“We pulled it up in our nets!” the half-drowned fisherman sputtered. “It pulled Gosha off the deck and smashed the tiller before we knew what was happening.” He coughed up some more seawater. “It was armored like a knight…” He lapsed back into unconsciousness.

“Spawn of Neptune!” he swore. The thing, both creature and machine, was rising out of the surf and walking on four legs toward the village, its other four arms writhing like snakes in search of prey…

Clockwork Octopus

No. Enc.: 0 (1)
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 60 (20)
     Swim: 150 (50)
Armor Class: 3 [16]
Hit Dice: 9
Attacks: 8 (tentacles) plus 1 (steam jet) if on land
Damage: 1d6 per tentacle/3d6 steam
Save: F9
Morale: 12
Hoard Class: None or XIX (see below)
XP: 2400

No one knows the origin of these mechanical monsters, but they wander the seas wreaking havoc. Worse, some of them have been known to leave the depths and lumber ashore, using four of their armored tentacles as legs. They attack all living things with reckless abandon, knowing neither fear nor fatigue.

When in the water, a jet in the underside of the body can propel a clockwork octopus at high speeds. When ashore, the jet can fire a burst of scalding steam in a linear stream 30′ long and 3′ wide.

Each tentacle is 12′ long and can, on a ‘to-hit’ roll of ’20′, grab an opponent ogre-sized or smaller, causing an automatic 1d4 of constriction damage on successive rounds. Victims of this attack can only be freed by disabling the tentacle (see below). Suction cups on the underside of each tentacle allow clockwork octopi to scale sheer surfaces.

Clockwork octopi cannot be “healed” or repaired. When first constructed, each had a full 72 hit points, but over the ages, battles and the ravages of years in salt water have reduced this. When rolling hit points for a clockwork octopus, the highest single die applies to the body while each of the other eight hit dice applies to one of tentacles. When a tentacle is reduced to 0 hit points, it is permanently disabled. No single attack (even area attacks) can damage more than one tentacle at a time and the main body cannot be attacked until all tentacles have been disabled. A clockwork octopus reduced to three or fewer tentacles while on land will topple over but continue to fight with steam (against targets within the jet’s firing arc) and remaining tentacles.

(White Box) Clockwork Octopus: HD: 9; AC 3 [16]; Atk 8 tentacles (1d6); Move 6 (Swim 15); Save 10; XP 2000

“Where are thos guys?” Dorik whispered to Kelveen as they crept back down the corridor. They’d been sent to scout the area beyond the next corner while the rest of the party bound their wounds and caught their breath after the fight with those giant scorpadillos.

Then another one dropped on him…

Star Creeper

No. Enc.: 1d12 (0)
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 3′ (1′)
Armor Class: 3 [16]
Hit Dice: 4
Attacks: 1 (constriction)
Damage: 2d6
Save: F4
Morale: 11
Hoard Class: see below
XP: 190

These creatures appear to be giant stone-colored starfish that can grow up to 8 feet across. Though they move slowly, they are able to cling to any surface. Their favorite tactic is to cling to labyrinth ceilings and drop onto prey as it passed underneath, gaining a +2 bonus for surprise. Star creepers can not be seen with infravision.

A successful hit indicates that the target has been enveloped in the arms of the star creeper and suffers damage automatically every round. Once a target is unconscious the star creeper will excrete a sack-like stomach onto its prey and digest it fully within 3d6 turns.

A star creeper can regenerate 1 hit point per turn, including regrowing lost limbs.

Any treasure that a star creeper has accumulated is probably lodged within the creature’s underside, left over from previoius victims. Each star creeper will have 1d20 gold pieces, 1d6-2 gems, and has a 5% chance of containing 1 metal magical item.

(White Box) Star Creeper: HD: 4; AC 3 [16]; Atk 1 constriction (2d6); Move 1; Save 11; XP 240

“Looks like something really tore into them, whoever they were…” muttered Locklar. The dark blood stained the ground and pieces of rotting flesh littered the area.

Jorda shook his head ruefully. “To put fear into our bones, human,” he said. “To remind us that we weren’t the only things wandering below the surface…”

Badgerman

No. Enc.: 1d6 (2d6)
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 60′ (20′) or 90′ (30′)
Armor Class: 5 [14]
Hit Dice: 1+2
Attacks: 3 (2 claws, bite) or 1 (weapon)
Damage: 1d3/1d3/1d6 or weapon
Save: D2
Morale: 10
Hoard Class: XIII
XP: 21

Vanquished and all but exterminated ages ago, the tough badgermen have survived and are making a comeback. Between three and four feet tall when standing, these creatures can move faster on all fours.

A badgerman whose bite attack hits with a natural ’20′ has locked its jaws on its target, automatically hitting with its bit in following rounds and gaining a +2 against the same target with claw attacks while clamped on.

Though most badgermen are feral survivors of an earlier time, 25% of them have advanced back to a primitive sort of civilized society and can make use of weapons. They are the sworn enemies of both dwarves and goblins, distrusting the former and attacking the latter on sight. Badgermen fear snakes, and feral badgermen will flee at the sight of them. Civilized badgermen can control their fear provided they successfully save vs. spells.

Badgermen can tunnel through earth at quarter speed. They have underground skills similar to that of dwarves save that it applies only to earthen works instead of stone.

(White Box) Badgermen: HD: 1+2; AC 5 [14]; Atk 1 bite or weapon (1d6 or weapon); Move 6 (9 on four legs); Save 12; XP 15

Advancing up the narrow, winding stair, Locklar held his sword ready for any foe that might be hiding in the darkness. Reaching the top, he came to a small wooden door. One blow broke the lock, and he entered the small room atop the abandoned keep. But his anticipation turned to disappointment.

He was about to reach for it when a shimmering mist appeared within the chest. Watching warily, he saw it form into coils, then materialize into a ghost-like serpent, it’s fangs sharp and its eyes dark. Tentatively, Locklar poked at the serpent with his sword. The serpent struck…

Spirit Snake

No. Enc.: 1
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 0
Armor Class: 4 [15]
Hit Dice: 2-5
Attacks: 1 or more (bite)
Damage: 1d6, special
Save: F2 – F5
Morale: 12
Hoard Class: See Below
XP: 47/110/270/800

These magical serpents are created by mages to serve as guardians of special treasures or locations. The more powerful the magic-user who creates it, the more powerful the spirit snake is. Spirit snakes will never retreat or abandon their ceaseless guardianship unless dispelled by their creator.

Spirit snakes are invisible until the item or location they’re charged with guarding is disturbed, at which time they materialize and attack, gaining a +2 bonus for surprise. Spirit snakes are tied to a specific item or location and cannot move from it, but they can strike at any being within 5′. If the item they are guarding is moved, they will move with it.

All spirit snakes regenerate 3 hit points per round after taking damage. If reduced to 0 hit points or less, they will re-form and resume their guardianship in 24 hours. All spirit snakes also have at least a 25% resistance to magic spells, and are immune to effects which affect the mind, such as sleep, fear, and illusions. The only known method of permanently destroying a spirit snake is by casting a dispel magic upon it after it has been reduced to 0 hit points or less.

Additionally, spirit snakes have the following abilities based upon their number of hit dice:

• 3 HD: Bite slows recipient (as per spell) for 1 turn unless save is successful
• 4 HD: As 3 HD, plus can bite twice per round
• 5 HD: As 4 HD, plus magic resistance is increased to 40%

(White Box) Spirit Snake: HD: 2-5; AC 4 [15]; Atk 1 or 2 bite (1d6); Move 0; Save 14 or 13; XP 240/600/800/1100

The spell used to create the spirit snake will be featured in this week’s Thursday Thaumaturgy.

The creature, about three feet long plus a tail, peered out from the brush curiously. Locklar pointed and said, “I told you they looked like big weasels.”

They started to close in.

Weasling

No. Enc.: 2d6 (4d6)
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 120′ (40′)
Armor Class: 6 [13]
Hit Dice: 1d3 hit points
Attacks: 1 (bite)
Damage: 1d4
Save: F1
Morale: 6
Hoard Class: VII
XP: 6

These creatures stand less than 3′ tall when on two feet, though many have tails nearly as long as their body. They shift to four feet for running and slinking into burrows, and their size and quickness make them difficult targets.

Weaslings possess an intellect comparable to that of a five-year-old human, though they are immensely clever when it comes to stealing food or evading attackers. Their underground lair (or sometimes a lodge in a pond or lake, in which case the weaslings can swim at their standard move rate) may contain valuables gathered by the clan over the years.

A weasling that hits an opponent with a natural ’20′ has locked its jaws onto the target and automatically hits every round thereafter. A target may spend a round trying to detach a clamped-on weasel, a successful ‘to-hit’ indicating success.

(White Box) Weasling: HD ½; AC 6 [13]; Atk 1 bite (1d6-1); Move 12; Save 19; XP 10

This is for those tired of using kobolds as the default weak creatures all the time. Particularly useful in wilderness settings, but these guys may also be encountered on the uppers levels of dungeons and labyrinths.

Nothing all that spectacular about a monstrous lizard, of course, but the current storyline in the Prince Valiant comic (see here and here) begs for this.

Lizard, Gigantic Monitor

No. Enc.: 1(1)
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 90′ (30′)
Armor Class: 3 [16]
Hit Dice: 18
Attacks: 2 (bite or trample, tail)
Damage: 2d12,1d12
Save: F13
Morale: 11
Hoard Class: None
XP: 4,250

These gargantuan monitor lizards can grow to 100′ or greater in length. They are generally survivors from an earlier age which have been trapped below the earth’s surface for eons. When freed, either accidentally or intentionally, the beasts generally rampage wildly, devastating anything in their path. Their tough scaly hide makes them highly resistant to attack, which is reflected in their good armor class and saving throw values.

The bite of a gigantic lizard is poisonous, reducing victims’ strength and dexterity scores to 3 for 1d6 hours unless a successful save is made. A ‘to-hit’ roll of natural 20 indicates that the victim has been swallowed whole. Creatures as large as horses may be swallowed whole.

A gigantic lizard may elect to trample any creatures in its path (25′ wide) rather than biting, doing 2d12 to all targets hit. This attack is also effective against buildings and walls.

The huge tail of gigantic lizards makes up half of its overall length and swishes about violently, possibly striking anything or anyone in the rear flanks of the creature. This is not an intentional attack by the monster and ‘to-hit’ rolls are at -2. However, up to four targets within striking distance may be attacked in this manner per round. The tail also leaves a wide swath of destruction as the lizard passes.

Despite the size of the gigantic lizard, it is essentially an animal. Though powerful and destructive, it acts with no malice and hunger is its primary motivation. Huge fires (a burning village or forest, for instance) may drive it off, though there is a 50% chance that it may only incite the beast to berserk rampaging at +2 to hit.

White Box Stats:

Lizard, Gigantic Monitor: HD18; AC 3[16]; Atk 1 bite (2d6) or trample (2d6), tail (1d6); Move 9; Save 6; XP 3800

I hope to keep Monster Monday a regular feature here on the blog despite taking the past few weeks off. As of this installment, I will be posting monster stats in Labyrinth Lord format and including a S&W White Box format stat block at the end of the write-up. These are the two games I’m playing these days, and it seems to me that between these two stat blocks every old-school game should be covered with little or no undue conversion work.

One thing I’m struggling with is the conversion of powerful monsters to the White Box format. With few exceptions, damage in WB is 1d6 and attacks are limited to one per round. This fits in fine with the lower power curve of WB (a redeeming feature of the original game, in Kilgore’s humble opinion) but makes conversions of powerful monsters a bit tricky.

For instance, do I simply remove the tail attack from the gigantic monitor lizard because monsters have only one attack? In this case I did not, though I don’t think that leaving it in is exactly kosher. I also switched the damage to d6-based but left the bite at 2d6 instead of downing it to 1d6. Even dragons do only 1d6 of bite damage per round, which is something I’m having a little trouble getting my mind around.