Slurk

Slurk

(Creature)

2E1E

Common

Medium

Animal

Level

2

Images of slurks

Source: Monster Core, pg(s). 315

Legacy 2E: Slurks had the

N

trait in Bestiary 301.

Type

Magical beast

CR

2

Environment

Temperate swamps
or underground

Alignment

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Images of slurks

Source: Bestiary 2, pg(s). 251

Ⅰ

Ⅱ

Long ago, dwarves dragged giant forest toads beneath the earth and altered their physiology with powerful magic in hopes of creating powerful underground beasts of burden that would be perfect mounts. Slurks (pronounced SLUHRK) are the disgusting result of their aborted efforts. The creature's unappealing slime and foul reek caused the dwarves to drive away their creation in disgust. Kobolds, on the other hand, are less picky, and frequently use slurks as mounts to this day.

Appearance

Slurks are oozy creatures that resemble pale, slime-slick toads with enormous, saber-like teeth. Foul-smelling back pustules drip viscous resin-like mucus that quickly hardens on contact with the air, and their belly is coated with a thick film of greasy slime that they use as an offensive weapon. They burst their back pustules to coat their opponents with the glue-like phlegm, which makes it easier to bring their gigantic, walrus-like tusks to bear on their hapless victims, while their underside prevents the slurk from themselves becoming stuck. It also makes them difficult to restrain, and the ground around them becomes slippery for several minutes before drying to a putrid crust. Their sticky back-slime makes slurks ideal mounts for kobolds, who can adhere to their backs without the need for a saddle.

Slurks are powerful leapers capable of moving along the walls and floor of rough underground tunnels at incredible speed. They are not the brightest of beasts, however, and more than one kobold has suffered a crushed skull after their slurk smashed their head into the cavern ceiling with a mistimed jump.

Ecology

A kobold mounted on a slurk.

Slurks are believed to be the result of failed dwarven experiments to breed domesticated subterranean frogs as food and labor animals.

Even though they have long since been abandoned by the dwarves, slurks can be found in the company of other less-discerning Darklands races. They are sometimes bred like cattle by those who do not mind their rubbery, yet nutritious meat, or kept as pets or mounts. Kobolds are now the primary domesticators of slurks, followed by boggards. Slurk-mounted kobolds often ambush foes from tall ledges and harry them from a distance, or use their mounts to climb and charge from cavern walls.

Slurks eat mainly lichens and fungi.

Slurk slime

When properly treated, the slime excreted by slurks can be used as a natural adhesive and water sealant. This mixture can not only adhere objects together, but can also be spread on hands and feet like tar to allow the user to more easily adhere to surfaces while climbing.