lordxaviar
Explorer
piercer
Piercers 1/3 CR: 1/3; Sz: Small Vermin; H: ; W: ; Age: ; HD: 1d8; Hp: 4; Init: -2; Spd: 5’(1 Sq), Climb 5’; AC: 17; (+1 size, -2 Dex, +8 Natural ), T: 9, FF: 17; BaB: 0; Grap: -3; Atk: +2 melee (1d4+1, 19/x2 Gore); Full Atk: +2 melee (1d4+1, 19/x2 Gore); Spc/Rch: 5’/0; SA: ; SQ: Blind-sight 120’Dark-vision 60’, Scent, Vermin traits; Lang: ; AL: N; Sv: F: +2, R: -2, W: 0; Abil: S: 12/+1, D: 6/-2, C: 11/0, I: -/-, W: 11/0, Ch: 4/-3 ; Weapro: ; Skills: ; Feats: Improved Critical (gore)B; Equip: ; Loot: ; Possess: ; Holdings: ; Treas: ; Tactics: ; RPGL: ; Descrip: ; History: ; Envir: Any underground; Org: Group (3-18); Lv Adv: 2 HD (Small); 3-4 HD (Medium /CR ½); Exp: ; Increased/Decrease Ability Scores: ;
Skills: Piercers receive a +15 racial bonus to Hide checks in areas that contain stalactites and stalagmites.
Vermin Traits: Vermin possess the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).
• Mindless: No Intelligence score, and immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects).
• Dark-vision 60’
• Alignment: Always neutral. Vermin are not governed by a human sense of morality.
• Treasure: Vermin generally possess no treasure. For those that do, this treasure consists of possessions formerly owned by a creature that the monster has killed, that may be scattered about and ignored.
Piercers resemble stalactites found on cave roofs. They are actually a species of gastropods that, without their shells, resemble slugs with long tails. A piercer climbs onto the ceiling of a cavern and waits patiently: when it detects prey beneath it, it drops from the ceiling and impales the victim with the sharp end of its shell. Piercers look like limestone growths on the ceiling of a cavern just like ordinary stalactites. They will be found in the following sizes: 3’Long + 25 #(1HD), 4’ Long (2HD), 5’ Long (3HD), and 6’ Long (4HD). Piercers can be identified on very close inspection by a pair of tiny eyestalks that curl along the side of the stalactite.
Acid (Ex): While on the ground the piercer’s soft underbelly is will have a coating of a corrosive acid that deals 1d4 points of damage if it contacts exposed flesh. It is the predigetive enzyme similar to saliva in humans. It also acts as a lubricant/sealant as the piercer holds on to the wall. It breaks down when exposed to open air and has foiled all attempts at collection.
Combat: Piercers have only one chance to hit; if an attack fails to score a kill, the piercer cannot attack again until it slowly scales a wall to resume its position. Piercers can hear noises and detect heat sources in a 120 yard radius; these heat sources include humans. If the noise and light are stationary for many minutes at a time, piercers will slowly edge into attack position over the source of the stimulus. Piercers are virtually indistinguishable from natural phenomena.
A piercer, after it has fallen, is slow and fairly easily slain. Its soft underbelly has one defense mechanism; when exposed to air will have a light coating of a corrosive acid which inflicts 1d4 Hp Dam on contact with exposed flesh. This is the piercers pre-digestive enzymes similar in function to human saliva. It also acts to discourage other predators from feeding upon it, while on the floor. Piercers consume the entire corpse, including the bones.
Habitat/Society: While piercers are non-intelligent, when in a colony they are aware of each other. They often fall simultaneously, to feed on those killed by others. (which makes the area suddenly very dangerous). Piercers dwell in caverns, where they live in groups of about 10 members. They prefer to hand over high traffic areas, so they will usually be found near cave entrances. Aside from mating, the Piercers are not truly social creatures. Piercers are not attracted to treasure, only to food.
Ecology: The Piercer is a mollusk, hatched from a hen-sized egg which the parent lays in clutches of 6 to 8 in isolated areas of the cavern (on the floor) near patches of fungi and lichens. Which the young will use as food. Adult Piercers can also ingest fungi and lichens as food, but this will be only in desperation. When they hatch the young appear to be slug-like and feed on various fungi and Carrion. They will also join in on a kill of an adult Piercer. After several months, they climb the cavern walls and begin secreting mineral goo that hardens into their familiar stalactite shape. This goo is formed from the natural rock of their living area, as they take in dissolved minerals from the action of their natural acid on the surrounding rock.
A Piercer has a average lifespan of 6-8 years; growing by 1 HD a year until full grown. They aren’t ready to mate until reaching full size. A Piercer can go without food for months. It stores food (often bones as well) in a second stomach that can preserve food for long periods of time; Some alchemists seek out Piercers to extract a substance from this organ, and refine it for human use, as it can keep foodstuffs and.precious ingredients fresh for weeks. Piercers also store large supplies of water, extracted from their victims. This can be maintained for months. .
The taste of a Piercer is said to resemble that of a snail, but with a bitter after taste. Ogres and larger cave dwellers can often be found eating Piercer (and vice versa). They are referred to as the “Escargot of the Underdark”. Their eggs and offspring are not traded on the open market, but perhaps in the cities of the underdark. It has been rumored that an Ogre Mage found a way to use a piercer to form armor from its natural ability to grow the stone like substance.
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Piercers 1/3 CR: 1/3; Sz: Small Vermin; H: ; W: ; Age: ; HD: 1d8; Hp: 4; Init: -2; Spd: 5’(1 Sq), Climb 5’; AC: 17; (+1 size, -2 Dex, +8 Natural ), T: 9, FF: 17; BaB: 0; Grap: -3; Atk: +2 melee (1d4+1, 19/x2 Gore); Full Atk: +2 melee (1d4+1, 19/x2 Gore); Spc/Rch: 5’/0; SA: ; SQ: Blind-sight 120’Dark-vision 60’, Scent, Vermin traits; Lang: ; AL: N; Sv: F: +2, R: -2, W: 0; Abil: S: 12/+1, D: 6/-2, C: 11/0, I: -/-, W: 11/0, Ch: 4/-3 ; Weapro: ; Skills: ; Feats: Improved Critical (gore)B; Equip: ; Loot: ; Possess: ; Holdings: ; Treas: ; Tactics: ; RPGL: ; Descrip: ; History: ; Envir: Any underground; Org: Group (3-18); Lv Adv: 2 HD (Small); 3-4 HD (Medium /CR ½); Exp: ; Increased/Decrease Ability Scores: ;
Skills: Piercers receive a +15 racial bonus to Hide checks in areas that contain stalactites and stalagmites.
Vermin Traits: Vermin possess the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).
• Mindless: No Intelligence score, and immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects).
• Dark-vision 60’
• Alignment: Always neutral. Vermin are not governed by a human sense of morality.
• Treasure: Vermin generally possess no treasure. For those that do, this treasure consists of possessions formerly owned by a creature that the monster has killed, that may be scattered about and ignored.
Piercers resemble stalactites found on cave roofs. They are actually a species of gastropods that, without their shells, resemble slugs with long tails. A piercer climbs onto the ceiling of a cavern and waits patiently: when it detects prey beneath it, it drops from the ceiling and impales the victim with the sharp end of its shell. Piercers look like limestone growths on the ceiling of a cavern just like ordinary stalactites. They will be found in the following sizes: 3’Long + 25 #(1HD), 4’ Long (2HD), 5’ Long (3HD), and 6’ Long (4HD). Piercers can be identified on very close inspection by a pair of tiny eyestalks that curl along the side of the stalactite.
Acid (Ex): While on the ground the piercer’s soft underbelly is will have a coating of a corrosive acid that deals 1d4 points of damage if it contacts exposed flesh. It is the predigetive enzyme similar to saliva in humans. It also acts as a lubricant/sealant as the piercer holds on to the wall. It breaks down when exposed to open air and has foiled all attempts at collection.
Combat: Piercers have only one chance to hit; if an attack fails to score a kill, the piercer cannot attack again until it slowly scales a wall to resume its position. Piercers can hear noises and detect heat sources in a 120 yard radius; these heat sources include humans. If the noise and light are stationary for many minutes at a time, piercers will slowly edge into attack position over the source of the stimulus. Piercers are virtually indistinguishable from natural phenomena.
A piercer, after it has fallen, is slow and fairly easily slain. Its soft underbelly has one defense mechanism; when exposed to air will have a light coating of a corrosive acid which inflicts 1d4 Hp Dam on contact with exposed flesh. This is the piercers pre-digestive enzymes similar in function to human saliva. It also acts to discourage other predators from feeding upon it, while on the floor. Piercers consume the entire corpse, including the bones.
Habitat/Society: While piercers are non-intelligent, when in a colony they are aware of each other. They often fall simultaneously, to feed on those killed by others. (which makes the area suddenly very dangerous). Piercers dwell in caverns, where they live in groups of about 10 members. They prefer to hand over high traffic areas, so they will usually be found near cave entrances. Aside from mating, the Piercers are not truly social creatures. Piercers are not attracted to treasure, only to food.
Ecology: The Piercer is a mollusk, hatched from a hen-sized egg which the parent lays in clutches of 6 to 8 in isolated areas of the cavern (on the floor) near patches of fungi and lichens. Which the young will use as food. Adult Piercers can also ingest fungi and lichens as food, but this will be only in desperation. When they hatch the young appear to be slug-like and feed on various fungi and Carrion. They will also join in on a kill of an adult Piercer. After several months, they climb the cavern walls and begin secreting mineral goo that hardens into their familiar stalactite shape. This goo is formed from the natural rock of their living area, as they take in dissolved minerals from the action of their natural acid on the surrounding rock.
A Piercer has a average lifespan of 6-8 years; growing by 1 HD a year until full grown. They aren’t ready to mate until reaching full size. A Piercer can go without food for months. It stores food (often bones as well) in a second stomach that can preserve food for long periods of time; Some alchemists seek out Piercers to extract a substance from this organ, and refine it for human use, as it can keep foodstuffs and.precious ingredients fresh for weeks. Piercers also store large supplies of water, extracted from their victims. This can be maintained for months. .
The taste of a Piercer is said to resemble that of a snail, but with a bitter after taste. Ogres and larger cave dwellers can often be found eating Piercer (and vice versa). They are referred to as the “Escargot of the Underdark”. Their eggs and offspring are not traded on the open market, but perhaps in the cities of the underdark. It has been rumored that an Ogre Mage found a way to use a piercer to form armor from its natural ability to grow the stone like substance.
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