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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Shade" data-source="post: 5305985" data-attributes="member: 287">Let's throw another on the fryer!Fish, Subterranean, Iridescent PlecosCLIMATE/TERRAIN: Underground pools, streams, and riversFREQUENCY: Very rareORGANIZATION: SchoolACTIVITY CYCLE: AnyDIET: OmnivoreINTELLIGENCE: Animal (1)TREASURE: SpecialALIGNMENT: NeutralNO. APPEARING: 10-100ARMOR CLASS: 9MOVEMENT: Sw 12HIT DICE: 1-1THAC0: 20NO. OF ATTACKS: 1+diseaseDAMAGE/ATTACKS: 1 hpSPECIAL ATTACKS: DiseaseSPECIAL DEFENSES: NilMAGIC RESISTANCE: NilSIZE: T (6”-2’ long)MORALE: Elite (13)XP VALUE: 35These beautihl fish are shaped similarly to barracudas, their long, tapered bodies covered with shimmering scales; their graceful movement along the bottoms of shallow streams and ponds reminds onlookers of long streams of sparkling diamonds. They are often found in schools of 10 to 100, though some fishermen claim to have spotted larger schools. Their diamondlike scales lure many humans and demihumans into the water to catch the fish, though few of these return.Iridescent plecos range from 6 inches to 2 feet long and can be quite deadly The fishes’ teeth are little more than a dull bony ridge; the bite of a pleco inflicts no damage, regardless of its size, as it uses its mouth to hold its prey. However, under each pleco’s chin are spiked barbels: whiskerlike tendrils. On a successful bite, the barbels pierce the victim’s skin around the bite, inflicting 1 hit point of damage and injecting a violent venom. Creatures injected with pleco venom save vs. poison with a -4 penalty. Those who are successful suffer no ill effects. Creatures failing the save suffer a debilitating disease that sets in within two hours. An affected character loses 1 point of Strength and Constitution each per day until death (when one of the scores reaches 0). The disease can be cured up to 72 hours after injection; after that time, the damage is irreversible and fatal. Victims with the venom in their system for more than three days literally wither away. Iridescent plecos are non-aggressive. They attack primarily in self-defense, such as if stepped on or if a creature is trying to catch them. Bottom feeders, the fish scavenge rotting flesh and plants and objects thrown into the water; they do not go after live prey Ofttimes their food is tainted or rotten, making their flesh inedible. Some believe this is also what causes their venom to be so potent and virulent. Iridescent plecos have few predators. Humans and demihumans have tried to preserve their glistening, gemlike skins to no avail; the lustre leaves the skins upon death, and the fish itself is malodorous. The only profit gained from encountering this fish is its eggs, from which some assassins can prepare a debilitating poison.Originally appeared in Ruins of Undermountain II: The Deep Levels (1994).  This is the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two version.</blockquote>

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