Water-Horse
Created by Roger E. Moore
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 WaterHorse 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 saving throw based on Strength,
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 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 6th-level
Fighter looking over a shapechanged
horse has a 30% chance of noting such a
clue. Zero-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 9th-level Cleric. 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.