FREQUENCY: Very rare
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Dungeon Level VIII])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Astral Plane])
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: -2
MOVE: 18"
HIT DICE: 10
% IN LAIR: 10%
TREASURE TYPE: [Z]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 4 <(4 cleaver-limbs)>
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 3-18/3-18/3-18/3-18
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Eye rays
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Low
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic evil
SIZE: L (12' tall)
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: VII | 4,950 + 14

Retrievers are constructed by Demogorgon (see ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, MONSTER MANUAL -- Demon, Demogorgon) in his laboratories in the Abyss; <labs? cf. alchemist> <e>
in doing so, Demogorgon deliberately constructs the creatures so as to strike max. terror <v>
into their victims. They will rarely be found on the Prime Material Plane except
when engaged on a specific mission to retrieve (usu. dead or alive) one who has offended <v>
Demogorgon or one of the more powerful denizens of the Abyss.

Retrievers are giant spider-like creatures whose front four limbs end in huge {cleavers}.
Though they are large -- approx. the SIZE of a
mammoth -- they are VERY FAST & nimble out in the open, where they
have room to manoeuvre. They each have six eyes, two for [vision] & four for which project rays (up to 2 of the latter may function each round --
determine which at random). These rays are, respectively,
fire, cold, lightning and transmutation. Once used, a particular eye
cannot be used again for 6 rounds, at which time it will have
re-charged. These rays can only hit one TARGET within a range of 60'.

The rays of fire, cold and  lightning each do damage =equal= to the
current HP of the retriever, a save (vs. Dragon Breath) <v>
indicating <1/2> damage. Magic items must also save against these
attacks if their owner fails to save. The transmutation ray transmutes
the victim into mud, stone, gold or lead (determine which of the
four at random). A successful save vs. Petrification indicates no <v>
effect. A [stone to flesh] spell will restore a petrified character to
normal but only a [philosopher's stone] can restore a lead or gold
figure. Characters turned to mud can only be revived by the USE of
mud to rock followed by [stone to flesh], both spells being CAST within
<1> turn of the transmutation. <i added>

Retrievers can attack with all four cleavers simultaneously on the same
victim, each inflicting 3-18 HP Of damage. However  they
cannot USE the eye rays when attacking with their cleavers. Generally
speaking, they will USE their eye rays first, then, when the eyes are <,>
re-charging, USE the cleavers.

Demons sometimes mount howdahs on the back of a retriever & ride on the creature to the hunt. <add retriever to WSG land-based creatures? give hunting skill to certain demons?>

Creatures of the lower order will FLEE in panic on sight of a retriever, and
even an adventurer of 5th xperience level or lower (or a monster of
less than 6 HD) will do so unless he saves vs. Magic when <v>
a retriever comes within 30' of him.
 

        by Tom Moldvay