Southland: The Deep Dark Oozes

THE SOUTHLAND

A Fantasy Core Setting

© Jerry Harris 2014

Published here as Open Game Content.

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Humanoid Lands Index

The Deep Dark Oozes

Along with the sub-human Grimlocks and Ghouls, there’s also a frightening collection of various dangerous slimes, oozes, molds, and killer mushrooms in the Deep Dark.  These strange substances are some sort alchemical creation gone wild.  Perhaps the Catastrophe altered them.  There’s probably some magical knowledge to be gained from them if properly studied, though none of them can survive outside of the Deep Dark environment.  

Green Slime

This flesh-eating slime covers damp surfaces all over the Deep Dark.  It automatically dissolves wood and organic items touching it in 2 rds.  Non-magical metal items are corroded on 3 rds.  In either case, it must be scraped or washed off immediately to avoid ruining the item.  On exposed flesh, it does 1d6 damage each rd until scraped or washed off.  Anything that deals cold or fire damage, sunlight, or a remove disease spell destroys a patch of green slime. It does not harm stone.

Yellow Mold

If disturbed, a 5-foot square of this mold bursts forth with a cloud of poisonous spores. All within 10 feet of the mold must make a DC 12 Fort Save or take 1d6 damage. Those failing will need to make a DC 18 Fort Save next rd or fall unconscious for 1 turn. Fire destroys Yellow Mold, and sunlight renders it dormant.  It is also found in damp areas.

Brown Mold  

Brown Mold feeds on warmth, drawing heat from anything around it. It normally comes in patches 5 feet in diameter, and the temperature is always cold in a 30-foot radius around it. Living creatures within 5 feet of it take 3d6 points of cold damage. Fire brought within 5 feet of brown mold causes it to instantly double in size. Cold damage, such as from a cone of cold, instantly destroys it. 

Grimlocks (immune to the cold) may be storing fresh bodies here, waiting to thaw them for later consumption.  

Phosphorescent Fungus 

This strange underground fungus grows in clumps that look almost like stunted shrubbery. It can be cultivated for food and light. It gives off a soft violet glow that illuminates underground caverns and passages as well as a candle does. Rare patches of fungus illuminate as well as a torch does.  Picked fungus will glow for up to six hours.

Violet Fungus (Giant Mushroom)

HD 2+6, Hp 15, AC 13 (Natural)

Fort +6, Ref –1, Will +0

Melee: 4 attacks/rd Tentacles +3 to hit  1d6+2 + Poison Spore Cloud DC 12 Fort Sv or Die.  Immediate effect is 0 hp and unconsciousness.  Death occurs in 1 + Con Bonus days.  

There are patches of large mushrooms in the Deep Dark.  Humanoids and humans alike find them to be delicacies.  (Even the strictly carnivore Humanoids will garnish meals with mushrooms, if they can.)  The patches of giant mutated mushrooms in the Deep Dark can fetch high prices in the outside world.  Unfortunately, mixed in with these mushrooms are some dangerous mutations.  

Violet Fungus mushrooms protect themselves with tentacles that spray poison spores on would-be harvesters.  They are differently colored than almost any other mushroom, as long as you’ve got enough light to see by.  If killed, the mushroom (toadstool) is still poisonous.  There are assassins who can brew Violet Fungus into potent poison applications.  

Shrieker (Giant Mushroom)

HD 2+2, Hp 11, AC 8 (Natural)

Fort +4, Ref —, Will –4

Melee: None

Ranged: If passing within 5’, DC 18 Stealth check or Shriek 1d3 rds DC 12 Fort Sv or stunned during Shriek.  It may shriek once per turn.

The only other mushroom that has the same color as Violet Fungus are the Shriekers.  Their defense mechanism only stuns victims.  Unfortunately, this will almost certainly draw Ghouls, Grimlocks, and any other hungry creature in the area.  For this reason, Shriekers may have treasure and gear lying around them.

Gray Ooze

HD 3 (d10), Hp 15, AC 10* (magic weapons strike as normal, wooden weapons dissolve on contact, metal weapons break on a 1 in 4 upon contact)

Fort +6, Ref –4, Will –4

Melee: Slam +3 to hit 1d6+1 + DC 12 Ref Sv or -1 to worn non-magical Armor (1d6 acid damage if not wearing armor)

Stealth: +5 Camouflage among stones

Bane: Will retreat from fire and magic attacks

Usually hides among wet stones.

Ochre Jelly

HD 6 (d10), Hp 40, AC 10* (magic weapons strike as normal, slashing weapons do no damage, but split the Jelly in half, each with half hp, up to 4 separate Jellies)

Fort +8, Ref –3, Will –3

Melee: Slam +5 to hit 2d4+3 + DC 12 Ref Sv or grappled -1 to worn non-magical Armor (1d6 acid damage if not wearing armor), next rd, automatic acid damage, until scraped off (1d4 damage to victim from scraping) 

Stealth +5 (Camouflage) Hanging from ceiling

Bane: Will retreat from fire and magic attacks

Often hangs from the ceiling in areas with other nasty slimes and such.

Black Pudding

HD 10 (d10), Hp 50, AC 10* (magic weapons strike as normal, any other type of weapon dissolves or breaks on contact)

Fort +9, Ref –2, Will –2

Melee: Slam +8 to hit 2d6+4 + DC 18 Ref Sv or -1 to worn non-magical Armor (2d6 acid damage if not wearing armor)

Ranged: Acid Spit +8 to hit 2d6 + DC 18 Ref Sv or -1 to worn non-magical Armor, S

Stealth +5 in darkness

Bane: Will retreat from fire and magic attacks

There are pools of this substance lying next to underground lakes and streams, mimicking the water.