Floating Eye

This creature looks like a 6-inch long semi-transparent fish with a single large eye located in the center of its body along its dorsal region.

Floating Eye (CR 1/3)

Diminutive Magical Beast (Aquatic)
Alignment: Neutral
Initiative: +2
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, Low-Light Vision; Perception +4

Speed: Swim 60 feet
Space: 1 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+2 Dex, +4 size)
Hit Points: 5 (1d10)
Saving Throws: Fort +2, Ref +4, Will -3

Offense

Melee: bite +0 (1d2-5)
Reach: 0 feet

Special Attacks: hypnotic gaze (DC 10, 1d6+1 rounds)

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
1 (-5)	15 (+2)	11 (+0)	1 (-5)	4 (-3)	2 (-4)

Base Attack Bonus: +1
CMB -8
CMD 4

Feats: Skill Focus (Perception)

Skills: Perception +4, Stealth +14 (+22 to hide), Swim +10

• Racial Modifiers: +8 on Stealth checks to hide

Languages:

Special Abilities

Hypnotic Gaze (Ex)

Creatures meeting the gaze of a floating eye must succeed on a DC 10 Will save or stand and stare blankly at the floating eye (similar to the effects of a hypnotism spell) for 1d6+1 rounds. A swimming creature that fails its save does not sink, but floats on the surface of the water. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Ecology

Environment: Any Aquatic
Organization: school (3-12)
Treasure: none


Floating eyes are small saltwater fish that have transparent bodies and a single large eye about the size of a walnut located in the center of their body. Floating eyes are most often found underground in forgotten dungeon waterways and underground lakes and seas. The creature's eye is capable of bioluminescence, and it has such minute control over the intensity and patterns of the light that it can mesmerize other creatures that see it.

Floating eyes are part of an unusual symbiotic relationship with a variety of predatory fish, including sharks. Once the floating eye has mesmerized its prey, predatory fish move in and consume it. After they have eaten, the floating eye moves in and gorges itself on the scraps.

Floating eyes avoid combat, relying on their hypnotic gaze ability. If forced into combat, they bite an opponent.

Credit: The Floating Eye originally appeared in the First Edition Monster Manual (© TSR/Wizards of the Coast, 1977) and is used by permission.

Copyright Notice: Author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.