Friday, April 15, 2011

"S" is for "Slaying Grantis"

Slaying Grantis

No. Enc.:  1 (1)
Alignment:  Neutral
Movement:  150' (50')
          —Fly:  90' (30')
Armor Class:  6
Hit Dice:  9
Attacks:  2 (2 claws + special)
Damage:  2d6 / 2d6, + special
Save:  L5
Morale:  10
Hoard Class:  XVI
XP:  3,800

Slaying grantises are ferocious, 12' tall bipeds that stalk forests, jungles, and overgrown ruins.  Their powerful bodies are particularly freakish, as they locomote on their front, ape-like limbs, and use their forward-growing hind legs as rending talons.  Shaggy green fur covers their frames.

Patient, still, and nigh-invisible in the greenery (thereby Surprising on a 1-5 on 1d6), they can wait for hours until oblivious prey wanders into range.  And slaying grantises are as lethal as they are stealthy.  If both claws successfully strike in the same round, the target is drawn close and savagely bitten.  The victim must immediately make a Saving Throw Versus Death.  Success means that they suffer the claw damage and an extra 2d10 damage from biting...while failure indicates that its head is drawn into the slaying grantis' mouth, and bitten off.  Death is instant.  (Androids decapitated in this manner might be repairable, at the Mutant Lord's discretion.)

Slaying grantises are too heavy for sustained flight, and the creatures more accuately "flutter" than fly proper.  They can only remain airborne for a maximum of 4 rounds, and then must descend and spend at least 2 rounds grounded before taking off again.

Mutations:  Complete Wing Development (Limited), Increased Sense (Vision)