FREQUENCY: Very rare (uncommon on
Elemental Plane of Water)
NO. APPEARING: 2-20
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVE: //12"
HIT DICE: 2
% IN LAIR: 80%
TREASURE TYPE: P, R, any two magic items (20%)
NO. OF ATTACKS: See below
DAMAGE/ATTACK: See below
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Rapid drowning, paralysis
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Invisible in water, plane shift
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Low
ALIGNMENT: Neutral evil
SIZE: S(3? long)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
    Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: IV / 163 + 2/hp

These creatures come from the Elemental
Plane of Water. Like water weirds, they
enjoy drowning their victims; it is also
believed that they survive by draining the
lifeforce of their victims. In appearance,
undines are similar to miniature merwomen;
they have a single, scaled, lateral tail
(much like that of a dolphin) which is
connected to a humanoid upper body.
Their lairs are simply areas of water
which they use as a base for traveling
between planes, This area is found along a
well-traveled route, populated seacoast, or
any other area which offers a great number
of potential victims. As a result, many
bodies often litter the floor of the lake,
river, or ocean that they inhabit.

Undines have the ability to charm monsters
as per the spell, usable once per day.
By doing so, undines can command larger
sea creatures (whales, giant squids, or
octopi) to do their bidding. Undines use
these larger creatures to destroy ships or
whisk sailors from decks. Once in the
water, these sailors are then attacked by
the undines, who attempt to slay them.
During this time, the other creatures do
not attack as the undine must kill the
victim themselves in order to consume
their lifeforce. An (invisible) undine grasps
a person on a successful to-hit roll, which
causes the victim to save vs. paralysis or
become completely paralyzed. The victim
drowns in 1-2 rounds, even if able to take
a deep breath before going under. Undines
are not strong, so a mobile character can
easily escape from one?s clutches.

Undines are naturally invisible in water,
even if attacking. If an undine is losing a
battle, the creature flees for its lair. Characters
attempting to locate an undine must
use magical means (spells or devices) to do
so. In extreme cases, as when the undine?s
death is the probable outcome of combat,
this creature may use its ability to transport
itself back to the Elemental Plane of
Water if no other means of escape is available.
This plane shift ability works once
per year, so they are reluctant to use it.
 
 

Ocean monsters

Monsters

Dragon #116

Dragon magazine

1st Edition AD&D