FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 5
MOVE: //6"
HIT DICE: 8 (brain only)
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: Incidental
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 arm strike
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-16
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Buffeting
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Hidden vulnerable part,
weapons resistances
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Semi-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L (12' tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes:
Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: VI / 725 + 10/hp
This creature is not a true giant, but is
actually a composition of several hundred
strands of semi-intelligent seaweed. The
weed giant is not rooted and, although
it
gains food in the manner that regular
seaweed does (i.e., through nutrients in
the water), it also feeds by entrapping
creatures or other plants in its strands
and
decomposing them with its digestive secretions.
The weed giant then absorbs its
victim(s) through its strands. In this
manner,
the weed giant is similar to an aquatic
variation of a shambling mound.
Though composed of vegetable matter,
the weed giant is an intelligent lifeform;
it
thinks and acts with the same instincts
and drives that many animals do. The
brain of this creature is at the center
of its
weed structure; it is from this point that
the strands emanate. In order to kill a
weed giant, a successful attack must be
made against the creature's brain rather
than against its kelp strands. Attacks
made
against the creature's brain are against
AC
3; all other attacks are against AC 9,
but
do not effective hit-point damage to the
monster, merely cutting away strands of
weed which grow back in full in 1-4
weeks. The brain can be attacked at random
10% of the time (roll this chance
before rolling to hit the necessary armor
class); because the brain is mobile, it
is
virtually impossible to attack directly
(in a
nonrandom fashion).
In combat, the weed giant does 2-16 hp
damage on a strike with its weedy appendages
("arms" or "legs"); if the creature
misses, the displacement of water forces
the victim away from the weed giant (a
distance equal to 4-24') unless a save
is
made vs. paralysis. This water buffeting
can also be employed by the weed giant
to
deflect any missile fire from any engine
smaller than a ballista. However, unless
the missiles strike the brain, they cause
no
damage to the weed giant at all. All edged
weapons (except magical) cause only half
damage against this creature; blunt
weapons cause no damage at all.
by Spike Y. Jones
| Ocean monsters | Monsters | Dragon #116 | Dragon magazine | 1st Edition AD&D |