Gaund
Created by Ed Greenwood
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-20
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVE: 15"
HIT DICE: 4+4
% IN LAIR: 30%
TREASURE TYPE: [Q] (x4)
NO. OF ATTACKS: 4
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4/1-4/1-6/1-8
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: See below
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Average
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: M
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense
Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: <>
Gaund are reptilian creatures that
scramble about on all fours,
rising to
their hind legs only in
mating, combat,
and to survey their surroundings.
When
so erect, they use their
tails for balance.
Their skin is scaled and
leathery, greygreen in color. Being omnivorous, Gaund
husband food carefully,
often maintaining breeding colonies of lesser animals
to ensure themselves of
a plentiful supply. Communicating in a language of
singing clicks and hollow
whistling
sounds, Gaund lair in groups
of up to
twenty in dry, fiery caverns.
They are
rarely found in cool climates,
or above
ground.
In combat, Gaund leap about
constantly, hurling themselves at and upon
targets and using their
tails as rams or
whips (for 1-8 points of
damage). They
are fearless, and the death
of a fellow will
often drive them to fight
with greater
ferocity. Unless pinned
down or caught
from behind, Gaund do not
use their rear
claws in battle. (The powerful
kicks they
will employ in such special
situations do
3-12 points of damage.)
The most feared attack of
the Gaund is
the ray or gaze effect
of its central eye.
This orb, protected by a
bony hood
(which narrows the field
of vision so that
the Gaund must aim its head
to employ
the gaze), produces a magical
Heat Metal
effect within a range of
3.
Gaund suffer no damage from
heat,
steam (even that of a Dragon
Turtle) or
normal fire. Magical fire
attacks do less
damage to them (-2 on all
dice) than is
the norm. Gaund avoid water
although it
does them no harm, and are
markedly
susceptible to cold-based
attacks (+2 on
all dice).
The excellent 7 infravision,
hearing,
and sensitivity to vibrations
of Gaund
preclude their being effectively
blinded
by smoke or vapors (even
that produced
by spells such as Pyrotechnicsand
Cloudkill, and by creatures such as the Nightmare). They are also rarely
(1 on a d6)
surprised.
Gaund are hermaphroditic.
Mating rituals have been observed to include an
upright, shuffling head-to-head
dance.
The skin of the pregnant
specimens
turns fiery orange. After
a gestation
period of 4 months, an egg
is produced.
Gaund eggs have leathery
shells and are
covered in a clear, spicy-odored,
jellylike slime that is a fire retardant. The
slime is contained in an
organ located in
the underbelly, and will
not corrode or
otherwise damage other materials
which
may be used to contain it.
It and all acids
will neutralize each other,
and it will
spoil potions and perfumes
it is mixed
with. It is poisonous (Type
A) if ingested,
but harmless upon skin contact.
Smeared
on a cloak or other flammable
item, it will
give upon first exposure
only a +4 bonus
to saving throws vs. fire,
+3 vs. magical
fire and fireball. Gaund
eggs are guarded
ferociously, and will hatch
in 3-12 days.
Immature Gaund are small
in size, having 2+4 hit dice, and lack the power to
Heat
Metal with their gaze. They mature
in 3-6 months.
Gaund teeth are both hard and durable.
They are often fashioned into daggers which dull easily but (unlike ivory)
do not readily split or
shatter. The tails of
Gaund are highly valued
for the rich,
succulent meat found therein,
which
does not readily spoil.
Gaund hoard gems and pretty
stones
of all sorts, and have been
known to
trade these for food to
parties too strong
for them to overcome.
