When the creature attacks, the spines are fired with the accuracy and
range of a light crossbow, with a hit probability bonus numerically
the same as the number of attacks (thus an urchin which attacks twice
per round would fire two spines each round with the accuracy of a +2
light crossbow). If a spine hits, it inflicts hit points of damage which
vary by type of urchin; the victim may also suffer additional effects
(see individual descriptions below).

Urchins have the innate power of clairvoyance and use this power in
hunting victims, though they will not normally attack humans or
near-humans unless they themselves are threatened or attacked.
A dead urchin can be broken up quite easily; inside i t s body will be
found a gem, i t s value and colour varying according to the type of
urchin.

Although urchins are usually found in salt-water habitats (90%) there
is a 10% chance that an encounter with an urchin will take place on
land, always within half a mile of salt water. It has a rolling locomotion
on land and is capable of moving at a surprisingly high speed
by this means.

Black Urchin

FREQUENCY: Uncommon

FREQUENCY: Rare ([Cold Wilderness Swamp])
FREQUENCY: Rare ([Temperate Wilderness Swamp])
FREQUENCY: Rare ([Tropical Wilderness Swamp])

FREQUENCY: Uncommon ([Cold Saltwater Depths])
FREQUENCY: Uncommon ([Temperate Saltwater Depths])
FREQUENCY: Uncommon ([Tropical Saltwater Depths])

NO. APPEARING: 1-6
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 9" // 15"
HIT DICE: 1+1
% IN LAIR: 10%
TREASURE TYPE: [SB]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-6
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Semi-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: S (3' diameter)
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: II | 28 + 2

SAVES: 14.15.16.17.17

Black Urchin: The most common of the urchins, the black urchin is
more dar.k grey in colour than black.
Each melee round the black urchin can fire 1 spine with the accuracy
of a +1 light crossbow. A successful hit inflicts 1-6 HP of
damage on i t s victim.

-
 

The gem contained within the creature is worth 10-100 gold pieces.
 
 
 

Green Urchin

FREQUENCY: Rare

FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Cold Wilderness Swamp])

FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Temperate Wilderness Swamp])
FREQUENCY: Rare ([Temperate Saltwater Depths])

FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Wilderness Swamp])
FREQUENCY: Rare ([Tropical Saltwater Depths])

NO. APPEARING: 1-4
ARMOR CLASS: 3
MOVE: 9" // 18"
HIT DICE: 2+1
% IN LAIR: 10%
TREASURE TYPE: [SB]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-7/2-7
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Semi-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: S (3' diameter)
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: II | 50 + 3

SAVES: 13.14.15.16.16

This urchin is a pale green colour and is very difficult to detect by sight in water (5% chance).
Each melee round the creature can fire two spines with the accuracy of a +2 light crossbow.
If a spine hits, it inflicts 2-7 hit points of damage on the victim.
The gem contained within the creature is worth 40-400 gold pieces.

Red Urchin

FREQUENCY: Rare

FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Cold Wilderness Swamp])

FREQUENCY: Rare ([Temperate Wilderness Swamp])
FREQUENCY: Rare ([Temperate Saltwater Depths])

FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Wilderness Swamp])
FREQUENCY: Rare ([Tropical Saltwater Depths])

NO. APPEARING: 1-4
ARMOR CLASS: 2
MOVE: 9" // 18"
HIT DICE: 3+1
% IN LAIR: 10%
TREASURE TYPE: [SB]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-5/2-5/2-5
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Venom
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Semi-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: S (3' diameter)
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: III | 85 + 3

This creature is a dull red colour though its spines have black tips.
Each melee round the red urchin can fire 3 spines with the accuracy of a +3 light crossbow.
If a spine hits, it inflicts 2-5 HP of
damage on a victim; the tips of the spines also carry a venom which
will put the victim to sleep for 1-4 melee rounds unless he makes a
saving throw against poison.
The gem contained within the creature is worth 90-900 gp.

Silver Urchin
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Cold Saltwater Depths])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Temperate Saltwater Depths])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Saltwater Depths])
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: 0
MOVE: 12" // 21"
HIT DICE: 5+3
% IN LAIR: 10%
TREASURE TYPE: [SB]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 5
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-5/2-5/2-5/2-5/2-5
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Venom
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Semi-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: S (3' diameter)
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: IV | 205 + 5

Silver Urchin: This, the rarest of the urchins,
is a dull silver in colour with black tips on the spines.

Each melee round the silver urchin can fire 5 spines with the accuracy
of a +5  light crossbow. If a spine hits, it inflicts 2-5 hit points of
damage on a victim; the tips of the spines carry a venom which acts
on the victim's nervous system and puts him into a catatonic trance
for 1-3 days unless he makes his saving throw against poison.
The gem contained within the creature is worth 250-2,500 gold
pieces.

Yellow Urchin

FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Cold Saltwater Depths])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Temperate Saltwater Depths])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Saltwater Depths])
NO. APPEARING: 1-3
ARMOR CLASS: 1
MOVE: 12"//18"
HIT DICE: 4+2
% IN LAIR: 10%
TREASURE TYPE: [SB]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 4
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-6/1-6/1-6/1-6
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Venom
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Semi-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: S (3' diameter)
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: IV | 205 + 5

Yellow Urchin: This creature is coloured a very pale yellow and like
the green urchin is very difficult to see when in water (5% chance).
Its spines have light green tips.
Each melee round the yellow urchin can fire 4 spines with the
accuracy of a +4 light crossbow. If a spine hits, it inflicts 1-6 hit
points of damage on a victim; the tips of the spines carry a venom
which will paralyse the victim for 1-4 turns unless he makes his
saving throw against poison.
The gem contained within the creature is worth 160-1,600 gold
pieces.

by Nick Louth