After carefully researching our files, we
found that we had only two slimes to offer
you for this month’s Bestiary. But they’re
the very best slimes, of course.

XADOR'S FLUID
Created by: Thomas M. Kane

FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 3
MOVE: 6?
HIT DICE: 6
% IN LAIR: 100%
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1 hp per turn
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Entrapment,
suffocation
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Animal
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: 3-18 square feet (see below)
PSIONIC ABILITIES: Nil
ATTACK/DEFENSE MODES: Nil/Nil
LEVEL/XP VALUE: V/400 + 6 per hp

This creature is a form of sentient slime
or jelly, usually found in rocky, damp
areas where it blends with more common
molds. It is dangerous to PCs, but not as
outwardly damaging as other such beings.
In fact, resourceful characters might use
this substance to their advantage. Xador?s
fluid is a clear, runny material, covering
about one square foot for every two of its
hit points. To feed and reproduce, this
fluid must absorb nutrients from the flesh
of a living creature. Xador?s fluid can sense
the presence of such beings from heat
emissions within 10?.

Anyone within 10? of Xador?s fluid is
subject to its sudden attack. If the fluid
makes a successful ?to hit? roll, it has
flowed over its victim. It then combines
with living skin, hardening it to the consistency
of rock. The victim is solidified, as
if coated with a thin layer of plastic, and
must save vs. death magic. If the save is
successful, the fluid has been kept out of
the nose and mouth. Otherwise, the victim
loses consciousness in one round and dies
1-4 rounds later unless his mouth is freed.
Even if suffocation is avoided, Xador?s fluid
drains 1 hp per turn (10 rounds) from its
victim as it consumes the victim?s fluids.
After 5-8 days, the solidified fluid flakes
off, reliquifies, and divides in two. Each
new fluid then seeks its own victim.

A barkskin spell destroys solidified
Xador?s fluid. A blow with a weapon can
also shatter hardened Xador?s fluid. Every
3 hp damage done to the fluid inflicts 1 hp
damage on a solidified character. Damaging
the Xador?s fluid for 4 + hp frees the
mouth and nose of a victim, if such an
intent is declared. If the trapped character
makes a bend bars/lift gates roll, or if
damage equal to the fluids hit points are
inflicted, the fluid flakes off, destroyed.

This creature is named for Lord Xador,
an evil noble who punished miscreants by
solidifying them in this fluid. Their hardened
forms were then displayed as statues
and destroyed before the fluid reproduced.
Various uses for Xador?s fluid may
occur to inventive PCs. Of course, a means
of capturing the fluid must be established
(it cannot eat through any material other
than living flesh). As one example of the
uses of Xador?s fluid, a gallon jar of the
fluid may be used as armor in an emergency,
if five rounds are spent applying it.
This allows AC 3 for the user, who can
wear only normal clothing at most under
the fluid. The fluid must be applied to
allow for the movement of joints, of
course. The few who have tried this say
the ?armor? feels painfully tight, and they
cannot sleep while ?wearing? it. Such
armor (?Xador?s mail?) is no more encumbering
than padded armor. However, the
?wearer? loses 1 hp to the actions of the
fluid every turn, and the fluid (which, in
one-gallon size, has 6 hp and can cover
three square feet) still reproduces in 5-8
days if the ?wearer? is slain before then.

Additionally, a small bit may be applied
to the knuckles in one round, allowing
pummeling as if a dagger pommel were
used, or it may serve to immobilize prisoners.
Of course, failure to remove the
fluid within a few hours may slay the
captives. Xador?s fluid must envelope at
least one man-sized victim every two
weeks, or else it will dry up and die.
 

QUAGMIRE
Created by: Scott Bennie

FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVE: 2?
HIT DICE: 6
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: Incidental
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: l-3
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Entrapment, smothering,
surprise on a 1-5
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Surprised on a 1
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Semi-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
LEVEL/XP VALUE: VI/550 + 6 per hp

Quagmires, or living quicksand, are
strange creatures related to assorted oozes
that live in marshes. Quagmires are virtually
undetectable, blending in perfectly
with the terrain. They can sense heat
sources (i.e., warm bodies) in a 240-yard
radius, and often emit a variety of attractive
scents to lure animal prey. When a
victim comes within 10? of a quagmire, the
creature grabs it with a pseudopod (?to
hit? roll required) and draws it quickly
into its body, smothering it in 2-8 rounds.
The victim of a quagmire may make one
bend bars/lift gates roll to break its grasp;
otherwise it cannot attack. The quagmire
can swallow the following numbers of
creatures in a single day: four smallerthan-
man-size, two man-size, or one
larger-than-man-size. If a quagmire is
killed, the victim may be pulled free; otherwise,
in six hours, the victim is considered
digested and cannot be raised from
the dead.

Quagmires devour organic matter, even
leather, bone, and paper, but will leave
deposits of metal and gems (the undigested
remains of their victims). Quagmires are
huge, with ?pools? 30? in diameter not
unknown. They are believed to reproduce
by fission. Because quagmires blend in
with their surroundings, they have no
true coloration.
 

NOVEMBER 1987