Nshe

This illustration is from my Kickstarter project to create drawings of all of the unique creatures of the underworld from Professor M.A.R. Barker's wonderful Tékumel (aka Empire of the Petal Throne) world setting.

"This creature is another product of ancient sorcery. It is a being composed entirely of viscous, watery liquid, and it can flow into almost any shape it wishes, pass under doors, through cracks, etc. Once in a room, it can rise up in the form of a roughly shaped humanoid, serpent, etc. If it assumes a shape, it can be temporarily destroyed by edged or blunt weapons in the usual manner. If it remains fluid, it can flow around the feet of a victim and crush his legs, drawing him down into itself to crush and consume at leisure. A trapped character can only be freed by his comrades if they manage to drive the creature away. In liquid form, this can only be accomplished by forcing the Nshé to retreat: fire has a 10 percent chance of doing this per round; the Amulet Against the Iniquitous Nshé does it automatically (unless the Nshé assumes a form); and a spell of Calm has a 30 percent chance of success. A victim trapped by a Nshé for more than one combat round is assumed to have both legs crushed, requiring the use of an Eye of Regeneration before he can walk again."

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My next Kickstarter project has launched! This time around, I'm returning to M.A.R. Barker's classic Tekumel / Empire of the Petal Throne RPG and creating new illustrations for the inimical nonhuman races and sea creatures from that game: [link]