Illustration by Scott Peters

Thieving Blackshell AKA:  Coin-eater HACKFACTOR:  1 EP VALUE:  50 CLIMATE/TERRAIN:  Any FREQUENCY:  Rare ORGANIZATION:  Groups ACTIVITY CYCLE:  Any DIET:  See Below INTELLIGENCE:  Non ALIGNMENT:  Neutral NO.APPEARING:  1-6 SIZE:  T (4"-5" long) MOVEMENT:  See Below PSIONIC ABILITY:  Nil Attack/Defense Modes:  Nil/Nil MORALE:  NA ARMOR CLASS:  9 NO. OF ATTACKS:  See Below DAMAGE/ATTACK:  See Below SPECIAL ATTACKS:  Nil SPECIAL DEFENSES:  See Below MAGIC RESISTANCE:  Nil HIT DICE:  4 HP CREATED BY:  Scott Peters & Doug Curtis

Thieving Blackshell
DESCRIPTION:  The Thieving Blackshell is a crustacean of unusual appetite. It is a long, black, scallop-like shell with a protusion at the end which looks like an dark pearl, but is actually the creature's eye. There are gold flecks and linings in the shell, appearing as if it is of great value, and an uneducated observer will easily pick it up, mistaking it for treasure. The Thieving Blackshell has an innate sense for the location of treasure and uses its teleportation abilities to reach it. Thereoften, Blackshells will be found in treasure piles, slowly consuming the metals and gems.

COMBAT/TACTICS: If a party member picks up a Blackshell, mistaking it for a treasure and placing it in his bag with the other treasure, it will begin to consume the treasure within. A Blackshell can consume 10 gp per turn. The Blackshell will not stop. Once it has finished feeding off one area of coins and precious gems, it will sense for more within a 100' area and teleport itself with unerring accuracy to the next available, largest stash. It can Teleport 1/day. Once it has finished with the next stash, it will continue to move, or remain at its present location until more gold and gems can be detected.

If a Thieving Blackshell feels threatened, it will instinctively teleport to a random location, if it already hasn't teleported for the day.

HABITAT/SOCIETY:  Thieving Blackshells are found underwater as well, feeding off the treasures in the ships below, however, they survive above water as well and found in treasure hordes of dragons. Thieving Blackshells asexually reproduce 1-6 young every five years, as long as there is ample supply of metals and gems. However, if there is no supply of food, they will hibernating. Some have been known to suspend themselves for hundreds of years.

ECOLOGY:  Blackshells can be extremely dangerous to treasure hordes. If taken along, adventurers may blame each other for the thievery of their goods, including the Blackshell!

YIELD: Medicinal:  Some say Thieving Blackshell meat is an aphrodisiac. Spell Components:  Nil Hide/Trophy Items:  The shell can be used in creating a comb, valued at 100 g.p. Treasure:  Nil Other:  Nil

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