Small Ooze

Hit Dice: 5d10+10 (37 hp)

Initiative: -5 (Dex)

Speed: 10 ft, climb 10 ft

AC: 6 (+1 size, -5 Dex)

Attacks: Slam +4 melee

Damage: Slam 1d4 and paralysis

Face/Reach: 5 ft by 5 ft/5 ft

Special Attacks: Paralysis, plasma drain

Special Qualities: Ooze, blindsight, transparent

Saves: Fort +2, Ref -4, Will -4

Climate/Terrain: Any underground

Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 4

Treasure: None

Alignment: Always neutral

Advancement: 5-12 HD (Small); 13-15 HD (Medium-size)

The slithering tracker is transparent, plasma-draining ooze that dwells in dungeons and other underground places.

   The slithering tracker is 3’ long (but can grow to a length of 7 feet) and has a thickness of about 6 inches.

COMBAT

The slithering tracker will not attack a creature immediately. Rather, it follows its prey back to the place it sleeps.

   The slithering tracker attacks sleeping, immobile, or unconscious creatures using a paralyzing secretion. Once a creature is paralyzed, the tracker slowly covers it and drains plasma from the victim’s body.

   Paralysis (Ex): Slithering trackers secrete an anesthetizing slime. A target hit by a tracker’s slam attack must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 13) or be paralyzed for 1d6 hours.

   Plasma Drain (Ex): Once a creature is paralyzed, the tracker slowly covers its body, draining all plasma from it. This deals 1d2 points of temporary Constitution damage to the victim per round. A victim reduced to Constitution 0 dies.

   Blindsight (Ex): The slithering tracker’s entire body is a primitive sensory organ that can detect prey by scent and vibration within 60 feet.

   Transparent (Ex): The slithering tracker is nearly impossible to see, even in ideal conditions, and it takes a successful Spot check (DC 17) to notice one.

   Ooze: Immune to all mind-influencing effects, poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, and polymorphing. Not subject to critical hits.

The Slithering Tracker first appeared in the 1e MM (Gary Gygax, 1977).