LAMPREY

Lampreys are an ancient extant lineage of jawless parasitic fish. The adult lamprey may be characterized by a toothed, funnel-like sucking mouth. Lampreys feed by boring into the flesh of other creatures to suck their blood (draining 2 points of blood per round per hit die). Adults superficially resemble eels in that they have scaleless, elongated bodies. Lacking paired fins, adult lampreys have large eyes, one nostril on the top of the head, and seven gill pores on each side of the head. 

The adults spawn in nests of sand, gravel and pebbles in clear streams, and after hatching from the eggs, young larvae—called ammocoetes—will drift downstream with the current till they reach soft and fine sediment in silt beds, where they will burrow in silt, mud and detritus, taking up an existence as filter feeders, collecting detritus, algae, and microorganisms until large enough find prey.

Grab. A lamprey that successfully bites prey will automatically grapple and, beginning next round, will cause 2 points of blood drain damage per round. 

Blood Drain. An attached lamprey will cause 2 points of blood drain damage each round

LAMPREY, Giant

Neutral Man-sized Monster (aquatic, animal, fish) (5-ft. to 7-ft. long)

FREQUENCY: Rare

NO. APPEARING: 1-4

SURPRISE: 33%

SENSES: night vision; scent

ARMOR CLASS: 6

SPEED: Swim 90 ft.

HIT DICE: 5 (hp 22)

% IN LAIR: nil

TREASURE TYPE: nil

ATTACK AC 0: 15

MELEE: bite (1d6) plus grab

SPECIAL ATTACKS: blood drain (10), grab; Hits As: +1

SPECIAL DEFENSES: mindless (+2)

WEAKNESS: mindless

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

INTELLIGENCE: Non-

MORALE: +0%

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

LEVEL: IV (XP 275 or 165+5 per h.p.)