Electric Eel

Type	Electric Eel	Volt Eel
Species	ray-finned fish
No. Appearing	2-8	1-3
Behaviour	solitary
Range	profundal, wetland	intertidal
Size	6 to 7 ft. long	10 ft. long
Weight	44 lbs.	146 lbs.
Intelligence	0	0
Armour Class	9	8
Hit Dice	2	3
Action Points	4	4
Max. Stride	9	8
THAC0	20	19
Hp/Die	d4	d6
Attack Form	1: suction-bite
Damage	bite (1-3)	bite (2-5)
Special Attack	blood drain, electric shock, immune to electricity

Electric eels inhabit warm, slow-moving fresh waters, including rivers, marshes and flooded lowlands where visibility is poor and the bottom is soft with silt or vegetation. It is a long, muscular fish capable of generating powerful electrical discharges, which it uses both to defend itself and to disable prey.

Electric eels are often encountered in groups or in waters shared with other aquatic creatures, making their presence particularly hazardous in confined or shallow areas where escape is limited. Characters entering such waters may have little warning before encountering the creature, especially in murky conditions where the eel cannot be easily seen.

When the eel is disturbed, or believes it is encountering prey, it releases an electric jolt that will affect any creature within 15 ft. This sudden burst of electrical energy radiates outward in all directions, causing 3-24 damage to adjacent creatures 1 [[Combat Hex|hex] away, 2-16 to those 2 hexes away and 1-8 to those at 3 hexes. The effect is immediate and requires no attack roll. The eel itself is immune to electrical effects, including its own discharge and similar electrical attacks. Its body is adapted to insulate its vital functions while directing the current outward.

The discharge may be released once per hour, during which time the creature relies on its physical movement to evade threats or to position itself for a later strike. The eel is not aggressive unless disturbed, but when confined or approached too closely, it will employ its shock without hesitation. Characters in any case need not fear a bite from the creature, as it's method of attacking prey is to stun and swallow; it will not attempt to do the latter with any creature that weighs more than 15 lb.

Volt Eel

This marine variety, being much larger, is capable of taking correspondingly larger prey. While its electrical discharge is no greater in effect, its increased mass and strength allow it to exploit stunned victims more effectively once they have been disabled. The creature hunts along seacoasts and particularly estuaries, where they are a threat to fisherfolk or seatraders who must pull boats up onto beaches.

Such an eel will readily attack creatures in the 10 to 30 lb. range and may attempt prey as large as 60 lb. where conditions are favourable, particularly if a full discharge occurs. Unlike the smaller freshwater variety, the marine eel does not rely upon swallowing prey whole, but may instead tear and consume portions as opportunity allows.

See Bestiary