Black Pudding

Black Pudding – large ooze

A black pudding resembles a heaving mound of sticky black sludge. In dim passageways, the pudding appears to be little more than a blot of shadow.
Flesh, wood, metal, and bone dissolve when the pudding ebbs over them. Stone remains behind, wiped clean.

Description

While most of these monsters are an inky black, some can be brown, grey, and even white. In underground locations, these creatures appear as dark blobs, almost camouflaged.

Some black puddings that manage to survive for years on years, become known as Elder Black puddings, they are significantly bigger than their younger counterparts and have almost impenetrable outer layer of aged material. These ancient black puddings are immune to all types of damage, unless the outer layers are dissolved first by a very specific concoction.

Behaviour

These creatures are mindless underground-dwelling hunters and scavengers that wander and absorb whatever they found. Anywhere within Esau, any dungeon hallway or dark cellar may have a black pudding positioned itself, like a shadow and wait for unsuspecting prey.

Combat

Black pudding attack by grabbing, grappling, and constricting prey directly into their semi-liquid mass. Like other oozes, they also secret a deadly acidic substance which strongly and quickly dissolves weapons, clothing, and organic tissue alike.

When slashed at or pierced, the black pudding splits into two smaller puddings, both of which will do the same - this continues until they are too small and weak to do so further. A black pudding will 'eat' bone, metal, and wood leaving only stone behind.

Ecology

Like other oozes, black pudding desire warmth and sense their prey through movement. While the creatures seeks living and breathing targets, they will feast on animal guts, slime, and even mushrooms.

Basic Information

Biological Traits

Large ooze, unaligned
Armour Class = 7
Hit Points = 85 (10d10 + 30)
Speed= 20 ft., climb = 20 ft.
STR = 16 (+3)
DEX= 5 (-3)
CON = 16 (+3)
INT = 1 (-5)
WIS = 6 (-2)
CHA = 1 (-5)

Damage Immunities = Acid, Cold, Lightning, Slashing
Condition Immunities = Blinded, Charmed, Deafened, Exhaustion, Frightened, Prone
Senses = Blindsight: 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius), Passive Perception: 8
Languages - none -
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +2

Amorphous
The pudding can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing.

Corrosive Form
A creature that touches the pudding or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet of it takes 4 (1d8) acid damage. Any non-magical weapon made of metal or wood that hits the pudding corrodes.
After dealing damage, the weapon takes a permanent and cumulative −1 penalty to damage rolls. If its penalty drops to −5, the weapon is destroyed.
Non-magical ammunition made of metal or wood that hits the pudding is destroyed after dealing damage.
The pudding can eat through 2-inch-thick, non-magical wood or metal in 1 round.

Spider Climb
The pudding can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Actions

Pseudopod
Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. 
Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage plus 18 (4d8) acid damage.
In addition, non-magical armour worn by the target is partly dissolved and takes a permanent and cumulative −1 penalty to the AC it offers. The armour is destroyed if the penalty reduces its AC to 10.

Reactions

Split
When a pudding that is Medium or larger is subjected to lightning or slashing damage, it splits into two new puddings - if it has at least 10 hit points.
Each new pudding has hit points equal to half the original pudding's, rounded down. New puddings are one size smaller than the original pudding.


Ooze Nature = like other oozes, Black Puddings do not require sleep.

Growth Rate & Stages

Elder Black Pudding

Huge ooze, unaligned

Armour Class = 9
Hit Points = 130 (10d12 + 30)
Speed = 20 ft., climb = 20 ft.

STR = 16 (+3)
DEX = 5 (-3)
CON = 16 (+3)
INT = 1 (-5)
WIS = 6 (-2)
CHA = 1 (-5)

Damage Immunities = acid, cold, lightning, slashing
Condition Immunities = blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, prone
Senses =  blind-sight: 90 ft. (blind beyond this radius), passive Perception: 10
Languages - none -
Challenge =  4 (1,100 XP)

Amorphous
The pudding can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing.

Corrosive Form
A creature that touches the pudding or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet of it takes 4 (1d8) acid damage.
Any non-magical weapon made of metal or wood that hits the pudding corrodes. After dealing damage, the weapon takes a permanent and cumulative −1 penalty to damage rolls. If its penalty drops to −5 - the weapon is destroyed.
Non-magical ammunition made of metal or wood that hits the pudding is destroyed after dealing damage. The pudding can eat through 2-inch-thick, non-magical wood or metal in 1 round.

Spider Climb
The pudding can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Actions

Pseudopod
Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. 
Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage plus 18 (4d8) acid damage.
In addition, non-magical armour worn by the target is partly dissolved and takes a permanent and cumulative −1 penalty to the AC it offers. The armour is destroyed if the penalty reduces its AC to 10.

Reactions

Split
When a pudding that is Medium or larger is subjected to lightning or slashing damage, it splits into two new puddings if it has at least 10 hit points. Each new pudding has hit points equal to half the original pudding's, rounded down. New puddings are one size smaller than the original pudding.

Additional Information

Domestication

Unwitting Servants
Although an ooze lacks the intelligence to ally itself with other creatures, others that understand an ooze’s need to feed might lure it into a location where it can be of use to them.
Clever monsters keep oozes, such as Black Puddings, around to defend passageways or consume refuse. Likewise, an ooze can be enticed into a pit trap, where its captors feed it often enough to prevent it from coming after them. Crafty creatures place torches and flaming braziers in strategic areas to dissuade an ooze from leaving a particular tunnel or room.

Civilization and Culture

Common Etiquette Rules

Slow Death
An ooze kills its prey slowly.
Some varieties, such as black puddings and gelatinous cubes, engulf creatures to prevent escape. The only upside of this torturous death is that a victim’s comrades can come to the rescue before it is too late.
Since not every ooze digests every type of substance, some have coins, metal gear, bones, and other debris suspended within their quivering bodies. A slain ooze can be a rich source of treasure for its killers.

~ FIGURINES I OWN

Average Weight

around 18,000 lb (8.2 mt)

Average Length

measures 15 ft (4.6 m) across and 2 ft (0.6 m) thick

Geographic Distribution

• Esau