Neutral Small Monster (mammal) (3-ft long)
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
SURPRISE: 33% — Others +20%
SENSES: night vision
ARMOR CLASS: 0
MOVE: 9" — burrow 3"
HIT DICE: 12 (hp 54)
% IN LAIR: 30%
TREASURE TYPE: incidental
THAC0: 9
MELEE: bite (2d4 plus grab) or 2 claws (1d6 each)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: grab, lock jaw - Hits As: +4
SPECIAL DEFENSES: immune to normal fire, resist (fire, half), immune to poison and gas effects, DR/blunt (half)
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Animal (1)
MORALE: Fanatical
SAVES: Poison 7, Petrify 8, Wand 9, Breath 8, Spell 10
LEVEL: VIII (XP 2,700 + 16 per hp)
An aurumvorax has a golden coat, often as shining and bright as real gold. Its 8 legs are tipped with copper-colored claws. The creature has coppery teeth as well. Its whiskers and mane guard hairs are a tawny bronze color, and its eyes are silvery with golden pupils.
The aurumvorax, or golden gorger, is mean, vicious, and always hungry. It dwells in open or lightly-forested areas. Despite its small, badger-like size (1½ feet tall, 3 feet long) and shape, it weighs over 500 pounds, as its flesh is very dense.
When attacking, it scuttles forth from its burrow, locks its teeth into the victim, and brings 2-8 of its clawed legs into play. Once it bites successfully for 2-8 points, the aurumvorax holds on. On each succeeding round it automatically inflicts 8 points of biting damage, and it has 2-8 additional clawing attacks which inflict 1-6 points of damage when they hit. Dexterity of the opponents is negated for computation of armor class in this case. Only death will unlock its jaws.
The attack from a concealed den enables the monster to surprise 50% of the time.
Due to its very dense and heavy hide and bones, the aurumvorax takes only half damage from blunt weapons.
It is immune to damage from small, normal fires; large, magical fires cause only half normal damage.
Poisons and gases do not harm the monster at all.
Prey dragged into the lair might have had treasure, and typical items could be mixed with bones and other remains therein.