FREQUENCY: Very rare
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Dungeon Level III])


NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 9"
HIT DICE: 3, 5, 7, etc.
% IN LAIR: 85%
TREASURE TYPE: [E]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-8/1-8
SPECIAL ATTACKS: [SB]
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Variable
INTELLIGENCE: Variable
ALIGNMENT: Variable
SIZE: L
PSIONIC ABILITY: Variable
    Attack/Defense Modes: Variable
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: III and up | Variable

The enveloper is basically a mass of malleable flesh in the form of a
rough cylinder 8' tall and 3' in circumference. It can form up to five
appendages at will by reshaping flesh in the appropriate areas, and
when in VIEW of humans or near-humans it will adopt approximate
human form (the appendages being head, arms and legs). It is basically
of animal intelligence, of neutral alignment, with standard magic resistance
and no psionic abilities.

In melee the enveloper strikes with two 'fists', each capable of
delivering 1-8 HP of damage.

If the enveloper kills a victim -- monster or character -- its first act is to
fall on the body which is one melee round is totally consumed, leaving
all clothes, weapons etc. behind. After a further delay of three melee
rounds (during which time the beast can fight as normal --
it cannot attack in its 'consuming round') the beast can USE any of the victim's
abilities, e.g., it gains the victim's xperience && knowledge,
can speak w/ the victim's voice, can CAST spells memorised by the
victim and so forth. For each HD of the victim, the enveloper gains
1-3 HP (thogh it continues to attack with the same hit probability as before,
no matter how many extra points it gains).

As the enveloper consumes additional victims it will gain additional
abilities && powers. In the case of mutual conflict (e.g. in
terms of alignment) of attributes || powers, one is discarded at
random until the conflict is removed. The beast will tend towards the
alignment of its most recently-consumed victim, and alignment language
will vary accordingly.

The enveloper gains HD as it ages, in steps of 2 dice;
theoretically, there is no limit to the number of HD,
or HP, and old enveloper may possess.
 

       by The Underworld Oracle