CARRION CRAWLER

Neutral Large Monster (9-ft. long)

FREQUENCY: Uncommon

NO. APPEARING: 1-6 (VI. 1-2)

SURPRISE: 33%

SENSES: insect senses

ARMOR CLASS: 3 (AC 7 body)

MOVE: 12" — climb 12"

HIT DICE: 3 + 1 (hp 14)

% IN LAIR: 50%

TREASURE TYPE: B

THAC0: 15

MELEE: 8 tentacles (paralysis)

SPECIAL ATTACKS: paralysis - Hits As: normal

SPECIAL DEFENSES: none

WEAKNESS: non-intelligent

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

INTELLIGENCE: Non-

MORALE: +0%

SAVES: Poison 14, Petrify 15, Wand 16, Breath 17, Spell 17

LEVEL: VI (XP 580 + 4 per hp)

Carrion crawlers strongly resemble a cross between a giant green cutworm and a huge cephalopod. They are usually found only in subterranean areas. The carrion crawler is, as its name implies, a scavenger, but this does not preclude aggressive attacks upon living creatures, for that insures a constant supply of corpses upon which to feed or for deposit of eggs.

The head of the monster is well protected, but its body is only armor class 7.

A carrion crawler moves quite rapidly on its multiple legs despite its bulk, and a wall or ceiling is as easily traveled as a floor, for each of the beast's feet are equipped with sharp claws which hold it fast.

The head is equipped with 8 tentacles which flail at prey; each 2-ft long tentacle exudes a gummy secretion which when fresh, will paralyze opponents (save versus Paralyzation or it takes effect).

As there are so many tentacles with which to hit, and thus multiple chances of being paralyzed, these monsters are greatly feared.

Dragon #39, Sage Advice. Q: In TD-37’s "Sage Advice" there was a question referring to the paralysis caused by ghouls, ghasts and carrion crawlers. The reply stated that the duration of the paralysis was not clearly defined in any of the rule books. However, a duration for the paralysis inflicted by ghouls is given on page 15 of T1, The Village of Hommlet. It states that "Any human or demi-human must save vs. paralyzation or become immobile for 3-12 turns." I suppose this is the official word. Still, what is the duration of the paralysis caused by ghasts and carrion crawlers?A: According to Lawrence Schick, Vice-President for Production and Design at TSR Hobbies, the paralyzation caused by carrion crawlers is of the same duration as that caused by ghouls, 3-12 turns. Paralyzation caused by a ghast takes twice as long, 6-24 turns,to wear off.

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