Page 72 - Serpent Kingdoms

MONSTERS

meat, and they suffer no ill effects from ingesting fl esh tainted In the Realms
with their own poison.
Mlarrauns are most numerous in the open lands south of the
Mlarrauns are best known for their ability to assume a stone-
Sea of Fallen Stars, but they have been carried elsewhere by
like form as a kind of torpor when targeted by spells or magical
humans both as curiosities and for alchemical purposes. In ear-
effects. These “stone snakes” are often placed as traps by yuan-ti
lier centuries, merchants often sold them as ornaments and even
and other Scaled Ones.
toys, unaware that they could revive.
A mlarraun resembles a dark brown or black serpent with an
A few clients have hired adventurers to capture stone snakes
arrowhead-shaped head.
for use in traps against thieves or as deadly gifts for foes. Little
use has been made of them for this purpose, however, since their
Combat periods of torpor can vary considerably.
Though mlarrauns are quite effective at stalking Muckdweller
their prey, they are neither cunning nor capable
of anticipating danger. Many are trampled by
Tiny Monstrous Humanoid
the hooves of beasts that are unaware of their
Hit Dice: 1/4 d8 (1 hp)
presence.
Initiative: +7
Poison (Ex): Bite or spit, injury or con-
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), swim 20 ft.
tact, Fortitude DC 11, initial damage
Armor Class: 18 (+2 size, +3 Dex,
blindness 2d6 hours, secondary
+3 natural), touch 15, fl at-footed 15
damage blindness 4d6 hours and
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–11
1d4 points of damage. The poison
Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d3–3)
need not touch the eyes to cause Space/Reach: 2-1/2 ft./ 0 ft.
Full Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d3–3)
Illustration by Jim Pavelec magical effect that specifi cally Abilities: Str 4, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 10,
blindness.
Stone Torpor (Su): Any spell or
Special Attacks: Squirt
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft.
targets a mlarraun causes it to
Saves: Fort +0, Ref +5, Will +1
instantly lapse into a torpor that
lasts for 1d100 days. Its scales become hard
and gray, though its body remains fl exible. Contact
Skills: Balance +5, Hide +13, Listen +1, Spot +1,
Mlarraun
with magic weapons or other magic items that do not
Swim +11 Wis 9, Cha 8
specifi cally target the mlarraun does not trigger this change. B
Feats: Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse
While in this state, the mlarraun can be posed by manually
Environment: Temperate marshes
adjusting its body. Enterprising artisans and trap designers some-
Organization: Solitary or pack (5–20)
times shape the creature into handles for chests, ornamental
Challenge Rating: 1/4
“scrollwork,” and the like. Such adjustments do not wake the
Treasure: Standard
mlarraun. In this form, the creature’s natural armor bonus rises
Alignment: Usually lawful evil
to +10.
Advancement: 1–2 HD (Tiny); 3 HD (Small)
Damage in excess of one-half its original hit points awakens
Level Adjustment: +0
the mlarraun instantly, as does any spell that targets it. When
it awakens, naturally or by other means, it bites or spits poison
A rustling in the marsh weeds briefl y reveals itself as a
at the nearest creature.
bipedal creature that resembles an upright Gila monster. It
Skills: A mlarraun has a +4 racial bonus on Hide, Listen,
waddles forward on partially webbed rear feet, then darts
and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on Balance and
back into the undergrowth, its mottled hide blending with
Climb checks.
the grasses.
A mlarraun can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check,
even if rushed or threatened.
Muckdwellers are bipedal amphibians that dwell in swamps,
A mlarraun uses either its Strength modifi er or its Dexterity
marshes, and mud-bottomed bodies of still water. Many serve
modifi er for Climb checks, whichever is higher.
kuo-toa or lizardfolk tribes, surviving on the periphery of such
A mlarraun has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to per-
societies and venerating their gods.
form some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose
Muckdwellers are omnivorous, but they prefer fresh, warm
to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It
meat to plants, insects, and aquatic animals. They dwell below
can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a
the water but maintain muddy, above-water areas for resting,
straight line.
eating, and hoarding shiny objects. Though they are not tool
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