Mandragora

MANDRAGORA

FREQUENCY: Very rare (Woodlands)
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Temperate Wilderness Forest], [Temperate Wilderness Swamp])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Wilderness Forest], [Tropical Wilderness Swamp])

NO. APPEARING: 3-18
ARMOR CLASS: 5
MOVE: 12" (6")
HIT DICE: 1+1 or 2+2 depending on size
% IN LAIR: 45%
TREASURE TYPE: [SB]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4 (plus strangulation)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: [SB]
SPECIAL DEFENSES: [SB]
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 20%
INTELLIGENCE: Low to average
ALIGNMENT: Neutral evil
SIZE: S (1' - 2' tall)
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: Variable

SAVES, 1+1 HD: 14.15.16.17.17
SAVES, 2+2 HD: 13.14.15.16.16

A mandragora is a vegetable creature, a thing that lurks in woodlands
and preys upon unsuspecting humans. Agroupof mandragora typically
lair in the heavy soil of a forest, favoring areas near ipp trees, briar, or
willows. They develop a system of narrow burrows which enable them
to attach themselves to tree roots to feed if there is no human food
available. If such a lair is exposed to full daylight, the mandragoras will
be stunned for 1-4 segments by the light, for they are creatures of darkness.

They attack by whipping their tentacle-like upper appendages. These
whip blows not only cause lacerations but will also cause a victim to
strangle if struck around the throat. Any to-hit score of 20 indicates a
neck/throat hit. If appropriate, such a hit thereafter causes strangulation
damage of 1-4 points per round. This reduces the mandragora's attacks to
1, and if the other upper appendage also hits on a score of 20,
then strangulation damage is doubled, and no further atacks, other
than choking construction, are made. The strangulation will always
continue until the mandragora is killed.

Because the mandragora is a vegetable, it is not affected by spells which
normally affect animals. Sleep spells have no effect. It suffers only
half-damage from all forms of fire, because a mandragora is always wet
and slimy. Its smaller, hair-like roots enable it to both "smell" and
"hear." It will always sense the presence of creatures within 120 feet,
but until the sun sets, a mandragora will not leave its earthy lair to
attack.

The mandragora has a mottled brown && black covering which oozes a
greenish fluid. The splay-rooted lower appendages, trunk, upper appendages,
and pointed "head" heaving warty growths which resemble a
human face give it a man-like appearance. It is often confused with the
mandrake, a different sort of creature altogether.