Today's new monster comes to us from the Celts by way of
The Voyage of Máel Dúin.
Revolving Beast
DESCRIPTION
The revolving beast is a doppleganger-like creature able to morph itself into many different creatures by adapting its loose skin, skeletal bones, and muscles into different shapes. Each transformation takes 1d4 rounds, with the beast revolving in place, accompanied by a massive clattering noise (as its bones crack and snap into place). Any creature standing within a 5' radius of revolving beast during this transformation is subject to 1d4 points of damage, if the revolving beast makes a successful “to hit” roll against that creature. The sound of the transformation is so loud and frightening, that any creature of animal intelligence must make a successful morale check or be frightened enough to run away at full speed.
The shape that may be taken on by a revolving beast is limited only by the revolving beast’s knowledge of existing creatures and its imagination, but the size taken on must remain in line with number of HD of the revolving beast as outlined below:
4HD approximately dwarf-sized
5HD approximately human-sized
6HD approximately ogre-sized
The revolving beast will gain the ability of altered forms of movement based on an assumed shape (e.g., flying, swimming, burrowing, or leaping), but does not gain additional abilities (e.g., water-breathing), and moves at its normal rate.
The number of attacks that a revolving beast may make during a single round (while in an assumed shape) is limited only its number of appendages (in that form), with each attack doing 1d4 points of damage (on a successful “to hit” roll). A revolving beast may not make any attacks during a transformation round, except as outlined above.
| | Oe/1E STATS
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-6
ARMOR CLASS: 7
MOVE: 12"
HIT DICE: 4-6
% IN LAIR: 75%
TREASURE C
NO. OF ATTACKS: See below
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4 pts.
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Low
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic neutral
SIZE: M-L
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
BX STATS
ARARMOR CLASS: 7
HIT DICE: 4-6
MOVE: 120'
ATTACKS: See below
DAMAGE: 1-4 pts./attack
NO. APPEARING: 1-6
SAVE AS: Fighter:4-6
MORALE: 8
TREASURE TYPE: C
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic
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Nice. I first read The Voyage of Máel Dúin aged about 11 and the crew's encounter with this creature really freaked me out. I don't know why I've never thought of it in D&D terms before. By the way, I think I would be making morale checks for retainers, not just animals.
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