Purple Worm (/ˈpɜːpᵊl wɜːm/)
The Teeth that Bore Tunnels
An enormous worm-like creature with a hide covered in dark purple, chitinous plates, with a mouth filled with teeth at one end and a poisonous stinger on the other. Its body is over 12 feet wide and 100 feet long.
The massive burrowing monster known as the purple worm terrorizes the creatures of the Underdark as it chews through solid rock in pursuit of prey. A dimwitted, ravenous force of nature, this creature regards anything it encounters as food.
Ravenous Hunters. Loud noise attracts purple worms, which have been known to interrupt underground battles and tear through subterranean cities seeking prey. The underground civilizations of the drow, the duergar, and the mind flayers maintain special wards around their settlements to deter these monsters.
Though most common in the Underdark, purple worms are frequently seen on the surface world in rocky and mountainous lands. The maw of a purple worm is large enough to swallow a horse whole, and no creature is safe from its hunger. It lunges forward by rhythmically compressing and expanding its body, catching other Underdark dwellers by surprise with the speed of its advance.
Boons of the Worm. When a purple worm burrows through the ground, it consumes earth and rock, which it breaks down and constantly excretes. Precious metals and gems can thus be found within the bodies of purple worms, which are targeted by particularly brave and foolhardy treasure hunters.
A burrowing purple worm constantly creates new tunnels throughout the Underdark, which are quickly made use of by other creatures as corridors and highways. Because a purple worm rarely returns to its own tunnels, such passageways are a good place to avoid these monsters. Areas rich in prey quickly become interlaced with complex tunnel systems resulting from several worms hunting together.
The Mighty Menagerie fought some in Jacoby's Eushia Home houpetor skatuch' in Eushia.
Basic Information
Anatomy
The purple worm was a monstrous subterranean creature akin to an enormous and bizarre earthworm.
Description
It was an enormous worm-like creature with a hide covered in chitinous plates that were dark purple in hue, with a mouth filled with teeth at one end and a poisonous stinger on the other. A mature purple worm had a body 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide and 80 feet (24 meters) long, and 40,000 pounds (18,000,000 grams) in weight. They moved by alternately compressing and expanding their bodies, which made them capable of sudden speed.Sub-Species
Varieties of purple worms were known to live in lakes or desert plains:Desert
Desert purple worms were a species endemic to the sands and salt flats of Calimshan. Much like the desert cousin of the purple worm, thunderherders, this species typically traveled in groups. They also typically followed in the wake of Memnon's manifestations, since these loosened soil. There were never any reports of them tunneling underneath the Trade Way, as whatever magic protected it also stopped them from disturbing it.Mottled
Mottled purple worms were an aquatic sub-species. They largely conformed to the standard characteristics of the purple worm, but were generally found in shallow bottom muck. They occasionally surfaced in order to find prey.Genetics and Reproduction
Biology
Purple worm eggs were approximately 3 ft (0.91 m) in diameter, silvery spheres with extremely hard shells. Purple worms often clustered their eggs together in groups of six and suspended them from their chamber walls by strands of sticky saliva. After successfully hatching, these young creatures were known as purple wormlings. To be classed as wormlings, the creatures had to be less than 6 weeks old. At this point, the wormlings were about 9 ft (2.7 m) long and weighed 1,500 lb (680,000 g).Ecology and Habitats
Habitats
They lived underground, at least until they erupted from the earth to attack. They were capable of chewing through solid rock as they hunted prey, and thus made many of the tunnels in the Underdark; a few in a food-rich area could create complex tunnel networks. Fortunately, they rarely returned to them, making them useful passages. Purple worms were naturally a menace to the denizens of the Underdark, and drow, duergar, and illithids all maintained magical wards against them. However, they often came to the surface in mountainous and other rocky lands.Dietary Needs and Habits
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. Some adventures sought out purple worms' carcasses or casts for such treasures.
Behaviour
Behavior
A purple worm erupting from the earth before (likely) devouring a group of individuals.
Possessing only animal intelligence, they were considered dim-witted. They went for any loud noise sensed underground as they hunted for food.
“Underground civilizations maintain magical barriers around their settlements to deter these monsters.”
Combat
When attacking, a purple worm coiled into a mass 20 feet (6.1 meters) wide, from which head and tail lunged to bite, grab, and sting anything within a range of 15 feet (4.6 meters). With its mouth, it could catch and swallow beings whole with ease; those swallowed were crushed and dissolved by stomach acids if they could not escape by cutting their way or using magic. The tail stinger inflicted a potent, debilitating venom.Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Usages
Purple worm eggs were highly valued by wizards for various arcane rituals.Harvesting
Instructions
Instructions: Because this creature is an Monstrosity, the player should roll a Nature Check using the DCs in the table below. On a success, the player is able to harvest the item. On a failure, the item cannot be harvested (either because the character is not skilled enough, or because the item is ruined). The DM should note that many of the items have an expiration, and can not be sold or used after the expiration has passed.
| DC | Item | Description | Value | Weight | Expiration | Crafting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Purple Worm Blood (9 vials) | The dark blood of a purple worm has a good deal of healing properties. Once refined with other ingredients, it is often used by the healers of many underground communities. The nutrient-rich substance can also be used to make a fertilizer for fungal crops. | 50 gp | 1 lb. | 7 Days | - |
| 10 | Purple Worm Tooth (x6) | The teeth of a purple worm are sharp, stone-like protrusions inside its gigantic maw. The teeth are made of ivory, covered in a layer of stone-textured keratin that is as hard as steel and able to chew through rock. The large teeth are often used by weaponsmiths to create unique weapons, which accept enchantments fairly well. | 50 gp | 20 lb. | ∞ | Any melee piercing weapon +2 (DMG) |
| 15 | Purple Worm Stomach Acid (3 vials) | The stomach of a purple worm contains a highly acidic mix of chemicals that eats slowly eats through rock and stone. This stomach acid is useful to many craftsmen. The acid can be hard to harvest. Failing the harvesting DC check by 5 or more results the stomach bursting, spraying acid in a 10-foot radius. Any creature in range immediately takes 2d6 acid damage. | 150 gp | 1 lb. | ∞ | - |
| 20 | Purple Worm Stinger | The large stinger on a Purple Worm's tail contains a powerful venom. Proficiency with the poisoner kit may be used for harvesting this stinger. On a successful check, the character harvests the creature's stinger, which must be refined before producing 3 doses of Purple Worm Poison (see below). On a failed check, the character is unable to extract the stinger. If the character fails the check by 5 or more, the character is subjected to the creature's poison. Refining the Poison: Once the stinger is extracted, an alchemist (or someone proficient in the poisoner's kit) can spend 6 days and 1500gp worth of material to create 3 doses of Purple Worm Poison (DC 17 Poisoner Kit or Alchemist Supplies check). Purple Worm Poison (Injury): The poison can be used to coat up to 3 pieces of ammunition or one slashing/piercing weapon. Applying the poison takes 1 action. A creature subjected to this poison must succeed on a DC 19 Constitution saving throw, taking 42 (12d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. This poison usually sells for 2,000gp, but the poison is often considered an illicit good (and may not be sold to normal vendors). | 2000 gp | 40 lb. | 7 days | - |
| 25 | Purple Worm Pearl | Small bits of stone often get caught in the creature's digestive tract, and are covered in a thick mucus that quickly hardens. Over time, the object is coated again and again, forming a glistening white pearl with a purple sheen. | 5000 gp | 10 lb. | ∞ | - |
This kind of creature does not normally carry treasure. This kind of creature does not normally have or collect treasure. However, the creature may have a lair full of bodies, or reside somewhere that treasure already exists.
This creature produces 8-160 pieces of Harvested Meat, weight of 4 lb each. DC: 5, Expire: 1 day, Value: 2 sp each. The meat of many monsters is considered vile and distasteful. Monstrosities and aberrations, in particular, may have tainted blood or rancid tasting meat. Dungeon Master's discretion.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Abilities
They were highly skilled swimmers and possessed a tremorsense that let them sense everything in contact with the ground.Civilization and Culture
History
In 1367 DR, a mottled purple worm wandered into the submerged depths of Orvaskyte Keep.
Common Myths and Legends
There were rumored to be purple worms in the Underdark that had two heads due to mutation from faerzress.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Relationships
They were solitary creatures. Purple worms laid eggs in areas sometimes called nurseries. Sometimes these areas were the homes of other creatures that formed a symbiotic relationship with the worms, lurking within their nurseries to hunt for prey that came searching for the worm's valuable eggs, thereby protecting them. Giant spiders and other creatures that had no direct interest in their eggs often served this purpose. Fomorian giants sometimes developed a relationship with the purple worms as well and became caretakers of the clusters of eggs.Sources
Source(s):
- Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 243. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
- Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 255. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 214. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
- Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 211. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 364. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 80. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
- Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 78–79. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
- Christopher Perkins, Adam Lee, Richard Whitters (September 1, 2015). Out of the Abyss. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 171–175. ISBN 978-0-7869-6581-6.
- Magic: The Gathering (July 2021). AFR #201 "Purple Worm", illus. Olivier Bernard. Wizards of the Coast.
- John Terra (November 1997). Four from Cormyr. Edited by Kim Mohan. (TSR, Inc.), p. 81. ISBN 0-7869-0646-4.
- Ed Greenwood (July 1991). The Drow of the Underdark. (TSR, Inc), p. 111. ISBN 1-56076-132-6.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Animalia, Monstra, Bestial, Huge Worm
Origin/Ancestry
Monstrosity (Beast Worm | Huge Purple Worm)
Conservation Status
There is no protection for such creatures, and are often hunted when discovered. Some Drow and other evil creatures have "domesticated" them in a sense.
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
5E Statistics
Purple Worm
| Size | Wormling (Large) Worm (Gargantuan) |
| Type | Monstrosity |
| Alignment | Unaligned |
| Challenge Rating | Wormling (2) Worm (15) |
General Information
| Movement | Burrowing |
| Vision | Blindsight, tremorsense |
| Diet | Scavenger, carnivore |
| Intelligence | Animal |
| Favored Climate | Any |
| Favored Terrain | Underground |
Appearance
| Average Height | 5' |
| Average Length | 80' |
| Average Weight | 40,000 lbs. |
| Skin color(s) | Deep purple |
See Also: Purple_worm on Forgotten Realms Wiki