Purple worms are massive burrowing worms that can be found in the depths of Khyber, including within the Uluriak tunnels beneath Katal Hazath,[4] while fiendish purple worms reside in the Demon Wastes,[5] and zombie purple worms roam in the Menechtarun desert of Xen'drik.[6]
Description[]
The purple worm is an enormous worm-like creature with a hide covered in chitinous plates that are dark purple in hue, with a mouth filled with teeth at one end and a poisonous stinger on the other. A mature purple worm has a body 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide and 80 feet (24 meters) long, and 40,000 pounds (18,000,000 grams) in weight.[3] They move by alternately compressing and expanding their bodies, which makes them capable of sudden speed.[1]
Behavior[]
Possessing only animal intelligence,[3] they are considered dim-witted. They go for any loud noise they sense underground as they hunt for food.[1]
Combat[]
When attacking, a purple worm coils into a mass 20 feet (6.1 meters) wide, from which head and tail lunge to bite, grab, and sting anything within a range of 15 feet (4.6 meters). With its mouth, it can catch and swallow beings whole with ease; those swallowed are crushed and dissolved by stomach acids if they cannot escape by cutting their way or using magic. The tail stinger inflicts a potent, debilitating venom.[1][3]
Abilities[]
They are highly skilled swimmers and possessed a tremorsense that lets them sense everything in contact with the ground.[3]
Ecology[]
Diet[]
Purple worms were predators and scavengers who devoured whatever organic matter they came across; nothing was safe. They were capable of swallowing human- and horse-sized beings whole. However, as they tunneled through the ground they consumed much dirt and rock materials, which it broke down and excreted constantly. Purple worms in mineral-rich environments could leave castings contained unrefined ores and even precious metals and gemstones.[1][3] Some adventures sought out purple worms' carcasses or casts for such treasures.[1]
Habitats[]
They live underground, at least until they erupt from the earth to attack.[3] They are capable of chewing through solid rock as they hunt prey.[1]
However, they often came to the surface in mountainous and other rocky lands.[1]
Zombie purple worms have occasionally been spotted on the surface in the deserts of Menechtarun in Xen'drik.[6] Fiendish varieties of purple worms lurk in the Demon Wastes.[5]
Relationships[]
Purple worms are solitary creatures.[3]
Appendix[]
External links[]
- Purple worm article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014). Monster Manual (5th Edition). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 255. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt (2008). Monster Manual (4th edition). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 214. ISBN 0-7869-4852-3.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, and Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual (3.5 edition). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 211. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ David Noonan, Rich Burlew, & Frank Brunner (2005). Explorer's Handbook. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 96. ISBN 0-7869-3691-6.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 David Noonan, Rich Burlew, & Frank Brunner (2005). Explorer's Handbook. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 111. ISBN 0-7869-3691-6.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Nicolas Logue, & Amber Scott (2007). Dragons of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 142. ISBN 0-7869-4154-5.
- ↑ Template:Cite book/Monster Manual 5th edition (revised)