DARKTHORN (#11/30, #316/365) [TTHA]
Appearance: This
plant monster takes the form of a giant humanoid comprised of black thorny
vines with emerald orbs for eyes, with superhuman strength while its roots are
in contact with the ground.
Distribution: Forests and woods across Titan
Effects: The Darkthorn is considered an
avatar of the evil god of the same name, otherwise known as the Root of Evil
(see Gods of Titan, p. XX). If slain and essence of its cerebral ichor can be
extracted from its head and stored in a vial, this can be used in numerous
magical rituals and enchanting techniques, including the inscription of a
Scroll of Darkthorn Summoning.
Cost: City 100gp, Town 150gp, Village 200gp
(per vial)
Availability: Very Rare
Further Notes: See Return to the Pit (pp.
51-52) for more information.
FUNGOID (#12/30, #317/365) [TTHA]
Appearance: This is a
Dwarf-sized giant red-capped toadstool with a sinister face upon its fungal
stalk, and a base that ends in a mass of stringy tendril-like roots.
Distribution: Forests, swamps, dungeons, caves
and ruins across Titan.
Effects: The Fungoid attacks its victims by
blowing clouds of poisonous spores at them, and if slain, some of these spores
can be collected in a gourd or other receptacle. When hurled at an opponent,
requiring a successful Test for Skill, the gourd will break, releasing a
spore-cloud that causes 2 STAMINA damage with no Armour Roll allowed. Anyone
wearing Nose Plugs is immune to the spores. If someone suffers 6 or more
STAMINA points damage from a succession of successful gourd-strikes, they must
also lose 1 SKILL point, as the toxic spore-clouds severely hamper the victim’s
breathing.
Cost: City 5gp, Town 6gp, Village 7gp (per
gourd)
Availability: Uncommon
Further Notes: See Return to the Pit (pp.
83-84) for more information.
THORNBEAST (#13/30, #318/365) [TTHA]
Appearance: This is a
grotesque humanoid with a green-veined body covered in sharp thorns, whose eyes
are translucent emerald orbs.
Distribution: Forests
and jungles across Titan.
Effects: The eyes of a Thornbeast have
magical properties, and if properly extracted from a slain creature can be used
as components in various enchanting procedures, such as, perhaps
unsurprisingly, brewing Thornbeast Potions. This latter concoction is rumoured
to have been perfected by the Clerics of Lein, an evil sect operating in the
Old World kingdom of Ruddlestone.
Cost: City 50gp, Town 75gp, Village 100gp
(per eye)
Availability: Rare
Further Notes: See Return to the Pit (pp.
196-197) for more information.
VAMPYRIC SLIME MOULD (#14/30, #319/365) [TTHA]
Appearance: In its
primary form, this is a rippling slimy carpet of deep-red mould that creeps
across the forest floor in search of victims. If it successfully infects a
victim, it become a Mould Zombie, which is a weird, red-skinned humanoid
vaguely similar to what they were previously like before encountering the
parasitic spores of the Vampyric Slime Mould.
Distribution: Forests, jungles, dungeons, ruins
and caves across Titan.
Effects: Vampyric Slime Moulds are difficult
to slay, but if somehow subdued, a vial of spores can be collected from them
with the appropriate successful Herb Lore Special Skill test. If this vial is
hurled at an opponent, requiring a successful Test for Skill, the
victim must Test their Luck.
If they are Unlucky, the spore cloud aggressively colonizes the victim and
turns them into a MOULD ZOMBIE (skill 6 stamina 6 Small Claw, see also Return to the Pit, pp.
203-204), which will instantly attack enemies of the vial’s thrower. Mould
Zombies are red-skinned humanoids vulnerable to normal weapons, however great
care must be exercised in killing them. If a Mould Zombie is slain, its skin
will erupt and its body bloat, exploding with a burst that showers its slayer
in red mould spores. These will immediately start burrowing into the victim’s
skin, attacking their nervous system and turning them immediately into another
Mould Zombie! Experienced adventurers recommend destroying Mould Zombies at a
distance and with fire to avoid becoming infected. A Witherwell Potion (see The Titan Herbal, p. 10),
will destroy the mould completely, and also restore any Mould Zombies back to
their original form and personality.
Cost: City 40gp, Town 60gp, Village 80gp
(per vial)
Availability: Rare
Further Notes: See Return to the Pit (pp. 203-204) for more
information.
WODEWOSE (#15/30, #320/365) [TTHA]
Appearance: They
appear as a plant-like person, clothed entirely in leaves, moss, bark, bracken
and fungus, though these are not their clothes but their actual physical form.
Distribution: Woods and forests across the Old
World.
Effects: Also known as Green Men or Women,
the Wodewose are one of the many children of Galana, goddess of Plants.
Although slaying them is generally considered an evil act, and always by Wood
Elves, their heart is often required as a magical component in some arcane
rituals or enchanting recipes. Word travels quickly in the forest however, and
once one has a reputation as a butcherer of the Wodewose, one should not expect
a warm welcome in any woodland in which they choose to wander.
Cost: City 50gp, Town 75gp, Village 100gp
(per heart)
Availability: Rare
Further Notes: See Return to the Pit (pp. 211-212)
for more information.
WHISTLE BUDS (#16/30, #321/365) [TTHA]
Appearance:
This plant is a flat creeper covering areas of
ground and occasionally tree trunks, with red foliage and bearing dark red
buds.
Distribution: Forests and swamps across Titan.
Effects: Whistle Buds are a strange type of carnivorous plant that attack with
their buds, which are actually carnivorous appendages -
"mouths" with small, sharp teeth that cling to their victim (see Return to the Pit, p. 211). Several mouths attacking together can reduce evern a large
animal or adventurer to a torn, bloodless corpse within minutes. Whistle Buds
can detect movement in their vicinity - only the stealthiest of footfalls will
fail to alert them. When they detect movement, they emit a piercing
high-pitched whistle at a very loud volume. Ear Plugs will protect an
adventurer; without them, the adventurer is partially incapacitated from the
pain caused by the loud whistling, and must fight with their SKILL score
reduced by 2 points. Whistle Buds can be used as ingredients for Potions of
Noise; one bud isrequired for each potion created. Potions of Noise are usually
stored in clay gourds or glass vials that are smashed on the floor when used.
This results in a howl of white sound, which lasts for one battle, causing
everyone in the vicinity to reduce their SKILL by 2, unless they are wearing
Ear Plugs or Goblin Ear Wax. It also summons any wandering monsters in the
vicinity.
Cost:
City 15gp, Town 17gp, Village 19gp (per bud)
Availability:
Rare
Further Notes:
Whistle Buds is especially well-known from
occurring within Darkwood Forest and Scorpion Swamp.