Purple Worm

Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game

Armor Class	16
Hit Dice	11* (+9) to 20* (+13)
Number Appearing	1d2, Wild 1d4
Attacks	1 bite/1 sting
Damage	2d8/1d8+poison
Movement	20' (15') Burrow 20' (15')
Save As	Fighter: 6 to 10 (½ of Hit Dice)
Morale	10
XP	1,670 – 5,450
Treasure Type	None

Monster statistics extracted from online SRD wiki, not the published hardcover edition.

Purple worms are gigantic subterranean monsters; they are rarely found above ground. The body of a mature purple worm is 5-8 feet in diameter and 60-100 feet long, weighing about 40,000 pounds.

The creature has a poisonous stinger in its tail; those injured by it must save vs. Poison or die. Note that the purple worm’s movement is less than the monster’s length, so that, if attacking from out of a tunnel, it might not be able to use the stinger for several rounds.

Any time a purple worm successfully bites a man-sized or smaller opponent with a natural roll of 19 or 20, the opponent has been swallowed, and will suffer 3d6 damage per round afterward due to being digested. A character who has been swallowed can only effectively attack with small cutting or stabbing weapons such as dagger or shortsword.

Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy

Armor Class	6 [13]
Hit Dice	15* (67hp)
Number Appearing	1d2 (1d4)
Attacks	1 × bite (2d8), 1 × sting (1d8 + poison)
THAC0	9 [+10]
Movement	60' (20')
Saving Throws	D8 W9 P10 B10 S12 (8)
Morale	10
Alignment	Neutral
XP	2300
Treasure Type	D

Monster statistics extracted from online SRD wiki, not the published hardcover edition.

Gigantic, slimy worms with bodies 100’ long and 8–10’ thick. Bore tunnels through the earth and come to the surface to eat other creatures.

Special Abilities

Swallow whole: A bite attack roll of 20, or 4 or more than the target number required, indicates that a human-sized (or smaller) victim is swallowed. Inside the worm’s belly: suffer 3d6 damage per round (until the worm dies); may attack with sharp weapons at -4 to hit; body digested in 6 turns after death.

Poison: Causes death (save vs poison).

In restricted spaces: May not always be able to bite and sting at once.

OSRIC

Armor Class	6
Hit Dice	15
Number Encountered	1d2
Attacks	1 (+1, see below)
Damage	2d12/2d4
Move	90-ft
Alignment	Neutral
Intelligence	Non-
XP	9/5,000+20/hp
Treasure Type	1d8×1,000 cp (50%), 1d6×1,000 sp (25%), 1d4×1,000 ep (25%), 1d4×1,000 gp (25%), 1d20 gems (50%), 1d4 jewellery (20%), sword, armour, or misc. weapon (10%)
Size	Large
Frequency	Rare
Lair	30%

Monster statistics extracted from online SRD wiki, not the published hardcover edition.

Purple worms are huge, almost 10-ft around and 40-ft to 50-ft long. They live deep underground where they are constantly on the search for food. They are attracted to vibrations up to 60-ft away. These creatures always return to their lair to rest. During this time they will pass their waste consisting of metals and gems they could not digest.

Stat Blocks

Special Abilities