Friday, 17 October 2025

Fungivores of the Shadowdeep

 These creatures are not intended as serious opponents, but more as wildlife that are incidentally encountered while in deep underground environments. As the title of the post suggests, these all eat fungi, though some of them are omnivorous so may consume a range of different foods. 

Manticore Rat

Armour Class8
Hit Dice1
Avg. hp5
Movement150ft/swim 60ft
THAC020
Attacks1 tail
Damage1d4
No. Appearing2d8
Morale5
Save AsNM
Treasurenil
AlignmentNeutral
Intelligence3 (Semi)
Size & TypeSmall Animal
XP Value10

These rats are a bit larger than giant rats (about 3ft at the shoulder) and are less aggressive. They are still omnivorous but will only scavenge meat, not hunt for fresh prey. Most of the time they will feed on the various fungi of the Shadowdeep. They have a row of spines along the top of their back and also a tail that bulges with larger sharp spines, resembling that of the much larger manticore, hence their name. The spikes are not detachable, but the rat can swing its tail around like a morning star, lashing at would-be predators. They are a bit too dangerous to domesticate but some subterranean species make a habit of hunting them. As with other rats they are competent swimmers. 


Storgen (cave bufalo) 

Armour Class6
Hit Dice3 or 4
Avg. hp14 or 18
Movement150ft
THAC017
Attacks1 gore
Damage1d6 or 2d4
No. Appearing1d8
Morale8
Save AsF2
Treasurenil
AlignmentNeutral
Intelligence2 (animal)
Size & TypeLarge Animal
XP Value35

The storgen stands about 5ft high at the shoulder, and is clearly related to cattle and buffalo of the surface, though it has an extra pair of legs. It is exclusively fungivorous, and specimens transported to the surface (by dwarf explorers) cannot even digest green grass. The males are bigger than the females (4 hit dice instead of 3) and have an extra pair of horns pointing down below their ears (females do 1d6 damage, males do 2d4 damage). If a storgen can run 30ft or more straight at its opponent, it charges with +2 to hit and double damage for the first round. 

Storgens are occasionally domesticated by underground humanoid races such as goblins, and a few even use them as beasts of burden. However, most storgens encountered are wild, roaming in small herds with 1 being a male and the rest as females. Their leather is somewhat tougher than cow leather, and is good for leather armour.  


Bat-eared Rabbit

Armour Class6
Hit Dice1/2 (1d4 hp)
Avg. hp 2
Movement180ft
THAC020
Attacks1 bite
Damage1
No. Appearing3d6
Morale2 (always flees)
Save AsNM
Treasurenil
Alignmentneutral
Intelligence2 (animal)
Size & Typetiny animal
XP Value5

The bat-eared rabbit is, like surface rabbits, very timid and effectively a non-combatant. The three things it has in its favour is speed, senses and rapid breeding. As their name suggests, they have very large ears, even for a rabbit, and their eyes are large and round (120ft infravision). They have a basic echo location that means that even if blinded, they can still navigate around solid objects. They can also jump up to 20ft horizontally or 10ft vertically and although they are not quite as fast as a racehorse, they are much more agile (their AC 6 is AC 9 -3 for high dexterity) .  

Some tribes of kobolds have become quite adept at breeding them. Given enough fungi, a pair can produce a litter of 2d6 leverets every month or so. The main problem the kobolds have is keeping them contained - they are very good at escaping. 


Cave Bustard

Armour Class8
Hit Dice1
Avg. hp 4
Movement150ft
THAC020
Attacks1 peck
Damage1d3
No. Appearing2d10
Morale4
Save AsNM
Treasurenil
Alignmentneutral
Intelligence1 (animal)
Size & Typemedium animal
XP Value5

Cave Bustards are flightless birds that have evolved underground. They are mostly fungivorous but will also eat small insects and other tiny creatures. Cave bustards are not brave and will generally flee from anything other than their own species. Once per day a bustard can make a horrible shrieking noise similar to that of a Shrieker fungus. This both acts as a warning to the rest of its flock and also attracts wandering monsters (as shriekers do). Because the wandering monster might attack the bustard rather than the creature threatening the bustard, they only do this in critical situations. If cornered, the cave bustard can peck desperately with its beak though this deals only minor damage. 

Cave bustards are actually relatively easy to domesticate if the farmers can cope with their dreadful noise. Goblin farmers are known to wear heavy ear muffs while herding cave bustards. 


Deep Leviathan

Armour Class6
Hit Dice10
Avg. hp50
Movement90ft
THAC015
Attacks1 horn or 1 tail
Damage2d6 or 2d4
No. Appearing1d4
Morale10
Save AsF5
Treasurenil
Alignmentneutral
Intelligence2 (animal)
Size & TypeHuge Animal
XP Value900

Standing as tall as a mammoth, the Deep Leviathan is the largest fungivore of the shadowdeep. It fills a similar ecological niche to that of elephants, rhinos and sauropod dinosaurs. A deep leviathan is not particularly fast, so when threatened it will usually fight its opponent, either trying to stab it with its horn or, if the enemy is to its rear or flank, bludgeoning it with its muscular tail. Fortunately they are too slow to charge effectively. Male and female leviathans are similar in size and combat ability, though males do have an extra pair of horns growing from the rear of their cheeks where their jaws join their skulls. 

Deep leviathans are very difficult to domesticate, having a stubborn and grumpy disposition like rhinoceroses. They live only in the largest caverns with large forests of fungi that can satisfy their prodigious appetites.


 

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