FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 10/5 (exoskeleton)
MOVE: Nil
HIT DICE: 3
% IN LAIR: 100%
TREASURE TYPE: Individual
NO. OF ATTACKS: See below
DAMAGE/ATTACK: See below
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Poison, psionic powers
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Poison
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Exceptional
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: S (2')
PSIONIC ABILITY: 60-100
Attack/Defense Modes:
See below
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: III/120 + 3/hp
Brain coral is an evolutionary offshoot
of
a type of stony coral. It has an exoskeleton
that is convoluted and ridged so that it
resembles a human brain. Like its simpler
cousin, this more advanced type of brain
coral is restricted to the warm waters
of
the tidal zone, but may be found at depths
of 1,000? + . Usually, it is found with
the
growth of a coral reef or atoll where
feeding is easier.
The brain coral consists of the animal
polyp which has settled and, over the
years, built up an exoskeleton of pure
calcium carbonate around it for protection.
The exoskeletonis AC 5 and takes
damage equal to the total hit points of
the
polyp before fracturing enough to allow
the attacker to actually get at the AC
10
polyp. Nematocyts (stinging cells) throughout
the skeleton inject a weak neurotoxin
into victims which can paralyze for 1-10
rounds (save vs. poison at +4).
The brain coral has a psionic strength of
30-50 points (60-100 psionic ability) with
attack/defense modes randomly determined
as for player characters. It has 2-5
minor disciplines and a 25% chance of
having a major discipline. The minor disciplines
are among the following: animal
telepathy, cell adjustment (as fighter),
domination, ESP, invisibility, and clairvoyance.
The major discipline is telekinesis,
which is always accompanied by clairvoyance
as a minor discipline. All powers are
at the ninth level of mastery.
If encountered, a brain coral may attempt
to read its visitors? minds if the
coral has ESP If attacked and if it possesses
telekinesis, the brain coral uses its
power either to move attackers away from
the area or to batter one attacker with
underwater debris for 2-5 hp damage/
round.
Brain coral skeletons are yellow, brown,
or olive in color. If removed from the
water, the skeleton turns bone white.
by Gregg Chamberlain
| Ocean monsters | Monsters | Dragon #116 | Dragon magazine | 1st Edition AD&D |