NEW MONSTER: KARMA CHAMELEON, GIANT

KARMA CHAMELEON, GIANT

FREQUENCY: Very rare

NO. APPEARING: 1-4

ARMOR CLASS: 5

MOVE: 15”

HIT DICE: 3+1

% IN LAIR: Nil

TREASURE TYPE: Nil

NO. OF ATTACKS: 1

DAMAGE/ ATTACK: 1-8

SPECIAL ATTACKS: 90% Undetectable, +4 to hit with tongue, swallow whole, bad luck

SPECIAL DEFENSES: Never surprised

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

SAVE: Fighter 4

INTELLIGENCE: Non-

ALIGNMENT: Neutral

SIZE: L (15' long)

PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

LEVEL/ X.P. VALUE: IV/ 175 + 4/hp

Giant karma chameleons are very difficult to see because of their innate camouflage ability, therefore they have only a 10% chance of being noticed, despite their great size. Furthermore, their eyes can move independently, giving them excellent vision and making them unable to be surprised under normal circumstances.

These creatures have a tongue which is thirty feet long. It can bite at close opponents or strike with its sticky tongue at +4 to hit. The tongue attack does no damage but will draw prey to the giant chameleon's mouth. Any creature hit by the tongue gets the opportunity to hit it (armor class 5), and if it does, the chameleon will withdraw it and not use it against that creature again. If the tongue is not struck, the creature contacted by this member is drawn to the chameleon next round and automatically takes maximum damage (8 points).

Creatures weighing more than the chameleon have a second opportunity to strike the tongue and will not be dragged to the beast's mouth until the third melee round. Furthermore, creatures weighing more than twice the weight of the lizard will not be dragged at all, and the chameleon will release its hold on the third melee round. These creatures weigh between 700 and 1200 lbs., when full grown.

A karma chameleon can swallow any creature gnoll-sized or smaller. This is indicated by a score of 20. If a giant chameleon swallows an opponent whole, there is a chance for the victim to cut its way out if it has a sharp edged weapon and can score an 18 or better (this also kills the chameleon). The victim has three chances to so escape. Hits upon a giant chameleon with whole prey inside have a 1 in 6 probability of hitting the creature inside, thus inflicting whatever damage scored on the giant chameleon on that creature also.

These creatures are moderately magical and cause bad luck each time they touch an opponent, including tongue strikes, auto-hits following entrapment by the tongue, and each round spent inside their body. Each successful strike by a giant karma chameleon will cause the victim to strike at -1 on to hit rolls and to save at -1 on saving throws. Furthermore, skills that are based on %, such as the tracking skills of rangers and thief abilities will be at -5% per 'point of bad luck'. The effect is cumulative for every hit but will resolve after 24 hours. Successful attacks on the creature by bare hands (such as the attack of the monk) will also deliver the bad luck.

Giant karma chameleons do not make a permanent lair. They come and go. They come and go.