Fiendwurm: Coolest Monster EVER?

[Mouseferatu]

Actually, that reminds me. Anyone know why they called 'em linnorms in the first place? So far as I can find in mythology, the name of these dragons (Norse, I believe) was actually "lindorm."

Not that it's a big deal, o' course. Just curious.

 

[The Traveler]

Lind Worm was the original, as I understand it. However, linguistic drift being what it is, I can tolerate a bastardization.

 

[Zarrock God of Evil]

Lind Worm was the original, as I understand it. However, linguistic drift being what it is, I can tolerate a bastardization.

The original Scandinavian term was: lindorm... (orm being the Nordic term for "worm" ).

The only lindorm myths I know of is Fafnir (a mutated huma) and the Midgard Serpent.

-Zarrock

 

[Zarrock God of Evil]

Half shadow template is about the only one I know of Ranger man.

There's a Shadow Creature template in Manual of the Planes as well as the Shade template in FRCS...

-Zarrock

 

[edbonny]

Well done, Ed. Let me guess, the Bone Ooze was yours as well?

Yes, the Bone Ooze was mine, too... Jeff Grubb said he wanted me to come up an ooze with lots o'sharp bony edges.

- Ed Bonny

 

[Xarlen]

My only complaint with the Orcwort is it's enormous CR. I would've liked to toss this thing at lower levels.

 

[HeavyG]

Er, Power Word Kill was never really something to bring down dragons with.

Like Kai Lord said, in 1E, an average-sized adult red dragon had exactly 50 hit points, so it had no chance against a PWK.

 

[the Jester]

Wow, I just got the MM2 today and it seems crammed with goodness!

I so dig the idea of the illithid/avolakia alliance...

 

[Spenser]

Honey, I Shrunk the Orcwort

I second Xarlen's complaint about the Orcwort. The monster is a very cool idea, perfect for a one-evening "The village is being menaced!" kind of adventure. But I think one either has to buff up the little wortlings (to CR12+) or weaken the Orcwort (to CR10 or less).

Here is my attempt at the latter approach:

Lesser Orcwort
Huge Plant
Hit Dice: 10d8 + 50 (95 hp)
Init: +2 (-2 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative)
Speed: 10
AC: 9 (-2 Dex, -2 Size, +3 natural)
Attacks: 6 slams +11 melee
Damage: Slam 2d6+6
Face/Reach: 10 ft. by 10 ft / 15 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, paralysis, swallow whole
Special Qualities: partial immunity to piercing, plant traits, telepathy, woodsense
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +1, Will +6
Abilities: Str 23, Dex 7, Con 21, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 8
Skills: Hide +5, Move Silently +13
Feats: Improved Initiative
Climate/Terrain: Temperate or warm plains, hills, or marsh
Organization: Crop (1 orcwort + 5-20 wortlings)
Challenge Rating: ??
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 11-16 HD (Huge); 17-30 HD (Gargantuan)

I've scaled the orcwort down by giving it 10 HD and using the standard size reduction rules. I've also taken away the entangling roots and damage reduction. Paralysis DC is now 20, grappling bonus +21. I'm not sure what the challenge rating on this thing is (I'm not very good at making such judgements). 8 or 9 maybe?

 

[Kai Lord]

My only complaint with the Orcwort is it's enormous CR. I would've liked to toss this thing at lower levels.

So toss it in at lower levels. Who says the PC's have to kill it? Orchestrating the evacuation of a village can be just as dramatic as slaying a monster.