Slithering Hoard

A slithering hoard is a re-engineered relative of the gelatinous cube: a shapeless mass about twenty feet across, studded all over with bits of metal. It secretes a glue that holds coins, gems, small weapons and scraps of armor to its surface, and that crust serves as both armor and a mouthful of grinding teeth.

The hoard's squishy body extends a pair of pseudopods (or just one) to engulf prey, each dealing 2d8 damage. A creature struck must save vs. paralyzation or be swallowed into the mass. It may aim both pseudopods at one victim, forcing two saves, or one at each of two foes. Anyone inside takes an automatic 1d6 digestive damage each round, is ground by the metal crust and risks suffocation.

Electricity, fear, hold, paralysis, polymorph and sleep effects do nothing to it, while fire and weapons affect it normally. If it fails a save against cold, it slows to half speed and its attacks drop to 1d4 damage.

Its small mind is driven to collect loose treasure for its shell and to eat organic matter. With near-instinctive cunning it uses its own coating as bait. In a dungeon it flattens into a heap that looks like a pile of coins, gems and potions. Submerged, it is even better hidden, nestling in silt or debris like loose valuables swaying in the current, and one that lives submerged long enough learns to swim crudely, pushing out finlike lobes.

A cabal of slaver-wizards bred the hoard from gelatinous cubes as a tool of revenge. They sealed the creatures inside fragile ceramic jars and slipped them into ransoms and tributes sent to rival states and wealthy enemies. Once stored in a real treasure vault, the hoard dissolved its jar, coated itself in the surrounding riches and waited for its new owners.