| Brown | | | ----------------- | ------------ | | Climate/Terrain: | Subterranean | | Frequency: | Very rare | | Organization: | Patch | | Activity Cycle: | Any | | Diet: | Heat | | Intelligence: | Non- (0) | | Treasure: | Nil | | Alignment: | Neutral | | No. Appearing: | 1 patch | | Armor Class: | 9 | | Movement: | 0 | | Hit Dice: | N/A | | THAC0: | N/A | | No. of Attacks: | 0 | | Damage/Attack: | N/A | | Special Attacks: | Freezing | | Special Defenses: | Absorb Heat | | Magic Resistance: | Nil | | Size: | S-L | | Morale: | N/A | | XP Value: | 15 | Molds are a variety of spore-producing [fungi](https://www.completecompendium.com/appendix/fungus) that form in decaying food or in warm, moist places. These fungi usually have a woolly or furry texture. While most molds are harmless, there are at least three varieties of monstrous molds that pose a deadly threat to adventurers: brown, russet, and yellow mold. **Brown Mold** Brown mold is found in damp subterranean areas, such as caverns and caves. It is light to golden brown in color. Brown mold feeds by absorbing heat, even body heat; where brown mold grows, the temperature is below average. Direct sunlight or ultraviolet light kills it. If a warm-blooded creature comes within 5 feet of a brown mold, the mold drains heat equal to 4d8 points of damage from its victim, per round. A _ring of warmth_ provides complete protection against this attack. Brown mold grows instantly from heat. If a torch is used in its vicinity, it doubles in size; if flaming oil is used, it quadruples, and fireball-type spells cause it to grow eight-fold. Brown mold is not fed by cold light sources (e.g., [[Light]], [[Faerie Fire]] ). The only magic that affects it are [[Disintegrate]] (which destroys it), plant-affecting magic, and cold spells. [[Ice Storm]]s or [[Wall of Ice]] cause it to go dormant for 5d6 turns. A _cold wand_, [[White Dragon]] breath, or a [[Cone of Cold]] kills it. Brown mold does not affect cold-using creatures such as [[White Dragon]]s, [[Winter Wolf]], [[Ice Toad]] etc.