"A hideous and corpulent flying slug-like demon with dual heads. Known
for its natural invisibility, insatiable appetite, and for flying in ravening
packs throughout the Abyss in search of food."
--- Iscladoc the Dark, from his _Commentaries on The
Demonomicon_.
By: grodog
Copyright 2013 by Allan T. Grohe, Jr.
Used with
Permission. Do not repost without obtaining prior permission from the
author.
Frequency: Very Rare (Uncommon in the Abyss)
No. Appearing: 1-2 (1-20
in the Abyss))
Armor Class: -1 (3 if visible)
Movement: 3"/20" (MC:
A)
Hit Dice: 8+2
% in Lair: 5%
Treasure Type: Nil
No. of
Attacks: 4 (claw, claw, bite, bite)
Damage/Attack: 1-8/1-8/1-12/1-12
Special Attacks: Surprise 4 in 6 due to invisibility, see below
Special
Defenses: +1 or better weapon to hit, see below
Magic Resistance: 52%
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Intelligence: Semi- to Low
Size: M (7’ long,
12’ wingspan
Psionic Ability: Nil
Level/XP Value: VIII/2400 + 12/hit
point
Ruzell (singular, plural is ruzellir, pronounced roo-zehll and
roo-zehll-eer respectively) are naturally invisible, avian, slug-like
demons. They are not detectable in the standard fashion (by high-level and
intelligence, detect invisibility, detect illusion, etc.),
require extraordinary means to be seen (true seeing,
witchsight, dust of appearance, gem of
seeing, etc.), and do not become visible when attacking. If
revealed, they are hideous purple creatures with a bloated and corpulent
slug-like body, with tough and leathery skin, and two necks and heads. They
have no legs, and their body terminates in a thick and ponderous "tail" (less
tail, and more of the tapering of the main trunk of their form; it is not
prehensile). They sport two black, bat-like wings---too large and heavy for
their frames or to support their flight, which must be augmented magically, at
the least---as well as two short arms with three-fingered claws. Their heads
are saurian, each set with two lambently yellow eyes with deep orange pupils.
A plated nuchal crest runs the length of their central spine, then splits and
rises atop each of their heads. a plated nuchal crest.
Ruzellir are tireless fliers, traversing the Abyss in hunting packs
(properly called a "deceit" of ruzellir if they number 8 or more). They are
carnivores and prefer to eat prey when freshly killed, although they will
scavenge if necessary. Preferred prey include areex, ahulzael, and mephitis,
thunder beasts, skurdra, and vrocks. They will attack anything when hungry
(90% of the time), and their appetites are voracious and insatiable. They
prefer to attack as individuals as long as their targets are S or M sized, and
in packs against L-size prey, with 1-3 ruzellir per target.
A favorite tactic of the ruzellir is to latch onto a victim and to fly it
into the air (while clawing and biting it, of course), then to drop it from
100-200 feet of height. Deceits are also known to haul huge prey into the air
via telekinesis, and to devour it mid-air.
During combat, a ruzell demon can employ only a few at will abilities (one
usable per round in addition to its melee attack routine): telekinese
2500 gp weight, fear (by cry---"a sharp, grating howl of lament and rage,
like unto a trapped lioness seeing her cubs quartered" according to Iscladoc
the Dark), levitate, detect magic, darkness (5’
radius), and gate (45% opening; summons 1-2 ruzellir 70%, 1-3 chasme
20%, 1-3 yochlol 5%, or 1 nabassu 5%).
Ruzellir, although as ugly as Fraz’ himself, are hunted as delicacies by
higher demons ("vaguely like squid or escargot, and best served slightly cooked
with a pesto sauce" per Iscladoc the Dark). Several demon lords have acquired
a taste for ruzellir, including Orcus, Mandrillagon, and Yeenoghu (who also
imports them to his plane to maintain a high population for both food and
hunting). Outside the court of Pazuzzeus, ruzell demons are rarely employed as
messengers, guards, or the like, due to their low intelligence.
Ruzellir may be turned by high-level clerics as a Special
undead.
