Xorn (Dungeons & Dragons)
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In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, xorn are outsiders from the Elemental Plane of Earth.
Publication history
The xorn first appeared in first edition in the original Monster Manual (1977).[1] The xaren appeared in the original Monster Manual II (1983).[2]
The xorn appeared in second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989),[3] and reprinted with the xaren in the Monstrous Manual (1993).[4]
The minor xorn, the average xorn, and the elder xorn appeared in the third edition Monster Manual (2000),[5] and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual (2003).[6]
The xorn appeared in fourth edition in Monster Manual 2 (2009).
Description
Xorn devour earthen and silicate materials, and have a taste for gems, precious metals, and magical items. Xorns sometimes attack wealthy adventurers, especially on the Prime Material Plane, where it is much harder for the xorn to find its normal sustenance.
A xorn is described as having a barrel-shaped body with trilateral radial symmetry; three arms, legs and eyes spaced around its torso. The mouth is located at the top of the body.
Because a xorn can move through earth as easily as a fish moves through water, when they choose to attack they often use ambushes, hiding just below or above a potential victim. In fact, they often move around with the lower part of their body inside the earth.
Xorn come in three categories: minor, average, and elder.
Another creature related to the xorn is the xaren. They are slightly smaller with shinier, metallic hides. While xorn feed on minerals and stone, xaren prefer enchanted metal, such as magic weapons and armor.
Xorn in other media
- The creature has also appeared in the Eye of the Beholder video game; a similar creature (with the spelling zorn) appeared in the Ultima computer game series.
- "xorn jaw" is an attainable item in the MMORPG parody Progress Quest.
- Xorns can be found in the roguelike games NetHack and Moria.
- The xorn appeared in the D&D Miniatures: Underdark set #28 (2005).
External links
References
- ^ Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual (TSR, 1977)
- ^ Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual II (TSR, 1983)
- ^ Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (TSR, 1989)
- ^ Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1993)
- ^ Williams, Skip, Jonathan Tweet, and Monte Cook. Monster Manual. Wizards of the Coast, 2000
- ^ Williams, Skip, Jonathan Tweet, and Monte Cook. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2003)
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