Stranglemass (Wermspittle)

Stranglemass
No. Enc.: 1 (1d4)
Alignment: Chaotic
Movement: 60' (30' if not clinging to ceiling)
Armor Class: 7
Hit Dice: 4+
Attacks: 2
Damage: 1d6/1d4 (or parry)
Save: MU4
Morale: 8

Stranglemasses are rude and gurgly things that creep about across people's ceilings drooping tentacles down to catch the unwary. They attack from above, attempting to loop their flabby tentacles around a victim's neck. If successful, they then choke their prey into unconsciousness and eventual death.

These things feed upon the dying dreams of their victims in a most unsavory manner, absorbing and digesting the fading images and impressions to flash through the unfortunate victim's dying brain. Those who are killed by a Stranglemass, usually in their bed, are not completely recoverable, should such a thing be considered or even available. A significant portion of whatever made up the victim's identity and personality is broken down and assimilated into the Stranglemass so it simply is no longer available for clerical recovery.

Centuries ago, there were a sect of Puritanical Scrutinizers who captured and bred Stranglemasses to serve them as a form of aid to their interrogation efforts. Thankfully, most of those modified and refined forms of Stranglemass seem to have all but died out.

The processes and procedures used by the and Puritanical Scrutinizers to make Stranglemasses into Interrogators and worse are detailed quite explicitly within the dull semi-metallic pages of the Gray Catechism of DuLonde. A book much sought after by the so-called Catechists and others who would pick up where the Scrutinizers left-off.