Monster: Darkmantle

Monster: Darkmantle

I have always overlooked the darkmantle in the Monster Manual, but now I see that it's actually a quite interesting monster.

 

Darkmantle [Monster Manual, page 38]

 
32 points
Attribute Modifiers: ST-2 [-20]; IQ-6 [-120]; HT+1 [10].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: SM-1; Will+6 [30]; Per+6 [30]; Basic Move -4 [-20].
Advantages: Chameleon 3 [15]; Clinging (Temporary Disadvantage, No Legs (Sessile), -50%) [10]; Constriction Attack [15]; Detect Light (Precise, +100%) [20]; DR 2 (Tough Skin, -40%) [6]; Dobule-Jointed [15]; Extra Arms 6 (Extra-Flexible, +50%) [90]; Flight (Magical, -10%; Slow, -25%) [26]; Good Grip 2 [10]; Injury Tolerance (No Head, No Neck) [12]; Metabolism Control 6 (Hibernation, -60%) [12]; Perfect Balance [15]; Reduced Consumption 3 (Food Only, -50%) [3]; Sharp Claws [5]; Sharp Teeth [1]; Sonar (Accessibility, Not in water, -30%) [14].
    Darkness: Obscure Vision 10 (Extended, Infravision, +20%; Magical, -10%; Ranged, +50%; Variable, Area, +5%) [33].
Disadvantages: Blindness [-50]; Horizontal [-10]; Invertebrate [-20]; No Fine Manipulators [-30]; Restricted Diet (Carnivore) [-10]; Short Lifespan 3 [-30]; Wild Animal [-30].
Features: No Legs (Slithers).
Creature Type: Magical Beast.
 
Typical Stats

ST:	8	HP:	8	Speed:	5.25
DX:	10	Will:	10	Move:	1 ground, 5 air
IQ:	4	Per:	10
HT:	11	FP:	11	SM:	-1
Dodge:	8	Parry:	9 (unarmed)	DR:	2* (tough skin)

    Sharp Teeth (12): thrust 1d-3 cutting (KYOS: 1d-4 cutting), Reach C.
    Sharp Claws (12): thrust 1d-3 cutting (KYOS: 1d-4 cutting), Reach C.
    Grapple (26): The tentacles are not very strong, but the darkmantle has many of them. Wrestling at DX+2 gives the cloaker a ST score of 10 for the purpose of grappling. Usually it drops from the ceiling, grabs the head, and then employs Constriction Attack. Effective skill 26 includes a +14 bonus for using 8 arms at once.
    Darkness (12): The darkmantle may fill a two-yard-radius area with darkness. No one can see into the affected area, and no one within the affected area can see anything; see p. B394 for combat rules. The Dark Vision advantage lets you see through this effect, but Night Vision and Infravision. To place the area at a distance, use Innate Attack (Gaze), with normal range penalties, but at +4 for affecting an area.
 
    Traits: Blindness; Chameleon 3; Clinging (Temporary Disadvantage, No Legs (Sessile)); Detect Light (Precise); Double-Jointed; Flight (Magical; Slow); Good Grip 2; Horizontal; Injury Tolerance (No Head, No Neck); Invertebrate; Metabolism Control 6 (Hibernation); No Fine Manipulators; No Legs (Slithers); Perfect Balance; Reduced Consumption 3 (Food Only); Restricted Diet (Carnivore); Short Lifespan 3; Sonar (Accessibility, Not in water); Wild Animal.
    Skills: Brawling-12; Camouflage-14; Innate Attack (Gaze)-12; Stealth-14; Wrestling-12.
    Creature Type: Magical Beast.