Beholders

Who DOESN'T like the more unusual Monsters from AD&D. Unfortunately, two of my own personal favourites are missing from Castles & Crusades. Beholders and Mind Flayers.

So, here is my take on the Beholder re-worked for Castles & Crusades (only slightly though, I didn't want to change anything).

BEHOLDER

NO. ENCOUNTERED: 1
SIZE: Large
HD: 5D6+40
MOVE: 10 ft
AC: 20/18/13
ATTACKS: 1 (Bite) 2D6
SPECIAL: Eye Magic, Darkvision 60 ft, Anti-Magic
SAVES: P+M
INT: Exceptional
ALIGNMENT: Lawful Evil
TYPE: Aberration
TREASURE: 8
XP: 4500+10 per HP

The Beholder (or Eye Tyrant/Sphere of Many Eyes) is most frequently found in an underground lair, although it infrequently will set up its base in Desolate Wildernesses location.

The globular body of this monster is supported by levitation, and it floats slowly about as it wills. Atop the spherical body are 10 eyestalks; while in its central area is a great eleventh eye and a large cavernous mouth filled with Shark-like pointed teeth.

A Beholders body is protected by a hard Chitinous covering. The creature's eyestalks and eyes are also protected, although somewhat less so (having Armor Classes of 18 and 13 respectively). Because of its particular nature a Beholder is able to withstand the loss of its eyestalks with little or no stress or trauma, these members are not computed as part of its hit point damage potential, and lost eyestalks will eventually grow back (1 week per lost eyestalk). The body of the monster can withstand two-thirds of its total damage potential, while the great central eye can withstand one-third this total (i.e. a beholder with 45 hit points con withstand 30 hit points of damage to its body before being killed & the eleventh eye can withstand 15 points before ceasing to function). Eyestalks take from 8 to 12 Hit Points each before being lost. The body of a Beholder represents75% of potential hit area, the central eye and the eyestalks 10% each, and the 10 small eyes 5%.

Eyes - The various eyes of a Beholder each have a different function. Typically only the central eye, plus 1-4 of those on stalks are able to function considering that the attack is coming from an arc 90' to the front of the Monster.

If attacks come from 180" double the number of eyestalks able to function, and for 270" or 360" triple or quadruple the number. Attacks from above enable all 10 eyestalks to function, but the central eye cannot.
 
Functions of the Beholders Eyes are as Follows –

1. Charm Person Spell
2. Charm monster spell
3. Sleep spell
4. Telekinesis 2,500 GP Weight
5. Transmute Flesh to Stone Ray (18’ Range)
6. Disintegrate Ray (12’ Range)
7. Fear (As a Wand)
8. Slow Spell
9. Cause Serious Wound (30’ Range)
10. “Finger of Death” Ray (24’ Range)
11. “Anti-Magic Shell” Ray (84’ Range)

By Nature a Beholder is hateful, aggressive, and avaricious. They will usually attack immediately. If confronted by a particularly powerful party there is a 50/50 chance they will listen to negotiations- either to be bribed not to attack or to pay a ransom to not be attacked, depending on the strength of the opposing Party. They can speak their own language as well as that tongue known to lawful evil creatures.