A carrion crawler was a burrowing aberration that scavenged the dead and occasionally preyed on living creatures. Similar to a giant, toothed centipede in appearance, carrion crawlers were often accompanied by a foul odor of death, which warned others of their approach.[6]
Although their nature ultimately rested in the Far Realm, it was thought by many, and indeed was possible, that carrion crawlers were created through a mad wizard's experiments.[2]
Description[]
Carrion crawlers were large, pale yellow, and greenish aberrations whose appearance was akin to a 3‒4 ft (0.91‒1.2 m) long centipede. Crawlers possessed eight long tentacles protruding from the sides of their heads, allowing them to stun prey.[6] Carrion crawlers also had two eye stalks, through which they could perceive their surroundings even in the darkest caverns.[2] Additionally, carrion crawlers had a highly developed sense of smell.[6]
Behavior[]
Carrion crawlers often laid their eggs within a meal or mounds of waste. When the young hatched, often in numbers reaching into the hundreds, the baby crawlers quickly turned on one another, eating each other. Fortunately, this thinned down the numbers of the carrion crawlers substantially, who were also less dangerous at this time, possessing a less effective venom than their adult equivalents.[2]
Sub-Species[]
- Aquatic carrion crawler
- An aquatic species of carrion crawler could be found in some depths of the Sea of Fallen Stars. Unlike their land cousins, these creatures lacked any legs and moved in a manner not unlike eels. They had multifaceted eyes and bony plates on their heads.[8]
Ecology[]
Carrion crawlers' feasting ground and tunnels created by their acidic secretions.
Habitats[]
Beyond the Prime Material plane, carrion crawlers could be found in the Domains of Dread.[9]
Use[]
Carrion crawler brain juice was a dangerous paralytic poison that could be extracted or simply beaten out of the aberration's organ. The simplicity of acquiring this poison made it commonly used by orcs in the Urghosh locking mechanisms.[10]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Hordes of Dragonspear
Novels & Short Stories
Video Games
Board Games
Card Games
Miniatures
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
Gallery[]
Further Reading[]
- Johnathan M. Richards (January 2000). “The Ecology of the Carrion crawler”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #267 (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 72–79.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 37. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 40. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 30. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 35. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 13. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet and Monte Cook (October 2000). Monster Manual 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 29. ISBN 0-7869-1552-1.
- ↑ (March 2013). Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition, Sword Coast Survival Guide , link:[1]. (Beamdog), p. 33.
- ↑ Matthew G. Adkins (March 2000). “The Akriloth”. Dungeon #79 (Wizards of the Coast) (79)., p. 82.
- ↑ Kirk Botulla, Shane Hensley, Nicky Rea, Teeuwynn Woodruff (1994). Monstrous Compendium Ravenloft Appendix III: Creatures of Darkness. Edited by William W. Connors. (TSR, Inc.), p. 8. ISBN 1-56076-914-9.
- ↑ Stormfront Studios (2001). Designed by Mark Buchignani, Ken Eklund, Sarah W. Stocker. Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor. Ubisoft Entertainment.