Author: Bryan Fazekas

Kevin invented this one — it proved deadly for lower level parties, especially when the spore spitter kept making spores faster than we could kill them.

This monster was originally published in & Magazine, Issue 8, and the short fiction that was published along with this description is here.

Spore Spitter

Appearance

The spore spitter is a semi-intelligent, carnivorous plant that somewhat resembles a short, squat, greenish tree trunk. Although it has no obvious external sense organs, it can apparently detect and “observe” creatures and terrain within 240 feet of itself. About 3′ from the top of the truck it has six evenly spaced holes about 8″ in diameter. Through these it emits the flying spores that comprise both its reproductive and attack systems.

Combat

While the spore spitter has no attacks it can emit up to 6 flying spores per round which attack for it. A spore spitter can control up to 36 spores at a time and can emit up to 144 spores in a week. Each spore has 1 hit point and is AC -1. The spores fly at 18″ (MC:B) and attack as an 11 hit die monster. Each hit causes 1d6 points of damage and kills the spore. The spores are non-intelligent but are controlled by the spore spitter at distances up to 240 feet, including out of line-of-sight.

The spore spitter will direct its spores to attack what appear to be the most dangerous opponents first, which will include spellcasters, and any character utilizing any type of fire or large cleaving weapons. It will also attack the closest opponents first, unless more distant opponents appear to be the greater threat.

Habitat/Society

Spore spitters are singular creatures and will not normally tolerate the presence of other spore spitters within their territory. Spitters will typically drive animals over 40 pounds out of their area, and will also drive out any mobile plant life, intelligent or not. If faced with a foe that cannot be killed or driven away, a spitter will flee to preserve its own life.

Found only in temperate forests, spitters go dormant in sub-freezing weather, rousing when the temperature rises above freezing.

Spore spitters may be considered divine by some humanoids monsters of low intelligence. In some cases, a spore spitter will guard the treasure of the worshippers and will in turn be guarded and fed by them with compost and water. In other rare cases there might be as many as 3 spore spitters, but such cases are very infrequent.

Sages postulate that spitters that accept the presence of humanoids or other spitters were raised in proximity to other creatures and become accustomed to their presence. Those who grow in solitary conditions are more typical.

Ecology

Spore spitters appear to draw their sustenance from water, light, and soil. Periodically they will sink appendages similar to roots into the soil, and when not otherwise roused may remain in a spot for weeks. While considered carnivorous, they do not directly consume flesh. Rather they kill trespassers and drag the bodies into a sheltered area, covering them with leaves and dirt. The spitter will then root most often on this spot, in essence making it a compost heap.

The spores serve for both protection and reproduction. Given that spitters are typically solitary creatures, to reproduce they will send their spores flying outside of their range of control. The spores have been known to drift for miles until eventually falling to the ground or hitting a solid object. If landing in the right conditions (rich soil) the spore will transform into a type of seed.

The young spore spitter appears like a greenish sapling without branches. Over the course of the first three years of growth it grows to 10′ high, and for the next few years after that will broaden out to a girth of 3′ in diameter.

Up to this point the spitter appears to be a non-sentient, non-mobile plant. An unknown event triggers a change, after which it gains intelligence, uproots itself, and goes in search of a home area if its initial area does not appear suitable, or if too close to another spitter.

Note: Gas spores and their brethren have no relationship with spore spitters.

Variants

None.

Treasure

Q x5

Level/XP Value

My first campaign as DM had a number of experienced players. This was a first attempt at shaking up the experienced players by providing encounters for which they could not be prepared. While we never used all the types listed here, the Gem spore was entertaining, as was the Invisibility spore.

Gas Spores

Appearance

Although the Gas spore is the most commonly known of the type, there are many other kinds. All have similar physical characteristics, strongly resembling a beholder at distances beyond 10 feet. As such they have what appears to be a large eye on one side, the “front”, and appendages on the top that resemble the smaller eyes of the beholder. They travel slowly, floating along silently, never making any noise.
Please note that at distances of 10 feet to 30 feet a character who asks has a 50% chance of detecting that the creature is a spore and not a beholder. At distances beyond 30 feet a character cannot determine the difference although the fact that the spore has not attacked magically may provide a character with the clue that it is a spore.

Combat

Spores do not have a physical attack — they are very fragile and explode if as little as 1 hp of damage is inflicted upon them. The explosion affects all within 2″ of the spore (see below for exact effects). While some spores cause physical damage, others do not, merely inflicting a magical effect.
Touching a spore with bare flesh infects a creature with rhizomes, which travel through the body in 1 round. The victim must receive a Cure Disease within 24 hours of infection or die and sprout 2-8 spores. Note that the types of spores produced is random, so a creature killed by a spore can produce 8 different types, none like the original. Also note that creatures within the area of effect of an exploding spore (regardless of type) have a 5% chance of being infected.

Habitat/Society

Spores are completely non-intelligent and have no society. While more than one may be encountered at a time, that is relatively rare (5%) and will occur only within a few hours of an infected creature sprouting spores, or in cases where sprouted spores are physically unable to leave a locale.

Ecology

The origins of spores are lost in antiquity, but sages believe that they were originally created by magic users as guardian beasts. Considering that examination of the remains show a similarity to various fungi, sages further conjecture that they were created from mushrooms.
Once sprouted the spores will drift randomly through a dungeon until encountering anything that inflicts at least 1 hp of damage, which causes them to explode. Observation has shown that unless damaged a spore may survive up to a year, at which time it will sink to the ground and die, resembling a flattened ball. Anything touching the remains with bare flesh within the next month will be infected with rhizomes and start the process anew.
Spores tend to move towards anything with body heat within 12″, although how they sense heat through a maze of tunnels remains unknown. They float via light gases, apparently hydrogen or helium, move by spurting small amounts of gas through orifices, and metabolize additional gas as they need it.

Variants

The following types of spores have been documented:

Treasure:

While spores generally have no treasure, some explode scattering coins or gems.

Level/XP Value

Since getting back into AD&D I periodically search the web for new ideas. A while back I spotted the Black Orc on Dungeon Delver’s site. Thought it was a great variation and immediately added it to my campaign!

More recently I started rewriting home-built monsters in a write-up style similar to that used by more recent editions of D&D — while I don’t care for the newer games that doesn’t mean they don’t have some good ideas. <G> The version that follows expands upon the original description, adding more depth in the form of society and ecology. If you want to read the original version click here to navigate to the Dungeon Delver’s site.

Orc, Subterranean

Appearance

An underground dwelling off-shoot of the more common surface dwelling orcs, Subterranean Orcs present an imposing appearance. Standing 7′ tall, they tower over their smaller brethren, approaching nearly the height of ogres. They typically wear well-padded black chain armor and carry small bucklers, arming themselves with heavy scimitars or heavy battleaxes (both inflict 1d4+1d6 points damage per hit, plus strength bonus).

Subterranean Orcs are sometimes called “Black Orcs”, not only due to their fierce treatment of their enemies (which includes everything that isn’t another Subterranean Orc, and a fair amount who are!), but due to their skin coloration. While their natural skin color is pale, similar to many subterranean creatures, starting in childhood these goblinoids practice the tattooing of black ink onto their entire body. By the time they reach adulthood their entire bodies are tattooed black.

Combat

Normal Subterranean Orcs have an equivalent strength of 18/01, thus are able to do extra damage by weapon type. They prefer a heavy scimitar or battleaxe, and eschew spears, bows, and most other distance weapons.

While they pride themselves on personal fighting ability, the Subterranean Orcs fight in an organized manner. Their training includes not only individual combat, but group combat and the concept of multiple attackers on a single opponent. Their society praises winners and buries losers. Given that many of their enemies are magic or psionics using, good tactics and strategies are part of winning.

Their chainmail armor is well padded for silence, given that they live in an environment where sounds carry far through silent caverns. As such they surprise non-subterranean dwellers 3 in 6 and are themselves surprised only 1 in 8 by such visitors who are attempting silence. When dealing with subterranean races Subterranean Orcs surprise 2 in 6 and are surprised 1 in 6. They have 9″ infravision and can more readily spot light sources at long distances.

Over the centuries, they have warred with various “deep” races such as Beholders, Mind Flayers, and Black Elves. They have by necessity developed a degree of resistance to magic. Subterranean Orcs are very aware of spell casters, magic device users, and psionic creatures. Their one concession to distance weapons is against magic/psionics using creatures, upon whom they will use their ability to throw daggers for 2-5 points of damage within 6″.

Habitat/Society

Of the humanoid races and their various offshoots, the most mysterious and feared is the Subterranean Orc (also known as Deep Orcs or Iron Orcs). What is known about them, through communication with their more common cousins, is that the Subterranean Orcs were the legendary offspring of a tribe of Orcs which in ages past engaged in a civil war with all of the other Orc tribes. Unsuccessful at imposing their will upon their fellows, they fled deep within the earth, presumably never to be heard from again. It is surmised that there they grew strong and even more hateful, learning to forge steel (or perhaps stealing the secret from Deep Gnomes who learned it from Dwarves), and grew stronger and created an almost completely militaristic society, bent on returning to the surface and wiping out not only what they view as their “weaker” brethren, but all humanoid races and (eventually) conquering human society as well.

The society of the Subterranean Orcs demands strength and unwavering obedience from its members. Thus, all Subterranean Orcs will have at least 5 hit points per die. Only the strongest and toughest are allowed to live; any perceived as “weak” are forced into gladiatorial combat and either toughen up or are slain.

When encountered, there is a chance (35%) that they will be returning from a raiding party and have captured some of their weaker brethren or other creatures to use as slaves. If this is the case they will have 1-10 Orcs (85%) or other humanoid creatures (15%) with them, although they are usually bound and severely beaten so as to be little use to their potential “liberators”.

For every 10 Subterranean Orcs encountered, one “Sergeant” with 5+5 HD, and an equivalent 18/26 Strength will be present. Larger groups will be led by “Captains,” one per 30 Subterranean Orcs, with 7+7 HD and an equivalent 18/51 Strength. This fiend will be in turn attended by at least one Sergeant and two Bodyguards (6+6 HD), who will have the maximum amount of hit points.

War bands over 100 members will be led by a sub-chief of 9+9HD and 18/76 equivalent Strength. Three Captains will be present and accompanied as above. Clan chieftains would be 11+11 HD, minimum of 7 hp per die, and have 18/00 strength. Their bodyguard consists of two Captains and a Sergeant.

Their home caverns will house tribes consisting of between 100 and 1,000 male members, with 150% that number of adult females and 200% that number of children. While females are normally not encountered outside the home caverns, they too can fight as 3+3, 4+4, 5+5, or 6+6 HD monsters with damage according to weapon type +1. The smallest children are non-combatants, but half grown children will fight as 1+1, 2+2, or 3+3 HD monsters with damage according to weapon type.

While Subterranean Orcs cannot be magic users, clerics form an influential part of their society. In some tribes they assist the military leadership; in others they are the military leadership!

Clerics of any species typically represent the best of the species — Subterranean Orc clerics are no exception. Their clerics must be strong, powerful fighters in personal combat so they can be the best spiritual leaders. As such the clerics are typically physically stronger and better able to survive combat their their peers. The follow table displays the minimum attributes for clerics.

Ecology

Subterranean Orcs are omnivorous, but tend to eat more meat when available. While Subterranean Orcs will hunt they typically use slave labor to grow and harvest. Farming is not a fit occupation for soldiers, although minor crimes may be punished by sentencing the guilty to a period of farming, a form of public humiliation.

Fungus and Underdark growing plants form a large part of their diet. For meat they will normally hunt and eat any edible creatures, although animal husbandry is generally not practiced. Their home caverns will be surrounded on all sides by farm caverns, simultaneously keeping their food supply close, creating a buffer between their home caverns and the outside world, and putting the slaves as the first line of warning of attacks.

Variants

No Subterranean Orc crossbreeds exist; their society views crossbreeds as an abomination against their gods so they slay any at birth. More powerful members of the tribe are described above.

Level/XP Value

I use the 5% Rule Tables published by Len Lakofka in Dragon Magazine. The following provides XP values for both the AD&D and 5% Rule.

The common orcs have 3 Special Abilities (surprise, difficult to surprise, more damage due to strength), and 1 Exceptional Abilities (magic resistance).

Clerics add 1 Exceptional Ability (spell use).

Concept, original statistics, and original description copyright Bill Silvey

Expanded description copyright 2007 Bryan Fazekas

A while ago I stopped using the term “ogre mage”, and started using the original Japanese name, oni. Ogres and oni have nothing in common, so the original name makes more sense.

I also realized the common oni was scalable, and I like scalable monsters. I developed the idea that oni are commoners, and giving nobles the abilities of wizards makes them pretty darn scary.

Oni, Noble

published in & Magazine Issue 11, Creature Feature I: Ecology of the Ogre Mage

Note: This version has been updated and expanded from the published version.

Appearance

The so-called ogre magi, called “oni” in their own tongue, are a conundrum. Often associated in lore with common ogres, sages note the two species have nothing in common, including size, appearance, intelligence, and magical ability. The two species are quite different, despite the common name. Note that the use of the word “species” is correct – the oni are not the same race as ogres.

The oni are taller than ogres, typically ranging from 7′ to 9′, with rare individuals topping 10′. Most have light brown skins, with blue or green tinges in areas such as the ears and between the fingers. Their hair is blonde tinged with green or blue. Their visage is fierce, having protruding tusks and small horns. The horns are ivory colored, their tusks and teeth bright white, and in contrast their finger and toenails are black.

The oni are similar to many goblinoid races but are not clearly associated with any. Their origins are steeped in mystery.

Combat

While the horns are of no obvious combat use the oni may, at extreme need, savage their opponents with their tusks, although this is distasteful to them.

They generally attack once per round using a variety of spears or bladed pole arms – weapons that human sized creatures consider pole arms. These weapons typically inflict 1d12 or 2d6 hp of damage, plus the oni’s strength. All oni are exceptionally strong by human standards and gain +6 damage on all attacks. Most carry huge longbows which fire heavy arrows, all built to utilize their great strength.

Common oni wear metal armor equivalent to chain mail and typically carry shields. Noble oni wear finely crafted hardwood armor that is enchanted to the equivalent of Chain Mail +1, +2, or even +3. They carry a similarly enchanted shield, and their weapons are also typically enchanted to up to +3 value.

Except when defending their homes, they always use good tactics and strategies, and will never sacrifice themselves needlessly, fleeing combat if the odds are against them.

Powers

All adult oni regenerate 1 hit point per melee round (lost members must be reattached to regenerate). In addition, they may perform the following feats of magic at will, one power per round: Fly (for 12 turns before resting for 6 turns), Invisibility, Darkness 10′ Radius, Polymorph Self to human (or similar bipedal humanoid form from 4′ to 12′ size). Once each per day they can use the following powers: Charm Person, Sleep, Assume Gaseous Form, and Cone of Cold (8d8 hp damage, forming a cone 5′ diameter at the base, 20′ at the terminus, 60′ long).

Most oni are the common sort. The individuals typically seen by outsiders are 5+2 HD. However, 10% to 20% of their adult population will be noble oni. The nobles are typically more powerful, able to accept or deflect greater damage then their normal brethren, their hit dice ranging from 6+3 up to 10+7. Fueling their greater stamina is magical power – noble oni study human-style wizardry and have magic user spell levels in addition to their innate abilities. They cast their spells at a mastery level equal to their hit dice.

The most common correspondence of HD to MU level ability is depicted in the HD/MU Levels table.

Noble oni maintain wizard-style spell books and must study and memorize their spells as do human magic users. The books are typically 50% to 100% larger and heavier than human books, and Read Magic will always be required to read the spells.

HD/MU Levels table

Habitat/Society

Outside of their home, the oni encountered are typically small groups of 1d8 individuals.

They live in clans of 30 to 120 adults, their numbers equally divided between males and females. A clan usually has a number of children equal to the adult population, and the children will have 1 to 4 HD. The older children (4 HD) can and will fight as ogres. Younger children have no effective combat ability.

Their homes are typically hidden in out-of-the way places, difficult to find, and quite dangerous to enter. They have an affinity for stone similar to gnomes and tend to live in caverns or stone buildings. They fiercely defend their homes and children, and never check morale when doing so. Both sexes attack at +1 to hit and +2 hp/die of damage when defending children.

Savants note that the resemblance between oni culture and dwarven culture is strong. Both races focus firmly and clan and family, although the difference in basic ethos produces obvious differences.

The oni tend to avoid non-oni, and interactions with other species take place away from their homes. They do engage in trade, selling finely made metal weapons and armor at premium prices.

The oni live with a stringent code of honor – their worst crime is violating their clan’s code. The letter of their word will always be kept, and their reaction to non-oni breaking their given word is typically fatal to the oath breaker.

The oni keep some lesser races as slaves, mostly to perform manual labor. Their standard of behavior is seen by other species as harsh, but the oni are never, by their own beliefs, unnecessarily cruel. It is usual that a clan will keep a number of slaves equal to that of the adult oni population.

Oni that have been expelled or voluntarily left their clans are an exception. These are few in number but tend to be dangerous beyond their personal abilities. Often these unsavory characters serve as mercenaries or leaders for goblinoids and evil giants, and those expelled for crimes tend towards neutral evil.

Note: It has been discovered that groups of oni have lived in large human cities, disguising themselves as humans using their Polymorph Self ability (see below). But their purpose(s) for living in the cities has never been determined. Were they spying, or just hiding in plain sight?

Government

The oni government is a form of magocracy, with their most powerful wizards as the clan’s ruling council. The ability to use wizardry is apparently inherited, so it is not unusual for leadership to pass from mother to son. The clans are typically widely separated and do not compete for resources, and they engage in trade, including the children of one clan marrying into another.

The few sages conversant with oni customs note that they have no apparent class boundaries – all oni are princes or princesses, and it is not uncommon for a powerful wizardess to marry a common “prince”. It is noted that their species has many romantics, although such may not be obvious by human standards.

Oni typically speak numerous languages, including the local human common tongue, various trade and goblinoid languages, plus their own. Few outsiders speak oni.

Variants

Druidic sages note the existence of a variant of oni, a separate race aligned to nature and neutrality. If the oni are very rare, the druidic ones are even rarer. Their appearance differs – it is reported that their brown skin has a green cast to it, as do their horns, and their hair is generally a dark green. Their nobles study druidic lore rather than wizard lore, and have as great an ability in that area as their “normal” cousins.

One story says that the druidic oni who live in desert areas have no green hue to their coloration, but this story is unsubstantiated.

Level/XP Value

I use the 5% Rule Tables published by Len Lakofka in Dragon Magazine. The following provides XP values for both the AD&D and 5% Rule.

The common oni have 5 Special Abilities (missile discharge, regeneration, high intelligence affecting combat, use of minor spells [powers], and cause more damage than like monsters due to strength), and 0 Exceptional Abilities.

Noble Oni also have 1 additional Special Ability (using magic armor or weapon) and 1 Exceptional Ability (spell use).

A challenge was posted on Dragonsfoot some years ago to translate monsters from AD&D to OSRIC, as not all monsters were translated when OSRIC was written. This is my response to the challenge.

The Beholder is the poster child for AD&D monsters that were poorly written. The details are often vague and have produced a lot of questions posted on Dragonsfoot. While this was planned as a “clean up” of the beholder, the final version went a lot further than a clarification. It is a different monster which can be described as “inspired by” the beholder.

Oculus Despot

published in & Magazine Issue 9, Creature Feature III: Ecology of the Oculus Despot

Note: This version has been updated and expanded from the published version.

Appearance

The horrid oculus despot is normally encountered in desolate places, often underground but sometimes in the wilderness. Its spherical body floats through the air apparently by levitation, although the means is unknown as this levitation functions even in anti-magical areas.

When first sighting one of these deadly creatures many features fight for the beholder’s attention: the gaping mouth filled with pointed teeth that fills the lower part of the front of the spherical body, the great central eye that fills the space above the mouth, or the over-arching mass of tentacles tipped with smaller eyes that look in all directions.

The body and tentacles are coated in a chitin-like material that is rough looking and provides protection similar to the stronger plate armors.

Combat

While the oculus despot can bite, that is its last line of attack, for it uses the magical abilities of its eyes to horrible effect. At will, the great eye projects an anti-magic ray up to 140′ range, with an initial diameter of 5′ and an ending diameter of 30′. All magic items within the ray must save vs. Disintegrate or be permanently drained of magic. Spell casters must save vs. Death Magic or be unable to cast spells for 1d6 rounds. Note that this attack may be used only on opponents within a 30 degree arc in front of the beast. This power can be used at will.

It has been reported that some oculi have exhibited different major eye powers, including these:

Note: The Magic Jar and Powerwords affect only a single creature. See the article Expanding the Globes of Invulnerability in this issue (& Magazine, issue 9) for details of the Greater Globe of Invulnerability.

The creature will have 3d4 functional small eyes. Most oculi will have as many as 12 small eyes, but these are subject to damage and an individual may have fewer functional eyes depending on damage it has suffered recently.

The small eyes can look in all directions except below the creature. Generally, 1d4 of the eyes may look in any direction, e.g., not all eyes can bear on a single target. Each eye projects a different spell effect, the most common of which are listed in the following table. Note that some effects are designated as a ray, indicating it applies to a single creature, whereas the spell the effect is based upon may affect a larger area. Unless otherwise specified, the effect is equivalent to the referenced spell cast a level equal to the hit dice of the oculus despot.

Note: 1d40 is not a common roll. To simulate this roll 1d4 and 1d10. Multiply the d4 roll by 10 and add to the d10, excepting when the d4 roll is a 4, in which case discard it. Some examples:

1d4 = 2 and 1d10 = 9, so 2*10 + 9 = 29

1d4 = 4 and 1d10 = 6, so 0 + 6 = 6

Attacks from below prevent the smaller eyes from bearing upon the attacker while attacks from above may allow all smaller eyes to attack a target. Survivors of battles with oculi have reported that given the number of eyes facing in all directions, the oculus despot is impossible to surprise except from beneath, in which case surprise is 3 in 6.

The body is coated in a chitin-like material that offers excellent protection (AC 0). The tentacles are also covered by the same material, although thinner and lighter, offering lesser protection to those organs (AC 2). The great eye is the least protected, having no such covering (AC 7).

Rear and side attacks typically target the armored body (75%) although the small eye stalks may be hit (25%). Frontal attacks still typically target the body (75%), with a potential to target the great eye (15%) and the eye stalks (10%). Although the eye stalks (AC 7) and great eye (AC 2) are easier targets the relatively large body attracts the attacker’s focus.

Note that the body represents 2/3 of the oculus despot’s hit points with the great eye representing the remaining 1/3. Each of the eye stalks takes an additional 1d4+8 hit points of damage to destroy. Destroyed eye stalks will grow back, and even the great eye will grow back if destroyed (loss of all hit points) although that is believed to take significantly longer. Loss of all body hp results in death. Note that oculi will flee if 1/4 of their small eye stalks are destroyed, if the major eye suffers 1/3 hp loss, or if the body suffers 1/2 hp loss.

Habitat/Society

All reliable reports indicate the oculus is solitary, an aggressive, greedy creature, wantonly killing for pleasure and treasure. They attack most opponents immediately and with no provocation. However, if confronted with what it believes to be a strongly superior force the creature may negotiate, typically asking a bribe for it to not attack. If battle is going against it, the oculus despot will also negotiate although it will attempt to do so from a position of strength, regardless of what the situation may be. It will keep its word but being exceptionally intelligent it will attempt to twist things in its own favor, and it is not unusual for one to speak 2d4 languages, or possibly even more.

Although unsubstantiated, one adventurer spoke of a society of oculi, deep beneath the ground. He claimed to have been captured and kept as a slave for more than a decade, escaping when some unknown enemy attacked the city where he was held. Those that interviewed him stated that his mind was unbalanced, possibly by long deprivation, and they were unable to verify his tale.

Ecology

Dissection of slain oculi have found nothing resembling reproductive organs, although the internal workings are analogous to mortal creatures and they are omnivorous. Their method of reproduction is unknown.

One savant reported that an oculus lived in an abandoned dragon’s lair on a high peak, and it supposedly lived there for nearly two centuries before being slain by adventurers. Assuming the tale is correct, it appears their lifespan is at least two centuries.

Some have been captured, but questioning proved fruitless.

Variants

None.

Level/XP Value

I use the 5% Rule Tables published by Len Lakofka in Dragon Magazine. The following provides XP values for both the AD&D and 5% Rule.

The XP value includes four Special Abilities (minor spells – small eyes, 3 or more attacks per round, difficult to surprise, AC 0 or lower) and one Exceptional Abilities (major spell use – anti-magic ray).