Rolling stone

Rolling stone
Monster ID	574
Locations	An Oasis
Hit Points	135
Attack	137
Defense	126
No-Hit	147
Initiative	50
Meat	None
Phylum	elemental
Elements	None
Resistance	None
Monster Parts	face
Drops brown sugar cane, handful of moss, hot date, mother's little helper, palm frond, Tuesday's ruby
Quest	Hugo's Weaving Manual
Bounty	absence of moss
Manuel Entry
refreshedit data

 You're fighting a rolling stone

Scientists have studied the phenomenon of 'traveling stones' in the Arid, Extra Dry Desert for years. Some speculate that the rocks move because the wind blows them; other scientists claim that theory blows, and that the rocks become embedded in sheets of ice during the Desert's rare deep freezes. Others claim that the rocks move by themselves, and now that you're up close you can see that the rock's big, full lips and long, prehensile tongue probably have something to do with it.

Hit Message(s):

It rolls over your <solar plexus>. Look on the bright side -- this could be the last time. I mean, it may be the last time, I don't know. Oof! Eek! Ugh!

It rolls over your foot. I guess the nature of its game isn't a big mystery anymore. Ooh! Oof! Eek!

You would prefer not to be hurt by the stone, but you can't always get what you want. Argh! Ooh! Argh!

It rolls onto your back, effectively making you a beast of burden. Argh! Ouch! Ugh!

Critical Hit Message:

Its grotesque mouth puckers and it whistles. A couple of wild, wild horses gallop up and kick the stone so it rolls right over you. Then they trample you for good measure. Ow! Ouch! Ooh!

Miss Message(s):

It tries to roll over you, but can't get no satisfaction.

It tries to roll onto your back, but misses. Looks like it's losing its touch.

It starts to roll over you, but suffers the latest in a series of nervous breakdowns.

The stone wants to roll over you, but it can't always get what it wants.

It tries to roll over you, but you've guessed the nature of its game, and get out of the way.

Fumble Message:

Its grotesque mouth puckers and it whistles. A couple of wild, wild horses gallop up and try to drag you away. You threaten to ride them someday, though, and they get spooked and trot off. (FUMBLE!)

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After Combat

You acquire an item: Tuesday's ruby (4.7% chance)*

You acquire an item: mother's little helper (9.9% chance)*

You acquire an item: hot date (4.9% chance)*

You acquire an item: palm frond (10.1% chance)*

You acquire an item: handful of moss (20.0% chance)*

You acquire an item: brown sugar cane (20.8% chance)*

You acquire a bounty item: absence of moss

(X of 10 found)

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Occurs at An Oasis.

References

• The image is a reference to the logo of the classic rock band The Rolling Stones (especially their album Forty Licks), and the attack and miss messages and item drops make references to several of their songs.
• The description refers to various theories to explain the movements of the stones on the Racetrack Playa of Death Valley.
• The explanation of traveling stones may also be a reference to the traveling stores of the Discworld series of books.
• The name is most likely taken from the phrase, "A Rolling stone gathers no moss." The pun, however, is on the item gained through this adventure which is "handful of moss".