Malboro (3pp)

ECOLOGY

Environment warm and temperate plains
Organization solitary, pair or grove (3-6)
Treasure incidental

ABOUT

This plant-like creature is composed of a central bulb split open into a needle-toothed maw, surrounded by dozens of short stalks, some of which end in cups and others in spheres. It drags itself along the ground on a dozen mobile vines. The thing reeks like rotting flesh.

A malboro is a plant created by fiendish influence, its body a toxic stew. They drag themselves over land on a carpet of fleshy tendrils, looking for prey. Although they are not stealthy, their stench resembles the smell of rotting meat, bringing scavengers close to investigate, and they are tireless in their pursuit of fleeing creatures. They are faintly intelligent, but this intelligence is focused solely on malice and mayhem. The only other beings they approach with anything other than violence are other malboros and mandragoras, which may cling to them like remoras and feed on the scraps they leave behind.

Malboros open combat with their foul acidic breath, and use this attack as frequently as possible. This morass not only burns the flesh but leaves behind a number of crippling ailments, severely weakening enemies, driving them temporarily mad, or stripping them of their senses. Against these now debilitated foes, the malboro concentrates its snapping jaws and muscular tendrils, beating opponents to a pulp and consuming the remains.

The average malboro is twelve feet in diameter and weighs about five tons. Larger forms are known, with even Colossal malboros not unheard of. Variant malboros may spread different ailments with their bad breath attack, such as diseases, stunning or negative levels.