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Purple Worms burrow deep beneath the ground in
a constant search for food. They sense vibrations at 20 meters and move to
attack. Generally only adult specimens 2.4 meters to 2.7 meters in
diameter and 12 to 15 meters long, are encountered. Young are 30 cm in
diameter and about 150 cm long when they hatch, a typical hatching being 10-20
(200 kg, 32/64 hits, fight as Trained NPCs). They return to their lairs to
rest, and there they expel such indigestible waste as metal and mineral
crystals.
A purple worm attacks by biting, and an
Outstanding Success indicates the creature has engulfed its victim. A
mature purple worm can swallow, whole a creature as large as 240 cm or so tall
and up to 180 cm wide, or vice versa. Any creature swallowed will be dead
in 1-6 minutes. The worm will digest its meal within two hours, and at
that time the creature is totally gone and cannot be raised from the dead.
Note, however, that a creature swallowed can try to cut its way out of the
purple worm's stomach. The inner armor class of the worm is (1/2), but
each turn the creature is in the worm it subtracts one from the damage each of
its attacks does. This subtraction is cumulative, so on the second round
there is a -2, on the third a -3, etc.
Additionally, the purple worm has a poisonous
stinger in its tail. This weapon is only used in rear defense, however, or
if the worm is fighting large or numerous opponents in a very spacious area
which will allow it freedom to use its stinger. The sting causes 4D hits
of damage when it hits, and the poison causes an additional 2D hits per turn.
Mottled Worm: The mottled worm is
an aquatic variety of the purple worm. It inhabits shallow bottom muck but
will surface for prey. It otherwise conforms to the characteristics of the
purple variety.
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