Hide

Dragon235
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Hide
Climate/Terrain:Ocean depths
Frequency:Very rare
Organization:Solitary
Activity Cycle:Any
Diet:Carnivore
Intelligence:Animal (1)
Treasure:Nil
Alignment:Neutral
No. Appearing:1
Armor Class:1
Movement:3, swim 12
Hit Dice:8
THAC0:13
No. of Attacks:1
Damage/Attack:2-12
Special Attacks:Cold generation
Special Defenses:Luminous cloud, immunity to cold
Magic Resistance:Standard
Size:Huge (20' across)
Morale:Fearless (20)
XP Value:3,000

The hide is a bottom-dwelling octopus of enormous size, with comparatively short tentacles. In basic appearance, it resembles a dirty floor mop or an opened umbrella, and in general is quite a disgusting sight. It can be of any color, changing hues frequently.

Combat: The hide will try to get close enough to a victim to bite it, its beak inflicting 2-12 hp damage. In order to disable a target so it can close in for the kill, it generates a cone of cold 10' wide and 30' long, which causes 3d6 hp damage. As a side effect, it is immune to all cold-based attacks, but if the battle goes against it anyway, and it loses three-quarters of its hit points, it can cover its retreat with the same sort of blinding cloud the octo-jelly produces. The dimensions of this creature cloud, though, are 40' high by 60' wide by 60' long.

Habitat/Society: These creatures are solitary, due to the virtual impossibility of the deep sea providing enough food for more than one in a small area. The mating season is brief, and the eggs are abandoned as soon as they are laid.

Ecology: The hide has the same uses to both Man and Nature as the octojelly. In the natural world, it preys on both swimmers and bottom-crawlers, while its ink has the same value as a scroll-ink ingredient.


Dragon235 (Dragon235)