In the Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...

fantasy

Fantasy

Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...

 roleplaying game, the carrion crawler a type of fictional monster for player character

Player character

A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...

s to encounter. A carrion crawler is described as a large yellow and green wormlike aberration

Aberration (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, aberration is a type of creature, or "creature type". Aberrations generally all have bizarre anatomies, strange abilities, alien mindsets, or any combination thereof....

. The carrion crawler was introduced in the game's first supplement, Greyhawk

Greyhawk (supplement)

Greyhawk is a supplementary rulebook written by Gary Gygax and Robert J. Kuntz for the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...

, in 1975. The carrion crawler subsequently appeared in the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game's original Monster Manual

Monster Manual

The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...

sourcebook, and then continued to appear in the game's second edition, third edition, and fourth edition.

Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)

The carrion crawler was introduced to the game in its first supplement, Greyhawk

Greyhawk (supplement)

Greyhawk is a supplementary rulebook written by Gary Gygax and Robert J. Kuntz for the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...

(1975). It is described as a worm-shaped scavenger whose touch causes paralyzation.

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)

The carrion crawler appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), where it is described as a worm-like cephalopod that scavenges in subterranean areas.

Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)

This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the carrion crawler, in the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set

Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set

The original Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set boxed set was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1977, and comprised a separate edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, distinct from the first edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, which was initially published in the same...

(1977, 1981, 1983). The carrion crawler was also later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Game

Dungeons & Dragons Game (1991 boxed set)

The New Easy to Master Dungeons & Dragons Game is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1991....

set (1991), the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994), and the Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game set (1999).

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)

The carrion crawler appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).

The carrion crawler was detailed in Dragon

Dragon (magazine)

Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...

#267 (January 2000), in the "Ecology of the Carrion Crawler".

The aquatic carrion crawler appeared in Dungeon

Dungeon (magazine)

Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...

#79 (March 2000).

Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)

The carrion crawler appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)

The carrion crawler appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).

Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)

The carrion crawler appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008), including the enormous carrion crawler.

Description

The carrion crawler was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game. In all editions of the game, carrion crawlers are said to live underground, but will sometimes go to the surface for food. They are akin in appearance to a 3 to 4 ft (0.9144 to 1.2 m) centipede. The other striking aspect of a carrion crawler is that is possesses eight long tentacles protruding from the sides of its head, which allow it to stun its prey. As its name might suggest, it eats carrion, but it is known to kill live prey. Carrion crawlers are of neutral alignment.

Carrion crawlers in other media

Carrion crawlers can be found in the Dungeons and Dragons game Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn is a computer role-playing game developed by BioWare and released on September 26, 2000. The game is the sequel to Baldur's Gate, and, opening only a few months after the events of the earlier game, continues the story of the player character, whose unique heritage...

, in which they play a role as an old man's companion. The player has a choice whether or not to kill the carrion crawler, to take its blood for a quest. They are also a creature in Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil

Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil

Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil is an adventure module for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, set in the game's World of Greyhawk campaign setting.-Publication history:...

.

D&D Miniatures

The carrion crawler appears in the D&D Miniatures: Dragoneye set #41 (2004).

It also appears in the D&D Miniatures set Against the Giants: Enormous Carrion Crawler (#54).

Licensing

The carrion crawler is considered a "Product Identity" by Wizards of the Coast

Wizards of the Coast

Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...

 and as such is not released under its Open Game License.