Dragon	-	Monsters	-	Dragon #76
-	-	Appendix	-	-

"Many tales are told," began the sage, "of the dreaded eye tyrants."
At the mention of this Name, the restless students sitt i n g   a r o u n d   h i m   i n   t h e   o u t d o o r   a m p h i theater grew quiet.
The sage smiled and c o n t i n u e d .
" Y o u ' v e   l i s t e n e d   t o   s t o r i e s   o f these fantastic creatures, seemingly born
t o   t h e   a r t   o f   d e s t r u c t i o n ;   w i l d   t a l e s   o f   b a t t l e   d o n e   w i t h   t h e m ,   o f   t h e   s o r c e r o u s   p o w ers of their many eyes, of their rich hoards of treasure.
But few have cared to learn m u c h   o f   t h e   h a b i t s   a n d   n a t u r e   o f   t h e s e creatures.
Know you now that I have studied the beholder for many seasons, a n d   c a n   t e l l   y o u   i n   t r u t h   w h a t   w a s   n o t known before?

T h e   s a g e   p a u s e d   a n d   l o o k e d   o u t   a t   h i s
y o u t h f u l   a u d i e n c e .   ? S o m e   o f   y o u   m a y   b e
t h i n k i n g   a b o u t   t h e   g o o d   i t   w o u l d   d o   t o
destroy the race of eye tyrants. Some of
y o u   m a y   b e   t h i n k i n g   a b o u t   t h e   f a m e   i t
w o u l d   b r i n g   y o u   t o   s l a y   o n e ,   o r   t h e
wealth it would have hidden away. . . .
W e l l ,   n o   h a r m   i n   d r e a m i n g . ?   T h e   s a g e ? s
g a z e   f e l l   u p o n   a   y o u n g   b o y   w h o   l o o k e d
u p   a t   h i m   w i t h   u n u s u a l   i n t e n s i t y ;   t h e
sage stared back at him, but the boy did
not look away.

? P e r h a p s , ?   h e   w e n t   o n ,   ? s o m e   o f   y o u
m a y   a c t u a l l y   d o   b a t t l e   w i t h   o n e   o f   t h e s e
monsters, for whatever reason. What I
have to tell you may well save you and
y o u r   c o m p a n i o n s   a s   w e l l . ?

T h e   s a g e   l o o k e d   a w a y   f r o m   t h e   b o y   a n d
t u r n e d   t o   a   b l a n k   s l a t e   b e h i n d   h i m .   P r o d u c i n g   a   p i e c e   o f   c h a l k ,   h e   b e g a n   s k e t c h i n g   a   d i a g r a m   o f   t h e   b e h o l d e r   w i t h   r a p i d
but careful strokes.

? T h e   b e h o l d e r   i s   s h a p e d   l i k e   a   g r e a t
s p h e r e ,   a l m o s t   t h e   h e i g h t   o f   a   m a n .   T h e
body is covered by several hard plates of
c h i t i n   w h i c h   o v e r l a p   o n e   a n o t h e r
s l i g h t l y ,   p r o t e c t i n g   t h e   i n t e r n a l   o r g a n s .   A
m a g i c a l   o r g a n   c a l l e d   t h e   levator magnus,
located in the center of the body surrounded by the creature?s brain, produces
a n   i n f l u e n c e   t h a t   c a u s e s   t h e   b e h o l d e r   t o
f l o a t   i n   t h e   a i r .   T h i s   a l l o w s   i t   t o   m o v e
a b o u t   s l o w l y ,   u p   a n d   d o w n ,   l e f t   o r   r i g h t ,
forward or back at a slow speed, like that
o f   a   p a c i n g   m a n .   N o   m a g i c a l   s p e l l   o r
d e v i c e   c a n   n e g a t e   t h i s   l e v i t a t i o n ,   t h o u g h
b e h o l d e r s   c a n n o t   r e s i s t   t h e   p u s h   o f   g r e a t
w i n d s ;   m o s t   o f   t h e m   l a i r   u n d e r g r o u n d
where they may go as they will, while
others move about in desolate, windless
areas where few other creatures will go.

? F r o m   a t o p   t h i s   a r m o r e d   s p h e r e   p r o j e c t
t e n   e y e s t a l k s ,   e a c h   o f   w h i c h   h a s   a   l i m i t e d
maneuverability and field of vision.
T h e s e   e y e s ,   h o w e v e r ,   d o   m o r e   t h a n   j u s t
s e e .   T h e y   a r e   a l s o   a b l e   t o   p r o j e c t ,
i n s t a n t l y   a n d   a t   w i l l ,   v a r i o u s   s p e l l - l i k e
p o w e r s   o f   a w f u l   e f f e c t .   F l e s h   m a y   b e
t u r n e d   t o   s t o n e ;   a r m o r ,   w e a p o n s ,   s k i n
and bone disintegrated; charms may be
p r o j e c t e d ,   a n d   t h e   i n f l u e n c e   o f   d e a t h
m a g i c   i t s e l f   m a y   b e   b r o u g h t   t o   b e a r .

?And there is also an eleventh eye,
g r e a t e r   i n   d i a m e t e r   t h a n   t h e   o t h e r s ,   s e t   i n
t h e   m i d l i n e   o f   t h e   s p h e r i c a l   b o d y .   T h i s
g r e a t   e y e   c a n   p r o j e c t   a n   a n t i - m a g i c a l   r a y
t h a t   n e g a t e s   t h e   u s e   o f   a l l   s p e l l s ,   w h e t h e r
c a s t   f r o m   a   d e v i c e   o r   f r o m   t h e   m i n d   a n d
h a n d s .   T h i s   r a y   i s   a   f a i n t l y   v i s i b l e   b e a m
o f   g r a y i s h   l i g h t ,   e x t e n d i n g   o u t   f r o m   t h e
e y e   i n   a   c o n i c a l   s h a p e   u p   t o   1 4 0   y a r d s
f r o m   t h e   m o n s t e r .   T h i s   c o n e   i s   o n e   f o o t
across at the eye, and reaches ten feet in
d i a m e t e r   a t   i t s   g r e a t e s t   e x t e n t .   T h i s   b e a m
w i l l   f o c u s   u p o n   o n e   t a r g e t   a t   a   t i m e ,   a n d
m a y   b e   s h i f t e d   t o   k e e p   t r a c k   o f   a   m o v i n g
o p p o n e n t .   T h i s   b e a m   h a s   p r o v e n   t h e
downfall of many would-be slayers of an
eye tyrant.?

T h e   s a g e   t o s s e d   t h e   c h a l k   a s i d e   a n d
r u b b e d   t h e   d u s t   f r o m   h i s   h a n d s .   T h e   c l a s s
was utterly silent.

? T h e   d i e t   o f   b e h o l d e r s , ?   h e   c o n t i n u e d ,
?is widely varied; of necessity, of course,
since they can easily defeat most creat u r e s ,   a n d   t h u s   s o o n   e x h a u s t   t h e i r   f o o d
s u p p l y   i n   a n y   g i v e n   a r e a .   T h e y   v a s t l y
p r e f e r   r a w   m e a t ,   i n   l a r g e   q u a n t i t i e s ,
t h o u g h   t h e y   m a y   a l s o   c o n s u m e   p l a n t
m a t t e r   a n d   s m a l l   q u a n t i t i e s   o f   g r a v e l   t o
a i d   i n   d i g e s t i o n .   T h e y   a r e   o m n i v o r e s   w h o
s e e m   a b l e ,   g i v e n   t h e   o p p o r t u n i t y ,   t o   e n d lessly gorge themselves. Waste matter and
i n d i g e s t i b l e s   l i k e   b o n e   t h e y   s p i t   o u t ,   f a r
e n o u g h   a w a y   f r o m   t h e i r   l a i r s   t o   a v o i d
b e t r a y i n g   t h e   h i d i n g   p l a c e s   o f   t h e i r
w e a l t h .   T h e y   s e e m   t o   p r e f e r   t h e   f l e s h   o f
h o r s e s ,   c a t t l e ,   a n d   h u m a n s . ?

T u r n i n g   t o   t h e   s l a t e   a g a i n ,   t h e   s a g e
p i c k e d   u p   t h e   c h a l k   a n d   s k e t c h e d   o u t   a
t r i a n g u l a r   s h a p e .   ? Y o u   s h o u l d   a l l   b e
f a m i l i a r   w i t h   t h e   f o o d - c h a i n   p y r a m i d ;   a t
t h e   b o t t o m   a r e   p l a n t s ,   u p o n   w h i c h   f e e d
t h e   h e r b i v o r e s ,   u p o n   w h i c h   f e e d   t h e   c a r n i v o r e s ,   a n d   s o   f o r t h .   B e h o l d e r s   s i t   a t   t h e
t o p   o f   t h e   p y r a m i d ,   p r e y i n g   u p o n   a l l
things. Because of their power, however,
they must spread out widely to allow one
a n o t h e r   f o o d   e n o u g h   t o   e a t ,   a n d   t o   a v o i d
c o m p e t i t i o n .   I t   i s   a l m o s t   u n k n o w n   f o r
more than one beholder to be seen at a
t i m e ,   t h o u g h   i t   i s   k n o w n   t h a t   t h e y   w i l l
cooperate with their own kind, and they
c a n   s p e a k   w i t h   e a c h   o t h e r   i n   t h e i r   o w n
tongue.

? T h o u g h   e v i l ,   t h e y   a r e   p r o n e   t o   l a w fulness as well and may take on servant
creatures by duress or charm to serve as
guardians of treasure, or as guardians of
the beholder?s personal safety. These servant creatures are also a means of implementing the eye tyrant?s plans to carry
d e s t r u c t i o n   t o   a l l   o t h e r   l i f e   i t   e n c o u n t e r s ,
and accumulate magical treasure. Gargoyles are highly favored for such uses,
since they are too stupid and too undisciplined to resist the beholder?s demands,
a n d   n o t   p o w e r f u l   e n o u g h   t o   g i v e   t h e i r
master discomfort and perhaps bring
a b o u t   t h e i r   a n n i h i l a t i o n . ?

T h e   s a g e   p a u s e d   f o r   a   b r e a t h ,   t h e n   c o n tinued with, ?We now come to reproduct i o n . ?   W h i l e   t h i s   t o p i c   u s u a l l y   b r o u g h t
smiles and giggles to the faces of the
class, now the students watched the sage
w i t h   c o m p l e t e   a t t e n t i o n .   ? O n c e   a   y e a r ,
e v e r y   b e h o l d e r   l a y s   a   c l u t c h   o f   o n e   t o   f o u r
e g g s ,   e a c h   a b o u t   a   f o o t   i n   d i a m e t e r ,   b y
e x p e l l i n g   t h e m   f r o m   t h e   i n t e r n a l   o r g a n
that produces eggs and spitting the eggs
from its mouth. These eggs are deadw h i t e ,   s p h e r i c a l ,   a n d   l e a t h e r y   i n   t e x t u r e
and appearance. They have a repulsive
odor that repels predators, but which
unfortunately leads the more dedicated
foes of the eye tyrants unerringly to the
clutch.

? T h e   l a y i n g   o f   e g g s   i s   i n s t i n c t i v e ,   b u t
the beholder consciously chooses the site
where the eggs will be left ? always far
f r o m   i t s   l a i r ,   a n d   u s u a l l y   u p o n   a   r o c k y ,
desolate height. Such spots have been
used by beholders over many centuries,
a n d   i t   i s   t h o u g h t   t h a t   a l l   s u c h   c r e a t u r e s
remember their birthplaces and return
there to lay their eggs. After being laid,
t h e   e g g s   w i l l   h a t c h   i n   t w o   t o   t w e l v e
m o n t h s ;   e g g - l a y i n g   a n d   h a t c h i n g   o c c u r
i n   n o   p a r t i c u l a r   s e a s o n.

? O n c e   l a i d ,   t h e   e g g s   a r e   l e f t   a l o n e   t o
their fate. Few beholder eggs hatch any
m o r e ;   h u m a n s ,   d e m i - h u m a n s ,   a n d
h u m a n o i d   r a c e s   a l l   w i l l   g o   t o   g r e a t
lengths to destroy them. And the influe n c e   o f   n a t u r e ,   w i t h   i t s   s t o r m s   a n d   d i s eases, must be accounted for as well.
T h o s e   e g g s   t h a t   s u r v i v e   w i l l   s w e l l   a n d
g r o w   o v e r   t i m e   u n t i l   j u s t   b e f o r e   h a t c h i n g ,
when they are three feet across. The
young beholder then expands suddenly,
s p l i t t i n g   t h e   s h e l l   a p a r t ,   a n d   i t   i s   f r e e .   A t
t h i s   t i m e   i t   e a t s   i t s   o w n   s h e l l ,   a n d   i s
i m m e d i a t e l y   c a p a b l e   o f   u s i n g   a l l   t h e
p o w e r s   o f   i t s   p a r e n t .   I t s   b i t e   i s   l e s s   p o w e r f u l ,   m u c h   l i k e   a   d a g g e r   t h r u s t   i n   e f f e c t ,
a n d   c e r t a i n   o f   i t s   m a g i c a l   i n f l u e n c e s   a r e
at reduced effectiveness, but it will grow
within a year?s time to be as dangerous as
a n y   o t h e r   o f   i t s   r a c e . ?

T h e   s a g e   s e t t l e d   h i m s e l f   a g a i n s t   t h e
s t o n e   t a b l e   h e   u s e d   f o r   a   l e c t e r n .   ? T h e   l i f e
s p a n   o f   a   b e h o l d e r   i s   u n k n o w n ,   b u t
t h o u g h t   t o   b e   v e r y   l o n g   i n d e e d .   O n e   s p e c i m e n   h a s   s u r v i v e d ,   i f   t h e   l e g e n d s   a b o u t   i t
can be trusted, for nine hundred seasons.
A s   f o r   s o c i a l   a n d   p h i l o s o p h i c a l   a s p e c t s   o f
the beholder?s existence . . . your guesses
e q u a l   m i n e   f o r   a c c u r a c y .   T h e y   d e s i r e   t h e
e x t i n c t i o n   o f   a l l   s p e c i e s   b u t   t h e m s e l v e s
a n d   t h o s e   t h e y   c a n   m a n i p u l a t e   t o   i n c r e a s e
t h e i r   p o w e r   a n d   i n f l u e n c e .   T h i s   i s   a l m o s t
a l l   t h a t   i s   k n o w n   o f   t h e i r   i n n e r m o s t
thoughts and designs.?

There the sage paused and looked
a b o u t   t h e   c l a s s   e x p e c t a n t l y .   A f t e r   a
m o m e n t ,   t h e   y o u n g   b o y   w h o   h a d   c a u g h t
the sage?s attention earlier spoke up.

? T e a c h e r , ?   h e   s a i d ,   ? w h a t   i s   t h e   b e s t   w a y
t o   k i l l   o n e   o f   t h e m ? ?

I knew you would ask that,  thought the
old man to himself. He looked over the
heads of his audience, at a point far away.
?The best way to kill one of them . . . .
That is difficult to say. In combat,
b e h o l d e r s   p r e f e r   n o t   t o   c l o s e   w i t h   a n
enemy, and will stand off a distance to
u s e   t h e i r   s p e l l s .   T h e   l i t t l e   e y e   t h a t   p e r f o r m s   t e l e k i n e s i s   w i l l   c o m e   i n t o   p l a y   f i r s t ,
t o   h u r l   m i s s i l e s   a t   i t s   o p p o n e n t s ,   c a t c h
l i g h t   o p p o n e n t s   a n d   c a s t   t h e m   i n t o   t h e
a i r   t o   b e   d r o p p e d ,   o r   t o   d e f l e c t   o n c o m i n g
missiles one at a time.

? T h e   g r e a t   e y e ,   w i t h   i t s   a n t i - m a g i c a l
i n f l u e n c e ,   w i l l   f o c u s   o n   a n y o n e   w h o
a p p e a r s   c a p a b l e   o f   s p e l l   c a s t i n g ,   t h a t   i s ,
a n y o n e   n o t   w e a r i n g   a r m o r .   A s   f o r   c l o s i n g
w i t h   i t ,   t h a t   c a n n o t   b e   d o n e   i n   t h e   o u t d o o r s   s i n c e   i t   w i l l   l e v i t a t e   i t s e l f   u p   o u t   o f
t h e   r e a c h   o f   w e a p o n r y ,   w h i l e   t i l t i n g   i t s e l f
a n d   a l l o w i n g   i t s   e y e s   t o   c o n t i n u e   t o   d o
their work. Perhaps the best way to slay
o n e   w o u l d   b e   t o   a t t a c k   i t   a t   l o n g   r a n g e
with masses of archers, stout and paid
well, and supported well by magic-armed
fighters in case gargoyles lurked about.
O n e   c o u l d   p u t   p o i s o n   i n   b a i t e d   t r a p s   t o
c a t c h   t h e   c r e a t u r e   u n a w a r e s ,   t h o u g h   a
long wait is assured. One could use
arcane and enchanted devices at either a
g r e a t   r a n g e ,   o r   a t   a   c l o s e r   r a n g e   w i t h   t h e
a i d   o f   p r o t e c t i v e   r i n g s   o r   c l o a k s ,   a n d   h o p e
t h a t   t h e   p r o t e c t i o n   i s   e n o u g h .   .   .   . ?

At this juncture the sage?s voice faded
away as he looked into the eyes of the boy
w h o   h a d   a s k e d   t h e   d i f f i c u l t   q u e s t i o n .   H e
remembered that the boy was a member
o f   a   n e a r b y   c h u r c h ,   o n e   t h a t   w a s   r a t h e r
s t r i c t   a n d   o n   t h e   m i l i t a n t   s i d e ,   b u t   a   g o o d
c h u r c h   n o n e t h e l e s s .   .   .   .   A n d   w a s n ? t   i t
s a i d   t h a t   t h i s   b o y   w a s   t a k i n g   s o m e   k i n d
o f   s p e c i a l   t r a i n i n g ?

? O r , ?   t h e   s a g e   w e n t   o n ,   ? s o m e o n e   w h o
w a s   i m m u n e   t o   m o s t   o f   t h e   m a g i c a l   p o w e r s   o f   t h e   b e h o l d e r ,   s u c h   a s   a   p a l a d i n
w i t h   a   h o l y   s w o r d   ?   s u c h   a   p e r s o n   c o u l d
c a t c h   a   b e h o l d e r   i n   i t s   u n d e r g r o u n d   l a i r ,
a n d   w o u l d   s t a n d   a   g o o d   c h a n c e   o f   c l o s i n g
w i t h   i t   t o   d e s t r o y   i t   i n   c o m b a t . ?

The boy nodded, apparently satisfied.

After another pause, the sage dusted off
h i s   h a n d s   a g a i n .   ? C l a s s   i s   o v e r .   I   w i l l   s e e
y o u   a l l   a g a i n   t o m o r r o w   m o r n i n g . ?   H e
r e a c h e d   a r o u n d   b e h i n d   h i m   f o r   h i s   b o o k s
a n d   s c r o l l s   a n d   c a r e f u l l y   p i l e d   t h e m   u p   t o
t a k e   t h e m   b a c k   t o   h i s   l i b r a r y .   B e f o r e   h e
l e f t   h e   t u r n e d   o n e   l a s t   t i m e   t o   f o l l o w   t h e
progress of the boy who had asked the
q u e s t i o n ,   b u t   t h e   y o u t h   w a s   l o s t   i n   t h e
crowd of children who were now scatteri n g   t o   t h e   f o u r   w i n d s .

? G o o d   l u c k , ?   s a i d   t h e   s a g e   i n   a   s o f t
v o i c e ,   a s   i f   t o   h i m s e l f .   T h e n   h e   t o o   t o o k
h i s   l e a v e   o f   t h e   a m p h i t h e a t e r ,   a n d   a l l   w a s
q u i e t   a g a i n .

Appendix

1. Whenever a hit is attempted on a
beholder, roll percentile dice to see where
t h e   h i t   m i g h t   l a n d :

01-75	Hit vs. AC 0 body (takes twot h i r d s   o f   h i t - p o i n t   t o t a l   o f   b e h o l d e r before creature is slain).
7 6 - 8 5	H i t   v s .   A C   7   m a i n   ( 1 1 t h )   e y e ( t a k e s   o n e - t h i r d   o f   h i t   p o i n t   t o t a l   o f beholder before eye is destroyed, but b e h o l d e r   s t i l l   a l i v e ) .
8 6 - 9 5	H i t   v s .   A C   2   e y e s t a l k ,   o n e o n l y ;   r o l l   d 1 0   a n d   u s e   c h a r t   o n   p .   1 0   o f t h e   Monstter Manual   t o   d e t e r m i n e w h i c h   e y e s t a l k   i s   h i t .   B e h o l d e r s   w i t h 45-54 hp have eyestalks that take 8 hp damage each before being severed; 55-64 hp beholders have eyestalks taking 10 hp damage; 65-75 hp beholders have eyestalks taking 12 hp damage. If severed, eye in question will cease f u n c t i o n i n g .
9 6 - 0 0	H i t   v s .   A C   7   s m a l l   e y e ,   o n e o n l y ;   r o l l   d 1 0   a s   a b o v e   t o   d e t e r m i n e w h i c h   e y e   i s   a f f e c t e d .   A n y   h i t   o n   a small eye immediately destroys it and its powers.

2 .   T h e   m a g i c   r e s i s t a n c e   o f   a   b e h o l d e r   i s
l i s t e d   a s   ? s p e c i a l ?   b e c a u s e   o f   t h e   a n t i m a g i c   r a y   e m a n a t i n g   f r o m   t h e   1 1 t h   e y e .
The ray, as stated by the sage, only causes
m a g i c   s p e l l s   a n d   s p e l l - l i k e   p o w e r s   t o
c e a s e   f u n c t i o n i n g   w i t h i n   i t s   a r e a   o f   e f f e c t ;
t h e   ? p l u s s e s ?   o f   a   m a g i c   s w o r d ,   f o r
i n s t a n c e ,   w o u l d   r e m a i n   f u n c t i o n a l   ( s i n c e
t h i s   i s   n o t   a   s p e l l - l i k e   p o w e r ) ,   b u t   a   wand
of fireballs  would not be able to cast a
fireball  spell while the ray was enveloping it and its wielder.

3. Beholders are considered as aerial
maneuverability class A, despite their
slow speed.

4. Newly hatched beholders may be
considered to have 45 hp, and  charms,
sleep, slow,  and  death  spells they cast are
saved against at a +2 bonus. Unhatched
beholders are AC 4, have no attacks, and
take 25 hp to destroy.

5. The spell-like powers of the
beholder?s eyes work instantly, in the first
segment of a melee round, but must
?recharge? for the rest of the round before
firing again.

6. Beholders may levitate themselves
without limit, to the height of the breathable atmosphere.

7. The arrangement of each beholder?s
eyes is different from nearly all others;
referees should work out this detail prior
to combat to determine which eyes may
fire in which direction, since the small
eyes cannot point in just any direction.

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THE FORUM (Dragon #81)

I just have to make some corrections to
"The Ecology of the Beholder" (issue #76).

As should be obvious of any creature
described as an omnivore, beholders are not
at the top of the food pyramid. Granted,
few would dare to attack beholders -- a
large red dragon, perhaps, or a small flier
like a stirge if we assume the beholder's
eyestalks are unable to aim at the beholder
itself, a quite likely condition given the
deadliness of some eyes and in accord wtih
the picture; the stirge could sit atop the
beholder and drink a full meal in fair safety
-- but the beholder is an intelligent killer,
unable to kill with any regularity any very
large prety.

The beholder is slow and its spell powers
are of limited range. Any creature not
surprised at close range will simply stay too
far away to catch. So it must surprise from
ambush. Nor is the victim apt to be big,
since in that case only one eye (death ray) is
useful (killing and leaving something to eat)
and big creatures have good saving throws,
after which they can leave, or try to kill the
beholder at their option. (No sensible pred-
ator is going to risk odds of even 100-1 in a
battle to the death, so the beholder would
leave the big stuff alone.) In net, the be-
holder attacks small and medium game,
preferably under 2500 gp weight and under
4 hit dice.

The range of the beholder is also limited
by its nature. In any open territory, the
beholder is extremely limited in its ability to
get close enough to attack anything, and
also limited in being able to get away. Any-
thing armed with a missile weapon can
consider the beholder a safe target, at best
able to delay fire while the attacker reposi-
tions himself out of spell range. The only
safety would be to levitate out of sight,
which would still leave the beholder hungry,
and a flier such as a dragon would still have
the upper hand. Only in swamps, dun-
geons, or maybe heavy forest where the
maximum range of missile weapons would
be less than maximum spell range could the
beholder have a chance.

This forbids the given means of reproduction.
A beholder forced to travel to some
distant peak would be lucky to survive the
trip, having to flee from every band of orcs
and just about everything else. Food would
be just about impossible to find. Now, the
salmon puts up with such difficulties (which
are usually fatal for it) because the kids are
safer and can feed better. But the baby
beholder would face the same problems as
its parent and would be even less likely to
survive.

Naturally, beholders act in a more sensi-
ble way. Note that maximum hit points are
almost twice minimum. When the beholder
reaches the maximum, it divides in two,
producing two minimum hit point behold-
ers. A supply of food is first accumulated,
then eaten as the shell splits. The two ?ba-
bies? continue to eat as their shells harden
(a few hours), during which time they are
AC 10 and their eyestalks are not strong
enough to aim the eyes, so they can be
killed fairly easily. Once the shells harden,
one will drive off the other (usually harm-
lessly, but double deaths have resulted) and
will take over its parent?s territory. The
loser will try to find some vacant territory
or drive out another beholder, sometimes
with success.

David Carl Argall
La Puente, Calif.
(Dragon #81)

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