Dragon Tongue, or Dragon’s Maw
by Parzival
source: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FZV-dyeWAAUCB63.jpg
2HD** (Hits as a 4HD monster)
AC: 9
MOVE: 0 (Cannot move.)
ATTACK: One spike, one time only. Hits as 4HD.
DAMAGE: 3d4, plus impalement, 1d8/round
NUMBER APPEARING: 1 (though others might be some distance away)
SAVE AS: F2
MORALE: NA
TREASURE TYPE:
INTELLIGENCE: None
ALIGNMENT: None
TREASURE TYPE: U
XP: 15
Plant
These deadly carnivorous plants grow in wilderness areas, from woodlands to hills, and even to wild steppes. Dragon Tongue at first appears merely to be a very large plant with a central flower of reddish-purple color, which rises from very close to the ground, looking indeed like the tongue of an enormous beast. This flower is surrounded by numerous leaves, all sprouting near the base from short branches, typically with five leaves to the branch (which are sometimes called “dragonclaws,” and are favored as a highly savory and spicy delicacy, served both raw and chopped fine into stews or other dishes). Below this central flower the plant actually extends deep into the ground, with a large and elastic “belly sac” surrounded by an otherwise very shallow and cursory root system, which largely serves only to hold the plant in place. Within the sac is a sharp spike, typically 3’ to 6’ in length, itself surrounded by strong, stretched fibers with considerable elasticity to them.
As stated, the Dragon Tongue is carnivorous. Once it roots and the flower blooms, the plant releases an extremely luring and intoxicating scent, which will cover a distance of around 300 yards radius. All creatures which smell this scent must make a Save vs. Poison or be drawn inexorably towards the plant, though only at a stumbling walk. The scent also dulls the intellect, acting as a temporary feeblemind effect; the victim effectively has no will, and will move towards the plant to peer into its flower. Note that a victim can be simply restrained; they will not struggle or fight to reach the plant, merely move towards it if not prevented. If the victim is removed from the area (greater than the radius of the scent’s reach), the effect will wear off in 1d6 turns. Otherwise, the victim may make another saving throw (at -2) after 1d6 turns, and so on, until either a successful save is made (in which case the effects of the scent cease for that victim and cannot reoccur), or the victim is dead due to the plant’s attack (see below)
Once a victim (or the unwary fool) peers into the flower’s maw, the plant’s elastic fibers shoot the stiff spike up with great speed and force, striking as a 4HD monster, with a single attack that does 3d4 damage. The victim must make a Save vs. Dragons Breath or be impaled for an additional 1d8 damage per round. At the same time, the dragonclaws leaves will rise up and catch at the victim, shoving him down into the expanding belly sac for eventual digestion. The victim may make a Strength test at a +2 penalty to escape the plant, attempting once per round. An impaled victim cannot strike the plant for any damage. Any successful escape means the victim is no longer impaled and has climbed out of the sack, and thus may act freely. Others may assist the victim in escaping, which the plant cannot prevent; no roll is needed to help a victim be free. The consumption will take one full turn for any victim size S to M. Actual digestion takes 1d4+2 days. Larger victims cannot be fully consumed, and will instead be digested in part. Large victims are very rare, as most such creatures can avoid the plant’s scent effects.
Note that only the first potential victim to reach the plant will be impaled. Any others affected by the scent will simply linger around, unable to take any intelligent action, until they either successfully save or the scent wears off. (The plant ceases to release scent once a victim is impaled, so the scent dissipates within 1d6 hours after an impalement occurs.)
Everything organic about a victim will be digested, including cloth, leather, and wood. The Dragon Tongue plant will expel all other items into a significant hole in the ground dug by its active roots (typically 3’ in diameter and 6’ deep). Once a victim is fully digested and all inorganic material is deposited (including bone, metal, glass, etc.), the Dragon Tongue will expel a cloud of 6d6 spores, which will each travel a distance of 60 to 600 yards (depending on obstructions) in a radius around the parent plant, and take root to form new Dragon Tongue plants, which achieve full growth in 3 months in either Springtime, Summer, or Fall. In winter the growth will be delayed until spring. In any case, the parent plant will then die within 1 day of releasing its spores.
The plant has no other form of attack than its spike, and can only impale one victim at a time. In an encounter, a rooted Dragon Tongue can take no defensive or offensive action other than its initial impaling attempt. It is vulnerable to any attack which would harm a normal plant.
Despite its dangers, some cultures actively cultivate the plant for its succulent leaves and the flower tongue. The spike is quite solid, and can be used as a weak spear (1d6 damage), though it splinters rapidly after a single strike and will be useless afterwards. There are cultures which also cultivate the plant as booby traps against would be raiders, and it is said that alchemists, sages, and the occasional wizard seek the scent pack (located just inside the flower’s maw) for various potions involving delusions, charm, sleeping draughts, etc..
A wild Dragons Tongue plant (or a trap plant) might have treasure in the sac hole below it from an unwary traveler it has consumed. Cultivated plants never have treasure.
Those who cultivate the plants wear nose plugs and concoct a preventative salve, spread under the nose, which protects against the effects of the plant’s scent.
A few notes: I edited this a couple of times to deal with handling impalement, escaping the plant, how long the scent itself continues, etc.. At first I had the plant move, but decided that was ridiculous. But if you want a moving nasty thing like this, go for it! Me, I’ll run the other direction...