Dragon #89 version:
Vurgen
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: //16"
HIT DICE: 7+7 to 9+9
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 bite or 1 tail slap
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-12 or 3-12
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Swallows prey whole
if it hits successfully; dissolving; paralysis
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Animal
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L (20'-40' long)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE:
7 + 7 HD, VII/l100 + 1 0/hp
8 + 8 HD, VII/1700 + 12hp
9 + 9 HD, VII/2550 + 14/hp
These solitary marine hunters cruise the deeps endlessly, swallowing anything edible that their great jaws can encompass. Locathah report that these creatures regard vast areas of the ocean as their personal territories in the same way that many land creatures do, and the rare battles for sovereignty are titanic struggles, dangerous to behold.
Vurgens have no lairs as such, although they often retreat to deep caverns to give birth or recover from wounds, and will certainly haunt waters that have yielded plentiful food in the past.
Most aquatic creatures take interest only in the details of fighting a vurgen, however,
for if they encounter one, they must triumph or die. A vurgen is basically a huge pair of jaws, set with tiny but acute eyes (12" infravision plus normal vision to sight limit of waters) attached to a long, expandable bag of a body with a strong swimming tail. A row of spines on either side of the vurgen's body begins at the "neck" and runs to the tip of the tail. These spines have sharp points and edges, like a row of sword blades, and do 1-4 points of damage to any creature who comes into contact with them. A direct blow from a vurgen's tail does 3- 12 points of damage, for it is stunningly strong and formed of a pointed, tapered cluster of spines.
Vurgens rarely fight, however; they merely strike to swallow prey whole (hence their nickname of the "giant gulper") and then cruise on in search of the next morsel. The great jaws enable a vurgen to gulp prey of up to large size effortlessly. Once prey is swallowed, saliva courses from a gland behind the brain down into the mouth and thence down the body to the tail. This saliva is harmless to the vurgen itself, but all creatures it swallows must save vs. poison or be paralyzed by it. Digestive juices interact with the saliva to do 4-16 points of corrosive damage to prcy per round in the gullet, regardless of whether the prey is
paralyzed or not. Active prey can easily cut or eat its way to freedom if the victim can break or fit betwecn the curving, spiny ribs. The large jaws of the gulper do only 2-12
damage; they are toothless bony ridges designed to clamp down on prey and keep it within the mouth when closed, not to shred or chop up food.
Vurgens are usually a mottled brown in color, although olive, russet, white and even purple specimens have been reported. Vurgens have been known to come up to the surface and hunt in shallows or even in harbors.
FR MC Appendix 3/MCA4 Version:
Fish, Vurgens (Giant Gulper Eel)
Climate/Terrain: Ocean depths
Freq: Very rare
Org: Solitary
Activity Cycle: Any
Diet: Carnivore
Int: Animal (1)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
# App: 1
AC: 4
Movement: Sw 15
HD: 7+7 to 9+9
THAC0: 7+7: 13, 8+8,9+9: 11
# Att: 1 bite or tail slap
Dmg/Att: 2d6 or 3d4
SA: Swallow whole, paralyze, acid
SD: Nil
MR: Nil
Size: H (20' to 40' long)
MOrale: Average (8-10)
XP Value: 4,000 to 6,000
The vurgens, also known as the giant gulper eel, is a fierce marine predator that roams the depths of the sea. Its body consists of a long, sinuous torso and tail, and an oversized head and detachable jaw. Its eyes are tiny but acute. The vurgens has a bite radius of six feet; the mouth and stomach can expand to hold prey as large as it is. Rows of spines extend down either side of its body from its head to the tip of its tail. The tail is extremely strong and formed from a pointed, tapered cluster of spines, making the vurgens a powerful swimmer.
Most vurgens are colored a mottled brown, though olive, russet, white, and purple specimens have been reported. The small eyes are a flat black.
Combat: Vurgens prefer to strike quickly, swallow prey whole, and move on to the next meal. their great jaws enable them to swallow even huge prey. However, the large jaws of the vurgens causes only 2d6 points of damage, as these are toothless, bony ridges designed to clamp down on prey and hold it inside the mouth, rather than to shred or chew food.
Once prey is swallowed, corrosive saliva floods teh mouth. Victims must make a successful saving throw vs. poison or be paralyzed by it. Digestive acids combine with the saliva to dissolve the intended meal; the prey suffers 4d4 points of damage each round it remains within the creature. This occurs whether the prey is paralyzed or not. Active prey can easily cut or eat its way free if in good shape and it can fit between the curving ribs and jaw.
The vurgens spines are extremely sharp; any creature contacting them suffers 1d4 points of damage. The vurgens can lash with its tail to inflict 3d4 points of damage.
Habitat/Society: Little is known about the vurgens. The simple reason is that any time someone encounters the monster, chances are that either the observer or the eel dies.
These solitary hunters endlessly cruise the ocean depths, swallowing anything edible in their paths. These creatures consider vast tracts of the ocean to be their territories. Rival vurgens participate in titanic battles over territory. They do not keep lairs, although they may retreat to ocean-floor caves to heal wounds. Vurgens will certainly haunt waters that have yielded plentiful food in the past.
Vurgens spawn once every two years, producing 20 to 40 offspring. The female carries the fertilized eggs and hatchlings within her. The hatchlings emerge when they are one foot long (1 HD, inflict 1 point of damage). The young gain 1 HD each year, maturing in six years, provided they live that long.
Ecology: Vurgens are the terror of deep sea-dwelling races like the locathah. They perceive any creature their own size as a rival, thus they attack even whales and kraken.
Humanoids are fortunate in that vurgens prefer the depths of the sea and come near the surface only when forced up by unguessed-at disturbances.