Lassaraukar

Lassaraukar (Q. "Demons of the Leaves"; "Leaf-demons"; sing. "Lassarauko"; S. "Lethryg" sing. "Lathrog") are awful nocturnal creatures, Wood-spirits seduced and corrupted by Morgoth and refashioned into savage arboreal predators. Few monsters possess their fetish for unrestrained terror. Immortal but unable to reproduce (or be bred), these heinous creatures possess such refined hearing and smell that they can sense things with the precision of Elven sight. Nothing surpasses them in speed or agility, for they can run along the branches of trees and leap across gaps in the woods faster than a Swift can fly. A Lassarauko can start, change direction, and stop (but only at predetermined location) virtually instantly.

Lassaraukar look like tall, featureless Men. Their entire body is covered with a sort of greenish hide, a thick skin which resembles tight clothing. This covering extends over their entire body, including the face. On the feet, it is an inch thick and permeated by bizarre mole-like protrusions, "gripper-like" soles designed to accentuate their already stunning traction. Their hairless heads are also adorned with a second outer skin. Extending down from a heavy bone brow which surrounds the Lassarauko's skull, this semi-transparent layer flaps down over their lower head, obscuring the creature's facial features. Lassaraukar pull the skin up when eating, but retreat behind its light-shielding protection at all other times.

Lassaraukar normally live in "lats" of six: five lesser led by one greater. Omnivores, they reside in dark "nests" and live on tree products, but retain a quaint fondness for raw meat, particularly fresh brains. Their diet is ideal given their peculiar routine, for Lassaraukar are active less than an hour a day. Although they are capable of moving about for up to six hours, they prefer to rest. This is no doubt due to the fact that, when they move, Leaf-demons run at startling speeds (a Lassarauko "walking pace" is 1000'/rd). Lassaraukar rest (i.e., stand still) for the vast majority of each day; however, when they elect to move they can burst forward like a blurring wind (5000'/rd when dashing). Effortlessly leaping distances of up to 100', they move along tree limbs with the ease of a skilled monkey. When at rest, they spread their arms to their sides and stare forward in a rigid pose, as if statues. (This absolutely immobile form of relaxation has led many an unwitting victim to believe he was surrounded by sculptures, only to later 'discover' that his brain was missing.)

Lassaraukar remain still when attacking. Using butafraction of a second's momentum, a Lassarauko strikes by swinging its arms back along its side, up behind its back, over its shoulders, and then downuntilpointingstraightforward. Thiswheelingmotionbrings their head down and upper body forward, and pulls two natural bone discs out of the Lassarauko's interior chest reservoir. These sharp, 2" diameter discs travel along an exposed bone track on the Lassarauko's inner arm; then they are flung forward at amazing speed. Deadly missiles, they are coated with a fluid of diluted Lassarauko blood, which serves as a third level nerve poison. Such attacks are always preceded by at least one round's movement, for the Leaf-demon must generate momentum. With a dull reserve of fifty discs, a Lassarauko can initiate twenty-five dual attacks over the course of fifty rounds (supply renews at rate of 3/hr).

While the Lesser Lassaraukar rely on their hideous missiles, greater Leaf-demons employ another enchanted means of assault. Truly blind, they have magical, amber-like eyes which pierce their facial covering. These emit bolts of stored and concentrated sunlight even when the creature is (and has been) motionless, making greater Lassaraukar exceptionally deadly. Unfortunate adventurers who take them for statues and attempt to steal their valuable eyes (500 gp) usually find the experience to he an unwelcome climax to their journey.

Still, the best way to attack a Lassarauko is while it is motionless. When it moves, it is virtually unhittable (unless caught in a confined area, when DB drops). Fortunately, since Lassaraukar must decide where to start, turn, or stop seconds ahead oftime,they can be ambushed even while moving. One need only know their exact path. Once the Lassarauko stops, of course, any readied attack will serve quite well. With a successful orientation roll, an adventurer can react to the Lassarauko's pause. Then, assuming the dauntless warrior does not swallow ad i s c ort w o, he canf e l lt h e pitiless creature.

This poisonous blood serves as a lubricant, and it is peculiar to one variety of Lassarauko. According to legend, there are six "i- lats" of Leaf-demons, each being a group of six lats. The blood of each i-lat is reputedly unique, and it is said that Lassarauko blood types equate with the six forms of poison: circulatory, conversion, muscle, nerve, reduction, and respiratory. These same tales speak of the greater Lassaraukar from each i-lat as having gemstone eyes which cast differing bolts of power. Some supposedly use lightbolts. while others use fire, air, water, cold, and earth. Given the nature of incantations, this is possible, but hardly plausible.

Lesser Leaf-demons suffer a -50 penalty when operating in natural daylight (-100 if their facial skin is folded up). They are found in groups of six (including one greater Lassarauko leader). Greater Lassaraukar only operate at -25 in natural daylight.