“This is a dreadful, a very unpleasant thing.
Gabdulla Tuqaj, “The Forest-Demon”
“Its nose is bowed and crooked entirely like a fishing-hook,
“The arms are not equal, the feet are like branches and boughs (?).
“Its sunken eyes sparkle and glare- It is dreadful if you see it, not only at night but even in broad day.
“It is all nude, quite delicate (?); but it has the shape of man,
“On its forehead it has a horn of the length of a middle finger. Its fingers are not crooked, they are all straight,
“Very unpleasant, each one longer than half a yard.”
The şüräle is the spirit of a person who was bewitched to wander in the woods. Each is rail-thin and tall as a tree, with long hair covering its naked body, long arms with three-fingered, taloned hands at the end, and a horn topping its long, thin face.
Despite its size, it can hide in shadows as a 9th-level thief (67%) when standing still among trees. It can also imitate whatever non-magical sound it has heard before (a Hear Noise roll can determine the falsity if it tries to imitate a person known to the listener).
Against large or inhuman foes, the şüräle may use its horn and claws, but its usual attack is to tickle with its claws (save vs. paralyze to avoid in the first round), which continues each round after the person is hit. This creates a painful sensation (1D4 damage per round) and eventual suffocation. Two characters cooperating may drag a person away from the monster, so the monster often tickles with one hand while it swings the other to ward off rescuers.
The şüräle takes minimum damage from non-piercing weapons, but if its black, sap-like blood hits the ground, another Şüräle will spring up in 1D3 months. The creature can also cast cure disease and bestow curse once a day each within a 30’ radius.
A number of tales are told about avoiding the wrath of this being. One of the most effective is to call out in response to it many times, so the creature grows tired of mockery and departs. Supposedly one speaking to it without laughing or showing teeth causes it to depart, but this is hard to test. Wielding a holy symbol of ash or a whip inspires an immediate morale check.
Fingers of the Şüräle
These are the chopped-off fingers of the forest undead monster. If one is crumbled over an injured person, he or she will regain 2D6 HP.
Inspirational reading: Sulteev, Rustem. “Arçura/Şüräle: Mythical Spirits of the Volga-Ural Forests.” Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungarica 71, no. 1 (March 1, 2018): 45–69.
Şüräle (Compatible with Labyrinth Lord)
No. Encountered: 1
Alignment: Chaotic
Move: 180’ (60’)
Armor Class: 3
Hit Dice: 11
Attacks: 3
Damage: 2D10 or special / 2D10 or special / 2D8
Save As: F11
Morale: 10
Hoard Class: XV, plus Fingers of the Şüräle (q.v.)
XP Value: 2800
