Monster: Murska
Game/Product: Planes of Chaos/AD&D Planescape
Origin: The name is perhaps derived from a Finnish word that refers to "crushed material", since the strange predator from the plane of Pandemonium looks like two creatures crushed together, but the idea is clearly that of the "wolf in sheep's clothing", here translated as the more "chaotic" monster in WOLF'S clothing. These giant beetles who wear their prey's skins as camouflage hunt in packs, grappling them in their mandibles so as to better get the insides out. At least, thematically. The game text clarifies that it's the eating that allows the monster to gain the properties of what it's eaten, not unlike certain cannibal beliefs. Over time, the new form moults and the bug underneath is revealed once more. An ever-shifting monster is very much in line with the Planes of Chaos.
Fear Level: People are afraid of bugs, but more so when they surprise them. So that dog attack that turns into something like THAT... above average for sure.
Danger Level: A good monster for the mid-levels, making you believe they are much simpler and less dangerous beasts until they attack, perhaps.
Famous examples: A good inspiration for this monster might be John Carpenter's The Thing, which the entry is probably evoking by using a wolf's skin in the picture. Another is Kafka's "Metamorphosis", for it is said a Murska that eats a sentient being becomes that being for a time. "The taste of intelligence" is a thing they then start to seek out. Brr.
I wonder if: You could start a campaign as a PC who slowly starts to turn into a Murska that ate him and finally attacks the party. Or better yet, make the switch mid-campaign after an unfortunate encounter with the monsters, away from the group.
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