CATOBLEPAS

This nightmare creature is loathsome beyond description and has no redeeming features. Its body resembles that of a huge, bloated buffalo and gives off an offensive odor. The catoblepas' neck is long and thin, and perched atop it is a big head uglier than that of a warthog. Its legs are thick and stumpy, much like a hippopotamus. The creature's tail is strong and snakey, however, and moves with amazing swiftness to strike enemies.

Any creature so struck has a base 75% chance of being stunned for 1-10 melee rounds; the base chance being modified by adjustment downward by 5% for every level (or hit die for monsters) above 1. Thus, if an 11th level character is struck by the tail there is only a 25% chance of stunning.

Perhaps its habitat—fetid swamps and miasmal marshes—caused the bizarre combination of genetic characteristics in this monster, or perhaps it was due to some ghastly tinkering with life by a demented godling. In any case, the most horrid aspect of the catoblepas is its bloodshot eyes.

The gaze of the catoblepas is equal to a death ray, extending 6" from the eyes (even into the Astral and Ethereal planes). Any creature which meets this gaze dies without any chance to save itself. Complete surprise (a 2 on 6-sided die) means one of the party encountering the monster has met its gaze. 

Otherwise the very weak neck of the catoblepas has only a 25% chance of raising the head high enough to use its eyes. If both parties are still this chance increases by 15% per melee round. If the monster must follow quick movements, or if it is shambling along in pursuit of prey, there is only a 10% chance per melee round of the neck raising the head sufficiently high to fix its gaze. 

A fleeing victim, even with eyes averted, is subject to the deadly effect of the catoblepas eyes, although there is a saving throw.