In our first ever Monster Study, we are going to focus on a creature that every dungeoneer has seen from time to time: the formless and amorphous Green Slime. More often handled as a ‘trap’ than an actual ‘monster’, the Green Slime is a perfect hazard for exploring the dark depths of the world. The Green Slime is a hideous growth, taking on a bright, sickly green color that gathers in colonies along walls, ceilings and floors. It is incredibly sticky and hazardous to the touch.
Green Slimes can be found within subterranean dungeons and wet caverns, dwelling within ceiling cracks and the occasional fissure that opens up. The Green Slime is different from other oozes in that it cannot move around freely (only one foot of movement per day), so the only way for it to grow is when food comes to it. They feed on any and all animals, vegetable matter, and metallic substances that it comes across. It is known to dissolve metal quickly, but takes longer to dissolve wooden objects. If exposed to direct sunlight, the creature will eventually dry out and die. People who frequent the underground have reported sightings of single massive slimes or large colonies living together.
Abilities:
The Green Slime can dissolve any material that touches it except stone. It burns through clothing in 2 rounds, through leather in 4 rounds, and through metal in 3-6 rounds. If a Green Slime comes into contact with flesh, it immediately begins to transform it’s host. Within 1d4 rounds, the victim becomes a green slime themselves with no chance of resurrection. This can be avoided if the Green Slime is scraped or burned off the flesh within 1 round of contact. Of course, scraping or burning the slime off of it’s victim will cause the victim some damage.
Tactics:
While the Green Slime cannot attack per say, it is very sensitive to vibrations and detecting when it’s next meal is right below it. Because Green Slime colonies can often be found within ceiling cracks, a good strategy of attack is for them to drop onto unsuspecting prey below them, quite literally getting the ‘drop’ on them. A good Dungeon Master can cleverly warn their players of a Green Slime’s presence without coming right out and saying it. For example:
DM: “As you stand in the doorway of the next room, you notice that the ceiling glistens in the light of your torches. The room contains a 6-foot long wooden bench that has collapsed onto one set of legs as the other half has rotted away. The floor of the room is dusty, all except for a circular area around the bench, which is clear of any dust. You notice that there are tiny green speckles on the half of the bench that has rotten away.”
This description of the room gives three different clues that something is amiss in this room: the glistening ceiling, the dust being absent around the bench, and the tiny green speckles. If the players inspect the ceiling, they can see the slime gathered there. If they inspect the bench, you could give them another clue by saying something like ‘it almost looks like the green speckles on the bench are moving slowly away from your torchlight’.
If your players ignore all your clues, it’s time for the slime to feed! Instead of going with Ambush rules, I would go with a Surprise Roll for the players. If they are surprised, the slime drops down onto them. If they aren’t surprised, they notice the slime in time and get out of the way before it falls.
DM: “You feel a thud on your head as a glob of wiggling green gelatin drops onto your helmet. Your ears pick up a faint sizzling sound!”
Other more intelligent creatures can also use Green Slime for their own gain. Kobolds, for example, can gather them in stone containers and throw them at their enemies. A Hag might bake a Green Slime into a pie and try to feed it to their victim. Creatures that live underground might use Green Slime as a sort of garbage disposal (or body disposal).
Devious Places For A Green Slime To Hide:
- Behind the top of an archway into another room
- Inside of a stone coffin
- Inside the mouth of a statue
- At the bottom of a well
- Inside of a stone fountain
- At the bottom of a pit
- Inside of a canopic jar
Killing A Green Slime:
Anything that deals cold or fire damage is particularly deadly to a Green Slime. Bringing a Green Slime into direct sunlight is also something that will do the trick. Interestingly enough, the Remove Disease spell will also destroy a patch of Green Slime.
