Blood Stars

These dangerous parasites live in the Cliffs of Cloud caves near the home of the Sky Snails.  They were first mentioned in the write up on Amberstone mining.

Num Appearing: 2d6 in a nest, rarely encountered alone
Alignment: neutral
Movement: 10' (when crawling), see below for jet propulsion
Armor Class: 5
Hit Dice: 2
Attacks: 1
Damage: 1d4+1
Save: F2
Morale: 7
Special: The Blood Star, when full grown, looks like a large star fish, approximately 14 inches across, and it is blood red.  They dwell in caves and along cliffs and trees inhabited by other animals that they parasitically draw blood from (such as sky snails).

If they sense a living being within 30' they will attack, their attack amounting to a jet propulsion attack from their roost.  If they hit scores, they strike their victim on an exposed fleshy part, where they can do damage, and attempt to insert their blood tentacle (see below).  If they miss, then roll 1d6 - on a 1-3, they have struck the victim somewhere (armor, clothes, thich hair) where they cannot reach susceptible skin.  On a 4-6, they have landed on the ground in a random direction, some 1d6 feet from the feet of the intended victim.

Once an attack scores damage, there is a chance that the blood star will attach a tentacle into it's victim (save vs. petrification to avoid).  If that occurs, it will draw blood each turn (1d6 points of damage).  On any turn when the blood star scores 6 points of damage, it has drawn enough energy from its victim to launch a brood of young blood stars.  These cannot move, but will use jet propulsion to attack victims within 30'.  There will be 1d6 young, from each launching (it happens every time a blood star rolls a '6' for blood damage).  The young only have 1hd, and only do 1d2 damage from their initial attack, but once they start drawing blood, they quickly grow to life size, and have the nodules on their back to begin launching their own broods as soon as they roll a '6' for blood damage.