A denzelian is a large, flat being, normally about 10’ in diameter and 6“ thick. It appears to be composed of smooth stone, but its thick skin is somewhat flexible, allowing it to squeeze through tight places and to travel up and down inclines. A denzelian may be of practically any color, depending upon the minerals it absorbs. Though browns and grays are most common, brilliant red or yellow denzelians have been seen.

Rock Eaters. Denzelians secrete acid from their entire surfaces, normally using the acid to burrow through rock and break it down so it can be eaten. If it is frightened, a denzelian can greatly increase the amount of acid it produces, allowing it to escape by sinking into the rock, leaving a crumbly, blackish, sandlike residue behind.They, however, have a seemingly preference only for minerals, since they leave behind or avoid metals and semimetals. This feature of the denzelians makes them great allies for dwarves and miners in generais, especially those seeking gold, silver, etc.

Humble Monsters. The denzelians are peaceful monsters, and generally won't atack unless threatened. For attacks, they have few tactics: Charge against a creature, making it trip on the denzelian and having it's skin and equipment melted by the aciduos skin; burrowing through the rock until it is above its enemies, and then dropping on them and most times, just fleeing away from danger.

Habitat/Society. Denzelians normally inhabit areas far away from civilization, travelling through the rock to find choice mineral deposits. Many minerals are absorbed through a denzelian’s skin after its acid breaks them down sufficiently. However, denzelians do not like metals. Metal ores are often uncovered and left along the meandering trails created by the denzelian. Denzelians seem to have gender, though no sage has ever determined how to tell them apart. Mating takes place only once in a decade, whenever two denzelians of the opposite sex meet, apparently at random. About a year later, the female lays 3-12 gemlike eggs, depositing them hundreds of yards apart over the course of a month. The eggs are quite beautiful. A denzelian egg is a fist-sized, faceted gem which looks much like smoky quartz. In the center of the gem is a milky, grayish liquid, the embryo of the new denzelian. If the egg is not moved too roughly, which will destroy the embryo, a baby denzelian will hatch in about a year. During this time, the mother stays near enough to the eggs to sense if anyone approaches.

Ecology. Denzelians do not eat animals or plants. They smell repulsive and are indigestible by animals and plants. A denzelion egg can bring up to 1,000 gp from a collector. Still-viable eggs might bring the same amount from wealthy mine-owners. Just-hatched dandelions can be trained to seek out certain ores, but they are often very stubborn once they find a deposit to their liking. Denzelian body parts may be worth a great deal to an alchemist, particularly if any of the acid-secreting glands are still intact. The body is composed of a very rich mix of minerals, and includes deposits of almost pure carbon, sulfur, magnesium, and more. Some of the deposits are formed into gemstones, and it is not unusual to find perfectly round diamonds inside the body of a denzelian.