Remorhaz
| Remorhaz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | Magical beast |
| Image | Wizards.com image |
| Stats | Open Game License stats |
The remorhaz is an iconic magical beast in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It is vaguely similar to the frost worm.
Publication history
The remorhaz first appeared in Dragon #2 (August 1976).
The remorhaz appeared in first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in the original Monster Manual (1977).[1] The remorhaz was further detailed in Dragon #114 (October 1986).[2]
The remorhaz appeared in second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989),[3] and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).[4] The undead remorhaz appeared in Dungeon #70 (September 1998).
The remorhaz appeared in the third edition Monster Manual (2000),[5] and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual (2003).
The remorhaz appeared in the fourth edition Monster Manual 2 (2009).
Physical description
A remorhaz resembles a gigantic (5 feet (1.5m) wide and 20 feet (6m) long) centipede, only with longer legs. It is segmented, and each segment is jagged and heavily armored. The lower segments of its body bear legs, while the uppermost ones have webbed spines which look like a cobra's fan. Protruding from the back, with two on each segment, are big, red, jewel-like lumps which radiate extreme heat. The jagged, bladed head of the Remorhaz has four antenna-like growths, two coming from the chin/cheeks and two from the forehead. The Remorhaz is bluish-white in color, but has a reddish glow caused by its extreme body heat. The remorhaz has two little wings on its back that can hold the upper part of its body in the air, while the lower remains on the ground.
Combat
The remorhaz, like the frost worm and many other D&D beasts, attacks by waiting beneath the ground (or in the remorhaz's case, the snow) until it can sense prey walking above. It uses its body heat to melt the snow above it and then bursts up and ambushes the victim. It can be perfectly deadly by using its claws, grabbing and grappling with opponents, and swallowing foes whole, but because it is so hot, merely touching the creature causes fire damage.
Remorhazes cannot speak.
Being of only animal intelligence, they are regarded as neutral in alignment.
References
- ↑ Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual (TSR, 1977)
- ↑ Martin, Kurt and Ed Greenwood. "The Ecology of the Remorhaz." Dragon #114 (TSR, 1986)
- ↑ Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume One (TSR, 1989)
- ↑ Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1993)
- ↑ Williams, Skip, Jonathan Tweet, and Monte Cook. Monster Manual. Wizards of the Coast, 2000