Omshirim

An omshirim resembles a vein of glittering ore, such as silver, gold or platinum, threading through rock. Wizards of a wizard-governed nation made it by infusing a lurker with quicksilver to make it quicker, more adaptable and more decorative. It worked too well: the creature got loose and bred throughout the caverns under their realm, to its makers' chagrin.

Within 60 feet it senses heat by infravision and also detects metal, movement and vibration, spotting invisible creatures with 95% accuracy. It springs up to 30 feet onto prey, and its disguise gives foes -4 on surprise, or -5 for dwarves and others fascinated by precious metal.

It flows over the target and constricts, making two crushing attacks per round. If both hit, the victim is enveloped: both attacks then deal damage automatically each round, and regardless of hit points the victim dies of suffocation in 1d4+1 rounds unless freed. The victim gets a single bend bars attempt at -20%, and a helper adds half his own bend bars chance.

Its tough metal hide gives it a low Armor Class. Fire and metal weapons deal half damage, and electricity none, since the hide conducts it harmlessly. Its magical metabolism leaches metal, so any metal weapon striking it must save vs. crushing blow or break, magical ones gaining +1 per plus. In need it can seep into tiny cracks to escape.

Solitary, it usually lurks near deposits of valuable metal.

It eats both metal and flesh. Every three to five years, or more often when hunting is good, two large omshirims may merge and later split into three. It keeps no treasure but refines precious metal from ore, so a processed carcass yields metals worth treasure type Y (x2).