Foes of the Tower Lands: Beasts

Skriks

Four-legged dog-sized arthropods that live underground in hives. They hunt rodents and other critters, but will go after lone humans or, when hungry, groups. Their bite carries a paralyzing venom. Edible if cooked, but not very appetizing.

Strength d4 [HD 1-1], speed 30', AC 1 [as leather], small bite [as dagger], morale 5. On bite, paralyzes for 1 hour on 5-in-6 [save vs. poison].

Kepral

Carnivorous river otters the size of big dogs. Attack humans when hungry and with superior numbers. Crepuscular, will range up to several miles from the water to hunt, in packs up to a dozen. Edible, fatty and flavorful; their pelts are valued for their water resistance.

Strength d4 [HD 1-1], speed 40', AC 0 [unarmored], small bite [as dagger], morale 5.

Zoats

Mountain grazers, waist-high to a person with plated head-crests. Herbivorous, but grouchy and territorial; will charge and headbutt careless intruders, often knocking them off cliffs. Live in herds of up to a few dozen. Good eating and provide warm wool, but too ill-tempered to domesticate.

Strength d4 [HD 1-1], speed 40' (climb 40'), AC 0 [unarmored], headbutt [as mace], morale 7 (9 when defending young).

Vorn

Aggressive, territorial flightless birds, seven feet tall with long legs and necks. Diurnal, hunt in packs of up to a dozen, notoriously fearless, will attack humans without hesitation. Tough, gamey, not good eating. Nest communally in groups of several dozen; their head-sized eggs are delicious, but robbing a vorn nest is no mean feat.

Strength d6 [HD 2], speed 40', AC 0 [unarmored], bite [as sword], morale 8 (10 when defending nests).

Valit

Mountain-dwelling flying predators with leathery wings eight-foot span and wide mouths full of sharp teeth. Diurnal, hunt in flocks of up to half a dozen; will attack humans opportunistically, but not persistent. Attack by diving, either going for the throat or bearing prey aloft and then dropping it. Nest on cliffs in groups of several dozen. Minimal meat, not hunted for anything of value.

Strength d6 [HD 1], speed 10' (fly 80'), AC 0 [unarmored], bite [as sword] or bear aloft, morale 4.

Silt Strikers

Giant river-eels with cobra-like hoods, up to twenty feet long. Mostly nocturnal, but opportunistic feeders. They hunt by ambush, camouflaging themselves in riverbeds and striking at prey on the bank, grabbing it with powerful jaws and pulling it under to drown. Can crawl slowly on land, but seldom do. Thankfully solitary outside of mating. Edible, but no one hunts them on purpose.

Strength d8 [HD 4], speed 10' (swim 40'), AC 1 [as leather], large bite [as greatsword], morale 6. On bite, grabs and attempts to drown.

Sharruk

Apex predators of the woods, nine-foot-tall omnivorous ground sloths with scything claws. Crepuscular, serially monogamous, solitary outside of rearing young. Each claims a large territory. Hunt humans as eagerly as any other prey, but will avoid large groups. Flesh is tough but flavorful; hunted by the daring for hide, claws, teeth, and considerable prestige.

Strength d10 [HD 5], speed 40', AC 1 [as leather], large claw or large bite [claw as dagger/claw as dagger/bite as sword], morale 7 (11 when defending young).

Thunder Beasts

Storm-kings of old, strength of the lords of Doros. Their true name is obscured, for fear of calling them. The raun know, but won't speak it.

As befits a lord of beasts, they hunger for Dust. Their gorging fuels their lightning--some say they themselves are tuners. Kill one, it's said, and claim a fortune from within its gut.

Strength d12 [HD 8], speed 50', AC 1 [as leather], large claw or large bite [claw as sword/claw as sword/bite as greatsword], morale 9. Breath weapon: lightning bolt 100', damage roll +2 [damage equal to thunder beast's current HP, save vs. breath weapon for half], arcs up to 3 times within 30'.