FREQUENCY: Uncommon on Astral Plane; unknown elsewhere
NO. APPEARING: 16
ARMOR CLASS: 10
MOVE: 12" to 18" (see below)
HIT DICE: 24
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 tail slap
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 10-40
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Telekinesis
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Molecular shock
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Very to genius
ALIGNMENT: Neutral good
SIZE: L (70' to 100' long)
PSIONIC ABILITY: 220-280
    Attack/Defense Modes: All / all
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: X/13600 + 35/hp

    (Note: See DRAGON Magazine #67 for
more information on the Astral Plane and
the nature of movement and combat in that
environment.)

    Now and then come reports from astral
travelers of what appear to be great whale-like
beings "swimming" through astral
space. These creatures, called star leviathans
for the sparkling appearance of their
hides, do not appear to be evil or cruel, and
some actually seem friendly to travelers who
do not try to attack them.

    A star leviathan resembles a blue whale
except that it has a very dark blue, almost
black, color; there are tiny silver and gold
flecks shot throughout their skins that produce
an appearance like the gemstone lapis lazuli.
When seen, star leviathans each trail a
silver cord, so they are obviously using a
form of astral projection to travel through
the Astral Plane; no one knows which
Prime Material Plane they come from; and
they have never revealed their home to
anyone even under duress or charm. They
are apparently a race of psionic whales,
normally ocean-dwelling but capable of
psionic astral projection which they apparently
use for their amusement and curiosity.
They can also use one other psionic power
while simultaneously using astral projection
in astral space. Star leviathans move at a
rate in tens of yards per round equal to
their intelligence score, as do all astral
beings.

    Because of their great size, star leviathans
can be seen from a great distance (500-5000
yards); they, on the other hand, will not be
aware of man-sized or smaller creatures
until they are much closer. Evading them is
not difficult if one is not surprised. Upon
discovering other living creatures in astral
space, star leviathans will use telepathy in
order to communicate with them. They will
sometimes follow adventurers or other astral
travelers for a long time, and will assist
them so long as the travelers are friendly
and do not mind "talking."

    In addition to telepathy and astral projection,
star leviathans have the psionic discipline
of telekinesis and use it at the 24th
level of mastery, able to move masses of up
to 9000 gp weight. They are not accustomed
to using telekinesis to hurl missiles or
opponents, and will not do so even if shown
how to (they do not have the binocular,
three-dimensional vision required for this
because of the placement of their eyes).
They do, however, know how to catch objects
in their telekinesis grip at ranges out to
270 yards, and may pull them in closer for
inspection. If attacked, they have been
known to catch opponents with telekinesis
and hold them while another leviathan
moves over and smashes them with its tail
for 10-40 points of damage. More than one
opponent, so long as their total mass does
not exceed 900 lbs., can be caught by a
single star leviathan's telekinesis. Though
they have mouths, star leviathans are not
toothed whales (probably eating planktonlike
creatures on their home world) and
do not bite in combat.

    Star leviathans have one special defensive
ability, but will use it only if they are surrounded
and hard pressed in close combat,
and low in hit points. In one round they
can charge themselves with a form of molecular
manipulation (costing 90 psionic
strength points) wich causes their bodies to
glow brightly. Each charge will last for four
rounds, fading out at the end of that time.
During those four rounds, any non-living
object (missile, weapon, or whatever) hitting
the star leviathan must make a saving
throw vs. magical fire, with appropriate
bonuses for magical enchantments (if any
are possessed while in astral space) or be
disintegrated without damaging the creature.
Living creatures who directly touch a
star leviathan's energy field or are holding
onto something that is touching a leviathan's
field are also affected, and must save
vs. spells or take 4-16 points of damage (half if
the save is made). All items on that person
must also save vs. magical fire or be disintegrated.
If attackers move away when it
starts to glow, it will strike at one with its
tail to deliver physical damage and the
molecular shock range at the same time. It
takes one full round to charge the molecular
shock field, during which time the star
leviathan cannot attack or move; any physical
damage it sustains during that round
will not stop production of the field, however,
which goes into effect at the start of
the next round.

    If a star leviathan runs out of psionic
ability points at any time while on the Astral
Plane, it will disappear (its spirit returns
to its home plane). The DM will need
to keep careful track of a leviathan's psionic
ability points, remembering to subtract 10
points from the initially generated score for
the astral projection power which is continuously
maintained; those 10 points cannot
be recovered by resting until the leviathan
leaves the Astral Plane.

    Star leviathans have what is best described
as a "godlike" personality. They
generally treat other travelers as interesting
but minor companions, and are experienced
and knowledgeable about the astral environment.
They are playful, and it is difficult to
convince them to treat any matter seriously;
they seem amused even when confronting
powerful evil opponents. Living in astral
space for such prolonged periods has altered
their perception of time, and they treat all
events as either in the distant, remote past
(no matter how long ago it was), or in the
immediate present. Evil creatures will avoid
them whenever possible, and most good and
neutral creatures will leave them alone as
well unless there is a need for cooperation,
such as teaming up against a massed attack
of powerful opponents. Leviathans will
allow small beings to "hitch rides" by hanging
onto their tails or broad flippers, and
ask in return only telepathic conversation.
They do not speak any vocal language.
 

    by Roger Moore