RETRIEVER

Retrievers are giant spider-like creatures whose front four limbs end in huge cleavers. Though they are large - approximately the size of a mammoth — they are very fast and nimble in the open, where they have room to maneuver.

Retrievers are constructed by Demogorgon in his laboratories in the Abyss; in doing so, Demogorgon deliberately constructs the creatures so as to strike maximum terror into their victims. They will rarely be found on the Prime Material Plane except when engaged on a specific mission to retrieve (usually dead or alive) one who has offended Demogorgon or one of the more powerful denizens of the Abyss. Demons sometimes mount howdahs on the back of a retriever and ride on the creature to the hunt.

They each have six eyes, two for vision and four which project rays (up to 2 of the latter may function each round — determine which at random). These rays are, respectively, fire, cold, lightning and transmutation. 

Once used, a particular eye cannot be used again for 6 rounds, at which time it will have re-charged. 

These rays can only hit one target within a range of 60-ft.

The rays of fire, cold and lightning each do damage equal to the current hit points of the retriever, a save (against dragon breath) indicating half damage. Magic items must also save against these attacks if their owner fails to save. 

The transmutation ray transmutes the victim into mud, stone, gold or lead (determine which of the four at random). A successful save against petrifaction indicates no effect. A stone to flesh spell will restore a petrified character to normal but only a philosopher's stone can restore a lead or gold figure. Characters turned to mud can only be revived by the use of mud to rock followed by stone to flesh, both spells being cast within one turn of the transmutation.

Retrievers can attack with all four cleavers simultaneously on the same victim, each inflicting 3-18 hit points of damage. However they cannot use the eye rays when attacking with their cleavers. 

Generally speaking, they will use their eye rays first then, when the eyes are recharging, use the cleavers.

Creatures of lower order will flee in panic on sight of a retriever, and even an adventurer of 5th experience level or lower (or a monster of less than 6 hit dice) will do so unless he saves against magic when a retriever comes within 30-ft of him.