Wednesday, April 11, 2012

A-to-Z Challenge, J: Jenglot (New Oe/BX/1E Monster)

I knew there would be a couple of letters where coming up with a monster was going to be a little difficult. And that was the case with today's "J" entry. All of the classics are covered off... from the Fiend Folio's "jaculus" to the Monster Manual II's "jann." Today's item comes by way of Indonesia--more cryptid than creature of mythology, but still kind of fun (if you can get the PCs to believe they've just come up on what appears to be the remains of a group of some kind of wild demi-human... then BAM! the jenglots spring into action, clamping and draining and... you get the picture.

Jenglot


DESCRIPTION

Jenglots are a diminutive type of wild vampire, found in a variety of locales, from underground environments to the attics of abandoned houses to the trunks of trees. It is believed they become undead through a process similar to that of liches, enacted by the grant of an evil deity whom the jenglot (in his previous demi-human form) petitioned for immortality. Being undead, they are immune to the affects of sleep, charm, hold, poison and paralysis, and they can only be hit with magic or silver weapons.

Jenglots exist in two states, an “animated” state (in which they appear alive and move as normal) and a “suspended” state (in which they appear simply as the long-haired corpses of deceased demi-humans.) They will often remain in this suspended state, laying in wait until suitable prey comes along, at which point they will “spring” into an animated state, surprising on a 1-3 (on a 1d6) and attacking the nearest target.

Like standard vampires, jenglots feed on the blood of the living to survive. While they prefer human blood, they will feed on animal blood (preferably the blood of goats or pigs.) On a natural “to hit” roll of 19 or 20, a jenglot has succeeded in locking its clamping bite on a victim, and will drain blood (1-4 hit points) from its victim during each successive melee round until the victim is dead or the jenglot has been killed.

Jenglots are not affected by garlic or sunlight, but are susceptible to the effects of holy water and may be turned by clerics.

Oe/1E STATS
FREQUENCY: Very Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-8
ARMOR CLASS: 5
MOVE: 12”
HIT DICE: 4
% IN LAIR: 25%
TREASURE TYPE: C
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-6 + special
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES:
+1 or better weapon to hit
MAGIC RESISTANCE: See below
INTELLIGENCE: Low
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic evil
SIZE: S (18-24” tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil


BX STATS
ARMOR CLASS: 5
HIT DICE: 4
MOVE: 120’
ATTACKS: 1 bite
DAMAGE: 1-6 + special
NO. APPEARING: 1
SAVE AS: Fighter: 4
MORALE: 11
TREASURE TYPE: C
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic

2 comments:

  1. interesting how each culture has some type of vampire. in the Philippines we have the aswang. :P
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com
    Dropping by from the A-Z!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a crazy creature. Fun theme for the challenge!

    ReplyDelete