Mold

Molds are a variety of spore-producing fungi that form in decaying food or in warm, moist places. These fungi usually have a woolly or furry texture.

While most molds are harmless, there are (at least) three varieties of monstrous molds that pose a deadly threat to adventurers: brown, russet, and yellow mold.

These deadly molds are immune to most damage (whether via weapon, spell, energy, or other), mindless and immobile.

Molds do not have hit points but are vulnerable to certain forms of damage which will destroy all mold within the area of effect of such damage. Most commonly, one patch will be small around 2.5 feet in diameter to around 10 feet in diameter. However, there is no technical limit, so molds may grow to be thousands of square feet in area.

A creature can be surprised by a mold, not noticing it until it approaches, but, unless the mold is covered or the surface causes it to blend in, the mold will be noticed before it is touched, although it may be mistaken for a harmless growth or even something else (especially at a distance).

Brown Mold

Neutral Small to Large Plant

Surprise normal

Armor Class 9

Hit Points not applicable

Move 0"

Poison 16, Petrify 17, Wand 18, Breath 20, Spell 19

Special Defenses immune to non-cold damage, mindless

Weakness destroyed by magical cold damage, mindless

Magic Resistance standard

To Hit AC 0: not applicable

Special Attacks freezing

Base Morale not applicable

Intelligence non-

Languages none

Level IV

Freezing. If a creature walks within 5 feet of the patch, the mold will begin absorbing its body heat—even from a basically cold blooded creature. Each round that a creature is within 5 feet of brown mold, the mold will drain heat equal to 1d8 hit points frost damage for every 10 degrees of body heat over 55 degrees the creature has. i.e. humans and demi-humans (and most mammals) will take 4d8 frost damage per round. Cold-blooded creatures will depend somewhat on ambient temperatures but will usually take 3d8 (to 2d8 in cold conditions) frost damage.

Rapid Growth. This mold grows instantaneously from heat, so if a torch, flaming oil, or a fireball (explodes) is near the patch, it will be able to grow 2, 4, or 8 times its area from the heat fed to it. This growth will be so rapid that on the next round it will have spread and will be draining any further heat in its new area of growth. Magical light (a light or continual light spell) sheds no heat and will not affect the mold's growth rate.

Destroyed by Magical Cold Damage. Brown mold is affected only by magical cold, and no other magical or non-magical attacks affect it. An ice storm spell cast on it's area, or a wall of ice spell cast as a barrier will cause the mold to go dormant (it will not freeze creatures near it) for 5d6 turns. Otherwise, magical cold or frost damage (cone of cold, white dragon breath, etc.) will destroy all mold in the area of the attack.

Mindless. This creature is immune to mind-affecting magic. Mindless creatures make saving throws as if they were half of their listed hit dice with the exception of poison or death magic saves. The creature will use tactics instinctively, normally attacking the nearest opponent (or if several, one picked at random). Unless attacked by more than one opponent, it then attacks the same creature until it's prey drops—then it uses one round of coup de grace attacks before beginning to consume it (unless the description notes a different behavior). Otherwise, a mindless creature will attack the same opponent until it is damaged in melee by another opponent. The creature will then attack the opponent that last damaged it until it drops as noted above. Mindless creatures will only attack those not in melee unless all creatures in melee have dropped and are not moving. If a mindless creature has a special attack not related to it's melee weapons, it will use that attack if it rolls under 51% in any new round unless the description of the creature notes otherwise. Area attacks will target melee range creatures first and any creatures outside of melee range will be incidental (simplest placement to hit melee combatants or, if necessary, random placement of the ability). Some mindless creatures will have a preference in terms of prey (for example, attacking smaller creatures first) and this must be assessed when determining the creature's actions. Mindless creatures do not use regular rules for morale. A mindless creature always has a flat 50% for morale and begins checking for morale once it has reached under 50% of its hit points in damage unless the description states otherwise. A mindless creature cannot communicate with creatures not of it's type (and even then only at a very basic level; e.g. Threat Perceived, Food, etc.), has no languages, and has an Intelligence Rating of "Non-" (effectively "0").

Brown mold grows anywhere in underground areas. It is light tan to golden brown in color. It cannot stand high concentrations of ultraviolet light, but it feeds on radiant energy of mast other sorts. Where a patch of brown mold grows, the temperature will be below average.

Russet Mold

Neutral Small to Large Plant

Surprise normal

Armor Class 9

Hit Points not applicable

Move 0"

Poison 16, Petrify 17, Wand 18, Breath 20, Spell 19

Special Defenses immune to non-acid damage, mindless

Weakness destroyed by acid, cure disease, or continual light; mindless

Magic Resistance standard

To Hit AC 0: not applicable

Special Attacks radiation, create vegepygmy

Base Morale not applicable

Intelligence non-

Languages none

Level III

Create Vegepygmy. Any character who dies from contacting russet mold will undergo a transformation. First, their body will immediately start to sprout new growths of russet mold from the spores left at contact. Then, when entirely encased in mold, a vegepygmy will rise from the remains. The entire process will take from 21 to 24 hours (d4+20). A hold plant spell will halt the growth of the mold for a time equal to the duration of the spell. If allowed to grow for more than 1 hour, a dead character will not be affected by a raise dead spell.

Radiation. Russet mold emits a constant invisible cloud of active spores in a 3 foot radius of the patch (beyond this, the spores are inert). Any creature entering this area or actually touching the mold patch itself, must save vs. Poison or becomes sick for 1d4+1 turns, taking 4 h.p. of damage per turn, and then, if a second save vs. Poison is failed, dies after the time elapses. A sick creature feels and looks ill after the 1st turn but otherwise the sickness will not cause other effects apart from the damage (and death!) described above. A cure disease cast on the sick creature will halt all effects and clear the creature of the radiation sickness.

Destroyed by Acid. A russet mold patch can be destroyed by acid or alkali damage. Similar compounds such as salt or strong alcohol will also destroy russet mold.

Destroyed by Cure Disease. If a cure disease spell (or like ability) is cast and the mold touched, the spell will destroy the mold patch (no save). The spell caster will not be injected by spores caused by this touching.

Destroyed by Continual Light. If a continual light spell (or like ability) is cast, targeting the mold, the spell will destroy the mold patch (no save).

Mindless. This creature is immune to mind-affecting magic. Mindless creatures make saving throws as if they were half of their listed hit dice with the exception of poison or death magic saves. The creature will use tactics instinctively, normally attacking the nearest opponent (or if several, one picked at random). Unless attacked by more than one opponent, it then attacks the same creature until it's prey drops—then it uses one round of coup de grace attacks before beginning to consume it (unless the description notes a different behavior). Otherwise, a mindless creature will attack the same opponent until it is damaged in melee by another opponent. The creature will then attack the opponent that last damaged it until it drops as noted above. Mindless creatures will only attack those not in melee unless all creatures in melee have dropped and are not moving. If a mindless creature has a special attack not related to it's melee weapons, it will use that attack if it rolls under 51% in any new round unless the description of the creature notes otherwise. Area attacks will target melee range creatures first and any creatures outside of melee range will be incidental (simplest placement to hit melee combatants or, if necessary, random placement of the ability). Some mindless creatures will have a preference in terms of prey (for example, attacking smaller creatures first) and this must be assessed when determining the creature's actions. Mindless creatures do not use regular rules for morale. A mindless creature always has a flat 50% for morale and begins checking for morale once it has reached under 50% of its hit points in damage unless the description states otherwise. A mindless creature cannot communicate with creatures not of it's type (and even then only at a very basic level; e.g. Threat Perceived, Food, etc.), has no languages, and has an Intelligence Rating of "Non-" (effectively "0").

Found only in damp areas underground, this mold is often mistaken for rust at distances greater than 30 feet (70% chance). Russet mold is golden-brown to rust-red in color. It has a lumpy texture similar to cold porridge and is covered by short, hair-like growths. These stand upright and constantly waver as if in a gentle breeze.

Yellow Mold

Neutral Small to Large Plant

Surprise normal

Armor Class 9

Hit Points not applicable

Move 0"

Poison 16, Petrify 17, Wand 18, Breath 20, Spell 19

Special Defenses immune to non-fire damage, mindless

Weakness destroyed by fire; made dormant by continual light; mindless

Magic Resistance standard

To Hit AC 0: not applicable

Special Attacks enzymes, spore cloud

Base Morale not applicable

Intelligence non-

Languages none

Level III

Enzymes. Any fleshly creature that so much as touches a patch of yellow mold will take 1d8 damage from enzymes.

Spore Cloud. If the mold is contacted roughly, there is a 50% chance it will release a spore cloud in a 5 ft. radius burst from where the spores were contacted. Any living creatures in the area of effect must save vs. Poison or die, it's lungs filled with yellow mold growth (a successful save means the creature takes 1d8 damage from enzymes). A victim that dies this way can be resurrected but only if a cure disease is cast on the body prior to the resurrection.

Destroyed by Fire. Yellow mold is affected only by fire based attacks—flaming oil, a fire elemental, etc. Any small fire-based attack (torch, etc.) will destroy a patch of roughly 2.5 feet in diameter it contacts and, if the mold is larger than this, the attack causes it to also release a spore cloud. Otherwise, fire-based area attacks destroy any mold in the area of effect (no save).

Made Dormant by Continual Light. If the light radiation from a continual light spell illuminates a patch of yellow mold, it will become dormant, not releasing spore clouds (although enzymes are still active) for 2d6 turns. After this time, the mold will grow toward the light source so as to cover it completely.

Mindless. This creature is immune to mind-affecting magic. Mindless creatures make saving throws as if they were half of their listed hit dice with the exception of poison or death magic saves. The creature will use tactics instinctively, normally attacking the nearest opponent (or if several, one picked at random). Unless attacked by more than one opponent, it then attacks the same creature until it's prey drops—then it uses one round of coup de grace attacks before beginning to consume it (unless the description notes a different behavior). Otherwise, a mindless creature will attack the same opponent until it is damaged in melee by another opponent. The creature will then attack the opponent that last damaged it until it drops as noted above. Mindless creatures will only attack those not in melee unless all creatures in melee have dropped and are not moving. If a mindless creature has a special attack not related to it's melee weapons, it will use that attack if it rolls under 51% in any new round unless the description of the creature notes otherwise. Area attacks will target melee range creatures first and any creatures outside of melee range will be incidental (simplest placement to hit melee combatants or, if necessary, random placement of the ability). Some mindless creatures will have a preference in terms of prey (for example, attacking smaller creatures first) and this must be assessed when determining the creature's actions. Mindless creatures do not use regular rules for morale. A mindless creature always has a flat 50% for morale and begins checking for morale once it has reached under 50% of its hit points in damage unless the description states otherwise. A mindless creature cannot communicate with creatures not of it's type (and even then only at a very basic level; e.g. Threat Perceived, Food, etc.), has no languages, and has an Intelligence Rating of "Non-" (effectively "0").

The most common underground deadly fungus is yellow mold, which is pale yellow to a golden orange in color. Any creature which touches this mold is attacked by its enzymes. It also affects wood, albeit more slowly. It does no harm to metals or stone.

Mold Colony. If the mold grows into a colony of at least 300 square feet, the mold may (1-in-6 chance) form a collective intelligence making the colony aware of it's surroundings. If this occurs, the colony can detect other life forms within 60 feet and the use of magical (whether clerical or otherwise) spells or spell-like abilities within 120 feet. If life forms approach, the colony can release a spore cloud at will (as a major action taking 1 segment). If the colony detects spell use, it will attack with a powerful form of charming (affecting creatures as would a charm monster spell; this is a major action with a range of 120 feet requiring 1 segment), requiring the target to save vs. Spell or causing the creature affected to act to protect the colony (attacking or coercion) until all threats are removed from the area before laying down in the mold and breathing in it's spores (dying). Creatures under the effect of a protection from evil (or good) spell are not subject to the charm (although casting this after the effect has taken hold will do no good as the colony is not exerting continual mental control). A successful dispel magic versus a spell caster level of 12 will remove the charm. Even though the mold is (somewhat) sentient, it is still treated as mindless with regard to mental effects.

ENCOUNTERS

Levels Brown. VI.; Russet. V.; Yellow. IV.

Frequency. Brown/Russet. Very Rare; Yellow. Uncommon; In Lair nil

Number Appearing. 1 (patch); (Yellow. Level IV/V. 1 patch; Brown/Yellow. Levels VI./VIII./IX.)

Environment. Underground

Treasure Type. nil

Experience. Brown. XP 1,275; Russet. XP 825; Yellow. XP 320; Yellow Mold Colony. XP 3,600