Monster Manual V

Taking the plant as a sign of the rebirth of nature, thetwisted druid has since kidnapped three victims to sacrificeto it, creating a new mandrake with each sacrifice.Now, four demonthorn mandrakes, led by the mad druid,prowl the sewers of the city. They hunt for more prey toincrease their numbers before reaching their insidiousvines to the surface.ECOLOGYDemonthorn mandrakes do notneed water or light to live—they derive nourishment fromthe flesh of their victims. Ifstarved of this food sourcefor more than a month, aplant goes dormant and cancontinue to live for yearswithout sustenance beforefinally withering anddying. A demonthornmandrake’s roots areextremely sensitive,allowing it to sensenearby creaturesthat are touchingthe groundeven when it isdormant.Demonthornmandrakes reproducebyusing otherliving creaturesas hosts.Medium orlarger victimsslain by mandrakespore pod thornsplay host to a sapling plant,which grows to maturity in 1d4 hours,consuming most of the host creature’sblood and flesh to fuel the process.Environment: Demonthorn mandrakes are most commonlyfound on the Lower Planes, including the Abyss,the Nine Hells, and Gehenna. In these places, demonthornmandrakes congregate in large groups.On the Material Plane, demonthorn mandrakes are foundguarding a specific place, under the direct control of a conjurerwho called them, or wandering about, free to do as theyplease. Uncontrolled mandrakes hide in secluded places suchas sewers, caverns, or forest glades, waiting for unsuspectingvictims to wander by.Typical Physical Characteristics: An average demonthornmandrake stands about 8 feet tall and weighs 300pounds. When rooted in place and motionless, demonthornmandrakes appear more like odd plants thancreatures. When it is moving, a demon thorn mandrake’sroots extend and retract at a rapid pace, pulling the bodyof the plant along.Alignment: A demonthorn mandrake is neither chaoticnor lawful, but its connection to the Lower Planes makesit absolutely evil.Demonthorn mandrakeSOCIETYDemonthorn mandrakes get along wellwith others of their kind unless thegroup has not fed for some time, inwhich case they fight over everylast scrap of food. Such battlesrarely turn deadly.As plant creatures, demonthornmandrakes do not formsocieties, but a great demonthornmandrake, the MotherSeed, exists somewhere in aparticularly verdant localein the Abyss. This MotherSeed is larger than anyother demon thorn mandrake,and it possessesa cruel and cunningintellect. It is an authoritythat otherdemonthorn mandrakesobey withouthesitation.TYPICALTREASUREDemonthorn mandrakesdo not use gearor magic items of anykind, so wandering plantsare rarely found with anytreasure. Most, however,have a lair where the bones of their victimslie. Scattered among these remains, any manner of treasuremight be found, so demonthorn mandrakes in their lairs havestandard treasure for their Challenge Rating.DEMONTHORN MANDRAKESIN EBERRONDemonthorn mandrakes can be found on the planesof Lamannia and Shavarath. On the Material Plane,demonthorn mandrakes are most often encountered inthe Demon Wastes, wandering the Labyrinth. Explorersin the deepest regions of Xen’drik have also reportedencountering demonthorn mandrakes, some in the serviceof a particularly vicious cult of giants said to be in leaguewith demons.Illus. by M. CoimbraDEMONTHORNMANDRAKE31