BRAIN CORAL
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 10/5 (exoskeleton)
MOVE: Nil
HIT DICE: 3
% IN LAIR: 100%
TREASURE TYPE: Incidental
NO. OF ATTACKS: See below
DAMAGE/ATTACK: See below
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Poison, psionic powers
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Psionic powers
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Exceptional
ALIGNMENT. Neutral
SIZE: S (2')
PSIONIC ABILITY: 60-100
Attack/Defense Modes: See below
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: III/120 + 3/hp
Brain coral is an evolutionary offshoot of a type of stony coral. It has an exoskeleton that is convoluted and ridged so that it resembles a human brain. Like its simpler cousin, this more advanced type of brain coral is restricted to the warm waters of the tidal zone, but may be found at depths of 1,000' +. Usually, it is found with the growth of a coral reef or atoll where feeding is easier.
The brain coral consists of the animal polyp which has settled and, over the years, built up an exoskeleton of pure calcium carbonate around it for protection. The exoskeleton is AC 5 and takes damage equal to the total hit points of the polyp before fracturing enough to allow the attacker to actually get at the AC 10 polyp. Nematocyts (stinging cells) throughout the skeleton inject a weak neurotoxin into victims which can paralyze for 1-10 rounds (save vs. poison at +4).
The brain coral has a psionic strength of 30-50 points (60-100 psionic ability) with attack/defense modes randomly determined as for player characters. It has 2-5 minor disciplines and a 25% chance of having a major discipline. The minor disciplines are among the following: animal telepathy, cell adjustment (as fighter), domination, ESP, invisibility, and clairvoyance. The major discipline is telekinesis, which is always accompanied by clairvoyance as a minor discipline. All powers are at the ninth level of mastery.
If encountered, a brain coral may attempt to read its visitors' minds if the coral has ESP If attacked and if it possesses telekinesis, the brain coral uses its power either to move attackers away from the area or to batter one attacker with underwater debris for 2-5 hp damage/ round.
Brain coral skeletons are yellow, brown, or olive in color. If removed from the water, the skeleton turns bone white.
Dragon Magazine #116, pages 38-39