Scallion
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Climate/Terrain | Mineral Quasi-Elemental Plane |
| Frequency | Rare |
| Organization | Solitary |
| Activity Cycle | Any |
| Diet | Ore |
| Intelligence | Animal (2-4) |
| Treasure | Nil |
| Alignment | Neutral |
| No. Appearing | 2 or 2-5 |
| Armor Class | -4/0 |
| Movement | 15", 6" tunneling |
| Hit Dice | 7+4 |
| THAC0 | 13 |
| No. of Attacks | 3 |
| Damage/Attack | 1-8/1-8/3-18 |
| Special Attacks | back 4 legs 2-7 (1d6+1) each |
| Special Defenses | Nil |
| Magic Resistance | Nil |
| Size | L (10' long) |
| Morale | Steady (11-12) |
| XP Value | — |
Description
Also known as the Metalator, this beast has a smooth, pear-shaped torso, with six double-jointed legs, and a single, razor-sharp bronze talon at the end of each limb. The head is attached to a long, flexible pipe that emerges from the top of the torso. A large mouth in the head is filled with bristling spines of polished titanium that can eat through common metal ore like butter. A Scallion is completely blind, but it can sense any traces of processed metals from a distance. Unfortunately, the Scallion is a formidable opponent that will challenge even the best-equipped warriors.
Combat
The Scallion relies on senses other than sight to attack its foes, so it only suffers a blindness penalty when it is facing a foe that carries less than 5#. The excellent senses of these creatures provide them with a +2 bonus to any surprise check. They can sense the presence of any refined metals within 60' and will immediately seek them out. Their hunger is not easily sated and they will continue to seek out any remaining metal sources until they have consumed at least 40# in a one hour period.
They attack by trying to pierce a foe with its front talons and then driving home the back four legs. A successful attack with both front legs will allow the Scallion to make four additional attacks of 1d6+1hp damage each. The head of the Scallion can reach up to 10' away to attack a foe. The head and limbs of the Scallion have an armor class of zero, while the body is armor class of -4. A leg is severed after taking 6hp of damage, while the neck requires 10hp of damage. However, the Scallion will continue fighting at -2 to hit after the head is severed due to its primitive hind brain.
A Scallion will take half-normal damage from electrical attacks, and must save versus poison or be driven berserk. In this state it will attack the nearest source of metal until it is fully consumed, regardless of the amount of damage suffered and the presence of other sources of metal.
The Metallator is slowed by a cone of cold or an ice storm attack, and takes double normal damage from any water-based attacks. It is terrified of open sources of water and must immediately make a morale check or flee in fear for 1-6 rounds. In temperatures below freezing the creature will become unusually stiff and its attacks receive a -4 penalty to hit.
Habitat/Society
The Scallion normally travels in small family groups with both parents and a 20% chance of 1-3 offspring. The infant Scallions are 2 HD creatures and attack for 1-4/1-4/2-12. Their rear legs do 1-3 damage each. A family of Scallions has a +4 bonus to any morale checks due to the fiercely protective nature of the parents.
Ecology
This rare beast from the plane of metal exists only to consume rich ore veins found deep within the earth. It is completely lost outside its home plane, and considers the world to be a desert with only a few prime sources of metal. Processed ores, such as plate armor or steel swords, are a delicacy to the Metalator, and it will hunt down a group of well-armed fighters seeking only to consume their metal goods.