TRITON

Triton Leader

FREQUENCY: Rare
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Saltwater Surface])
FREQUENCY: Rare ([Tropical Saltwater Depths])
NO. APPEARING: 10-60
ARMOR CLASS: 5
MOVE: 15"
HIT DICE: 3
% IN LAIR: 25%
TREASURE TYPE: [C], [R], [S], [T], [X]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 ~ 16
DAMAG/ATTACK: By weapon
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Spell use, magic, psionics
SPECIAL DEFENSES: See below
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 90%
INTELLIGENCE: High & up
ALIGNMENT: Neutral (good)
SIZE: M
PSlONlC ABILITY: See below
    Attack/Defense Modes: See below
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: III | 105 + 3

TRITON (Leaders)
ARMOR CLASS: 4 or better
HIT DICE: 4 to 9
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 ~ variables preclude a fixed number
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: variables preclude a fixed number

Tritons are rumored to be creatures from the elemental plane of water which have been planted on the material plane for some purpose presently unknown to man.
They are sea dwellers, inhabiting warmer waters principally but equally able to live at shallow or great depths.
They seldom venture forth upon dry land.

Number Appearing: For every 10 tritons in a group encountered there will be an exceptional one in addition, this triton having 4-6 hit HD.
For every 20 tritons encountered there will be an exceptional triton with 7-8 HD.
The leader of any group of tritons numbering 50 or more will have 9 HD.
For every 10 tritons in a group there is a 10% chance that they will have with them 1-4 of their kind with magical ability of from 1st-6th level.
It is 90% likely that the tritons encountered will be mounted upon hippocampi (65%) or giant sea horses (35%).

Combat: Only male tritons will engage in combat, asa general rule.

Arms & Armor: They will wear armor of scales which increases their protection to class 4.
Mounted tritons bear long spears (lances) or tridents. The typical arms of a group of tritons are:

    heavy crossbow & dagger 30%
    sword & dagger 10%
    spear & dagger 20%
    trident & dagger 40%

Leaders, Conch Shells: Triton leaders will bear conch shell horns which will calm rough waters when blown a special way.
These instruments are typically used as signal devices.
    A) Summon allies: The horns will, when blown properly, summon 5-20 hippocampi, 5-30 giant sea horses, or 1-10 sea lions.
    B) Disperse sea animals: The conch shell horns can also cause marine creatures with animal intelligence or less to flee in panic --
    the creatures saving vs. Magic with a -5 on their "to hit" dice rolls -- for 3-18 turns.

Psionics: It is possible that psionically endowed tritons will be in any given group.
1 triton in 10 has a 5% chance of having psionic <powers> of the sort
applicable to magic-users. If a psionic individual is indicated, roll a 12-
sided die for the number of abilities by random selection. Attack and
defense modes are commensurate with potential, abilities, etc.
<example numbers (could be)>

TALK: Tritons have their own language.
They can also speak the tongue of sea elves and that of the locathah.

Lair: If tritons are encountered in their lair there will always be the following additional figures:

    60 males
    6 exceptional males of 4-6 hit dice
    3 exceptional males of 7-8 hit dice
    1 magic-user of 7th-10th level
    1 cleric of 8th-11 th level
    4 clerics of 2nd-5th level
    Females equal to 100% of males
    Young equal to 100% of males

<note that tritons of 5th-8th level are mentioned at UA.17>

There is also a 75% chance that there will be 2-12 sea lions as pets and guards.
The triton lair will be an undersea castle (80%) or a sculpted cavern (20%).

Description: Tritons have silvery skin which fades into silvery blue scales
on their lower limbs. Their hair is deep blue or blue-green.

Treasure: In lair only: 1d12x1000cp (20%); 1d6x1000sp (30%);
1d4x1000ep (10%); 1d6 gems (25%); 1d3 jewellery (20%); any
2 magic items (10%); 2d4x1000gp (40%), 1d6x1000pp (50%);
4d8 gems (55%); 1d12 jewellery (45%); 2d4 potions (40%);
1d4 scrolls (50%); 1 miscellaneous maic and 1 potion (60%).

History: Tritons are known to serve the god, Triton, and little else is known
about their purpose on the material plane. They have fought fierce wars
with the sahuagin and skirmish continually with ixitxachitl, koalinths, and
Iacedons. They are generally well disposed towards humans who do not
mean harm to the triton society.

<DDG entry for Triton>