Xaren
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-4
ARMOR CLASS: 1
MOVE: 9"
HIT DICE: 5+5
% in Lair: 70%
TREASURE TYPE: See Below
NO. OF ATTACKS: 4
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-3(x3)/4-16
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Surprise on a 1-6
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Immune to fire, cold attacks
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Average
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: (4' tall)
Psionics: Nil
XP VALUE: 65 + 8/hp
The xaren are relatives of the xorn. They exist on the Elemental PLane of Earth but enjoy travel to the Prime Material Plane to feed. Their favorite metals are iron, copper, silver, gold and electrum (in that order). Magic metal gives them 1 hit point permanently for every plus on an eaten item. Items that are not plus enchanted neither help nor harm a xaren unless they are aligned to harm neutral creatures. This +1 to +5 for eating a shield, for example, is limited so that total hit points can never exceed 45. Yet they will still crave magic metal and will be eager to obtain it. They are intelligent enough to realize the relationship between magic metal and their health.
Xaren, like xorn, blend with rock-like surroundings and thus are very likely to surprise others in such a setting. They like to snack on metal, even in ore form, and they can smell ore at 20 feet and magic metal at 40 feet. They do not eat very much at a single meal, and metal weighing between 5-8 pounds is quite enough to satiate one for 1-4 days. Xaren speak a bizarre tongue but telepathy or knowledge of tongues can aid one in understanding them. They will approach and seek a handout. They will become highly aggravated if they smell magical metal which is not offered to them; in such a situation they are 80% likely to attack. Failure to offer ordinary metal will produce an attack 40% of the time.
Xaren are not harmed by fire and cold (even magical varieties) but lightning will deal out half or no damage. Move earth, flesh to rock and dig will kill them instantly. Rock to mud lowers their armor class to 10 in 1-4 rounds. Sharp weapons do only half-damage to xaren, but blunt weapons do full damage. If attacked with a magic weapon, a xaren is 40% likely to try to bite the weapon (consider the weapon as AC -2 for this attempt). A xaren bite will destroy any weapon utterly, but the weapon's owner is allowed a saving throw vs. crushing blow (with no bonus).
Xaren can move to the Elemental Plane of Earth at will and can move through solid rock at 9" per round. It takes a xaren 1 full round to adjust its molecules so it can do this.
Xaren who reside on the Prime Material Plane are usually near treasure or ore of some kind. They hoard treasure for emergencies and eat it only if no other metal is at hand. Treasure type is as follows: 40% for 2-200 of each type of coin except platinum; 20% for 1-8 gems (10 gp base value); 10% for 1-2 magic items not made of metal and valued at under 10,000 gp. Occasionally nonmetal magic items might be in their hoard. Their lair might be a room inside of solid rock, for they can burrow in rock at 3" per round. If this is the case (70% likely) it will not be very deep in the earth (only 10 feet or so). Xaren losing a melee will flee to their lair, and, if found there, escape to the Elemental Plane of Earth.
From Monster Manual II (1983).
Xaren
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Subterranean
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Minerals and magical metal
INTELLIGENCE: Average (8-10)
TREASURE: O, P, X, Y
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 1
MOVEMENT: 9, Br 3
HIT DICE: 5+5
THAC0: 15
NO. OF ATTACKS: 4
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-3(x3)/4-16
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Surprise
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Spell immunities
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: M (4' tall)
MORALE: Champion (15)
XP VALUE: 3,000
Xaren are relatives of the xorn, with identical abilities in combat. Xaren resemble xorn closely, though they are slightly smaller and their hides are shinier, almost metallic. Unlike ordinary xorn, they crave magical metal as food. For each plus of enchantment they eat, they permanently gain 1 hit point, up to their maximum of 45. Even after reaching their maximum growth, they still require magical metal to maintain their health. They can smell magical metal up to 40 feet away.
Like xorn, xaren expect handouts. They demand magical metal from creatures with enchanted weapons or armor, and attack if they are denied. They prefer iron, copper, silver, gold and electrum (in that order), though they will also snack on metallic ore.
If attacked with a magical weapon, xaren can make an attack roll against AC -2 to bite an opponent's weapon. If they hit, the weapon must save vs. crushing blow or be destroyed.
Xaren and xorn are indifferent to one another and rarely cooperate. Dao do not enslave xaren, though they do hunt them.
From Monstrous Manual.
