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.