Monster Evolved to Look Like It's Not Worth XP
“The runes on its back are actually Old Elvish for ‘CR 0’.”
Cryptozoologists from the Zettmore Arcane University have discovered a new species: one that they believe has evolved to look as if it is not worth experience points. The Todius Imposterus, which has been dubbed the Worthless Frog, was accidentlally discovered by a team on a mission into the Symphony Swamps. “It looks like a normal frog,” says lead researcher Jurkos Swillbeard. “We didn’t know it was a different species until I accidentally stepped on one and gained a spell slot.”
The team believes that while many animals evolve defensive traits, or traits that make them look more intimidating, the Worthless Frog has evolved to look unattractive to experience farming adventurers. “For starters, it’s a frog,” says Winstel Zooksir, Editor-in-Chief of Cryptozoology Quarterly. “but they also appear to always be sleeping and adolescent, conditions which may reduce experience gain. The fact that the only have three legs is also an interesting evolutionary trait.”
In addition to the frog’s appearance, the creature’s survival also seems to be bolstered by it’s environment. “While we can’t say for certain yet, the few specimens we have collected were all found near either much stronger creatures or deadly traps,” Zooksir tells The Dungeon Tribune. “Sure, it has natural predators, but it seems to habitat in places where the presence of adventurers would be less likely.” Rival cryptozoologist Kegs Ultenhall disagrees with that assumption. “It’s fairly obvious that adventurers are more likely to be near monsters and traps. That is where the adventures are.”
The newly discovered frog’s traits are believed to have evolved centuries ago, but still fairly late in the grand scheme of the universe. “You can tell these developed fairly recently, evolutionarily speaking, from it’s markings” says Lidzt Kriddle, Department Chair at Zettmore. “The runes on its back are actually Old Elvish for ‘CR 0’.”
Steps are already underway to preserve the species from threats of extinction at the hands of over-hunting. “Adventurer’s are quickly going to seek these monsters out due to their high experience point content. We need to make sure they aren’t hunted to extinction” says Chief Conservationist Elec Frightharm of environmental watchdog “Owlbear Unlimited”. “If not, the environmental effects could be disastrous. Their natural predators may depend on a high xp diet, and they could play a part in regulating plague fly populations in the region.” On the other side of the debate, local adventurers want to level up quickly.