DREAM CRICKET - By Tim Martin
Frequency:
Rare
No. Appearing: 10-100
Armor Class:
9
Move: 6
Hit Dice: 1 hit point (1 HD)
% In Lair: Nil
Treasure Type: Incidental
No. Of Attacks: 1 or 0 (see below)
Damage/Attack: 1 (see below)
Special Attacks: See below
Special Defense: See below
Magic Resistance: See below
Intelligence: Non
Alignment: Neutral (see below)
Size: S (6 inches or less)
Psionic Ability: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
Level/XP Value: 35
Dream Crickets – Small, nondescript, well, crickets, they look almost exactly like the common black field crickets that abound in temperate settings, their chirping inseparable in most people’s minds from lazy summer evenings. Upon close examination, a druid or ranger (or a sage specializing in such matters) will be 60% of the time likely to identify the dream cricket for what it is, 75% likely if he or she has encountered on in the past.
Dream crickets are normally a non-lethal part of nature, generally forests and fields far from man or perhaps in very lightly settled agricultural regions. Generally dream crickets feed only upon smaller insects, seeds, leaves, forest litter, and the like and would not be noticed by the average adventurer. However, once in a while a group of dream crickets (of at least 20 in number) will product a different chirping concert, unlike what a normal field cricket will produce. Those listening to the chorus (effective radius 1 mile) will have to make a saving throw versus spells or fall into a very deep slumber (elves and half-elves are immune, but otherwise all others must make the appropriate save). Upon failing, the character or individual in question is in a coma-like slumber, and cannot be awaken except by a dispel magic, wish, limited wish, alter reality, or the like. No physical contact, even immersion in water, setting them on fire, or beating on them will awaken them for 1-2 days. The afflicted characters will continue to breathe, their hearts will beat, etc.; they will not die as direct result of failing their saving throws.
The dream crickets, once they have finished their chorus (which usually lasts 1-10 rounds), come out of the undergrowth and inspect what they have “hauled in” so to speak. They proceed to feed upon whatever creatures have succumbed to them, though they sometimes have to compete with other predators and scavengers of the forest. If the other animals prove too bothersome or a direct threat to the crickets, they will often retire back to hiding and proceed with another concert. Rangers have reported huge piles of animals drowsing in the forests, dozens of wolves, vultures, bears, and more unusual creatures such as owlbears, griffons, and the like.
Generally the dream crickets put into slumber far more than they can possible consume, and it is quite possible that a character can survive a dream cricket attack with either no damage or a small amount (generally less than 20 points, often 1-8). The bigger concern will be a larger animal or monster happens by and takes advantage of things.
It is thought that the dream crickets do this only once or twice a year before laying eggs, so that the females will have enough red blood and meat in their system to ensure adequate and healthy egg production.
Elves, who are immune to the sonorous chants of the dream cricket, are rumored to sometimes capture and raise dream crickets to defend their villages or even to drive out adventurers, preferably putting them into a deep slumber and dragging them far away from where they were.