Caverns of the Under-Realm (Part Two)

Lair of the Karanth (#25/31, #359/365)

"You enter a lonely dusty cave with a high ceiling. Hanging in the shadows above you, you notice several large bundles, which move feebly, and moan piteously:

'Is - is there anybody there? Anybody? Please, if you can, help us out of these things! We're trapped! We can't escape! We've been here for days! PLEASE HELP US!'

You see the dangling bundles appear to be some sort of cocoon of sticky fibres."

Contents: If anyone stands directly under one of the cocoons and tries to free what they think may be a victim, the cocoon will suddenly drop straight towards them, splitting open along its underside to reveal a moist, fetid interior ringed with fang-like spines. This is a Karanth!

(If anyone is unaware of a cocoon/Karanth above them, the thing will drop and land on them on a roll of 1-5 on one die.)

Otherwise, a normal Attack Round should be rolled. If the Karanth hits successfully it has landed on its victim; if not it has missed and can be fought normally on the floor. Once the creature has struck, it will start to feed, causing Small Bite damage. A normal Attack Round must then be rolled to remove the Karanth; if the beast wins, it continues to digest its victim. If it loses, it will be injured as normal, and will drop to the floor. If the victim is not quick enough to finish it off, it will scamper up the walls to the ceiling to recuperate while hanging out of reach.

Another method to avoid being eaten by the creature is to try and survive without breathing until the Karanth loses its grip. Roll four dice; if the total is equal to or more than the victim's STAMINA they have been digested alive. If however, the total is less than their STAMINA, they are still conscious when the Karanth, assuming them to be dead, briefly relaxes. Pushing with all their might, the survivor can burst from the Karanth's hold and stagger away from the creature; roll a die - this is how many STAMINA points they lose from being injured by the creature's spines and digestive juices.

Stats:

2-7 KARANTH, SKILL 7 STAMINA 7, Small Bite.