CHAGGRIN (Soil Beast)

by ~silencethemusical, @ deviantart

FREQUENCY: Very rare {uncommon}

FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Dungeon Level V]) 


FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Cold Civilized Mountains], [Cold Civilized Hills])

FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Cold Wilderness Mountains], [Cold Wilderness Hills])

FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Temperate Civilized Mountains], [Temperate Civilized Hills])

FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Temperate Wilderness Mountains], [Temperate Wilderness Hills])

FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Civilized Mountains], [Tropical Civilized Hills])

FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Wilderness Mountains], [Tropical Wilderness Hills])

NO. APPEARING: 1 (2-5)
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 12" (3")
HIT DICE: 5+5
% IN LAIR: Nil (20%)
TREASURE TYPE: Nil ([C], [Q] x 5)
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 3-6/3-6 (razor-sharp foreclaws)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: +1 or better weapon to hit; immune to earth-based magic
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Low to average
ALIGNMENT: Neutral evil <(sadistic, vicious)>
SIZE: S
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: V | 425 + 6
    (Statistics in parentheses are for the Elemental Plane of Earth with the exception of movement rates.)

SAVES: 10.11.12.12.13

The chaggrin,
or soil beast,
is a grue from the Elemental Plane of Earth.
When on the PMP,
it typically takes the form of a yellowish hedgehog,
although its skull-like head readily distinguishes it from a normal animal of that sort.
Although only 2 or 3 spans long,
a chaggrin weighs over 140 pounds, some being as heavy as 210 pounds.
A chaggrin loves to torment its victim,
and it will usually attack by digging its long,
razor-sharp foreclaws into its prey and then hold on while the hapless victim dashes hither and thither trying to escape from or dislodge the grue.
<WSG bleeding rules could apply, the grue sticks to the combat icon: remember ENC>
<I would say that the hold req. 2 hits in a round, find comparable scripts>

Each round of such clinging inflicts an additional 7-12 points of damage.
Contact with unprotected flesh will inflict 1-4 points of damage per round from quills if the grue is in hedgehog form.
<apply above to grappling and unarmed attacks, as well>

No earth-based/affecting spell, including <incl.> the following,
will work against a chaggrin:
earthquake, dig, glassee, statue, stone shape, passwall, move earth, glassteel, transmute mud to rock, wall of stone, stone to flesh.
The mere presence of the chaggrin within 40 feet of such magic dispels the magic,
even if the dweomer had been previously permanent.
Magic items are never affected.

Whenever it desires,
a chaggrin can assume the shape of a large mole,
hedgehog,
or bipedal,
man-like form.
The latter is its natural shape on its own plane.
In the latter form it can merge into surfaces of natural soil or stone,
emerging suddenly so as to surprise opponents on 1-5.
The only clue to the grue's presence is a damp,
dark outline which if faintly perceptible if the AREA is carefully observed.
<UA: if you were moving in LOOK mode, you might notice this, before the surprise die is even rolled>

The natural chaggrin form is disgusting.
The body appears much like lumpy, wet clay.
The visage is asymmetrical && vicious.
The small eyes gleam with feral light.

Grue, Elemental +