Sword Tail...!

SWORD TAIL

 

FREQUENCY: Uncommon
NO. APPEARING: See below
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: See below
HIT DICE: Varies
% IN LAIR: 10%
TREASURE TYPE:  None
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3
DAMAGE/ATTACK: See below
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Animal
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: See below
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
                Attack/Defense Modes: Nil

Thought to be the result of experimentation by some deranged wizard many centuries ago, Sword Tails vaguely resemble scorpions in general outline but appear to be a bizarre distorted mixture of insect, rat, dog and armadillo. They are so named because they possess a sword-like point at the end of their body, which they can wield in much the same way a scorpion uses its sting. They also possess sinuous clawed arms and a long muzzle within which are numerous teeth, although they do not use their bite in combat.

 

They prefer to live in open countryside such as grasslands and pastures and thus may be a menace to farms and their livestock. However, their lairs are always made high in the branches of large trees and so might be encountered in woods and forests. They are very averse to cold and will choose to live in temperate areas. Sword Tails are prone to cold-based attacks, which inflict twice the amount of damage upon them, and although they do not fear fire (such as torches) they will flee from larger conflagrations.

 

Sword Tails may be encountered in three distinct sizes - small, medium and large:

 

Small - this form is about the size of a large dog and possesses 2 hit dice. Each clawed arm and the tail inflicts 1-4 points of damage. 2-12 creatures might be faced during an encounter. Their movment rate is 12".

 

Medium - this form is about the size of a calf and possesses 4 hit dice. Each clawed arm and the tail inflicts 1-6 points of damage. 2-8 creatures might be faced during an encounter. Their movment rate is 10".

 

Large - this form is about the size of a horse and possesses 6 hit dice. Each clawed arm and the tail inflicts 2-12 points of damage. 1-4 creatures might be faced during an encounter. Their movment rate is 8".

 

Description: the dog-like snout and legs of this creature are covered in short sandy-yellow fur. Their compound eyes are blackish-blue. Their forearms and tail are dark green fading to dark blue. Most of their body is covered by sections of a chitin-like hide which is somewhat hairy and pinkish yellow in colour, mottled by patches of pale red.