FREQUENCY: Rare ([Temperate Wilderness Hills], [Temperate Wilderness Forest], [Temperate Wilderness Swamp])
FREQUENCY: Rare ([Dungeon Level III])

NO. APPEARING: 1-4
ARMOR CLASS: 3
MOVE: 9"
HIT DICE: 4
% IN LAIR: 20%
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 ~ 15
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-3
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Adhesion - see below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: See below
MAGIC RESISTANCE: See below
INTELLIGENCE: Semi-
ALIGNMENT: Lawful evil
SIZE: M
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: III | 150 + 4

SAVES: 13.14.15.16.16

This curious creature bears a close resemblance to a mummy -
man-sized and with folds of dirty white skin which appear on
first sight to be a mummy's bandags. Coincidentally, the creature is
just as vulnerable to fire as is a mummy due to a resinous solvent in
its body fluids (See AD&D MONSTER MANUAL - Mummy).
It is immune to all first-level MU spells except magic missile which causes it 3-18 HP of damage per missile.

The creature's skin constantly exudes a sour-smelling glue-like <dsg: Odor Detection>
substance with very powerful adhesive properties; any material except
stone will adhere to it and only fire, boiling water or the creature's
own voluntary secretions will break the adhesion. Thus any weapon
which hits the beast will adhere to it (and only deliver half <(1/2)> damage).
Similarly the creature will stick to any character it hits with its two-handed
flailing fist attack (which also inflicts 1-3 HP of damage
on the victim; its favourite tactic is to bind up an opponent in this
fashion and use him as an involuntary shield.

The adhesive properties of the secretion weawr off in 5-10 turns after
the beast is killed.

Usu. the adherer will catch its prey by waiting in ambush, camouflaging
itself by rolling in dirt, sticks, and leaves and then artfully
arranging larger pieces of debris to conceal its form. Any prey (regardless
of size) passing near its 'hideout' will trigger its attack response
and the adherer will pounce on the closest TARGET, attempting to hit
and to cling with bulldog-like tenacity until the prey expires. However, if
it is spotted and attacked before any potential prey has come into
pouncing range (with missile fire, or sometimes even loud noises), it
will become confused and beat a hasty retreat.

Boiling water (or boiling liquid of other types) will cause the adherer
1-3 HP of damage if a sizeable quantity is thrown over the
beast (the contents of a large bucket would just suffice if thrown
from close enough to minimise 'spread') and this will inhibit
tthe adhesive properties for the subsequent melee round.

The adherer's taste for prey is wide-ranging and it will usu. attack,
given a suitable opportunity. The only exception to this is the spider -
the adherer will never attack a spider of whatever variety and
sometimes it has been known to co-operate with them in trapping prey.

Despite its appearance, the adherer is not an undead creature.
 

        by Guy Shearer