Greider (Grave Worm)

Grieders are long, carrion-eating slugs that consume the bodies of the dead. An average greider grows to about 20 feet (and 500 lbs) and can rummage through the soil at about one yard per second. Like many creatures of the night, these worms are not combative, but pose a unique threat. Upon encountering anything larger than a housecat, a greider will defend itself with a mind-numbing aura, lowering the cognitive ability of those around it. This can cause confusion, irrational decision-making, and forgetfulness, although the effects are temporary, affecting those within the aura's radius--which seems to scale linearly with the worm's length, foot for foot.
== Magical Uses ==
Greiders have a strange connection with magics of life and unlife. It is said that the legendary Resurrection spell is made possible (or at least, easier) by performing the spell while the target's body has been recently ingested by a greider. Note that any would-be resurrectionist may need to slice their ally out of the creature. For a more vegan option, perhaps greider slime is enough--just be sure to bring animal handling spells, and something to keep you from losing your marbles while near the creature!
== Bearded/Frilled Greiders ==
While most grave worms simply range in size (with larger, older specimens approaching fifty feet!), they are known for mutant variations with pairs of pseudopods on their sides. These "frilled greiders" or "bearded greiders" are the same species, but possess a much greater, more potent form of numbing effect, capable of reducing clearheaded adventurers into baffled ignoramuses. This effect is still temporary, but can be devastating to a graveyard mission's success--especially if some other force is leveraging the grave worm's ability on purpose.
=== More Magical Uses ===
The pseudopods of the greider are said to be useful in making elixirs for calming one's mind (for relaxation) or blanking one's mind (for scrying or avoiding scrying).fanon
== Encounter Considerations ==
As greiders are quite comfortable below ground, they are seldom encountered in open air unless scared or summoned--the latter of which is only caused by an obscure Animal Control spell.fanon 
=== Other Considerations ===
* Greiders are seldom found in the same territory as ghouls, who find greiders to be pests, feeding on their rare resource.
* A greider's graveyard rummaging might awaken the remaining dead, causing them to run amok until the beast is killed, and their resting place safe once more.
* Greiders might adapt to mega-dungeon environments by learning to hunt zombies and skeletons. While useful for heroes, they can may also end up as a trap--greiders aren't too clever, and might not be able to tell an undead from a live body until they've tried to swallow it.
== References ==
* Creatures of the Night, Vol. 1, p.3-4
Category:Has DMB
Category:Monsters
Category:Creatures of the Night