Purple Worm

Gigantic subterranean monsters with poisonous stingers

worm subterranean giant neutral burrowing

Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game

Armor Class	16
Hit Dice	11* (+9) to 20* (+13)
Number Appearing	1d2, Wild 1d4
Attacks	1 bite/1 sting
Damage	2d8/1d8+poison
Movement	20' (15') Burrow 20' (15')
Save As	Fighter: 6 to 10 (½ of Hit Dice)
Morale	10
XP	1,670 – 5,450
Treasure Type	None

Purple worms are gigantic subterranean monsters; they are rarely found above ground. The body of a mature purple worm is 5-8 feet in diameter and 60-100 feet long, weighing about 40,000 pounds.

The creature has a poisonous stinger in its tail; those injured by it must save vs. Poison or die. Note that the purple worm’s movement is less than the monster’s length, so that, if attacking from out of a tunnel, it might not be able to use the stinger for several rounds.

Any time a purple worm successfully bites a man-sized or smaller opponent with a natural roll of 19 or 20, the opponent has been swallowed, and will suffer 3d6 damage per round afterward due to being digested. A character who has been swallowed can only effectively attack with small cutting or stabbing weapons such as dagger or shortsword.

Special Abilities

Poisonous Stinger: Those injured by the tail stinger must save vs. Poison or die.

Swallow Whole: Any time a purple worm successfully bites a man-sized or smaller opponent with a natural roll of 19 or 20, the opponent has been swallowed, and will suffer 3d6 damage per round afterward due to being digested. A character who has been swallowed can only effectively attack with small cutting or stabbing weapons such as dagger or shortsword.

Other Sources

Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy

Armor Class	6 [13]
Hit Dice	15* (67hp)
Number Appearing	1d2 (1d4)
Attacks	1 × bite (2d8), 1 × sting (1d8 + poison)
THAC0	9 [+10]
Movement	60' (20')
Saving Throws	D8 W9 P10 B10 S12 (8)
Morale	10
Alignment	Neutral
XP	2300
Treasure Type	D

Gigantic, slimy worms with bodies 100’ long and 8–10’ thick. Bore tunnels through the earth and come to the surface to eat other creatures.

Special Abilities

Swallow whole: A bite attack roll of 20, or 4 or more than the target number required, indicates that a human-sized (or smaller) victim is swallowed. Inside the worm’s belly: suffer 3d6 damage per round (until the worm dies); may attack with sharp weapons at -4 to hit; body digested in 6 turns after death.

Poison: Causes death (save vs poison).

In restricted spaces: May not always be able to bite and sting at once.

OSRIC

Armor Class	6
Hit Dice	15
Number Encountered	1d2
Attacks	1 (+1, see below)
Damage	2d12/2d4
Move	90-ft
Alignment	Neutral
Intelligence	Non-
XP	9/5,000+20/hp
Treasure Type	1d8×1,000 cp (50%), 1d6×1,000 sp (25%), 1d4×1,000 ep (25%), 1d4×1,000 gp (25%), 1d20 gems (50%), 1d4 jewellery (20%), sword, armour, or misc. weapon (10%)
Size	Large
Frequency	Rare
Lair	30%

Purple worms are huge, almost 10-ft around and 40-ft to 50-ft long. They live deep underground where they are constantly on the search for food. They are attracted to vibrations up to 60-ft away. These creatures always return to their lair to rest. During this time they will pass their waste consisting of metals and gems they could not digest.

Special Abilities

Bite: A purple worm’s main attack is its bite that does 2d12 points of damage. If the purple worm scores a natural 20 then it has engulfed its prey whole. If the victim is not rescued, it will die within 6 rounds. It is also possible for the victim to cut it’s way out. The inside of a purple worm is armour class 10. For each round that the victim is inside subtract 1 from their damage that they inflict. This penalty is cumulative for each round, so after four rounds the damage inflicted is at -4.

Poisonous Stinger: As well as its bite a purple worm also has a poisonous stinger on its tail. Any creature stung takes 2d4 damage and must save vs poison or die.

Attracted to Vibrations: Attracted to vibrations up to 60-ft away.