Almloclath - By Bill Silvey

FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-8
ARMOR CLASS: 2 
MOVE: 12"
HIT DICE: 3+1
% IN LAIR: 25%
TREASURE TYPE: U
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-8
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Petrification (See Below)
SPECIAL DEFENSES: None
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Very
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Neutral (Evil)
SIZE: M (6')
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: VII 85+4/HP

The Almloclath, or Mer-Squid, are a strange submarine race which dwell in the most remote and deep parts of bodies of water, given to coming near the surface only to raid passing ships for treasure and slaves. They consider all land-dwellers as subcreatures, and will attack them without compunction.

Almloclath have a strange appearance - a humanoid torso and head, but the arms and legs are masses of tentacles. They can "bunch" these together to form rudimentary solid limbs for heavy lifting or striking unarmed blows, but the primary use of this is when female Almloclath appear to passing ships as comely human women at play in the water. They will try to lure any unwary sailors to join them; woe to they who do!

The tentacles of the Almloclath are like those of a jellyfish, in that they contain a potent sting. If a target is struck by the Almloclath, a Save Versus Petrification must be made or else they will be paralyzed immediately and be dragged off beneath the waves. If a person so struck manages to be rescued before capture, strong wine or vinegar must be poured on the wound created by the whiplike tentacles, and then a Cure Light Wounds spell must be cast to remove the paralysis.
The kiss of a female Almloclath can impart the same effects as a Potion of Water breathing; it is through this that captives are kept in check. Whenever slaves become worn out, rebellious, or merely undesirable, they are paralyzed and fed to young Almloclath or used as sacrifices. (Almloclath worship Blibdoolpoolp). There is a great enmity between this weird race and Aquatic Elves and Tritons.