Cave Lily
Level: 5 (15)
A cave lily is a predatory lifeform that dwells in the living cave systems of the Ninth World, hanging by a combination of powerful rootlike tendrils and sticky suction pads from the roof as it dangles long, feathery tendrils toward the floor below. Anything that disturbs the fronds is subject to attack as the cave lily attempts to snare it with a sticky mucus and draw it in to be shoved into the creature's maw.
Most cave lilies appear mop-like, with a long and spiny stalk hanging down from where they cling to the roof to where the feathery tendrils droop to near the floor. They could easily be mistaken for a more harmless form of life if seen from a distance, as the cave lilies only attack things that move close enough for the disturbance to be felt by the tendrils.
A cave lily that is getting less food than it needs will migrate to a new location - at first by shifting along the roof slowly, but if need be the creature's feeding tendrils can be used as legs to let it walk across open spaces. they try to avoid leaving the cave systems of the Ninth World, although the sensory methods they use to determine their location are uncertain.
One unpleasant detail of the creatures is the simplistic form of their digestive tract - essentially an intestine that travels the length of the body and back, with the excretment being eject in close proximity to the mouth, forming a putrid mound directly underneath it that may serve to attract prey.
Most cave lilies appear mop-like, with a long and spiny stalk hanging down from where they cling to the roof to where the feathery tendrils droop to near the floor. They could easily be mistaken for a more harmless form of life if seen from a distance, as the cave lilies only attack things that move close enough for the disturbance to be felt by the tendrils.
A cave lily that is getting less food than it needs will migrate to a new location - at first by shifting along the roof slowly, but if need be the creature's feeding tendrils can be used as legs to let it walk across open spaces. they try to avoid leaving the cave systems of the Ninth World, although the sensory methods they use to determine their location are uncertain.
One unpleasant detail of the creatures is the simplistic form of their digestive tract - essentially an intestine that travels the length of the body and back, with the excretment being eject in close proximity to the mouth, forming a putrid mound directly underneath it that may serve to attract prey.
Motive: Hunger.
Environment: Cave systems throughout the Ninth World act as home to these creatures, although there are rarely more than half a dozen in any given location.
Health: 25
Damage Inflicted: 5, plus sticky mucus
Armor: 1
Movement: Immediate
Modifications:All Intellect-based tasks at level 1; cannot be affected by visual abilities or cyphers.
Combat: A fight with a cave lily almost always begins when an unsuspecting victim attempts to pass through or brush by the feathered tendrils of the creature, which responds by attempting to grab the victim, stabbing them with the dozens of small spikes hidden on the underside of each tendril and smearing a thick, sticky mucus across them.
Victims of an attack must make a Might Defense check or have all their physical actions modified by one step to their detriment as the mucus glues their limbs to their sides and makes movement difficult at best. Victims who suffer three successful attacks by a cave lily are drawn to the creature's maw, where it stuffs them into the foul-smelling length of its intestinal tract, dealing an automatic 3 damage per round until either freed or dead. Victims can use any light weapons to attack the cave lily from the inside, where it has no Armor.
Victims of an attack must make a Might Defense check or have all their physical actions modified by one step to their detriment as the mucus glues their limbs to their sides and makes movement difficult at best. Victims who suffer three successful attacks by a cave lily are drawn to the creature's maw, where it stuffs them into the foul-smelling length of its intestinal tract, dealing an automatic 3 damage per round until either freed or dead. Victims can use any light weapons to attack the cave lily from the inside, where it has no Armor.
Interaction:
Cave lilies are functionally mindless, existing only to eat and reproduce. Interactions with them are limited to luring other creatures into their reach to be attacked or fighting the cave lily itself.
Use: A known explorer has gone missing while spelunking, taking a valuable artifact with him; those going looking for him find a cavern with half a dozen cave lilies, each one with the stinking ooze of a recently digested meal beneath it. To retrieve the artifact, PCs will have to pacify or slay the cave lilies and search the muck beneath them.
A very confused cave lily has emerged from a breach in the cave network beneath a town, and now the creature is wandering the streets, making meals of anyone unlucky enough to be in the way of it as it searches for a way back into the caves. PCs must either kill it or lure it back to a tunnel entrance to be rid of it.
Someone with an active dislike of intruders has carefully cultivated a perimeter of cave lilies around their subterranean abode; the PCs need to get to the person for some reason, requiring them to either kill the creatures - to the ire of the person they're going to see - or to 'gild the lily' by making a treacherous passage along the only known route into the safe inner area.
A very confused cave lily has emerged from a breach in the cave network beneath a town, and now the creature is wandering the streets, making meals of anyone unlucky enough to be in the way of it as it searches for a way back into the caves. PCs must either kill it or lure it back to a tunnel entrance to be rid of it.
Someone with an active dislike of intruders has carefully cultivated a perimeter of cave lilies around their subterranean abode; the PCs need to get to the person for some reason, requiring them to either kill the creatures - to the ire of the person they're going to see - or to 'gild the lily' by making a treacherous passage along the only known route into the safe inner area.
Loot: A cave lily will have 1d6 indigestible cyphers in the muck pile beneath it.
GM Intrusions: A PC's foot slips in a spill of cave lily excrement, falling prone unless they make a Speed Defense check.
A cave lily nearby convulses, perhaps attempting to digest something still struggling, and hurls globs of mucus at the party; if they fail a Speed Defense check, they're snared as per the mucus description in the combat section.
A cave lily that was invisible in the darkness is alerted by the vibrations in the ground and starts reaching out with dangerous tendrils, joining an ongoing battle.
Inspired by the lifeforms known as crinoids.
A cave lily nearby convulses, perhaps attempting to digest something still struggling, and hurls globs of mucus at the party; if they fail a Speed Defense check, they're snared as per the mucus description in the combat section.
A cave lily that was invisible in the darkness is alerted by the vibrations in the ground and starts reaching out with dangerous tendrils, joining an ongoing battle.
Inspired by the lifeforms known as crinoids.
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