GREAT MOUTHER - By Bill Silvey
Frequency: Unique
No. Appearing: 1
Armor Class: 3
Move: 0"
Hit Dice: 133 Hit Points
% In Lair: 15%
Treasure Type: Nil
No. Of Attacks: 6
Damage/Attack: 2-12
Special Attacks: See Below
Special Defense: Nil
Magic Resistance: 50%
Intelligence: Very
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Size: Huge (200' across at widest point)
Psionic Ability: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
Level/XP Value: VII/14000 + 30 per hit point
The study of the origin of various species within dark and forgotten places is a subject of much consideration by the Sages of the world. It is this drive to learn the nature of the enemies of Human and Demi-humankind which led to the discovery of the unthinkable horror that is the Great Mouther.
In CY558, as time is reckoned on Greyhawk, Thaldir the Sage commissioned the capture and delivery of a subdued Gibbering Mouther to his laboratories. After almost a decade of careful experimentation, Thaldir was able to glean precious little information about the nature of these weird beasts. His last attempt involved a series of surgeries designed to excise all tissue from the amorphous mass save one mouth and the creature's vital organelles. While the subject died shortly after the surgery, in these precious hours Thaldir was able to learn much about the nature of the Mouther. This information has been documented elsewhere; but the most horrible and shocking knowledge the elder Sage learned has been suppressed until recently.
The simple mind of the Gibbering Mouther is no where near complex enough to direct it's myriad of speaking orifices to a singe communicative goal, and as a result, it is never able to focus a coherent thought. When Thaldir's surgeries forced it to, it told him of the existence of a great primordial Gibbering Mouther that bubbled and churned hatefully in a lightless place within the deepest caverns of the Crystalmist Mountains.
The Great Mouther is, essentially, a gigantic Gibbering Mouther that is so huge it is incapable of locomotion. Malign in purpose, the Great Mouther does it's evil work by spawning smaller specimens that are in effect miniatures of itself. It's body is sprawled across a great cavern floor like a lake - but woe to any who attempt to navigate it's surface!
Anyone unfortunate enough to approach within 100' of the Great Mouther must make a saving throw versus magic or go insane for 1-6 turns due to the incessant babbling. Worse still, any who approach within 10' will be attacked by the Great Mouther's spittle (as a Gibbering Mouther) 1-10 times per turn. Finally, if the creature is approached close enough to contact it, the Great Mouther will spawn row upon row of toothy orifices with which to bite for 2-12 per attack (up to six attacks per round).
Unlike it's spawn, the Great Mouther is possessed of a high intellect. However, even amongst it's foul offspring it has no worshippers and seeks only to do harm to any who approach it.
Before the death of the smaller specimen, the sage was unable to ascertain how the Great Mouther manages to keep alive in terms of nourishment; perhaps it's bizarre magical nature, or the very festering hate it feels for all other living creatures is what keeps it alive.