FREQUENCY: Rare
FREQUENCY: Rare ([Dungeon Level VI])
FREQUENCY: Common ([Astral Plane])

NO. APPEARING: 3-18
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVE: 6" (can hop at 9" rate for maximum of one turn in one hour)
HIT DICE: 7
% IN LAIR: 30%
TREASURE TYPE: [F]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4/1-4/2-16
SPECIAL ATTACKS: [SB]
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Regeneration - see below
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 35%
INTELLIGENCE: Low
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic neutral
SIZE: L (8' tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
    Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: VI | 875 + 8

The commonest of the slaadi, the red slaad is regularly sent on
missions by the masters to the Prime Material Plane, usu. in SEARCH
of human slaves. It has a dull red skin flecked with grey.

The red slaad attacks with its two claws (1-4 HP of damage each)
and its bite (2-16 HP of damage).
It may regenerate while still alive at the rate of 3 HP per round.
It may gate in 1-2 other red slaadi (35% chance of gate opening) twice per day.
Once per day it may use power word: stun which stuns all victims for 1-4 rounds.

Embedded in the skin under each of its claws there is a gland which produces small pellets.
Each time it hits with a claw attack, there is a 40% chance that a pellet will be transferred into the flesh of its victim.
A pellet thus lost is renewed immediately in the slaad's skin.
If a victim has a pellet implanted, he must make his save vs. Poison; failure means death in 3-36 hours.

Once embedded, the pellet can only be affected by certain magical spells which must be CAST in the period before death occurs.
The pellet is neutralised by alter reality, cure disease, slow poison, neutralise poison, or barkskin, while it can be removed from the victim by limited wish or wish.
In the case of limited wish the pellet is removed in a neutral state and is useless.
However, if a full wish is used to extract the pellet from the victim, it can be incorporated into a charm against the slaad which secreted it, forcing it into obedience as would possession of its symbol but for double the number of tasks (six).
However, to create the charm requires enchant an item, limited wish and spiritwrack, costs 6000 gp and takes <3> months to prepare.

    by Charles Stross