Monster: Spirit Centipede

Monster: Spirit Centipede

Another monster from my old conversion notes (there's not that many of those left, actually). The spirit centipede is a very weird monster from the Oriental Adventures. A shapeshifting centipede with nine eyes on a humanoid head with mustaches. I have always found the illustration to be very unsettling. I wonder what's the mythological basis of this monster is.

Least Spirit Centipede [Oriental Adventures, page 149]

34 point
Attribute Modifiers: ST-9 [-90]; DX+4 (No Fine Manipulators, -40%) [48]; IQ-3 [-60].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: SM-6; Will+2 [10]; Per+3 [15]; Basic Move -2 [-10].
Advantages: 360° Vision [25]; Alternate Form (Centipede; Magical, -10%) [14]; Alternate Form (Toad; Magical, -10%) [14]; Double-Jointed [15]; Immunity to Poison [15]; Injury Tolerance (No Neck) [5]; Magic Resistance 1 (Improved, +150%) [5]; Unaging [15]; Universal Digestion (Matter Eater, +300%) [20].
    Black Fog Cloud [53]: Toxic Attack 1d-1 (Area Effect, 2 yards, +50%; Drifting, +20%; Emanation, -20%; Link, +10%; Magical, -10%; Persistent, +40%; Respiratory Agent, +50%; Resistible, HT, -30%) [7] + Obscure 3 (Vision; Drifting, +20%; Extended, Infravision, +20%; Link, +10%; Magical, -10%; Persistent, +40%) [11] + Affliction 1 (HT; Area Effect, 2 yards, +50%; Costs Fatigue, 2 FP, -10%; Drifting, +20%; Emanation, -20%; Link, +10%; Magical, -10%; Paralysis, +150%; Persistent, +40%; Reduced Duration, 1/60, -35%; Respiratory Agent, +50%) [35].
Disadvantages: Horizontal [-10]; No Manipulators [-50].
Features: No Legs (Slithers).
Creature Type: Outsider (Spirit).

Typical Stats

ST:	1	HP:	1	Speed:	6
DX:	14	Will:	9	Move:	4
IQ:	7	Per:	10
HT:	10	FP:	10	SM:	-6
Dodge:	9	Parry:	N/A	DR:	-

    Bite (14): thrust 1d-7 crushing (KYOS: 1d-12 crushing), Reach C.
    Alternate Form: By taking 10 consecutive Ready maneuvers, the spirit centipede may assume the form of a normal centipede or a toad. This ability functions like the Alternate Form advantage (p. B84).
    Black Cloud: By paying 2 FP, a spirit centipede can release a toxic black cloud. It spreads in a 2-yard radius area around the spirit centipede, lasts 10 seconds, and drifts with the wind. The cloud imposes a -3 penalty on all vision-based rolls that use normal vision and Infravision within the area, deals 1d-1 toxic damage every second to all creatures that inhale the cloud (can be resisted with an HT roll). Additionally, every creature that inhales the cloud if paralyzed for margin of failure seconds. After that the subject is stunned (p. B420) and may roll vs. HT once per second to recover.

    Traits: 360° Vision; Double-Jointed; Horizontal; Immunity to Poison; Injury Tolerance (No Neck); Magic Resistance 1 (Improved); No Legs (Slithers); No Manipulators; Unaging; Universal Digestion (Matter Eater).
    Skills: Stealth-14.
    Creature Type: Outsider (Spirit).

Lesser Spirit Centipede [Oriental Adventures, page 149]

85 points
Attribute Modifiers: ST-7 [-70]; DX+4 (No Fine Manipulators, -40%) [48]; IQ-2 [-40].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: SM-4; Will+1 [5]; Per+2 [10]; Basic Move -1 [-5].
Advantages: 360° Vision [25]; Alternate Form (Centipede; Magical, -10%) [14]; Alternate Form (Snake; Magical, -10%) [14]; Alternate Form (Toad; Magical, -10%) [14]; Double-Jointed [15]; Immunity to Poison [15]; Injury Tolerance (No Neck) [5]; Magic Resistance 1 (Improved, +150%) [5]; Unaging [15]; Universal Digestion (Matter Eater, +300%) [20].
    Black Fog Cloud [55]: Toxic Attack 1d (Area Effect, 2 yards, +50%; Drifting, +20%; Emanation, -20%; Link, +10%; Magical, -10%; Persistent, +40%; Respiratory Agent, +50%; Resistible, HT, -30%) [9] + Obscure 3 (Vision; Drifting, +20%; Extended, Infravision, +20%; Link, +10%; Magical, -10%; Persistent, +40%) [11] + Affliction 1 (HT; Area Effect, 2 yards, +50%; Costs Fatigue, 2 FP, -10%; Drifting, +20%; Emanation, -20%; Link, +10%; Magical, -10%; Paralysis, +150%; Persistent, +40%; Reduced Duration, 1/60, -35%; Respiratory Agent, +50%) [35].
Disadvantages: Horizontal [-10]; No Manipulators [-50].
Features: No Legs (Slithers).
Creature Type: Outsider (Spirit).

Typical Stats

ST:	3	HP:	3	Speed:	6
DX:	14	Will:	9	Move:	5
IQ:	8	Per:	10
HT:	10	FP:	10	SM:	-4
Dodge:	9	Parry:	N/A	DR:	-

    Bite (14): thrust 1d-6 crushing (KYOS: 1d-10 crushing), Reach C.
    Alternate Form: By taking 10 consecutive Ready maneuvers, the spirit centipede may assume the form of a normal centipede, a toad, or a snake. This ability functions like the Alternate Form advantage (p. B84).
    Black Cloud: By paying 2 FP, a spirit centipede can release a toxic black cloud. It spreads in a 2-yard radius area around the spirit centipede, lasts 10 seconds, and drifts with the wind. The cloud imposes a -3 penalty on all vision-based rolls that use normal vision and Infravision within the area, deals 1d toxic damage every second to all creatures that inhale the cloud (can be resisted with an HT roll). Additionally, every creature that inhales the cloud if paralyzed for margin of failure seconds. After that the subject is stunned (p. B420) and may roll vs. HT once per second to recover.

    Traits: 360° Vision; Double-Jointed; Horizontal; Immunity to Poison; Injury Tolerance (No Neck); Magic Resistance 1 (Improved); No Legs (Slithers); No Manipulators; Unaging; Universal Digestion (Matter Eater).
    Skills: Stealth-14.
    Creature Type: Outsider (Spirit).

Greater Spirit Centipede [Oriental Adventures, page 149]

163 points
Attribute Modifiers: ST-3 [-30]; DX+4 (No Fine Manipulators, -40%) [48]; IQ-1 [-20].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: SM-1; Per+1 [5]; Basic Move -1 [-5].
Advantages: 360° Vision [25]; Alternate Form (Centipede; Magical, -10%) [14]; Alternate Form (Scorpion; Magical, -10%) [14]; Alternate Form (Snake; Magical, -10%) [14]; Alternate Form (Spider; Magical, -10%) [14]; Alternate Form (Toad; Magical, -10%) [14]; Double-Jointed [15]; Immunity to Poison [15]; Injury Tolerance (No Neck) [5]; Magic Resistance 1 (Improved, +150%) [5]; Unaging [15]; Universal Digestion (Matter Eater, +300%) [20].
    Black Fog Cloud [55]: Toxic Attack 1d (Area Effect, 2 yards, +50%; Drifting, +20%; Emanation, -20%; Link, +10%; Magical, -10%; Persistent, +40%; Respiratory Agent, +50%; Resistible, HT, -30%) [9] + Obscure 3 (Vision; Drifting, +20%; Extended, Infravision, +20%; Link, +10%; Magical, -10%; Persistent, +40%) [11] + Affliction 1 (HT; Area Effect, 2 yards, +50%; Costs Fatigue, 2 FP, -10%; Drifting, +20%; Emanation, -20%; Link, +10%; Magical, -10%; Paralysis, +150%; Persistent, +40%; Reduced Duration, 1/60, -35%; Respiratory Agent, +50%) [35].
Disadvantages: Horizontal [-10]; No Manipulators [-50].
Features: No Legs (Slithers).
Creature Type: Outsider (Spirit).

Typical Stats

ST:	7	HP:	7	Speed:	6
DX:	14	Will:	9	Move:	5
IQ:	9	Per:	10
HT:	10	FP:	10	SM:	-1
Dodge:	9	Parry:	N/A	DR:	-

    Bite (14): thrust 1d-4 crushing (KYOS: 1d-6 crushing), Reach C.
    Alternate Form: By taking 10 consecutive Ready maneuvers, the spirit centipede may assume the form of a normal centipede, a toad, a scorpion, a spider, or a snake. This ability functions like the Alternate Form advantage (p. B84).
    Black Cloud: By paying 2 FP, a spirit centipede can release a toxic black cloud. It spreads in a 2-yard radius area around the spirit centipede, lasts 10 seconds, and drifts with the wind. The cloud imposes a -3 penalty on all vision-based rolls that use normal vision and Infravision within the area, deals 1d toxic damage every second to all creatures that inhale the cloud (can be resisted with an HT roll). Additionally, every creature that inhales the cloud if paralyzed for margin of failure seconds. After that the subject is stunned (p. B420) and may roll vs. HT once per second to recover.

    Traits: 360° Vision; Double-Jointed; Horizontal; Immunity to Poison; Injury Tolerance (No Neck); Magic Resistance 1 (Improved); No Legs (Slithers); No Manipulators; Unaging; Universal Digestion (Matter Eater).
    Skills: Stealth-14.
    Creature Type: Outsider (Spirit).