<"nor anything resembling a head" : too much head>

FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Temperate Wilderness Mountains], [Temperate Wilderness Forest], [Temperate Wilderness Swamp], [Temperate Wilderness Plains])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Wilderness Mountains], [Tropical Wilderness Forest], [Tropical Wilderness Swamp], [Tropical Wilderness Plains])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Dungeon Level VI])


NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 15"
HIT DICE: 8
% IN LAIR: 100%
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2 ~ 12
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-8/1-8
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Hug
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil <see immunites below>
MAGIC RESISTANCE: [SB]
INTELLIGENCE: Low
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L <(7' tall)>
PSIONIC ABILITY: Not known
    Attack/Defense Modes: Not known
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: VI | 550 + 10

SAVES: 10.11.12.12.13

The SIZE of a large gorilla, the sussurus appears at first sight like a
headless ape which moves on all four limbs. In fact the 7' tall beast
has no external organs, nor anything resembling a head.

It 'sees' && 'hears' through external vibrations and disturbances in the air and is therefore immune to all forms of magic which have their effects through such normal senses.

It can thus detect the presence of invisible objects and beings. <link: detect invisibility>

Dronesong: The exoskeleton of the sussurus is honeycombed with small ducts and
tiny passages through which the beast continually draws in the air on
which it feeds. This constant inhalation causes the characteristic
'dronesong' associated with the beast which only ceases when the
beast dies. This {weird} sound is like a gentle wind blowing through
trees; it can be heard up to 1/4 of a mile away in still air through unobstructed
airways, and one closed door in the path will not attenuate
the sound sufficiently to render it inaudible at such distances. Underground,
the sound reverberates around corridors and rooms, making
location of its source difficult.

The dronesong has a curious effect on undead creatures, causing them
to feel 'at peace' and to be rendered inert -- an effect known as the
'{sleep}{sleep} of the dead'. Any number may be slept by these means, but
otherwise the dronesong acts as though it were an attempt by an Adept (C2) <original: a second level cleric> to TURN away undead
(so skeletons and zombies are affected on a roll of 7-20, zombies on a roll of 10-20, ghouls on a roll of 13-20, shadows on a roll of 16-20, wights on a roll of 19-20, ghasts on a roll of 20 and
wraiths and more powerful undead are not affected.) <additions?>
While 'asleep' the undead cannot be turned or destroyed, but if they
are attacked physically they will awaken to defend themselves.

In windy locations it will often be immobile, taking in the [air], and in <define: wind speed>
such conditions it is 10% easier to suprise than normal (15% instead
of the normal 5%).

It is fast-moving, aggressive and dangerous when
encountered, fighting with the claws on its two 'forepaws', each of
which can inflict 1-8 hit points of damage.

Hug: Additionally, if either
claw hits on a roll of 18 or more (or a 20 in any event) the victim is
crushed onto the exoskeletal spikes and suffers an additional 3-24
hit points of damage from this 'hug'.

The sussurus loathes fire and will immediately attack anyone carrying
a torch or a lantern in an attempt to destroy the oxygen-consuming
flames.

The sussurus is believed to have a life-span of over 1,000 years.
Though it has no language as such, a sussurus communicates with
others of its kind by slight and subtle variation in the dronesong;
however, it is only very rarely that two sussuri are close enough together to
communicate in this way.
 

    by Albie Fiore
 

Anonymous wrote:
Gary, do you think that the Sussurus in the 1980 FiendFolio book for early ADandD 1st edit. can be friendly to my nondruid TN-alignment cleric and is there any way that its power to stun undead can be used by my cleric if i ask my deity to grant it to me? commanding undead is for evil clerics; turning undead is for good clerics; and i think the Sussurus Stun-Undead power should be used by TN-alignment nondruid clerics.

Heh...

What I think isn't important. It is what your DM decides that is 

Present your case to the DM, and see what he rules.

Cheers,
Gary