StingingCone
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Climate/Terrain: Any/Subterranean Hit Dice: 5
Frequency: Uncommon THAC0: 16
Organization: Multicellular No. of Attacks: 1
Activity Cycle: Any Damage/Attacks: 3d8
Diet: Scavenger Special Attacks: Poison
Intelligence: Non- (0) Special Defenses: None
Treasure: Nil Magic Resistance: Standard
Alignment: Neutral Size: M (4')
No. Appearing: 1-3 Morale: Fearless (19-20)
Armor Class: 6 XP Value: 420
Movement: 2

The StingingCone is a strange form of ambulatory fungus, related to shriekers and violet fungus, which resembles a four-foot-tall cone with a three-foot diameter base. Extending from the apex of the cone is a ten-foot-long tentacle which ends in a wickedly serrated talon. StingingCones are able to move slowly in the manner of a snail and can cling to any smooth surface, including walls and ceilings.

Combat: StingingCones will attack almost any creature that comes in range of its tentacle. It's accuracy is surprisingly good, and its sting delivers a painful poison (reducing dexterity by 2 for each successful hit; a character whose dexterity is reduced below 3 will begin convulsing, but is otherwise unable to move, losing d4 hit points per round). StingingCones feed by draining the fluids from a living creature through their tentacles.

The StingingCone is very susceptible to fire attack; saving at -4 and taking one additional point per die of damage from any fire-based attack.

Habitat/Society: StingingCones inhabit the same dark, dank subterranean caves and caverns as shriekers and other monstrous fungi. They reproduce by releasing spores, but immature StingingCones are likely to be killed and devoured by adults unless they begin growing far away from other StingingCones.

Ecology: StingingCones can absorb any sort of organic matter as a source of food. Victims of a StingingCone are pumped full of poison which greatly hastens the onset of decay, making feeding possible.

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