Salamander

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salamander N
HP	57-93
HD	14
XP	1100
Speed	10
AC	5
EV	5
Will	56
Attack1	23 (hit: fire: 14-27)
Resistances	rF+++
Vulnerabilities	Cold
Habitat	Lava
Intelligence	High
Uses	Weapons & armour Starting equipment Open doors
Holiness	Natural
Size	Medium
Type	salamander, salamander
Flags	Fighter Submerges Warm-blooded

Not the common harmless amphibian, but the far more dangerous mythological beast with which that amphibian shares its name. A red, flaming half-human half-snake creature, whose affinity for fire is legendary. It is strange and repulsive. “As for example: the Salamander made in fashion of a Lizard, marked with spots like to stars, never comes abroad and sheweth it selfe but in great showers; for in faire weather he is not seene. He is of so cold a complexion, that if hee do but touch the fire, hee wil quench it as presently, as if yce were put into it. The Salamander casteth up at the mouth a certaine venomous matter like unto milke, let it but once touch any bare part of a man or womans bodie, all the haire will fall off: and the part so touched will change the colour of the skin to the white morphew.” -Gaius Plinius Secundus, _Naturalis Historia_, Book X, ch. LXVII. 79 A.D. trans. Philemon Holland, 1601

Useful Info

Salamanders are rare creatures found in pools of lava, armed with flaming melee weapons or bows and eager to attack you if you get too close. They are immune to fire, but vulnerable to cold. When injured sufficiently, they will duck under lava to regenerate.

Tips & Tricks

• Fire resistance helps, though they can still deal decent physical damage to the flimsy.
• Unfortunately, they don't leave their lava and thus you can't take their weapons once they're defeated.
• In spite of the name, the salamander hide armour cannot be crafted from a salamander's corpse. They don't leave corpses anyway, even if you could somehow go into the lava and retrieve them.