Monster Specification: Shadow Beast

Monster Specification

Shadow Beast

Typical Monster Level ("ML"): 6 to 11

Typical Number Encountered: 1

Usual Alignment(s): E/N, E/C

Description: a shadowy, amorphous creature that can adapt its form to match that of the prey it is shadowing. Moves on 4 legs and changes to a humanoid shape when shadowing People. When it attacks, it reverts to a black or dark grey ape-like creature with horns, fangs and claws.

Habitat: Shadowy Places (LI 1 to -2) in Dungeons, Wilderness Areas, Chaos, Dreams (especially the Shadowlands), Madness

Language: none

Chars: Co 3d8, Wp 3d8

Movement:

Rate	Melee	Travelling
Walk	3 ft/sec	2 mph
Scamper	6 ft/sec	4 mph
Lope	10 ft/sec	7 mph
Bound	15 ft/sec	n/a

Carrying Capacity: 500ML wt pts (may only be ridden by Assassins of the Society of Shadows)

Fighter Abilities:

ML/3 (FRU) AMR D = 35 + (5ML) % RD = 15 + (5ML) % 5 + (5ML) HP

NB The above figures for D & RD include +10% for the Displacing Effect. This applies against sight-targeted attacks (usually the case in Melee) only, and the +10% applies even when D would otherwise be 0 (e.g. against certain Thievish attacks).

Attack Modes:

Claw @ A = 12ML %, DAM = (d8+(ML/2, FRD)) + Drains 1 St, Reach 1 to 4

(Bite @ A = 10L %, DAM = (2d6+(ML/2, FRD)) + Drains 2 St, Reach 0 to 2

If an Attack penetrates ADS (would do >= 1 DAM), target is drained 1 or Strength (as above. Each 1 St drained restores 3HP DAM taken by the Shadow Beast (it cannot increase beyond its original HP). The St drain to the target is permanent (but may be restored by a Clerical Restoration Spell), and has an immediate effect on Ft ability, encumbrance, etc. A target drained to St 0 collapses lifelessly and his heart stops. He will lose consciousness and die in d6 secs, unless action is taken to save him. He can only Cast Thought Spells.

HitLoc Table:

HitLoc Area	Front	Side/Rear
Head	01 to 20	01 to 20
Arms (*2)	21 to 50	21 to 50
Chest	51 to 80	51 to 80
Abdomen	91 to 100	91 to 100
Legs (*2)	101 to 125	101 to 125
Tail	n/a	125 to 150

ADS:

HitLoc Area	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
Head	4	3	2	2	0	0	2	2	3	4
Arms	4	3	2	2	2	2	2	2	4	4
Chest	3	3	2	2	2	2	2	2	3	3
Abdomen	3	3	2	2	2	2	2	2	3	3
Legs	4	3	2	2	2	2	2	2	3	4
Tail	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2

Effects of Specific Damage:

Hit Loc Area	%age HP Damage taken	Effects
Head	15%	Unconscious, Co check vs Death
	30%	Decapitation, Death
Arms (*2)	20%	Co check vs Leg Crippled
	40%	Leg Crippled, Co check vs Leg Severed
	600%	Leg Severed
Chest	80%	Incapacitated, Co check vs Death, Bleed 5%/min, Co check vs Bleed 5%/MR
	160%	Death
Abdomen	60%	Co check vs Death/MR, Bleed 5%/MR
	120%	Death
Legs (*2)	25%	Co check vs Leg Crippled
	50%	Leg Crippled, Co check vs Leg Severed
	75%	Leg Severed
Tail	20%	Co check vs Tail Crippled
	40%	Tail Crippled, Co check vs Tail Severed
	60%	Tail Severed

Bleeding effects from Crippling, Severance and Decapitation are as for People, but they bleed a black, shadowy substance which evaporates to become part of the shadows (and is first to be restored when they drain St).

Thievish Abilities:

M on Th Activities:

HS 30ML %, MS 20ML %
AfB, AfS, AbS 20ML%
DetH 20ML%, DetMM 10ML%, Hear 10ML%, Scent 10ML%, Track 10ML%
Jump 20ML%, Climb 10ML%

Defensive ThL = ML/2, FRU

Other Abilities / Powers / Notes:

Shadow Beasts are denizens of the Shadowlands, a Dreamworld that exists between other Dreams and is accessed through shadows. But some slip through the shadows to escape into other Planes, where they lurk in shadowy places.
Shadow Beasts are said to be creations of URIEL, E/N Demon of Shadows. They tend to Hide in Shadows, attempting to mimic the shadows of their prey in order to get close enough to make a Thievish Attack upon it. Can Change Self at will in d6 sec so that their appearance mimics the shadow of their prey This is an all-Senses Illusion giving a Thievish DL of ML against Thievish and Illusionist Detect Disguise.
Displacing: the Shadow Beast's aura bends light, making it appear to be d8 ft from its actual position. This Displacing Effect gives bonuses to D as above, and also gives +10 to sts against any effects targeted by sight.
Seeing a Shadow Beast Causes Madness @ BTS 5ML% (Wp).
Shadow Beasts avoid extreme Light or Darkness (LI >2 or <-3), but are not stopped by it.

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