FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 18”
HIT DICE: 6 + 6
% IN LAIR: 25%
TREASURE TYPE: C,
Q x 10
NUMBER OF ATTACKS:
1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-8
(bite)
SPECIAL ATTACKS:
Adhesive hide; curse (10%)
SPECIAL DEFENSES:
Shapechange to humanoid form
MAGIC RESISTANCE:
30%
INTELLIGENCE: Very
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic
Evil
SIZE: L
PSIONIC ABILITY:
Nil
Attack Defense Modes: Nil
This monster’s normal
form is that of
an unusually attractive
horse between
pony
and draft-horse size. The Water
Horse is found near fresh-water lakes
and rivers, where
it wanders in SEARCH of
its unsuspecting
prey. Often people may
attempt to capture
and ride it, which it
allows with some
ease; however, the rider(s) soon discovers that the skin of the
Water-Horse is sticky
and one cannot
pull loose unless
one has successfully
made a SAVE based
on STR,
as if attempting
to bend bars or lift gates.
One attempt to pull
free of the horse is
allowed per round.
During this time,
however, the Water-Horse
will run into
the body of water
it is nearest to. The
victim will drown
in 3-6 rounds thereafter unless freed. Water-Horses can
naturally breathe
either air or water, as
desired. They are
particularly hated and
feared, because they
seem to prefer to
attack children,
who are more careless
than adults and are
easier prey.
Water-Horses can shapechange
into
humanoid <anthropomorphic>
form (4½-6½ feet tall) and
wander among men
and other beings,
attempting to catch
solitary beings unawares. There is a chance (the level of
the observer times
5%) that someone
seeing the shapechanged
Water-Horse
will note an anomaly,
usually bits of lake
flora or algae in
the creature’s hair, that
may give the creature
away. A Myrmidon looking over a shapechanged
horse has a 30% chance
of noting such a
clue. 0-level beings
have a 1% chance
of noting an anomaly.
Some 10% of all Water-Horses
are
able to Curse
(saving throw allowed) if
all other forms of
attack fail against a
single opponent.
This spell functions as
if cast by a High
Priest. All Water
Horses speak their
alignment tongue,
common, and their
own language.
If captured somehow
and forced to
serve as a (unridden)
draft animal, the
Water-Horse, regardless
of size, will be
able to haul or carry
twice the load that a
draft horse can.
It will constantly attempt
to kill its master,
however, unless charmed.
| Dragon | Dragon 48 | Monsters | Monster Manual | 1st Edition AD&D |