| DESCRIPTION: A Hypnolisk resembles a long, serpentine arthropod measuring 12–18' in length. Its body is composed of thick, chitinous segments armored in dull shades of violet, slate gray, and faded brown. Long ivory spines project from the sides of nearly every segment, giving the creature a jagged silhouette that makes it appear even larger than its actual size. Its grotesque head is vaguely humanoid yet unmistakably alien, with smooth greenish-gray flesh stretched tightly over a narrow skull. Dominating its face are two enormous spiral-patterned eyes whose slowly rotating pupils seem impossible to focus upon. Beneath them is a broad, fish-like mouth with thin, rubbery lips and rows of fine, needle-like teeth. A short cluster of fleshy sensory barbels hangs beneath the lower jaw like a sparse beard, constantly twitching as they sample subtle vibrations and scents in the surrounding air. Although capable of slithering across stone with surprising speed, the Hypnolisk more commonly travels through the air. By undulating its segmented body and coiling itself into a loose spiral, it drifts and glides through subterranean passages with eerie grace, seeming to float rather than fly. When hunting or resting, it often suspends itself from ceilings or rocky outcroppings with only the tip of its tail anchored, its body hanging in broad coils while its hypnotic eyes watch silently for approaching prey. Despite its size, a motionless Hypnolisk is easily mistaken for a cluster of stalactites, tangled roots, or an unusual rock formation. Only the slow, almost imperceptible rotation of its spiraling eyes betrays that it is alive. ABILITIES:Natural Camouflage (Surprise). A motionless Hypnolisk is extraordinarily difficult to distinguish from the cave floor or surrounding stone. A Hypnolisk surprises on a 1–5 (on 1d6), and if the Hypnolisk chooses to remain hidden, it will go undetected 90% of the time, unless a character is actively searching the area where the Hypnolisk is hiding, at which point the chance to go undetected is reduced to 30%. Hypnotic Gaze. The Hypnolisk’s spiraling eyes exert a powerful mesmeric influence. Any sighted creature that approaches within 30' and looks upon the Hypnolisk must save vs. spells or become hypnotized for 1d6 rounds. Those averting their gaze attack with a –4 “to hit” penalty. While hypnotized, the victim will be drawn to the Hypnolisk, instinctively moving toward it by the safest available route; furthermore, the victim cannot attack the Hypnolisk (but is also not driven to protect or defend it) and will present itself to be bitten automatically (no “to hit” roll required) by the Hypnolisk. The effect immediately ends if the victim takes damage (regardless of source) or fails a saving throw. Victims that survive the duration of the hypnotic effect and those who make their save against the effect are then immune to the gaze of that particular Hypnolisk for 24 hours. Spined Body. Any creature attempting to grapple or make any sort of melee attack against the Hypnolisk automatically take 1d4 points of damage from the Hypnolisk’s rigid defensive spines. Blood Drain. The Hypnolisk’s circular, fish-like mouth is lined with hundreds of tiny recurved teeth that cling tenaciously to flesh. A successful bite inflicts 1d6 points of damage and latches on to the victim. Each subsequent round, the Hypnolisk automatically drains 2d4 hit points as it feeds (no additional attack roll required). The Hypnolisk remains attached until slain or forcibly removed. Forcibly removing the Hypnolisk requires a successful Open Doors roll. Whether the attempt succeeds or fails, the creature making the attempt suffers 1d4 points of damage from the Hypnolisk’s defensive spines. If the attempt fails, the Hypnolisk remains attached and continues feeding normally. Infravision. The Hypnolisk possesses infravision to a range of 120'. ECOLOGY: Hypnolisks inhabit deep caverns, abandoned mines, and winding subterranean passages where traffic is infrequent but inevitable. They prefer narrow tunnels, blind corners, and natural chokepoints where travelers are forced to look directly toward them. Although capable of pursuing prey for short distances, a Hypnolisk rarely hunts actively. Instead, it relies almost entirely upon patience, remaining perfectly motionless for days or even weeks until an unsuspecting creature wanders within range of its gaze. Victims that resist the hypnosis are often ignored unless they continue approaching the creature's chosen lair. Little is known of their reproduction. Small clusters of spiral, stone-like eggs are occasionally found cemented to cave walls, but few have ever been observed hatching. Hypnolisks are almost always encountered alone, suggesting that juveniles disperse soon after emerging. Their natural lifespan is unknown, though many scholars believe a single individual may survive for centuries. | STATS INTELLIGENCE: Animal LOCATION: Underdark, abandoned mines, caverns, remote ruins |
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