Gold Beetle
Contents |
Encyclopedia
When the Deeper Depths Mining Company contracted Prakal the Earth Mage to increase the profitability of their gold mines, they had envisioned some new variant of the Dig spell that would extract gold from baser metals. What they did not expect was for Prakal to instead design a living creature!
The Gold Beetle is wondrously designed. Living on a diet of gold, it is little surprise that it has a 24 carat body. Prakal's intention was that Deeper Depths could release a population of beetles in their mines, wait, and then harvest the fully grown beetles.
The presence of this beetle in front of you tells you that not everything went according to plan. The released beetles showed little interest in hanging around the low yield gold mines - they quickly migrated to dangerous dungeons where tasty golden nuggets abound. Worse yet, the mechanism used to digest gold triggers a powerful allergy in flesh and blood creatures, one that makes them unable to stand the presence of gold.
Core Details
| Physical | 1d20+40 HP, 5 Hit Dice |
|---|---|
| Mental | 0 MP, 0 Magic Dice |
| Base Slots | 2 Skills, 1 Spell |
| Base AC | 8 |
| Experience Level | 6 |
| Spells | None |
| Natural Intrinsics | Acid Resistance |
| Granted When Eaten | Acid Resistance, Allergic to Gold |
| Corpse: | 50% (inedible -- gold) |
| Creature Size | Small |
| Movement Type | Walking |
| Noise Level | 1 |
| Intelligence | Animal |
| Strength | Human |
| Monster Type | Insect |
| AI Type | Animal Speciest |
| Slot Set | Insect |
| Inventory | None |
| Evolution Path | None |
Attack Information
- Bites for 1d3+3 physical damage.
- Brushes (with antenna) for 1 damage, with a 75% chance of inflicting the intrinsic Allergic to Gold for 5 turns.
Additional Information
- Their golden bodies cannot be petrified.
- They can (only) eat items made of gold.
- Gold Beetles are "bipolar" -- if you are wearing any item made of gold, they will be hostile. Otherwise, they will be neutral. (If you have already attacked them, taking off the gold will not pacify them!)
Tips and Strategies
If you are wearing any gold items when you become allergic, you will take 2d3 damage per item per turn. If you want to fight them (without annoying Pax), it's best to wear a single gold item until combat commences, then take that off immediately after your first attack. After combat, avoid equipping any gold items until the allergy wears off.
