New Monster: Herder, Elder

As convulsions shook Rathgar, Nimble tossed a vial of oil down toward the mushrooms, and jumped toward Rathgar. Feris waited for the oil to splash before lighting it up with a bolt of flame. The initial burst of heat and flame helped to clear the air as Nimble wrapped himself around Rathgar. Allianora, holding the rope tight, yanked hard, pulling Nimble and Rathgar back from the pit.

The mushrooms clambered over the rubble, dirt, and flames, tendrils grasping upward. Feris loosed bolt after bolt of energy down into the mass, blasting them back. One of the larger mushrooms pushed past the others, knocking into Feris as it reached the passage expelling a cloud of spores. Rathgar and Nimble, pulled by Allianora, slam hard into it's spongy body, knocking it back down into the hole.

"And that's when things got really weird." Feris explained over his tankard. "I started seeing things... I could taste the red of the mushroom cap, and I could hear the smoke in the air..."

"Thankfully Allianora stayed clear headed while the rest of us choked on those spores." Rathgar raised his mug.

Nimble raised his in salute as well. "To our savior! Not many worse fates than being turned into food for mushrooms!"

Herder, Elder
Armor Class: 6
Hit Dice: 3+1** (M)
Move: 90' (30')
Attacks: Slam
Damage: 2d4+1+Special
No. Appearing: 1d3 (2d3)
Save As: F5
Morale: 12
Treasure Type: J, L
Intelligence: 2
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 100

Really old herders eventually grow into aged berzerkers that charge recklessly toward anything that isn't a part of their own garden. They usually stand between 7-8 feet tall at full extension with large red caps.

Anyone struck by the elder herder must make a saving throw vs poison or become confused (as the 4th level wizard spell). If the initial save is passed, no further saves will be required for the encounter. If the save is failed, increase the duration of the effect by 2d6 rounds for every additional successful hit against the target.