Thursday, February 27, 2020

Non-Dark Sun Creatures in Dark Sun - Brain Mole

There are many creatures for the various monstrous manuals that have been officially added to Dark Sun. I added some unofficially for my game and I'm sure a lot of other DMs do the same.
There is no inherent problem with this, although the flavor text often doesn't fit with the Dark Sun setting. My goal is to list the various monsters that "don't fit" and rewrite their flavor text to make them fit.

Brain Mole



Brain Mole Brain Mole, Nalga
Climate/Terrain Any Underground Any Underground
Frequency Uncommon Very Rare
Organization Family Solitary
Activity Cycle Night Night
Diet Psionic Energy Psionic Energy
Intelligence Animal (1) Average (8-10)
Treasure Nil Nil
Alignment Neutral Neutral Evil
No. Appearing 1-3 1
Armor Class 9 8
Movement 1, Br 3 2, Br 4
Hit Dice 1 hp 1+1
Thac0 0 0
No. of Attacks 0 0
Damage/ Attack Nil Nil
Special Attack PsionicsPsionics
Special DefensePsionics Psionics
Magic Resistance Nil Nil
Size T (2' tall) S (2'-6" tall)
Morale Unsteady (5-7) Average (8-10)
XP Value 35 65
Brain Mole
Psionic Summary
Level: 6
Dis/Sci/Dev: 2/1/4
Attack/Defense: MT/M-
Score: 12
PSPs: 100
Telepathy:Mind link, mind wipe, contact, mind thrust.
Metapsionics: psychic drain (no cost), psionic sense.

Nalga
Psionic Summary
Level: 8
Dis/Sci/Dev: 3/4/13
Attack/Defense: EW, II, MT/M-, TS, MB, IF
Score: 12
PSPs: 140
Clairsentience: Clairvoyance, Feel sound
Telepathy: Domination, mind link, mind wipe, Aversion, contact, ego whip, esp, id insinuation, invisibility, mind thrust, post-hypnotic suggestion, sound link
Metapsionics: Psychic drain (no cost), psionic sense.
Brain moles are small, furry rodents that live in underground burrows. They are nearly blind and look like normal moles. Brain moles are pests, but not overly dangerous. Nalga look like normal brain moles, only slightly larger. Nalga are intelligent and cunning. They have been know to capture wild talents and feed on them for as long as possible, even going so far as provide them with food and water to keep them alive.

Combat
A brain mole commonly attacks its victim in forests, scrub plains, or underground; in either case, the creature is usually out of its direct line of sight. The mole waits for a psionically endowed being to appear above it, or it will burrow in search of prey. Brain moles have an innate psionic sense and can automatically detect any psionic activity within 200 yards. However, they can only feed on psionic energy when their victim is nearby: within 30 yards if the victim is a psionicist or psionic creature, 30 feet if the victim is a wild talent. The mole can'’t get a fix on its prey until the victim actually uses a psionic power.
Once a brain mole locates a victim it will attempt to establish contact. If contact is made, it will attempt to feed. Feeding is accomplished on a wild talet by using mindwipe and on a psionicist or wild talent using psychic drain.
Most brain moles do not attack maliciously. They must feed at least once a week or they will die.
A brain mole can perform mindwipe up to a range of 30 feet. Strangely enough, a brain mole must establish contact before using psychic drain. Furthermore, it can only perform psychic drain upon psionicists, psionic creatures, or wild talents. However, it does not have to put them into a trance or a deep sleep first, it just starts siphoning away psionic energy.

Habitat/Society
Brain moles live in family units that include one male, one female, and 1d6 young (one of which may be old enough to feed by itself). Large brain mole towns of up to 3d6 family units have been reported near settlements.
Nalga usually lead brain mole communities. Although they cannot speak, nalga usually learn the local language in order to better understand its victims.

Ecology
Rare non-psionic individuals may try to keep normal brain moles as pets. The moles are rather friendly, and easily tamed. On the open market, adult brain moles sell for 50 gp. Youngsters sell for 5 gp each. Nalga are never kept as pets, but one may pose as one for some nefarious purpose.

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