Desert Ooze

Frequency: Very Rare

No. Appearing: 1-6 (1d6)

Armor Class: 8

Move: 20’, Climb 20’

Hit Dice: 5d8 (23 hp)

% In Lair: 100%

Treasure Type: Q

Attacks: 2 (2 Pseudopods or 1 Pseudopod and 1 Rotary Spin)

Damage: 1d8 Pseudopod / 1d8 Pseudopod / 2d8 Rotary Spin

Special Attacks: See Below

Special Defenses: See Below

Magic Resistance: See Below

Intelligence: Animal

Alignment: Neutral

Size: M to L

Psionic Ability: Nil

Level/ X.P. Value: V / 150 +6 per HP

The Desert Ooze is a crafty and predatory creature, a variety of gray ooze that has adapted to surviving in the harsh environment of the desert. It is 95% invisible when lying in the desert sand, appearing as a tan-colored granular pile of sand that blends seamlessly with its surroundings. The sand-colored filament pseudopods that hold the ooze together cannot be seen, as it absorbs desert sand into itself to create a nearly invisible cover.

In combat, the Desert Ooze strikes with surprising speed, attacking like a snake before engulfing its victim and rotating at an unbelievable high rate of speed. As it spins, the sand within its body functions as a sandblaster, stripping organic matter from the victim and consuming it in the process until nothing remains. This deadly method of attack allows the Desert Ooze to swiftly dispatch unwary prey in the desolate deserts it calls home.

While smart enough to hide what it cannot consume, the Desert Ooze is a skilled predator and scavenger that knows how to maximize its attacks and preserve resources. Resistant to acid and able to adapt to inorganic projectiles, the Desert Ooze is a formidable opponent that requires creative tactics and precision to defeat. Blunt weapons, while effective, only inflict minimal damage, presenting a challenge for adventurers facing this invisible menace in the treacherous sands.

Primarily found in the Zakour Desert, as well as on the Island of Osibrazius and the deserts of Darkmoore, Desert Oozes are resourceful creatures that reproduce by budding, with desert pods taking approximately one month to hatch. Preferring not to overpopulate, they reproduce no more than twice and have the capacity to hunt in groups if necessary, showcasing their adaptive and survival instincts in harsh desert climates. Adventurers who face these Desert Oozes may find incidental treasure around and within their lairs, left behind from undigestable remains of previous victims, serving as a grim reminder of the danger that lurks within the shifting sands.