicts 2-12 points of damage and, if a poison saving throw fails, the victim dies immediately. It will also attack with its tendrils in an effort to stun opponents, who must save versus paralyzation.

These creatures prefer to consume dwarves, goblins and other smaller underground dwellers, but will readily attack parties made up of various races if their numbers are within the aforementioned limit. Victims of their venom will dissolve in 2-10 rounds and the remains will be consumed by a proboscis within each talon.

 

Jellies..! Part Six

MIND JELLY

FREQUENCY: Very rare
 
NO. APPEARING: 1
 
ARMOR CLASS: 2

MOVE: 8"

HIT DICE: 8 +4

% IN LAIR: Nil

TREASURE TYPE: Nil

NO. OF ATTACKS: See below

DAMAGE/ATTACK: See blow

SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below

SPECIAL DEFENSES: See below

MAGIC RESISTANCE: 85%

INTELLIGENCE: Very

ALIGNMENT: Neutral Evil

SIZE: S (3 feet wide)

PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

       Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
  

Wild rumour and folklore suggests that these creatures are the minds of long dead evil magicians, or are the result of some frightful experiment gone wrong. Mind Jellies visit the Prime Material Plane in order to feed, but their point of origin is unknown and such journeys are thankfully rare.

Although they are happy to devour the minds of any sentient creatures they hunt, they are particularly drawn to Magic Users and will seek them out when they encounter adventuring parties. The jelly will send forth 2-12 feelers up to 10 feet in length towards an individual it has decided to attack, and those touched by them must save vs paralyzation. A victim will then be drained of Intelligence at the rate of 1d3 points per round until that ability reaches zero or the Jelly is killed or driven away (by losing more than half of its hit points). If a Magic User is attacked, that individual will also be drained of one spell per round (highest level first).

Normally the Mind Jelly only makes a single attack in order to feed, but will defend itself with two other sets of tendrils if it meets stiff resistance. In this case, these tendrils will inflict 3-18 points of damage but while doing so it can only drain Intelligence at the rate of 1 point per round. Individual tendrils have only 5 hit points but the Jelly can grow 1-6 replacements every round. The creature can only be harmed by magical weapons of +2 or greater and is also quite able to resist other magical attacks. If it loses more than 75% of its hit points, it will become invisible and flee from the Prime Material Plane. However, it is able to etherially track and pursue a victim, sometimes attacking many years later when they have recovered from their wounds (they regenerate 2-20 hit points per year).

Mind Jellies are a misshapen sphere trailing a collection of tendrils, and it floats above the ground at a height of four feet. They are unable to pass under doors etc like other forms of jelly and are usually invisible (surprise on 1-3) unless ready to attack, at which point they radiate an eerie blue light. They speak the language of most creatures, and may be bargained with if convinced that a more suitable victim can be found elsewhere. Mind Jellies have long memories and are spiteful, and will return to the Prime Material Plane to seek revenge on those who have harmed them.