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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Shade" data-source="post: 4528769" data-attributes="member: 287">Last one!Marble PuddingCLIMATE/TERRAIN: SubterraneanFREQUENCY: RareORGANIZATION: SolitaryACTIVITY CYCLE AnyDIET: CarnivoreINTELLIGENCE Animal (1)TREASURE: IncidentalALIGNMENT: Neutral NO. APPEARING 1ARMOR CLASS: 6MOVEMENT: 6HIT DICE: 8THACO: 13NO. OF ATTACKS 1DAMAGE/ATTACK 2-16SPECIAL ATTACKS: Glue, acidSPECIAL DEFENSES: See belowMAGIC RESISTANCE: NilSIZE: S-L (3’-8' tall)MORALE: SpecialXP VALUE: 2,000Marble puddings can harden the surface of their normally pliant bodies to appear like chunks of stone.  They are usually gray, with streaks of white or black over their surfaces, giving them their distinct “marble” look.The discovery of the marble pudding has caused quite a stir in academic circles.  Many sages believe that this creature proves a genetic relationship between the deadly pudding and the mimic.  Certainly, the similarities between the mimic and the marble pudding would seem to support this theory.Combat:  Like a mimic, the marble pudding relies on imitation to catch its prey.  Unlike other puddings, which aggressively hunt down their victims, the marble pudding adopts the shape of a harmless piece of stone and lets its victims come to it.  Marble puddings can alter their color to blend in with the stones of their environment.  Once prey comes within range, the pudding strikes out with a pseudopod (with a -4 penalty to its victim’s surprise roll).  If this hits, the pudding secretes an adhesive that bonds to the victim, preventing its escape.  The pudding then softens its rock-like outer texture and flows over its victim, engulfing and dissolving it with its acid.  The acid produced by a marble pudding is weaker than that of other puddings of its sizes, causing only 2-16 hp damage per round.  Similarly, the “glue” it produces is weaker than mimic glue, giving victims a -1 bonus on their Open Doors roll to pull free.Marble puddings share the deadly pudding immunities against poison, cold, and acid.  Lightning and blows from weapons cause them to divide into two smaller creatures.Since they have no eyes, marble puddings are immune to vision-based attacks (such as light and continual light spells) and illusions that are primarily visual.  Instead of a sense of sight, marble puddings share the deadly puddings’ ability to sense heat and analyze material structures at a range of 90 feet.Habitat/Society:  Marble puddings are usually found underground, in natural caverns and tunnels where they use their marble-imitating abilities to best advantage.  They are more patient than normal puddings, often waiting motionless for days before attacking a creature who wanders too close.  Somewhat territorial, a marble pudding usually remains within a half-mile or so of its “home.”Marble puddings are able to climb walls, ceilings, and sheer surfaces, but they are unlikely to do so unless there is a good chance of encountering prey there.  (For instance, a marble pudding might station itself along the ceiling in a cave where bats roost.)  Additionally, they are usually encountered singly, for they have no interaction with others of their species.  Encounters with more than one marble pudding occur only in areas where the “hunting” is particularly good, and there is enough prey to go around.  Even in these case, though, each marble pudding is on its own—they do not cooperate with, assist, or even acknowledge the presence of others of their kind.Ecology:  Marble puddings can go weeks between meals.  They do not have a preference for any particular type of prey; instead, they lash out at anything that moves past them whenever they are hungry.  Similarly, they do not seem to fear any type of creature, as anything that moves is considered fair prey.  None knows for certain whether the marble pudding is related to the mimic.  If the two creatures are related, it would explain the mimic’s natural immunity to the acid of deadly puddings.As if there weren’t enough controversy over the marble pudding’s genetic ties, one sage has put forth yet another supposition: observing the creature’s stone-imitating camouflage and ability to project pseudopods from its body, he has postulated a link between the marble pudding and the roper.  While the roper is arguably a much more complex creature, it too can alter the shape of its body, changing its coloration better to match the surrounding rock, and shoot sticky strands from its body.Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #251 (1998).</blockquote>

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