Purple worm
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, the purple worm is a magical beast
and a classic D&D monster.
(1974), where they were described as huge and hungry monsters that lurk beneath the surface.
The mottled worm, a relative of the purple worm, first appeared in the Dungeons & Dragons supplement, Blackmoor
(1975).
The mottled (purple) worm appeared in Dragon
#68 (December 1982).
(1977), the Expert Set
(1981 & 1983), and the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991).
The purple worm is further detailed in Dragon
#282 (April 2001), in "The Ecology of the Purple Worm."
. As its name implies, it is a deep purple color, with a pale yellow underbelly. Separating its yellow part from its purple part are hard crests going down its sides. It is well armored and segmented. One end ends in a large toothed mouth with slit-like eyes above it and dragon's ear-like limbs at the sides, and the other in a deadly stinger. It is often depicted as bursting out of the ground and arching itself in a distinct pose.
Purple worms spend their time burrowing through the underground and seek to consume any organic matter they find. Their favored and most feared method of attack is swallowing prey whole. Many groups of adventurers have succumbed to such a fate, disappearing down a Purple Worm's gullet one after the other. They can also attack with their tail stinger, and by grabbing and grappling with prey.
Purple worms cannot speak.
They are regarded as neutral in alignment, since their aggressive nature is the result of instinct rather than evil maliciousness.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, the purple worm is a magical beast
Magical beast (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, magical beast is a type of creature, or "creature type". Magical beasts are similar to animals in many ways, but usually have a higher intelligence, and possess supernatural or extraordinary abilities....
and a classic D&D monster.
Publication history
The purple worm was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game.Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)
The purple worm was one of the first monsters introduced in the earliest edition of the game, in the Dungeons & Dragons "white box" setDungeons & Dragons (1974)
The original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson was published by TSR, Inc. in 1974. It initially included the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(1974), where they were described as huge and hungry monsters that lurk beneath the surface.
The mottled worm, a relative of the purple worm, first appeared in the Dungeons & Dragons supplement, Blackmoor
Blackmoor
Blackmoor is a fantasy role-playing game campaign setting generally associated with the game Dungeons & Dragons. It originally evolved in the early 1970s as the personal setting of Dave Arneson, the co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, first as a setting for Arneson's miniature wargames, then as an...
(1975).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The purple worm appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), where it is described as a 50 feet (15.2 m) burrowing worm constantly in search of food, that can swallow human-sized creatures whole.The mottled (purple) worm appeared in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#68 (December 1982).
Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)
This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the purple worm, in the Dungeons & Dragons Basic SetDungeons & Dragons Basic Set
The original Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set boxed set was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1977, and comprised a separate edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, distinct from the first edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, which was initially published in the same...
(1977), the Expert Set
Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set
The Expert Set is an expansion boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was first published in 1981 as an expansion to the Basic Set.-1981 printing:The D&D Basic Set saw a major revision in 1981 by Tom Moldvay...
(1981 & 1983), and the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The purple worm appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993), along with the mottled purple worm.Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
The purple worm appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).The purple worm is further detailed in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#282 (April 2001), in "The Ecology of the Purple Worm."
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
The purple worm appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
The purple worm appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008). It was later revised in the Monster Vault set released under the D&D Essentials brand (2010).Description
The purple worm is akin to an enormous (5 feet wide and tall and 80 feet long) and bizarre earthwormEarthworm
Earthworm is the common name for the largest members of Oligochaeta in the phylum Annelida. In classical systems they were placed in the order Opisthopora, on the basis of the male pores opening posterior to the female pores, even though the internal male segments are anterior to the female...
. As its name implies, it is a deep purple color, with a pale yellow underbelly. Separating its yellow part from its purple part are hard crests going down its sides. It is well armored and segmented. One end ends in a large toothed mouth with slit-like eyes above it and dragon's ear-like limbs at the sides, and the other in a deadly stinger. It is often depicted as bursting out of the ground and arching itself in a distinct pose.
Purple worms spend their time burrowing through the underground and seek to consume any organic matter they find. Their favored and most feared method of attack is swallowing prey whole. Many groups of adventurers have succumbed to such a fate, disappearing down a Purple Worm's gullet one after the other. They can also attack with their tail stinger, and by grabbing and grappling with prey.
Purple worms cannot speak.
They are regarded as neutral in alignment, since their aggressive nature is the result of instinct rather than evil maliciousness.