The Slithering Shadow

Thog the Ancient, God of Xuthal
(circa "The Slithering Shadow")

The Slithering Shadow Huge Outsider (Evil)

Hit Dice: 16D8 + 160 (HP 232)
Initiative: +7
Speed: 40 ft
Armor Class: 25 (+3 dex, -2 size, +14 Natural)
Attacks: Claws (x2) +30 melee, Bite +25 melee, Tentacles (x2) +31 melee; Scorpion whip +23
Damage: Claw 2d4 +10; Bite 2d6 +5, Tentacles 2d6+10, Scorpion Whip 1d4 + poison
Face/Reach: 10 ft x 20 ft/10 ft
Special Attacks: Poison, Improved Grab, Constriction, Blinding Defense
Special Qualities: SR 20, Immunities
Saves: Fort: +20, Ref: +13, Will: +13
Attributes: Str 30, Dex 16, Con 30, Int 17, Wis 16, Cha 8
Skills: Hide in shadows +22, Hide +22, Move Silently +22, Search +22, Spot +24, Listen +24, Climb +29, Knowledge (Arcana) +22, Jump +29, Tumble +9
Feats: Alertness, Multiattack, Weapon focus (Tentacle Lashing), Track, Improved Initiative.

Climate/Terrain: Xuthal
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 16
Treasure: None
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Advancement: 17-20 HD (Huge); 20-25 HD (Gargantuan); 26-30 HD (Colossal)

"The Slithering Shadow" by Robert E. Howard was first published in Weird Tales in Sept. 1933.

The story be found in the Ace/Lancer "Conan the Adventurer" and the Gnome Press "The Sword of Conan" as well as the more recent "Conan Chronicles Volume 1: People of the Black Circle".

This Conversion was by T. Patrick Rooney and Vincent N. Darlage. Please let us know your opinions and comments. We are both working hard to bring you more Hyborian Age goodies.

Thog is a remnant from the city-states of ancient Valusia, his present form was summoned down from the voidless depths of darkness spun out between the stars by the ancient sorcerers of Xuthal. For an ageless time has haunted the halls of that fell crumbling city after long periods of slumber, in search of living flesh to assuage the continuing manifestation of his body on the physical plane.

Thog has a giant misshapen head with a great toad-like face, the features of which are as dim and unstable as those of a spectre. Great pools of light are its eyes, reflecting cosmic lust. It's body is hard to distinguish. Its outline wavers and alters subtly as one looks at it; yet its substance is apparently solid enough. There is nothing misty or ghostly about it. Its method of locomotion is also hard to distinguish. Its details are obscure and indistinct, impervious to light (accounting for its high natural armor class). Only the blinding, toadlike face stands out with any distinctiveness. It is neither warm nor cold, rough nor smooth.

He has absolutely no mercy and swallows the drugged victims he comes across whole, always leaving a tell-tale single drop of blood to alert the cautious to his presence. Worship of this dark being is sacrificial in nature, demanding blood to revive his slimy flesh for the long naps he takes. Every 2-5 years Thog awakens and hunts the endless twisting hallways of Xuthal. In the past, when discovered, the citizens have fled into the desert to avoid the hungry maw of the awakened horror from beyond the stars. The people would then draw straws to see who would be bound hand and foot and tossed inside to the doom slithering within Xuthal the accursed.

It is unknown if Thog is unique in the cosmos, or of a certain species of evil outsider. Slaying its corporeal form does little to it. It will reform on its homeplane and can be summoned anew. Only if killed on its home plane can it be forever laid to rest.

Combat
Showing no mercy, Thog has spent the last several thousand years feasting at will upon the Lotus dreaming populace of the city. Dimly he remembers at one time there were those who fought back. Although sluggish at first, Thog will remember how to fight quite quickly.

Poison (Ex): The stinging scorpion whip of Thog contains a poison that is like liquid fire. The poison is Injury DC18 Type, with initial damage of 1d6 strength and secondary damage of 1d6 strength.

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, Thog must hit with its tentacles. If it gets a hold, it can constrict.

Constriction (Ex): The two tentacles of Thog deal 1d4+10 pts of damage each with a successful grapple check against Medium or smaller creatures.

Blinding Defense (Su): Thog is intelligent enough to know when to retreat. It can light up its light sensitive skin to a highly phosphorescent level, blinding pursuers long enough for it to silently slip away (DC 18 vs Reflex Save to avoid blinding light).

SR 20(Su): Thog has a Spell Resistance rating of 20. Although no one cast a spell at it in "The Slithering Shadow", it seemed appropriate.

Immunities: Thog's malleable flesh makes it immune to blunt weapons.

Thog of Xuthal The cover, again by Margaret Brundage, features a nude Natala being tortured by Thalis in a scene from "The Slithering Shadow" from the September 1933 issue.

"The Slithering Shadow", while an enjoyable tale, is a bit thin on plot, but it more than makes up for that in the surreal atmosphere of the dreaming city. There is a good sense of mystery throughout and it is also one of the more sexy Conan stories, featuring nudity and a woman torturing another woman. The city itself is similar to the one that appeared later in "Red Nails", a sort of city-wide palace with glowing gem-stones for light, and the dreamy citizens are reminiscent of "The Devil in Iron", which also appeared later in the Saga.

Thog is one tough villian. It beat the snot out of Conan, and the story leaves the fate of Thog vague. It is unknown if Conan killed it or not. Natala is a bit of a weak character, but I liked her nonetheless. She reminds me of some of Doctor Who's companions, who seemed as though they were hired for their ability to scream.

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