#vilstrak

Many of the creatures in the 1983 AD&D Monster Manual II first appeared in adventure modules, a few debuted in the Monster Cards packs, and others were brand new.  Some of the more memorable entries include the aboleth, behir, duergar, froghemoth, tarrasque, thri-kreen, and yuan ti -- the latter two appear on the contents page reading their own book.  (Jim Holloway illus)

The vilstrak (aka ”marl mugger,” “tunnel thug”) is an underground dweller with a stony body, club-like fists on arms with an extra joint, and an ability to merge with solid rock or packed soil.  It occupies an ecological niche similar to the umber hulk, but is smaller and has movement abilities like an earth elemental.  Its stats only appear in the 1983 AD&D Monster Manual II, where it also can be found on the contents page tearing a book in half.  TSR issued a vilstrak miniature in the mid-80s packaged with the rock reptile, but both creatures were rarely mentioned again in print.  They did appear in the 1992 gold box video game Treasures of the Savage Frontier alongside a relatively large number of other monsters originally from the MMII.  (Jim Holloway illustration, I presume)

Featured in Monster Manual II for 1st Edition, the vilstrack are also called marl muggers and tunnel thugs due to their habbit of jumping people and stealing their items and treasure.