Okay, so imagine the PC's are wandering through your typical dungeon, and a Beholder is sneaking up behind them. It's around the corner so they can't see it coming, but the beholder blows its stealth check and the party hears it coming.
One of the defining characteristics of a Beholder is that its mind consists of two separate entities, which almost always dislike one another.
Consequently, I would expect to hear a deep voice arguing with itself about something totally incomprehensible. Probably something to do with one entity keeping secrets from the other.
Alternatively, Beholders are large creatures, so it might rub up against the walls of the dungeon.
Also, the Beholder has a 150ft Anti-Magic cone that will reach the players well before it does. Odds are any magic items on the players will go dormant immediately, which is a pretty big clue.
"As your party walks single file along the damp, narrow corridor, following the faint pools of illumination from flickering torches in sconces that line the way. Shadows dance across the rough cut walls... and for the briefest moment you swear you see the shadow of something else. And as you pause, you hear – mingled with the spluttering crackle of the torches – the faintest, raspy breathing..."
I think I like Memnosyne's answer the most. Other alternatives:
Instead of speech, it's sort of running at the mouth differently. Party can hear it's lips smacking, it's drool dripping, or maybe it needs to spit.
Something else, rats, spiders or whatever the heck is in the dungeon that knows to get the heck out of the Beholder's way blows the Beholder's sneak by running away from it, the party easily interpreting the unified panic running past them that those critters are running from something around the corner.
Beholders, float ... maybe by magic levitation, but maybe the levitation is more organically lofted. Under this gas bag hypothesis, Beholder flatulence could be the give away to perhaps run away.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Okay, so imagine the PC's are wandering through your typical dungeon, and a Beholder is sneaking up behind them. It's around the corner so they can't see it coming, but the beholder blows its stealth check and the party hears it coming.
What do they hear?
No one knows what sound a Beholder makes when it moves, because anyone who has seen one move has never lived to report back.
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Okay, so imagine the PC's are wandering through your typical dungeon, and a Beholder is sneaking up behind them. It's around the corner so they can't see it coming, but the beholder blows its stealth check and the party hears it coming.
What do they hear?
One of the defining characteristics of a Beholder is that its mind consists of two separate entities, which almost always dislike one another.
Consequently, I would expect to hear a deep voice arguing with itself about something totally incomprehensible. Probably something to do with one entity keeping secrets from the other.
Alternatively, Beholders are large creatures, so it might rub up against the walls of the dungeon.
Also, the Beholder has a 150ft Anti-Magic cone that will reach the players well before it does. Odds are any magic items on the players will go dormant immediately, which is a pretty big clue.
What's a 'typical' dungeon?
"As your party walks single file along the damp, narrow corridor, following the faint pools of illumination from flickering torches in sconces that line the way. Shadows dance across the rough cut walls... and for the briefest moment you swear you see the shadow of something else. And as you pause, you hear – mingled with the spluttering crackle of the torches – the faintest, raspy breathing..."
Maybes it’s talking to itself, or humming, or singing a song stuck in its head. Or it rubs against the wall or ceiling.
I guess I should have read what memnosyne posted before I hit post. Oops.
Not to be too glib, but considering that beholders can shape reality as they want, the literal answer is “a beholder makes any noise it wants to.”
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Swoosh...swoosh...swoosh.
That or the sound of the Interrogation Orb Droid from Star Wars.
The Jaws theme music.
I think I like Memnosyne's answer the most. Other alternatives:
Instead of speech, it's sort of running at the mouth differently. Party can hear it's lips smacking, it's drool dripping, or maybe it needs to spit.
Something else, rats, spiders or whatever the heck is in the dungeon that knows to get the heck out of the Beholder's way blows the Beholder's sneak by running away from it, the party easily interpreting the unified panic running past them that those critters are running from something around the corner.
Beholders, float ... maybe by magic levitation, but maybe the levitation is more organically lofted. Under this gas bag hypothesis, Beholder flatulence could be the give away to perhaps run away.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
The loud and constant sound of breaking wind, as though being propelled by it.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Buzzing. they are bee holders, after all.
I am honestly not sure if I should groan or clap for this one.
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Their cousins, the beer holders, make a sloshing noise, especially when turning corners and stopping suddenly
No one knows what sound a Beholder makes when it moves, because anyone who has seen one move has never lived to report back.