Worm, Pit
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Climate/Terrain | Forest, Jungle |
| Frequency | Rare |
| Organization | Solitary |
| Activity Cycle | Continious |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Intelligence | Animal (1) |
| Treasure | Special |
| Alignment | Neutral |
| No. of Appearing | 1 |
| Armor Class | 0 |
| Move | 1 |
| Hit Dice | 5 |
| THAC0 | 16 |
| No. of Attacks | 2 |
| Damage/Attack | Special |
| Special Attacks | Swallow hole, euphoria venom, surprise |
| Special Defenses | Nil |
| Magic Resistance | Nil |
| Size | H (15' long) |
| Moral | Average |
| XP Value | 1,400 |
Description
The pit worm is a living pit trap. It burrows to within a foot or so of the surface and opens its huge maw waiting for prey to fall in. As bait, the worm releases substances into the air through which chemically resemble the pheremones of many large mammals such as deer, bear, etc. Pit worms are about 20 to 30 feet long and have cone shaped bodies covered with brownish, chitinous plates.
Combat
As was stated earlier, the pit worm is a trap. Unless it's victim is actively searching for traps at the time, the worm always gets surprise. One or more characters may fall into its 8 foot diameter mouth if they fail to roll lower than half their dexterity score on a 1d20.
Once a victim has fallen in, he sustains 1-6 hp damage and must save vs poison at -4. If the save is failed, the worm's euphoria venom takes effect in 2-8 segments. The character is anesthetized and put into a state of bliss, losing all desire to fight back and oblivious to his impending doom. If the victim survives (i.e. escapes or is rescued befor being devoured), the venom wears off in about 8 hours.
Upon taking a victim, the worm closes its mouth and the victim sustains 1d6 hit points per round until dead, saving every round. The only hope for a trapped victim is to make his saves and escape, or escape before the venom takes effect. This is done by making a bend bars/lift gates check.
Pit Worms also have two tentacles which they can use to grasp prey once their pit has been sprung. Any attack which hits by more than 2 over is a grasp, and the victim must make a strength check vs. 18/00.
Habitat
Pit worms slowly burrow through the ground, wandering from one point to another in search of prey. They are basically solitary creatures.
Ecology
Pit worms are asexual, but must mate to reproduce. Mating takes place deep underground, and eggs are laid a few days later. Pit worms do not raise their young, rather they release their eggs as they tunnle through the earth.
Pit worms tend to damage tree rooots as they tunnle through the ground, and destableize much of the earth in their wake, much like moles, though since their tunnles are deeper, the effect is more subtle. Any good ranger or druid will immediately recognize areas where pit worms are active.
Pit worm venom is extremely valued for its euphoric effects. A typical pit worm contains 2-12 doses at about 100gp per dose. Pit worm chitin is also of some value to armorers and shield makers, but beyond that, these worms have nothing else of real value.