Day Twelve -- Thorny Rambler

Day Twelve of 30 Monsters in 30 Days brings us a plant monster. A roll of 69 tells us it's a thorn-bush, the second roll (58) tells us it is Mobile. It's got mobile limb attacks (table 2-74) *and* a physical distance attack from Table 2-62 that causes physical damage. a result of 50 means it pulls itself along with vines. The result of Table 2-62 suggests the physical distance attack is a spray, a line of liquid, ooze or sap. Finally, the plant reduces by producing a tiny, gem-like seeds that birds carry away.

The result for limb attacks on Table 2-74 is a result of piercing limb. That is a good result, because it makes sense in the context of the monster.

Thorny Rambler
# encountered: 1d8

% in Lair: 0%
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 10'
Armor Class: 7
Hit Dice: 1+2
Attacks: Spray or thorn
Damage: 1d4
Save: F1
Morale: 12
Hoard Class: None
XP: 15

Thorny ramblers are semi-nomadic, barely intelligent thornbushes that ambulate slowly through thick woods and jungles, seeking prey to subdue and drain of blood. They move slowly, pulling themselves along on short vines.

It can sense living, warm-blooded creatures within 30', surprising them on a roll of 1-4 on 1d6. The thorny rambler attacks first with a spray of liquid paralytic with a +2 bonus to hit, with a range of 30', that can target a single individual per spurt. The target, if hit, must make a Save v. Poison or become paralyzed instantly for 1d6 hours. Once immobilized, the rambler drags itself towards its target and wraps its vines around it, hitting automatically, sucking 1d4 points of blood damage per round.

Once per year, in the spring, ramblers set a single, ruby-red flower that produces a small gem-like seed. It sprouts eight hours after eaten, driving small vines into the belly of the animal that ate it, killing it and feeding upon the blood of the critter.