The neogi are among the most feared creatures in the AD&D® SPELLJAMMER® setting’s Known Spheres. Their xenophob- ic attitude makes them the enemies of all that live. Although the SPELLJAMMER boxed set mentions the neogi’s magical abilities, little is said about these powers other than what their limits are. Described herein are a few new spells and magical items as well as a very rare magical crea- ture, all created and used exclusively by the neogi. Magic With an Evil Bite

by Jason M. Walker Artwork by Thomas Baxa The neogi have a few surprises in store for SPELLJAMMER® campaigns

New spells This spell creates a magical glob of spi- has no effect. Any creature who fails its der venom in the caster’s mouth, which initial save must save vs. spells again. Venom bite (Evocation) the caster spits out at any single target Success now indicates the creature flees Level: 2 Components: V,S within range. The caster may retain the from the area at its fastest possible move- Range: 5 yds. CT: 1 venom for a number of rounds equal to ment rate for 2-5 rounds. Those who fail + 5 yds./lvl. half his level. If he retains it longer, he are so frightened that they are unable to Duration: Instant. Save: Special suffers the damage detailed below, with- do anything except try to remove the Area of Effect: 10’ square out any saving throw. spiders they believe are crawling all over This spell is the neogi version of a magic The caster can spit the venom up to 10 their bodies. missile spell. When cast, the spell brings yards, whether he normally is capable of The illusion this spell creates is different into being a small set of pointed teeth that such an action or not. The caster must for each individual. It might be argued are fired outward from the caster’s body. make a successful attack roll to strike the that, for example, umber hulks have little One set of teeth is created for every two target (no range penalties apply). Failure to fear from spiders. But when those levels of experience beyond the 1st pos- indicates the venom glob missed, causing it spiders are 1’ in diameter with armor- sessed by the caster (e.g., a 3rd-level caster to dissolve harmlessly. Creatures struck piercing fangs, there is much to fear. The would create two sets of teeth) to maxi- must save vs. poison or suffer 2d4 hp neogi tend to use this spell to disrupt and mum of four sets of teeth. The teeth strike damage plus 1 hp per level of the caster to disorganize enemy forces when boarding as 5-HD monsters; any creature struck by a maximum of +10 hp damage at 10th actions are taking place. a set of teeth must save vs. spells or be level. A successful save indicates only half Note: Regarding the initial saving throw, slowed for 1-4 rounds. The caster can damage. The material component is the DMs must decide whether the target crea- divide the sets of teeth among as many neogi’s own poisonous saliva. ture has reason to believe that what he is opponents as he desires so long as they witnessing is an illusion. It is not unrea- are all within a 10’ square selected as the Arachnophobia (Illusion/Phantasm) sonable to assign a beneficial modifier to focus for the spell. Hits from multiple sets Level: 3 Components: V,S the initial save roll if the target has reason of teeth require multiple saves, unless a Range: 5 yds./level CT: 3 not to believe in the illusory spiders. save is failed and the victim is slowed. Duration: 1 rd./level Save: Neg. Further bites from the same casting of this Area of Effect: Special Identify race (Divination) spell have no effect once the victim has Upon casting this spell, the caster cre- Level: 4 Components: V,S already been slowed. ates the illusion of thousands upon thou- Range: Touch CT: 4 sands of crawling spiders. Only a number Duration: 1 rd./level Save: None Spider gout (Conjuration) of creatures equal to the level of the caster Area of Effect: One creature Level: 2 Components: V,S,M can be affected by this illusion, and all This unusual spell is used by the neogi to Range: 10 yds. CT: 2 must be within a 10’-diameter sphere. Any identify the capabilities of a newly encoun- Duration: Instant. Save: ½ creature targeted by the spell must save tered race. The spell provides for the Area of Effect: One creature vs. spells, success indicating that the spell caster the name of the race (as it is known

92 AUGUST 1992 to the creature itself), its general combat abilities, a brief knowledge of the crea- ture’s customs, and what the creature needs to survive. The spell can identify only one piece of information (e.g., the usual methods of attack) per round. The DM must decide if the information being sought is available. The spell will only identify with that particular creature’s life, not the race as a whole, so different read- ings are possible. For example, the lifestyle and abilities of a human wizard of Thay from the FORGOTTEN REALMS® setting will differ greatly from those of a human Knight of Solamnia from Krynn of the DRAGONLANCE® saga. This spell is used by the neogi to deter- mine the abilities and needs of a potential slave without serious risk to the slave’s life. Although this spell may seem some- what trivial to other races, it has been witnessed that ships bearing neogi wizards capable of casting this spell have far more powerful slaves than those that do not.

Lethal hatchling (Necromancy) Level: 5 Components: V,S Range: 10 yds CT: One round Duration: Special Save: Special Area of Effect: One creature Upon utterance of this spell, the caster conjures up a small, 1” -diameter egg that fires outward from the caster and toward cast at the 8th level of ability. The neogi This item neither has nor requires the target. The target is then entitled to a can attempt this hold on any single target charges. Neogi who possess these rare save vs. death magic. If the save succeeds, he can physically see. The target of the items will go to great lengths to keep them the spell has no effect. Failure indicates a hold is entitled to a save vs. spells. If suc- out of the “hands” of other neogi as well as most gruesome fate: The egg enters the cessful, the target is unaffected. If the save adventuring parties. victim’s body and begins to grow. For the is failed, the target is unable to take any XP Value: Nil (cannot be made by PCs) next four rounds, the target is entitled to actions until the following round. another save vs. death magic each round The neogi are very fond of this item, as Bands of the arachnid at a -2 cumulative penalty (i.e., -2 on the it often buys them an extra moment to These bands are always found in pairs first save after the egg enters the body, escape from the clutches of an enemy or and are very similar in appearance to the -4 on the second, etc.). Each failed save distract the foe long enough for the neogi’s bands of the serpent. The bands are worn results in a loss of 25% of the target’s umber hulks to rip them apart. around the spiderlike legs of the neogi. original hit-point total. If the target makes XP Value: Nil (cannot be made by PCs) Only those of that race who possess magi- a successful save during this time, the cal ability can make use of them. The spell is halted and the egg’s growth stops Bands of the serpent wearer gains the following abilities: and then deteriorates. If the target dies, a Only neogi possessing magical ability can 1. The wearer receives a +2 bonus on all newborn neogi erupts out of its body. make use of this item. These metal bands, saving throws vs. poison. This is cumulative Some neogi wizards have been known to always found in pairs, are worn around with other forms of magical protection. cast this spell to replace neogi lost in earli- the spiderlike legs of the neogi and bestow 2. The wearer is immune to the effects er combats. This is a rare occurrence, upon the wearer the following abilities: of any spell or spell-like ability that affects however, as it usually requires the sacri- 1. The wearer of the bands receives a movement (e.g., slow, hold, etc.). This fice of a slave to do so. +1 bonus on all saves vs. poison. This power is always in effect, regardless of the bonus is cumulative with other forms of wishes of the wearer. A side effect of this protection. ability is that the wearer can move freely New magical items 2. The wearer can communicate with through any web, magical or otherwise, as any form of reptile through a limited form if he were an actual spider. Charm of distraction of telepathy. This includes lizard men and 3. The wearer can transform himself into This minor magical item is usually other sentient reptiles as well as the mun- a giant spider. The wearer gains all of the shaped as a pendant in the form of a dane forms. This telepathy does not give abilities listed in the Monstrous Compendi- neogi’s head looped through a chain. The the neogi any ability to control reptiles, um under “Spider, giant.” The wearer retains wearer of this magical item gains several however. his own hit-point total. This transformation benefits. First, the charm acts as a stand- 3. The wearer can transform himself lasts a number of turns equal to the wearer’s ard ring of protection +1. The charm also into a giant poisonous snake. The wearer experience level. The wearer can transform bestows upon the wearer an additional gains all of the abilities listed in the Mon- into spider form once per day. +1 (for a total of +2) on saves vs. strous Compendium under “Snake: poison, These items neither have nor require enchantment/charm spells. Lastly, the giant.” The wearer retains his own hit- any charges. Neogi who possess these rare charm provides the function of magically point total. The wearer can transform into items will go to great lengths to keep holding an opponent for one round. This snake form once per day, each change them. Neogi cannot wear more than one can be done once per day and is otherwise taking one round to complete and lasting type of magical bands at any time. similar to the wizard’s hold person spell, up to six turns. XP Value: Nil (cannot be made by PCs)

DRAGON 93 New monster The undead hulk is a magical construction monsters they resemble, undead hulks no Recently, a new terror was found created through the use of special en- longer possess the confusion generating aboard a neogi mindspider. Since its dis- hancements developed by the neogi. The power of their magical eyes. covery, more of these terrible creations creature is formed from the remains of An undead hulk can be turned by a have been found among the neogi arsenal. dead umber hulks and to all appearances cleric as a special undead. Detailed here are the statistics on this new seems to be nothing more than a typical menace to spacefarers everywhere. monster zombie. An undead hulk reeks of Habitat/Society: Undead hulks are un- death, and its undead nature is obvious to der the absolute control of their creator Undead hulk anyone within 10’ of it. Other than its and have no culture of their own. They obviously unliving state, the undead hulk serve their “small lords” without question. CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any neogi enclave appears as any other umber hulk. Undead hulks are created through a bi- FREQUENCY: Very rare zarre magical ritual developed by the ORGANIZATION: Solitary Combat: An undead hulk attacks in much neogi (the details of which are left up to ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any the same way as a typical umber hulk: the DM) and the magical joining of dead DIET: Nil with brute force. However, the undead umber hulk parts. Each part (head, right INTELLIGENCE: Non- hulk is totally mindless and incapable of arm, right leg, etc.) must come from a TREASURE: Nil forming any strategy or tactics. It only different umber hulk. ALIGNMENT: N obeys its master, to the best of its abilities NO. APPEARING: 1-4 and heedless of any danger to itself. Ecology: Undead hulks are magical con- ARMOR CLASS: 4 In addition to normal attacks of two structs and play no role in an ecology. MOVEMENT: 6, Br 6 claws and a vicious bite, undead hulks can They simply exist, doing the bidding of HIT DICE: 10 bear-hug any opponent of any size smaller their masters, until they are destroyed. THAC0: 11 than themselves. This requires two suc- NO. OF ATTACKS: 3 + special cessful claw attacks, which do no damage. Don’t judge a book DAMAGE/ATTACK: 3d4/3d4/1d10 Success indicates the victim is crushed by its cover SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below against the undead hulks massive frame SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil and suffers 6d4 hp damage each subse- Learn what new TSR releases are com- MAGIC RESISTANCE: 10% quent round, with no attack roll required. ing to a bookstore near you. See “Nov- SIZE: L (8’ tall, 5’ wide) The undead hulk cannot bite a trapped el Ideas” in this issue for the latest MORALE: Fearless (20) opponent, nor can it attack any other word on adventure. XP VALUE: 4,000 being while hugging a foe. Unlike the

94 AUGUST 1992